Kia Spectra appeared back in 1997. At that time, the sedan was called Kia Sephia and was built on a redesigned Mazda 323 platform. In addition to the South Korean market, the car was offered in Europe (Shuma), America, Asia, Australia (Mentor) and the Middle East (Spectra).
In 2000, the sedan underwent a restyling, and the Sephia emblem was replaced by the Spectra inscription. In Europe and Australia, the name remains the same. The production of the model was stopped in 2004, but in Russia its life was just beginning. Industrial assembly in Izhevsk started in 2004 and ended in 2010. In the summer of 2011, as part of the obligations to Kia Motors, a limited batch of 1,700 units rolled off the IzhAvto assembly line.
Let's look inside. The interior of the Kia Spectra does not make a pleasant impression. The interior trim used cheap, rough and hard plastic in gray shades. The pluses include comfortable, wide chairs with a long pillow, which allows you to comfortably travel long distances. You can not blame the sedan for the rear sofa. A 440-liter trunk is enough for everyday needs.
Most copies have rather poor equipment. Airbag, immobilizer and audio preparation were included as standard. Hydraulic booster, central locking, power windows, ABS, front passenger airbag and air conditioning required an extra charge.
The car did not take part in crash tests according to EuroNCAP, but in 1999 the Americans from the IIHS National Safety Institute took care of this. Of the four possible gradations, the sedan earned the lowest "Poor" - a poor level of safety. The driver received injuries to the neck and head incompatible with life.
Engines
The Korean was equipped with atmospheric gasoline engines with a capacity of 1.5, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 liters. Hinting at the time of the debut, Spectra motors have acquired the Millennium Technology, as eloquently indicated by the inscription on the cover "Mi-Tech". All units are the result of the modernization of Mazda engines. They have a timing belt drive.
The most widely used 16-valve 1.6-liter S6D engine. This is nothing but a modified Mazda B6 engine. Korean engineers reduced its warm-up time and installed a highly efficient catalyst. The valves are equipped with hydraulic tappets, the block is cast iron, and the head is aluminum.
Among the shortcomings, one can single out the noisy operation of hydraulic lifters and the low service life of high-voltage wires, spark plugs and ignition coils - about 50-100 thousand km. After 150-200 thousand km, the starter and generator will require repair.
In addition, engine malfunctions can occur due to a failure of the mass air flow sensor. DMRV appeared in 2008. Before him, a more reliable MAP sensor (measures pressure) was used.
Many owners of the Izhevsk Spectra "got on the capital" of the engine, having traveled only 45,000 km. During assembly, a timing belt of too low quality was installed. It broke off, and the valves "met" with the pistons. Today, many mechanics in the old fashioned way recommend not to tempt fate and change the timing every 40,000 km.
After 100-150 thousand km, the valve cover gasket sometimes starts to poison the oil. Oil appears in the candle wells. If antifreeze was found there, or the head gasket leaked, then most likely the cylinder head burst and it will have to be replaced. The defect occurs as a result of overheating. The cost of a new head is about 30,000 rubles.
Transmission
Kia Spectra was equipped with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. Both boxes have their drawbacks.
Mechanics often require a bulkhead to 150-200 thousand km. In addition to the leakage of the input shaft seal, a howl or rumble grows over time. However, howling in first and reverse gears is a common thing, and some owners drive 250-300 thousand km without repair. For a bulkhead, you will need about 20,000 rubles.
Several automatic transmissions have been used in Spectra's history. F-4EAT and F4A-EL are a joint development between Mazda and Jatco. It was installed only with a 1.8 liter engine. In addition, Mitsubishi A4AF3, F4A42 and A4CF2 boxes were used. The first two could be combined with engines of 1.5 and 1.8 liters. But the latter just went only to sedans of the Russian assembly.
It is generally accepted that the reliable Spektra machines ended in 2007. According to some sources, it was then that the boxes began to be assembled in China. They suffer from premature wear of the clutches and solenoids. Repairs should be prepared closer to 100,000 km, which will require at least 30,000 rubles.
Typical symptoms: jolts when switching from 1st to 2nd and peregazovka / slip when moving from 2nd to 3rd. If you pull with repairs, then after a while there is a crunch when starting and during a stop.
It is necessary to regularly monitor the condition of the CV joint anthers. They either fly off because of flimsy clamps, or are torn from old age already by 100,000 km. As a result, dust and dirt disable the CV joint, which changes as an assembly with the drive.
Chassis
Ball bearings run more than 60-100 thousand km. Silent blocks of levers delaminate after 100-150 thousand km. Shock absorbers serve the same amount. By this time, factory springs may sag or burst, especially for those who use interturn spacers.
After 100,000 km, the steering rack may leak or rattle. The cost of a new rail is from 16,000 rubles.
Closer to 100,000 km, the ABS unit often fails. It's all about the electric motor. Moisture gets inside, which leads to corrosion of the bearing and oxidation of the contacts of the rotor winding. The unit lends itself to a simple restorative repair. After 2009, they began to use a modernized unit with improved moisture protection.
