Might have to sell :(

[aefbug]

Hey everyone, I regret to announce that I probably have to sell my baby, and wind up with a 2001 Kia Spectre. *death* What a trade huh? So if anyone's looking or knows someone who is, I'm probably selling soon.

I know this should probably be in the classifieds, but it's not officially on the market yet, so just kinda a heads up and what not. Thanks guys.

[scarabY2k]

Why are you selling your baby?

[LadybugEwa]

Gosh, I feel so sorry for you. I rescued my Ladybug from a Kia dealer, and I have to agree - that place WAS death. They couldn't even install the new wind deflectors right! (one was damaged to begin with, so I stipulated new ones in the contract) To say I have no trust in Kia would be an understatement. Here's the brakedown of the job:
Materials: 2 plastic wind deflectors, 3M automotive tape, 1 unsuspecting NB
Time: 1.5 hours at the dealer's
Result: 1 of the wind deflectors is only half-glued on.
A trained monkey could do it much better, and probably take more pride in it's work than those Kia ppl.
That's when I said to Ladybug, "Let's get the asterisks out of here!" and she obliged.


I just wanted to add, the first item I bought was a new licenseplate frame - I couldn't bear advertising for these incompetents!

[aefbug]

Originally Posted by scarabY2k

Why are you selling your baby?

I might have to get rid of her cause she just hit 97k and my parents are thinking that she's gunna go on me. And they found a Kia Spectre with 43k for 3000. Hopefully I won't have to ditch her.

More info later

[Kickeroo]

puttin 3k into yer Beetle will certasinly go a long way to keeping it on the road. I am VERY wary of Kia products, especially used. You have a well bult and SAFE vehicle, and the odd water pump, or other "major" repair pales in comparision to a used beater that is made of the thinnest guage sheet metal (and mostly made from scrap) that just BARELY conforms to safety codes.

[AmyJane]

43K for only 3000? That sounds a little suspect to me. I wouldn't touch a Kia with a 10-ft pole anyway.

[Moviequill]

maybe an 06 Kia in the extreme circumstance but definitely not a used one, I'd use that $3k on something else like a used Honda or Toyota or how about another NB with less miles? Remember when Hyundai's first came on the market in the 80s or whatever? That's about where Kia has been up to late, living in that danger zone

[kcfoxie]

$3000 will do a complete tune up for any 2.0 at a dealer or service center. Timing belt, Auto Trans Fluid flush (if manual, check gear oil and top of if needed, change it if you really want to be on the safe side), spark plugs, filters (oil, air, fuel, cabin) and some new oil... you'd be top notch. I have 93,000 and I did my timing belt 10,000 ago myself -- parts cost me just over $200 and about 14 hours start to finish, including 2 1-hour lunch breaks, it was the first time we'd done a timing belt project on a watercooled vw, too. For the cost of the kia you can keep the considerably better built car running considerably longer. However if your parents are convinced that buying a Kia is the best option -- to which you should tell them that Consumer Reports and Motortrend only really like the 05+ models, and anything with 43,000 for $3k is major suspect to flooding (Katrina car), being a total lemon, or having been wrecked and rebuilt with a salvage title -- carfax it immdiately -- then I feel for you, I truly do.

[kdbug]

Originally Posted by aefbug

Hey everyone, I regret to announce that I probably have to sell my baby, and wind up with a 2001 Kia Spectre. *death* What a trade huh? So if anyone's looking or knows someone who is, I'm probably selling soon.

I know this should probably be in the classifieds, but it's not officially on the market yet, so just kinda a heads up and what not. Thanks guys.

Not for a Kia! If you are in an accident a Beetle is a much safer car and that's what matters most. Just do the maintenance on the Beetle. You would be going so backwards with the Kia. My family has been in the car business for years and years, so I sort of know what I'm talking about. Also there is the option of trading the Beetle for another Beetle with less miles, but if you are happy with what you have just spend the money on maintence like you are suppose to anyway. This is my .o2 anyway. Good luck!

Karen

[Herbie3Rivers]

Kia's are junk cars. I work in the car business so I know. The technology used in them is ancient(at least on the old ones), and show you're parents the build quality between the Kia and your NB, it'll be like night and day to them. Keep the NB, look around here on the org. I can think of a bunch of members with NBs with well over 100k on their cars.

[aefbug]

Guys, you've been more than helpful with your insights, and I really apprecaite it, I really don't want to get rid of my baby at all. I'll just have to do what I can to convince them to hold on to her, the fact that she's safe, and reliable. They bought her used, and she had a few problems, and they won't let them go, so they think all NBs are junk, which sucks, cause I totally wouldn't mind trading or selling to get a 1.8 nb. Maybe if I can find someone willing to get rid of a 1.8 locally or as you guys said with fewer miles, things can work out that way.


