2007 Kia Carens [ARCHIVE]

[xircom]

I just test drove the MT variant of LX last Saturday courtesy of Acetan (bro, thanks so much)...Mga 4 or 5 times din ako namatayan from 1st gear, hehehe. Now, Ace is convincing me to buy the AT variant instead. But my primary consideration is still the MT, given time I guess I'll be able to handle shifting from 1st gear better...I wasn't able to use all 6 gears though, hanggang 5th gear lang.

I particularly liked how it handled the rough roads I'm so used to and how it accelerated from 1st gear. It gives you confidence to zoom past the other cars.

[mqavila]

I just test drove the MT variant of LX last Saturday courtesy of Acetan (bro, thanks so much)...Mga 4 or 5 times din ako namatayan from 1st gear, hehehe. Now, Ace is convincing me to buy the AT variant instead. But my primary consideration is still the MT, given time I guess I'll be able to handle shifting from 1st gear better...I wasn't able to use all 6 gears though, hanggang 5th gear lang.

I particularly liked how it handled the rough roads I'm so used to and how it accelerated from 1st gear. It gives you confidence to zoom past the other cars.

Yeah, bro Ace8Tan is very helpful. He even went to his showroom on a Sunday (when Kia Signet is usually closed) just to accommodate me! Unfortunately, since it was a Sunday and there was really no one else around, we couldn't take the testdrive unit out on Edsa. Although, I was able to maneuver it inside their premises. If I recall, the one that I was able to testdrive there was a AT.

But, I was able to drive a manual at Kia Novaliches and I found it to be very responsive. And the engine did not die on me even once.

[bluebeard]

Just got my new LTO car plates from my KIA Quirino Ext dealer after only 2 weeks ; unlike that for my Hyundai Tucson which took 10, repeat, 10 weeks from the Hyundai Sucat dealership!

[mqavila]

Just got my new LTO car plates from my KIA Quirino Ext dealer after only 2 weeks ; unlike that for my Hyundai Tucson which took 10, repeat, 10 weeks from the Hyundai Sucat dealership!

Nice!! This is actually a cause for worry if the plates don't get released quickly... with the gung-ho attitude of a lot of MMDA officers out there, driving with no plate always has risks - despite having several delivery receipts in hand.

[bluebeard]

Guys, pls help...

Except for the price (1500 vs 1000), is there much difference between an original Kia Carens rain visor-gutter and that which is bought from Banawe-Goldrich???

[mqavila]

MQAVILA as promise attached is the pics with chromes and rain gutter, the side mirror cover chrome I will attached later, will post pixs again once installed...

Bro Pochie, I totally forgot to ask you: are the rain gutters on your Carens sourced from, and installed by, Kia or from a third party (a.k.a. Banawe)?


Hmmm.... on a different note, I just found out that the Innova E variant already has ABS? Hmmm... Is this feature really essential to safe driving? Now, I'm slightly peeved at Kia for removing this feature. To think, the Innova E variant previously didnt have this feature and now, they even added it to the 2008 model without any extra cost... as opposed to Kia removing a bunch of minor features... Bad Kia!!

[master_chief711]

I agree with bro battaglin. When I finally do get my Carens, I plan on keeping it for a long time.... Admittedly, I was initially concerned about the resale value of whatever car I was gonna get. That was the main reason why I considered the Innova. In the end, however, I made my choice based on my overall personal assessment of the cars available.

As long as the Carens remains durable for the time that it will be with me, I think I won't have any problems with its "resale" value down the road, whether it be high (if we're lucky) or it be low (by that time, I would have had full use of the vehicle anyway). Just my two cents.

ayan na naman yung issue ng resale value! I agree with most of the posters here, personal preference mo na lang yung resale value. yan din ang inisip ko before i bought the carens, and bottomline is, how can you buy something and at the same time think about selling it? ending nyan, wag ka na lang bumili...

[master_chief711]

I was in the same quandry as early as November 2007. I was given an LX AT version for a week to test ride. I set aside my liking for the Innova for the meantime and tried to find more reason why I should get a Carens. After some serious thoughts and some mild scraping due to low chin, I went back to Toyota and went for my earlier choice. Downside, Innova CRDI is a bit noisy or is it because its just less than 1k as compared to the LX variant that I tried at close to 4k mileage. Response of the Carens can be felt earlier due perhaps to its lighter weight.Not sure up to when my spare tire will last given the many cases it tire heft.

Upside of the Innova, more room, 3rd row a/c vents, better sound system, higher clearance, love the beige interior, FC is almost the same, remote for car stereo, more dealerships to choose from, better resale.

But do not get me wrong, Carens is a nice car. It could have better if they had more local support, better offer. And other options for the PH market.

Is the Carens lighter than the Innova? I was under the impression na mas mabigat yung Carens and more aerodynamic, thus making it more stable at higher speeds?

oo nga pala, i'd take the better engine of the carens over the better sound system of the innova...

[wavecxs]

the carens is heavier than innova but it is also more powerful. the absence of the ABS really made me think twice about getting the carens. In the end, the better features of the carens won over. I'm not an aggressive driver and i very seldom change lanes unless i really have to, the carens (I think), after a very long selection process, fits me and my wife's driving style (and needs) the most.

