Kia Soul

John, I know this is a bit tounge in cheek but if you want a great car with a 1.3ltr engine buy a Mazda RX8. It has a rotory 1.3 engine that produces 230bhp goes like stink, is fun to drive, cheap to service and is reliable. Down side drinks petrol for fun. I have owned one for 2 years and love it to bits.

Don

Can't vouch for the Kia, but my Fiat Panda is absolutely brilliant. It even tows a boat! (couldn't get a towbar for the Brera )

We have a Citroen C1 and it's a great little car. Cheap as chips to run (£165 insurance, £35 tax, over 60mpg) and fun to drive. Big cars even give way to me, as it's such a jolly looking car in bright blue with white mirrors. By contrast the Kia is a hideous edifice.

Nigel

By 1.3, I don't think he's referring to the engine size. The Kia Soul comes with only 1.6...

Don,

What's the mileage on the RX8? I hope it's not close to 50,000.... My brother is a mechanic and has undertaken the dreaded rebuilds for a few customers...

I'd go for an S2000 over the RX8, but that's just me!

John,

How many miles do you do with the Kia? For casual driving (low miles) I'd imagine it'll be fine. For average miles (or more), you'd be in great discomfort. We had a Kia ProCeed2 (full spec) as a hire car - first five mins were great, we liked it. After 1hour - we were stiff, had enough of the road noise, etc.

So, the general price seems to be around £11,000 for the basic model, and upto £15,000 for a top-spec.

Why not a new Honda Jazz? They are very roomy, quiet, comfortable, and a responsive handler. The engine is only a 1.4, but they are great fun. The difference in quality between the Honda and Kia shouldn't be subtle.

Stay Japanese

quote:

Originally posted by Dan Carney:
By 1.3, I don't think he's referring to the engine size. The Kia Soul comes with only 1.6...

Don,

What's the mileage on the RX8? I hope it's not close to 50,000.... My brother is a mechanic and has undertaken the dreaded rebuilds for a few customers...

I'd go for an S2000 over the RX8, but that's just me!

John,

How many miles do you do with the Kia? For casual driving (low miles) I'd imagine it'll be fine. For average miles (or more), you'd be in great discomfort. We had a Kia ProCeed2 (full spec) as a hire car - first five mins were great, we liked it. After 1hour - we were stiff, had enough of the road noise, etc.

So, the general price seems to be around £11,000 for the basic model, and upto £15,000 for a top-spec.

Why not a new Honda Jazz? They are very roomy, quiet, comfortable, and a responsive handler. The engine is only a 1.4, but they are great fun. The difference in quality between the Honda and Kia shouldn't be subtle.

Stay Japanese

Hadn't thought of the Jazz, thanks Dan, a quick look at the local dealer's website shows it's on a "special scrappage" offer. I must organise a test drive.


SJB

"Stay Japanese"

Unless it's a Toyota........

Tony

Tony,

Toyota are, in fact, American!

Dan, why do you think that Toyota are American? Although clearly multinational, Toyota's HQ is, and always has been, based in Japan.

Sloop, I can only recommend the Honda Jazz without reservation.
My wife has had one since 02, OK its not for me, I'm a big 3 litre bavarian panzer so can't admit I like Honda, but believe me they tick all the boxes. Apart from doing the driving stuff well they are a real "tardis" - bigger on the inside than the outside - the rear seat combo's will move a family of travellers.

Good luck - (ex Galway & missing the pint)

From what I've heard (cousin works at Toyota), most decisions, directives come from the US...

I might be wrong...

quote:

From what I've heard (cousin works at Toyota), most decisions, directives come from the US...

I might be wrong...

You're not only wrong Dan, and please except this humorously, but one has to wonder how long you've been away from the planet. Toyota is a Japanese firm that began importing their cars into the U.S in the very early 60's. That foothold grew over time and their volume started to take off in the US after the first oil crisis of the early 70's. In the 80's, worried that action by the U.S Congress might limit their imports, which had become very popular and which had been limited voluntarily to that time, Toyota began to think about building their cars in North America. This they eventually did, now having several plants. They are, however, still very much run out of Japan as was very obvious when their CEO testified before Congress this past week speaking in very halting english. By the way all Lexus and the Prius are still exported to the U.S from factories in Japan. One final thought. Toyota had become so popular in the U.S that their sales started to approach those of GM. Many think their recent quality and production problems came about as a result of their expanding production too quickly in order to catch and pass GM.

