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How many people out there in Kialand have a Grand Carnival,how do you find the car.I am looking at upgrading shortly & would like some feedback before I commit to it.Thanks,Len
Hey Len. We had a good look at the new version the other day. Not to buy as we have a nice newish '05, but just out of curiosity. They're very, very nicely done. The 3rd row seats fold completely flat & are split 70/30%. The only things I didn't like were the dash - the Tacho has been moved sideways so it's offset - & the 2nd row seats, all 3 of them, are narrower & don't have any armrests. Sounds picky, I know, but our kids have grown used to an armrest each side of them & without them they'd feel quite "insecure" - those 2 are only 5 & 3 yo. Big 7yo hides down the back. :P If I were buying, I'd insist on trying our 2nd row seats in the new Carni. & if they fitted (it looks like the same mounting system) I'd sacrifice the middle seat. But then, we don't need 8 seats. Not even 7 for that matter!
G'day Esses
Did you happen to take it for a drive & if so what did you think.I have had a good look at the car but as yet have not driven it.As a family of 6 the 2 extra seats would come in handy,especially when the kids want to bring a friend along.Thanks.Len
Hi Len,
This is my first post to any forum, so hope not to mess it up.
My wife and I have been looking at people movers for months and we finally decided on a new Grand Carnival (Sedona to those in USA, Canada etc). We purchsed one about 2 weeks ago and the whole family is very happy with it so far.
We have 3 kids with another on the way, and the space provided for passengers and luggage is great. I agree with Esses' comments re the middle row seats, but our kids have never experienced captain's chairs with arm rests, so are not complaining. Child seat anchorage points in back of all middle row seats is a bonus for us and makes things very easy and tidy. The kids have far more room than in the Magna Wagon and now have a better (higher) view of the road.
The seating configurations allow so much flexibility to put all three in the middle (as set up at present) or remove one of the middle row seats and move a couple of kids to the back row.
Ride comfort, handling and noise levels are all great. Power and performance are excellent, especially for this type of vehicle, but not sure how this will go for petrol consumption. (can't have space, power, safety, comfort and economy I guess).
Onto the negatives...lap only belts in the centre positions of a vehicle designed specifically to carry people is pretty poor, but Kia are not alone in this (Toyota, Mazda, Honda etc.) Would be good to have radio volume controls on the steering wheel as it is a fair reach to the volume nob located on the passenger side of the radio.....not much else really.
Sorry if I have rambled too much, but hope this helps. I would definitely recommend you test drive.
Bert.
Hi Bert
Thanks for the info,I will be taking one out for a test drive tomorrow.The lap only belts in the middle don't concern me to much as we use a harness for the youngest little monster.I think mine may miss the armrests in the back but thats the way it goes,they'll have to get used to it.I was very impressed at the amount of space compared to our current Carnival.It will be interesting to see how different it is to drive to our current one.Len
Hi Len,
Did you get around to testing a Grand Carnival? If so, what were your thoughts on it, especially how it compares to your current Carnival.
Bert.
Hi Bert
I haven't driven one yet as our local dealer only has 1 Grand Carnival in stock & he doesn't want to run up to many kilometres on it.He asked me to go back this weekend as he is expecting a few more through the week.I am really looking forward to driving it to see how different it is to our current car.I have also looked at the Honda Odyssey but found it to be to small for our tribe of monsters.Cheers Len
Hi Len, I have had a carnival grand since Feb, I traded a 2004 carnival.Very Very nice car,fist seen it 'loved it',took it for test drive 'love,love it. It has POWER ! I cant fault anything,Kia have fixed all the problems.Rear opening windows in the sliding doors a big plus for the kids.Fuel, for the first two weeks was thirsty but NOT know.I have a caravan and towing it is adream.Thats the only reason I upgraded.
Thanks mate,good to hear you are so happy with it.I am waiting a month or 2 as our local dealer says that more accessories are becoming available all the time.I would like to get it well kitted up when i buy one.Cheers Len
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