Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Wagons Kia Rio Kia Rio
605 messages, Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 5:30 AM
You are in the Kia Rio Forum. Your Host is kcram
|
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Feb 08, 2006 9:29 pm) I was told the reason why not so many Rio5's are available is because there was a strike in Korea a month or two ago and production lines were at a stand still. Supposedly huge shiploads are on their way from Korea. hope they come in soon because my grandfather is on a waiting list at one of our many local Kia dealers for a Rio5 in Saphire Blue. I wanted that color but did not want to wait the three weeks (as per Kia corporate HQ) but anyway I am happy with white, it looks classy, I just need to wash it often! |
|
|
Because Russ Darrow Kia in Madison WI has a bunch of Rio5's in stock. They have a couple loaded Sapphire Blue ones on the lot. The model doesn't seem to move as fast as the Sportages though, Madisonians seem to still be in SUV mode, odd for a liberal city which should have more of a "thing" for puppycars than it has. The one I drove was black...not a bad color, but I love that blue...it's close to what my current Escort ZX2 is. My wife's Neon is that color, too...wonder if she'll pick on me for not getting a different color...what can I say, I just love a metallic blue.  The tropical red is pretty sharp, and that silver is rather classy, and white almost always looks good on a car. Not sure I can get into that dark orange they offer on that car though... I'm still shopping around, but I haven't seen another car that has the mix of affordability, equipment, and fuel economy that the Rio5 has. Well, there's the Scion xA, which is a good car, but it's too cramped (and I can't warm up to that absurd center-mounted speedo and lack of a coolant temp guage, I need guages, I'm a geek!  ) Chevy Aveo...erk. No 5-door Accent, 3-door won't quite work for me. 5-door Focus...superb road manners, but gas mileage out of line with that class of car. My 6-year-old Escort ZX2 is horribly out of tune with 157K on the clock and holes in the PCV breather and a busted PCV valve, and it still runs rings around the Focus's MPG reports. When it was in tune I could hiit 40mpg on the highway...why has Ford gotten worse when technology's supposed to be advancing? Hello Kia. Todd in Beerbratistan
|
|
|
Replying to: b3nut (Feb 09, 2006 4:34 am) If you can wait a month or two, the Fit may be a good fit for you in terms of affordability/equipment (about $13.5k with all the safety equipment, power package, and stereo), fuel economy (33/38), and even better versatility than the Rio. Until then, the Rio5 stands out although the 5-speed Elantra 5-door will give it a run in fuel economy and exceed it in comfort, room, and equipment for about the same money. |
|
|
It's somewhat cute, has some handy features, and it's a Honda. Downside is that sharply-sloped nose, I'm afraid it'll have the same can't-see-the-nose-at-all problem my father-in-law's '06 Civic coupe has. He's used to it, I found it somewhat creepy to drive (only with traffic, on open road the car is simply splendid), and was uncomfortable parking it in a standard space opposite another car. Also, the Fit doesn't have a proper standard opening for the stereo. My current ZX2 has a non-standard goofball radio, and the adapter kits that attempt to allow installation of a standard stereo are very crude and ugly. Rio5? Nice double-DIN opening, you can install almost any radio you like. I want the ability to easily replace the factory stereo when it dies (or if I get the upgrade bug, which I'm known to do with audio). The Fit's a great little car, but I'm having trouble warming up to the overall look of it. And there's no coolant temp guage, just idiot lights. I've had coolant temp guages come in handy more than once. The Elantras are nice vehicles, I took a nice well-varied test drive in an '06 GT the other day. Very smooth on the highway, though I found the handling slightly detatched, it's not as tight or immediate as the Rio's feel. The steering just felt a bit off to me, the response didn't feel right. The automatic shifts smoothly though, didn't try a 5-speed as my next car needs to be an automatic. The interior's a bit dated-looking, but not bad. I understand it's being replaced this fall, which can mean great deals, OTOH in its current trim I find the Elantra a bit bland and nondescript. Good car though, reminds me of 80's Japanese hatches. But the Fit will sell well, it's a great "fit" (hehe) for a lot of users. I'm not making the move until around April when we get the ducks in a row, so to speak...but so far I really like that dang Rio5...it's just got a nice design to it that I like. Todd in Cheesecurdistan
|
|
|
Replying to: b3nut (Feb 09, 2006 7:28 am) I am not saying that Kia is better then those companies but I believe that Kia offers better features for your money and of course a better warranty than those companies. Not to mention that in my 8 years of owning 5 kias (1998 Sportage, 2001 Rio, 2002 Spectra, 2004.5 Spectra and 2006 Rio5) I have never had a mechanical problem. Only problems I had were: 1998 Sportage, power window front passenger side stopped working after 2 years, fixed within 2 hours at dealer, covered by warranty! 2002 Spectra, After 1 year belt was making noise, replaced under warranty! Only 2 minor and resolved issues in over 8 years of kia ownership. Certainly cant complain, and they have a loyal customer for life!!
