Kia Sorento
Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004 at 18:57
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Jimbo
What does anyone know about the Kia Sorento. I've started looking into a 4WD with reasonable off road ability. At $38,000, with a fair bit of fruit, good size, low range, 3.5L Mitsubishi V6, it looks pretty good when it is priced up against the smaller 4WD ("softroader") market. In 4WD Monthly it won a comparo with Cherokee and Pathfinder, and was substatially cheaper. I believe it also made the final 6 in 4X4's 4WD of the year, so I'm figuring it must be half useful.
Other than that I can't find out much about it. Has anyone seen or driven one in action? I am looking for someting that can get reasonably off road without the need to climb mountains that would
test a yak.
Regards,
Jim.
Reply By: ianmc - Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004 at 23:49
Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004 at 23:49
Typical Tojo owner response Go-Offroad! You must really believe all the stuff that they have been feeding you in the $500 million plus advert campaigns to date that you are paying for in the price of each Tojo you buy so regularly.
I own what I drive and after 220,000kms it hasnt cost much at all in depreciation or repairs & no elecs to speak of to break down.
Check with the
Birdsville towing for details of the problems with moderns that have $2/3000 tows due to elecs. With your
check book I guess this does not worry you.
Happy motoring.
AnswerID:
54120
Follow Up By: GO_OFFROAD - Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004 at 07:57
Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004 at 07:57
Its simple maths, you buy a car with good resale on runout, when it comes discounted, and what you lose in 3 years compared to what you paid is ussually <5k. [with a toyota anyway....] claim that off your tax, and then its only 52c per $ left to pay, so 1k a year it costs to be driving a new car.... hardly rocket surgery.....
Still doesnt change the fact you mis quoted the figures in your post about the vehicles, or the fact everyone who gets an obscure "cheap" 4wd complains of no aftermarket accesories.
And if you spoke to
Birdsville, to find out how many "elec issues" were either aftermarket added, and what percentage of them compared to the amount of travellers these days, I think you would see it is safe to move into the 2oth century....
FollowupID:
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Reply By: flappan - Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004 at 10:44
Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004 at 10:44
Back to the original question , A friend of
mine had one. Quite a decent unit. Followed around most of the other 4wds easily enough. Plenty of power with the Bishi 3.5. Acknowledged as being a bit saggy in the
suspension, my mate fixed that with new Springs from Pedders (all that was available at the time). To my knowledge , no aftermarket shockies are "yet" available but apparently they aren't to far away.
No fullsize bullbar was available , he had a nudgebar fitted.
He sold it due to lack of room and bought a Terracan. Quite amazing really as he came from a fully kitted up Patrol previously.
Kia have come a LONG way , and my opinion is , that the
Sorrento is at least worth considering.
AnswerID:
54151
Follow Up By: GO_OFFROAD - Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004 at 12:04
Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004 at 12:04
As long as you
check your aftermarket requirements before purchasing ;-)
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