Kia Picanto (New car content)

[carlo]

I had to post this, as we've been looking for a new car for Mrs Carlo, and for me to be able to drive occasionally 'cos I don't do manuals.  The search has rumbled on for a good few months mainly due to my indecision and the impossibility of sampling any new automatic in this part of the world.  I won't buy anything unless I can at least have an hour or two to play around with it. The excellent local Kia dealer let me take an automatic away for a few hours last month and I was so impressed I bought one.

 

We've had this new Picanto 1.25 Auto for a week now and I'm bowled over with it, I think it's that good.  It feels like a big car to drive but is only 3.6 metres long; the interior is also a very nice place to be.  Seats are supportive, the ride, for what is a city car is excellent and it steers and handles very tidily.  Highlight for me is the proper torque converter 4 speed automatic which is such a rarity in a small car, I wouldn't touch one of those semi automatics with a barge pole.  It is so smooth, and the 1.2 engine has enough power to pull it OK.  Add to that good visibility, a tiny turning circle and a 7 year warranty and I don't think you could do better for under £10k if you need a small auto.

 

No I don't work for Kia, but I can see why they are doing so well.  

 

 

[tooSavvy]

Right on the Money, my friend.

 

Proton marketed the 1.2 SAVVY as an Auto "AMT" - the totally $hite Renault Quik$hite5 'semi-auto'.... probably every one is now racked for 'common' spares (to be fair, it has a manual 5sp in it...) or fragged.

 

I have no auto & no AirCon... K.I.S.S.

 

All the best, enjoy.... 

 

 

TS

[Jim Bell]

I dont think I've ever heard a present or former Kia owner say anything bad about them. 

 

This thread needs pics.

[dollywobbler]

I did drive a brand new Hyundai i10 auto recently. Didn't seem to have much by the way of suspension, but seemed a bonny wee thing with a proper gearbox.

[tooSavvy]

 

Pics????? the bit that DOESN'T work on an AMT (same as the SeleSpeed...) Meh!!

 

 

TS   

[carlo]

New, shiny and awaiting collection from dealership

 

 

For some reason the i10 seems to have a tiptronic style auto box, whereas the Picanto has a conventional gated 4 speed, not sure why.

[dollywobbler]

This one had a conventional shifter and seemed to slur through the gears as you'd expect. 

[r.welfare]

What's the fuel economy like Carlo?

[carlo]

What I'd expect from a small petrol auto i.e 35-40 average.  I know that would horrify some people who expect small cars to do 80mpg, have £0 road tax and stop start etc etc but to be honest I couldn't give a monkeys about all that.  I appreciate the car for what it is.

[2MB]

I love the pale blue colour these picantos come in

[RichL]

If I had to throw money at a new car right now it would be a Kia or Hyundai.

 

Check the small print on that 7 year warranty though, it might not be as comprehensive as you think...

[Cheggers]

It's a pretty little thing, isn't it...well bought sir.

[carlo]

If I had to throw money at a new car right now it would be a Kia or Hyundai.

 

Check the small print on that 7 year warranty though, it might not be as comprehensive as you think...

 

Yes I know warranties aren't all they're cracked up to be but I'd rather have a seven year one than a three year one.

[RichL]

Yes I know warranties aren't all they're cracked up to be but I'd rather have a seven year one than a three year one.

 

So would I.

 

Remember that 'Lifetime Warranty' Vauxhall were offering? Quietly discontinued that they have...

[tooSavvy]

^^^^ .... yes, I agree totally....

 

One minute you have a 60K Warranty....

 

.... the next.... You Don't 

 

TS

[Lacquer Peel]

Wasn't someone on here looking for a car with a conventional automatic 'box for their parents? Looks ideal.

I didn't know you could still buy such a thing new, must be there for traditionalists.

[r.welfare]

Ghosty's parents sound like they would not want a Kia.

[phil_lihp]

My friend has had one of these from new for 3 years now, manual 1.25 I think, new absolutely loves it. My C'eed was a thoroughly good car for the money too. They've definitely turned a corner in the last few years.

[Lacquer Peel]

It's no Kia Pride.