|
|
|
|
|
there are others like me! If you look back here on Edmunds through the years you'll find I'm their most loyal Edmunds customer. backy will attest to that as would several other Edmunds regulars. I too love the value quotient for price paid with Kia products. Sounds like I'm preaching to the choir with you, so I won't gush on too much. You've already bought a number of Kia's already! Yep, any fixes on my '99 Sephia were recalls or warranty fixes and the same for my '01 Sportage 4x4. The Sportage 4X4 needed two power windows(the back ones)fixed. Something about the regulator failing. All under warranty. The '01 Sportage 4x4's alternator went out on me late in '04 though at around the 88,000 mile mark. One Edmunds regular told me that they thought that was too soon for the alternator to go out. I disagree though the part was not cheap. The mechanic didn't charge me for towing and I feel I was treated fairly by him in that deal. I didn't go to a Kia dealer for that one because planning could not be arranged-it was a surprise disabling part failure-something that rarely happens with a Kia product I've had. I too love the 2006 Kia Rio5 and I'm just about to go and test drive. The Sapphire Blue '06 Rio at my dealer is a LX. The Rio5 is Tropical Red. I think it goes well with the car and if I fall in love with those metal pedals, aluminum touches and leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter accents I may come away with the Rio5. The LX's are both 5-speeds(as is the Rio5)and they are SIlver and Sapphire Blue in color. All three would look wonderful in my driveway. I can get the $400 College Grad discount and the $500 Owner Loyalty discount but I read that that is only if I finance through Kia Motors Financing, and I'm not sure that I will. I'm off work 'till Wednesday so I've got time to browse, drive and work a deal out. Whoo-hoo! BTW-I agree, the Rio5 especially has a "muscular, sporty" stance to it that has really grown on me. I think Americans will warm to the new '06 Rio as they see them more on the road. |
|
|
Replying to: riomike (Feb 09, 2006 7:42 am)  The xA's wheelbase is the shortest of any production car, and while I can get comfortable in the front once I get the seat positioned I can't get into the back seat behind me. I can get into the back of the Rio5 with the seat set where I like it (I make sure that anyone forced to ride behind my driver's seat can do so without resembling a sardine, hehehe!) I do wish the center armrest was more substantial, but it's good enough...my ZX2 lacks that amenity altogether (never bought the optional one) so I'm gaining a feature. I spent some time just walking around the Rio5 yesterday, taking in its lines. Dang that's a sharp little car, and it grows on you even after it first grabs your attention. It's most likely that it's the one that will follow me home after bidding a tearful adieu (hehe) to my ZX2, which has been an enjoyable car to own. I did have the timing belt break at 132K, but that's because I failed to change the thing at 120K like I was supposed to. At least the Zetec isn't an interference engine...  Todd in Beerbratistan |
|
|
|
|
at least you admit it was because you failed to have it changed at 120,000 miles...instead of blaming Ford for it breaking like some people would do. I agree about the Rio5's lines, but I also include the Rio sedan in there as well. I like both body styles enough that I still don't know which one I want, it will take a test drive of them both to tell me. |
|
|
...is a sharp looker too. I'm going for the hatch because I want the cargo space. The sedan has an impressive trunk for the size of the vehicle, too...doesn't look like there'd be much trunk space just looking at the car, but then you open the trunk...dang. Yes, I hasten to add that the belt failure was my fault when talking about the one major repair my ZX2 has had. The only other failure I've experienced in the car was the headlight switch dying at 2:00AM on the way home from a bar gig. I had to hold the flash-to-pass function in all the way home, about an hour's drive. I blamed my former employer, Japanese switch supplier Tokai Rika, for the failure of their switch. I'm 99% sure that's where the LCS (lever combination switch) came from, it's common to Mazda too and TR is a huge supplier to Mazda as well as Ford, GM, Toyota (100%), and Chrysler, among others. As a sidebar, if you have an American-made Toyota, most if not nearly all of the switches in your car (depending on model) were made at the Tokai Rika plant in Battle Creek, Michigan. Worked there for 10 years...lots of really neat products come out of there, including replacement Lexus keys. (TR actually makes fine switches, wouldn't lead that segment of the industry if they didn't, but a dud's going to make it out at some point hehehehe! I tried not to ever pass any, but...  Todd in Beerbratistan
|
|
|
Replying to: b3nut (Feb 09, 2006 2:42 pm) I agree that it's a tough choice between the Sedan and Rio5. I had first considered going for the Sedan LX, but once I saw those metal pedals and leather wrapped steering wheel it was love at first sight with my hatch! BTW, every day I become more and more impressed with the peppy engine on the Rio. I have no problems passing anybody on the interstate or on my block. I keep expecting for something to disappoint me with this car but I just keep on getting more and more attached to this car every day. My father came down from New York this morning, I let him drive the car from the airport and he was impressed. he drives a Toyota Corolla in NY, he said the Rio feels more powerful, he was shocked when I told him it has a 1.6 litre, 110 hp engine. I think he should trade in his 2003 Corolla for a 2006 Rio5 in Saphire Blue or Sunset Orange, I will convert him over to Kiaism (I should coin that term!) before he heads back next week! |
|
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2009 Kia Rio
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
