Faults:

Basically nothing, the car is a decade old but has very low miles.

General Comments:

Pro Ceed is something a bit different from your usual Focus or Astra hatchback you see about.

Unsure at first, I had heard KIA had improved over the years, but in my mind they were a cheap and nasty manufacturer. My father had a KIA back in the 1990's and it was rubbish, but this more modern stuff is definitely a step up in quality.

The car drives very smoothly and has decent performance and economy. The 1.6 petrol engine is something of a rarity as most of these are usually diesel, but I am still getting a solid 40 mpg without trying, so this engine is fine even with current stupid high fuel prices.

I like driving it and it has a nice look inside and out. 2 door hatch. Not the most spacious or comfortable, but it is good enough for me.

I have had the car one year with no problems. To say it has surprised me is an understatement. KIA are as good as any car nowadays, take a look if you find a nice looked after one at a nice price, and you just need modern reliable transport.

Faults:

I bought it cheap (£1700) in February, private sale knowing it needed: brakes all round, rear tires and a service, this cane to about £1000.

It then started loosing power in low rpm and going into limp mode intermittently when the engine bay is warmed up, which gets dangerous at junctions etc as it has power failure when you try to pull away. The warmer the weather the worse it is (tolerable below 15c, over 15c it gets worse, over 20c car basically undrivable and mostly in limp mode). Eventually threw an EML. New EGR valve fitted, £300. Problem still there. It has since been to 3 different places including Kia, but the car always miraculously behaves itself and so nobody can figure out what's wrong with it!!

EML started flashing and car jerking/lurching on the motorway; AA attended but the car was fine when they drove it. A code for exhaust pressure sensor fault was stored.

Various clunks and rattles. First time a top mount (£160), second time an anti role bar link (£100), now it's clunking again - suspect other droplink.

Clutch bite point very low, and it makes the occasional vibrating/humming noises on the biting point.

Occasionally it refuses to start, won't even turn over. It's as if it's got a power freeze or something; after taking key out and trying again it usually sparks into life.

Advisories from garage for shock absorbers and some other wee things.

Apparently it has a DPF, which could end up having problems with the car's current running issues.

General Comments:

Generally when it's working properly it's a great wee car. Plenty of power, nice handling, feels solidly built, fab mpg (50mpg) and cheap road tax (£30 a year)

Nice sound system.

Looks good too in vr7 trim, with metallic black paint and alloy wheels.

I'm 6'5" and I fit in it OK. Surprising amount of room in the boot and long enough for my bike (with its front wheel off) with the back seats down.

I would plan to keep it longer if it didn't have all the issues, but I've developed a bit of a love hate relationship with it, so it's getting one final chance to misbehave for the garage and show them it's running issues so they can figure out what the issue is, or I'm thinking of cutting my losses and trading it in... (if I can find a decent alternative in the current market!!)