I was offered the chance to drive the Rondo on its last night, provided I wash and gas it before we give it back. I hadn't driven the Rondo at all so I thought it fitting that I drive it on the last full day it's here.
I liked the tall glasshouse design as it really made me feel I was driving something like the Popemobile. All that light being let in really brightened up the cabin. I also liked the torquey engine. Though I don't think the tires were up to the talk. In fact, during a freeway merge at moderate acceleration the tires were squealing so much that it freaked me out and I backed off hard from the gas pedal.
I took the car to get washed the next morning only to find a treasure trove of glass bits in the third row. A legacy of an accidental parking job.
It was a little strange to watch the guys wash the car down knowing it would be leaving us forever. I had hardly known our Kia but I think I'll miss it.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 22,606
hondacura4 says:
12:39 PM, 09/17/08
I see quite a few of these in my area, they must be pretty good little cars.
dougtheeng says:
01:17 PM, 09/17/08
I enjoyed hearing about this car, sad to see it go.
wobbly_ears says:
02:35 PM, 09/17/08
How inconsiderate was it that when you guys shattered the rear window, you guys didn't even vaccum the carpets? Since many of your coworkers cart kids around in the LT vehicles, don't you think it was dangerous? Some might call it callousness.
I have seen it in my company vehicles too. People would keep their personal vehicles clean & drive carefully, but the moment they get into company vehicles, they tear the engine or trash the interior!
No wonder many Edmunds LT vehicles have so many problems. I would be very cautious about buying vehicles from Edmund's LT fleet.
stovt001 says:
02:41 PM, 09/17/08
That is a LOT of glass.
jriz says:
03:48 PM, 09/17/08
Clearly Sadlier sucks at vacuuming.
the_big_al says:
11:20 PM, 09/17/08
wow - that glass break happened several months ago! And it still hadn't been cleaned up all the way??
thegrocer says:
07:08 AM, 09/18/08
Glass is the worst...my wife's car got broken into and it took a good hour of vacuming and then we were still picking glass out of the car for two weeks. Who knows much was left and how much filter out of the seats...I know we had a bunch work its way out of the dash...
misterfusion says:
11:59 AM, 09/18/08
I, too, dig the Rondo and I'm looking forward to the long term wrap-up.
Crap, that's a lot of glass.
redliner says:
08:55 AM, 09/19/08
I had somthing simmilar happen to me (broken rear glass) and even after vacuming it several times, i was still finding bits of glass 3 months later.