Topic: Test Drive: 2014 Kia Forte

[mixmanmash]

i've never used a spare tire...considering most people can't change the tire on their own, most people neglect checking the spare tire (and some vehicles it is hidden underneath the vehicle and very difficult to get at), most people have wireless phones now (to call for help), too many people get hit on the side of the road when changing their tire, and most new vehicles include road side assistance, the "need" for a spare is nowhere near what it would have been 20, 30 or 50 years ago...good riddance i say.

I couldn't disagree more.  Just because many motorists are unaware of the basics of proper vehicle safety (of which changing a tire certainly qualifies), it doesn't mean that MNFRs should jettison an otherwise essential piece of safety equipment.  And with our increasingly craptacular roads, damage to tires is certainly common.

I remember how "non-essential" a spare tire was when driving the Spec V to Red Deer a few years ago.  Late on a Friday night and had a blow out on the highway (sidewall ripped up - no hope for tire sealent).  No cell reception, no one around for miles - and no problem, just jacked it up and put on the donut.  Made it a long trip (80 km/h on the donut!) but I got there.  I've also had to put the spare on the F150 (though not the ET).

Lack of a spare tire (or at least room for it) is a deal breaker for me.

  1000% I wouldnt even consider a vehicle without a full size spare. Having blown plenty of tires in the backcountry or on lonely roads with no cell reception, roadside assistance is useless to me. If you only drive around downtown of a major city, fine, for us that dont work in an office tower, we need actual tires. Oh, not knowing hot to change a tire, burn your man card 

I 1000% agree with your 1000% agreeance. 

[GS]

Yes, the big styrofoam "holder" is now removed from our car.  In place fits a full size spare.  What do I do with this monstrosity?  Maybe the dealer will take it back (with the sealant and pump) and give me some money back - the fiends.

As to brakes, they are excellent and the reviews I've red back that up.  Steering is numb as Jonathan says, but liveable.  Handling otherwise is quote good, but not as good as my RSX of course.  It's not just an A - B car for me.  My wife maybe; it's her car actually.  But I enjoy the paddle shifting both for going faster and for engine braking.  Performane is quite good with 173 hp and highway driving is smooth and quiet.  We're happy.  Anyone want to buy some styrofoam?

Is the spare bolted down somehow or does it flop around in the well?  Glad to hear you like it overall...

There's a standard threaded hole in the centre of the recessed floor for this.  I found a matching thread bolt (likely metric) in my old nut and bolt stash that I could use and fashioned a top flange out of a piece of wood quarter round ground flatter and with a countersink to fit the hex head of the bolt.  Wood flange will tighten down enough to keep the wheel in place (forever I hope). LOL

Didn't even price the "real" hold down assembly at the dealer.  Already spent enough getting wheel, tire, tire iron and jack (yes, you don't even get a jack or tire iron with this baby).  No cell phone coverage - you're walking without a spare etc.  Some progress.

[revalations]

Sounds like the power numbers really don't really deliver that in actual output.  Pretty lackluster fuel economy compared to the competition.  Torsion beam setup?  Sounds like it's lifted from the Elantra GT so I would fully expect the rear end wiggle.

Seriously, when a Mazda 6, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima can all deliver better fuel economy than this econobox, there is something wrong.

Sure, Kia bundles a ton of features, but how about addressing some of the basics such as steering feel, suspension and fuel economy?  Back up that sexy exterior style with some proper underpinnings.

Seems to be the recipe with the two korean makes, class leading numbers on paper and plastered in all their ad's to get folks buying, then much less than expected performance from the product. I've said it before, features and styling alone do not make a great car......

[conwelpic]

from the June issue of Motor Trend, the Forte faces off against the Dart, Civic, Mazda 3 and Sentra..........and the the top vehicle is..............

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1303_compact_sedans_the_big_test/viewall.html

[revalations]

from the June issue of Motor Trend, the Forte faces off against the Dart, Civic, Mazda 3 and Sentra..........and the the top vehicle is..............

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1303_compact_sedans_the_big_test/viewall.html

Uh huh, If you are an enthusiast and value fuel economy in your small car pick the Mazda. Quoted Right from that article. You get a great little car with the Mazda 3 that comes with higher resale and better handling, performance, and fuel economy.

Yes, the Kia is a great car for the average buyer and offers tons of bang for the buck, cost consious buyers know this, the Bingo hall parking lot is jambed full of Hyundais and Kia's lol. They will sell like hotcakes I'm sure. I would rather have the 3 or civic thankyou

[dirtyjeffer]

well, for you guys out west, perhaps spares work for you...they don't down here...people get killed on the highways changing them, and that's assuming there is any air in it, or they can actually get the spare off the vehicle...today's lifestyle affords us luxuries...one of those luxuries is being able to call roadside assistance and let them tow the car...even if the car had a spare, let the roadside assistance people do it...sorry, i'm not losing my life over a spare tire.

