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2005 Kia Spectra/Cerato - READ ONLY

431 messages,  Last post on Dec 02, 2004 at 8:02 AM

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What is this discussion about? Kia Spectra, Kia, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 44 of 44

#423 of 431 by carlisimo

Nov 21, 2004 (4:42 pm)

Weather-strip trim, low-beams going out, rattles, easily scratched paint, the hydraulic cylinders that help you lift the hatch up, things like that. Still a nice car, in my experience as a passenger, but now I only suggest the Elantra to people willing to do a little vehicular upkeep themselves.

#424 of 431 Re: [carlisimo] by backy

Nov 21, 2004 (5:21 pm)

Replying to: carlisimo (Nov 21, 2004 4:42 pm)
I've owned a '01 Elantra for four years, through four Minnesota winters and "severe service" driving. I also own a '04 Elantra GT. Here's my take on the items you mentioned:
 
* Weather-strip trim: Still perfect. I use a silicone protectorant on it each fall.
 
* Low beams going out: Both cars still have their original low beams.
 
* Rattles: My '01 Elantra has a faint buzz someplace in the front of the car that appears in cold weather. There's also a faint rattle sometimes in the passenger side front door, again with cold weather. I've heard of other owners having the door rattle and they tightened down the door panel; it hasn't bothered me enough to do that. Otherwise the car is very solid, no creaks or rattles. Nothing at all on the '04 GT.
 
* Easily-scratched paint: I haven't noticed the paint on my '01 Elantra (champagne) is any more prone to scratches than other cars I've owned. The paint still looks like new, aside from a few nicks that I've touched up. I wax it 3-4 times a year and use only all-cloth car washes, not the brushes that leave fine scratches all over the car. I have noticed that the Rally Red paint (non-metallic) on my '04 Elantra does tend to show scratches more easily than the '01, but I don't know if that's because of the darker paint or the car (I've never owned a new car of this color).
 
* Hydraulic prop rods: My GT has these, no problems yet. But if they should need replacing... wouldn't they be easy to replace (and would be covered by the 5-year warranty)?
 
BTW, I don't treat my Elantras any different than I did any of my other cars, which included Hondas, Toyotas, Mazdas, Nissans, Dodges, et. al. In fact, I probably don't baby my Elantras as much as I did these other cars, because I just don't have as much time as I used to.
 
IMO, if people aren't willing to do a little "vehicular upkeep" like regular washing, waxing, lubricating, etc., especially in a heavily salted environment like the one I live in, then they deserve premature aging of their car--and they will get it!

#425 of 431 by carlisimo

Nov 22, 2004 (1:51 pm)

That's great to hear. I'm just going on what I've seen, which isn't much. Two '02 Elantra GT owners that I know directly (the one with more problems bought her car used) and they know a couple more and I hear things through them.
 
I don't know many people who regularly do more than drive through a Shell carwash, and since everyone parallel parks outside around here, trim and paint suffers a lot. I'll tell everyone about that silicone protectant...

#426 of 431 Question for any KIA engineers who are reading this forum... by spectraman

Nov 22, 2004 (5:52 pm)

I have a question for any KIA engineers (or knowledgeable mechanics) reading this forum:
 
Car: 2004.5 Spectra EX
 
Problem:
 
I had some loose change fall into my center armrest console, and it sounds like it's down underneath the rear pull-out cupholder.
 
If I could somehow release the rear cupholder and remove it, I think I could remove the change.
 
The owner's manual doesn't show any kind of way to remove the cupholder (ala the rear ashtray).
 
Is removal of the rear cup holder possible... easily? I examined/felt the rear cupholder closely and could NOT find any kind of intuitive release mechanism.
 
Thanks for any info you can share.
 
-SM
 
NOTE TO NEW SPECTRA OWNERS:
 
Do NOT put any loose change in the upper most compartment of the center armrest. It's the shallow compartment right under the cover. When you flip the cover up to get to the larger storage compartment underneath, coins slide to the rear of the shallow compartment and slide through a slot by the hinge and down into the armrest body. The rear pull-out cupholder is directly below this area.

#427 of 431 by darksun

Nov 22, 2004 (9:18 pm)

Well, Thats not very helpful eh??

#428 of 431 Re: [darksun] SPECTRA console warning by spectraman

Nov 22, 2004 (10:32 pm)

Replying to: darksun (Nov 22, 2004 9:18 pm)
Hi darksun.
 
To alleviate any future confusion on the part of the forum readers, the last part of my post above (i.e. NOTE TO NEW SPECTRA OWNERS) was actually written by me as a succinct summary of the problem described directly above it.
 
That section was NOT posted from anyone from KIA. I can now see how it could look that way though. LOL
 
-SM

#429 of 431 Re: Wallet Watchers: Sporty Spectra should earn Kia some respect [backy] by nw1997

Nov 23, 2004 (8:12 am)

Replying to: backy (Nov 19, 2004 2:58 pm)
Hi backy,
 
    Do you know when they will be re designing the new Kia's that will have this new engine design that would last up to 300K miles? Spectraman, thanks for the info. I guess it boils down to how someone maintains and drives their vehicles. That article regarding th Accord that went to 1 million miles was interesting. We are about to move and will have a long commute as I mentioned. We are starting to look now for a commuting vehicle that is reliable, fuel efficient and low-maintenance. When I read about the 2005 Spectra it gave me another option than the Civic and Corrola. Well, I am not a hard driver and I keep our vehicles well maintained. I do like all the safety features that the Spectra have to offer, the MPG is not that bad either. We will keep investigating all our options before we make a final decision. Thanks to all that offered their opinions.

#430 of 431 Re: Wallet Watchers: Sporty Spectra should earn Kia some respect [nw1997] by backy

Nov 23, 2004 (9:46 am)

Replying to: nw1997 (Nov 23, 2004 8:12 am)
I don't have hard info on when Kia will start using the new Hyundai engines, but we can make some intelligent guesses. We know the NF Sonata will use the new engines. That leads me to think the new Optima, based on the Sonata, will use them as well. A new Accent and Rio are due out late next year. I haven't seen the engine specs on them yet, but it's logical that they would use the new (small) engine. As for when the Spectra will use a new engine, that's hard to say since the new Elantra may not be out until 2006. Will Kia put the new engine in earlier, putting the Elantra at a disadvantage, or wait? Then there's the new Kia minivan, which is rumored to use the new V6.
 
One note on the 300,000 miles goal... Hyundai was clear that it would take awhile to make that goal, since the design is for 300,000 miles but it will take some time for all of their suppliers to get the tolerances close enough. So even though you can get a vehicle with a new-design Hyundai engine very soon, it doesn't mean it will have 300k durability.

#431 of 431 by kirstie_h HOST

Dec 02, 2004 (8:02 am)

It's time to join other enthusiasts in one of these discussions:
Kia Spectra5
Kia Spectra Sedan
 
See you in the other future Kia discussions!

Messages Page 44 of 44

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