Kia soul: talk me into or out of one

"noise" (noise) 10/23/2014 at 16:29 • Filed to: Kia Soul, kia, soul, noise, halp

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Hey jalopponosians,

I pitched a very successful question the other day : ×

!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!

and hit craigslist HARD for a while.

Anyway, fuck damn are there some deals on low mile Kia souls. It seems to fit my needs but had honestly never, ever, even kind of been on my radar.

Good call? bad call? What do ya think?

HammerheadFistpunch > noise 10/23/2014 at 16:31

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hamsters....

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > noise 10/23/2014 at 16:32

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Out of all the "box" cars, I like these the best. They are cool-looking for their segment. I don't think mileage is stellar, but still decent. They do have decent room and utility, and some interesting gimmicks. I would test drive one, and see how it feels. Might be something good. Also, the refreshed models look better, especially with the LED taillamps going all the way up.

JBurd67 > HammerheadFistpunch 10/23/2014 at 16:33

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Seriously the first thing that popped into my head.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > HammerheadFistpunch 10/23/2014 at 16:34

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If you drove one, would you change your name to HamsterheadFistpunch?

fhrblig > noise 10/23/2014 at 16:34

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I like them. If I was looking for a car at the moment, they would be on my list.

Nibbles > noise 10/23/2014 at 16:35

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The backseats of the 1st gen Souls were pretty uncomfortable so I've heard. I don't know if that's been rectified in later models.

njp1589 > noise 10/23/2014 at 16:35

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I own a 2013 1.6 6MT. Ask me anything.

Matt Hardigree > noise 10/23/2014 at 16:37

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It's a fine car, I encouraged my mother to buy one and she enjoys it.

HammerheadFistpunch > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 10/23/2014 at 16:38

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i would change to just "imsorry"

Milky > noise 10/23/2014 at 16:38

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I had one for a loaner, I really didn't like it.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > noise 10/23/2014 at 16:39

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If it looks exactly like the one in the picture (or dark green...or blue? ) then you have my blessing. Otherwise I'd look at nicely equipped Subarus in the same price range, see what everyone is talking about and embark on a life of Subaru.

desertdog5051 > noise 10/23/2014 at 16:39

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My ex has one and I have driven and ridden in it. It seems like a real nice vehicle.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > noise 10/23/2014 at 16:55

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A great cars, they will run forever probably but they are gutless. All Kias are. I wish they weren't because I like their styling.

bob and john > noise 10/23/2014 at 17:14

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great story. friend of mine likes it...except that it doesnt fly very well

friend of mine had one as a rental when he went to the states on a buisness trip (he is an engineer) he had to go to a plant to check an installation.
the road to this plant was a unlit 1 mile straight stretch of road that had a speed bump that he saw on his way in.

by the time he left, it was dark and he was tired and just wanted to get to his hotel already. hit a decent speed down the road. Hit the speed bump.

car got hucked about 3 feet into the air, hit the ground with a shower of sparks. gets out with a flashlight, checks the car over, keeps going.

who knows where that particular car is right now....

pdx107 > Matt Hardigree 10/23/2014 at 17:32

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my ex had one and loved it, hell, i loved it too

Petfrog > noise 10/23/2014 at 17:36

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let the test drive guide you young grasshopper.

guppysb > noise 10/23/2014 at 17:36

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My coworker's husband is partially paralyzed, so it's hard for him to get in and out of cars. He bought the soul because he could easily get in and out of the car. Other than the speakers lighting reacting to the music, he doesn't really like the purchase so far...He keeps joking that the Soul has no soul.

