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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Yes I bought a Kia Rondo

Nov. 2, 2008 6:14 p.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

I was worried about the amount of work my Intrepid R/T needed for Inspection, and was looking for a hatchback for increased practicality and MPG, so I decided to start shopping a while back. I was 99% ready to buy a Mazdaspeed3, but times are tough and I didn't want the monthly payment. I decided to cap my spending at what we had been paying for my wife's Mitsubishi, which was recently paid off. I looked at a Suzuki Reno for $9997 new, but I wasn't military, a recent college grad AND a returning Suzuki customer so I couldn't swing it. Still, $12K gets you a lot of car these days!

Anyway, they had used Rondos on the lot for $14K with a 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty. 13K miles and in perfect shape, V6, power everything, 4 wheel disk brakes, anti-lock, 6 airbags, stability control...the list goes on. I was floored at how much car I could get for the price! Not as sporty as the Mazda5 or Fit Sport, but bigger, better equipped and a better warranty. Besides, I have an MR2. I kinda like the look of it myself, and they have a spoiler for the middle of the hatchback like a Golf, which I think are SO cool. Hopefully, the election will lead to turn in the economy and I can get my Mazdaspeed, but for now, I am a happy Rondo owner!
Nov. 2, 2008 6:42 p.m. maroon92 SuperDork

um...hate to burst the bubble, but Kia warranties are non-transferrable.
Nov. 2, 2008 7:58 p.m. Datsun1500 HalfDork

I really hope it is the EX. The dealers here have LX V6's for $15800 with the full warranty, and 0 miles. I would pay $1800 for a new one over a used one...

I was surprised Kia did not go after the VW Rabbit market with the Spectra 5. Looking at the Spectra 5, I would think that was the buyer they were after.
Nov. 2, 2008 8:08 p.m. jimbob_racing HalfDork

You should have said something. I'll be selling my 2007 Fit Sport 5 speed soon and it would have been right in your price range.
Nov. 2, 2008 8:11 p.m. m4ff3w Dork

Rondo!!
Nov. 2, 2008 8:17 p.m. Twin_Cam Dork

I'll admit it, I like the mini-minivans like the 5, Rondo and Fit. They're cool as hell. Can't wait until someone makes a sleeper out of one with a huge turbocharger and a AWD system from a Subie or something...
Nov. 3, 2008 7:00 a.m. davidjs New Reader

Twin_Cam wrote:

I'll admit it, I like the mini-minivans like the 5, Rondo and Fit. They're cool as hell. Can't wait until someone makes a sleeper out of one with a huge turbocharger and a AWD system from a Subie or something...

The 5 is based on the 3, so a Mazdaspeed5 is theoretically possible?
Nov. 3, 2008 8:15 a.m. Strizzo Dork

C&D is building a mazdaspeed5 using the drivetrain from a wrecked MS3
Nov. 3, 2008 9:11 a.m. Duende Reader

Good for them!
Nov. 3, 2008 9:45 a.m. integraguy Reader

There's already a company making the parts to fit a "K" series engine into a Honda Fit, not sure if a turbo is doable with "off the shelf" parts at this point in time.

As far as a Rondo...I saw a lot of them on my last trip home, nearly 95% had V6 badges, so I guess no one buys the "stripper" model. That will help your residuals tho, if/when you ever trade.
Nov. 3, 2008 9:46 a.m. MiatarPowar HalfDork

I like the way they look. Funky.
Nov. 3, 2008 9:57 a.m. jrw1621 Reader

I spent a few days over the summer in the passanger seat of a Rondo which was a rental car. It was a comfortable and capable car (though I did not drive it)

I think the fleets like them because they have (can have) a third row of seats.
Nov. 3, 2008 10:05 a.m. jrw1621 Reader

maroon92 wrote:

um...hate to burst the bubble, but Kia warranties are non-transferrable.

I was curious about that after reading what you said. On Kia;s website I found:

120/100k to first owner... 60/60k to second and subsiquent owners

http://www.kia.com/07warranty.pdf ... http://www.kia.com/2008_warranty.pdf

The graph is on page 4
Nov. 3, 2008 10:31 a.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

Kia Certified Pre-Owned

The warranty only transfers as listed above if you buy private party or a regular used Kia. If you buy a Certified Used from a Kia Dealer, then you get the remainder of the factory warranty AND the extended warranty. You can also pay a few dollars more and turn the extended warranty from Powertrain Only to All-Inclusive. It's one of the reasons I went with a dealer over a used-car lot..I am covered top to bottom for 9 years and 9 months.

The Rondo is a popular rental and fleet car, and select dealers get them from auction, as does Enterprise Rental Car. You can save $500 or so with Enterprise Car Sales, but the mileage will be at least 25K, and you don't get the killer warranty. Mine was a Kia Motors Fleet Car (whatever that means) so was always serviced by Kia Dealers and was kept in great shape. The rentals don't seem to have the 3-row option however, which is weird. As for new, around here the EX V6 goes for just over $20K. I would guess that $15800 is a bait-and-switch advertised price, but would be a killer deal if you could get it!

I parked next to a Fit yesterday, and they are 3/4 scale comapred to the Rondo. Simply too small for my needs, but cool nonethless. The CR-V was another option (I like AWD and love Hondas) but they are in the low $20's and also smaller. Compared to my parent's CR-V:

Kind of a mini-mini van:

Is it a Lexus? A Mercedes? OK, not quite that level, but nice enough inside.
Nov. 3, 2008 11:45 a.m. RussellH New Reader

Congratulations! When I saw one the first time several months ago I had to do a double take.

Not that I need any more cars but I always quickly think of how I might use various cars when I see them ranging from a 1970s Datsun KingCab to the Subaru Forester.
Nov. 3, 2008 12:06 p.m. Bobzilla New Reader

they're good cars. hyundai has come a long way fast, and have brought Kia up with them since the takeover. The car to have IMO is the 2.4L. The Theta is part of the World Engine co-developed with chrysler and Mitsu (Evo X) and could be a screamer with the right boneyard parts.
Nov. 3, 2008 12:39 p.m. Twin_Cam Dork

Strizzo wrote:

C&D is building a mazdaspeed5 using the drivetrain from a wrecked MS3

Excellent. If that thing isn't modified to make 400 whp they didn't do it right
Nov. 3, 2008 2:42 p.m. DirtyBird222 HalfDork

The commercials for these cars made me hate them right away. I wanted to punch my tv when the commercials came on, I couldn't change the channel quick enough!

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