Anybody own a Kia Sportage?

[Sam Conder]

I'm not sure how big your sons are, but if they are still fairly small, you might consider a compact extended cab pickup. I've been driving small Nissan extended cabs for the last 12 years and loved them. They ride well for a small truck, get good mileage and have been pretty much bulletproof. I'm sure Toyotas are probably even better, but I haven't been able to convince myself they are enough better to justify the difference in price.
This would probably be a fairly short term solution, though, since the rear seating in them won't really cut it when the kids start to grow.

My boys are 9 and 11. The 11yo is over 5' and weighs around 130.

[LCHIEN]

See that doesn't make any sense. If CR hated the 1999 Sportage so bad, why isn't it on this list? The original review was based on their testing, but this list is based on user satisfaction. That tends to tell me that those who own them are satisfied, despite the fact that CR thinks they are junk.

And based on that list, I'll now have to cross all of the Ford Windstars off that I've found because they have all been between '97 and '01.

Boy this ain't easy...

I know, I see one of my vehicles (98 Grand Caravan) is on that list. I'm generally satisfied with the car but it has been significantly more problem prone than my other cars. Quite a few small items have broken and been fixed but right now I'm living with
intermittent ABS (light comes on showing an internal fault, may not come on next time the car is started)
intermittent intermittent wiper switch (only when it rains slightly)
intermittent gas gauge sensor (hasn't happened in 2 years - cross fingers)
intermittent key door unlock switch (so I use the remote)
slow leak Freon in AC. (every 6 months)
Glove compartment door that keeps popping open. (once a week)

None is a killer but nothing like this list has happened to my other cars.
But when I filled out my survey I probably helped put it on the low reliability list, the way the questioned were structured.

I'm very ambivalent about this vehicle, asked if I would buy another Chrysler minivan, I would really have to think. I like the general concepts and the execution that Chrysler has done but worry about what electrical and mech pitfalls lie ahead.

[Black wallnut]

IMHO Consumer Reports has poor credibility. They have been known to set up their testing to favor preplanned models. They have also set things up to get preplanned results. The fine Suzuki Samuri is the best example of this. Perhaps the best ever small SUV that as it rolled off the assembly line was very stable. Any that do not believe me come ride in mine, there are plenty of oh **** bars for you to grab when I scare you but I assure you it will not roll.

Sam the list Loring posted of what CR says are really bad contains some vehicles that I've owned or friends of mine have owned. It is too large to be meaningful. It is likely that you will find a vehicle on that list that is not only in your price range but also mechanically sound.

[Cheeky]

i see the 97 saab 900 is on that list, which is one of my cars. it has been reliable, except for the intermittent check gear box light. very weird, almost as if the car starts out in 3rd gear (acclerates like a turtle) and won't up shift. happens every so often, other than that the car is great

[prlundberg]

IMHO Consumer Reports has poor credibility. They have been known to set up their testing to favor preplanned models. They have also set things up to get preplanned results. The fine Suzuki Samuri is the best example of this. Perhaps the best ever small SUV that as it rolled off the assembly line was very stable. Any that do not believe me come ride in mine, there are plenty of oh **** bars for you to grab when I scare you but I assure you it will not roll.

Sam the list Loring posted of what CR says are really bad contains some vehicles that I've owned or friends of mine have owned. It is too large to be meaningful. It is likely that you will find a vehicle on that list that is not only in your price range but also mechanically sound.

I agree, to some extent anyway.

Our 2001 Civic (bought new) was a good car, but not great. New struts, numerous squeaks and rattles, paper-thin sheetmetal that easily dented, bad weatherstripping on a door and the sunroof, and some dashboard parts weren't aligned properly. Good thing all repairs were under warranty, parts are not cheap. Overall, I was dissapointed.

Yet according to Consumer Reports, that car gets top marks accross the board. I really think some manufacturers are living more off their reputation rather than actual quality. The gap has definately closed.

My 4-Runner has been a great vehicle. But it had better be for what I paid for it compared to a domestic.

We recently bought a two year old Dodge Grand Caravan in large part because I am no longer convinced that Japanese superiority and resale is good enough to justify the high initial price. Well, in used vehicles that is. It's only been 8 months, but so far I have not regretted it.

