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Wagons Kia Rondo Kia Rondo
379 messages, Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 5:50 AM
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Replying to: 204meca (Nov 07, 2007 7:51 pm)
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Replying to: crewzin (Nov 08, 2007 4:15 am) |
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| I own 4 relatively new vehicles: 06 Vibe, 07 Mazda MX-5 (Miata), 06 Honda Civic, and 07 Rondo. With the first 4, I get a bit of black carbon dust at the edge of the tailpipe every so often (coupla weeks), which I just wipe away. The build up of this carbon, however, is clearly worse in the Rondo---carbon shows after 2-3 short drives/uses. Any others of you notice this on your Rondo? | |
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Replying to: garnermike (Nov 19, 2007 8:04 am) |
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Replying to: bgw (Nov 19, 2007 8:19 am) http://www.canadiandriver.com/ctc/blog/?p=165 The reviewer was especially critical of the traction & stability control. Any owners out there have experiences good or bad with those functions?
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Replying to: 204meca (Dec 14, 2007 10:28 pm) I felt that the ESC worked very well, ABS worked well. Only driven in about two snowstorms this winter though. Comments later in the blog claim that the rubber on the stock tire is too hard and that reduces traction. We usually don't get much below 25 with snow where I live. If it is bitterly cold and slick, that could make a large difference. |
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Replying to: 204meca (Dec 14, 2007 10:28 pm) When my wife and I purchased our 07 Rondo EX V6 Luxury in August, we negotiated into the deal a set of 4 Goodyear winter tires, mounted on steel rims, balanced and studded, for no extra cost (yes, I bargained for these after the price of the Rondo had been agreed upon). We installed these in late November, since no one in their right minds should be driving in my Province (Newfoundland) on all-season tires. With these studded winter tires, the traction available is immense. We traded a Legacy wagon with AWD for the Rondo, and so far the Rondo's ability to get around in heavy snow or icy conditions is admirable. The traction control is a bit heavy-handed I admit, cutting power a bit too much sometimes, so I can understand how he dislikes the traction control when the all-season tires are still on the car. BUT HE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING WITH THE ALL-SEASON TIRES ANYWAY! All in all, a fantastic car that is practical and efficient. |
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Replying to: 204meca (Dec 14, 2007 10:28 pm) I've been driving on roads ranging from slush , snow pack,good hard icy sow pack created by -30 weather, and I love this car.I still haven't installed my winter tires , but this car has yet to startle or surprise me. I was concerned such a small car would be unstable in slush, but this baby just tracks through with barely a twitch.The only problem I've encountered is with snow packing behind the rear wheel spokes and throwing off the wheel balance- anyone have a cure? Interior heat is great. Drove 170 kms at below -30 temps in my shirtsleeves, I think this is the first vehicle I've ever been able to do this in! |
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I've had my Rondo LX 4cyl 5-seater for almost a year now. I must confess, this isn't a car that inspires a lot of passion -- that is to say, neither my likes nor dislikes are all that major, but I thought it might be helpful to re-energize the discussion if I shared them. The biggest thing the Rondo has going for it is value. I nearly bought a 4cyl, fwd Toyota RAV4, but decided to save about $5K and get the Rondo instead. I paid $16,499 plus freight for the LX with popular equipment. Having said that, here's the list. Likes Versatility of the cargo space - especially with the underfloor storage in the back, and the sheer volume of stuff that can be accomodated with the second row upright or folded. Reasonable gas mileage - I've averaged low/mid 20's in a mix of driving, but gotten as high as 28mpg on a highway trip. Features for the money - I especially like ESC and the standard allotment of airbags Smooth engine and transmission - with caveat below. Perfectly weighted steering - not great feedback, but the weighting couldn't be better. Very roomy second row - one of my criteria for purchasing a car is that I have to fit comfortably "behind myself" - that is, I set the driver's seat where I'd be comfortable, usually all the way back (I'm 6'2"), then try sitting in the seat behind it. Rondo passed this test with no problem at all. Makes it easy to get the toddler in and out of his car seat back there. Ergonomics - Pretty much everything is where it should be from the driver's seat. I'll add that outward visibility is great, since Kia eschewed the trend toward high beltlines. The big windows are even cut low enough that my toddler can see out of the car while strapped into his seat. Warranty - this was the clincher when I decided to buy the Rondo over the Toyota (in addition to saving money and dealing with a less obnoxious dealership). My dealership (Cherner Kia in Vienna, VA) even gives free scheduled maintenance for 5Y/60K. Competent handling - I think it was a Car & Driver review that stated the Rondo handles well for what it is. This is true - it's a tall wagon, not a sports car, but the handling is very predictable. It doesn't inspire the kind of confidence to drive the car at 11/10ths, but it's never frightening. Dislikes HVAC system - Should be totally re-thought. "Off" should be a setting on the fan speed dial, not the mode dial. I want to select the mode, even when the fan speed is off, for the draft that comes through at highway speeds. Also, the mode selection only seems to direct the majority of the air, not all of it - when I have it on "feet only", I still get air blowing at my face unless I manually close those vents. Seat comfort - Kia seems to take "bucket seat" too literally. I'd love a tad more lumbar support. I also agree with comments that the headrests don't move back far enough - even at their rearmost setting, my head is tilted slightly forward. On long trips, I find myself squirming a lot. Resale value - it must be said... if I'd bought the RAV4, I'd have a car that's still worth ~85% of what I paid for it. With the Rondo, the value is dropping much faster. Doesn't bother me that much as I prefer to keep a car for 5+ years anyway. Stock tires - pretty standard complaint, most new vehicles come with disappointing tires. But handling in greatly diminished in the rain, and I'm nervous about trying it in any substantial snow. Aux input jack for the stereo - this has also been widely commented upon, but it is one of the things that frustrates me. Fortunately, I hear it's been added for '08s. Cold performance - on cold mornings, both the transmission and engine seem very upset to be awakened from their slumber. As noted above, everything is smooth once it heats up, but until then, shifts are very clunky. No sportiness - this applies particularly to the transmission, which requires a very firm right foot before it finally downshifts. I wish that the auto box had a "sport" setting where it might downshift sooner, but at least the manual mode becomes particularly useful for some passing situations. Summary I'm very pleased with the value. I think the Rondo represents a great set of compromises between roominess and economy, features and value, performance and safety. The styling is inoffensive - I like the back end styling more than the front, which looks like a tall Toyota Matrix. Interior is well-designed. However, if you're a very sporting driver, you probably won't want the Rondo as your only car. Speaking for myself, it makes me wish I had a "weekend car" in the garage to fulfill the need for the occasional spirited drive. |
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