[Northernridge]

well, for you guys out west, perhaps spares work for you...they don't down here...people get killed on the highways changing them, and that's assuming there is any air in it, or they can actually get the spare off the vehicle...today's lifestyle affords us luxuries...one of those luxuries is being able to call roadside assistance and let them tow the car...even if the car had a spare, let the roadside assistance people do it...sorry, i'm not losing my life over a spare tire.

This is the exact attitude that led to Toronto calling in the army during snowmageddon a few years ago. 

[conwelpic]

Kia will never be able to match Civic, Corolla or Mazda 3 for volume as they simply do not have the production capacity to do it.  They just cannot build enough product to meet demand.

[Northernridge]

I think the new Forte looks very good...maybe best looking in the segment. I prefer Kia's aesthetic to Hyundai pretty much across the board...although Hyundai is doing just fine. As long as the Koreans continue to advance quality and reliability they should gain market share.

[Black Hatch]

from the June issue of Motor Trend, the Forte faces off against the Dart, Civic, Mazda 3 and Sentra..........and the the top vehicle is..............

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1303_compact_sedans_the_big_test/viewall.html

Uh huh, If you are an enthusiast and value fuel economy in your small car pick the Mazda. Quoted Right from that article. You get a great little car with the Mazda 3 that comes with higher resale and better handling, performance, and fuel economy.

Yes, the Kia is a great car for the average buyer and offers tons of bang for the buck, cost consious buyers know this, the Bingo hall parking lot is jambed full of Hyundais and Kia's lol. They will sell like hotcakes I'm sure. I would rather have the 3 or civic thankyou

Forte and Sentra use rear torsion beams instead of having independent rear suspension found in the Mazda3, Dart and Civic.
Guess average buyers don't pay attention to this... or do they?

[Fobroader]

well, for you guys out west, perhaps spares work for you...they don't down here...people get killed on the highways changing them, and that's assuming there is any air in it, or they can actually get the spare off the vehicle...today's lifestyle affords us luxuries...one of those luxuries is being able to call roadside assistance and let them tow the car...even if the car had a spare, let the roadside assistance people do it...sorry, i'm not losing my life over a spare tire.

So lets say metrosexual, man purse guy leaves the downtown core of Toronto and goes north to take pictures of the leaves changing or to try some organic, root based tea or whatever you in Toronto do. Him, his kids and and his wife get a flat out of cell range....what now?? Wait for a friendly stranger?? Walk to a gas station and hope they have a service station/tow truck?? All I am saying is that all cars should have spares and people should be able to change them. There are too many situations that can turn from a hassle to a dangerous situation if you dont have a spare tire and know how to use it. Dont know about Ontario, but in the Prairies, there are a lot of dead zones for cell phones.

[Solstice2006]

The Motortrend article the Mazda didn't handle very well in the wet conditions, I wonder if this has more to do with the crappy Bridgestone tires, 3 of the competitors use Continental ContiProContact tires.  I somewhat agree the Mazda3 needs a better interior, can't really blame it though, it's the oldest of the bunch...

[ipolski]

well, for you guys out west, perhaps spares work for you...they don't down here...people get killed on the highways changing them, and that's assuming there is any air in it, or they can actually get the spare off the vehicle...today's lifestyle affords us luxuries...one of those luxuries is being able to call roadside assistance and let them tow the car...even if the car had a spare, let the roadside assistance people do it...sorry, i'm not losing my life over a spare tire.

So lets say metrosexual, man purse guy leaves the downtown core of Toronto and goes north to take pictures of the leaves changing or to try some organic, root based tea or whatever you in Toronto do. Him, his kids and and his wife get a flat out of cell range....what now?? Wait for a friendly stranger?? Walk to a gas station and hope they have a service station/tow truck?? All I am saying is that all cars should have spares and people should be able to change them. There are too many situations that can turn from a hassle to a dangerous situation if you dont have a spare tire and know how to use it. Dont know about Ontario, but in the Prairies, there are a lot of dead zones for cell phones.

Hehehe 

[tortoise]

So lets say metrosexual, man purse guy leaves the downtown core of Toronto and...

Maybe I missed something.  Does the compressor and sealant solution not work?  I know that it will make a mess of things but it should let Mr. Murse get back to TO for his latte.

[toolatecrew]

So how exactly does a can of sealant enable this driver to get to safety again?

