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Post by erykool on Dec 17, 2006 22:08:19 GMT 8
Hi all bros, although I am currently driving a hyundai car, am lookin got change to a KIA car. Notice that KIA models in certain ways have slightly better quality. On 16 Dec, I attended the All new Kia Carens CUV 2.0L test drive event at Rasa Sentosa. It was a wonderful experience from KIA and am more convinced in changing to KIA car. But looking at Cerato more. Nonetheless, those that attended which included me, test driven the new Carens and I drove to west coast then use the west coast highway and travel all the way to Suntec area then back to Sentosa. My verdict is this car's pickup on normal roads is very smooth and gear change is so smooth that I hardly feel the gear changes. (unlike my current ride accent) However, the car was not fully loaded so still do not know the actual power when it is fully loaded with 7 people. Up slopes are also a bit under powered. But the comfort level in the cabin is fantastic and feels expensive. The quality of the equipment and plastics feel very good. And the speedos have sporty orange leds!! cool!! Althought I am more looking at changing to a Cerato, I would strongly recommend all bros here driving a Carens to have a look at this new model. ( Do not be mistaken, I am not a SE of KIA. I am just purely sharing my experience and field report with all who may be interested!) Cheers!!
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Post by SkyRay on Dec 18, 2006 7:56:33 GMT 8
Well, will see whether any one bought the new carens & join us on one of our gatherings... then we can 'check' the car out... hehehehe...
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FRED
Neutral Gear
Posts: 21
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Post by FRED on Dec 18, 2006 8:47:12 GMT 8
Aiyo.yo.. sound likes "post mortem"......so cruel.....
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TohTo
Gear THREE
Posts: 415
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Post by TohTo on Dec 18, 2006 13:04:50 GMT 8
But the selling price make it not so attractive. Especially it only come with one airbag. What is the OMV for this car?
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TohTo
Gear THREE
Posts: 415
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Post by TohTo on Dec 18, 2006 13:07:17 GMT 8
When I bought my Carens about 2yrs ago, it is about $15k - $20k cheaper than a Toyota Wish. Now The Toyota wish is also selling around $65k before finance rebate.
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Post by SkyRay on Dec 18, 2006 19:31:37 GMT 8
Well... times (& prices) change.... isn't it always like that?
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Post by Nic on Dec 19, 2006 16:30:18 GMT 8
nowadays korean cars getting more expensive loh....juz see the Hyundai Avante....more expensive then the Toyota Altis leh....
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TohTo
Gear THREE
Posts: 415
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Post by TohTo on Dec 19, 2006 17:03:02 GMT 8
Hyundai Avante the internal design look much better than the Altis. The material used also feel good. There is a lot Avante register for the pass 2 month.
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Post by Nic on Dec 19, 2006 21:24:56 GMT 8
Hyundai Avante the internal design look much better than the Altis. The material used also feel good. There is a lot Avante register for the pass 2 month. Agreed....I nearly buy it......till last minute intervention from my wife then get the Airwave..... Lucky sia....totally no regrets....FC at least 14++km/l....smooth, shiok and powerful VTEC.... ;D
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Post by icelady28 on Dec 22, 2006 16:17:02 GMT 8
Hi!! So u went over to Rasa Sentosa too last wkend 4 d test-drive???which grp were u from??ours was d 1st grp so we got to test-drive it 1st..ehehhe (heard that all those from grp 1 were owners of the present carens)... anyway i really have to thank my lucky stars that we're able to test drive wif d rest of my family members(the Kia salesperson,me & my spouse,mum,my 2 kids & 2 nephews) which is over the equivalent full house 7 plp-ours was 8 plp wif my 2 yr old gal sitting on my lap). wat i can say bout this new caren is that its very silent - can't hear the engines etc,VERY SPACIOUS for d last row compared to the present caren...in fact there's a few oth changes that were made but did u realise that the middle row was a bit cramped up compared to the present caren???....cos rite now even wif 3 adult sitting in d middle row,there's still some space for a kid to squeeze in but d the caren just can't do that...not sure why they make the space bigger at the last row but not the middle row... anyway our application has been approved to change for the new carens but then we're still thinking whether want to change or not...still sayang our old one cos so far it doesn't give ANY MAJOR problems to us...*sigh*
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Post by SkyRay on Dec 22, 2006 18:04:50 GMT 8
well... each has its good points.....
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Post by James.X.DUB.editioN on Dec 22, 2006 19:17:49 GMT 8
WISH got lots of accerssories... out looks also not bad.... but heard from some kopitiam news... when you speed to 160km/hr... you will your back is swing~ dont know true or not... 1 of my friend said his collegue still but pinic~~ cos this problem... just let you all go find out... maybe just a false news...
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Ben
Kia = The Power To Surprise[N4:a.436204208871.218979#####carlover76##]
Posts: 3,028
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Post by Ben on Dec 27, 2006 10:45:45 GMT 8
Just to add, though the Kia may be cheap compared to other makes but they do not cut cost on items in the car like other makes. Importantly, the safety of the car is not being cut cost by reducing the protection bar on the front and rear of the car, these bars exist in all range of Kia cars. We have true stories shared by our members including myself on how strong their bumper protection are compared to other makes, few models tested are Kia Rio, Spectra and Cerato.
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Post by gimmegimmes on Dec 30, 2006 22:13:20 GMT 8
If you're looking at the Cerato, hang on there, the '06 version coming to our shores!
