Quote
Quote
... If you go with the automatics, you'll find that you will be without 4wd more than you have it...

Auto hubs or new vacuum hubs? The only problem with automatics is that they should be disassembled and greased every year or so if the car is used off road in water or dusty conditions. If the car stays on the road, they can go years without being touched. I bought my '96 a few months ago and everything points to the fact that the chick who had it before me probably didn't know what the transfer lever was, but the auto hubs work every single time. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Now the vacuum hubs are a pain in the back bumper, but we all know about that.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />
Don, y'all
.



Yes, agreed. The mechanical hubs do require maintenance. But the autolockers installed by Kia Canada are not the same hubs used on 1995 - 1997 Sportages. The older autolockers are not "shift on the fly". They require an initial low speed or stopped engagement. And a backup in 2H to release them. The Canadian hubs, which used to be listed on the Warn website, are a mechanical design but have a true "shift on the fly" capability. These hubs were installed by Kia Canada as a warranty replacement for the vacuum hubs. Kia USA did NOT go this route. Kia USA decided to stick with the vacuum design and keep trying to fix it. We all know that didn't work.

1998 Sportage - Gone.
2004 Honda Civic Coupe.
2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara - She got it.