After recently returning my friend's Mazda RX7, I was in need of a car to move around with, and I got a Kia Pride at next to nothing (US $100).
I figured what the heck.
The car is a four door hatchback and mine came with a 1300cc engine, no power steering, automatic and air conditioning.
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A review by sting_of_the_scorpion on KIA Pride June 30th, 2006
Author's Car rating:
Comfort
Satisfactory
Road Handling
Good
Security
Poor
Looks
Poor
Advantages:
great gas mileage
Disadvantages:
discontinued, hi - cost maintenance parts
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full car review
After recently returning my friend's Mazda RX7, I was in need of a car to move around with, and I got a Kia Pride at next to nothing (US $100).
I figured what the heck.
The car is a four door hatchback and mine came with a 1300cc engine, no power steering, automatic and air conditioning.
Perfect for a fixer-upper quick-money-bringer.
In terms of looks, you can't do much worse (if at all). This car is square - even Scion doesn't have a car this square and boxy, and this car was probably the inspiration for Nissan's cube.
Inside, this car is a bad 80's flashback - grey interior, square, straight-edged dashboard, flimsy-looking gear shifter, everything is very basic.
But she had it where it counted - under the hood. At 1300cc fuel injected, this little car isn't much to move around with (by comparison, the Mazda RX7 also has a 1300cc engine) but the gas consumption was excellent, that is, until you turned on the air conditioning. While the A/C did not burn as much gas as some other cars, the power of the car itself was extremely low, with poor acceleration and lower top speed (with the A/C on, that is).
Driving and handling this car is not the best experience, but it is workable - if you plan on keeping this car, my immediate recommendation is to replace the rims and tyres with 14" rims and some 205.55R14 tyres - they are slightly bigger and wider than the original set of rims and tyres, which would allow for much better handling. The car handles and corners pretty well, (although I thought the brakes could use some improvement - stopping was a little too long for my liking) but because of its small size, it doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence. Visibility is very good, and is very easy to navigate in some big parking lots. Ground clearance is not as much as I thought, so be careful around speedbumps.
If you are looking for a spacious car, look elsewhere. True, this car has 4 doors and a trunk, but it looks like a stationwagon that shrunk in the wash. Four people can sit somewhat comfortably in this car, but not for a long drive. Trunk space was extremely limited, in spite of the car's design - one gym bag, and we had little room for anything else. The car itself is comfortable, as long as you do not plan on going very far, because then the people sitting in the backseat start to complain about the lack of legroom (always a complaint from ANYone sitting in the backseat of ANY car) and the poorly cushioned seats were not very helpful.
Air conditioning was mediocre at best, but I found that when serviced properly, it was actually very effective, keeping the car cool (and this is a tropical country) and the windows clear in the rain.
Also, this car comes from Kia and this model is no longer manufactured - whether as that style or as another car under the same name. Translation - discontinued model means no more OEM parts from Kia, which means that you would have to go looking for substitute sub-standard replacement parts. However, I must give credit to my local Kia dealer - even though they no longer supported the car, she did make it a point to help me locate substitute parts and OEM parts as far as possible.
In terms of safety, there are no airbags, no ABS, no immobiliser, no factory-installed alarm, nothing. Therefore, there is no security aside from the door locks.
Long story short: this is a great TEMP car - something to drive while you shop around for something better - it is great on gas, easy to park, easy to handle, but parts are a trifle hard to come by.
Advantages: very cheap to run Disadvantages: can give trouble in the wet.
...25000 miles in my wee kia and get around 45 to the gallon.
The only problem I have had with it is due to the location of the ignition coil which is prone to getting wet. I have had to clean it and squert WD40 all over it and in the end resorted to covering it with a plastic bag to keep the water from splashing up onto it.
I have been so impressed with the value for money that this car gives me I will get another when this one is 2 years old. ...
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This car has got every thing that you will ever need in a small car. It is quite nippy, got a decent acceleration, enjoyable to drive. You can even get a decent MPG out of it. This is one of the cheapest cars on the market ! It even offers electric windows. This car normally costs about 3-4000 GBP and is good fun! If you just want a car for popping to and fro then this is the car for you. Mi Brother has recently bought his one and doesn't regret ...
