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New 2008 Kia Spectra....Owners..So what do you think?

11 messages,  Last post on Dec 07, 2008 at 2:36 PM

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#7 of 11 New '08 Spectra owner by qcspectra Nov 08, 2008 (8:47 am)
7,000 miles on my new '08 Spectra EX w/manual transmission. Absolutely loving it. Daily driving is 65% city / 35% highway. Averaging 32 mpg, with a high of 35 and a low of 26, well over the EPA 23/30. Great shifter. High-quality interior. Roomy front and back seats. Quite ride. Responsive steering and brakes. Great dealer experience (Courtesy Kia in Moline, IL) at purchase (Allen Rutledge rocks) and subsequently from the service dept.   Cross-shopped the '08 Civic, Mazda3, Corolla, Elantra and Cobalt. The Cobalt was a joke. As far as the other 4, I found the Spectra to be more comfortable, more roomy, quieter, had more features, a better warranty, and a better price.   My only concern is eventual resale value and the horror stories I've read about Kia not standing behind the too-good-to-be-true warranty. We bought an '07 Sedona EX new and this '08 Spectra EX. Dealer has been fantastic with any warranty issues.
#8 of 11 Great car, great value! by billddrummer Nov 26, 2008 (12:14 pm)
I bought a 2008 Kia Spectra in March 2008, and already have over 16,000 miles on it. Multiple commute destinations and drivers make it a 600 mile/week vehicle.   I love the car, even though I don't get a chance to drive it much (share with 2 other drivers). Lumbar support is great for long trips, and mileage is exceptional. Mixed driving is consistently 30+ mpg, even with three lead footed drivers, and highway mileage is in the high 30s.   Pickup for merging is good, especially if you hold it in gear while accelerating. It's not all that great when fully loaded (slow pickup with 3-4 adults riding).   Overall, a cool commuter vehicle with great safety features. (Side curtain airbags, rollover protection and a stiffer bulkhead to protect against rear impact are excellent, and at this price point, I consider them bonuses.) Replies to this message: mityhid (Nov 30, 2008 1:16 pm) billddrummer (Dec 02, 2008 12:40 pm) mityhid (Dec 07, 2008 2:36 pm)
#9 of 11 Re: Great car, great value! [billddrummer] by mityhid Nov 30, 2008 (1:16 pm)
Replying to: billddrummer (Nov 26, 2008 12:14 pm) I don't have an 08 but I did buy an 06 brand new two years ago and have had minimal problems with it. A wheel bearing and some issues with the a/c. Fixed under warranty with no issues with them paying for. Have 27000 miles on it and the only dissappointment I have is the mileage is good but not what I expected(could be the manual transmission and the fact that I have to use E10 here). And the stock Goodyear Eagle LS's are junk imo. Had to be replaced already so I put snowtires on. Will be buying different rims and summer tires for the warmer months. Definitely give this car an A Replies to this message: billddrummer (Dec 02, 2008 12:40 pm) mityhid (Dec 07, 2008 2:36 pm)
#10 of 11 Re: Great car, great value! [mityhid] by billddrummer Dec 02, 2008 (12:40 pm)
Replying to: mityhid (Nov 30, 2008 1:16 pm) Glad you've had positive experiences with the dealer on the minor issues needing attention. And as far as the tires go, I've noticed that they're notorious for losing air, especially if you're in a region that has wide temperature swings. Here in Reno the temperatures can range from 20 degrees to 70 in a 24 hour period. I think that's why tires wear so quickly here.   I've been checking mine every day, and typically have to add air all around. Take a look at that when you replace yours. Replies to this message: mityhid (Dec 07, 2008 2:36 pm)
#11 of 11 Re: Great car, great value! [billddrummer] by mityhid Dec 07, 2008 (2:36 pm)
Replying to: billddrummer (Dec 02, 2008 12:40 pm) I kept an eye on the pressure, was usually within a couple pounds. So no problem with that. Did rotate every 10k, wore evenly just didn't last like I expected.

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