Tell me about the Kia Pride

[doobietoo]

So I have been offered a 50,000 mile Kia Pride for scrap money which might be a bargain, but i know nothing about them. Who has owned one out there in Autoshite land and what did you think, things to look out for etc. 

Thanks in advance 

[dollywobbler]

Not bad little things at all. Quite impressed when I drove one at Shitefest last year, and others were too I think.

[gordonbennet]

Haven't owned one but had one some years ago for a month as a courtesy car.

 

I loved it, smashing to drive, lots of headroom, my only criticism would be too much bounce on the rear and if i owned one i'd find some better dampers, otherwise a little cracker.

 

Buy it.

[wuvvum]

I had a Mazda 121, which is basically the same thing.  They're a nice little thing to drive - typical old Korean tat, tinny but very reliable.  The 1.3s go like the clappers too - mine was an earlier carbed model sans rev limiter and it gave a surprisingly good account of itself at traffic light grands prix - once making an Audi A4 almost run head on into a traffic island as he refused to accept that he was unable to get past.  They're good on fuel, spacious enough, and they'll sit at the ton all day.  As long as you don't crash it, you won't go far wrong.

[HMC]

*paging sloth* he currently has one, brought it along to shitefest 14, one of 600 or so currently lisenced according to HML? I seem to remember someone on here has a mega early one that was in some fairly recent Kia press release about 20 years of Kia in the uk.

[PiperCub]

Actually better than they've a right to be given their price, used a couple in the past (hire cars etc). Never going to be anyones dream ride but that's not the point of them. Good basic cheap transport. If it's ticketed and runs OK with no major issues needing attention then worth a punt, you may be surprised, I was.

[nigel bickle]

Bought both my kids one to learn to drive in.

 

Both 1300. Hooning good fun, furiously economical, depreciation free.

 

Both passed their tests in them, enjoyed them for 1 yr ( at my expense) then sold them on, both for a profit.

 

Recommended Chris..

[sierraman]

About 12 years ago an acquaintance of mine had one, sans white walls. I can't recall ever driving it but it was basic to the extreme. I would want to have a bang in one though, it was very very tinny.

[RayMK]

We had one 22 years ago.  Time flies!   It was a 1992 1.3, manual, 5 door, white, reg.No. J873JBD.  It was comfortable, reliable and performed better than the spec suggested.  It was barely 2 years old, so the sight of rust stains on the tailgate shutlines was a concern.  2nd gear was also a bit obstructive, requiring a distinct knack to engage it smoothly.  We traded in a Nissan Micra for the Pride.  The Pride was much nicer to own and drive.  After a  few years, the Pride was traded in for a Hyundai Atoz before the tendency to rust became too noticeable.  Again, the Pride was a nicer drive.

[doobietoo]

Thanks for your input on the basis of which its going for an mot in the week. It was registered in march 2000 so one of the last.... and is a 1300.SX i think as it has a few toys on it. It has a dented wing and a scabby arches so we will see...

[Lord Sterling]

Sloth_in_a_bowl has one. Cheap, fun little things that I had the pleasure of driving once. Seem well put together and the small engine seems quite accessible with most things being bolt on/off. For what it gives it asks little in return.

 

Recommended.

[oldcars]

About 12 years ago an acquaintance of mine had one, sans white walls. I can't recall ever driving it but it was basic to the extreme. I would want to have a bang in one though, it was very very tinny.

Wrong thread mate you need this one http://autoshite.com/topic/12709-whats-the-first-car-you-had-sex-in/ 

[Station]

Is it this type?

 

 

I like them a lot, they're tidy inside, but they seem to be rare in decent condition.

And who wants a five door in a car this size?

[RayMK]

The 5 door was slightly longer.  Wheelbase 3 door 2295mm, 5 door 2345mm.

[UmBongo]

Sticky gears and whitewall tyres.

[lisbon_road]

My wife owned one in Korea.  It was an automatic.  Four up with the air con on you could get out on hills and walk faster, but it was very reliable and generally no hassle.

[Sloth in a bowl]

ok, here is the Sloth view on his Kia Pride.

 

It is a mid 1980's Mazda design that was sold in the UK till 2000, this mean that if you want a car that has no traction control, no power steering, no ABS, weighs only 800kg, is a hoot to drive on the limit at legal speeds yet can run on the Motorway at 70mpg with under 3000rpm on the clock and will return 45mpg when driven in any manner you like, then this is a funky little car.

 

The motor is a torque biased 1.3 liter with about 63hp, which is enough. It's the baby brother of the early MX5 motors if you are brave on the upgrades.

The brakes are not brilliant but good enough to lock up the fronts when you stamp on them.

CHECK FOR RUST, I suspect that most of these die from crusty bottoms.

The only bad point is that driving for over 2 hours in it is not the most comfortable experience, but I regularly use mine for the 50 minute trip to work with no hassle. 

 

I bought mine (V plate on 56k miles) for £300 with no tax, but 9 months MOT and it passed the next MOT with no fails or advisories. Mechanically these things can be quite sound.

If you want a 1980's driving experience in a car with half the years on it, then what do you have to lose?

 

Lastly, check this out.

[cms206]

Not bad little things at all. Quite impressed when I drove one at Shitefest last year, and others were too I think.

I too was pretty impressed with the little crate, though to ve brutal it didn't inspire confidence in the bends like the Samara. That said I'd run one as a daily no hassle at all.

[doobietoo]

Cool.... Its a five door   63bhp will have to be sorted eventually but if it passes the mot it will be my daily for a while while i properly sort the giffer rover. 

[Sloth in a bowl]

I too was pretty impressed with the little crate, though to ve brutal it didn't inspire confidence in the bends like the Samara. That said I'd run one as a daily no hassle at all.

 

At shitefest it had 4 mismatched budget brand tyres on. Putting Kumho's on all round has given it more grip but you can't get a good tyre squeal at 25mph on a roundabout anymore.