Hyundai already has, but according to the experts (see my post above) Kia continues to be a “cheap shit car”.
This bears repeating. Don’t forget to look at residual value. For example: you can buy a Honda today for $14 k which will be worth $12 k next year. You can buy a Kia today for $10k which will be worth $5k next year. (I made up those numbers, you get the idea). This may not matter to you now, but if someone runs smashes into the car and your insurance company totals it, it will become very important very quickly - you may recieve $5k for the totaled vehicle when your loan balance is closer to $10 k. That’s bad.
In other words: Research! Research the reliability, the safety, and the residual value. DrDeth has already pointed you in the right direction.
Yes, and look for “gap” coverage from your lender (or whatever they call it). My lender offered this coverage for about $100 up front. If I total my car, my insurance pays out their determination of its value. Usually, that is less than the amount left on the loan. Under “gap” coverage, my lender will waive the amount left over, meaning I’m not stuck paying on something that I no longer have. Worth it to me.
The early Hyundais got that image by being raggedy-looking smoke machines after 3 or 4 years.
cars.com has an articleabout best and worst (page 2) residual value. Two of the top ten “best” are Hondas; all of the top ten retained 59% or better of their value after 3 years (the source was Automotive Lease Guide, according to the article). Two of the top “worst” are Suzukis; number 10 is the Kia Rio. These “worst” retained from 33% to 29% of their original value (expressed as a percentage of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price).
Here’s some crash ratings.
Here’s the dependability ratings from J.D. Power.
So I checked out the blue book review and a few other links you guys so helpfully provided. And I was satisfied with the final verdict on the sportage. Yesterday I went to the dealer and got a decent deal (0.0% financing too) on a brand new deluxe model 2007 sportage. I’m picking it up tomorrow, yay!
Since this is my first new car, I also have some follow up questions for you guys.
I always see new cars with paper liscence plates taped to the rear window. Does this mean that I will get a temporary registration and plates when I pick up my car tomorrow? How long will I have to get the new registration/plates from the DMV? Also, how do I handle this with my insurance? Should I switch out cars on my policy BEFORE driving off with my car, or do I have some temporary insurace coverage? I know it probably won’t happen, but what if I get into an accidnt on the way home from the dealer?
Thanks for the help again!
'grats on the purchase. At some point during all of the paper-signing, they may have had you sign a registration form for your local DMV. Most dealerships take care of that for you, as they have to file paperwork for taxes anyway. Ask them if they submitted the registration form for you. If not, that you’ll have to go your favorite DMV office yourself with the proof of sale and insurance.
Vlad/Igor
Most states and most policies allow for 30 days temporary coverage on a REPLACEMENT vehicle. Replacement means you are trading one in and driving a different vehicle home. Some companies do allow temporary coverage for an additional vehicle. Some do not. New Jersey law may require a new car to be covered automatically, then again it may not.
Take no chances, call your insurance agent before you drive off of the lot and get verbal confirmation that the car is covered.
FWIW when I took the insurance agent course many years ago, one of the students in the class did not get his car covered before he drove it off the lot. He got hit as he pulled out of the dealership driveway. His car was a total. He told us he paid for 3 years on a new car he got to drive for 50 feet. :smack:
Seriously, take no chances on this.
Each state is different in how they register cars. I would expect that the dealer will handle all the paperwork, and you will get plates in the mail in 30-45 days.
Call them now, let them know you are buying this car and that you will call them from the dealer (or the dealer will FAX them for you) with the VIN number and all that. Before you drive it a foot.
I spoke online with a representative and they switched the policy to cover my new car, so I am fully insured now. And I’m heading over to the dealer in about an hour.
Ha! My first new car, why do I feel so giddy? 
Thanks again everyone.
I’ll echo the comment above about Gap Insurance.