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Advice on Buying a KIA Sedona
Ben_Copeland - 1/9/10 at 07:35 AM

My wife wants to get a KIA Sedona or Chrysler voyager. The Chrysler is out if budget (5k). So I've given in and said ok to the KIA. Does anyone have any pointers on what to look for when buying one. Specific to the KIA. Looking at cars 2002 and newer. Diesel.

I'd happily buy a ford but apparently it's not got the seats in the right order

Thanks

britishtrident - 1/9/10 at 07:53 AM

Good cars.
Automatic is a Jatco box the early models of these were troublesome ---- later ones are better but need fluid changes best done by autotransmission specialistas there is a specific procedure which must be followed.

[Edited on 1/9/10 by britishtrident]

Ben_Copeland - 1/9/10 at 08:06 AM

Best to go manual then I guess. As long as the clutch is ok.

Looking at 60k mileage.

nick205 - 1/9/10 at 08:24 AM

I was in your position earlier this year and looked at...

Alhambra/Galaxy/Sharan
807/C8
Sedona
Caravelle
Voyager

SWMBO liked the 807 for the sliding doors and (like yours) the Sedona for the seat layout.

IMHO, after driving at least one of each several times the Alhambra/Galaxy/Sharan was by a mile the best to drive. By my reckoning it also comes out best on overall cost of ownership, looks, interior quality and versatility. There's a huge choice and prices are good too.

We went for a 2001 Alhambra TDI SE and would make the same choice again evry time. again IMHO, there's a reason why there's so many of them about and why Seat still sell it new.

As with any MPV, the interior wear and tear is something to pay attention to, most have been used very hard as family transport (food/drink/mud/dogs...etc)

Cheers
Nick


http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=134388


Edited to correct my own confusion on the 806/7 and C8 models!

[Edited on 1/9/10 by nick205]

Strontium Dog - 1/9/10 at 08:47 AM

Having had some experience of other peoples Kia's i'd say run away! Dont touch it with someone else's barge pole. Badly built tacky quality and totally unreliable. The last person I advised not to get one bought it anyway. Within two months it had cost them far more than if they had bought a decent car in the first place! Cheap and nasty crap is all very well while under guarantee but once it's run out you're doomed.

People carriers are not my thing but surely there must be some Jap (read as reliable) versions available for cheap prices or something like the Seat as mentioned above

IIMHO of course

whitestu - 1/9/10 at 09:09 AM

I have to disagree with Nick205 - I test drove them and the Galaxy / Sharan / leon drove worst than most - very van like.

We went with a C8 in the end, which is a much nicer car to drive than the Galaxy / Sharan / leon, and the electric sliding doors are brilliant.

We've had it 3 years and it hasn't missed a beat so far, though you do hear some horror stories of premature cam belt failure and stuck injectors.

If I was buying again I'd get a well looked after older Synergie / 806 / Ulysse as they are much simpler if anything goes wrong.

nick205 - 1/9/10 at 09:27 AM

quote:
Originally posted by whitestu
I have to disagree with Nick205 - I test drove them and the Galaxy / Sharan / leon drove worst than most - very van like.

We went with a C8 in the end, which is a much nicer car to drive than the Galaxy / Sharan / leon, and the electric sliding doors are brilliant.

We've had it 3 years and it hasn't missed a beat so far, though you do hear some horror stories of premature cam belt failure and stuck injectors.

If I was buying again I'd get a well looked after older Synergie / 806 / Ulysse as they are much simpler if anything goes wrong.



Can't comment on the C8 specifically as I haven't driven one.

The issues I had with the 807 were primarily down to interior style, quality (velour seats like knackered old sofas) and a generally spongey feel to the pedals/controls.

The PSA diesels are good, but the gearbox/gearchange falls way way short of the VAG 6 speed manual - one of the best IMO.

ETA...I'm confusing myself now on the 806/7 models!

[Edited on 1/9/10 by nick205]

[Edited on 1/9/10 by nick205]

contaminated - 1/9/10 at 09:34 AM

I've not driven the Kia, but I know a couple of people who have them and like them. One is known locally as the Chuckle Bus!

I've driven the Seat and I thought it was superb.