Ron Stoehr > noise 10/23/2014 at 17:37

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I love mine, 2014 1.6 6MT, it's not a highway cruiser but it will work. Back seats are surprisingly roomy. Its a good practical car. Handles decent, is OK on the interstate, mine doesn't have cruise so when I drove 1100 miles from La to Ia it was a little buzzy, otherwise no complaints.

noise > guppysb 10/23/2014 at 17:50

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oh no

soul is what I aim for

noise > Petfrog 10/23/2014 at 17:51

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I let the test drive guide me last time and that car is a fucking mess

noise > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 10/23/2014 at 17:52

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gutless cars are fun though

I ride a gutless moped everyday. I've doubled its top speed and I still couldnt get a speeding ticket on any but the slowest roads

noise > banjo cat ghost of oppo past 10/23/2014 at 17:53

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I know, a subie is honestly the other option

though i do love having 4 mismatched tires, it adds to the excitement

noise > Milky 10/23/2014 at 17:54

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why?

was it the plastic foglight holes?

i hate those

noise > Matt Hardigree 10/23/2014 at 17:55

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I cant tell if thats honest encouragement or a very subtle insult

either way we should fight about it

Petfrog > noise 10/23/2014 at 18:02

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Lol what car u had previously? My previous non car guy vehicle was a lancer- had it in high school. Car wasn't bad but dealer was a pain. Will post pics.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 10/23/2014 at 18:13

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Gutless? Maybe some base models, but their turbo and V8 offerings really aren't.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > noise 10/23/2014 at 18:19

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Moped? What kind? I used to have a qt-50.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/23/2014 at 18:20

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Maybe, but I've yet to be impressed with any of their offerings.

Petfrog > Petfrog 10/23/2014 at 18:54

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Here it is in its former glory.

noise > njp1589 10/23/2014 at 18:59

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any repairs yet?

hows the build quality?

what have you fit in the back?

noise > Nibbles 10/23/2014 at 18:59

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the only people who sit in my back seat are bumming rides so they can deal anyway

noise > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 10/23/2014 at 19:01

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rockin a 78 Puch maxi at the moment

70cc bore for moar puwuh

noise > Petfrog 10/23/2014 at 19:02

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ohh nice lancer. I appreciate the lack of chrome and wings

Its a focus, drove great on the test drive: been all down hill form there

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > noise 10/23/2014 at 19:11

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70cc is a hell of a big engine for something that small. You're a brave man.

Petfrog > noise 10/23/2014 at 19:12

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that sucks, i had a similar experience. Mitsu dealer service near my house was scum- if i thought their prices were too high for service "$400 dollar serpentine belt", not timing, serpentine belt- the warranty would be void. I dumped the car when they started charging me Mercedes money for service and bought a Mercedes(s). lol

Maybe you can check out this forum for how they are to maintain etc:

http://www.kiasoulforums.com/10-soul-proble…

hope that helps.

njp1589 > noise 10/23/2014 at 21:02

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28k miles and no repairs yet. Tires probably have about 7k left in them. Typical maintenance and about 30-31 mpg.

Build quality is good, but there are some complaints. The majority of plastics that you touch are nice and either soft touch or rubberized, but they can a pain to clean. The soft touch stuff scratches really easily.

I've put anything from a couple kegs to a bunch of pavers in the back. It's tall, and the floor is about a foot lower than the bottom of the hatch. You're mostly limited on length and having to fit things into the hatch opening.

Captain_Spadaro > noise 10/23/2014 at 22:22

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YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT!

Yeah I got nothin' ;_;

wiffleballtony > noise 10/24/2014 at 02:33

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Are you a hip hop hampster? If no thn stay the hell away.

Milky > noise 10/24/2014 at 09:19

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I should probably say I think I had the base model. So it was pretty gutless and the interior was just black, not black and light gray, just black.

Both of those things contributed to it just feeling cheap to me. I know it is cheap, but that doesn't mean it has to feel it.

I just couldn't shake the econobox/90's GM feel it gave me. But I know they refreshed it and the new interior at least looks a lot better.

El-Verde > noise 10/24/2014 at 10:22

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The fact that there are "deals" tells me there may be a lot of people who owned them and did not like them. I have to admit I am partial to the "Shit Brown Edition" though...what a looker.

This has to be the worst/best brown available on the market today, and I would be disappointed in you if you got any other color.

