2002 Kia Sportage Suv: How Good Is It In Nigeria? - Car Talk - Nairaland
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| 2002 Kia Sportage Suv: How Good Is It In Nigeria? by burningspear(m): 3:40pm On Jul 22, 2012 |
Car gurus in the house, I need you expertise analysis. Could you give me insight on 2002 Kia Sportage suv (Manual transmission). What are pros and cons of using it in Nigeria: Maintenance, durability, etc. And how can it be handled for durability. Thank you all!
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| Re: 2002 Kia Sportage Suv: How Good Is It In Nigeria? by Nobody: 4:30pm On Jul 22, 2012 |
The first generation Kia Sportage 9'93 - '04) is a tough workhorse. Not as pretty as the second and third generation models, but a darn sight more adapted to rough terrain. Unlike the second and third generation cars which were unibody construction, the first generation cars had a seperate ladder chassis, pretty much like a Land Rover. Whilst this makes a vehicle heavier than a similar sized model with unibody construction, it makes the SUV better off-road. This Kia Sportage will traverse bad roads, gullys etc where later models will get stuck. Suspension components are heavy duty, and whilst this will make the ride on tarmac harsh, it's tough, and will tolerate bad roads. The first generation Kia Sportage is based upon the Mazda Bongo. So Japanese reliability. The 2,0 engine in both 8 and 16V guise are Mazda units, the same 2,0 engine as fitted to the Mazda 323, 626 and Premacy. The same goes for the 5-speed manual transmission. So parts are easy to come by, and cheap. You're most likely to find a used engine and transmission from a Mazda specialist, as there were more Mazdas sold in Nigeria compared to the Kia Sportage. As with any car, there are things to look out for. Test drive your chosen car, and drive slowly over rough roads. Any knocking from the rear, especially when backing off the gas means rear axle support bushes are shot. There are three - one at the rear, and two either side. The rear one is the one most prone to wear, not expensive to buy, though if your mechanic isn't good, replacement means pulling the rear subframe and axle. I have replaced this bush with the subframe and axle in situ, and so have others, so it's very possible. Look for leaks from the transmission, particularly where the propshaft goes into the transfer case. Leaks from this area mean the output shaft seal is worn. Again, quite cheap and easy to replace. The biggest concern on this car is rust. Surface rust on the chassis is acceptable - it's very thick and heavy, and I've never seen one rust all the way through. More important is rust on the floorpan, sills, front and rear valence. The steel used in their construction is just regular sheet metal, so if rust is left unchecked, it will perforate and weaken the structure. Look underneath for poor repairs - welded patches etc. Personally I would rather buy a car with the engine and tranny dead, or even missing, than buy a rusty car with a good engine. Once rust has set in, it's difficult to get rid of it. 1 Like |
| Re: 2002 Kia Sportage Suv: How Good Is It In Nigeria? by burningspear(m): 4:41pm On Jul 22, 2012 |
Siena, that's a wonderful analysis, guru! The off-roading feature and strong body construction, as you wrote, means it's good for Nigerian terrain? Only that I should make sure it's rust-free. |
| Re: 2002 Kia Sportage Suv: How Good Is It In Nigeria? by Nobody: 5:26pm On Jul 22, 2012 |
^^^ Yes, the construction means it's perfectly suited to Nigerian terrain. |
| Re: 2002 Kia Sportage Suv: How Good Is It In Nigeria? by burningspear(m): 9:41pm On Jul 22, 2012 |
Thank you Siena. Just sorted out all things concerning this petit suv now! It'll arrive Lagos early Sept. |
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