Body and interior
The paintwork is not very wear resistant. The hood and bumper are quickly covered with chips. Body iron is not prone to corrosion. Rust spots, as a rule, occur in places of poor-quality body repair.
Water in the passenger compartment may appear due to clogged drains under the outer plastic lining at the bottom of the windshield. In addition, water can enter the cabin due to clogged drain holes in the sills. Water in the thresholds accelerates the corrosion process.
Of the minor malfunctions, one can note the failure of the fuel level sensor and problems with the stove motor (the motor itself or the mode switch fails). After 150-200 thousand km, you should be ready to replace the air conditioning compressor clutch or its bearings.
Market situation
A tired sedan on the go can be purchased for 130,000 rubles. For well-groomed cars they ask for almost 300,000 rubles. Among the proposals, more than 90% are occupied by cars of Russian assembly. It is generally accepted that younger copies released after 2008 are less reliable.
Conclusion
Kia Spectra is a typical budget sedan that is not very reliable. However, the cost of repairs against the backdrop of modern technologically sophisticated machines cannot but rejoice. All common ailments are well studied and easily eliminated. Any garage mechanic can handle the repair. There are no problems with the availability of spare parts. Kia Spectra is an offer for those who want to buy an inexpensive and easy-to-use sedan.
The very fact of changing a domestic car to a foreign car is important - albeit to a little-known, but affordable one. And there are more and more such people.
I remember that we studied the basic sedan from the pilot batch, and its equipment was not even minimal, even scanty: steering column height adjustment, clock, immobilizer, anti-glare mirrors, audio preparation with antenna and a package for bad roads. At a price of almost $ 13,000, such modesty did not decorate the car. But by the time the large series was launched, the situation had changed. The engine option is still the only one - gasoline Mi-Tech 1.6 DOHC (101 hp), but the price / configuration ratio is now more attractive.
The price of the basic version with a 5-speed manual gearbox has dropped to $11,500, and c / o was added to it. The share of production of these "empty" machines this year will be only ... 1% (!), so the managers of SOKIA do not focus on them. In fact, the price list starts with the $12,220 option, which adds: power steering, power windows, driver and passenger airbags. The package with the addition of air conditioning and a 4-speed automatic transmission costs $14,320.
The manufacturer's main bet is on the "mechanical" version for $13,220, equipped in addition to the above with foglights, decorative caps, heating and electric mirrors. Well, the most “wealthy” Spectra is automatic, and for $14,700 it offers all of the above plus heated seats, power antenna and ABS.
... A brand new silver car, which we took to continue our acquaintance, is just one of the “basic” ones - for $ 13,220. Inexpressive, it merges with the background of the winter Russian landscape and, by the way, tries to disguise itself as a domestic car. You look and think: this is exactly how the Spectra could be a domestic golf-class sedan - some kind of IZH Spectr ...
Against the background of Russian developments, the ingenuous, in fact, Korean car of the 2002 model looks advantageous. It is neatly painted and assembled. One of the main advantages of the sedan, valuable for the broad Russian soul, is a very spacious interior. More precisely, spacious for four, and not cramped for five. What about cargo capacity? The backrest folds down in parts, giving access to a 410-liter trunk. Its cover is unlocked either by a key or a lever from the passenger compartment, a full-size spare wheel lies under the floor of the compartment. The cover does not have upholstery, but there are strongly developed arches of holders that do not allow filling the compartment to the top - they rest against things.
Let's move forward. In general, there are no complaints about the ergonomics of the driver's seat. That's just the driver's seat cushion is too soft, and its front part is raised a lot. You sit as if across a hammock, and there are no adjustments for the inclination of the pillow and the departure of the column (a large steering wheel with a thin rim goes only in height). Therefore, the landing has to be corrected on the way.
And in general, you get used to the car not immediately. For example, the Spectra has a very sensitive brake pedal, and at first you make mistakes with the dosage of effort, and the sedan bites on a soft independent suspension. Almost all versions lack ABS, but this is unlikely to confuse those who have moved from our brand.
Norma (with MCP) - $11,500
Anti-glare mirror, adjustable steering column, audio preparation, immobilizer, c/o, bad road package
Standard (with MCP) - $12,220
Power steering, power windows, driver and passenger airbags
Premium (with automatic transmission) - $14,320
Air conditioner
Optimum (with MCP) - $13,220
Fog lights, decorative caps, electric and heated mirrors
Suite (with automatic transmission) - $14,700
Power antenna, heated front seats, ABS
The car is provided by the official distributor of SOKIA
Car buyers fall into two categories. Some choose a car on an emotional level - style is important for them, the history of the brand, in the end, prestige, if the position obliges. Others approach the choice of a four-wheeled friend solely from a utilitarian point of view, wanting to get the maximum benefit in exchange for a reasonable amount of banknotes. It was for them that Kia released the Spectra car at one time.
