Kia Carnival. An Affordable Option For The Growing Family

If you have a large family and you're on a tight budget, then you may want to take a close look at a one owner Kia Carnival. The Kia Carnival is a people mover in the same vein as the Honda Odyssey, the Chrysler Voyager and the Mazda MPV. However, the Kia Carnival is available at a much more affordable price for the growing family on a tight budget.

The Kia Carnival represents good value for money as, unlike many other Asian people movers, it is powered by a V6 engine while comfortably seating seven people. With the new car price at around $30,000 a good used Kia Carnival will represent true value for money for anyone needing to lug around a growing family on a tight budget. Of course, you will not get the same car as you would with one of the more expensive people movers from Chrysler, Mazda, Honda or Mitsubishi. For example, the ride and handling may not be up to the same standard as the more expensive people movers however this is to be expected from a vehicle that sells for a lot less. This also goes for the finish on the interior. But if your young kids are sitting in the back for long periods, then you may not want anything too fancy on the inside anyway. A bored kid can be quite destructive!

Some of the features available on the Kia Carnival include:
?Dual sliding doors for easy access
?Power steering and power mirrors
?Dual zone air conditioning, and
?Six speaker CD.

Looking for a one owner Kia Carnival
If you are considering buying a good one owner Kia Carnival, then look for one that was built from 2001 onwards. The 2001 models have a far better seating arrangement so anyone in the back will be riding in more comfort. Also, you'll need to check for cylinder head gasket problems so have the vehicle checked thoroughly before buying. And while you're at it, check for any problems in manual transmissions for smooth gear changes from third back to second and for autos, check for noise or problems with shifting into gear. Some Kia Carnivals have had to have engines replaced so check this also.

You will also want to check the interior for any damage or excessive wear and tear from passengers riding in the rear, especially damage caused by younger children.

When it comes to driving the Kia Carnival, there are several issues that you need to be aware of. Although powered by a 132 kw V6 engine, the Kia Carnival is relatively slow off the mark and is at its best when cruising along the highway. The turning circle, as should probably be expected from such a bulky car, is quite large and parking in the street may also present some issues.

Overall, if you are in need of a people mover and you do not have a lot of money to spend on one of the Japanese models, then it may well be worth taking a Kia Carnival for a test drive with the whole family. Remember though, you won't be getting the same car as the more expensive people movers so it's probably not fair to compare.