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Well, in my mind at least. I went looking at the current 2006 Rio5 this weekend and had one of the most bizzare experiences I ever have had at a dealership.
I am interested in the Rio5 because to me it is the the direct heir to the Pride (/festiva) on the Kia side of the relationship. Besides I'm also looking for a MiniVan to replace my Mazda6 family wagon, and the Sedona would make sense. There's a funny story about that, but on with the show.
The dealership also sells Jeeps, GMC, and a number of other minor auto-manufacturers. I believe it had five insignia's in total on its walls. I pull in with the Mazda6 wagon, driving slowly up one side of the lot to the other looking for a Rio5 and Sedona. Both ways I passed a large gruff mechanic looking fellow talking to a clean-cut Richie Cunningham impersonator with a flat-top. They seemed to look at me like small town folk look at passers-by, like it is all the action they've seen in a day.
As luck would have it, the minivans and the Rio5's were on opposite ends of the lot. Various Jeeps, trucks and cars were in between. I park and go to the minivans, seeing as they were the closest to the customer parking lot.
Out of a gazebo in the middle of the lot comes this young woman who I can only figure was there sunbathing in a tank-top and jean skirt. But she had a clip-board and asked if I was finding everything okay. I figured she must be affiliated with the joint somehow. I told her I was doing fine, but when she asked if I wanted to speak with a sales-representative I accepted the offer.
She disappears and a few minutes later Richie Cunningham emerges with a smile and a hand-shake. He asks me what I'm looking for, and I tell him the minivan and the Rio5. He blinks, and seems confused.
"Which do you want to see?" he asks.
"Do I have to choose just one?"
"No, but which is the one you are more ready to buy?"
"The Rio5. I need a commuter car now, and the upgrade in a few months."
"The Mazda, is it yours?"
"Yes, it is the family car."
"Are you sure you wouldn't want a Spectra5?" He asks me this about a half dozen times again during my visit.
"No, I just want the Rio5."
"Is that Mazda really yours?"
Yes, as it turns out the Mazda6 really is mine. It is, my family car. At this news his confusion grows. Long gone is the smile, now I only see consternation and bewilderment. I have no idea what he's hung up on, I just know I don't care. Get me to the Rio5.
As it turns out they only have one on the lot, a nice black one. Looking at it up close I have flash-backs to the ol' Festiva. Its like I know where everything is, but now it is all new and it looks like its grown up nicely. The sales-rep says, "Oh darn it doesn't have a lock box on it, are you sure you don't want a Spectra5?"
"Isn't this a lock box?" I reply pointing at a metallic box flung over the passenger window with a circular key-hole on it.
And as it turns out my suspicions were correct. Soon he gets the keys out and I barely have room to slip into the car.
I fit nicely, lots of headroom like the old festiva. I look around to the back and to the front of the interior. Its all quite nice. It was give the award of the most improved car for 2006 for a good reason. I liked it.
The mileage is a bit better than I remember for the Festiva, and it has a 1.6L. All of this is really good considering its about 50% heavier. I'm getting excited about the car.
At this point the sales-rep completely abandons me, leaving me the key to the car and his card.
No matter, I continue to look at the under-carriage and engine. I play with folding the seats, which unfortunately don't fold down flat from front to back like the ol' Festiva did. I can't tell you how many nights it became my mini-bego, comfortably sleeping one or two people.
After about a half hour I go into the dealer and ask for a brochure for both the Rio5 and the Sedona. Relaying my story to the manager, he seems upset but polite enough to get me on my way with the information I requested.
I pull away, now having my sights squarely on the Rio5 and a few ideas of what I want to do to customize it. Someday.
Today I'm getting a 2000 Chevy Metro just to get me to work and back. As it turns out, at current prices the cost of gas for a whole year between the Metro 1.0L (which is extremely fuel efficient) and the 1998 Sentra 1.6L (which is only very fuel efficient) is $500. Such is life.
I am interested in the Rio5 because to me it is the the direct heir to the Pride (/festiva) on the Kia side of the relationship. Besides I'm also looking for a MiniVan to replace my Mazda6 family wagon, and the Sedona would make sense. There's a funny story about that, but on with the show.
The dealership also sells Jeeps, GMC, and a number of other minor auto-manufacturers. I believe it had five insignia's in total on its walls. I pull in with the Mazda6 wagon, driving slowly up one side of the lot to the other looking for a Rio5 and Sedona. Both ways I passed a large gruff mechanic looking fellow talking to a clean-cut Richie Cunningham impersonator with a flat-top. They seemed to look at me like small town folk look at passers-by, like it is all the action they've seen in a day.
As luck would have it, the minivans and the Rio5's were on opposite ends of the lot. Various Jeeps, trucks and cars were in between. I park and go to the minivans, seeing as they were the closest to the customer parking lot.
Out of a gazebo in the middle of the lot comes this young woman who I can only figure was there sunbathing in a tank-top and jean skirt. But she had a clip-board and asked if I was finding everything okay. I figured she must be affiliated with the joint somehow. I told her I was doing fine, but when she asked if I wanted to speak with a sales-representative I accepted the offer.
She disappears and a few minutes later Richie Cunningham emerges with a smile and a hand-shake. He asks me what I'm looking for, and I tell him the minivan and the Rio5. He blinks, and seems confused.
"Which do you want to see?" he asks.
"Do I have to choose just one?"
"No, but which is the one you are more ready to buy?"
"The Rio5. I need a commuter car now, and the upgrade in a few months."
"The Mazda, is it yours?"
"Yes, it is the family car."
"Are you sure you wouldn't want a Spectra5?" He asks me this about a half dozen times again during my visit.
"No, I just want the Rio5."
"Is that Mazda really yours?"
Yes, as it turns out the Mazda6 really is mine. It is, my family car. At this news his confusion grows. Long gone is the smile, now I only see consternation and bewilderment. I have no idea what he's hung up on, I just know I don't care. Get me to the Rio5.
As it turns out they only have one on the lot, a nice black one. Looking at it up close I have flash-backs to the ol' Festiva. Its like I know where everything is, but now it is all new and it looks like its grown up nicely. The sales-rep says, "Oh darn it doesn't have a lock box on it, are you sure you don't want a Spectra5?"
"Isn't this a lock box?" I reply pointing at a metallic box flung over the passenger window with a circular key-hole on it.
And as it turns out my suspicions were correct. Soon he gets the keys out and I barely have room to slip into the car.
I fit nicely, lots of headroom like the old festiva. I look around to the back and to the front of the interior. Its all quite nice. It was give the award of the most improved car for 2006 for a good reason. I liked it.
The mileage is a bit better than I remember for the Festiva, and it has a 1.6L. All of this is really good considering its about 50% heavier. I'm getting excited about the car.
At this point the sales-rep completely abandons me, leaving me the key to the car and his card.
No matter, I continue to look at the under-carriage and engine. I play with folding the seats, which unfortunately don't fold down flat from front to back like the ol' Festiva did. I can't tell you how many nights it became my mini-bego, comfortably sleeping one or two people.
After about a half hour I go into the dealer and ask for a brochure for both the Rio5 and the Sedona. Relaying my story to the manager, he seems upset but polite enough to get me on my way with the information I requested.
I pull away, now having my sights squarely on the Rio5 and a few ideas of what I want to do to customize it. Someday.
Today I'm getting a 2000 Chevy Metro just to get me to work and back. As it turns out, at current prices the cost of gas for a whole year between the Metro 1.0L (which is extremely fuel efficient) and the 1998 Sentra 1.6L (which is only very fuel efficient) is $500. Such is life.
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