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Post by Nic on Jan 7, 2007 0:39:38 GMT 8
Juz went to C&C today and saw the new Kia Carens CUV.....not very impressive to me....only thng is the rear got air-con! see buay good ah....other than that, price wise, I would rather take the old 2.0L MPV model.......so much cheaper.....for that price, really should topup a bit more and get WISH instead......
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Post by SkyRay on Jan 8, 2007 7:59:22 GMT 8
Bro Nic,
This new Carens CUV got include DVD player or not? Saw from an advertisment like have one... but i agree with you, it's not as impressive as it as advertised...
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Post by Nic on Jan 8, 2007 17:13:07 GMT 8
Bro Nic, This new Carens CUV got include DVD player or not? Saw from an advertisment like have one... but i agree with you, it's not as impressive as it as advertised... I think it comes with the Sony DVD HU....1 good thing is the HU got Bluetooh wor.....phone come in can hear from your car speakers....steady poom pee pee hor!
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Post by coolpica on Feb 2, 2007 21:55:10 GMT 8
Juz went to C&C today and saw the new Kia Carens CUV.....not very impressive to me....only thng is the rear got air-con! see buay good ah....other than that, price wise, I would rather take the old 2.0L MPV model.......so much cheaper.....for that price, really should topup a bit more and get WISH instead...... Agree with u the price of Caren CUV isn't attractive when compared to Wish. However, I'll say that the design of Carens CUV is light years ahead of Wish.
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Post by bigdaystudio on Mar 24, 2007 18:38:03 GMT 8
wonder how is the new carens CUV compared to the honda stream?
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Post by ben1257 on Mar 24, 2007 23:23:32 GMT 8
Just a correction. The new caren come with a sony bluetooth radio but is not DVD just a CD radio.
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Post by ben1257 on Mar 24, 2007 23:25:10 GMT 8
now the price of new caren is up by $3000. I think go for Honda Stream or Wish is much more better.
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Post by dankar on Mar 27, 2007 9:56:19 GMT 8
Hi all,
This is my first posting. Just got the New Caren. Was shopping around for a mid-sized MPV/CUV and the Caren tops the list in terms of equipment list and build quality.
Wish: Torsion Beam Rear Suspension, Rear Drum Brake, recent factory recall Stream: SOHC, Rear Drum Brake (Too Odyssey lookalike, not unique) Caren: DOHC, Multi-link rear, rear disc brake
Honestly, the Stream was second on my list, but the engine (SOHC) and drum brake is so 70's. The Wish, torsion beam does not help with road holding or comfort. All MPV are heavier and drum brakes are not as effective as disc in an emergency stop.
I finally decided on the Caren, because unlike the Wish and Stream. Buying Japanese does not 'hold water' anymore. 10 Years ago, Japanese car equals quality. Nowadays, the Korean are on par with the Japanese.
Fuel Consumption (50% Highway/50% Normal Roads) 9.8 km per litre
My 2 cents worth.
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Post by dankar on Mar 27, 2007 10:19:00 GMT 8
Feedback on the Caren. Car when fully loaded (5 Adults/2 toddlers), baby car seat and 2 prams. Moving off is alright, just that overtaking from 70km/h, requires a bit more gas. It feels like the mid range is a bit weak. Most likely, Kia tuned the car to run leaner in that RPM range for the Euro 4 Emission test. I suspect a bit of ECU tuning should right that. The Caren is quite well insulated, during a heavy downpour, the noises from the roof are quite muted, unlike my previous Suzuki Swift, sounds like an attap house with Zinc roof. Tyre noises can still find it's way into the cabin, but it is not distracting. Handling, for a car it's size, handles like a hatch back. There is a bit of roll due to it's high CG, but that is only at speeds. Brakes, firm at initial bite (30% of level depressed), there is a heartstopping moment when you have to depress the brakes further after the initial 30% to get some more bites. After that, it bites like a pitbull on steroid. Missed having EBD thou. Comfort level, loads of leg room for all three rows. On the Mit Grandis, what is comfortable for the front passenger or driver would cramp the 2nd row passengers. There are alot of creature comfort like cup holders, sockets on all third rows for charging iPods or portable vaccum cleaners. Mid-rows have arm rests on the sides and a main armrest on the middle. Very posh, almost Merc-like. Also missed the leather-wrapped steering wheels, the Caren comes without. Air-con, powerful in front, weak at the 2nd row, at aircon mid-setting, the 2nd row and 3rd passengers would complain, if the weather is hot and sunny. But gets better after awhile with the front AC vents blowing upwards. The free solar film that C&C gives is so-so, had 3M ones on my previous car, they are heaps more effective, planning to remove the free ones and install the 3M ones. Cargo space, had to collapse one 3rd row seat inorder to create space for my pram (Mid-sized pram), bigger monster prams would require the owner to collapse the entire 3rd row. Fuel consumption, 9.8 km per litre (50% Highway) to as low as 7.5 km (start-stop driving on a heavy right foot). I am happy with my purchase and looks like the Caren a keeper (10 years). My 2 cents worth
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Post by ben1257 on Mar 27, 2007 17:10:19 GMT 8
Im getting my new caren CUV soon . Any Bro can recommend me any nice sport rims. 16 inch recommend by C&C.
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Post by dankar on Mar 27, 2007 19:06:10 GMT 8
Im getting my new caren CUV soon . Any Bro can recommend me any nice sport rims. 16 inch recommend by C&C. The ones offered by C&C looks good and due to it's design, it quite hard to tell if it is a 16" or 17". Save on the purchase of a sport rims, and spend it on Tough Seal. Had it done on my car, it is really as good as it's claims. Rain after rain, it still looks like it's been polished recently.
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