I have a Zafira with a VX220 lump in it. If you must have a people carrier it might as well be a laugh!

nick205 - 1/9/10 at 09:37 AM

quote:
Originally posted by contaminated
I've not driven the Kia, but I know a couple of people who have them and like them. One is known locally as the Chuckle Bus!

I've driven the Seat and I thought it was superb.

I have a Zafira with a VX220 lump in it. If you must have a people carrier it might as well be a laugh!



I got trounced trying to overtake one of those in my old Leon Cupra TDI

Round the corner onto a short stretch of dual carriageway, saw an MPV and thought I'm not rattling along behind that for the next 10 miles and went to hoof it past before the end of the dual carriageway - big mistake! Driver floored it and left me eating dust and admiring his VXR boot badge

alistairolsen - 1/9/10 at 09:51 AM

I wouldnt warrant buying either. The Chrysler is RIDICULOUSLY heavy on fuel and despite being loded with toys still manages to feel cheap and tacky like almost any American experience. I spent 12 hours with one as park of a three peaks challenge and it was comfortable enough but I couldnt live with one.

The Kia is frankly the single most awful piece of crap Ive ever seen (and Ive owned a 1.2 corsa...) rattled, didnt handle, everything felt cheap and fragile. Noisy and unrefined, jerky autobox... All this before we get to actually owning a Kia in general

Personally Id happily take a slightly older vehicle to get something thats actually pleasant to own.

What on earth leads her to shortlist those two?

Ben_Copeland - 1/9/10 at 10:00 AM

It's the seat configuration that guiding her. She wants 223 and most are 232 which makes it really ackward to get to the rear most seats.

Dan, she has a zafira now but it's too small for childminding.

She doesn't do many miles so fuel isn't reLly too much of a concern

nick205 - 1/9/10 at 10:15 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Ben_Copeland
It's the seat configuration that guiding her. She wants 223 and most are 232 which makes it really ackward to get to the rear most seats.

Dan, she has a zafira now but it's too small for childminding.

She doesn't do many miles so fuel isn't reLly too much of a concern



IMHO the 223 seat layout doesn't make it any easier to access the rear seats. Unless you need all 5 rear seats, the easiest thing to do is remove the centre seat so kids can get in the side doors and walk through to the rear 2 seats. You'll need to open the boot to sort out their seat belts etc unless you want to clamber through with them.

alistairolsen - 1/9/10 at 11:05 AM

just means the rear seats end up poo and narrow IMO

Ben_Copeland - 1/9/10 at 11:25 AM

quote:
Originally posted by alistairolsen
just means the rear seats end up poo and narrow IMO


Sit in the back of a zafira then you'll see what narrow is lol

alistairolsen - 1/9/10 at 11:54 AM

Zafira doesnt count as a proper people carrier IMO, its based on a midsize hatchback platform!

speedyxjs - 1/9/10 at 12:12 PM

Dont old volvos have the rear seats in the boot? That would solve most of the problems listed above including the access (throught boot)

nick205 - 1/9/10 at 12:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
Dont old volvos have the rear seats in the boot? That would solve most of the problems listed above including the access (throught boot)


TBH, once you've had the height of an MPV for getting kids in/out you would be loathe to go back to even a decent sized estate car

alistairolsen - 1/9/10 at 01:22 PM

and in many cases the rear seats face backwards and if childminding demands any of the same things as a local authority school run that wont be acceptable

marcjagman - 1/9/10 at 02:42 PM

DON'T BUY A SEDONA. Timing belt kit costs around £400 if you can fit it yourself. MPG is crap even on the diesel. Parts are through the roof on some items, depreciation, servicing in general is expensive unless you do it yourself, auto's are garbage. We had one on motability, never again.

MikeR - 1/9/10 at 02:49 PM

Why isn't anyone considering an S-MAX?

(i'm very tempted with one when i replace my current car. Based on the Mondy chassis its supposed to handle very well. Decent tdci engine and i think it looks ok.)

Ben_Copeland - 1/9/10 at 05:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeR
Why isn't anyone considering an S-MAX?

(i'm very tempted with one when i replace my current car. Based on the Mondy chassis its supposed to handle very well. Decent tdci engine and i think it looks ok.)


Costs too much

Ben_Copeland - 1/9/10 at 05:55 PM

quote:
Originally posted by alistairolsen
and in many cases the rear seats face backwards and if childminding demands any of the same things as a local authority school run that wont be acceptable


Most proper MPVs have 7 forward facing seats....

