I went to Korea on business, back in my drug doing days. I had never heard of a Hyundai and since my vision was somewhat impaired due to massive amounts of codeine and Valium, I thought they were called “HyanDry.” What’s even worse is that when I got back to the States, I began telling people about the Korean car with the absurd name. Things like that are hard to live down.
Anyway, several of my friends now drive “HyanDry” cars and they all love them. The KIA is one I have seldom heard a good thing about.
Don’t tell that to my best friend, who bought a BMW about the same time I bought my Hyundai. So far he’s had to pour thousands of dollars in repairs into it. It seems a remarkable number of things are not covered by the warranty, and for all its reputation, it’s a very unreliable car. And he can’t even take the damned thing in for an oil change without them keeping it all day; a minor repair takes 3 days.
Spending more on a car might get you a better car. It might also just be equivalent to setting fire to your money.
I had a friend who had one. Don’t. They’re pieces of crap.
Go for something like a Hyundai. They used to be pieces of crap but I hear they’re better now. And I used to have a Mitsubishi Mirage and was quite happy with it, but I bought it used, and I don’t know what they go for new.
Just a joke sent recently from Click and Clack.
A small boy was walking up the street when a car pulled up and the driver leaned over and said, “Kid, if you get in the car I’ll give you some candy.” The child refused.
He offered louder, “OK 10 bucks and a whole bag of candy.” at this point the kid began walking off.
The driver followed slowly bellowing,“ALLRIGHT! 50 BUCKS AN” A WHOLE DAMN CANDY FACTORY!"
The Kid replies,"Look Dad,it’s not my fault you bought a Kia.
Well I bought a KIA sephia back in June of 2000. Brand new and it was a basic model (stick, no power anything, no cruise control etc). Cost me 9k, with a negative equity trade in, came to 12k.
Good news is that in that time I have had NO problems with it. Routine oil changes, and the battery went dead (forgot to fill it up with water). Nearly 3 years later it still drives great.
Bad news is I recently had my car appraised, for a trade in on another car, at the same KIA dealer I bought it at, they only wanted to give me 1200 dollars for it. Terrible trade in value.
I wouldn’t buy the KIA. I have had no problems, but someday I will want another car, and I won’t be able to trade my current car in for jack. New isn’t always better anyhow. Buy some POS older car, learn to fix it up and stay out of having a huge car loan.
My advice: buy a used Toyota or Nissan (or even a FORD Escort). Korean cars are very strange-some people have very good luck with them, others have tons of trouble. The problem is, if you buy one, and it turns out to be a lemon, then you have problems-you won’t get squat for it in a trade-in situation. Other people have mentioned the high cost of parts-this is true. A used Japanese car is a much better deal-at least you can count on a ready supply ofparts. One make to REALLY avoid: Daewoo: this company is gone (they went bust last year),leaving dealers with 200,000 unsold cars! You can buy one cheap, but if it breaks, you may have to junk the car (no parts and service available anymore).
