Kia

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I'm thinking I might trade my 4runner in for a KIA Soul. The savings in gas alone would be phenominal. Only question is, will it withstand the rigors of my fishing and hunting excursions. I'm not saying I want to take it off road. It seems as if it would hold my fishing gear fairly well. However will it work on gravel and unpaved surfaces?

[tipptruck1]

So them dancing gangster hamsters have you sold? I am just kidding. I have a dodge neon and have no problem with putting 7ft rods and a large bag in it. Yea a lose the passenger front seat to the rods. I don't think you will have that problem with the KIA. I m guessing the rear back seats also fold down.

As for off road. I cant speak for the KIA. I have got the neon with low pro tires, ground effects, and a lower ride in places people say it cant go. As long as your not trying to go through 2ft of mud you should be fine.

[clayton86]

I think you should be fine I have a lumina and aztec now both have been fine for me and I do go off roading lol. My previous whip was a 97 2 door toyota tercel I threw 235 cooper weathermasters on the front and it was my "boat" I used to drive that little car up the river water coming up threw the rusted floor boards just to climb out and stand on the hood and cast. I was younger and always had a few adult beverages in me but its proof small cars can still git r done. Not to mention all the deer that have been stuffed in the trunk or straped to the roof.

[guitarkid]

absolutely not. I would not rrecommend a kia to anybody, My pop bought a sedona brand new in '08 and the glove box is full of nothing but service tickets from where it has been in and out of the shop. The first problem started 3 days after he got it.

-gk

[Stasher1]

Kia Soul vs. Nissan Cube vs. Scion xB

[Bluebasser86]

My wife works in insurance and if I ever even mentioned buying a KIA she'd probably divorce me! She says they're pieces of junk that don't hold their value at all and most people end up upside down on payments.

[SirSnookalot]

I can't speak directly about a Kia but I own a Hyundai Genesis, another Korean brand. Without question the Genesis is one of the best cars I have owned, not a bit of problem. With no reservation I can compare it to any MB or BMW I have owned in the past and it far out distanced all of my Lincoln and Caddys, I'd buy another, I like every car in their lineup.

The Equis does not come with a manual, they include an Ipad instead.

[tomustang]

What's making you think about a Soul? I hope it's not those fake advertisements about getting 5k more for your trade cause they hide that back in the price.

As for new compact cars, look around at the small cars like civic/focus/corolla etc and you'll see they get the same mileage and have more room.

If you're thinking about going off the unbeaten path in trails the biggest concern is debris since those types of roads aren't maintained, it would be awkward to back out of a long dirt road just because a 6" tree blocked the path

On a side note, the biggest thing over looked in buying a new car is money. Auto industry presses the fact that MPG is key, BUT keeping a paid off 15mpg car is still cheaper than a new car with payments and 20mpg

[deaknh03]

We own a Kia Sedona, an 08 we bought new. Not a problem yet with it, 75k, and we use it to haul our gear around, as well as our everyday car to tote the kids with. Just like everything else, anything you buy might have problems, then again it might not, that goes for any brand of anything.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

What's making you think about a Soul? I hope it's not those fake advertisements about getting 5k more for your trade cause they hide that back in the price.

As for new compact cars, look around at the small cars like civic/focus/corolla etc and you'll see they get the same mileage and have more room.

If you're thinking about going off the unbeaten path in trails the biggest concern is debris since those types of roads aren't maintained, it would be awkward to back out of a long dirt road just because a 6" tree blocked the path

On a side note, the biggest thing over looked in buying a new car is money. Auto industry presses the fact that MPG is key, BUT keeping a paid off 15mpg car is still cheaper than a new car with payments and 20mpg

Really I just liked the look of the Soul. My biggest problem with the smaller cars has been cabin room. I'm 6'2" 304 lbs. And my knees are starting to go out from when I played football. The thing that has me looking at the Soul, rav4, and other box like cars, is that they seem to be roomier than the small cars are. I've had a civic and my wife has a focus. Both are great cars I just feel cramped in them. Plus after an hour to thirty minutes of driving them my knees start hurting. If my 4runner was paid off i would definately keep it. After looking at the Soul last night, I very well might end up keeping the 4runner. While it was roomy. I can't help but feel like a bear in the circus while driving and exiting the car. Looks like its back to the hunt for a car.

