A Cautionary Tale - Don't Buy A KIA!

No lie KS, I read a few months ago a blurb that one model of honda (or maybe toyota?) that is assembled here is made with more american parts than the ford mustang. One set of GM heads that I have (pos ones to boot) are stamped 'Heche en Mexico'. lol!! So much for American made!

Okay, I have a 97 Sportage with over 110K on the clock. Only abnormal (somewhat) service that it has needed was a radiator. All the other has been routine. Now, I work at a Buick agency, been 10 years now, over 15 in the aftermarket before that. So I don't like to work on cars in my free time.If I owned a Buick, I wouldn't have much free time. Sounds to me you have issues with more than the car. Did you buy the car from the agency you took it to for the problem? Sometimes they don't fancy people buying cars elsewhere, then bringing them there. Was the car still shaking after a new tire? If so, prabably a bent wheel. They don't bend by themselves. Perhaps the regular driver overlooked the fact he/she ran into a sinkhole. If the tire was only bald in one spot, it's not an alignment issue. Busted belt! Never seen one busted from anything but impact. I'm not trying to blame you or the car, just trying to point out what may have happened. Also, if you went to the dealer with a chip on your shoulder, that will get you nowhere fast. Kia's are disposable cars, but so are all the others.If they where built to last forever, nobody would buy more than one :^)

If you're buying new tires, go to Wallys supercenters... they're everywhere, and no questions asked when I take in a shredded tire... they take it off, measure the tread, and give me a new one...

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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

I'm with you. Mitsubishi knows how to build a motor, I have two of their diesel motors in my equipment. Never had a problem with them. I can't comment on the rest of their vehicles, but I know the third world countries are full of their vehicles. Their vehicles probably outnumber all others combined. They can't be that bad.

Pete

Just a thought , I see people with things written on their cars back window like...Please don't hit me blank blank insurance will not pay for it....... just a thought...lol

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If your going to dream , DREAM BIG

Kindred--that is true. About 80% of the Hondas and Toyotas you see on the road are American made, by which I mean about 80% of each individual vehicle, for most models. The Japanese are doing a better job about employing US workers than their 'American' counterparts.

I see buying an American-made "Japanese" car as being my way of protesting the outsourcing of American jobs to foreign countries by "US" auto companies--I'm "outsourcing" the top management positions of my car company while supporting its US-based factory workers.

I bought a Kia Amanti recently and so far it runs very well.It is a beautiful car and has many great features. I did get the run around in service though and will go to another dealer for future work.
I was getting the tires rotated and mentioned that my windsheild wiper light was on and the guy says ok we will fill it. An hour later it failed when I tried to use it so I went back. What ------ me off was I overheard the workmen complaining with each other and tried to say I broke it. Apparently when they closed the hood they broke off a hose connection. They fixed it but did not want to. I got the attitude big time. They will not be trusted by me.

We bought a brand new KIA rio too. No problems with it at all. Sounds like a fluke. I could say never buy a jeep grand cherokee laredo too for the trouble we had with ours and I could say buy a ford ranger. Things vary car to car and your experience is probably not a general one.

Well, I wish you luck.

Now, on to that new tire thing - Big O was probably your second mistake. The one near me has the most rotten customer service I've ever gotten from a tire place. Oh wait, maybe a just a close second behind the Firestone place down the road...hmm, maybe you just passed to close to me and my bad tire-service luck rubbed off?

Oh, but I have a lovely parts guy - he's always glad to see me come in, and he gives me a really good discount - helpful when your car has 169,000 + miles on it!

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A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something. - Plato

My mom has a Kia Sportage, it truly is a piece of junk. Something is always breaking in the stupid thing, one after another. My best advice would be to learn how to do your own vehicle repairs, you could save alot of money and catch alot of potential problems in the beginning. I drive a 20 year old Suburban 4 X 4, if something goes wrong, no prob, my DH could take the whole thing apart and put it back together blindfolded. He is a self-taught mechanic who spent his teen years building and drag racing cars. He said he learned a great deal from reading and watching others and has taught me quite a bit.

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All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.