A cheap foreign car with an "automatic" is the first thing that comes to mind when you see the squat silhouette of a "Korean". There is also a manual transmission option, but more on that below.
Story
In very, very short terms, the car that we know as the Spectra is the second generation of the Kia Cerato, which has a motor created in collaboration with Mazda and has nothing to do with Hyundai models. And all because Hyundai bought Kia in 1998, and the second generation Cerato began to be produced in 1997.
The predecessor of our hero, the first generation Kia Spectra sedan, was released in South Korea in 1992. In the Korean original, the car was called Sephia, and in foreign markets the car received a second name - Mentor. In the first year, more than 100,000 vehicles were sold in the domestic market. Believing in success, in 1993, Kia for the first time begins to conquer the North American market, and it is with this model. The car enters US car dealerships with a 1.8-liter engine manufactured under license from Mazda. In 1995, Kia makes the Spectra a facelift for the American consumer, changing the grille and head optics.
A year earlier (since 1994) Sephia acquires a hatchback modification. From the same year, the car was exported to Europe and began a competitive battle with the Ford Escort and Opel Astra.
Sales of the first generation continued until 1997, when the second generation of Spectra entered the conveyor. The second generation completely changed the look of the sedan and hatchback (Shuma). In addition, the engine was updated - 1.8 DOHC was already Kia's own development (not without the help of Mazda).
The model successfully lived until the beginning of the new century and again changed its name in the United States. For marketing reasons, the liftback was given the name Spectra, "shedding light over all of North America" (from the English Spectrum, the second plural of Spectra).
The car sold quite successfully. Contributed to this rich equipment and affordable price. Kia made a bet on safety and did not lose. Spectra could already be bought with six airbags and disc brakes on all wheels. In total, three configurations were offered - basic under the S index, extended GS and top-end GSX.
In 2003, Kia launches the third generation under the Cerato / Forte nameplate, while in some foreign markets the second generation was still produced until 2004.
But what about in Russia? Traditionally, at that time, we got not the latest reincarnation. In 2005, "IzhAvto" takes on the industrial assembly of the second generation Spectra in the "sedan" body. In 2008, the car engine is brought to Euro-3 standards. 2011 was the last year of Spectra's production in Russia.
Offers on the market
A potential buyer will be deprived of the pangs of choice, because the Russian version was produced only in the sedan body, and with only one gasoline engine.
The whole choice comes down to finding an option with the desired gearbox - manual or automatic. In fairness, it should be said that the American versions of different generations were brought to our market by the overseas wind, but their number goes to pieces.
The price range for the Spectra will please you more: depending on the year of issue, from 175 to 350 thousand rubles, - for any wallet.
| Year | Price Max/Min, thousand rubles | Average price, thousand rubles. | Mileage range, thousand km | Mileage average, thousand km |
| 2005 | 170 – 260 | 215 | 70 - 140 | 105 |
| 2006 | 168 – 270 | 215 | 41 - 280 | 160,5 |
| 2007 | 170 – 300 | 235 | 42 - 205 | 123,5 |
| 2008 | 165 – 350 | 232,5 | 28 - 216 | 122 |
| 2009 | 200 – 350 | 275 | 19 - 150 | 84,5 |
| 2010 | 260 – 305 | 280,5 | 38 - 82 | 60 |
| 2011 | 290 – 350 | 320 | 25 - 58 | 41,5 |
It should be understood that the declared price for a car is the one at which it is on the market; the real price at which it eventually leaves is always lower in practice, at least by 2-3%. In the case of reasonable bargaining, you can achieve a discount of up to 5%.
The table shows that for the first 4 years of production, the lower bar changes slightly, as well as the upper bar for the last 4 years. Why? In the first case, the technical condition of the car plays a role, in the second - a small number of offers of a certain year of manufacture. If there are few offers of 2011 on the market, then 2010 goes at the price of 2011, and so on. By the way, the volume of output since 2009 has been gradually decreasing by 2011, which is not surprising. Due to the crisis at that time, the IzhAvto plant was already in pre-bankruptcy convulsions.
It is easy to find a car with an "automatic", up to a quarter of the offers (24%) falls on it.
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Engine
The Russian version of Spectra was produced only with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 101.5 hp. and is designed for 95th gasoline. Only the American version is more powerful - 1.8 l, 126 hp, but only with an "automatic". According to the dealer’s regulations, maintenance is carried out at intervals of every 15 thousand km, with a mandatory change of engine oil and filter. Every 45 thousand km we change the timing belt, every 30 thousand km - spark plugs.
The engine is generally reliable - Japanese roots are felt. Single incidents and breakdowns happened to the owners of new cars on runs up to 10 thousand km, but this is more a consequence of the assembly than a design flaw. One has only to pay attention to the condition of the timing belt and change it in advance. A broken belt leads to bending of the valves, and there are 16 of them, 4 per cylinder.
