jeepster4
Champion Author
Kansas City
Posts:4,317
Points:712,410
Joined:Apr 2008
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Message Posted: Aug 21, 2009 2:37:58 AM
I sold my first Kia in 1996, when all they had was the Sportage and the Sephia. For the first couple of years they were selling a bad car. About 2000, when the Korean government made the forced marriage of Kia and Hyundai(another story involving the Asian financial collapse and government ownership of the banks), quality became very important to Kia and Hyundai. They dropped the Sportage and changed the name of Sephia to Spectra. The Sephia had such a bad reputation that the name change was necessary. From 2000 on the quality improved by leaps and bounds. The Sportage name was brought back on an all new fwd crossover in 2005. By the time I retired in 2006, I bought a new Sportage. The car has been great. This year, the C class compact has had another name change to Forte and it is world class in every way.
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c_Pat
Champion Author
San Antonio
Posts:6,296
Points:1,081,915
Joined:May 2004
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Message Posted: Aug 20, 2009 3:42:44 PM
I drove a 2000 Sephia for 8 years--sold it with 333,333 miles on it. Changed oil every 3-4 thousand miles. Had the timing belt replace 2 times. I thought it was a very reliable car. Bought a Kia Spectra5 in February of this year.
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javarod
Sophomore Author
Phoenix
Posts:120
Points:43,900
Joined:Nov 2007
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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2008 7:19:56 PM
Since i'm driving around as a courier in a 99 Sephia, i'm going to defend them... sorta. They can be reliable cars, so long as you understand they were learning to build cars back then, so the more complicated you make it, the less reliable it is. The one i have originally came with nothing. Heck, it had so little equipment, i'm surprised the engine wasn't extra charge. This car is a five speed manual, manual steering, manual windows, seats, no A/C (that really sucks in AZ), didn't even come with a radio. Its dead reliable, but sometimes i think that's because there's nothing to break, it'll run great until the squirrel dies. :D
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bluebird1
Champion Author
Toronto
Posts:15,735
Points:3,108,125
Joined:May 2004
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2007 9:38:47 AM
Most of the earlier Kia's had maintenance/reliability issues. I bought a used 2004 Kia Rio RX-V about a year ago, as ratings improved after 2003 & the Hyuandai engine/drivetrain was used....I was so wrong. Even though low mileage at time I bought it, its just had problem after problem exercising their warranty a lot but as you know you pay for the incidentals after each one. Bought it as a commuter car, but found had enough room to use for trips when fuel got high.... 3 road trips each time getting the check engine light coming on.
I think a large part is the bad dealership situation here in east-end Toronto, compounded with the car... all leading to the worst car maintenance wise I've ever owned.
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ktown
Champion Author
Los Angeles
Posts:4,414
Points:884,485
Joined:Jun 2004
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Message Posted: Jul 30, 2007 7:09:56 PM
I'm still driving my 1997 Sephia. It's been a good car to me. Minimal repairs and I'm getting 300+ miles on its 10 gallon tank. No complaints there. My wife got a 2005 Rio Cinco and loves it.
When the end of summer 2007 clearance deals come around, I'm going to be looking at the Kia Rondo. I've only seen a couple on the road, but they look pretty nice. My wife rolls her eyes at the thought of another Kia, just because we're already so entrenched as the "Kia family" to friends and family. But hey, I was satisfied with them for so long while they were a terrible car company on the brink of extinction, why should I have a problem sticking with them now when they're continually cranking out great vehicles with top safety marks and top warranties?
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bluebird1
Champion Author
Toronto
Posts:15,735
Points:3,108,125
Joined:May 2004
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Message Posted: Aug 31, 2006 9:09:57 AM
I know 2 people that had nothing but problems with them.
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Derbydo
Sophomore Author
Texas
Posts:186
Points:43,305
Joined:Aug 2005
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Message Posted: Nov 5, 2005 7:55:33 AM
I have a friend with a 2000 Kia Sephia and she loves it. It has 150,000 miles and she has spent only a minimal amount of money on it. She drives a lot of miles each month. Had to replace some brake parts along with pads; new fan belts. Other than that, just normal maintenance. If they made them, she would buy another.
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#12#_kevinstripling
Rookie Author
Atlanta
Posts:6
Points:200
Joined:Jun 2005
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Message Posted: Jun 16, 2005 2:39:22 PM
I have had problems with this make of car. After viewing this forum I better understand that the Sephia is not a good make for Kia. So to other buyers interested in Kia products. Even through they not longer make them avoid Sephia's. The are head-ahes down the road. Not a long lasting vehicle. Pass it on.
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