Now I have 3 Korean Machines!

[To20Chris]

This is getting to be a habit!

I have the LK3054 of course, and I have my 1999 Hyundai Accent GSi. $11,200 new - PS, PB, PW, AC, alloys, sunroof, leather wheel, fog lights, spoiler. It's paid off, gets 29-30mpg commuting to work, is actually fun to drive, has 48k miles, zero defects, 5yrs left on the powertrain warrenty.

When I cleaned my wifes 2000 Mercury/Nissan Villager for a trip a couple of weeks ago, I noticed it was rusting farily seriously! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif We were going to pay it off and keep it, but I could see what was going to happen to it, so we traded it in on a Hyundai Santa Fe 2.7L 4WD. We mostly looked at the Ford Escape and the Hyundai. We liked the Escape, but in the end the Hyundai had more for less. It seems very nice so far! If you are wondering about Korean Mfg, you may find this interesting:
JD Power

I can say though, that if the hybrid Escape had been out, I would have gone for it.

 

[SteveH_CT]

My wife and I are really impressed with the looks of the Kia Sorento - did you look at that one? I'd be curious to hear your impressions.

Thanks,

 

[pilonidal]

Kia's = plastic, not impressed. They look great, but closer inspection even the door handles are plastic. Guess that's why they are so inexpensive.

 

[GerardC]

PLASTIC(s)...... that is the future. G

 

[SteveH_CT]

I thought they were based on the same chassis as the Sante Fe - Do you think they are lessor made than the Sante Fe? Either model seems like a lot of vehicle for the $$.

 

[pilonidal]

Definetly a value car, but it feels, and looks like it to me. Unlike the Kioti while it is a value tractor, it feels like a tractor. I am not looking at cars myself but the local mall has Kia's in it on display and they caught my eye and I snoop around them frequently while the wife is haviing fun. They look great but, to my untrained eye as it is, they feel to "cheap". They don't sound very "solid". My $.02.

 

[To20Chris]

The Sorento and the Santa Fe are completely different. The Santa Fe is a unibody chassis based on the front wheel drive Sonata sedan, much modified. This is similar to the Escape. The Kia Sorento is a full body on frame traditional 4WD design. It has a live axle in the back, with a limited slip diff and either part-time or full-time 4WD. There is a 2 speed transfer case. I was very interested in it too, as I wanted a serious full time 4WD system with a limited slip. The 3.5L V6 is a Hyundai engine, and seems quite nice. My only problem was the really porky curb weight (4,387 lbs) and resultant poor economy for a vehicle of that size. It make the Jeep Liberty look lean and trim by comparison! Actually though, I don't think it's rated any worse fuel economy than the Liberty (feint praise indeed).

Hyundai bought Kia several years ago, and has been working hard to bring their quality up.

As for plastic, I've seen no auto interiors in the last several decades that were not 100% plastic, and the only plastic exteriors I know of are on Saturns. The quality of the interior plastic trim was equal to that on the Escape, and if there is more of it, then that is because it has more features!

 

[SteveH_CT]

Thanks for the info. I get the feeling my wife is interested in looking at them. I already have a 1yr old 4Runner - great vehicle, but this expensive gas is killing me. OK - I'll stop getting off topic!... back to tractors /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[slowzuki]

Almost every car company has a team of engineers assigned to "tune" the sound of the doors closing. It's a strong influence on consumer opinion. I personally ignore it as a cheap car can be designed to have good sounding doors.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( to "cheap". They don't sound very "solid". My $.02. )</font>

 

[Degree]

Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute are based on eachother(same)

Kia is really good. They have really come a long way since there cheaper products but they have some really good products now.