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Hi,guys, i am just after some feedback from anyone who has purchased a KIA Grand Carnival EX (2006 8 seater) in OZ.I want to buy one but have been told to steer clear of KIA because of reliability issues and quality of the KIA products.Has anyone got one and have you had any issues with the car so far?? We need to fit 3 baby seats in the car so do you fit these in easily and in what configuration do you put them? Any feedback will be appreciated. Also did you get much off the RRP$$ with your bargaining?
Thanks Chicken
Last edited by chicken strangler : 08-01-2006 at 03:49 AM.
Hi Chook
I don't currently have a Grand Carny but will be ordering one shortly.They are a totally different car to the Carnival.The majority of problems with the cars were in the earlier models.The Grand seems to be a massive leap forward in quality.We have 4 kids & have outgrown our Carny.We found the Grand to be the best value for money when we compared it to other makes.I would go to a few dealers to see who will give you the best price.I have been offered one for 37,000 driveaway.Good luck,hope you make the right decision for your family.Cheers Len
We bought our Grand Carnival in Feb/ March this year, and are very happy with it. My wife took it in for a free check-up last week, as recommended by the dealership, where they gave it a bit of a check-over and adjust handbrake etc if needed. Prior to taking it in, we tried to identify anything that we wanted them to specifically look at or fix...but came up with nothing to complain about.
Before deciding on the Grand Carnival, I looked at every people mover on the Australian market, and in the end the decision really wasn't too hard. Nothing offered the same level of seating/luggage flexibility and space at anything like the price. The only thing that came close for space and flexibility was the Chrysler Grand Voyager, but this has a smaller and far less powerful (but no more fuel efficient) engine and was approx $60,000 for the base model compared to $38,000 for the Kia with side curtain airbags. The Honda Odyssey (Aust type which is very different to the US version) gets rave reviews from all the journos, mainly due to its handling, and comes close for price, but it is next to useless for carrying kids due to the ridiculous placement of the child seat anchore points (under the rear hatch so the middle row straps pass through the rear row at head height). It is also very tight for space in the rear row and has minimal luggage room. Oh, yeah, and sliding doors are way better for loading kids. Gotta think this thing was designed by engineers (and tested by motoring journos) who don't have any kids.
We have 3 young kids (aged 6, 4 and 2) with another due in a couple of months, so have similar seating requirements to yourself. Initially all kids liked to sit in the middle row, but now the eldest prefers being in the back. When kid number 4 arrives, the 4 & 6 year olds will have the back row to themselves, and I will remove a middle row seat to leave a "walk-through". The 3 individual removable seats gives this flexibility, and five child seat anchors in the seat backs makes moving them around pretty easy and neat.
negatives...
lap only seat belts in the middle and rear centre positions is pretty ordinary given that it is a vehicle build specifically to carry people. But, if you are using the middle centre for a childs seat (with built in harness), this still works well.
Turning circle is improved over the Carnival and is competative with other like vehicles, but it is still a big beast to park at times.
I dislike the look of the huge, boxy roof rails, but that is just a personal "problem" I have.
Thx guys, I have been out n about and had a look at the Honda Odyssey and others. MY GOD what was Honda thinking with their anchor points? It makes the third row absolutely useless with child seats fitted!!! And if you put child seats in the 3rd row besides being awkward to get bubs in n out you have nowhere to put your pram let alone any luggage for a trip.I think the carni is still the vehicle to buy so i will keep asking everyone questions. The KIA dealers today had the new SWB version on the lot,it looks OK but without the sinking 3rd row it doesnt give you the space for prams and stuff like the LWB(besides the bigger engine also).There is only $2000 difference in price anyway so you would be MAD to go for the SWB i think. Thx for ya feedback
Chicken
We've had our Grand Carnival since June and apart from an initial problem with an oil leak (due to a deformed sump) we haven't had any worries.
We have four boys ranging from 16 to 10 months. Two of our boys are teenages; the 16 year old is already 6ft and the 14 year old is headed in the same direction. We found it very difficult to fit them into the other people movers. I've always liked the look of the Honda Odyssey and tried desparately to squash my 14 year old's feet into the back seat - but to no avail ;p.
The things I like about the Grand Carnival:
1. The baby seat clicks into a latch on the back of the same seat. A lot of the other cars were fastened to the floor or roof which made travelling in the back seats uncomfortable or not possible.
2. The three seats in the middle row mean that the baby is fastened in the middle seat and the two older boys have a door and window each.
3. The 9 year old has the back seat to himself. This is a blessing as he is a poker (likes to poke the older ones in the ribs to see what happens). The back seat also has power outlets for him to plug his gameboy into.
4. The boot is fantastic. It fits everything: stroller; baby bag; water cooler; esky; footballs; boogey boards; swimmers/towels; chairs. We can even put part of the back seat down and take a table.
5. Drop-down mirror to watch the kids in the back - no need for eyes in the back of your head.
6. Personal heating/cooling. Not only front and back but the driver and the passenger as well. This is great for us because when I'm cold my husband is hot and vice versa.
7. ABS brakes standard.
8. Handles like a normal car and has a reasonable turning circle for its size.
I guess like any car, time will tell and you can always get a lemon but so far this car has been great for our family.
G'day Chicken
I finally placed my order for a Grand Carnival Yesterday.I wanted the premium but was told there is a 3 month wait for it.I ended up with an optioned up base model.We ended up choosing what they call burgandy(more a dark red) which is apparently a new colour,just thought it looked more appealing to us.Now my only problem is I have to wait 2 weeks for delivery.Our current Carnival runs out of rego in 2 wks & i was not going to spend the best part of $1000 only to get rid of it in a month or so.Cheers Len
Hi len,glad to hear bout ya upgrade.By the optioned up model do you mean with the extra airbags for $1500? Do you get any other extras with that? Do you mind if i ask what your driveaway price was and where you are buying it from? I am wondering if they are dicounting much off the RRP.(pm me if you would rather)I think we will be leaning alot more towards the Grand Carni now after speaking with a few owners and looking at the other vehicles.(not much to compare them with for space is there?)Thanks chicken
Hi Chicken
The options we ordered are,safety pack,alloys,reversing sensors,weathershields,mats right through.I am also working on the wife to get sidesteps,nudgebar,rear spoiler,chrome accents & roof mounted dvd,although the after market dual dvd would suit us better as the boys would prefer to play games.Cheers Len
Hi Len,
Congrats on the new purchase!! Sounds like a really good package.
Things have changed a fair bit in the last 6 months. When we bought out Grand Carnival the only option available was a combined package of side curtain airbags, leather steering wheel and rain sensing wipers. Is theis the "safety pack" you mention. The only colours were black, white, silver, dark blue and gold. So what other colours & options are available now?
Hi Bert
Thanks mate,the airbags etc is the safety pack.I thought with 4 littlies i needed it.If you get onto Kias website & click on Carnival you will find the list of options.We also ordered headlight & bonnet protectors.There are a couple of new colours we saw,burgundy & gunmetal(which looks good as well).Wifey fell in love with the burgundy so i had no choice.The dealer called me today to let me know that there is only 1 type of wheel available at the moment as they have to be load rated & the stud pattern is slightly different to most other 6 stud patterns.It's a nice wheel though so i am happy.Thanks again Bert .Cheers Len
Should i buy Grand Carnival??
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