To Buy Or Not To Buy?

[Scot H]

I am currently in the market for a "full size" MPV.

I have test driven the rest - Espace, C2 & the Sharran, all good but something missing then a friend suggested the Sedona.

The model I tested was a new 2.9 CRDi SE+, black leather with all the toys inc DVD player, the kids loved it. I found it drove well and after discussions with the salesman a deal is almost done!

We normally head over to France a couple of times a year from Scotland, and this would be our only family vehicle.

As part of my reaserch into Kia I have found your ecellent site.

The question is should I buy it? I would appreciate comments from Sedona owners who have good things to say as well as bad.

Many thanks.

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[54FLX]

Scot H

Had mine for a year now with DVD player etc.. with 12 months of trouble free motoring.

I also pull a caravan with it effortlessly.

Only problem I have had is an alternator that is under charging so is being replaced under warranty.

IMHO go for it. The equivalent VW's etc also have ther faults, I believe if you like what you drive go for it. Personally I did not like the Sharon and VW dealer near me is carp. Also I am not a big fan of renaults and pugs.

Simon

[ebod]

If it was a cheap used one then the Sedona is okay, but I wouldn't personally throw a pot of money at a new Sedona ( especially as a new model is just round the corner )


Out of the ones you mentioned :-

Sharan - v-good but getting old now ( 10 yrs )
Espace - v-good but expensive parts & servicing
C2 ( thinks ya mean C8 ) - My personal choice , go for 2.2HDI version
*reasons - more sunroofs , more economical , middle windows are not fixed, swivelling front seats, quieter , better handling/turning lock , much better dash layout for switchgear, parts/servicing costs not OTT.


Unless you are towing a big caravan, then I don't see the need for a 2.9 ltr MPV.

[clartsonly]

I drove a 1.9 Manual diesel turbo C8 yesterday 90,000 miles ex taxi, it had just as much poke as my 2.9 CRDi Automatic, and he gets 100 miles for a tenner of diesel, rather than 50 miles per tenner I get from the sedona.

I personally would not buy a new sedona I have owned mine for 18 months, and it has umpteen problems - and the dvd is great on long journeys but they are not worth the £1500, as advertised as an option. you can get portable kits for about £250.

I do like the sedonas, they are large quite comfy,look nice are not bad powerwise but they really lack the trust and reliability some other manufacturers ooze, and with the rising price of fuel are not very cheap to run.

[CurlyWurlyGirl]

Hi,

To answer your quesion - sorry, can't do that.

Assuming you're wanting to buy new, like yourself I did the rounds and visited most of the garages that produced MPV's and did the comparisons to see what you could get for your money. I also checked out the internet sites, looked at NCAP test results, etc., etc.

Like for like (as close as you can get anyway) all you can do is sum up the stats and take your choice.

For me, the Sedona was the best choice all round for my needs (i.e. hay bales, stock feeds, kids, shopping, etc., etc.)
Downsides: mpg (but as I always state, is it really that bad for the size of engine?) and I manage Edinburgh-W.Sussex and back on one tank of fuel. Also the market name - it's not that well known compared to competitors.

If you're thinking secondhand, well, in my opinion, that's another ballgame altogether!

Just out of interest, if you don't mind me asking, which dealership are you negotiating through?

Fiona

smiles across the miles

[pepper]

Another recent purchaser of a Sedona here, I bought mine from a dealer second hand with 14000 miles on the clock its got 9 months warranty left on it so if I find any problems I can get them sorted before the warranty comes due.

I did the rounds of the dealerships and drove and looked at quite a few vehicles before settling on the Sedona.

If I didn't need the pulling power of the 2.9 engine I'd have looked at buying a new Hyundai Trajet SE (5 years warranty) still bigger inside than a Grand Espace!

The only other consideration was the Citroen/Peugeot/Fiat its great inside with far more cubby hole space and climate control rather than basic air con but again its pulling power wasn't good enough for what I require.

Oh and Clartsonly I really doubt whether a 1.9TD C8 will do a 100miles on a tenner on todays prices! my friend drives a 306Td with the same engine in and in that considerably lighter vehicle he gets about 40 to the gallon! On todays prices of almost a £1 a litre the owner of the C8 would be trying to get 50 to the gallon.

Here's the Parkers review of the Synergie (the only vehicle I could find with the older 1.9TD engine in Citroen Synergie
oh and here's a review of the C8
Even the new C8 2.0HDI 110 BHP struggles to get near 40 to the gallonCitroen C8 HDI

I bought my Sedona for the specific task of driving to my house in France in comfort while towing a big trailer on occasion and plenty of space for the children. I found the legroom in the front for the driver to also be a deciding factor its got enough space to stretch out which when you're 6'3" it really means something. When driving my previous car, an Espace it was very van like with no front leg room whatsoever. This car is a revelation on the motorway far far nicer to drive, my only reservations have been a little more wind and tyre noise (turns nice sounding stereo up a little louder).

[eco]

Scott try www.motorpoint.co.uk - I bought a rover new from there (6 grand 25 on an 05) and they have got sedona auto se's with the leather for £15999 choice of colours. Don't be suckered by the dvd they can be roof mounted for well under £500 proffesionally and portable play stations with dvd are only £180 each........ Try to park one - the steering lock is attrocious. However they are solid, quick and the individual kid "fight proof seats" are a bonus !
I went to switzerland 2000metres up with chains on (with delivery mileage on !) and the pyrenees across to nice no problems. Just returned 5 adults 2 kids up from a week in paris no problems. I think the problem used sedonas are trouble is that they are cheap and people skimp on looking after them. One last thing - what about a VW transporter shuttle www.vansdirect.net might be worth a try - 5hit hot image and resale if your at the 20k end not the 14k end of sedona buying ?

Go and treat yourself to what you want Scott

[clartsonly]

On todays prices of almost a £1 a litre the owner of the C8 would be trying to get 50 to the gallon.

yeah 45-50 a gallon on the manual version V reg I think, 90,000 miles ex-taxi. compared to 25-30 mpg on the auto sedona. I am the laughing stock in the office for buying such a badly economical car. whereas they all get 50-60mpg out of their volvo 540 2ltr diesel turbos. they keep telling me to "get the car checked, there must be something wrong with it" I try and defend the fact it is a large car with a large engine. but to tell the truth it cost £50 per week to go to work and I have started to cycle to the train station and pay for a train for £23 per week instead. that way it will need less servicing too.

kias are cheap.

read the quote above in any way you wish, it will be true - whatever way you read it.

[pepper]

One last thing - what about a VW transporter shuttle www.vansdirect.net might be worth a try - 5hit hot image and resale if your at the 20k end not the 14k end of sedona buying ?

I thought about the VW Transporter or even the Renault Trafic range too, but I drive a Ford Transit on a daily basis and wanted something with legroom in the front, which these vans do not have. You end up with very cramped legs (but there again not everyones as tall as me)


Clartsonly I was saying that I very much doubt it he gets 50 to the gallon out of the Synergie the quoted mileage on Parkers is 34mpg. Which as it weighs more and is less aerodynamic than a Peugeot 306 with exactly the same engine which only manages 40MPG then I'd very much doubt the veracity of his claims.

[clartsonly]

yes, I thought it sounded too good, but if we believed all the documentation supplied I would be driving around in a car which does 41mpg as stated on kias web site. so based on that his car probably only really does 18 to the gallon :P

think carefully before you part with £23,000 Scot H


edit: I just checked a couple of reviews one said 40mpg the other 28mpg. sounds like the same as the sedona... one wonders whether if the drivers were exchanged the mpg would follow them. ??