But seriously...Warren Buffet always says you should buy something when nobody else wants it...so...get it for Warren?

cosmicspeed > noise 10/24/2014 at 11:00

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I own a 2010 5 speed 2.0l as a second car. If you are going first generation, ask me.

noise > cosmicspeed 10/24/2014 at 12:02

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first gen is what i'm looking at

hows it handle in the snow

is the cargo space usable or just theoretical

think it could handle dirt roads?

noise > El-Verde 10/24/2014 at 12:04

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I'm thinking the deals are because:

Old people bought these
its almost winter (upstate NY. And not a half hour up the hudson upstate, 6 hours upstate)
old people give up driving just before winter usually, after their kid dont want to deal with grandma getting stuck in a snow bank again

if i can find that brown, i'm buying that brown

El-Verde > noise 10/24/2014 at 12:05

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Do it do it do it do it do it. I see one nearly every day on my commute and it makes me smile. I'm sure they call it "espresso" or something, but I call it "brown note."

noise > Milky 10/24/2014 at 12:06

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my current car is literally cheaper than any mid 2000s car could be. Its a fleet spec focus in a super sub base trim only available to hugeo fleets. So i'm very sensitive to cheeeeeeeeeeap interiors. I'll keep a keen eye out for the interior quality without even giving it a second thought

thanks

55_mercury > noise 10/24/2014 at 12:16

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If you're between the ages of 17-22, sure I'd buy it. Otherwise... no.

cosmicspeed > noise 10/24/2014 at 12:17

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I have never driven the 1.6l but I might consider the refreshed models with the updated 2.0 engine (Beta II in my 2010 makes 142 ph....about 120 at the wheels, the 2012 2.0 Nu engine makes about 162hp and adds another drive gear for a total of 6)

The 5-speed for my model is great for city, but on the highway, it makes me wish I had an extra gear like my Speed3. Throttle response in top gear is great but the power band is very linear. The synchros are god awful between 1-2, don't expect to shift down into second unless you are going UNDER 20mph (or you will hear a nice crunchy grind in your gearbox)

Handling in the snow is okay. I have not had much drivetime in the Soul in snow. On wet, the TCS is rather aggressive and really bogs down the acceleration if you try and drive aggressively in corners. I think dirt roads are no problem. Check out SSD Kia Blogspot. They offer light bard, roof racks and other custom peices for all Soul models....otherwise there isn't much in the modification department.

For storage, it isn't much larger (if any) than my Mazda 3. It is deceptively large on the outside, but once you add a few things it gets full quick. My 55lb Labradoodle didn't like it in the back as much, but him and his 50lb sister didn't look comfortable sharing the back seat. There is the option for a hatch storage compartment under the carpet that I would suggest keeping your safety kit and other tools in.

I am expecting a child so it will be interesting to see how the Soul fares in comparison to my wifes work car (Equinox) and the Speed3.

Overall, I was handed the Soul (It was my wifes car and drives it very little because she has a work car) but I cant complain about its versatility. It definitely has character and it nice to sit higher up than most cars in its class.

Don't expect a top-performer, It is a huge change from my Speed3 which has double the power/torque. Interior quality is okay at best. Plastic heaven. One thing to note if you like Bluetooth, the BT was updated for the 2011 models, allowing music via bluetooth. The 2010 was too soon before the BT update, allowing only phone BT.

I hope this doesn't sound too bad. I have gotten used to driving it and it is a good change in pace from the Speed3. Gas tank size is rather small, so while you fill up less dollar wise, I actually am filling up about the same amount (once a week or so).

Let me know if you have any other specific questions.

noise > 55_mercury 10/24/2014 at 13:48

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"17-22"

well shit, are you implying the blueteeth and touchable screen computers will be too complicated for me?

because you;re probably right...

noise > El-Verde 10/24/2014 at 13:48

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I could have a shit brindle brown car to go with my shit brindle green moped

El-Verde > noise 10/24/2014 at 13:53

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all the diarrhea!

noise > cosmicspeed 10/24/2014 at 14:26

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wow thanks, i've just gotta get test driving I think. See how it feels in comparison to other options.

Eyaare > noise 10/25/2014 at 13:22

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I've never driven either, but the Soul has always looked like the bulkier 2nd gen xB made even more bulky and hard to see out of so they could pass it off as a crossover instead of a hatchback. And hopefully cheaper, but very likely less reliable.