Its only the estates that they decided to throw 2 seats in the boot and charge extra for.

But your right, local authority doesnt allow backward facing seats

Ben_Copeland - 1/9/10 at 05:57 PM

I've told her shes not having a kia for many reasons. So its back to ford/vw/seat. No french crap ta

Thanks everyone for your points of view

britishtrident - 1/9/10 at 06:05 PM

Ford/Seat/VW = Money pit.

eddie99 - 1/9/10 at 06:11 PM

Im with someone earlier in the post, get something older and better i've only had experience of a Kia Picanto and that was terrible, i felt its a car put together as cheaply as possible.

morcus - 1/9/10 at 06:28 PM

My Mum had a Sedona for a few years, the only problem they ever had with it was trying to get rid of it when they were finished. My parents have had a few large Kias and they were all put together quite well, which I can't say Chryslers are because my Mums current PT Cruiser seems to have been built by Apes and my God mothers old Voyager (was new about 5 years ago) fell apart, literally, it blew up in Calaise.

Off all the MPV's the French ones were probably the best ones, the Espace in particular.

I thought the reason why the 232 layout is normal was because its safer in a Crash? As above, your much better running 2,2,2 with a gap if you only need 6 of the seats, you take out the seat next to the near side door and you have a massive entry space.

The problem with going older is MPV's tend to get worked very hard so even if you buy what started out as a better Product, chances would be higher of it failing.

zilspeed - 1/9/10 at 06:32 PM

Still loving my Synergie.

7 seats.
You can camp in it.
Driven carefully, I can get 46mpg.
Driven averagely, I regularly get 43mpg.
HDi is much much less gruff then than the VAG 1.9 TDI motor.
I can carry the whole band's gear in it.
Sliding doors like the later C8 et al.

Fab machine.

Zero street cred, but frankly who gives a toss when it's this usefull.

britishtrident - 1/9/10 at 07:08 PM

Problem with Renaults is the choclate teapot 1.9 Dci diesel, if you buy one new and run it with nothing but 5w/30 fully synthetic in the sump and change twice a year all is fine but if you don't kiss the turbo and engine goodbye at between 60,,0000 and 80,000 miles.

[Edited on 1/9/10 by britishtrident]

alistairolsen - 1/9/10 at 07:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ben_Copeland
quote:
Originally posted by alistairolsen
and in many cases the rear seats face backwards and if childminding demands any of the same things as a local authority school run that wont be acceptable


Most proper MPVs have 7 forward facing seats....

Its only the estates that they decided to throw 2 seats in the boot and charge extra for.

But your right, local authority doesnt allow backward facing seats


I was referring to the volvo estate suggestion mate

whitestu - 1/9/10 at 08:14 PM

quote:

Still loving my Synergie.


+1

This is what I would have bought, but my Mrs preferred the C8.

Stu

nick205 - 1/9/10 at 08:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Ford/Seat/VW = Money pit.



Could you expand on that?

Any particular issues, weaknesses to be accounted for?

I ask as an owner.

nick205 - 1/9/10 at 08:36 PM

quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
HDi is much much less gruff then than the VAG 1.9 TDI motor.



I found the 2.0 HDI (306 HDI) a little quieter than the 1.9 TDI, but noticeably less willing to rev and breathless when pushing on. Still a good motor though IMO.

zilspeed - 1/9/10 at 09:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
HDi is much much less gruff then than the VAG 1.9 TDI motor.



I found the 2.0 HDI (306 HDI) a little quieter than the 1.9 TDI, but noticeably less willing to rev and breathless when pushing on. Still a good motor though IMO.



I never go beyond 3,000rpm.
Most of the time, I change at 2,500 and let the torque do the work.
That way you're at 1,500rpm in the next gear where the torque is already available, unlike the VAG engine where it doesn't start until 1900rpm, so you need to rev it higher to make sure you're never below that.
All in my opinion of course.

I've had two, a 130bhp PD and a 90bhp in an Audi 80 some years back.

nick205 - 2/9/10 at 12:30 AM

^^^ i concur and drive similarly most of the time,but have no problem letting it rev either

on my 3rd TDI, 1.9 PD150, 1.9 PD115 & 2.0 PD140 and loved them all (well maybe liked the 115)