For a similar price, I can't see a Subaru with 200K on it being any more reliable than a Ford with 100K, and parts and service would most likely be more expensive.

Just my two cents.

[JSUPreston]

Sam, I've been realy happy with my 2000 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab. May be a little higher than the price range. If you get one, make sure that it has the following done to it:

Timing belt replacement at 105k
Replaced right side exhaust manifold.

I've had mine for 2 1/2 years, and it's a great little truck. In '01, they gave the option of a 6' bed, as opposed to the 4 1/2' that I have. Both should come with bed extenders.

I've ridden in the back of mine a few times. I'd be willing to go a couple of hours in the back before having to get out. I'm 5'8", so it should work for the boys. Mine are 8 & 5, so they have plenty of room.

I've also seen some decently priced Dakota Crew Cabs around here, but the Dodge's guzzle the gas!

Best wishes.

[Sam Conder]

Sam, I've been realy happy with my 2000 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab.

I would love to pick up one of those. I searched all the used databases for one and the cheapest I could find was a 2000 model with 110,000 miles on it. It's a clean looking truck, but they want $9,000 for it. There is no way Adele and I can take on another car payment right now with Adele being unemployed since June. We'll be playing "catch-up" for several months after she is able to go back to work.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[messmaker]

Don't bite off more than you can chew. You can find good deals out there but they will be on a car or maybe a mini-van. Good clean trucks hold value very well. It has been my experience that you will get a better deal on something that you can find a million of or a model that existed as an also-ran. I think Consumer Reports give helpful info. I have been sending in info for 20+ years and never buy a car without checking the buying guide. I bought a Jeep Wrangler that they gave so-so marks and am well pleased but the info they had on my model was accurate.

[JSUPreston]

I know exactly what you mean. When I got the Frontier, I got rid of the '92 Dakota extended cab. We already had a van payment (Kia Sedona). Instead of doing the really smart thing and keeping the Dodge (it had started burning oil) and getting me a sedan for to/from work, we decided to get the Frontier instead. So, now I have two car payments, and every month I do ask myself if it was worth it. In other words, love the truck, hate the extra payment.

It's good (at least to me) to see that my truck hasn't really lost value in the past two years. After I traded in the Dakota, I paid nearly $9k for mine as well. Unfortunately, I had to have the timing belt replaced right after I got it (to the tune of $900) and have yet to replace the exhaust manifold. It leaks when the truck first starts, then after the manifold gets hot, it seals itself.

Keep looking. Also, if you find somthing you like but takes a little drive, I'm sure one of us could put you up for the night if needed.

[JimD]

I had a Kia but it was a Ford Festiva. I bought it after a Fiat 124 Spyder that was loads of fun, when it ran. The Festiva was much less fun but it always ran. I carried a 14 foot Jon boat on top and a 10 hp motor in the back. I carried 12 foot boxes of siding on the roof when I resided our former house. Nothing ever broke in the 8 years and 80,000 miles I drove it. I do not know anything about a Kia SUV but I wanted to drive one before I bought my 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara but they were closed that day. I suspect it would be at worst a decent vehicle and possibly a pretty good one.

Consumers reports is a valid source of data but I do not trust their input on vehicles much. I have never seen them give a decent grade to a Suzuki. My GV is my second. My son now has what used to be my 1997 Sidekick. I has 140K miles and still uses no oil. Got about 28 miles per gallon overall. Pulled trailers and our boats. Very slow with its little 1.8l engine but good dependable transportation. Still has the original alternator, starter, etc.. I replaced a clutch bracket a couple times but everything else was just normal maintenance.

I think you can get a good or bad example of any vehicle but for an underpriced SUV I would look for a Suzuki. The later GVs had 2.5l 6s. They totally changed in 2006 and its a bigger nicer vehicle, the pre-2005 is more like my old sidekick. They are all rear wheel drive which helps with maintenance. The 4s have a lot of room around the engine (I think they went to a 2 liter in 1998). The earlier models (pre-2006) are body on frame. Not the most quiet but sturdy. Makes a good mount for a hitch. My 1997 is a 4wd a part time system with a low range. I drove it in snow as deep as 12 inches, I was pushing a few inches, successfully.

Jim