Kia Carens 2015: all new 7-seater arrives

[Yysiong]

Another advise to buyers. Do note that Carens comes with daytime running LED and it CANNOT be turned off.

Bad for me as I need to fetch kids around and while waiting, the LED lights are glaring and will attract NEA officers in the vicinity :(

Hey,

 

Is the aircon cold?

 

I test drove it.. aircon not really up to expectation

[Vwguy77]

I booked lower price than $108K (Leng Kee) but was asked to top up to $109K+ on my 5th bid in order to secure open cat COE. Nobody likes to hear the phrase ''top up' which you expect from PI but not AD. I agreed to top up, but unfortunately not by enough to close the deal. I am unwilling because at Car expo, Japan Wish and Mazda 5 were being offered at 3 bid guaranteed by AD at about the same price as Kia Carens. 

 

At the back of my mind, I think Kia suffers from being under same dealership as Mercedes. For the same COE cat and price, I'm sure C&C will prefer to allocate priority to the brand with better profit margin. This occurred to me after seeing 5 unsuccessful bids. Having bought from several ADs for my previous cars at non-guaranteed COE terms, this is the first experience with C&C and it is a disappointment. It feels like over-promise, under-deliver. Still waiting to see how 6th bid turns out. 

 

Sorry to hear about that. Buying a car should be a joyous and hassle free process. All the best to your 6th bidding and I hope you tio this time!   

[Baal]

Anyone 5k on the TD yet?  Any feedback on the 7DCT? Positive, Negative?

[Reien]

Just to share with the brothers & sisters here on Smart Energy diesel pricing which I found was cheaper @ $0.79/litre(after the Member additional 5% discount). Hubby's colleague is using their CNG on estima. So far so good. Waiting for our Carens to arrive.. Will definitely try that when we get the car.

 

http://www.smartenergy.sg

[CarenKia]

Hey,

 

Is the aircon cold?

 

I test drove it.. aircon not really up to expectation

 

Yes, not as cold as my previous ride. But I guess it has to do with the long dashboard towards the wind screen.

You can feel the heat especially on a sunny day. Guess the dashboard absorbs a lot of heat.

 

Morning/night time, the air con is still acceptable. But once you park your car under the hot sun, the heat will get to you. But the passengers didn't complain much....guess the 2nd row air con does its trick

[Sktan10]

I booked lower price than $108K (Leng Kee) but was asked to top up to $109K+ on my 5th bid in order to secure open cat COE. Nobody likes to hear the phrase ''top up' which you expect from PI but not AD. I agreed to top up, but unfortunately not by enough to close the deal. I am unwilling because at Car expo, Japan Wish and Mazda 5 were being offered at 3 bid guaranteed by AD at about the same price as Kia Carens. 

 

At the back of my mind, I think Kia suffers from being under same dealership as Mercedes. For the same COE cat and price, I'm sure C&C will prefer to allocate priority to the brand with better profit margin. This occurred to me after seeing 5 unsuccessful bids. Having bought from several ADs for my previous cars at non-guaranteed COE terms, this is the first experience with C&C and it is a disappointment. It feels like over-promise, under-deliver. Still waiting to see how 6th bid turns out. 

 

Leng kee.

 

I agreed to top up, but not by as much as what they asked for to secure Open cat. For the amount they asked to top up, Japan Wish or Mazda 5 starts to look competitive from AD. 

 

My back up plan is to renew COE for 5 years. $25K to drive another 5 years might not be too bad since I am first owner of my 9.5 year old car. Otherwise will see if Japan Wish can offer comparable price. I'm ok to top up but there is a price point where I would rather consider Borneo motors.

 

If wish is almost same price as caren,you better opt for wish.

Unless u intend to drive 10yrs,then not much difference.

If u plan to sell few years later,trust me,take wish.

Easy to sell and better price in second-hand market.

This allow you to breakeven earlier.

I m driving 08 caren.

[teomingern]

Another advise to buyers. Do note that Carens comes with daytime running LED and it CANNOT be turned off.

Bad for me as I need to fetch kids around and while waiting, the LED lights are glaring and will attract NEA officers in the vicinity :(

Serve you right... you shouldn't be letting your engine idle while you wait... it's pollution... your kids will breathe it in as they walk to your car...

[CarenKia]

Let's be practical, you won't want to stop your engine for 3 - 5 mins of wait. Its akin to a long wait at the traffic light. Your starter will be the first to give way and battery needs replacing sooner. If the concern is environment, replacing these parts sooner could be more harmful than the occasional engine idling.

