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1. Stay away from dealerships especially if you're out of warranty.  I've learned that they don't seem to care about being in a hurry or being reasonably priced OR knowing what they're talking about. 

mitunes75. wrote:

I have a price quote right now of $1,900.

2. Your car is worth about $4000 best case scenario.  I know a mechanic who I'd trust with my life.  He'll be honest with you; plus he's absolutely hilarious to talk to.  I'd at least get a second opinion before spending that much.

I just had the starter go out on my Toyota Avalon on Tuesday.  I called the dealership because I still don't know a mechanic I can trust in this town (still a little green).  THey called the tow place, drove me back to work, and had the car ready for me all within 3 hours.  I did spend a little more than I'd hoped ($400 total, out of warranty), but it was well worth the cost to be able to return to running my office during the "crazy season".  Moral of the story?  Ditch the Kia and get a Toyota!

I still think a Kia is like a paper towel.
use it once and toss it.
it's so...so... Yugo-ish

I don't know what you people are talking about. I got a great deal on a Kia.

I had to build it myself, but...

resedit wrote:

macnuke wrote:

it's so...so... Yugo-ish

I actually saw one running a few months ago.

call CNN.. it's better news than the pap they usually spout.

Don't listen to the people telling you to ditch it, they don't know what they're talking about.

When Kia first came onto the scene, they made so-so cars with great warranties. A few years later, they make decent cars with great warranties. I'm assuming you are having the dealership do the repair. Make sure to complain about the time it's taking and that they are past the quoted time frame. I don't think you are going to be able to have the transmission comped, that'd be a great feat if you did, but I don't think it will happen. The car rental should be comped for sure, however.

mitunes75. wrote:

OK ... I get the picture - thanks anyway

I certainly wasn't telling you to ditch the car...especially if it's paid for.  But-I got a quote from the dealership on my VW for over $3000 on some repairs, found this mechanic by sheer luck and he did them for $1200 with a two year warranty on all labor.  Email me if you want his info, it's worth a try.  I hate car problems.

dvpierce wrote:

So, to me at least, it sounds like the dealer isn't really losing that much - if any - money on this, and it seems like a great idea for some folks.

I doubt investing in a Kia (let alone two) is ever a "great" idea.    Apologies once again to mitunes75.

Robert B. wrote:

'investing' in a car is never a good idea.

Well, not in most senses.  Cars devalue so fast that it's rarely a good idea to buy a brand new one unless money isn't really an object to you.  But just like my Mac holds its resale value a lot better than a similar PC does, there are cars that will retain value much better than a Kia.  Sure, my used Honda cost about the same as a brand new Kia would, but it's a lot higher quality and when it comes time to replace it, I'll be able to get a lot more for it.  It's also likely that I'll have to "invest" a lot less time and money in repairs than I would with a Kia.  But, to each their own.

I remember shopping for used cars waaaay back when.  We went to a dealership and the salesguy very sheepishly told me, "I'd rather see you get a Toyota with 100,000 miles than a Ford with 20,000.  They're throwaway cars." His words stuck with me because there wasn't a single Toyota on their lot that day.

macnuke wrote:

and most people around here prefer a truck anyway.. one at least assembled in america.

Illiterates make good vehicles. Hyundai doesn't agree.

nannyandnutro wrote:

mitunes75. wrote:

OK ... I get the picture - thanks anyway

I certainly wasn't telling you to ditch the car...especially if it's paid for.  But-I got a quote from the dealership on my VW for over $3000 on some repairs, found this mechanic by sheer luck and he did them for $1200 with a two year warranty on all labor.  Email me if you want his info, it's worth a try.  I hate car problems.

well...i tried that.  of course a kia transmission is the only thing that can go in it.  No, the dealership didn't tell me...I called 3 transmission shops in the area and they said that they would have to order the trans from KIA anyway.  Labor costs??  only about $175 difference in that.  Now people would say...OOOO Do that!  You're an idiot if you dont.  but we'll analyze that for a sec:  $50 for towing it to another shop, $75 for hooking it up to the diagnostics machine.  So what would I be saving....$50???  It's kinda pennies when you look at it in that aspect.

Thank you for your assistance nannyandnutro, but I don't know if it would do any good or not.  I appreciate the offer