A friend bought a Kia Carens (5 seat MPV thing) a year or so back.

On paper it's excellent value for money. It was about 11.5k for the higher spec model with air con and leather seats and so far it seems pretty well put together. It's easy enough to see where they have saved some of the money though as the materials are a bit cheap in places (very fake looking leather for example) and the mechanicals are a bit dated.

He seems pleased with it but I can't help but wonder if he might have been better with a nearly new [insert other car here]

The Sportage I like is the top version, i.e. 19K, but its occurred to me why not get the outgoing version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, I have seen some, pre-registered, with only 100 miles on the clock for under 20K, which must be good when the new version is around 30K. I am just concerned about losing so much money again on brand new car depreciation, so this could be better financially.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee gets mixed reviews - people either seem to love it or hate it, with more falling into the latter category. If it was my wedge, I'd go for a Land Cruiser or Shogun in preference. The Shogun Pinin's quite neat looking too, and there are some good deals out there at the moment on them...it's relatively small though.

The last Sportage looked awful.

The last Sportage *was* awful...hence why they pulled their finger out with the new Sportage!

Rob.

sadly' date=' couldn't find a hyundai equivalent of briskoda tho [/quote']

I see www.briundai.com is available

Domain Availability

briundai.co.uk Available

Hyundai

If your looking at 4x4 please drive them first, I drove a Tucsan and it was awfull, gearbox was like a wooden spoon in porridge and you felt sea sick after driving it for half an hour, the interiour had this very plastic odour to it, you know the one that they warned you about if your buying plastic toys for kids :eek:

Drove a Kia Sorento which wasn't bad but decided the fuel bills would be to high. Best one I drove was a X-Trail, it went round corners well for a large car, was comfy and the 2.2 diesel wasn't a bad engine at all.

I still brought a new Octy estate in the end though as it's far more practical, economical and much nicer to drive.

Have you considerd a 4x4 octy 2?

Darren

It's funny though.I had a spin in my brothers Land Rover Discovery (about a year old,not the new one)

Thought it was a load of tosh really.Handled like a barge,seventeen turns of the wheel to go round a bend,interior of a metro still despite being pretty much top of the range,automatic that I could have outwalked.

If that is one of the best of the rest,no thanks.

Yes the Nissan X trail is far nicer than all of them but these Kia /Hyundai models certainly aren't any worse than Land Rover models (newest one excepted although I haven't driven one)

If I was spending 18k though.Hmmm.Definately top of the range octavia esate .

If I was spending 18k though.Hmmm.Definately top of the range octavia esate .

Shame a top of the range octy is 19870 before you add options......

Shame a top of the range octy is 19870 before you add options......

:eek: vRS estate at

My cousin has a Sorentoand they do get good reviews with all the tow car people. The Tuscan doesn't fair so well as it tends to move and pitch more.

Looks like Kia have the suspension setup a bit better.

Not driven the Sprotage so can't comment.

As for the Octy RS, yes it does seem expensive especially now Ford will be selling the 2.5litre, 5 cylinder, Turbocharged, 222bhp Focus ST for

Looked at sportage and sorento and taking delivery of - - -- - - - A skoda 4x4 estate the end of this week. Will tow more than a rav4 and nearly as much as a sportage and return 45mpg. We were looking at a x3 but for the price of that were having a new skoda and a new caravan. Geting very excited aout picking it up so will do a full report later

As for the Octy RS, yes it does seem expensive especially now Ford will be selling the 2.5litre, 5 cylinder, Turbocharged, 222bhp Focus ST for

I would never buy a Hyundai...cheap quality material inside' date=' VERY cheap, even brand new..went to a showroom to enquire on one for a friend of mine, the Accent...my Lord....

KIA though...THAT is something I wouldn't mind having at all...good quality stuff, and great paint jobs too![/quote']

are you on drugs????

Kia's ....Noooo way :thumbdwn:

Hyundai look and seem much more competant at keeping things at a good quality..however kia are ...nah tack is the only word i can find :(

their concepts look good but ...its all show and nothing else

Looked at the new Hyundai Tucson at the weekend.Actually looked ok.

They had some older Hyundai Santa Fe's there too.Have to say,I now understand when people say not the best plastics.