 

Anything more than 10mins would warrant a stop for the engine. Firstly, a lot more petrol is wasted, and occupants risk carbon monoxide poisoning.

 

But the problem with the enforcement officers is that they throw the rule book at you. Your engine is running, so I book you. That's the problem with our bureaucratic system.

 

Another problem I see now is people like to make judgement without getting the facts right. For the record, i had not being booked for such offences. And I dare ask teomingern. Had you not waited with engine running for a moment while waiting for your family or friends ?

[Apple-Tree]

Relax bro, teo just playing.

 

DRL ??  I did not notice the DRL on the test drive car.  Is it C&C Aftermarket installation ?

 

Anyway, it is illegal to fit aftermarket DRL, I thought ??

 

When you turn on to ACC to listen radio, engine off, does it light up ?

 

Could be a problem, when you are in a crowded car park.  

 

 

Anyway, all car seems to come with DRL these days.  

 

 

Idling engine tends to release slightly higher amount of unburned Benzene, it is a major cause of Environmental Induced Leukemia.

 

In both Diesel and Petrol Engine.

 

 

 

 

Another advise to buyers. Do note that Carens comes with daytime running LED and it CANNOT be turned off.

Bad for me as I need to fetch kids around and while waiting, the LED lights are glaring and will attract NEA officers in the vicinity :(

 

Edited May 3, 2016 by Apple-Tree

[Lyk76]

Yes, not as cold as my previous ride. But I guess it has to do with the long dashboard towards the wind screen.

You can feel the heat especially on a sunny day. Guess the dashboard absorbs a lot of heat.

 

Morning/night time, the air con is still acceptable. But once you park your car under the hot sun, the heat will get to you. But the passengers didn't complain much....guess the 2nd row air con does its trick

Maybe can try this, dashboard cover. I do agree tht the dash board does feels very hot under the sun. Getting this from taobao to try.

复制这条信息，打开

[Reien]

Lyk96, saw this too. But do note that is for left hand drive wor. So u need to find those non adhesive and can flip over the reverse side to be suited to our right hand drive dashboard. Hehe and flip over reverse side still must look swee swee kind.

[Lyk76]

Just to share with the brothers & sisters here on Smart Energy diesel pricing which I found was cheaper @ $0.79/litre(after the Member additional 5% discount). Hubby's colleague is using their CNG on estima. So far so good. Waiting for our Carens to arrive.. Will definitely try that when we get the car.

 

http://www.smartenergy.sg

SPC at 91 Jurong East Ave 1,S609786

Having 20% off list price for a limited period. Those ard can take opportunity to enjoy the limited offer.

Lyk96, saw this too. But do note that is for left hand drive wor. So u need to find those non adhesive and can flip over the reverse side to be suited to our right hand drive dashboard. Hehe and flip over reverse side still must look swee swee kind.

I spoke w the TB seller. They can do the right hand drive version also. One thing good abt buying things from TB is tht many are the manufacturer and they have the means to meet ur request.

[Lyk76]

Just ordered a set of Visor from TB and rear boot mat. Could not find one locally or are just too expensively.

Sharing the link to those interested.

 

Boot mat

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?

id=43237030958

 

Visor

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[Reien]

Lky76, haha we're looking at the same stuffs! Also added to cart the boot mat, door visor, shark antenna, the door step protector and the chrome edges for the window. Cos original not fully chrome all around. Share ur review on the stuffs when it arrives k.

[swong19]

How much is diesel in Malaysia?

 

Singapore only 80 cents per litre. Very cheap already compared to petrol?

 

RM1.65 per liter for Euro 5 grade if i am not mistaken. Slightly cheaper than SG only.

[Lyk76]

Lky76, haha we're looking at the same stuffs! Also added to cart the boot mat, door visor, shark antenna, the door step protector and the chrome edges for the window. Cos original not fully chrome all around. Share ur review on the stuffs when it arrives k.

Sure. So u took the SX also?

[Reien]

Yep lky76. Maybe we can start a thread and buy accessories together.

[Yysiong]

Yes, not as cold as my previous ride. But I guess it has to do with the long dashboard towards the wind screen.

You can feel the heat especially on a sunny day. Guess the dashboard absorbs a lot of heat.

 

Morning/night time, the air con is still acceptable. But once you park your car under the hot sun, the heat will get to you. But the passengers didn't complain much....guess the 2nd row air con does its trick

U got solar flim on?

 

I am looking at a mpv with really cold aircon... and seems like caren is not the best choice afterall...

 

May have to take a look at jade or wish liao...