Used 2006 Kia Spectra Wagon Consumer Reviews
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Never had a problem
I loved this car. I had it for 5 years, and I never had ANY issues. I did have to take off the front spoiler because it scraped on the driveway. I never had any work done on it in 5 years (other than oil/brakes/tires). I averaged 25 mpg till the last day. I was in an accident on the highway at lower speed, and the airbag deployed right away, BUT my head never hit ANYTHING. I came out 99% okay, just some minor whiplash. I 100% recommend this car. Turns great, isn't very noisy, accelerates nicely, quality interior, efficient.
Still taking care of the family
This was a sharp looking car when we got it and it still looks great. It was sporty and spacious enough to be practical for most trips and it took care of us everywhere we went. Mechanically it has really held up with very minor issues, most of which were handled easily with proper care and maintenance and a competent diy approach. We didn't think we'd actually see passing Kia's 10 year 100,000 mile warranty but it has certainly earned top marks in that regard. And performance-wise the engine still feels solid and responsive. Of course that's only going based off how well it's been maintained, so ymmv. If you want a car to last you have to take care of it, right? 14 years and still taking care of the family :)
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Great used car
Got this car as my first car 7 years ago with 70k miles on it. Currently it has 160k of mostly rough city driving and is doing great! It may not be the fanciest, fastest, or sexiest car but it gets the job done. The car has been dead reliable and easy to fix. The only time I've brought it to a shop is for tires. I've changed fluids, belts, brakes, spark plugs, etc. In my driveway with basic tools. Only serious part to fail was the alternator and that was replaceable with a metric socket set and 2 hours of time. The highway ride is surprisingly smooth and quiet and you can fit a lot in the hatch with the seats folded down. Great first car or reliable commuter
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fun to drive, excellent rear headroom
With the manual transmission, the Spectra5 is a fun car to drive, with decent acceleration & handling. (I thought the automatic was a little underpowered; maybe it just needed to be shifted into Low sometimes. But isn't the point of an automatic to do that automatically?) I ended up with power windows/locks (std), side air bags (std), ABS (opt), and sunroof (opt) for $1000 less than I'd have gotten another car for -- without those features. It's amazing how many cars I ruled out because of too little rear headroom (my son & I are both >6'); we both easily fit in the back of the Spectra5. (The headroom in the Spectra is the same, but I wanted something other than a basic 4-door sedan).
Awesome Car
I really did a lot of homework before I decided to make a purchase. I compared it to the Toyota Corolla, the Honda Civic, and the Nissan Sentra. For the money and the warranty, I could not have gotten a better car. I really enjoy driving my Spectra5, it turns a lot of heads. It is in the red color... and I will be having the windows tinted on it with vent visors. I highly suggest this car to anyone. A very fun car.