Small car like a Mini with no room for a spare? OK no spare and have to put up with run flats.
Cheap car with enough room for a full sized spare but trying to save $ or weight (like my 07 Sentra) ok doughnut spare.
But NO spare and a can of sealer when there is clearly room for a spare? Stuid idea IMO

But so few people will truly complain about it that it won't matter. They either won't complain about it or if they would have complained they will get eaten by a bear while they wait for the Roadside assistance to come save them 1000 KM from the middle of nowhere.

I remember my first emergency tire change. I was about 20 and I hit a huge chunk of ice and it tore right through the sidewall. It was about -40 C with the wind chill. Almost froze my ____s off but I bolted on the spare and away I went. I would have been stuck sitting in the cold for an hour with sealer.

[Danno001]

So how exactly does a can of sealant enable this driver to get to safety again?

Small car like a Mini with no room for a spare? OK no spare and have to put up with run flats.
Cheap car with enough room for a full sized spare but trying to save $ or weight (like my 07 Sentra) ok doughnut spare.
But NO spare and a can of sealer when there is clearly room for a spare? Stuid idea IMO

But so few people will truly complain about it that it won't matter. They either won't complain about it or if they would have complained they will get eaten by a bear while they wait for the Roadside assistance to come save them 1000 KM from the middle of nowhere.

I remember my first emergency tire change. I was about 20 and I hit a huge chunk of ice and it tore right through the sidewall. It was about -40 C with the wind chill. Almost froze my ____s off but I bolted on the spare and away I went. I would have been stuck sitting in the cold for an hour with sealer.

Given the condition of the tire (looks like a retread) and the rest of the car visible in the picture, I doubt either:
 
1. the driver could get the rusted nuts off the wheels,
2. have a spare,
3. have a spare with air,
4. have a jack
5. know how to use the jack

Which means a tow truck will be needed for a tow to the wrecking yard.

[Danno001]

Uh huh, If you are an enthusiast and value fuel economy in your small car pick the Mazda. Quoted Right from that article. You get a great little car with the Mazda 3 that comes with higher resale and better handling, performance, and fuel economy.

 I would rather have the 3 or civic thankyou

Went for a drive in my son's 2010 Mazda 3 last night. I almost pulled over to see who stole the suspension.

Apparently a suspension is an extra cost option, but the handling is awesome ..... 

For the record, I drive a 2013 Sonata. 

[tortoise]

So how exactly does a can of sealant enable this driver to get to safety again?

Has that scenario happened to you or anyone you know?  That's a rather extreme example.

But NO spare and a can of sealer when there is clearly room for a spare? Stuid idea IMO

I agree.

[Jaeger]

from the June issue of Motor Trend, the Forte faces off against the Dart, Civic, Mazda 3 and Sentra..........and the the top vehicle is..............

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1303_compact_sedans_the_big_test/viewall.html

Uh huh, If you are an enthusiast and value fuel economy in your small car pick the Mazda. Quoted Right from that article. You get a great little car with the Mazda 3 that comes with higher resale and better handling, performance, and fuel economy.

Yes, the Kia is a great car for the average buyer and offers tons of bang for the buck, cost consious buyers know this, the Bingo hall parking lot is jambed full of Hyundais and Kia's lol. They will sell like hotcakes I'm sure. I would rather have the 3 or civic thankyou

Right.  I'm sure your opinion refletcs a high level of expertise - and of course, is informed by having driven all of these cars back-to-back.  Sure, I'll gladly take your opinion over theirs.  No doubt it's as rock-solid as your spelling.

[revalations]

from the June issue of Motor Trend, the Forte faces off against the Dart, Civic, Mazda 3 and Sentra..........and the the top vehicle is..............

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1303_compact_sedans_the_big_test/viewall.html

Uh huh, If you are an enthusiast and value fuel economy in your small car pick the Mazda. Quoted Right from that article. You get a great little car with the Mazda 3 that comes with higher resale and better handling, performance, and fuel economy.

Yes, the Kia is a great car for the average buyer and offers tons of bang for the buck, cost consious buyers know this, the Bingo hall parking lot is jambed full of Hyundais and Kia's lol. They will sell like hotcakes I'm sure. I would rather have the 3 or civic thankyou

Right.  I'm sure your opinion refletcs a high level of expertise - and of course, is informed by having driven all of these cars back-to-back.  Sure, I'll gladly take your opinion over theirs.  No doubt it's as rock-solid as your spelling.

Wow, settle down lol! it's just an opinion. It clearly states in the MT article that the Mazda is fun to drive and more of an enthusiast car, not from me.  Just my thoughts  and I never thought or intended anybody to "take" my opinion over theirs. Such is how "open" forums work I thought, we read reviews and  and offer some thoughts.