[Hendry]

We have some Picantos at work, they are just the 1 litre "base" models (I think anyway, our database says they are Kia Picanto 1.0 'Air') with steelies and trims, manual adjust door mirrors etc but they are quite nippy, I'd sooner one of these than a Corsa, Punto, C1/107/Aygo, Twingo, Up exclamation mark etc decent kit from a base model city car, remote locking, front electric windows, air con, USB socket, yadda yadda yadda

 

We had a Cee'd 1.6 CRDi '2' as well and other than Focus' these were the best medium cat on our fleet, streets ahead of Astras, 308s, Meganes, Jukes, etc.

 

The only Kias we had i didnt likr were a load of previous model 11 plate Rio 1.4 '1' specs, 96bhp engine so quite nippy, decent stereo, USB socket etc but other than that utter crap, wiper stalk on the left, indicators on the right, no central locking (proper PITA) felt really tinny, cheap and crap, scratchy plastics, thin carpets, thin paint which looks scruffy very quickly, horrible driving position impossible to get an ideal position to both the steering wheel and pedals, either steering wheel position ideal but too far away from pedals or pedal position ideal but cuddling steering wheel, never experienced that on any car before and seats so uncomfortable they'd give the healthiest person on the planet chronic back pain within half an hour, however I'm told the new Rio is a huge improvement and it certainly looks much more stylish.

[HH-R]

I looked at a old shape Rio 1.4 to replace my shit Fiat a few months ago but some worrying noises on the test drive and an extremely insulting trade in value put paid to that. The interiors don't seem very hard wearing, it looked like Tony the Tiger had been let loose inside on the plastics and I've seen others that look the same.

 

I quite like the Hyundai i10, I reckon I could be slotted into one of those next.

[KruJoe]

Where's M'Coli?

He bought a new Picanto last year for Mrs_Coli; he should be able to give a good assessment of early ownership prospects.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

My default answer these days to the 'What sort of car should I buy?' Is whichever Kia or Hyundai fits your needs.

I wouldn't be seen dead in one,but for normal people they're perfect ,good warranty,well equipped and our local dealer used to sell Ladas and Yugos , so they must be good.

[RayMK]

I'm far from normal in my taste in cars and enjoy driving a 1961 Reliant 3 wheeler (offered as proof of missing normality).  However, the Picanto comments are interesting because I now prefer an automatic for day to day driving but don't want a luxobarge.  Actually, I do.  Older barges are cheaper, go wrong more often and don't have complicated warranties to comply with, so they're more interesting.  The sensible bit of me on its rare appearances tells me to go for a smallish manouverable slushbox automatic - because I'm getting older and figuring out where the bonnet ends on an XJ6 will soon start to fuse the remaining braincells.  When the Picanto first emerged from its Korean breeding ground i.e. the earlier, more simply styled one of maybe 10 years ago, I sat in one and though it seemed quite nice.  For the next few weeks I kept seeing Picantos on the M1 hard shoulder with the bonnet open. It put me off a bit.  I have had several Hyundais (brand new Stellar in 1986, a couple of 1995ish Sonatas and the Stellar I bought 4 years ago and still enjoy).  Hyundais, in my experience, are far more reliable than the several Renaults, Citroens, Fords and a Ginetta G26 that I've owned.  Our Kia Pride was also fabulously reliable. Not too surprising, as Kia and Hyundai are closely related.

 

The sticking point for me with a new Picanto automatic is the price.  I know it's competitive, but its equivalent to 10 Mercedes 190Es in autoshite currency.  I've just gone right off buying brand new.

[Ghosty]

Ghosty's mother sounds like she would not want a Kia.

 

FTFY 

[carlo]

As a car for me to drive all the time, may be not.  As a reliable car for the other half, and which I can drive occasionally, it's perfect.  And the idea behind the thread was just admiration; the car is better than it has any right to be.

[Cavcraft]

Probably my age, but Kia seem to make some belting cars these days, I'd defo consider a new one at some point.

[Parky]

In ten years time we will be perving over £500 C'eeds - PHAKT

[brickwall]

Sad, but true

[Lacquer Peel]

 

 

In ten years time we will be perving over £500 Savvys and Gen-2s - PHAKT

EFA.