A new engine can be found for 70 thousand rubles, but this information is more for reference, it is unlikely that you will ever have to deal with this.
According to the reviews of the owners, on 99 out of 100 cars, a tapping (rattling) is heard during a cold start, which disappears with the engine warming up and no longer manifests itself. In most cases, the use of synthetic oil and periodic monitoring of its level, inspection of the engine for lubricant leakage helps.
If the engine suddenly starts to work unevenly, "walk" in speed and then "recover", then suddenly "troit", do not rush to order a new one. Such cases are just not uncommon on runs closer to 90-100 thousand km. The spark on one of the cylinders, or rather, the ignition coil, is to blame for this. Here one coil goes to two cylinders.
But what this engine paired with a gearbox lacks is dynamics. And if a bunch with a manual transmission allows you to accelerate the car to 100 km / h in 12.6 s. (which is close to the level of most budget foreign cars), then with automatic transmission the car will reach this milestone in 16 seconds. It is already possible to compete here only with a bus.
Transmission
There are certain questions about the reliability of the automatic transmission (factory index F4AEL-K). On the one hand, the box also has Japanese roots, but is somewhat modified in the direction of simplification. On the other hand, evil tongues claim that the assembly is Chinese, although it was delivered to the factory from Korea. According to the Kia regulations, the automatic transmission on the Spectra is considered maintenance-free - the dealer only checks the oil level for maintenance. But we know that in our conditions it is better to monitor the quality of the oil in the "machine" and change it if necessary.
First of all, you need to pay attention to oil smudges. An insufficient level can cause overheating and noise in the box and, as a result, leads to the destruction of the clutch mechanisms and bearings. Overheating can be identified by the characteristic black color of the oil with a burning smell. It can be a honey spoon that dealers and workshops have already got their hands on repairing these boxes. The restored automatic transmission is estimated by sellers along with a replacement at 30-40 thousand rubles.
The smoothness of the automatic transmission corresponds to the technological age of its development. There are frequent jerks when switching from 1st to 2nd gear (solenoid valves stick) and regassing when switching from 3rd to 4th gear ("automatic" 4-speed). The latter is "treated" by replacing the firmware in the electronic control unit.
A manual box (5 steps) is devoid of these shortcomings, but the owners have complaints about the clarity of gear shifting and the long strokes of the gearshift lever. By 50 thousand km, oil may begin to leak through the O-ring of the gear selection rod. The clutch disc "dies" (on average) to 70 thousand km.
Suspension
The classic scheme: independent MacPherson strut front, independent rear, multi-link, with shock absorber struts and a transverse stabilizer. She does not cause any particular complaints. Ball bearings hold up to 130-150 thousand km and make themselves felt with a knock due to the presence of play. On the recommendation of the manufacturer, the ball joint changes in assembly with the lever, however, those who want to save money can order only the support itself in the store.
The suspension is soft and comfortable, some car owners prefer stiffer and put non-original springs and shock absorbers. The "native" suspension is prone to breakdown, but if the ride is too soft and the car falls in corners, then this is a reason to evaluate the working condition of the shock absorbers. If the car starts to float on a straight course, look at the stabilizer bushings.
By 90-100 thousand km, wheel bearings begin to buzz in almost all cars of the model. They change in assembly with the hub. In the presence of a garage and free time, craftsmen knock out old bearings and hammer in new ones.
The front brakes are disc, the rear is more often drum, although versions with ABS also have discs at the rear. The pad resource is standard. 30-40 thousand km for disk and up to 100 thousand km for drum. There are no complaints about the operation of the brake system, it provides adequate and predictable deceleration.
The disadvantages of the suspension include extremely low ground clearance - 154 cm, and even less with installed engine protection and a full load. Notice the long front overhang. The long hood of the sedan, together with a small ground clearance, sharply reduces the geometric cross-country ability of the car. It is necessary to park "face" to the curb, storm the railway tracks and ramps with a margin.
Body and interior
The factory anti-corrosion treatment of the Spectra body included a 4-fold cataphoresis bath (on both sides), colloquially "galvanized". The factory warranty against through "wormholes" was 100 thousand km. Therefore, you will not find frankly rusty specimens, of course, if the car has not been “attached” to an obstacle before. The iron of the body does not have excessive thickness, so it does not like it when any significant effort is applied to it. Softer, even softer...
Most of the complaints from car owners are caused by the soundproofing of the cabin, the engine is especially annoyed at high speeds, when it becomes uncomfortable to communicate.
The basic configuration already has a central lock, all power windows, a full-size spare tire, a folding rear sofa (60/40 ratio), power steering, two frontal airbags. Spectra was supplied in 5 trim levels. All versions (except the base one) have air conditioning, and the "automatic" box was available only in the two top versions "Premium" and "Lux".
Trunk volume of 410 liters is quite good for a compact sedan, and it can be increased by folding the back of the rear sofa. There are cases when access to useful liters may not be possible due to a stuck trunk lock or a loose remote opening cable from the passenger compartment. This is more of an embarrassment than a malfunction, and after adjustment the problem disappears.
