I found April BS thread
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Extremely impressed with the Kia. It's been in Minnesota its entire life, and the corrosion on some of the fasteners and hoses reflects that. But the body is immaculate, I can't find any signs of body rust at all, which is something I didn't previously think was possible.
Pulled a spark plug, and it's the factory Denso iridium plug with a gap that's STILL in spec after 107,000 miles. Metal valve stems on the wheels, an easy to reach transmission dipstick instead of the sealed transmission garbage that most modern cars are going to.
Why the hell can't Ford build them like that? Do the Koreans really understand road salt and metal protection better than we do?
Pulled a spark plug, and it's the factory Denso iridium plug with a gap that's STILL in spec after 107,000 miles. Metal valve stems on the wheels, an easy to reach transmission dipstick instead of the sealed transmission garbage that most modern cars are going to.
Why the hell can't Ford build them like that? Do the Koreans really understand road salt and metal protection better than we do?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 7
From: DFW, TX-GoldCanyon, AZ
I certainly don't want to rain on your parade as I know you're doing your best to provide solid transportation.. From what I've read about the Korean cars is that they seem to hold up pretty well but have a higher incidence of electronic / electrical failures. Aunt and Uncle just purchased a Kia Soul (new) and made it all of 100 miles from home when the HVAC controls wigged out and somehow that took the AC compressor out.. They're waiting for parts for a couple weeks now.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I've avoided Korean cars because of quality concerns, but in recent years everything I read suggested they have gotten pretty decent. Consumer Reports likes them, and Dave does too, which surprises me because he doesn't seem to like anything! I figured it was worth a shot. This one isn't perfect; the front brakes need work and I'm getting what I think is a tire-related vibration from the front end. But otherwise it seems really solid.
Of course I'm typing this as my 2015 Ford is down for the count at the dealer because it won't start, presumably from an electrical issue. So I may be a bit biased at the moment.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
Likes: 74
From: Blue Hill Township
I certainly don't want to rain on your parade as I know you're doing your best to provide solid transportation.. From what I've read about the Korean cars is that they seem to hold up pretty well but have a higher incidence of electronic / electrical failures. Aunt and Uncle just purchased a Kia Soul (new) and made it all of 100 miles from home when the HVAC controls wigged out and somehow that took the AC compressor out.. They're waiting for parts for a couple weeks now.
I've heard the opposite
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Venting a bit here.
What pisses me off most about the Transit is the timing of it all. In the video I posted Friday you can see my wife, daughter, and her nurse getting loaded into the van for a trip to the cities. We had three appointments to get quotes on wheelchair mods, and we're on a timeline because her 325-lb power chair arrives on Thursday. We need the quotes to submit to the county to get funding, and delays are going to be REALLY inconvenient, as this is the only good way to move this thing.
I came close to going for a gas can and some matches before the wrecker arrived.
What pisses me off most about the Transit is the timing of it all. In the video I posted Friday you can see my wife, daughter, and her nurse getting loaded into the van for a trip to the cities. We had three appointments to get quotes on wheelchair mods, and we're on a timeline because her 325-lb power chair arrives on Thursday. We need the quotes to submit to the county to get funding, and delays are going to be REALLY inconvenient, as this is the only good way to move this thing.
I came close to going for a gas can and some matches before the wrecker arrived.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 7
From: DFW, TX-GoldCanyon, AZ
Yes - better now than in August for the AC to fail - however - they live in FL and it's already a bit warm to go be-bopping around in their new Hamster Hauler with no AC since they're in their 70's..
I can certainly understand your frustration on the Transit. I probably would not have been as nice to deal with as you probably have been.
Actually it is information that I read - not necessarily heard. My family seem to all turn to me for recommendations on cars and trucks and I had been doing some research for Aunt and Uncle on various Hyundai, Kia, Toyota and Honda cars. Read the forums and you find out a lot from the owners and enthusiasts of those vehicles.. I guess that's what led me here to FTE a long while back and finally registered to get rid of all the pop-up ads etc.
Bottom line for Aunt and Uncle was that they got a good deal on the little van with a really gracious trade value on their old car. Crash test ratings were decent along with really good EPA fuel economy ratings.
I can certainly understand your frustration on the Transit. I probably would not have been as nice to deal with as you probably have been.
Actually it is information that I read - not necessarily heard. My family seem to all turn to me for recommendations on cars and trucks and I had been doing some research for Aunt and Uncle on various Hyundai, Kia, Toyota and Honda cars. Read the forums and you find out a lot from the owners and enthusiasts of those vehicles.. I guess that's what led me here to FTE a long while back and finally registered to get rid of all the pop-up ads etc.
Bottom line for Aunt and Uncle was that they got a good deal on the little van with a really gracious trade value on their old car. Crash test ratings were decent along with really good EPA fuel economy ratings.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Originally Posted by Big-Foot
I can certainly understand your frustration on the Transit. I probably would not have been as nice to deal with as you probably have been.
Stuff happens though, I just want it fixed. Still think the Transit is the right vehicle and we got the right deal on it. Hopefully they fix it right the first time and doesn't haunt us in the future.
Actually it is information that I read - not necessarily heard. My family seem to all turn to me for recommendations on cars and trucks and I had been doing some research for Aunt and Uncle on various Hyundai, Kia, Toyota and Honda cars. Read the forums and you find out a lot from the owners and enthusiasts of those vehicles.. I guess that's what led me here to FTE a long while back and finally registered to get rid of all the pop-up ads etc.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 15,449
Likes: 3
From: Hampstead, NC
All you hear in forums, for the most part, is the bad stuff. People don't spend a lot of time posting about good stuff. Just the way it works. I go by real life experience by what I see. Not he said, she said. I see a huge quality uptick in the Korean cars, but they can still be had on a good deal. I don't fix much on them, and everyone that had one, had loved them. Pre 2000, different story.
All in all, everything has issues, if you like it, drive it.
All in all, everything has issues, if you like it, drive it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 7
From: DFW, TX-GoldCanyon, AZ
Yep - I get that about Forums and Review pages of all kinds and take that into consideration when forming my opinions given the information to be had. Where else do you get real-world information when so few shop owners and mechanics frequent forums to lend their opinions. Your opinion, Dave, is worth far more to me than most of the information I see on the forums - but even at that, you're one shop out of thousands in the state.
I see Motor Trend tests and extended tests of various vehicles and place some weight on those - but realistically, they don't keep a vehicle on extended test more than 18 months and typically only one or two of them. Pretty hard for them to draw any conclusions other than what transpired for them.
Good thing that the internet wasn't around during the days of the Vega, Pinto, Yugo and a bunch of others... LOL you can only imagine the amount of information flowing forth!
I see Motor Trend tests and extended tests of various vehicles and place some weight on those - but realistically, they don't keep a vehicle on extended test more than 18 months and typically only one or two of them. Pretty hard for them to draw any conclusions other than what transpired for them.
Good thing that the internet wasn't around during the days of the Vega, Pinto, Yugo and a bunch of others... LOL you can only imagine the amount of information flowing forth!
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Thinking the steaming piles of the era would have probably evolved sooner than they did. I think the internet has done fantastic things for quality, it makes it really easy for people to see the other side of things.