New Picanto

[BCO]

Here's my thinking on this. I love my Impreza (2005, 2.5rs wagon) and it's not given me any problems, but it has 144000km on the clock and it gets around 11l/100km and spend about R1.1k per month on fuel. My monthly installments are just over R1.7k. Assuming a Picanto at R125k (R114k purchase price plus a service plan and smash and grab - it's a thumbsuck but I can't be far off), an interest rate of 10% and a R15k deposit, I'm looking at R2.4k a month over 5 years. I'll save about R500 per month on fuel. Have no idea on the insurance difference, if any. So all in all, it looks like it'll cost me about the same to drive the Picanto.

The Kia IS a downgrade in terms of size and power though. What I gain is peace of mind in terms of being covered by the warranty and service plan, and much better fuel efficiency which could make a serious difference if fuel prices go up, or if we experience further fuel shortages. What would you guys do?

 

[Sheepbot]

I actually quite like it! For the price its not a bad car

 

[Brawler]

Here's my thinking on this. I love my Impreza (2005, 2.5rs wagon) and it's not given me any problems, but it has 144000km on the clock and it gets around 11l/100km and spend about R1.1k per month on fuel. My monthly installments are just over R1.7k. Assuming a Picanto at R125k (R114k purchase price plus a service plan and smash and grab - it's a thumbsuck but I can't be far off), an interest rate of 10% and a R15k deposit, I'm looking at R2.4k a month over 5 years. I'll save about R500 per month on fuel. Have no idea on the insurance difference, if any. So all in all, it looks like it'll cost me about the same to drive the Picanto.

The Kia IS a downgrade in terms of size and power though. What I gain is peace of mind in terms of being covered by the warranty and service plan, and much better fuel efficiency which could make a serious difference if fuel prices go up, or if we experience further fuel shortages. What would you guys do?

That is a tough one, that is a nice scooby you have and even though I am a fan of the new Picanto I think it would be just too much of a downgrade in terms of power, even though that 1.2l engine is nippy but then again, arent you a Prius hippy ?

 

[BCO]

Drove one today. It's very nice, but it's still 2 classes down on the Impreza. I was expecting it to be less powerful (obviously) but I didn't think that the difference in refinement would be quite that big.

 

[Fazda]

Drove one today. It's very nice, but it's still 2 classes down on the Impreza. I was expecting it to be less powerful (obviously) but I didn't think that the difference in refinement would be quite that big.

Interesting that you should mention refinement, as that is perhaps my biggest problem with the Kia's and Hyundai's that we trade in, is that many of them seem to have aged way beyond their mileage, inside. The Koreans appear to still be way behind in actual quality of build. Their motors may be great, and they may be pretty, but there is still some way to go on the rest

 

[wizdumb]

parked next to one on friday, i must say it actually is a very good looking car...and from what i see through peeping thorough the window, the interior looks decent to say the least...

...anyone looking for car in the 100-125k range must give this car a look imo

 

[BCO]

Interesting that you should mention refinement, as that is perhaps my biggest problem with the Kia's and Hyundai's that we trade in, is that many of them seem to have aged way beyond their mileage, inside. The Koreans appear to still be way behind in actual quality of build. Their motors may be great, and they may be pretty, but there is still some way to go on the rest

Build quality on this one seemed good for a car of its size, but what got to me was that it had a slight resonance inside the car when driving, as if I was sitting inside a tin box, like a slight boomy echo.

 

[Jase]

for those that haven't seen it:

I saw the thread title and thought bleh ... who'd want one of those fugly things ...

Then I saw this ^^ ... and it actually is not bad looking at all!

 

[Rouxenator]

Very sexy but sad to see you need to go for the 1.2 model before you get life saving ABS brakes. I would have liked to see ABS across the range with upper models having passive and SRS features like airbags.

Glad to see they have the same 1.25 engine than you get in the facelift i10 - that is one sweet little motor!