2001 Kia Spectra GS review from North America
"Exceeded all of our expectations"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Electrical short (fixed under warranty).
Exhaust leak at 30,000 miles (fixed under warranty).
Doors won't close properly in very cold weather - greasing the latch mechanism fixes the problem.
Hatchback interior release lever broke.
Struts replaced at 70,000 miles - not covered by warranty and cost $800 to replace.
Factory stereo went out at 74,000 miles.
General comments?
We bought this car new because we wanted an inexpensive car that was versatile and good on gas. The car has delivered - 32mpg and we have hauled just about everything in it, including a tree, a full-sized treadmill, paving stones (I think that contributed to the struts going bad), and 4 adult males that averaged 290lbs each. The hatchback make this car as useful as a station wagon, but better looking.
The Spectra is also fun to drive. Decent acceleration with the manual tranny, although the air conditioning saps a lot of power. Handling is terrific, if you invest in decent tires (Lotus tuned suspension). Car tends to hunker down at high speeds.
The car is comfortable enough on long drives - seats are adequate. However road and engine noise become wearisome after extended travel.
Interior components look and feel cheap at times, but overall have lasted okay.
We have been very pleased with this car and are handing it down to our 16 year old daughter who has loved the car for 5 years already.
Recommended reviews
| Get a little less, pay a LOT less. Worth the money |
|
| A great little car for a teenager to abuse |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 2001 |
| Year of manufacture | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8L Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 0 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 503 miles |
| Most recent distance | 77895 miles |
| Previous car | Chrysler Concorde |
| Date of Entry | 20th May, 2006 |