Time to upgrade .... hers

[Smitty]

no.... ! NOT quitting the HSV but her 2014 BMW 1 series M Coupe

10 years old sure but low clicks.. just got to 60,000km and niggles
(read EXXXIE) on the BMW. Pre-service check shows little things
but a long list to fix ... eg. collapsed rear axle bumpstops (WTF?)
the usual oil, filter +, 20,000km brake fluid flush $220 thank you,
new front engine accessory drive belt $350 for that inc labour
(thank feck the cam is on a chain) etc etc blah balh
and
so, she agrees it is time to upgrade. Plus wants something with FOUR DOORS
the BMW is getting to be a PITA with huge, read long doors that are heavy
and hard to get out of.

During the past 2 weeks, the missus has been trawling the Nepean Hwy
from Elsternwick to Mentone.. every make is on this strip but first stop
where we got the BMW from... Brighton BMW and hates it all. FUGLY!

Then Bayside Euro (Cupra and VW) then Brighton Ford and ...on and on down
the highway, she even went to Porsche until at Jeffereson Hyundai
she spots a KONA SUV N Line HYBRID with full leather and a sunroof
(both mandatory for anything new as the BMW has them)

Long story but had a test drive of a demo model from Southland KIA (don't ask)
for a couple of hours Saturday morning.. nice! and so, she is sold
Nice price too.. just over $51k driveaway (the BMW trade-in $ will be interesting)

I drove it... very different to the BMW of course. Handles surprisingly well for a SUV
superbly quiet as you would expect (VERY noticeable after getting out of the BMW)
and pretty quick. Needed to get across 4 lanes of traffic in the highway and it just
.. went! I was surprised to be honest and the ICE did not kick in until across and in
the service lane on the other side of the highway

One final comment.. the integration between electric/ICE engines is in a word.. superb!
You have to check the dash instruments to see which/what is running... interesting dash too




and whats it look like?