There are no complaints about the cabin. Simple and angry. Inexpensive plastic with a budget "rag". The layout of the seats allows you to comfortably accommodate a fairly large passenger in any row. True, not all drivers can find a good driving position for themselves, despite the vertical adjustment of the steering column. In the course are experiments with the inclination of the basic installation of the driver's seat through spacers.
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electrical equipment
Electrician does not cause serious claims. As we wrote above, over time, it may be necessary to replace the ignition coils. Sometimes owners complain about the insufficient luminous flux of the dipped headlights. In the first thousand runs, there were cases of horn failure.
Cost of service / maintenance
Initially, a 3-year warranty (or 100 thousand km) was provided for the car, so you will no longer find warranty options, and the dealer has no direct reason to service it.
The cost of some operations on specialized but unofficial services
NEW LEVEL IN IZHEVSKIAN?
Foreign car of the Russian assembly - what is it like? What is the difference between such a car and assembled in another country? What kind of operations are carried out by the hands of our workers? How is the quality of these cars? These questions are of interest to many buyers. For answers to them, we went to Izhevsk, to the IZH-Avto plant, where KIA cars are assembled.
Auto industry:
abroad will help us.
And why do they need it?
The domestic auto industry, unfortunately, has never been ahead of the rest. All our cars were developed with an eye on Western counterparts. They were produced for decades and eventually hopelessly outdated. However, foreign cars are still an unaffordable luxury for many. What should a poor Russian car enthusiast drive?
At the intersection of these contradictions in Russia, the class of cheap cars by European standards began to increase, the price of which does not exceed 9-12 thousand dollars. Therefore, European and Asian manufacturers began to offer such cars.
Retail price in this class matters a lot. Therefore, automakers are looking for any ways to reduce it. Take, for example, import duties on a finished car - this is a significant part of its value. And the duty on a car kit - a set of parts from which you can assemble a car - is much less. This became the main motivation for the deployment in Russia of enterprises for the assembly of foreign cars.
Of course, this is also new jobs, and economic development, and much more, but the main reason for the emergence of such enterprises is prices, they must be kept at an affordable level for most buyers.
History wheel 
As you know, in order to confidently move forward, we must not forget about the past. Therefore, let us recall what the Izh-Avto plant was doing in the old days.
The first car that came off the assembly line of the Izhevsk Automobile Plant was Moskvich-408. This took place in December 1966. At that time, all parts and components of the car were brought from the Moscow Automobile Plant named after Lenin Komsomol (AZLK), which is very symbolic. The history of the plant began precisely with the assembly of cars from car kits. In December 1967, the production of the next model, Moskvich-412, began. These cars were assembled at the "small" car plant, around which the walls of the "big" were erected. By 1971, all the main workshops of the "big" were put into operation, and the production at the "small" was discontinued.
Soon, the plant presented two new car models, completely developed by its own design bureau, to the court of motorists. These were IZH-2125 "Kombi" with a five-seater five-door body and a van for the transport of goods IZH-2715. It is fair to say that for that time the machines were really very successful.
Izhevsk vans and pickups - IZH-2715
and IZH-27151 - quickly established themselves as workhorses. "Heel" - so the people called IZH-2715, was the only small truck in the USSR at that time. This car is still often found on the roads of provincial cities of Russia.
In 1972, Izhevsk designers for the first time in the Soviet Union developed a variant of the all-wheel drive vehicle IZH-14. Unfortunately, the model did not go into mass production, primarily due to poor unification with the Moskvich base for the plant. Also, the designers of the automobile plant developed front-wheel drive cars IZH-13 and IZH-19, which did not go into series for the same reason.
In 1984, a new model IZH-2126 passed state tests. In 1991, the production of the IZH-2126 Orbita car (later the car was named Oda) was put on the conveyor. On the basis of the model, IZH-2717, IZH-212612, IZH-212614 vans and IZH-27171, IZH-212615 pickups were produced. Unfortunately, the family of these cars entered the market too late, and they could not fully satisfy consumers, and the 1998 crisis only exacerbated the situation.
In 2000, the situation began to improve: after solving a number of problems, the plant significantly increased production volumes, and 24,691 cars were assembled (in 1999 - 9370). Preparations have begun for the transfer of production of the VAZ-2106 model from the assembly line of the Volga Automobile Plant to Izhevsk.
In 2001, IZH-Auto celebrated the 35th anniversary of the release of the first car. Systematic work was carried out to improve the quality of assembly and components. In that year, 47,762 cars were assembled.
In 2002, the plant continued to increase production volumes, 78,000 vehicles rolled off the assembly line.
In total, more than 2.3 million cars under this brand have rolled off the assembly line of the Izhevsk Automobile Plant throughout its history.
Over time, the models became less in demand by buyers, and in 2004 the last copies of the Oda model were released. Although thousands of its various modifications roam the roads of our country, they have already become history for the plant.
