JHZR2
Staff member
Hi,
Im in chicago this week, and have a kia spectra rental car. I have to say that I think it is great!!!
4 wheel discs - top notch. Power - wonderful. Transmission (AT) - geared well. Back seat - amazingly roomy. Headroom (for a 6ft5 athlete) - excellent. Headlights - actualy thought out wit gret cutoff and a euro beam pattern wit good efiiciency.
The car is FAR quieter than my friend's 07 Matrix. Around town and even with reasonable highway driving, the engine is REALLY willing to move. 0-30 (town driving) is a snap... highway driving is more than willing to get you to 75 with a second 250# passenger and luggage without a hassle. Very quiet inside, decent interior materials, etc.
Ive driven the latest and past model Civic (the latest I dont even consider an economy car anymore), and I dont think they are anywhere in the ballpark, especially given price. They may be nice, yahoo... doesnt mean much when you look at the sticker and laugh that you mistook it for an ECONOMY car. corolla - ho hum. Matrix - loud, more underpowered. Focus, whle I liked it as an econobox, and will continue to like it because driving dynamics are a tad bit better (Ill get to that), this car is a slightly nicer package.
All that said, Im not really comparing this to the civic (too large and pricey), mazda 3 (expensive and far different tuning), or the toyota yaris (too small). However, I think it fair to compare to the corolla, matrix, ion, cobalt, focus, elantra, all of which Ive driven, some at great length.
My dislikes on this car: soft front suspesion - hard braking takes a nose dive indicating way too soft front shocks/struts. Perhaps a pair of bilstein HDs would help that. AT selector - doesnt have a natural stop at 'D' but rather at '3'. Engine - more than willing to swiftly take you to 75+ MPH, with a smooth downshift and minimal noise... however, the feel of the rush of real torque does not exist. The engine does not pull to make me feel the way I do in, say my saab, where it genrates real torque aqnd presses me into my seat - this car does accelerate decently, but it doent feel like the torque is there. Oh well. Economy - rated around 34 MPG. My Saab with a LOT of extra space, a LOT more power, and a better overall package is rated at 34 and delivers more than that routinely.
I really have to say that I really enjoy this car, even its lines and overall look. I am on travel about 50% of the time, and always have rental cars (generally compact of midsize). I own 5 of my own, and my immediate family has 9 all together. I have a lot of expereince driving a lot of cars, and tend to be quite analytical when driving (like doing anything - Im an engineer). I have to say that as of now, this is my favorite rental car to date. A MT version of this car should be on anyone's list... Too bad it is not a domestic make. I wonder if it is made in the USA.
Best,
JMH
Im in chicago this week, and have a kia spectra rental car. I have to say that I think it is great!!!
4 wheel discs - top notch. Power - wonderful. Transmission (AT) - geared well. Back seat - amazingly roomy. Headroom (for a 6ft5 athlete) - excellent. Headlights - actualy thought out wit gret cutoff and a euro beam pattern wit good efiiciency.
The car is FAR quieter than my friend's 07 Matrix. Around town and even with reasonable highway driving, the engine is REALLY willing to move. 0-30 (town driving) is a snap... highway driving is more than willing to get you to 75 with a second 250# passenger and luggage without a hassle. Very quiet inside, decent interior materials, etc.
Ive driven the latest and past model Civic (the latest I dont even consider an economy car anymore), and I dont think they are anywhere in the ballpark, especially given price. They may be nice, yahoo... doesnt mean much when you look at the sticker and laugh that you mistook it for an ECONOMY car. corolla - ho hum. Matrix - loud, more underpowered. Focus, whle I liked it as an econobox, and will continue to like it because driving dynamics are a tad bit better (Ill get to that), this car is a slightly nicer package.
All that said, Im not really comparing this to the civic (too large and pricey), mazda 3 (expensive and far different tuning), or the toyota yaris (too small). However, I think it fair to compare to the corolla, matrix, ion, cobalt, focus, elantra, all of which Ive driven, some at great length.
My dislikes on this car: soft front suspesion - hard braking takes a nose dive indicating way too soft front shocks/struts. Perhaps a pair of bilstein HDs would help that. AT selector - doesnt have a natural stop at 'D' but rather at '3'. Engine - more than willing to swiftly take you to 75+ MPH, with a smooth downshift and minimal noise... however, the feel of the rush of real torque does not exist. The engine does not pull to make me feel the way I do in, say my saab, where it genrates real torque aqnd presses me into my seat - this car does accelerate decently, but it doent feel like the torque is there. Oh well. Economy - rated around 34 MPG. My Saab with a LOT of extra space, a LOT more power, and a better overall package is rated at 34 and delivers more than that routinely.
I really have to say that I really enjoy this car, even its lines and overall look. I am on travel about 50% of the time, and always have rental cars (generally compact of midsize). I own 5 of my own, and my immediate family has 9 all together. I have a lot of expereince driving a lot of cars, and tend to be quite analytical when driving (like doing anything - Im an engineer). I have to say that as of now, this is my favorite rental car to date. A MT version of this car should be on anyone's list... Too bad it is not a domestic make. I wonder if it is made in the USA.
Best,
JMH
