zhelder
FOUNDING MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2019
- Messages
- 327
- Reaction score
- 466
- Points
- 63
Today is Night Ranger's One Year Birthday, so I figured what better time than today to post my one year review? Due to some illnesses, I haven't been able to drive the car as much as I hoped, but, still, I have just under 7,000 miles on the car, so I think that's enough for a good review.
Night Ranger was "conceived" on September 19, 2020. On that day, I took a ride to Nutley Kia, because of their good reputation and the fact that they were selling at MSRP. Night Ranger is an Ebony Black/Gray Interior Nightfall SX-P model with AWD and Towing Package. At Nutley Kia, I met with Ken Nicosia (he posted a few times here under the name Sunjet1021). On that day, every Telluride on the lot was sold, so he couldn't allow me to take a test drive, but he was nice enough to let me sit behind a fully loaded SX-P. We then spent the next half hour cranking up the radio in the car, and Ken hooked up his phone, while we rocked out to some great classic rock. I had a blast, and Ken was a straight shooter.
Unfortunately, Ken tragically passed away five days after I placed my order with him, which likely led to some delays in getting the order fulfilled. The order was transferred to Chris Martino, who was also an excellent salesman. Night Ranger arrived at Nutley Kia on March 11, 2021, and I picked up the car on March 13, 2021 (which is why I'm counting today as Night Ranger's Birthday).
The second Chris pulled my car around, I fell in love. It was even more beautiful than I imagined. But would the honeymoon last? Read on...
I was a nervous wreck driving the 40 miles home, as I had always driven sedans before, but I quickly got comfortable with the Telluride. It drives beautifully. The power is just right. I wouldn't mind a few more ponies, but it would be for fun, not necessity. That heads-up display? Awesome. I'll never buy another car without one. The audio system? Again, it's fine, very good, even. No, it's not what you'd find in a top-of-the-line Mercedes S-Class, but it's a solid system. The seats? Very comfortable. Build quality? Outstanding for the class. More on that in a bit...
So, over the past year, I have gotten to know Night Ranger quite well, and, I have to say, I think I'm more in love today than I was when I first got the car. We had a little argument seven weeks in, when a rock from a dump truck chipped my windshield. It was two tiny dings, right next to each other, and I went to Nutley Kia to have them file a claim with Kia. The claim was (allegedly?) denied, so, since the chip was so small, I paid Nutley Kia the $150 to repair it. The windshield has been fine since. It just looks like two tiny raindrops stuck in the glass, and fortunately they're on the passenger's side.
Now here's all the other problems I've had with the car...
Aside from the chip in the windshield, the car has been perfect. I have not had one problem other than that. The seats? Not a crease in them. (The leather in both my two top trim Accords creased after a month.) Everything is as solid as Day 1. The stereo? Still crankin', with Ken's spirit beside me. Infotainment system crashes? None. This car is just awesome. Everything still works perfectly.
Are there any flaws? I really have to nitpick. The glove compartment is a bit small. Another 2MPG and another 2 gallons in the gas tank would have been nice. (I'm averaging 21 MPG, and that's with a lot of playing in the car in Park. Not bad.) The instrumentation is nice, but I would have preferred a customizable, full digital display. And that's all I can think of for now...
So, in summing up, this is the best car I have ever owned. I absolutely love it, and I would buy another one (assuming they don't mess it up with a refresh/remodel) in a second. Check here and on the Facebook groups for MSRP dealers (if you're in Jersey, Nutley Kia is it), get your order in, have a few drinks during the wait, and enjoy this car when you get it.
P.S. I was going to post some current pictures, but we had some solid snow last night, and I'm getting rid of an old bed so Night Ranger hasn't been able to stay in the garage lately. I'll post pics one the car gets a bath.
Night Ranger was "conceived" on September 19, 2020. On that day, I took a ride to Nutley Kia, because of their good reputation and the fact that they were selling at MSRP. Night Ranger is an Ebony Black/Gray Interior Nightfall SX-P model with AWD and Towing Package. At Nutley Kia, I met with Ken Nicosia (he posted a few times here under the name Sunjet1021). On that day, every Telluride on the lot was sold, so he couldn't allow me to take a test drive, but he was nice enough to let me sit behind a fully loaded SX-P. We then spent the next half hour cranking up the radio in the car, and Ken hooked up his phone, while we rocked out to some great classic rock. I had a blast, and Ken was a straight shooter.
Unfortunately, Ken tragically passed away five days after I placed my order with him, which likely led to some delays in getting the order fulfilled. The order was transferred to Chris Martino, who was also an excellent salesman. Night Ranger arrived at Nutley Kia on March 11, 2021, and I picked up the car on March 13, 2021 (which is why I'm counting today as Night Ranger's Birthday).
The second Chris pulled my car around, I fell in love. It was even more beautiful than I imagined. But would the honeymoon last? Read on...
I was a nervous wreck driving the 40 miles home, as I had always driven sedans before, but I quickly got comfortable with the Telluride. It drives beautifully. The power is just right. I wouldn't mind a few more ponies, but it would be for fun, not necessity. That heads-up display? Awesome. I'll never buy another car without one. The audio system? Again, it's fine, very good, even. No, it's not what you'd find in a top-of-the-line Mercedes S-Class, but it's a solid system. The seats? Very comfortable. Build quality? Outstanding for the class. More on that in a bit...
So, over the past year, I have gotten to know Night Ranger quite well, and, I have to say, I think I'm more in love today than I was when I first got the car. We had a little argument seven weeks in, when a rock from a dump truck chipped my windshield. It was two tiny dings, right next to each other, and I went to Nutley Kia to have them file a claim with Kia. The claim was (allegedly?) denied, so, since the chip was so small, I paid Nutley Kia the $150 to repair it. The windshield has been fine since. It just looks like two tiny raindrops stuck in the glass, and fortunately they're on the passenger's side.
Now here's all the other problems I've had with the car...
Aside from the chip in the windshield, the car has been perfect. I have not had one problem other than that. The seats? Not a crease in them. (The leather in both my two top trim Accords creased after a month.) Everything is as solid as Day 1. The stereo? Still crankin', with Ken's spirit beside me. Infotainment system crashes? None. This car is just awesome. Everything still works perfectly.
Are there any flaws? I really have to nitpick. The glove compartment is a bit small. Another 2MPG and another 2 gallons in the gas tank would have been nice. (I'm averaging 21 MPG, and that's with a lot of playing in the car in Park. Not bad.) The instrumentation is nice, but I would have preferred a customizable, full digital display. And that's all I can think of for now...
So, in summing up, this is the best car I have ever owned. I absolutely love it, and I would buy another one (assuming they don't mess it up with a refresh/remodel) in a second. Check here and on the Facebook groups for MSRP dealers (if you're in Jersey, Nutley Kia is it), get your order in, have a few drinks during the wait, and enjoy this car when you get it.
P.S. I was going to post some current pictures, but we had some solid snow last night, and I'm getting rid of an old bed so Night Ranger hasn't been able to stay in the garage lately. I'll post pics one the car gets a bath.
The gas mileage and gas tank size is too small for those that take longer trips. I am about through the honeymoon phase of this car and actually test drove a Genesis 
Made me think of this thread.