What is the past for Koreans, is the future for us?
In 2005, the plant began to cooperate with the Korean company KIA Motors. It would be more correct to say that it was in 2005 that the result of this cooperation saw the light: the first KIA Spectra cars assembled in Izhevsk left the gates of the car factory.
It was Spectra that was destined to become a pioneer in the union of Izh-Avto and KIA Motors. Why to her? This model successfully combines affordability, practicality and reliability. The value for money, so loved by practical buyers, put the model in a favorable light.
The advertising slogan that calls to “go to the next level” is very accurate in part. For most buyers Spectra - this is the first car after, so to speak, primordially Russian cars. And if we compare, the phrase “new level” really characterizes the purchase very accurately. At the same time, it is no secret to anyone that this car is not new and has already been discontinued in Korea (moreover, production was discontinued even before the start of production in Izhevsk).
The joint production of cars with Korean partners for the Izhevsk Automobile Plant was also a transition to a new level: the quality of cars coming off the assembly line was confirmed by both representatives from Korea and their own independent experts. Therefore, the approach to production today is fundamentally different than the situation a decade ago, when cars were completed to working condition by the owner ...
During the assembly of the car, its components are repeatedly checked. Firstly, in Izhevsk there is an input control of the supplied parts and assemblies. At various stages of production, the necessary measurements are carried out. Walking along the conveyor, it is impossible not to notice that in each section there are places where rejected parts are put up. In cases where this is possible, they are restored (and such cases are the majority). Completely assembled cars pass final control. According to its results, the car is sent either to the parking lot of finished products, or to finalize the identified deficiencies. For this, the plant has specially trained teams of craftsmen. One of the stages of the final control is the passage of the rain chamber: each car is in it for two minutes, after which the seals are evaluated.
Today, the assembly of Spectra in Izhevsk is a complete assembly cycle, including body welding, anti-corrosion treatment and painting. The vast majority of parts come from Korea. The motors are delivered fully assembled.
As for the localization of production, today it is limited to seats, tires and batteries. At present, the tests of shock absorbers of the Skopinsky plant are almost completed. The plans for the very near future include their delivery to serial production.
Not Spectra alone...
In December 2006, the assembly of another Korean model, the Rio JB, was organized. Its fate is not as cloudless as that of Spectra, and the factory workers are not to blame for this - a miscalculation was made by Korean marketers. The price of this car turned out to be inhumane, so many were forced to refuse to buy it. The high price was due to the high cost of the car kit, which was appointed by the Korean side. So, during our visit to the plant in the fall, there were about a dozen RIO JB cars in the shops, which were waiting for the necessary components from Korea. Izhevsk residents do not seek to deliver what they have, and rather roll out the car for sale.
It is quite possible that the dozen Rio JBs we saw will be the last of those released in Izhevsk. Whether the production of the model will be resumed depends on the Koreans. But the unprofitability of Rio JB production does not mean at all that the market does not need new models.
In April 2007, Izh-Avto began to assemble KIA Sorento SUVs. Today it is a SKD assembly: all parts come from Korea assembled into units, the bodies are painted, the interior is partially assembled. In Izhevsk, the "wedding" of the frame and body and the final assembly of the car are held. The plant plans to establish a full assembly cycle and localize the production of components.
Since all the expected figures for the production of cars, announced in 2005, have been confirmed by time, it must be assumed that in the near future Sorento will stand on the same conveyor with Spectra.
Give me a test drive! 
KIA car owners, that is, direct consumers of KIA Motors products in Russia, were invited to the plant. Some of the guests drive cars of the Izhevsk assembly, so the conversation turned out to be substantive and mutually interesting.
Motorists asked questions that were of interest and that arose during the trip, representatives of the plant delved into the essence of the problem with genuine interest. I must say that the plant simply did not know about some issues. This omission can be addressed to managers and the technical group of car dealerships selling KIA, because it is to them that customers turn first of all when problems arise.
The workshops of the plant pleased with their cleanliness and order. Workers skillfully perform assembly operations. Of course, many operations are performed manually, but with existing production volumes, this approach is financially more profitable. Given that the average salary at the plant is the second highest in Izhevsk, working for IZH-Avto is considered profitable.
Immediately drew attention to the fact of incomplete loading of the enterprise. The design capacity allows you to assemble up to 220 thousand cars a year, but only 40 thousand are actually assembled. What to do, the market today can not take more. KIA Motors plans to sell up to 100,000 cars in Russia in 2008, 80% of which will be produced in Izhevsk.
A test drive was also included in the action plan. Enthusiasts were given the opportunity to test SAAZ shock absorbers and compare them with Korean ones. Here, motorists were in for a surprise, because domestic shock absorbers significantly surpassed imported ones!
On a dirt winding road, where the Spectra with Korean shock absorbers scoured and swayed at 60 km / h, SAAZ products made it possible to drive at a speed of 80-85 km / h, and the car's handling was better. We hope that the durability of Skopinsky products will be no worse than Korean ones, because then motorists will only benefit.
