"Aremmes" (aremmes)
08/20/2019 at 19:20 • Filed to: rentalcars, kia rio, hatchback, Base Model
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12|
"Aremmes" (aremmes)
08/20/2019 at 19:20 • Filed to: rentalcars, kia rio, hatchback, Base Model | 2
| 12 |
Payless wasn’t fooling around with their car classifications this time. They handed me the keys to a 2018 Kia Rio Quinto and sent me on my way.
This is an interesting base trim spec. It has A/C (unlike a certain famous Forte sedan), automatic transmission (ditto), and alloy wheels (guess what?). There’s also a radio with touch screen, aux input, USB, and Sirius XM, a trip computer display in the instrument pod, power locks and windows, and remote key entry. And that’s where the blank filler panels begin.
This spot here only has two blanks, but the larger one may as well be covering for two buttons. Also, the illumination level control seems unusually tall, probably covering another blank spot.
One! Two! Three! Three blanks! Ha, ha, ha! *thunder clap* Interestingly, it seems that one could option out a Rio with heated seats. Seeing that it was 89ºF here today, and it’ll be 89ºF for the next week or month or year, I don’t think I’d have a use for them.
And for the magnum opus, we have this bulge. Or dent. Or bunt. Or something. It’s supposed to have an overhead console with map lights, hands-free microphone, and maybe a storage compartment for sunglasses. Instead you get a memory of what you don’t have.
The Rio Quinto isn’t all bad, though. It has a decent amount of space under the hatch for a car in its class.
Payless wanted $11 per day for it. At that rate, I’ll take all the blanks they can fit.
RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
> Aremmes
08/20/2019 at 19:33 |
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I don’t mind the current Rio hatch....for what it is, I think it’s a decently handsome little car.
SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
> Aremmes
08/20/2019 at 19:45 |
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That’s even more basic than the base spec S model on the Oz market...which still comes with a 6 speed manual gearbox (so well done Kia) .
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Aremmes
> SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
08/20/2019 at 19:59 |
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A six-speed manual would make it nicer. It drives respectably with the automatic, and seems tailor-made for the narrow, twisty roads full of crazy drivers here. I could see myself dailying it.
facw
> Aremmes
08/20/2019 at 20:01 |
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Does it have cruise control?
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Aremmes
> RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
08/20/2019 at 20:08 |
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It certainly punches above its weight. If the dealerships weren’t such a shitshow and I were in the market for a new commuter car, I’d seriously put it on my consideration list.
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Aremmes
> facw
08/20/2019 at 20:12 |
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No, it doesn’t. I griped to my son about that fact when we picked the car up on Sunday, but it hasn’t been an issue yet since no one else in Puerto Rico seems able to maintain a steady
speed
on the highway either.
Chariotoflove
> Aremmes
08/20/2019 at 20:33 |
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Base rental Kias are still decent cars. For $11/day, this is a steal.
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Aremmes
08/20/2019 at 20:53 |
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That roof bunt is indeed the king of blank switches
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SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
> Aremmes
08/20/2019 at 21:43 |
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If you want to go around corners in a manual Kia then the Picanto GT is what you want...same price as a mid spec Rio. But the power to weight is far more...favourable.
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Aremmes
> SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
08/20/2019 at 22:08 |
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That looks nice. I saw Picanto for the first time
in Peru years ago, but felt more interested in the Suzuki Alto
. Unfortunately the US auto market treats that size of car
as penalty boxes for people with bad/no credit, and there’s no penalty for going bigger through a tax on engine or vehicle size, so there’s no incentive for picking a car in that class instead of the next size class up.
404 - User No Longer Available
> Aremmes
08/20/2019 at 23:40 |
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I actually think this generation of the Rio looks pretty handsome.
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Aremmes
> 404 - User No Longer Available
08/21/2019 at 06:36 |
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I drove a remtal first-gen Rio with 3,000 miles many moons ago
and its front suspension rattled something fierce. This one has over 30,000 miles and nothing feels loose. Beyond just its looks, this latest generation has vastly improved build quality.