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Advantages: reliable , cheap , nippy Disadvantages: weak chasis and body , gear ratios
...in freeways this could be less.so it has a good fuel consumption.
In conclusion Kia Pride is good because of it`s:
reliability,economy,engine,equipment,interior space
and is not suitable in some cases such as:
chasis and body,handling,gear box,interior design.
Thanks for your helpful advices and for reading.
Pejman ...
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Advantages: cheap to run, reliability Disadvantages: none
We have had our Kia pride for 3 years now. We purchased it as a used car when it was 2 years old.
In the 3 years we have had it, we have had no problems at all. We found it to be very reliable and very cheap to run. It does 44 miles to the gallon, and has never let us down, and it has enough poke to get you anywhere fast, my husband has had 90mph out of it very comfortably. It has gone through 3 mot`s with nothing wrong, and has never let us down. ... ...a big difference. Our little kia even has electric windows, how much would a little car with electric windows cost at ford? Kia definitely give you a lot more car for your money. The service from kia is second to none. My husband is disabled and as such, needs a courtesy car when ours is in for service or mot. Many dealers would charge for this, but not kia, whenever i call to book our car in the first thing they say to me is ah yes you need a courtesy ...
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Advantages: Cheap to buy (cos no one wants em!!), reliable, decent engine Disadvantages: looks like a reject from 20 years ago!!
I started driving my Kia pride last year when my dad bought one for me to learn to drive in. It sounded good V reg (1999/2000), only 30,000 miles, metallic blue, electric windows for only £1300. Then i saw it! Its previous owner was a farmer who totally knackered it. Multiple scratches, rust, and muck everywhere! After 2 months of cleaning though it looked ok inside and out (even though it looks like it was around late 80s/early 90s). I thought i ... ...as there were several things wrong with it: the seat not going far enough back for my legs even though im only 5'8, constantly missing second gear, needing a new exhaust, tyres, brake pipes, brake pads, windscreen repairs all within about 3 weeks. However after much convincing that these things need replaced on every car i have had nothing else wrong with it. Even though im the only one who can actually drive my car without stalling at every junction, ...
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Advantages: Cheep to buy and run Disadvantages: It's not a Porsche
...Last November I bought a new KiaPride, being 100 miles from the dealer this was not the simplist of tasks but after requesting a brochure over the net and ordering over the phone the car was delivered to my door at 6:00pm one tuesday.
It's a 3 door hatch with a 1.4l engine giveing me around 48 miles to the gallon.
The reasoning behind the purchase was simple I also have a Nissan Patrol doing about 20 to the gallon so this car almost pays for it's self I dont worry about frills and I am very happy with this small car as I travel between 700 and 1000 miles per week.
What other car can you get for 5,500 quid with 60000 miles / 3 years warranty 1 year RAC cover and 2 years interes free credit. I will trade this one in at the end of 2 years with 70 - 80 thousand miles on the clock and get another on the same deal unless other...
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Advantages: Quite up to date, lots of technology, bags of space Disadvantages: Hard seats and suspension
...to have 2-3 people in it. The Kia Rio 1.3 has bags of space and you can fit alsorts of things in there, its very affordable without putting itself in the "Too cheap to be good" bracket. You certainly get a lot for your money, good customer service, reliability, and a few of the essential mod-cons including alround electric windows, electric mirrors and ABS, not only that but the car prides itself on having good security by being chipped, and providing you the driver with a chipped key. So, in summary the Kia Rio 1.3 is certainly at the top of its game ticking all the right boxes if you want an affordable, reliable, secure, practical and spacious family car....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
I started University in Derby in September 1997, just a month after Derby County Football Club started the new Premiership season in a new stadium. From the main entrance of the Pride Park stadium you can still just see the floodlights of the now... more
Production Year: 1998 - Family - Director: Darrell Rooney - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, Neve Campbell, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, Robert Guillaume
24.07.2000
08.08.2007