Kia Spectra
Specifications.
All Spectra are equipped with a 1.6-liter 16-valve engine with a capacity of 101 hp. With. (at 5500 rpm; torque - 145 N * m at 4500 rpm).
The transmission is either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. The maximum speed that can be reached by car is 180 km/h (170 km/h for cars with automatic transmission). Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 12.6 seconds (16 seconds for cars with automatic transmission). Passport fuel consumption in the city is 10.2 liters (11.2 liters), on the highway - 5.9 liters (6.2 liters).
Safety.
KIA Spectra is equipped with two front airbags. The presence of them even in the most affordable configuration does honor to the Korean automaker. In terms of the level of passive safety, KIA cars can be called “good guys” with a slight stretch: there have been no outright failures in crash tests at KIA in recent years, but the leading positions have not been achieved either.
If you look through the archives of KIA crash tests, it becomes obvious that with each new generation of models, safety is significantly improved. The first Korean car to receive five stars (the highest rating) for passive safety according to the EuroNCAP methodology is the KIA Ceed. This fact suggests that KIA pays due attention to the safety of its vehicles.
But one cannot discount the fact that Spectra was developed a long time ago (by automotive standards) and modern innovations simply cannot be present in it.
Prices and equipment.
To become the owner of KIA Spectra without resorting to credit programs, you must have at least 333 thousand rubles at your disposal. That is how much the basic equipment of the car costs, which bears the index HA (“standard”). I must say that the base in the case of Spectra does not mean poor. Judge for yourself: power steering, driver and passenger front airbags, central locking, immobilizer, four power windows, audio preparation (speakers and antenna) - all this is included in the standard package.
In addition, two more configurations with manual transmission and two with automatic transmission are offered. The presence of air conditioning, fog lights, heating and electric rear-view mirrors will increase the cost by 36 thousand rubles. This configuration has an index HB ("optimum"). Throw in ABS and rear disc brakes and you have the most equipped Spectra with a manual transmission. This equipment is NOT ("optimum plus"). The price of such a car is 376 thousand rubles.
The most affordable version with automatic transmission will cost 380 thousand rubles - this is the Spectra NS ("premium"). It is similar to the “standard” configuration, but, in addition to differences in gearboxes, “premium” is equipped with air conditioning.
The most "stuffed" and for obvious reasons the most expensive KIA Spectra offers the buyer such options as electric and heated rear-view mirrors, fog lights, heated front seats, body-colored door handles and automatic transmission. In addition, only in the top trim levels (there are two of them: with automatic transmission and manual transmission) there are ABS and rear disc brakes. The cost of such a Spectra will be 400 thousand rubles.
KIA-Spectra is a successful brainchild of the Korean automobile concern Kia Motors, which was produced specifically for the American disciplined and calm, respectable family driver. The Koreans stopped producing this brand of car in 2002, and three years later it appeared on the assembly line of the Izhevsk Automobile Plant.
At first, in Russia, only imported components and parts were assembled into a single whole. Then most of the work on the manufacture of components was transferred to Russian manufacturers.
Complete set of "KIA-Spectra" Izhevsk assembly
This solid golf-class sedan, whose length is four and a half meters, was assembled in four trim levels.
Even the basic equipment, equipped with a manual transmission, has power steering, power windows, central locking, two airbags and audio preparation.
The next configuration already has air conditioning, fog lights, heated side mirrors and wheel covers.
A little later, a package appeared, additionally equipped with an ABS passive safety system.
An automatic transmission is installed in only one configuration. This is the top version where owners can enjoy the electric antenna and heated seats.
The Izhevsk plant began to produce alloy wheels, which, for a fee, could be installed on a car in any configuration.
Appearance and interior of the car
By the time it left the assembly line in Izhevsk, KIA-Spectra had already become obsolete twice. Therefore, it is not surprising that by 2006 it was no longer distinguished by design.
Although the cherry and blue "KIA-Spectra" reviews of the owners in relation to external data are positive. Drivers especially like the front view of freshly washed shiny cars with a “smiling” radiator grille and slightly slanted headlights.
All owners liked the interior equipment even in the budget configuration, especially when there were most domestic models on the roads.
Electrified glass, ceiling lights, a box for glasses, cup holders, three head restraints at the back and a backrest that folds in separate parts could not but cause positive emotions. But gray inexpressive velor, hard shiny plastic, artless execution of small details cause despondency.
However, at KIA-Spectra 2006, owner reviews regarding interior trim are more benevolent.
More negative feedback concerns the layout of the cabin. On the rear sofa, the back is strongly tilted back, the seat is low, the cabin height is insufficient, at least for tall passengers. But the three of us can sit in the back, especially since there is no tunnel in the middle, and there is enough space for the legs.
