Posts

@kleptomage
Hope it isn’t a transmission issue. If it is, Hyundai and Kia do offer 10-year 100,000 mile power train warranties. It should still be in effect on your ’21 Sorento.

@RD4590
A hitch and trailer are on my list of things to get.

That hesitation is most likely the turbo lag. It’s quite obvious on family cars because their displacement is usually too small to spool up the turbo quickly. My parents’ Volvo does that too. It might be hard to renegotiate the price after you’ve taken the ownership, but I’m sure you can get used to it after a while.

Is there a tow hook? If you want cargo space, it could be a good idea to fit a trailer in the back.

@midob
Either the transmission is too slow at low speeds or the throttle is too sensitive, because unless I gently breathe on the accelerator the Kia always hesitates for a second, then wants to bolt from a stop. From what I’ve read, this is normal.

I’m not a fan of all the pointless tech and shiny bits in the interior. For a utility vehicle, I prefer function over form.

I transported a big load of stuff home from the hardware store today. I got it all to fit, but it would have been better if I could have just thrown it all in the bed of a truck.

There is no pride of ownership with a Kia. I wanted to buy a Honda or Acura but there were no good examples in my price range within 100 miles.

All these things I can deal with, but it’s easy to have second thoughts after making the biggest purchase in your life.

@RD4590
Damn, it’s unreal the havac freak weather can cause, sometimes we truely are so unprepared for such rarities.

Ah, the camera mirrors, I’ve yet to drive a vehicle with them but have heard good and bad about them. Aparrently they’re great on artics as they “move with the steering” and adjust as your trailer moves giving a useful view when turning sharply. They should equal better fuel economy since they have far less surface area than regualr mirrors.

However they’re expensive to replace, fragile and difficult to roadside repair. The boom the cameras are mounted in stick out slightly further than regular mirrors, I prefer normal mirrors (esp for rigid vehicles) if they get damaged or smashed off they’re easily repaired and are still usable with cracked glass.

@kleptomage
Not personally, one of my friends did and returened the vehicle within the cancelation period. What’s the issue?

Have you ever had buyer’s remorse after a vehicle purchase? I feel like I paid too much for too little.

Good to know you have no difficulty driving it.
As for the hedges, it reminds me that many lorries have cameras for rear view mirrors. What do you think of fitting those (maybe on your camper truck)?

I think the most challenging part of Scotland is terrain. The roads are nice and wide with open view. I even topped 100mph in some bendy bits. But the hills are either very steep or very long. Oh also the wind could be terrifying.
And Wales is worse. Welsh roads are not only steep but also notably narrower than those in England and Scotland. But there are many laybys and car parks with stunning views, and they’re usually empty so turning shouldn’t be much problem.

@midob
Mate you have no idea. Imagine the heavy rains in the UK last November and December, but instead of rain it hails in that amount and it’s subzero on daytime. I’ve never seen such a heavy hail in my life. And our highway agency doesn’t have snowploughs or gritting equipment here in Wuhan (there are in north China but their climate is like Russia, you know what I mean).
Two weeks ago our bulletproof high-speed rail network was paralyzed as well. Because of the frozen rain, huge ice cones built up on the overhead wires, and they literally destroyed pantographs on the electric trains. Normally our HSR trains run at 190mph in central/south China, but they could only run at 40mph or something. Diesel locos were brought back from preservation to haul these trains. (In the north, trains have copper pantographs fitted to knock off the ice on the overhead wires. There wasn’t any in the south.)
In the UK the train’s overhead wires could snap at a strong breeze. I can’t imagine what kind of apocalypse it would be if it hails/snows like this. I do envy Britain’s road gritting though, one of the reasons I came out of Scotland in one piece. 😂

@RD4590
I’ll probably go with a 250L water tank, you can contact the water board and get a stand pipe for water on the go.

Police are indifferent towards lorry campers, they fall under similar classification as horseboxes; that is if they’re not being used commercially, they’re tachograph exempt.

B roads are pretty easy usually. I’m used to driving full sized HGVs (2.6M width) on them; the most common annoyance is hedges that aren’t trimmed back, if you’re forced into them you’ll have to fold the mirror out again 🙄

The truck is only 2.4M wide so not all that larger than a coach built motorhome (usually 2.3M).

Tourist locations can be a pain; the wide turning and length of a lorry makes some places difficult, Scotland will probably be the most challenging drive.
@RD4590

Surely it can’t be worse than Britain. The slightest dusting of snow and this country grinds to a halt 😂

It’s snowing AGAIN in central China and there’re 100-car collisions everywhere.

@midob
What size is the water tank? I don’t know how much water I use daily and that’s where my sense of insecurity comes from.
I wonder how the police would react to a camper truck. Imagine they ask for your tachograph but find a holiday cottage instead. XP
And how well would it cope with B roads and local roads? I know HGVs can run in towns and villages just fine but some wild tourist spots are not made with them in mind.

@RD4590
I mainly plan on sleeping in lay-bys as I often do at work; on my travels as a lorry driver I’ve mapped out any decent park ups that I’ve found.

