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Did you know that the Rondo might be considered a "gay car"? Well, I guess if you had too much time on your hands, you might discover enough clues, no matter how slight, to reach that conclusion, but the following writer seemed pretty hung up on the idea: AutoGuide.net - Review by Derek Price
I know exactly the commerical they are talking about, and I had forgotten it until after I bought mine. It is still on the US Kia website on the Rondo mini site. I had no idea that was San Francisco until this guy said it. I think some people think too hard about gayness (is that a word?). I remember someone once telling me that some folks look so hard for the devil they miss God completely. I tend to think that is the case here.
Well I'm always happy when I'm driving the Rondo, so maybe it is a gay car... ...and when did rainbows stop meaning innocent happiness?? By the way, the International Co-operative Alliance also uses the rainbow flag as its emblem. Not that I don't believe the ad is targeted; quite the contrary. And I'm not thinking to co-op members. I don't really care whether they do targeted ads... but I hate crappy ads, and I have to say most of the Rondo ads are just that. I've not seen a single one, in print or on TV, that really attracts me to the car, represents good writing work, nor shows what the car is really all about. Funnily, the guy who wrote that review about it being a gay car explains it better than it is explained in most Kia ads. It's not that Kia can't pick ad agencies - they did the Heeeya! ad for the ... was it the Sportage?
Speaking of rainbows, I was a little less happy when I saw a Rondo in icy green the other day - we thought we were going to get a Mazda 5 before the Rondo came out (and before we tried sitting in the Mazda 5) and I loved that colour, but didn't think the Rondo came in it so we got red. I now realize the colour must not have shown properly in the paint chip in the brochure; I thought it was just another variation on silver. Fortunately, we like red too!
I don't really care whether they do targeted ads... but I hate crappy ads, and I have to say most of the Rondo ads are just that. I've not seen a single one, in print or on TV, that really attracts me to the car, represents good writing work, nor shows what the car is really all about.
Speaking of rainbows, I was a little less happy when I saw a Rondo in icy green the other day - we thought we were going to get a Mazda 5 before the Rondo came out (and before we tried sitting in the Mazda 5) and I loved that colour, but didn't think the Rondo came in it so we got red. I now realize the colour must not have shown properly in the paint chip in the brochure; I thought it was just another variation on silver. Fortunately, we like red too!
I'd would agree with you on the ads and it applies to any manufacturer, I like to see details on the product. It's just like this in print too, lots of flashy pictures but when you get right down to it, not really much info on what they are selling, also the same applies to websites too. However, I think the latest Rondo ad running on TV is much better as it does provide you with more info on the features of the vehicle.
The "icy green" you are referring to is the Aqua Silver, a colour we prefer. In other parts of world KIA call this colour Aqua Blue, but unless I'm colour blind I don't see any indication of blue in it. To me its silver with an hint of green. We prefer it, as its a little different than your standard silver colour. Our second choice would be red.
I recently bought a diesel automatic careens in southern Luzon.
First, the good things.
1. air-con is very good.
2. the interior is spacious.
3. plenty of gadgets
4. lighting panel is impressive.
Now the bad things.
1. As cautioned by previous reviews, the after sales service of KIA is lousy.
After a month of using the Carens on smooth roads and about 20 kms. a day, I saw three (3) wires protruding from the left front Hankook Optimo tire that came with the car. They wouldn’t replace it. They’ll tell you they’d refer it to blah-blah but after a month of this and that, nothing.
2. the suspension is too low that when you go down from an embarkment, you’ll hear a loud thump from the underchassis. It will guarantee to break your heart every time you hear it.
3. when you go up a hilly road, there is so much noise and the car is huffing and puffing. In Tagalog, hirap ang makina.
4. first gear is so noisy.
5. there is side-to-side wiggling at low speeds.
6. paint is bad. There are small, white round splotches on the paint and they will not buff it for free.
7. paint easily gets scratch off no matter how well you take care of it.
8. interior gets scratch too easily compared to my Toyota.
9. going back to the suspension being too low, you’ll hear a thump when you park front first in malls with barriers at the parking lot. Again, your heart …
10. pang-babae ang Carens. Test drive it and you’ll know what I mean.
11. there is considerable noise even when windows are closed. Try test-driving it in SLEX, you’ll hear the sound from the barriers. Ask your children to count it by the sound they’ll hear.
12. marami pa but my heart bleeds for an almost one million investment.
Although the Rondo is shorter than the Mazda5, it does have more room for heads, legs and shoulders. And when it comes to cargo space, Kia claims to have double the room for your groceries and other gear. However, with its so-so reputation, rapid depreciation and the lack of a third row in all but the most expensive models, the Mazda5 overtakes the Rondo where it counts.
For another comparison, see this review first posted in the original post.
The Institute For Consumer Automotive Research compared nine vehicles under the category, Inexpensive 6-Passenger Vehicles. The website states, "These nine represent an odd grouping, but they share the merits of additional passenger capacity under $20,000, using CarsDirect target prices for vehicles with an automatic transmission." Here are the results:
1. Dodge Caravan
2. Kia Rondo
3. Dodge Grand Caravan
4. Chevrolet Uplander
5. Mazda5
6. Chevrolet Silverado Classic
7. Nissan Titan
8. Chevrolet Impala
9. Chevrolet Colorado
There is no shortage of Kia reviews these days, and the writers are largely the same cynical sorts who had hated the earlier incarnations from the brand, but their tone has changed remarkably. The overriding theme seems to be, "When the hell did Kia start making really great cars?", and I couldn't agree more.
...and when did rainbows stop meaning innocent happiness?? By the way, the International Co-operative Alliance also uses the rainbow flag as its emblem. Not that I don't believe the ad is targeted; quite the contrary. And I'm not thinking to co-op members. I don't really care whether they do targeted ads... but I hate crappy ads, and I have to say most of the Rondo ads are just that. I've not seen a single one, in print or on TV, that really attracts me to the car, represents good writing work, nor shows what the car is really all about. Funnily, the guy who wrote that review about it being a gay car explains it better than it is explained in most Kia ads. It's not that Kia can't pick ad agencies - they did the Heeeya! ad for the ... was it the Sportage?
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