Thinking of buying Kia PIACANTO

DINKY

Thinking of buying a Kia Piacanto, any thoughts needed ?

Peter_Griffin

don't !!!!

Peter_Griffin

to clarify - I think that it scores too poorly on crash tests to even be considered, it maybe cheap but you get what you pay for, as with many of the cars from the Pacific Rim countries the build quality is not great. Ok as a little run around but thats about it, and definatly wouldn't want to be hit by a 4x4 in it.

manhattan

also,i would say that the resale value on the kia would be poor.so expect to loose alot of its value when it comes to selling it.

what about a slightly used audi a2? at around 5k plus

a very underated car which is made of aluminum of high build quality,tax is £85 a year, and they do about 65 mpg.

they are very rare sought after vehicles and it will be a future classic.

my next car will be an a2 tdi sport.

DINKY

At the moment cannot decide between Ford Fiesta or Volkswagon Polo - Any thoughts

manhattan

vw polo, better build quality

jjames_3

Well, it seems we have some ignorance on snobbery on this thread.

Firstly, the Picanto has been crash-tested, it received three stars which isn't brilliant but it means that it is still better in a crash than many supposedly better built euroboxes. As for overall build quality, to suggest that Hyundai vehicles are badly built is ridiculous, they're far, far better than any of the junk coming out of France or Italy and the mechanicals are arguably more reliable than Ford or VW, Ford certainly.

As for resale, really, someone has been listening to that oh-so-badly researched "article" on Top Gear. The Hyundai/Kia cars made in the last few years depreciate at a similar rate to Ford or Vauxhall, and the reason they're cheaper second-hand is that they are cheaper new, simple as that.

Having said all that, if you're looking at a Picanto, the Hyundai Getz is a better bet. They're facelifting it later this year, so there are bargains to be had, the car is as reliable and well built as any of the European competition (though not as good as the Japanese cars) and you get a 5-year UL mileage warranty. Bigger car as well, and very similar to the Picanto mechanically. 4-star NCAP rating as well which is pretty much as good as superminis get.

But I wouldn't recommend it either, or the overpriced and overrated Polo. Get yourself a Honda Jazz. Absolutely bulletproof. Forget European junk.

vansboy

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=116 read that & you'll be pleasently surprised!!

The Picanto represents EXCELLENT value for money & is available witha (tiny) discount, plus looks good as a used sale, as predicted future value, is better than some of the 'cheap' Pacific Rim models - Daewoo(Chevrolet) & Hyundai - Kia are actually increasing their market share at a verry high rate, too.

A car well worth considering.

VB

jjames_3

What you have to bear in mind as well is that Kia is part of Hyundai, and shares the parts bin with them. These cars are being increasingly mentioned in the same way as the Japanese -- to lumber these two twin companies with the other "Pacific Rim" cars is blinkered. Hyundai was named as second only to Honda in the latest US JD quality survey. VW? Miles behind. Makes you think.

Hyundai are targeting the Hyundai brand to mainly US and Australian customers, so their cars look a little out of place here, and Kia as the brand where the European-destined cars are going. And it is working, with Kia increasing in market share rapidly.

This is the company who has the best-selling coupe in the UK, and the 4x4s which came 1st and 3rd in this year's UK JD Power survey.

mr_accountant

If anyone thinks a VW polo is good quality, they have obviously never been in one, vile car and horrible 'customer care' too. scored poorly in JD tests too. go for the kia

wazza

just been looking at this

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/index.php?url=/carbycar/index.htm

looks like no spare wheel comes with the car

has below average NCAP rating

if unhappy with vw then consider skoda? they tend to get good review at JD power reports