26th Dec 2005, 16:00

I have some friendly advice for JW (the original reviewer).

You may want to try selling your Kia privately for $4,000, which you MAY be able to get for it - as long as the buyer doesn't see your review here.

Then, if you want another new car, try going to a dealer and just negotiate the price. For example, the Ford dealer might give you $3,000-$5,000 off the sticker price of the vehicle you were looking at without a trade in.

Or you could just buy a used vehicle. I own a 2002 Kia Rio. I know I am probably VERY LUCKY to have had few problems at 65,000 miles. But every 15,000 miles I end up paying about $300-$400 at the Kia dealership for general maintenance to keep the warranty up. Now I have to pay $700 for the 60,000 service because of the standard timing belt replacement.

This was the first new car I ever bought (at 35 years old), and will probably be the last. Not because of major mechanical problems with my Kia. It is just plain expensive to own a new car, especially when you take into account the cost of maintenance at the dealership just to keep the warranty going. I'm sure it is like this with all new cars, but maybe I'm wrong about that.

Before my Kia I pretty much bought used American cars, basically because you can get them for much less with the same mileage. For example, I've seen 1997 Hondas and Toyotas with $80,000 miles going for $10,000! I just bought a 1997 Mercury Cougar with 79,000 miles for $2,700 and it looks great, runs excellent, floats over bumps, and is MUCH more comfortable than any Honda or Toyota I ever drove. My girlfriend has inherited the Kia for now, which we plan to keep until we run it into the ground. It is still in good condition, but I will almost be relieved when the 100,000 mile warranty period is over.

While in college, by the way, I worked at a valet parking lot at the airport and found American cars to be far superior in the comfort category than any other manufacturers. Mechanical reliability may be slightly less, but I've never had to dump huge amounts of money into any used car I owned. Again, maybe just luck.

In the last 25 years I have owned about 9 used cars and 1 new car. I've had 4 Mercurys during that time, which I seem to have the best luck with - my Grand Marquis lasted about 6 years at a total cost of about $8,000 - purchase price plus minor repairs over the years. I had a Pontiac 6000LE that also lasted about 3 years for about $2,500 purchase price plus $500 repairs (totaled in accident).

So the best advice I can offer is to buy a decent used car. Also, pay the $25 to use Carfax for a month while you are looking, consider a lower priced American car, and check out some of the owner review sites.

If you spend $2,500 - $5,000 on a decent used car and it turns out to be a problem, it is a MUCH easier loss to take.

Good luck!

29th Dec 2005, 14:18

Hi, original reviewer here again.

Thanks for the kind advice. Unfortunatly here in Ontario Canada, we have to pay 15% tax on the purchase of a new or used vehicle from a dealership. If the dealer allows $5,000 as trade value it also reduces the tax charged by $750. You pay tax on the net value of the deal only. Our governments don't double dip on taxation.

Your advice is good though. Many dealers don't want high mileage cars as trade and may cut a deal that is better if you don't trade. You may also be able to sell your car for much more than the trade value if you sell it as certified. Obviously it's a risk, but one worth considering. Like you pointed out, just do the math.

Fortunatly, I received a $6,000 trade in value from my local Pontiac dealer. I purchased a new 2006 Montana SV6. I looked at an Odyssey as well as a Sienna, but they offered much less for my Sedona than the Ford dealer and their vans were considerably more than the Montana. I would have bought the Ford, but I liked the Montana better.

Time will tell if I made the right choice. My only suggestion is to buy what you like not what's the cheapest. I found this out the hard way.

Good luck with your Kia, it seems you may have a good one.

20th Feb 2006, 08:33

What kind of alternator costs 1100?

3rd Mar 2006, 13:25

Call the Kia dealer in Barrie Ontario Canada and ask how much they want to replace the alternator in a 2002 Sedona.

Oh, and one more thing. Even though the same dealer had just replaced the accessory drive belt at the 96k service, their parts manager said that I had to replace the same belt because Kia said that this was mandatory. They wanted $240 for this belt. I had to remind him that they had just replaced the belt and should Kia insist that a new one be installed, then Kia should pay for it. He then said he was just passing on what he was told. I don't like being taken advantage of, or by people who think they can, and that's one more reason why I'll never buy another Kia.

While your at it, ask them how much they want for an air filter ($42) and spark plugs ($18 each).

11th May 2006, 07:52

My Kia Sedona 2002, 67,000 miles, stopped working while we were driving on the Pa. turnpike. Long story short... towed to kia dealer, they said that my sears battery buckled and ruined the alternator, $950. later I am driving and the car does the same thing. Got towed again. Now I am reading that in the TBS May 2003 there was a statement from Kia that the alternators are causing the batteries to drain and are burning out. Dealer and KIa rep act as if I am talking gibberish.

I would never again buy any Kia. We have had electrical problems from the beginning.

23rd Sep 2006, 16:00

I own a 2002 Kia Sedona with about 87,000 miles on it. so far it is the best car/van I have ever owned. The alternator went bad at 81,000 that cost $550 installed. and tires at 40k & 80k because the van weighs almost 2 1/2 Tons. the check engine light came on just before had to take it in for an emissions test at 86k. Turns out it was the 02 oxygen sensor. If you get it before 80k its covered. I do need a front wiper motor because it starting to slip. my wife wants me to buy a new van, but this is my third van because of the kids and I'm not buying another van. Next car has got to be sporty. and no van I don't care who makes it can be considered sport.