Kia/Hyundia rise in popularity

I've got myself a I30 1.4l to drive for the week after having my car smashed into yesterday, it's good enough to get me from a to b but its very basic and plasticy!
 
I'm surprised Fox et al have not posted in this thread, probably tried to, then "hnnnnnnnnnnng!" the thought of plastic interiors got the better of them. :p
 
Ive got a 2001 "Y" PLATE Hyundai accent 1.3gsi. Its an ok car, i've been through god knows how many wheel bearings, 2 x rear brake cylinders, 5 heater matrix, 1 x radiator and a 1 clutch. Currently only done 87000 miles or so. All this in the last 3 years. Oh and the "check engine light" has been on for about the last 2 years.
 
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teulk said:
Ive got a 2001 "Y" PLATE Hyundai accent 1.3gsi. Its an ok car, i've been through god knows how many wheel bearings, 2 x rear brake cylinders, 5 heater matrix, 1 x radiator and a 1 clutch. Currently only done 87000 miles or so. All this in the last 3 years. Oh and the "check engine light" has been on for about the last 2 years.
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No make of car is really perfect now is it?
 
When I was car hunting a few months back, I test drove an i30 estate 1.6 diesel. Apart from the plastics, I really liked it.

Basically, they're doing what Skoda did a decade ago. I'd sooner take a new I30 or Cee'd than a Golf, Focus or Octavia at the moment, assuming my own money's involved.
 
fadetoblack said:
No make of car is really perfect now is it?
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teulk said:
Ive got a 2001 "Y" PLATE Hyundai accent 1.3gsi. Its an ok car, i've been through god knows how many wheel bearings, 2 x rear brake cylinders, 5 heater matrix, 1 x radiator and a 1 clutch. Currently only done 87000 miles or so. All this in the last 3 years. Oh and the "check engine light" has been on for about the last 2 years.
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I wasn't really complaining, i think ive been lucky for it to last as long as it has, prior to that i think i only paid max £50 to get it through its MOT's
 
teulk said:
Ive got a 2001 "Y" PLATE Hyundai accent 1.3gsi. Its an ok car, i've been through god knows how many wheel bearings, 2 x rear brake cylinders, 5 heater matrix, 1 x radiator and a 1 clutch. Currently only done 87000 miles or so. All this in the last 3 years. Oh and the "check engine light" has been on for about the last 2 years.
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Just to balance that out my wife had a '99 Hyundai Accent for 3-4 years and it was easily the most reliable car that either of us has owned. The only thing that required replacement over normal service items was the reverse light switch on the gearbox, not a single other fault. It was a pretty basic car with a dire interior though, but it was cheap to buy, cheap to run and provided excellent service.
 
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I've got a 61 plate Kia Cee'D courtesy car at the moment whilst Skoda fix my Fabia VRS.

So, and I'm sure I'll be brutally attacked for this, its actually for someone who doesn't give a toss about a car other than a way to get from A-B an ok car.

Sure, styling inside isn't incredible, ride is acceptable if a little bouncy, the doors have that 'VAG group clunk' and the engine (1.6 CRDi) was actually pretty respectable for 'just getting there' performance driving 220 miles today.

Based on that, with a lower price tag and a 7 year warranty, I can see why people who don't give a toss buy them.
 
The new Hyundai models coming out this year look superb and far better equiped and warranty compared to the opposition so I can see why they are selling shed loads.

I think the new estate thing comes with leather, satnav, panoramic roof, fully laoded up and can be bought for under £20,000.
 
I have got a new Kia Sportage KX3 fully loaded.

Haggled them down to to 24k brand new delivery milage from a main dealer. I then informed them of my trade in, 58 plate Astra SRI which I got 6.5k for, so paid in total 17.5k for it.

I am really enjoying the Sportage. Its a nice car to drive and the wife feels more comfortable when she is out driving it.

Would have never looked at at a KIA before i saw the new Sportage. I was looking at second hand Range Rover Sports if im honest. Yes i would still prefer a Range Rover Sport, but for what we paid for on the KIA and the warranty which is very good im happy to have what "should" be trouble free motoring for the next 7 years.

Only issue i have had with it so far is the blind on the glass roof rattles. This is being rectified when i find time to take it to the dealers lol.
 
And there's good reason the Kia Sorento sold by the shedloads as well.

A good looking 4x4 which won caravan towing car of the year for 3 years on the trot, can tow up to 2,500kgs, return 40mpg, long warranty, very well equiped, one of the few 4x4's which come with a low range box and you can negotiate a new, top specced one for under £20,000.

A simlar spec Range Rover Sport costs double.

Easy choice IMO.
 
Hi, in the majority they are cheap cars with long warrenties, elderly people must be flocking to them...
Chris
 
My uncle has a Hyundai Sonata, which they don't sell here, they used to sell the old model but they never sold the current one (he lives in Canada and they are fairly common there). It's a nice car, certainly at least on a par with anything Ford or GM knock out and more interesting than most Japanese cars. His has the top spec, which has heated leather, nav, satellite radio (why the hell don't we get that here! ..grrr) multi-zone climate etc ...and a fairly remarkable 270bhp 2 litre turbo charged engine, yes that's 270bhp from a 2 litre 4 cylinder turbo unit ...that isn't in a Subaru or a Mitsubishi ...it's a lot smoother and quieter than their rally bread offerings anyway.

It's a nice car, quick, comfortable and good looking with a great warranty and a very attractive price tag ...I hope as people come around to the idea of buying a Hyundai or a Kia that we do see their nicer cars here, like the Genesis, Sonata andthe Optima etc.
 
i think you do get a lot of car for your money.

Veloster Sport has a good spec.

a couple of years back i was looking at the i30.

posted on a few forums and was persuaded on another car. would have saved a lot of money if i stuck to the i30.

dont wanna say it, but the decision was brand name driven.
 
Need4Dee said:
i think you do get a lot of car for your money.

Veloster Sport has a good spec.

a couple of years back i was looking at the i30.

posted on a few forums and was persuaded on another car. would have saved a lot of money if i stuck to the i30.

dont wanna say it, but the decision was brand name driven.
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So true. But eventually the "cheap" brands have their day. Look how we all used to laugh at Skoda and Toyota?

Hyundai and Kia are offering very good cars, highly specced, great warranties, cheap prices and at least they are trying with style and look a bit different to the competition.

I really do struggle nowadays to tell the difference between a vast majority of cars on the road.
 
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