Kia Problems

It’s not likely to be in the next 12 months is the word we’ve been given.

All cars have some degree of lumbar support, but whether that’s enough for you is something only you can determine. I’m not aware of any carmaker that offers anything to increase lumbar support. I would suggest you consult a company that specialises in seats for people with special needs, a company such as Recaro.

Your car is still under warranty, so take it back to your dealer and have them fix it.

In terms of kilometres done 100,000 km is a significant mental marker, and that’s probably the time to move it on, or at least just less than 100,000 km. The only problem is that you do very few kilometres, so the car would likely be 7-8 years old by the time get close to 100,000 km and that makes it a fairly old car and less valuable. I’d suggest you think about moving it on within the next two years and take advantage of the low kilometres it will surely have done.

Take it to a suspension specialist and have them check the alignment and adjust if needed, and talk to them about what they might be able to do to prevent it happening.

The Kluger would meet your requirements nicely, so too would a diesel Territory. You could also look at a Kia Sorento.

It's hard to give you a definite recommendation, as most cargo measurements are in litres rather than floor length, but I reckon most mid-size wagons and large SUVs would do the job for you. 

Most of these have a flat boot floor with the seats folded, and likely have ample body length for sleeping. 

So Mazda6, Skoda Superb or Ford Mondeo wagons are worth a look, plus large SUVs like the Mazda CX-9, Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe. 

Don't be afraid to try them out for size at the dealers either. You'd certainly test out a mattress before buying right?!

There’s no good reason to not buy a Falcon, parts will be available for many years yet. There’s the Commodore, but it too is out of production. Other than that there’s no similar sized car available for you. You need to think about getting an SUV, such as a Toyota Kluger, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-5.

You need to persist in trying to get a resolution form Kia. You have already been told that it is a warranty problem, and Kia has a responsibility to resolve it. That the software manufacturer is no longer in business is Kia’s problem, not yours, and they must find a solution to the problem. As you have already been in contact with Kia head office continue to press them for an answer.

You’re right to be wary of the Golf, but apart from the well publicised stories of trouble with the DSG gearbox a few years ago it has been in more recent times a sound vehicle. We get very few complaints from owners of these later cars, so I wouldn’t be concerned about buying one. The Cerato is also a fine car and would be a good choice. If I were forced to choose I would probably gamble on the Golf for its driving dynamics.