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From my point of view the car has displayed very few weaknesses so far. Single or small incidents don't count for much.
I was oblivious to the steering problems on my Malibu before I read the specific posts dealing with that area, and there were dozens of incidents-- my $800 steering column being one of many. Haven't seen that with the Optima yet.
One of the problems with a forum that is visited by relatively few posters is that one or two negative posters, who post repeatedly, can seem to distort everything about the car for other readers.
I'm sure you're right about taking a bath with a trade in,so probably I'll just have to continue bitching about some aspects of owning a KIA.I am however going to find out exactly what it's value is to a Toyota dealer.(just out of curiosity)Had the Prius been so plentiful when I bought my KIA,it wouldn't have ever happened.Just bad timing I guess.BTW,have you ever driven a Prius?Its very impressive.
Regarding the Prius... I did test drive one, and while i love the awesome gas millage it gets, its not a good driving car. Actually It has downright terrible driving performance. Also, do some research, its not as "green" as it was initially believed to be. It takes more energy to produce and drive a prius its expected lifespan than it takes a Hummer H2 to drive 300,000. That's disgusting! http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=188
I have used two dealers with my KIA.One was not only not very efficient but downright rude,but the one I'm using currently is quite pleasant,but still not able to correct my problems.The sensor reflashing was done by an area rep,as the locals ones dont have the required tool.It was perfect for a while,but as I wrote,last week that damned light went on.When I turned off the ignition, and restarted the car it was OK and has been so ever since.
The reason Im even considering a Prius is my gas mileage.It just hasn't been anywhere near to the 34-24 on the sticker.I haven't even once gotten as high as 15MPG in city driving.Does that make me negative?Perhaps,but at the very least I am disappointed.The way the car drives ,brakes,steers etc. is just fine ,and the moon roof,power seats and all the toys are peachy keen,but I still have issues with the gas consumption and the headlights, as well as the seat sensor.
I'm not sure why you're getting the millage you are. I'm averaging 30 MPG. FYI... the seat sensors activate the airbag only when someone is in the passenger seat, and deactivates the airbag when the seat is empty. So, the light should be on when the seat is unoccupied.
As far as the MPG,I talked to a serv.manager today and he informed me that 12 MPG was acceptable.Not my words.His.Just how do you deal with that?
There used to be a big tax rebate on the Prius, but no more. Since the end of that, I notice a lot more of them on St. Louis area lots.
I did hear that Prius's with the special California sticker that allows driving single in the carpool lane bring an additional $4000 according to KBB. Good reason not to live in California.
My Optima seems to be averaging 23-25 mixed. Got a bit over 30 on the only highway trip, but that was under a thousand miles. Twelve seems really low. You seem to have very weak dealers.
I probably would average same as you,as long as most of the driving is highway.With a balanced city highway I probably average only around 20.
I asked a service writer about three issues.The weird light pattern,the gas mileage and the reoccurring passenger seat air bag issue.His response basically was that there was nothing more they could do.The headlights are just designed that way,I wasn't the first to complain,the gas ...if the check engine light didnt come on and there were no leaks,thats bad luck pal.
It sounds to me that you're really happy with your Optima.I wish I were as happy as you seem to be.I want to point out that I am not as negative about all my cars.My 97 Chrysler Town & Country was the best car I ever owned,and is still in my garage.With the Kia,I guess my biggest disappointment is the gas mileage.
I will keep it at least another year.Since it has depreciated 50% already since November,that precentage probably go down in another year and I will owe a lot less on it.The biggest problem with the Prius as I see it is ...no power seat..which I love on long drives.I test drove one and I thought it was very comfortable and handled great.
PS...not sure what reason it would take 250K to recover the cost of a Prius,it lists at no more than my KIA EX,granted that is with less toys,and no leather.I see it as a win-win cost-wise.BTW,love exchanging views with you.All in the spirit of good will.
The guy showed me his little black book and made comments that he was being generous by grading it as being in excellent condition.The car is 6 months old and has less than 5000K on it.Evidently the fact it is a loaded EX makes no difference at all,or very little.It evidently is a sellers market.If my car were freshly washed,you could park it with the news ones and you couldn't tell them apart.
http://www.automotivedigest.com/view_art.asp?articlesID=21513
Hope this helps!
Paid the dealer $500. First leather interior but to me it looks as good as a factory install.
I find IFCAR's writing interesting, much like Backy's, but his tests consist of grabbing as many cars as he can and taking a dealer test drive. After rating the Malibu very high for the last several tests he dropped it down to the middle of the pack. Frankly, I like my 'Bu slightly better than the Optima, it's got more stuff on it-- power pedals, much better DIC, the six gets as good or better mpg than the Optima 4 and has lower maintenance costs and (to me at least) is far more comfortable.
It handles worse, and looks uglier, however and if I was doing a fifteen minute drive I'd probably put the Optima ahead of it.
On the Car and Driver forum, I asked IFCAR why he rated the Kia engine tops and the Chrysler/Dodge engines at the bottom of the list (noisy/underpowered) since they're essentially the same engine. He replied that the NVH was much better on the Kia/dais (true, it is). Power I'm not so sure about, but I doubt if he'd pick it up with his testing methods.
Still, more power to him. I read all his reviews and find them quite interesting. I'm glad he has Kia and Hyundai at the head of the pack, it'll drive the Korea haters crazy.
If you get better mileage on your V6 you must be doing great,because my Optima,at least on the highway is pretty good.Straight highway driven 65-70MPH I averaged 36.1 MPG.
