50 Best 2001 Kia Sportage for Sale, Savings from $2,989

2001 Kia Sportage - Save your money, and do not buy this car!

This car is the first vehicle that I bought. I bought it because I currently live in a city that is not very accommodating for non-car owners. If you do not own a car in this city, you will not be able to get to school (unless you are in the K-12 system that has transportation), work, or even the grocery store. Anyways, this was a cheap Craigslist purchase that seemed like a good deal when I first bought it. I saw the reviews for this particular car, but I really needed a car so I thought that most of the negative reviews (and they were quite a lot of them) were just hyperbolic. Obviously, I was completely wrong. Within a week, the car starting to vibrate very violently regardless of what it was set to (park/drive/idle), the oil pan started to leak, the brake transmission fluid pan sta... (more)

Story

It wasn't a fun one, but I remember when I woke up to take my sister to her job and the car randomly chose not to start (of course). I was unable to pay for towing services so I had to run to the nearest mechanic across the street in my pajamas. I had to beg them to check my car. Once I got back, I gave the keys to the man and the car magically decided to start. I will never forget that memory.

Pros

I have tried to give this car the benefit of the doubt so many times, but it has always let me down. I have nothing good to say about this car. Due to the fact that I was ignorant toward the reviews, I have been left off worse than I was before I bought this car. The only thing that I liked about the car was the first week of owning the car.

Cons

There are so many cons that I can go on for hours. The top negative cons included the following: violent shaking, oil pan leak, water from A/C compartment leaks in the car at the passenger's feet, and the fact that the car just chose not to start for absolutely no reason.

2001 Kia Sportage - LOVE/HATE

I love that this vehicle has never given me any engine problems, the utility space is great for my needs, and it is still kicking 11 years later. I hate that this vehicle's body is rusting out, it seems like every time I get in it there is another small problem and all of the comfort features seemed to be the first to fail. There is a quality engine here. But everything interior seems to have failed, like the window motors, the radio, the tape deck, the sun visors, the seat belts.

Story

Because the vehicle is sooooo light, it fishtails at every stop when the roads are slick, icy, or snowy. I have learned how to maneuver the vehicle while fishtailing and it can be a fun ride in an empty parking lot.

Pros

I have owned this vehicle for 11 years and it has only 130,000 miles on it. In the 11 years of ownership I have dealt with small problems like A/C, burnt out lights, worn belts, but I have never had any major problems with the engine.

Cons

The gas mileage isn't the greatest, as the best I have ever gotten is 24 mpg. The small, motorized parts of the vehicle have been the worst I have ever had on any vehicle. The wiper and window motors have been replaced six times. The few comfort features the car came equipped with have since failed. At the moment my seat belts are problematic, the A/C isn't working, the sun visors have fallen off, the radio doesn't work, and the tape deck is broken.