Kia Rio Problems

For reliability and no-fuss driving it's best to go for an Asian brand rather than a European one. Euros can be expensive, particularly when they get older. I would suggest a 2013 Kia Rio or Hyundai i30, both are good cars, both have electronic stability control and fit within your budget.

The Focus is a great driving car, but there are serious issues with its dual-clutch automatic transmission, so serious you should avoid it, or buy a manual. Consider others like the Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Kia Rio, etc.

I would think the key should be covered by the warranty, given that it failed. It’s not like it wore out through use, when I wouldn’t expect it to be covered. Contact Kia directly on 1800 600 010 and see if you can negotiate a deal for a free replacement.

An older i30 should be fine, and far better value than a Corolla that everyone chases. You also should check out a more recent Hyundai i20 or Kia Rio. They are smaller but still good cars and would have some factory warranty.

Good to hear. We get a lot of complaints about various cars, many about the new types of automatic transmissions, which seem to be the bugbear of today's owners. While we focus on things like the dual-clutch automatics we forget about the really great advances that have been made in car technology. There's no better example of that advancement than the safety of the cars we now drive.

Typically you're looking at a car around 2010 vintage for that money, so it's got a few years on it and will have done a few kays. With that in mind it's best to go for a car that's going to give you a good run for your money over a few years. Steer clear of European brands, that includes Ford as its small cars come out of Europe, and go for a solid brand with a good reputation for reliability. In my view that means a Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, Mitsubishi Lancer, Kia Rio, Hyundai i30.

The best time to buy is January, when dealers and car companies are trying to clear all their 2015 stock. Just like northern hemisphere horses, they all get a year older on January 1. A free auto upgrade is one of the typical baits these days, since more than 90 per cent of people buy an auto and companies can offer an effective $1500 value boost.

It's easy to understand your frustration with Volkswagen but it's still a great company with top products. On the Kia front, the local suspension tuning by Graeme Gambold is a game changer but new-generation engines are at least three years away.