I’ll be running a 24V 400AH system so electricity shouldn’t be an issue, it’ll be topped up while driving via a 90A alternator, I also have 800w of solar panels to put on the roof. Heating will be diesel/kerosene fired, hot water will use a calorifier (stores excess heat from engine cooling system), diesel webasto as backup.

It’s technically a HGV but is below most weight limits, it’s 7500KG GVW (VED is only £165 per annum, cheaper than my car :P), I’ll have to inform DVLA once the camper conversion is complete. It just barely fits on my driveway and is speed limitor exempt since it’s an older lorry :D

@midob
I don’t understand the Brit’s obsession with caravans either. :P
I know there’re many lakesides and hills with beautiful sceneries, but I don’t feel secure with limited water, gas, electricity, and especially bad mobile signal. And staying a caravan park feels expensive (you’ve already brought accommodation and you need to pay a campsite to accommodate your accommodation), and you need to set up the camp and so on, which wastes time. It’s quite easy to find a hotel or Airbnb in the UK unless there’s extreme weather. And when towing a caravan you’re as slow as an HGV, that is if you could reach the speed limit.
I believe one main aspect of a road trip is driving, and I don’t think driving an artic is an enjoyable thing to do.

Also dude, that’s still an HGV you’re working on. How do you fit it on your driveway? 😂
And did you need to tell DVLA about this kind of modification?

Yeah they’re pretty cool, never seen one in the UK; caravans are very popular here.

I’m converting a small lorry into a camper, recently finished painting it (the bumper will be removed when I fit the new box).

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
Well okay I said it in a more historical context. Nowadays they’re becoming more of a social status.

@RD4590
Only when they’re equipped with 4-wheel drive. And not all pickup trucks have 4WD.

Defender pickup. I’ve seen one in Bristol.

@midob
I don’t understand either but in their defense, pickup trucks have better off-road capability.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
Oops. I meant to reply to midob. It’s been a long day.

@kleptomage
Actually, I have driven some pickup trucks before. Notably a 2004 Chevy Silverado and my dad’s 2008 Toyota Tundra.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
I ended up buying a ‘21 Sorento, fully loaded. It seems nice so far. I mean, it’s no sports car, but it’s pleasant to drive. I haven’t had time to really explore the vehicle yet.

I have to go back to the dealership tomorrow to return some paperwork because the idiots took the wrong folder.

The F-150 was the first pickup I’ve driven that wasn’t a rental work truck and I walked away impressed, so don’t knock it ‘til you try it. There is a lot to like about pickup trucks, even if they aren’t the most practical.

There is an aftermarket for tonneau covers and shells to protect the contents of the bed.

@midob
You can put a camper shell over the cargo bed (my dad has done this with almost every pickup truck he’s ever owned.)

@kleptomage
Out of those I’d probably go with the Sorento (if it’s the 2020> model), we don’t have the 2.5T option here in the UK only a 1.6T, 2.2 diesel and a PHEV.

I never understood the American obsession with pickup trucks, vans are way more practical. In a pickup truck all your cargo is exposed to the elements, if it’s lightweight cargo it needs strapping down or will be blown away, bad weight distribution when driven unloaded. I don’t get it, sure they have decent engine options, better customisation and interiors than vans but really they’re only good for hauling soil, logs ect IMO.

On an unrelated note I’ve been driving a 2015 Mercedes A220 diesel automatic recently, it’s such a disappointing drive, over assisted PS with little feedback, a lethargic 7 speed gearbox that is only bearable in sport mode, spine shattering suspension. I expected better from Mercedes.

I test drove three cars today and had a nice time.

The first was a Hyundai Palisade. It was the base model, so it didn’t have many niceties. It’s all right, but the Palisade is designed to be a comfortable faux-luxury cruiser and I didn’t think it quite lived up to that. The seat wasn’t particularly comfortable and the suspension let in some harsh bumps. I’m not a fan of the push button shifter either.

Next I drove a ‘21 F-150 crew cab short bed with the Powerboost hybrid powertrain. This truck was a treat! It’s very comfortable with huge seats. You sit up high with excellent visibility from the tall windows. It was only an XLT, but the interior was nicely appointed. I expected the ride to be bouncy but it wasn’t. The suspension just absorbs the road. The engine and battery deliver gobs of power while still getting 19 MPG under my heavy foot. The brakes are strong. I genuinely enjoyed driving the F-150 and it made me smile.

There is just one problem and I can’t fault the truck for it because that would be asking Ford to defy physics. The F-150 is enormous and you always feel its size and mass. The steering could charitably be described as relaxed. If you care at all about handling, this is not your ride.

So, as much I liked the F-150, I’m planning to get a Kia Sorento just like the one I drove next. Maybe my perception was skewed after driving a truck for a half hour, but the Sorento felt far more direct, more like a sedan than a three row crossover. It’s comfortable while still feeling connected to the road. The 2.5 Turbo does not lack for power. It’s got plenty of space in the back and is loaded with features for about $5,000 less than the F-150.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
This kind of thing is why I have full coverage insurance.

$1600 for a new hood plus a new hood latch and possibly a new hood cable.

Since I no longer have full coverage insurance (just basic liability for me,) I’m going out of pocket, and I had to put half down just to authorize it all.