The worst part about the whole trade wouldn't be winding up with a kia.... it'd be leaving you guys and the org

[ursabug]

You don't have to leave the .org! Please don't.

I can't tell you how many times in the past couple of years that just reading and interacting on the org has lifted my spirits.

This is a good place. It's generally a safe place. You can be an enthusiast without owning a bug.

[aefbug]

Originally Posted by ursabug

You don't have to leave the .org! Please don't.

I can't tell you how many times in the past couple of years that just reading and interacting on the org has lifted my spirits.

This is a good place. It's generally a safe place. You can be an enthusiast without owning a bug.

You know, you've got a good point there, and I can tell you (I know it sounds cheesy) but that first line really lifted mine and made me feel all happy and warm inside (kinda like my car does, being the big yellow ray of sunshine that she is)

Thanks guys. I wish I got to know you guys more, I see people talking with first names and what not, and I feel left out

And out here on Long Island, I see plenty of bugs, but they're all old people who give me dirty looks when I honk and wave. I need some more of you guys out here

CyberGreenBaby is around here somewhere but I have yet to meet/talk to her. Dunno, keep in touch guys, you make my days.

[kcfoxie]

if you keep the car, come to nbeast in durham north carolina -- it'd be a fun drive for you!!

[Photo]

You may have a VW that has 93,000+ miles on it, but I would put money on it that is would last much longer than that kia with only 43,000 miles. I agree with everyone else, if you parents want to spend $3000 on a car for you its better spent on a tune up and maintenence than a kia. Even if the kia was going to last longer, it still won't be a beetle. I could understand if the swap was for a Toyota or a Honda but not a kia.

[Lnzbug]

Please don't leave. This is an enthusiasts site not an owner site. If you like NB's this is the place to be. I have 143000 miles on my car and I look forward to puttlng on at least that many MORE! Tell your parents that $3000 will keep your car serviced for way way longer than the Kia will. Don't buy the Kia. The NB is much safer and a heck of alot more fun to drive.

[Herbie3Rivers]

When I have parents that stop into my dealership looking for cheap used cars i.e something under $5,000. I usually say this and you can use it on your parents to keep your beetle. "$X,XXX? Is that all your son/daughter is worth to you?" Youd be surprised at how well that works.

[Breez]

Originally Posted by ursabug

You don't have to leave the .org! Please don't.

I can't tell you how many times in the past couple of years that just reading and interacting on the org has lifted my spirits.

This is a good place. It's generally a safe place. You can be an enthusiast without owning a bug.

Ursabug... lost his family bug and still hangs out here... I can name a few others as well that dont have even VWs and still stay on org... you can as well.... we dont mind!

in all honesty... I think the NB is safer then the KIA... maybe you can talk them at least out of the "used" kia market.

good luck!

But just because you **might** get rid of your bug, doesnt mean you cant hang out here!

[callisto9]

yeah, even if you're beetle-less (gasp!), stick around. TJ has no beetle and he's still here. and like bree said, there's a few past-beetle owners that stick around 'cause we've got such awesome people here.

try your hardest to convince the parents to keep the beetle. do you have any funds of your own that you could use to get some maintenance on the car? a 43K mile car for $3,000 sounds really suspicious.

and my beetle is at 95K and running fine! the beetle engine will stick with ya for awhile. it's the little stuff that craps out early, it seems.

[dasmurph]

I don't think it the car you're looking at sound too suspicious. Yes, it is an older kia and with the new ones being SO much better and with the rebates they're giving on them, people are forced to sell their older Kia's for next to nothing. Definatley do a CarFax though, always a good idea.

The older Kia's really aren't that great. Their engines are solid enough, but very unrefined and the sheet metal is really sad. I did, however, own one of the NEW Spectra's and that was a nice car! Got great mileage, was WAY more reliable than my beetle, but bland, bland, BLAND. It also handled like a mini-van I just had to stick up for Kia a little bit.

I would say keep your beetle. I know so many people with 100+k on their beetles and yes, a lot goes wrong, WAY more that should (my parents have a 1999 toyota sienna with 175,000 on it, bought it new, and it has NEVER been to the shop except for service) but seriously, the 3k you're looking at spending on a new car will keep yours running for a long time. If you do get rid of it, you will just want to cry every time you see one drive by...I did. Yes, my '06 has been in the shop once a month since I've owned it, maybe I'm crazy, but I LOVE my serivce reps and my car too much to get rid of it