[Stasher1]

If room is what you're after, I'd strongly suggest test driving the Scion xB. It's built on the Corolla platform, but has more interior room than the Camry. It's a true five passenger car, and our salesman (who was about your size) had no problem fitting in the back. It's also running the proven Camry engine and transmission, so it's surprisingly quick for a box.

Kiplinger named it a "2011 Best New Car Value: Best Resale Value Under $20,000"

http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/slideshows/slideshow_pop.html?nm=BestResale2011&page=2

It also made Car and Drivers list of the ten quickest cars under $20,000 in 2009

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/08q4/the_quickest_cars_of_2009_less_than_20_000-feature

We bought a left-over 2010 RS 7.0 for my wife a few months ago, and she loves it.

Looks like this one, with different wheels...

[Fat-G]

I can't speak directly about a Kia but I own a Hyundai Genesis, another Korean brand. Without question the Genesis is one of the best cars I have owned, not a bit of problem. With no reservation I can compare it to any MB or BMW I have owned in the past and it far out distanced all of my Lincoln and Caddys, I'd buy another, I like every car in their lineup.

The Equis does not come with a manual, they include an Ipad instead.

Hyundai Genesis and Equus = awesome cars. I would drive one in a heart beat. Two of y favorite on the market today.

[BrianinMD]

I am with Stasher1, go with the xB. I also have a Release Series 7.0. I have 7ft 6in rods which fit with no issue, it has plenty of room and gets about 28mpg.

[quanjig]

Purchased a sorrento for the wife in February. Pretty tight little rig!! No problems to this point, with a 10 year 100K warranty I'm not too concerned!!

[deaknh03]

My buddy got a Ford Transit Connect about 6 months ago, pretty cool rig. Plenty of space in the back, and a lot of space up front for bigger guys. A bunch of neat storage areas as well.

[OHIO]

Yeah I would get the Scion too if gas mileage was an issue. They are ugly as sin, but practical.

Pretty good on gas and reliable too. You can't really go wrong with a Toyota.

[clayton86]

What about nissan xteras that's what I'm leaning towards getting I'm not sure what there milage is though. If u really want a bad arse vehical wait 2 to 3 years till nissan releases the titan with a cummins diesel inline 4 said to get 30mpg it will most likely be 30k+ though.

[OHIO]

What about nissan xteras that's what I'm leaning towards getting I'm not sure what there milage is though. If u really want a bad arse vehical wait 2 to 3 years till nissan releases the titan with a cummins diesel inline 4 said to get 30mpg it will most likely be 30k+ though.

How about don't wait and just put a 4BT in a Ranger or Dakota.

One of my dreams.

[Jake P]

My buddy got a Ford Transit Connect about 6 months ago, pretty cool rig. Plenty of space in the back, and a lot of space up front for bigger guys. A bunch of neat storage areas as well.

This is what i drive if my work truck is in the shop. They are pretty cool and you would be amazed what you can fit back there when you have too...

[clayton86]

How about don't wait and just put a 4BT in a Ranger or Dakota.

One of my dreams.

Been there done that in a jeep wrangler along with helping put a 6.7 into a old White pulling tractor. Iv done more swaps then I can remember its fun and the biggest head ache in the world at times. The nicest iv done is a sr20det silvia engine into a '73 datsun z. But that's a diff subject alltogether as far as the OP the xb is great but id be worried about clearance getting to and from some fishing and hunting spots that would be my biggest concern with that whip

[BrianinMD]

The xB should not have a ground clearance issue, the regular xB's have the same ground clearance as a normal car. The release series version I have and someone else mentioned are lowered 1.5 inches but I have not had any issues.