Kia Picanto is way better than say a Daewoo Matiz (having driven both). Hyundai is pretty decent too IMHO

I've been selected to test drive a kia ceed for a year - not sure at the moment if it will be a diesel, but as that is what I drove on the 3 day test drive, I hope so. Will give me a good opportunity to live with it and see how I get on. I love my Fabis VRS, which is an animal compared to the Kia Ceed, but that is what I like about it, although now I will be selling it - don't need two cars! It will be interesting to see what the next Fabia VRS is going to be like - I have a year to sit back and decide what I am going to do, although I must say the Kia-pro-ceed looks good.

I've been selected to test drive a kia ceed for a year

Cool - have they any vacancies

What better way to see if you like a car

I have read many posts saying that the main dealers aren't much help when you have a problem "my car has been back and forth for 6 months now" etc. So I ask you what is the point of a 7 year warranty? My 3 year warranty hasn't really been worth anything. Buy a decent car and look after it yourself I say main dealers are only here to sell us cars anyhow.

I have read many posts saying that the main dealers aren't much help when you have a problem "my car has been back and forth for 6 months now" etc. So I ask you what is the point of a 7 year warranty? My 3 year warranty hasn't really been worth anything. Buy a decent car and look after it yourself I say main dealers are only here to sell us cars anyhow.

Well, you can look after a car perfectly well. It doesn't have to be engine problems, what if your air-con system went, in a brand new car, even though you've looked after it. It's not your fault. That's the point in a warranty.

Well, you can look after a car perfectly well. It doesn't have to be engine problems, what if your air-con system went, in a brand new car, even though you've looked after it. It's not your fault. That's the point in a warranty.

Some of my best cars have been terrible! Have you ever owned an original mini? Great fun, but you spend as long fixing it as you do driving it, trust me I have the scars on my knuckles to prove it! Landrovers are another good example of a great car that needs alot of TLC. Infact, just enter the name of any British car here! My point is Honda VTEC, they have had NO engine failures at all, not one, thats because it was designed correctly in the first place. What if your air-con went? I think the biggest problem we face in modern cars is electronics (partly because garages including the main dealers struggle to diagnose and fix problems when they arise) Anyway, my point is this if you want a reliable car buy Jap or Korean even these days, however I still enjoy driving and find German and British cars more involving, weighty, better feel whatever. I would sooner have to fix my car once in a while and enjoy the ownership experience than have something 100% reliable and totally dull to drive! (Don't think I include every Jap or Korean car in this statement all I am trying to say is If you enjoy driving it then you are halfway there!)

Nissan Micra anyone?

I would sooner have to fix my car once in a while and enjoy the ownership experience than have something 100% reliable and totally dull to drive!

But many people have little mechanical knowledge, probably less electrical, and have little time as they are too busy working. They demand 100% reliability.

At one time I'd have put up with a measure of unreliability - not these days, can't put up with the logistics headaches of how to get daughter here, wife there on time, how to get the car into the garage, how many days will it be in and how will we cope in the meantime and so on.

A duller but more reliable car is perhaps a prerequisite for modern families. One with a lot of the extra expense 'factored in' e.g. 7 year warranty is ideal.

In any case from what I read the Ceed and Hyundai are pretty good to drive.

Nissan Micra anyone?

Nissan Micra 160SR | evo Car Reviews | Car Reviews | evo

To quote from the article:

"while the Mini's gearing, keener turn-in and lower driving position made it more suited to circuit work, the Micra proved to be the more progressive and better balanced."

And everyone raves about how fun the MINIs are, so I'm guessing the Micra can't be *that* dull to drive...

Rob.

Nissan Micra anyone?

Dull? Nice light chuckable car with a revvy engine. Quite enjoyed the one I had as a courtesy car recently ... unlike the MkV Golf GT TDI I had a few weeks back which was very dull :(

Chris

My point is Honda VTEC, they have had NO engine failures at all, not one, thats because it was designed correctly in the first place.

The cam itself doesn't fail because it's an elliptical lump of metal. That's the bit they always claim has never broken, not the engine as a whole.

There are a few of us on here who know for a fact they DO fail

well, that caused a few responses! I enjoy cars, fixing them, maintaining them and driving them. I can fully 100% understand why someone would want a car that was 100% reliable. Maybe thats the way they will go, engines sealed for life. 7 or even 10 year warrantys, plastic bodys..... throw away cars like bic biros.

However try driving and older car with character (Character :- Inherant design faults/quirks that the driver has to compensate for) You can't deny its fun.

The perfect combination would be a Nissan Micra/ Kia to get you to work 5 days a week and a toy car to tinker with/drive at weekends....TVR, Lotus, real Mini, Landrover, old golf, etc etc. Only I dont wan't a Nissan or a Kia. VW/Audi group for me although I could possibly be swayed to Honda even if it is only one elliptical piece of metal that is 100% reliable. Negative side to owning a Honda (Just my opinion mind) is that they have very cramped engine/bonnet spaces and the parts, should you ever need one are expensive.

A garage owner friend of mine, drives Landrovers, a Chrysler grand voyager and a rally prepared Subaru Impreza STi, (not all at the same time mind) however if you ask him what is the best car he will say Nissan Micra, thats because it perfectly fills the role most people are looking for in a commuting machine.

well, that caused a few responses! I enjoy cars, fixing them, maintaining them and driving them. I can fully 100% understand why someone would want a car that was 100% reliable. Maybe thats the way they will go, engines sealed for life. 7 or even 10 year warrantys, plastic bodys..... throw away cars like bic biros.

Someone once said with manufacturers increasing the use of electronics in cars, that

future scrap yards will be full of cars all in perfect condition both mechanically and externally because when the electronics get frazzled, it will be too expensive to replace, but eventually I think engines will be sealed for life units.

Negative side to owning a Honda (Just my opinion mind) is that they have very cramped engine/bonnet spaces and the parts, should you ever need one are expensive.

Thats what puts me off having a Honda, nice cars but have read the parts are expensive, not actually seen an Honda engine bay, but if its cramped that will be another reason not to have one.

Yes those sealed for life engines will suddenly stop boy racers trying to get "individuality" but instead all it is is a modify the engine with no change to the suspension tyres brakes engine mounts clutch possibly cooling system to cope with the additional power.

I recall a DVD by J Clarkson - why does someone who has just received a

I'm not a boyracer, and never bothered modifying a car before this one either. I just made use of the fact you CAN tweak the car and yes it does have the other stuff done too to make it safe - so I dont think that's an argument. Also I get a pro to do it, as I dont have a 25 quid spanner set :P

The manufacturer may spend billions on R&D, but at the end of the day the end product is always a compromise (to get the car down to a price, specific fuel economy, wider audience, etc).

Chris (wannabe boy racer)

I recall a DVD by J Clarkson - why does someone who has just received a