You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8678 messages,  Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 8:55 AM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, smart fortwo, MINI Cooper

#8072 of 8678 nortsr1... by iluvmysephia1 Sep 28, 2008 (5:55 am)
yes, I do, and I did back in the late 90's. I even like Kia's design on the late 80's microcar, the Festiva, which Kia made for Ford. To me it looked better than its competitor at that time, the Chevy Swift.   I must admit I am quite taken by the looks of Mitsubishi's Lancer as well. I own a '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS. I love the currrent Mitsubishi "fighter-jet inspired" front end look. I never tire of my Lancer's looks and have been known to have to crink my head around and take another look(or two)before I head in to my house, a place of business, my workplace, etc. I really love the job new Kia design Chief Peter Schreyer is doing with Kia Motors designs these days. The new Kia Forte sedan, which replaces the Spectra, and the new Kia Forte Koup, which is a brand new model, are beautiful automobiles.   I try to give the domestic rigs a chance, but, until the 2010 Ford Fiesta comes out, nothing they are releasing to the public looks fit for human consumption. If a foreign automaker does is right I will reward them by buying one of their automobiles. Pretty simple formula. Replies to this message: boaz47 (Sep 28, 2008 8:39 am)
#8073 of 8678 Re: Oh, here's my chance... [iluvmysephia1] by fintail Sep 28, 2008 (8:22 am)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Sep 27, 2008 11:14 pm) "Fact is, the Sephia blew away both the Civic and Corolla in styling. "   I'd say they are pretty much a tossup. Nothing really redeeming in any of them. It's like getting excited about the looks of a toaster. These are appliances, they really don't even have "styling" as many would define it. I don't see any established "fact".   The Sportage is very bland, the CRV is more daring but kind of silly, the Toyota is another bland one. Again, nothing there. That pointless big Kia SUV is very derivative and I think was worked on by a team of ex-Toyota and Mitsu designers.   When Kia is raved about 10-20-+ years later for their excellent styling, then I will believe it. Until then, I see one person doing the raving   The Mitsu does have the glaring headlamp cliche seen on many cars, made to somehow look tough or intimidating. It doesn't work for me, although it is nicer to look at than the stretched lamps on many Toyotas.   Oh, and the "Koup" name is pretty dopey
#8074 of 8678 Re: nortsr1... [iluvmysephia1] by boaz47 Sep 28, 2008 (8:39 am)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Sep 28, 2008 5:55 am) I admire you loyalty to Kia but much like VW my problem is with their poor dependability ratings. I know that individuals can get some good results by bucking the trends everyone else is experiencing. That is why people sometimes bet on the long shot at horse races. But it the long run the long shot will drain your wallet.   When I start looking for a new vehicle I look for function, Cost, and predicted dependability. Once that has been established I normally have a selection of four or five vehicles to pick from. There have been times in my searches when VW has been very high on function and Kia has been very high on cost. But they have both scrapped the bottom of the bucket on dependability for as long as I can remember.   The fact that Kia is the generic brand from Hyundai doesn't help their reputation any as well. Hyundai only bought Kia because they had to and looking at how far Hyundai has claimed on the dependability scale it doesn't look like they put that much effort at improving Kia. Just from the test results.
#8075 of 8678 OK, you two... by iluvmysephia1 Sep 28, 2008 (8:53 am)
does that feel better? You've trounced on Kia, they're gasping for air, and the two of you have done it. They're dead and gone. Zero. Notta. Zip. Over.   And out.   Not! Replies to this message: fintail (Sep 28, 2008 1:01 pm)
#8076 of 8678 Re: Oh, here's my chance... [iluvmysephia1] by thegraduate Sep 28, 2008 (11:52 am)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Sep 27, 2008 11:14 pm) Fact is, the Sephia blew away both the Civic and Corolla in styling.   I'm not sure I'd call that "fact." Here are those cars, in 1997, and 2001.   Kia Sephia   Toyota Corolla   Honda Civic   If any of these standout as "blow-out styling leaders" please, explain it. All are conservatively handsome designs, which should age well (well, they already have). Replies to this message: andre1969 (Sep 28, 2008 12:16 pm)
#8077 of 8678 Re: Oh, here's my chance... [thegraduate] by andre1969 Sep 28, 2008 (12:16 pm)
Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 28, 2008 11:52 am) They're all yawners in my book. I can't really pick a clear winner, or loser. Now I always thought the 1992-96 Civic was a good looking car, better than any of that bunch posted above. I also liked the 1988-92 Corolla. It was a bit of a yawner itself, but had a clean, tasteful, conservative look about it that I liked.
#8078 of 8678 Re: OK, you two... [iluvmysephia1] by fintail Sep 28, 2008 (1:01 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Sep 28, 2008 8:53 am) Nobody is ranking on Kias as cars - they have came a long way and are not bad as machines. But, none are really beauties.
#8079 of 8678 The 1998 Sephia design, pictured as the by iluvmysephia1 Sep 28, 2008 (1:06 pm)
second Sephia above, has much more interesting taillight and front end grille and headlamp design, in my book.   I don't what it is, but Honda and Toyota, try as they might and try as they may, have more trouble coming up with a body design for a small car that looks good. Interesting, inviting further comparison, however you may want to form the sentences.   I'll sum it up for this SW padre, all of the others are barfy looking.   Kia's designs are sharp, clean, intelligent and well-put together. That first Sephia('96-'97)above is rather plain. But things improved considerably when the '98-'01Sephia design came out. The new Kia Forte will continue in the Kia tradition of trouncing the competition when it comes to body designs. And, BTW, Kia build quality is above average now. The Long-Haul covers things completely, so to me it's a moot point. I would never balk, though, at buying a Kia worrying about some Canadian-built Excel's from Hyundai in the mid-90's. Hello? Can we move on here? Progress here? Kia and Hyundai certainly have and continue to.   Now, the value proponent and the looks proponent and build quality and reliability make a purchase of a Kia a very, very, nice and enriching move. Replies to this message: thegraduate (Sep 28, 2008 1:18 pm) andre1969 (Sep 28, 2008 1:23 pm) thegraduate (Sep 28, 2008 1:32 pm)
#8080 of 8678 Re: The 1998 Sephia design, pictured as the [iluvmysephia1] by thegraduate Sep 28, 2008 (1:18 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Sep 28, 2008 1:06 pm) Kinda funny, actually, I think the better looking, more aggressive, and more distinctive Sephia is definitely the earlier model, not the '98 Escort-ish overly round newer model.   Replies to this message: andre1969 (Sep 28, 2008 1:23 pm) thegraduate (Sep 28, 2008 1:32 pm)
#8081 of 8678 Re: The 1998 Sephia design, pictured as the [thegraduate] by andre1969 Sep 28, 2008 (1:23 pm)
Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 28, 2008 1:18 pm) I prefer the earlier model Kia, too. It reminds me a bit of an early 90's Nissan Sentra. Replies to this message: thegraduate (Sep 28, 2008 1:32 pm)

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