Don't have anything bad to say againts innova, its a fine car. It caters to different needs (i.e.. bigger space, peace of mind to some). The carens fits our needs NOW so we chose it NOW why should I worry about its resale value TOMORROW? just my 2 cents worth lang po!

[mqavila]

Is the Carens lighter than the Innova? I was under the impression na mas mabigat yung Carens and more aerodynamic, thus making it more stable at higher speeds?

oo nga pala, i'd take the better engine of the carens over the better sound system of the innova...

Oh, one more thing... IMHO, the beige interiors of the Carens is just as nice as the beige interiors of the Innova. Coupled with what I think is a nicer-looking dashboard, the Carens comes away with flying marks!

[battaglin]

Guys, pls help...

Except for the price (1500 vs 1000), is there much difference between an original Kia Carens rain visor-gutter and that which is bought from Banawe-Goldrich???

Sir, the visor I got for 1000php has a made in korea stamp and Carens embossed. I havent seen one from a Kia dealership. Pero chika sa akin nung saleslady may taga kia-novaliches(if I remember right) na suki siya bumibili regularly ng Carens accesories.
I think EGR would be better but would cost twice as much. Wala pa daw EGR brand visor for Carens according to the saleslady.

[vinrem]

Sir, the visor I got for 1000php has a made in korea stamp and Carens embossed. I havent seen one from a Kia dealership. Pero chika sa akin nung saleslady may taga kia-novaliches(if I remember right) na suki siya bumibili regularly ng Carens accesories.
I think EGR would be better but would cost twice as much. Wala pa daw EGR brand visor for Carens according to the saleslady.

Sir, baka same tayo ng rain visor, mine also have the korean and carens stamp on it, i got it here sa Bacolod for P1300.00. Try ko take pics tomorrow kung di busy, medyo busy lang kasi bumabawi lang ako sa family especially sa mga kids for the lost time when i was not here.

[bogart]

FYI to everybody.

Had my 2nd full tank just yesterday and computed my FC at 9.5 km/ltr. Mixed city/ highway driving.

The figure could have been higher if not for the usual Christmas traffic. I was spending longer hours on traffic than driving.

Just sharing my Fuel Consumption to everybody.

Had my 3rd full tank last Friday and computed my FC at 10.5km/ltr. Still mixed city/highway driving.

Now I'm satisfied w/ the consumption!

[yourman]

Hmmm.... on a different note, I just found out that the Innova E variant already has ABS? Hmmm... Is this feature really essential to safe driving? Now, I'm slightly peeved at Kia for removing this feature. To think, the Innova E variant previously didnt have this feature and now, they even added it to the 2008 model without any extra cost... as opposed to Kia removing a bunch of minor features... Bad Kia!!

i believe that the ABS is a very effective tool to avoid accidents due to abrupt braking. this is why almost all new vehicles are equipped with this plus the brake assist, electronic brake distribution and stability control. so the abs is really essential to safe driving. ever experienced before that when you slam on your brakes, the wheels are locked and the tires screech on the road? that's w/o abs. slamming on the brakes and yet maintain control on your vehicle and stopping abruptly w/o the common screech, thats ABS for you.

but what can we do if we really love the Carens, with or w/o ABS, we will still buy it..

[magnusthegreat]

If a guy buys a car with the plan to sale it, mahirap ibenta ang carens but they will be missing a lot. We carens owner are enjoying it because truly, IT IS A GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY CAR.

I don't know much about resale value but I am now in cebu and I see a lot of surplus sportage roaming around the city. If they are making a big fuss about the korean brand then why are people buying this surplus cars, and loving it. It is high time we filipino look for better performance cars rather than better resale value cars.

broooommmmmmmmmmmmmmm:car:

[mqavila]

Bro Vinrem and Bro Battaglin, would you mind posting pics of your Carens with the rain gutters? I already saw bro Pochie's pics but I would like other pics as well to help me decide if I want to install rain gutters when I get my Carens. Thanks!

[battaglin]

Bro Vinrem and Bro Battaglin, would you mind posting pics of your Carens with the rain gutters? I already saw bro Pochie's pics but I would like other pics as well to help me decide if I want to install rain gutters when I get my Carens. Thanks!

I'll try bro, it's my wife's main ride bringing the kids to school. I'm stuck with the bouncy suzuki jimny.

[itlog na pula]

ayan na naman yung issue ng resale value! I agree with most of the posters here, personal preference mo na lang yung resale value. yan din ang inisip ko before i bought the carens, and bottomline is, how can you buy something and at the same time think about selling it? ending nyan, wag ka na lang bumili...

+1 ako dito!

[vinrem]

Bro. mqavila, here are the pictures of the rain visors that i installed on my carens, sorry for the blurry or not so clear pictures.

[battaglin]

Bro. mqavila, here are the pictures of the rain visors that i installed on my carens, sorry for the blurry or not so clear pictures.

Yes sir, pareho lang sa akin.