Anyone know what a Kia Rio is like?

matthew_o50 · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:05

As title really, a friend is thinking of getting one of these. It's a 2004 with only 5k miles for £3495 and it seems to have loads of kit. Does anyone know what they are like? He's really just after someting cheap and realiable.

2004 KIA Rio 1.3 LX
5 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Petrol, 5,000 miles, Metallic Blue, 1 Owner. ABS, Adjustable seats, Adjustable steering column/wheel, Air conditioning, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Head restraints, Folding rear seats, Immobiliser, Passenger airbag, Power assisted steering, Remote locking, Radio/Cassette, Rear headrests, CD, Central locking, Child locks, Colour coding - Body, Full service history, Metallic paintwork, Radio/CD, Tinted glass.Insurance Group:3, This car is under 2yrs old and still under warranty having only 5000 miles is in exceptional order and represents excellent value for money. Trade-in considered. £3,495

Oracle · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:06

Just look at it!

Its probably got a massive spec for the price, but it will last you 3 days, then break!

Personally, i wouldnt!

Serj · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:08

It will be very reliable. However it will also be made of the lowest quality plastic money can('t) buy. There isn't that much 'kit' either, unless you call electric windows/mirrors "kit".

In essence, don't bother.

Oracle said:
Its probably got a massive spec for the price, but it will last you 3 days, then break!

3 days then break? How so?

[TW]Fox · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:13

Absolutely rubbish.

The dishwasher of the car world.

And I've no idea what 'loads of kit' means to you buy from that list of equipment there I'd call that poverty spec.

NickXX · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:19

I think Kia do particularly poorly in the reliability tables. Someone correct me if I'm wrong..

Also, half of the kit seems to be listed twice!

Radio/CD
CD
Radio/Cassette

Headrests
Head restraints

Tbh, that's all the stuff you would just expect to have in a modern car.

matthew_o50 · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:20

Well compared to some of the other cars he's shown me it has much more to offer such as air con, remote locking etc. I've told him to go and have a look at it and see what he thinks (he's very easily pleased).

I've suggested the focus to him which he really likes but for this kind of money he can't find one with what he considers low miles in NI.

Oracle · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:20

Serj said:
3 days then break? How so?

Its a Kia!

Maz · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:21

Spec on them is not too bad, come with AC CD electric windows + mirrors RCL.

But they are just horrible cars, terrible residuals and drive like a boat.

Serj · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:28

Oracle said:
Its a Kia!

That just means they are ugly and are made with cheap materials, doesn't necessarily make them unreliable!

[TW]Fox · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:30

matthew_o50 said:
Well compared to some of the other cars he's shown me it has much more to offer such as air con, remote locking etc.

These are basic features that most cars over £1500 can be expected to have these days.

I've suggested the focus to him which he really likes but for this kind of money he can't find one with what he considers low miles in NI.

I would sooner drive a 250,000 mile Focus than a Kia Rio with 5k miles.

Burned_Alive · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:32

Its a 2004 model and its £3495, says it all really

Rich1988 · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:36

Wrong thread >.>

GT3 · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:36

[TW]Fox said:
These are basic features that most cars over £1500 can be expected to have these days.

ABS, electric mirrors, aircon, passenger airbag, adjustable steering column and metallic paint.

Mine has none of them

matthew_o50 · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:38

Serj said:
That just means they are ugly and are made with cheap materials, doesn't necessarily make them unreliable!

I agree here. Take Hyundai for example (i'm not slegging your car of Serj, just using the make as an example), my brothers Atoz is made of the cheapest materials possible but it has never faulted once and I believe Hyundai come quite high in the reliability tables.

[TW]Fox · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:42

That doesn't stop the Atoz being terrible, it simply means it won't be terrible AND break down.

matthew_o50 · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:44

but to someone that just wants a cheap and reliable car (which is the market these kind of cars are aimed at) surely the fact they are terrible won't matter.

GT3 · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:53

But why buy a terrible car when you can buy a good car?

ajgoodfellow · 12 Jun 2006 at 16:59

If you want a bland reliable car to treat as a white good something like a Corolla or Almera would be better IMO

The main selling point for the Kia is price - a lot of people will only buy a new car and it's an Astra sized car priced at Corsa levels new and even less used.

I'd personally buy a 12month old Focus/Astra instead but then again I'd never buy a Rio!

Scrutinize · 12 Jun 2006 at 17:00

Personally, I like them, Ok spec and cheap to run and insure. Cheap for a nearly new car as well and its on the money, if a tad overpriced for the car.

However unless you are retired and enjoy the smell of TCP and Moth Balls I wouldn't touch it with Fox let alone anything else

mc_bob · 12 Jun 2006 at 17:02

My dad uses one for work, same engine.

It's got an extremely pokey engine I can tell you that, and is quite fun to ride in when "racing" down the back streets.

Nothing has broken since we bout it over a year ago and has transported all sorts of crap. I like it anyway, except the plastic.

Value for money is fantastic imo.

MC_Bob