John

Now a comment for you. Don't discount Kia. They are now part of the Hyundai Group and in the U.S the quality and reliability of both Hyundai and Kia has, for several years, been improving by leaps and bound as has their sales. I saw a new Kia Forte at a local auto show just a couple of months ago. It's a $17,000 car and the interior materials, fit, and finish were all excellent.

quote:

run out of Japan

No Japanese cmpy ever allows exec control outside of Japan - PERIOD
The European & US CEO's are there to buffer the big guys from local issues.

You're all wrong!


However, I stand corrected!

I have owned a Kia Soul for less then a month now. Decent consumption, pleasant to drive, and very comfortable inside. For someone big like me (both tall, and heavy weight), an excellent choice of an inexpensive car. High, good visibility, excellent for the city and also perfectly usable for shorter trips - I've done up to 200km and back in a single day. Price and an excellent warranty were all I needed to buy. Got my in Urban package for 13K EUR with tax, and am pretty sure that, for me, the next best car is at least 5K EUR more.

The only potential issue is the in-car hi-fi . I do plan to upgrade it, the dealer has very friendly service and they are willing to install whatever I like/bring. If you do decide to buy, and then get an after-market sound upgrade do share .

One of the problems of buying a Kia Soul is you have to drive around in a car called a Kia Soul. That would be enough to put me off. If I needed a small "puddlejumper" I think I'd have a Toyota IQ. Is that big enough for you Sloop?

"Good: Oddball, but has advantages of very comfortable seats, excellent 1.6 diesel and petrol engines, option of diesel auto, and quirky enough for cult stat
Bad: No sportscar to drive."
"
Know nothing about them,but the above is the opinion of "Daily Telegraphs",Honest John,one of my favourite car writers.

Regards
George

quote:

Originally posted by Dan Carney:
By 1.3, I don't think he's referring to the engine size. The Kia Soul comes with only 1.6...

Don,

What's the mileage on the RX8? I hope it's not close to 50,000.... My brother is a mechanic and has undertaken the dreaded rebuilds for a few customers...

I'd go for an S2000 over the RX8, but that's just me!

John,

How many miles do you do with the Kia? For casual driving (low miles) I'd imagine it'll be fine. For average miles (or more), you'd be in great discomfort. We had a Kia ProCeed2 (full spec) as a hire car - first five mins were great, we liked it. After 1hour - we were stiff, had enough of the road noise, etc.

So, the general price seems to be around £11,000 for the basic model, and upto £15,000 for a top-spec.

Why not a new Honda Jazz? They are very roomy, quiet, comfortable, and a responsive handler. The engine is only a 1.4, but they are great fun. The difference in quality between the Honda and Kia shouldn't be subtle.

Stay Japanese

It's 18,000 on a three year lease so the 50,000 rotor tip replacement won't be my problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Julian H:
One of the problems of buying a Kia Soul is you have to drive around in a car called a Kia Soul. That would be enough to put me off. If I needed a small "puddlejumper" I think I'd have a Toyota IQ. Is that big enough for you Sloop?

Apart from seating position the other thing I have to contend with is Mrs. Sloop's expectations. She's come from a family where her dad drove a Ford Zephyr and Zodiac. We've just come back from Rome and I was impressed by their use of "city cars", however mentioning getting an IQ or Fiat 500 got a very negative reaction.



SJB

Don, that's good to know

MY wife loves hers, cheap to insure and tax, good mpg, funky (tho I look a bit of a t**t in it). Really good deal on a three year lease from Fiat..... more than happy with it and the kids think it is great

I rather like the Soul, just a bit different. if you want highish seating position and some practicality how about a Skoda Roomster? Similarly quirky too.

My practical and good value suggestion would be a Honda Jazz. My wife had one for 8 years-totally reliable and throughly efficient and easy to live with. The new version is even better. it is never going to be something you drive for thrills but a totally sensible choice.

She wanted a bit more space and long distance comfort and bought a Civic in October last year. Can't fault that either, and it is almost as economical. The seats are excellent.

Bruce

FWIW I drove a Fiat 500 for a weekend and felt like I needed an osteopath at the end. This from a man whose daily transport is hardly forgiving!

My daughter has a new Hyundai i20 and her friend a FIAT 500 the i20 is bigger seems better built and is cheaper, but it doesn't have blue tooth phone gizmo, important apparently.
I think it has a longer warranty on the i20.