Feelings behind the wheel
The pillow of the driver's seat littered back is one of the shortcomings of the KIA-Spectra car. Reviews from owners of cars with a manual gearbox mention a high raised front edge of the seat, which makes it difficult to depress the clutch pedal. In addition, getting up from such a chair is not very convenient, especially for older people. Although domestic drivers, accustomed to extraordinary solutions, found a way out of the situation by installing substrates under the rear seat supports.
Causes criticism and a double speedometer scale in kilometers and miles. Longitudinal movement of the driver's seat is also not suitable for everyone. If the range is quite sufficient, then the adjustment does not differ in accuracy.
The steering wheel is also an amateur, although everyone notes the ease of movement and the ability to adjust its tilt.
Secondary controls are simple and do not cause any complaints. You need to adapt to the heating system and its settings, although the stove itself works pretty well.
Many drivers lack rear visibility, although in this respect the KIA Spectra is more convenient than many other sedans.
Security equipment
The KIA-Spectra car was not subjected to crash tests according to the EvroNCAP methodology, so nothing can be said about the level of passive safety of the car. But the safety features already in the base model are significant, including rear headrests and a passenger airbag. Since the Spectra was developed as a family car, child seat mounts are installed in all trim levels. In addition, two trim levels have ABS, although drivers are advised not to wait for this safety system to work on ice.
The trunk of the car "KIA-Spectra"
Owner reviews call the trunk volume quite acceptable and attribute its size to the advantages of the car. But taillights and sickle-shaped hinges significantly narrow the space under the lid.
Drivers do not consider the fact that the trunk can be opened from the outside only with a key. The lack of protection on its inner side and the unpainted places, which have already become apparent in KIA-Spectra 2007, are noted in passing by the owners, practically without giving these shortcomings any ratings. The folding third of the back of the rear sofa makes it possible to carry large enough cargo, which pleases some drivers.
"KIA-Spectra" on the roads
The first and main drawback in the KIA-Spectra car is the reviews of the owners called a very noisy engine. Some drivers, not without malice, notice that only the deaf can drive at high speeds in this car. The engine becomes so active when the tachometer needle approaches the middle of the scale.
The drivers of the KIA-Spectra automatic machine are even more actively indignant. Reviews of the owners, and given that the automatic transmission is installed on the most expensive versions, are extremely harsh in relation to noise, and indeed, to the operation of the automatic transmission with its unexpected jumps in gears, jerks when switching and delays during acceleration.
Drivers generally consider the soft suspension to be a virtue, although it knocks on bumps, especially large ones.
All drivers praise the brakes, both in the first and in the KIA-Spectra 2008 cars. The owners' reviews speak of repeated replacements of the brake pads, but at the same time they claim that the reaction to pressing the pedal in cars is instantaneous. Many even have fears that a car coming from behind could crash into the trunk when braking.
"KIA-Spectra" is not designed for off-road travel. The clearance is high enough for a sedan, it is 150 mm, but the overhangs are so long and low that you can tear off the bumper, as happened, judging by the reviews, more than once.
The car reliably goes in a straight line, makes clear turns - these advantages are noted by all drivers of KIA-Spectra. Owner reviews are somewhat contradictory in assessing the driving performance of the car, but this car is designed for a calm, careful ride. Active and aggressive drivers should drive other models.
Vehicle operation
Today, the guarantee is no longer valid either for individual components or for KIA-Spectra cars as a whole. All models released in the first decade of the new century already have a solid mileage and more than one MOT in the asset.
The owners are pleased with the availability of spare parts for free sale and the possibility of replacing them with analogues from other manufacturers. For example, the sound signal from the Volga is quite successfully installed, and it sounds louder.
According to most owners, even a seven-year-old Spectra, with proper and gentle operation, is a completely competitive car. There are even drivers who do not want to part with a reliable car. They plan to replace the upholstery, not because it's worn out, but to revive the interior.
Whoever is lucky, of course, but the main repair is the replacement of consumables, sensors and electrical wiring. Brake pads can work for a long time, they are changed more often for safety reasons if the car runs long distances.
There are drivers who use this car to travel long distances with a trailer. They note that the Spectra can pull up to a ton of cargo, however, fuel consumption increases.
And in general, it is for diligence and reliability that the reviews of the owners often praise the KIA-Spectra car.
Cons of the car
The merits of the Spectra, despite its age, are enough for those who want to ride it.
The disadvantages of the car do not begin with age, but with the fact that the model is outdated even before the start of production in Udmurtia. Today, drivers are already spoiled with a large selection of new, more prestigious and presentable cars.
Low noise insulation is a defect of many budget brands, and both specialists and drivers themselves have learned to deal with it quite effectively.
With a small engine size, Spectra has a fairly high fuel consumption, especially compared to new, more economical car brands. And the low-power engine itself at the present time, especially on a fairly large sedan, is a big minus.
Some drivers call low ground clearance, but this usually happens when an additional crankcase is installed.
"KIA-Spectra" is morally obsolete and has an inexpressive design, but its technical part is not much trouble even when operating in difficult conditions.
