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What is this discussion about? Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Hatchback

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#21 of 225 Ahh.. by iluvmysephia1 Mar 21, 2006 (2:55 pm)
since you brought up reliability here I must jump right in. Reliability on my 2001 Kia Sportage 4x4 has been superlative. I have had one stranding offense and looking at it from a balanced, intelligent point of view, I don't see how someone could criticize Kia for what happened. Here's what part failed: my alternator.   Now, I am not an alternator expert. Driving to a mid-Missouri hospital for ever-more clinical Respiratory Therapist training in late-2004 at about 6:00AM my lights started dimming, headlight and dash lights. I knew what was going to happen and it did. The little SUV sputtered to the side of the road. I found a mechainc in the nearest oakie Missouri town that fixed me up for about $330, including a 10-mile tow.   My '01 Sportage 4x4 was at about the 88,000 mile mark at that time. Now, I don't hold that offense against Kia at all. I don't see how anybody could.   Here's what Kia has done for me lately. Besides selling me the nicest looking little SUV on the market, bar none, my Sportage 4x4 has 110,900 miles on it and the engine is purring like a Norwegian Forest Cat in the lush forest. I have not had one single lamp blowout of any kind yet. Not a headlamp, not a dash lamp bulb, not a side marker, not a taillight bulb, I have had a brake light switch go out a few weeks after the alternator, though.   What car or truck or minvan or SUV is perfect, though?   My Sportage's OEM Hankook SUV tires went 102,000 before replacement in late 2005 for some new Toyo's. Get this car nuts: my Hankook's were not totally dead yet when I swapped them out for the new Toyo's! These Kia's are solid, wonderful vehicles. My Sportage's motor will last for many, many, many more miles. I have the utmost respect for Kia Motors and their engineering department. Top-notch rigs for top-notch people. Simple, tried and true.   Oh, before I trade that Sporty in I will drive a 2006 Kia Rio LX and 2006 Kia Rio5 first. The car that is competing along with Kia for my dollar is the 2006 Scion xA in 5-speed form. There is a Polar White one with foglights and some nifty stereo i-Pod and MP3 upgrades factory-installed already at the nearest Scion dealer to me, Teton Scion, fifty miles to my north. I told them I like the car but want some shiny aftermarket rims. Instead of pushing the Scion EP-10 factory rims on me (the rims Scion sells to you by default that do look very nice on the rig)the Scion salesman offered to have me go down the street to Jack's Tire and Wheel and pick out wheels I liked. They would then have them installed and ready for me at pick-up time. I liked that answer, because they didn't push the Scion aftermarket accessories on me. Smart Scion salesman. Believe me, it is close between the Scion xA and the Kia Rio LX and Kia Rio5 for my next rig.   If ghastly prices start heading nastily upwards by say, 50 more cents to the gallon by April or May I'm making an executive decision, yes, pushing here at home for a trade-in immediately. Only if it's a trending ghastly pattern upwards. If it's a fluke, I'll hold with the Sportsman.   Automatic policy is installed, car nuts. Replies to this message: rockylee (Mar 24, 2006 4:17 am)
#22 of 225 Re: Ahh.. [iluvmysephia1] by rockylee Mar 24, 2006 (4:17 am)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Mar 21, 2006 2:55 pm) If I drove a Fit, where would I sit ? Mount the rear seat in the Trunk   Rocky
#23 of 225 Rocky by nippononly Mar 24, 2006 (7:18 am)
check them all out - I think you will find that these cars have a lot more room for large drivers of various proportions than you might expect.
#24 of 225 Yes iluvmysephia..... by bottgers Mar 24, 2006 (7:26 am)
....we all know about your unwaivering love affair with Kias. I still say avoid the risk and stick with Japanese vehicles until the Koreans have proven they're in the same league reliability wise. So far, they haven't done that. Replies to this message: b3nut (Mar 24, 2006 1:20 pm)
#25 of 225 My problem... by mirth Mar 24, 2006 (9:06 am)
...with these upcoming budget cars is that I find them boring in almost every respect. The styling is boring (especially on the Fit). With the small engines, driving them is going to be boring. I'm sure they're great little cars in terms of versatility and mileage, but I would be longing for other cars the day after I bought one. Like I said, this is my own personal problem with these cars, but then I'm probably not going to be the only one. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 24, 2006 10:00 am)
#26 of 225 Re: My problem... [mirth] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Mar 24, 2006 (10:00 am)
Replying to: mirth (Mar 24, 2006 9:06 am) They don't *have* to be boring, although some of them might indeed be...some of the most fun cars in the world to drive have small engines....
#27 of 225 like the Lotus Exige, for instance! :-) by nippononly Mar 24, 2006 (11:30 am)
#28 of 225 I agree... by mirth Mar 24, 2006 (12:07 pm)
...with you. I especially like the Ford Reflex concept at the auto show. And although it's not a sub-compact, I think the Mazda3 is another good example of how these types of cars can be made more stylish. Replies to this message: harrychezt (Jun 06, 2006 7:27 pm)
#29 of 225 Re: Yes iluvmysephia..... [bottgers] by b3nut Mar 24, 2006 (1:20 pm)
Replying to: bottgers (Mar 24, 2006 7:26 am) "I still say avoid the risk and stick with Japanese vehicles until the Koreans have proven they're in the same league reliability wise. So far, they haven't done that."   They may not be all the way there, but they're getting darn close. The Hyundai Elantra has a better-than-average CR reliability prediction for used and new, and the outgoing Accent for the past 3 years has a very good record, especially the drivetrain. I see no reason to believe that Hyundai/Kia has taken any backward steps, they're moving forward at an impressive pace with the rest of their line. I think the new Accent/Rio siblings will prove to be a very solid small car. So far so good with my Rio5, it's breaking in nicely. The Fit will certainly be the benchmark for refinement for this segment, but the Accent/Rio are no longer the penalty boxes/cars of last resort that they were previously. They're very tight little cars.   Todd in Beerbratistan
#30 of 225 My choices by turboshadow Mar 24, 2006 (1:33 pm)
I think my choices would be:   1) Fit-because it is, specification-wise, very similar to my 89 Civic Si. I loved that car and kept it for eight years. I think I'd keep a Fit just as long, if not longer. It is much more versatile than the other two.   2) Versa-Good hp and a six speed, but doesn't have the Fit's versatility.   3) Yaris-Its only a two door and it has got that goofy center IP. I absolutely hate that. Replies to this message: ubbermotor (Mar 25, 2006 7:32 am)

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