Of course in town it's another story,I'm sorry to say.
But, back to the Optima! Whenever I've read a review of the Optima, it praises the I4 and talks about the relatively low power of the V6. I can't figure out why Kia didn't get to put the 3.3L V6 in the Optima, unless its because of supply problems or maybe because Hyundai didn't want the Optima stealing sales from the Sonata V6. Personally, I don't care because the I4 in the Optima (and Sonata) has enough power for my needs. I am eagerly awaiting the IIHS side impact tests on the Optima, so I can hopefully add it to the short list for my next new car (LX I4 automatic with ABS/ESC package).
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
As for mileage, I get about 33 on the road with the Maxx. I haven't quite hit that yet on the Optima but they're notoriously stiff when new. We're taking the first decent road trip this week from St. Louis to Branson. That ought to put another 800 miles or so on the car.
My wife has put fewer miles on the Optima than any car I've ever owned. 2500 miles in five months! I average almost 2000 a month on my 'Bu. Did the first oil change today. Got in a big fight at Wally-World trying to get them to substitute a Super Tech oil filter for the crappy Fram. Finally did. I went with Super Tech 5w30, tried to get ST 5w20 because I suspect that it might have some group III base stocks. They were out, however. I notice that Warren Performance Products has 5w20 semi-synthetic on their web site but not petroleum. Suspect that Wal-Mart might be buying the semi-syn and selling it at dino. prices. They already have semi-synthetic Phillips at the roughly the same price and if I was still changing my own oil I'd be buying that as I think the basestocks and additives are more durable than the Warren PP.
Anyway I had good luck with ST oil on my Elantra. I normally buy Pennzoil for the Maxx because I'm pushing it to 7000 miles, but for 3000-4000 mile OCI's the ST should be fine. Any SM oil should be fine.
I'm amazed that Kia allows just about any weight of oil in the summer. With my Elantra I started out with ST 10w30 for 9 months a year, but wound up with 5-30 for 9 months. I've stayed with 5w30 religiously with the Maxx. I wanted to try 5w20 with the Kia based on the good UOA's for all 5w20's on Bobistheoilguy, although I haven't seen any ST (Warren) yet.
BTW-- The Champion (ST) filter for the Optima is not an Ecore design, it has metal in the core of the filter. Really like AC and ST Ecore filters in the Maxx. With that kind of design oil flow should be excellent.
I agree about that 2.7 engine.No point in having slightly more horsepower,losing MPGs and having to change a timing belt at 60K miles.The Sonata 3.3 has some real power and the same economy as the 2.7...so why would anyone buy a 2.7 Optima?The price is close enough,especially with incentives.The 2.4 is the only way to go,IMO.
- the KIA 2.7 mu engine IS. IN FACT. a modern. newly built engine. with all the very newest technology that the 2.4 possesses including CVVT. Please do not mistakenly characterize it otherwise when comparing it to the Sonata or other V6`s. It is what it is- namely, a smaller displacement V6 which has its own pluses and minuses.
- although making less torque and horsepower than the larger displacement competitor engines, the 2.7 mu is extemely smooth, quiet and dare I say refined, with a willingness to rev quickly and freely.
- whether one wishes to select ANY V6 over an I4 is a personal subjective choice- involving tradeoffs on smoothness/ refinement/power/ fuel economy/ other factors. In my situation, the 2.7 mu is nearly the perfect compromise for the following reasons:
- it is noticeably smoother and quieter than the I4, at idle and particularly under certain load conditions
- it has more than sufficient power under all conceivable real world driving conditions, but also has more reserve power than the I4 when needed on those infrequent occasions when others might put you at risk
- it has more torque than the I4 and therefore does not need to seek a lower gear as quickly when in cruise control in hilly terrain
- it has remarkably good fuel ecomomy on the highway cruising at 65 mph, with acceptable fuel economy in suburban or even city driving. I suspect that the 2.7 engine would be grouped more with the I4 engines , rather than competitor V6 engines, when it comes to fuel consumption stats, PROVIDED all cars were driven in a non aggressive manner. My observation is that the 2.7 mu (and the Optima drivetrain of course) is particularly sensitive to the type of driving- perhaps more so than other competitors. I do not know if this might be true for the Optima I4 as well.
All of the above leads me to wish that KIA would make a commitment to stay with a smaller displacement V6, and focus on further technology and tuning to improve fuel efficiency even further, with only modest increases in torque and horsepower.All the above IMHO.
csandste...nope, my wife and I traded the beloved '01 Sportage 4x4 in on a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS! With the CVT engine and the Sun and Sound package. The Sun and Sound gives is a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate 6CD changer with AM/FM/and a prepaid 6-month Sirius satellite radio subscription. I left the manual tranny fold with this one but am not struggling with converting back to driving automatics...I get the 6 forward magnesium paddle shifters when I feel like playing a bit. It's pretty cool, although, most of the time I just drive the thing in old-fashioned 'D'.
We have put about 2,100 miles on it in two months of ownership so now's the time to think about filters and oils. Out first three years of maintenance are prepaid with the contract, so, we'll go to a Mitsu dealership to get the first oil change. We also get the 'Auto Butler' done every 6 months(no extra cost, at least that I'm aware of ). The 'Auto Butler' coats your car with a protectant coating for the paint.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
traits that some of the professed enthusiast drivers would be looking for (but more than adequate for my needs) .
Wish you well with your new Lancer !!