Anyone have a Kia Carnival?

We need a new car - the Kia Carnival looks great for room and features. I like the EX as it's larger and a bit more special...;)

Has anyone got one? Do you like it? Any problems?

Got one, love it, heaps of space EXCELLENT fuel economy!

Ask me anyfing....

I looked at them, but they didn't have enough boot space for what I wanted. I bought a SsangYong Stavic. With the Merc engine I think they are a bit more reliable too ;)

A friend used to work in the service department of a Kia dealership and he then moved to Mercedes service department. He told me to go with the Stavic mechanically, because they do last. If you want to tow, the Stavic can take up to 2500kg.

Thanks girls - yes the boot space worried me - a woman I sort of know :rolleyes: has one and has a twin stroller that fits in the boot - so that's gotta be pretty roomy??? It's a twin side by side jumbo jogger.

I will google the stavic. We have a pajero and there is no boot space! So any boot space would be a bonus!

ETA: Aaah someone around town has one of these - I don't think I much like the look of that one - but it sounds very functional...

You can move the seats forward and back in the back rows if you need. I can fit 2 prams in the back.

Gosh well that's gotta be quite big Lulu - I can only just fit 1 stroller in my pajero and the kids have the two little "****y" seats in the back...
Have you got the EX Lulu?

Have you had any problems Lulu?

No problems whatsoever, had it for a year. I got the 5 sp manual and it really flies up the big hills. I thought for sure it would drag a bit, but no!

Prams - I think it really depends on the pram you have, I can JAM 2 of them in there, but I can also tilt the back seats forward a little so its easier. One of my prams has those big stupid wheels and never folded very flat at all, but I do squish it in.
Mine is a 2002 so maybe a bit older that you are looking at? The newer ones seem to have more room.

I looked at heaps of cars (mainly the girls at playgroups cars!) and bootspace is always pretty tight in a van. I would take you pram with you when you go looking ;)

We've looked at a Kia Carnival because everyone we know that has them loves them... but the engine size wasn't big enough for our needs (driving long distances up big climbs, occasional towint etc)
We looked at a Stavic also but DH doesn't like turbo diesels because of the service costs.

We're looking at Chrysler Voyagers now... loads of room with the engine size we need.

Thanks Lulu - I would be looking at a 2007-2008 model. I actually have an aversion to buying a new car - I just think they lose so much value so a fairly recent second hand model with good k's is what I would look for.

I think the later models do have more boot space - the ex Iong wheel base as I said fits that massive pram in it and groceries so I think that's pretty good.

I spoke to a mechanic the other day and he says that the very early models had some issues but they had been ironed out. That was only his opinion tho.

My sister had a Kia Carnival and it blew its engine after 3000kms - replaced under warranty. Then this year (She had done 15000 ks) it blew its second engine. No warranty, she had to sell it as she couldn't afford another engine - got $2000 for it (she bought it new just over two years ago). Maybe she just got a dud?

There were LOTS of duds pre 2002/4, can't remember which.

Goodness that's not a cheery story! Thanks though Mistyflying - maybe it was a dud???

If you stay over 2004, you should be ok. There was a mass fubar and motors needed to be replaced. I did alot of research on this because I really wanted a Kia (sans fubar), I got mine with a new motor so only 30,000kms, fully replaced by Kia (alot of people didn't know about the recall and missed out on new motors) and with a FULL warranty.

Mine had a full service history with Kia as well. Kia has since done all they can to fix their reputation, so therefore you get alot of bang for your buck now.

I have to sell mine soon (SO SAD!) because I need to clear some debt and also will need a car with big towing capacity, so I'm back to using the VT...and the fuel bills are crapping me off already!