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2003 Kia Spectra GSX review from North America

"Good car if it would just start 100% of the time"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

After driving the car off the dealer's lot, I have had problems with starting the car almost every day. It tends to hesitate before finally turning over. Sometimes the car will stay started - other times, the car will stall. When I start the car a 2nd time, it starts like a car is suppose to nromally start. I returned to the dealership 5 days after picking up the car and showed the salesperson how the car was starting. The salesperson vertified there was a problem (the car hesitated every time they tried to start the car), but that it would be fixed and covered under the warranty. I have brought the car back to the dealership twice and both times the car has started properly everytime it has been started. The salesperson who sold me the car is no longer working at the dealership. I have left the car overnight the 1st time and for 3 nights the 2nd time. I would also stop in at various times during the days to have the service manager and myself start the car. Each time, the car started perfectly. I just picked the car up on July 11 and on that evening it didn't start properly the 3 times I started it. The following day, the car hesitated miserably, but would eventually start. The next day, the car started all 4 times without a problem. Today, the car hesitated for a long time, tried to start and then stalled.

General comments?

Warranty is only good if "things" break. Because I can't recreate the problem with starting my car, the dealership won't replace any parts because Kai won't reimburse them for the repair when the part doesn't fail for them. This is not right. The car didn't work from the beginning. They should replace the part. I proved that there was a problem 5 days after taking ownership of the car. Just because I couldn't get my car in the shop for another week is no reason to now not repair my car.

2 comments

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Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
First year of ownership2003
Engine and transmission 1.8 Automatic
Performance marks 8/10
Reliability marks 5/10
Comfort marks 8/10
Dealer Service marks 2/10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper)  
Distance when acquired44 miles
Most recent distance1200 miles
Previous carOldsmobile Achieva
Date of Entry 14th July, 2003

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