Kia Rio Problems

High school leavers are now facing one of the most important, daunting, yet exciting decisions of their life in buying their first car.There are so many factors to think about: price, safety, economy, running costs, vehicle age, insurance; all on limited funds and with limited knowledge about cars, and finance.To most young people, the most important thing is probably looks. After all, you don't want to be spotted by all your mates in a white Camry in the drive-through at Maccas. And who can blame you? That's why so many young people buy old grey-import Sylvias instead of Camrys. It's because they are red, they look fast and they were featured in one of the Fast and Furious movies.However, often the car ends up spending most of its time being repaired, waiting on a part to come from Japan or simply getting it to start, steer and stop. But is used the way to go? There are many small new cars on the market from as low as $13,990 which have the latest modern safety features, plus advantages of new car warranties.The best three tips we can give you are: research, research and more research. Young buyers can start by looking at classified ads on the internet and in newspapers. Comparisons will give the buyer a good feel for the true price of a car. You should work out what you need in a car even before you start looking for one.There are choices people can make when buying a new vehicle that may significantly reduce their risk of injury and theft and can even result in savings when it comes to car insurance.What you can expect for your money Young buyers are usually on a fairly limited budget. That will reduce the number of cars available.RACQ technical officer Russell Manning advises what you can expect for your money on used cars.$3000 to $5000 Few dealers operate in this segment, so look to private sales, and all the potential problems that come with them.There are no stand-outs in this segment.Buy the best you can find for the money.Steer clear of unusual, unpopular and modified vehicles, as they're more likely to cost more to keep on the road. Expect to be mainly looking at vehicles from the mid '80s.$5000 to $7500 Many dealers specialise in this bracket.Look for cars that are popular and have a good reputation, for example early 1990s Corolla, Pulsar, Lancer for small cars, and Commodore, Falcon, Camry for large cars.Anything in this bracket is likely to have travelled big distances, so look carefully.Bigger, less fuel-efficient cars are less popular these days and, depending on your circumstances, may be a good buy.Larger cars are often more durable.$7500 to $10,000 There'll be no shortage of cars in this bracket.Expect to see cars from the mid to late '90s.Again, large cars should be attractively priced due to fuel prices, but you'll also find a range of quality Japanese small vehicles and plenty from Korean makers.Take your time selecting and pick the best your money will buy.$10,000 to $12,000 There should be no difficulty finding a quality used car in this range. There will be plenty of Commodores, Falcons, Camrys and Magnas, as well as the full range of mid and small-sized cars from the late '90s.Consider putting in a few thousand dollars more and moving into an attractively priced new small car.New cars to $15,000 All these are in the light car category. And it can pay to see if you can pick up a dealer demonstration model with very low kilometres to save a little money.Hyundai's Getz is a great little car from $12,990, and the Getz Protectz pack costs an extra $1290 but includes electronic stability program, traction control system and front seat side thorax airbags, for $1290.Suzuki Alto 1.0-litre starts at $14,990 – although we’ve seen it advertised lower than that.Holden Barina 1.6-litre three-door hatch costs from around $13,690.Kia’s Rio 1.4-litre five-door hatch often costs less than $14,000.Tips 1. Buy the type, make and model of car that best suits your needs and your pocket.2. Always have a used vehicle inspected by a qualified person.3. Don’t rush to buy your car as you may regret it.4. Ignore any promise, warranty or guarantee that isn’t in writing or that is conditional in any way.5. Don’t forget the REVS certificate.6. Never sign any contract or document until it is complete and you understand it.7. Always get a copy of any contract you sign and a copy of the safety certificate.8. Obtain reliable finance before you purchase your car.9. Insure the car with a reputable company. 

Just as the Japanese carmakers did 40 years ago the Koreans changed our automotive landscape when they arrived in the 1980s. Hyundai was the brand that forged the path for others, like Kia, to follow. Hyundai’s pitch was based on affordable pricing with a comprehensive list of standard features. It was an irresistible value-for-money deal.Kia was one the last to hit the local market when it launched its first models in the mid-1990s, but it too offered a similar deal with cheap and cheerful models with a decent array of features and pricing within the reach of just about everyone.Like the other Koreans Kia put new cars within the reach of those who might not otherwise be able to afford a new model. By doing so they sent the used car market into free fall causing values to plunge.MODEL WATCHThe Rio has been a popular small car since it replaced the Mentor in 2000. The Mentor was one of the first models Kia introduced here and while it struggled for sales as the brand built a following the Rio has taken the company to a new level of acceptance.There were two body styles offered, a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. Both were quite well equipped with standard features like power steering, central locking, CD player, air-conditioning, and a driver’s side airbag. In other words they had just about everything a budget conscious buyer could want.Both body styles were appealing without being eye-catching. They didn’t set any styling trends with their soft lines and plump curves, but they blended into the landscape without causing any visual offence.Inside, they were roomy with quite good accommodation and plenty of luggage space. Those in the front had adequate head and legroom while those in the rear were squeezed in more tightly if you tried to fit three across the back seat.The Rio was conceived as basic transport, it wasn’t a car that excited anyone with a passion for cars.It had a perky 1.5-litre twin-cam four-cylinder engine boasting 77 kW at 5800 revs and 134 Nm at 4500 revs, which was enough to keep the Rio on the pace in the traffic scrum and cruise comfortably along the highway.There was a choice of a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed auto with drive through the front wheels.Fuel consumption is one of the reasons for buying the Rio and it is generally good in that regard. It’s normal to achieve 6.5-8.0 L/100 km around town in the manual and 8.0-10.0 L/100 km in the auto.The suspension does an adequate job. The handling is secure enough for most situations, but don’t try pushing it hard around corners or you’ll soon realise its grip limitations, while the ride is comfortable on smooth roads, but a little choppy on broken surfaceA combination of disc front brakes and drum rears provides sufficient braking power, but there are no anti-skid brakes to prevent lockup.An update in 2003 brought more equipment, bigger brakes and some suspension refinements that delivered more comfort and better response.Like most of the Korean cars that have landed here to date the Rio’s build quality was variable, it lacked refinement and the fittings were course. Everything was there, but it didn’t quite come together in a fluid way.IN THE SHOPThe Rio was built to a price so it has to be accepted that it won’t have the quality of higher priced cars.Cars vary so much because of the inconsistent build quality it’s important to thoroughly check each individual car for its own faults.Expect squeaks and rattles from the body, the interior trim fittings are likely to have deteriorated and looking the worse for wear, and there are likely to be noises from the suspension.Early cars are likely to be approaching the time for a cam timing belt change, so check for a service record. Oil leaks are common so check the engine bay carefully.Cheap cars like the Rio are often bought by people who can’t afford to service them properly and neglect them as a result. Regular servicing is just as important with the Rio as it is for more expensive cars.IN A CRASHA driver’s airbag was standard, but Kia didn’t offer a passenger’s airbag or anti-skid brakes.OWNERS’ VIEWSEllis Olding has owned his Rio hatch three years and has been completely satisfied with it. He praises its comfort, luggage capacity, ease of handling and parking, and says the fuel consumption is excellent.Belinda Stinten says her 2004 Kia Rio is economical to run, cheap to service if you don't go through a dealer, but instead find a service centre that will honour your new car warranty. She has had no major problems with it and is very satisfied overall.Pauline Dunne loved Subarus, but turned to the Rio when she found the Subaru too expensive. She loves the Rio’s performance, comfort, style, roominess and economy, and would happily recommend it to anyone. She has says the service she has had from her dealer which has been excellent and inexpensive compared to the cost of servicing a Subaru.Sam Nadella’s experience with the Rio was anything but positive. He says the 2003 Rio he once owned was a terrible car. It had more rattles than the 1986 Ford Laser he owned before it. There was a problem with the fuel rail, there was a water leak into the boot area that was traced to improperly applied body sealant, and the radio was replaced three times without success.LOOK FOR• roomy interior for small car• good sized luggage space• adequate performance• lacks refinement• good fuel economyTHE BOTTOM LINECheap and cheerful small car with variable build quality and little refinement, but good fuel economy.RATING65/100

On sale here since July 2000, the Rio's sales started off relatively modestly but have picked up steadily over the years and there are now plenty on the used-car scene.In fact the Kia Rio has been on the Australian market much longer. It was sold here under the Ford Festiva badge from 1991 until the arrival of the 'real' Rio.Rio's styling was on the adventurous side when first launched, but was toned down in a facelift in 2002. The new model of August 2005 is far better looking than the older ones.Quite a few of these are now in the used-car yards and are the ones to aspire to if your budget is up to it. They are better not only in style but also in on-road dynamics and build quality.You can buy a Rio as a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback. Interestingly, the current models are smaller on the outside, but provide more interior space than the original versions. The back seat can cope with adults, but is aimed at those who are yet to reach their teenage years.Like the Festiva, the original Rio is nothing special to drive in the way of handling and road feel. It is safe enough, with understeering scrubbing off speed if you hassle it at corners too hard, but will frustrate keen drivers who want more precision.Good tyres can improve the Rio but can be costly and, sadly, you are unlikely to be able to recoup the cost of the quality tyres when it comes to resale time.The Kia Rios from 2005 are a real improvement in their handling and feel, but are still not really aimed at the keen driver.Interior noise levels are relatively high, especially if the engine is worked hard. The plastics have a low-cost look and feel. However, build quality is improving and as a general rule the later the car the better it is screwed together.The bodies are generally assembled to a higher standard than the interiors, though we do see the occasional rough one, more so in older cars.The experienced home mechanic can do a fair bit on this car. Access under the bonnet is good and the Rio is not trying to break new ground in technology. As always, we caution against doing any safety-related work yourself.Insurance costs are normally in the lower mid-range, but they can vary more than usual from company to company. So it pays to shop around.Under the bonnet Pre-2005 Rios are powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. If used moderately it will sound and feel fine — drive it hard and it gets thrashy. Performance is generally ok in this relatively light car, but if you load it up for a trip in hilly territory it may protest.The newer Rios have a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that is more powerful and smoother.Transmission options are five-speed manual and four-speed automatic. The automatic takes the edge of what performance the engine does deliver but works pretty well for what it is.Danger signs Check the interior and boot for a below-average finish or signs of mistreatment. The cabin can deteriorate rapidly.The engine should fire up within a second or so of the key being turned, even when it is cold. As soon as it starts it should settle into a steady idle.Acceleration should occur almost immediately the pedal is pushed. Any hesitation should be treated with suspicion.There should be no smoke from the exhaust pipe even if the engine is worked hard. Letting it idle for about a minute, then flooring the throttle in a quick takeoff will let you spot it.A manual gearbox should be moderately light and not crunch on any of the down changes, no matter how fast they are made. The change from third to second is usually the first to play up.If the automatic transmission is slow at picking up a drive gear from park or neutral it may be because it needs an overhaul.