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My first Optima oil change was Super Tech 5w30, I'd gotten good oil test results with this oil on my Elantra. I plan on going to ST 5w20 on my next change. Warren Performance Products lists their semi-synth as their only 5w20 and I hope that Wal-Mart has bought this stock and is selling it as their dino. Warren doesn't have much of an ad-pack although real world results are generally pretty good. I wouldn't push it much past 4000 miles, that was the mileage on my oil test with the Elantra and the TBN was getting down under 2.
All 5w30 shears down to 5w20 anyway. Most 5w20's seem to have a slightly better base stock although any SM oil should do pretty well.
Car review sites also do not show info on the 2008.
Expect very good gas mileage on the highway,but in my experience not so in city driving,especially if the trips are very short and the car doesn't have time to warm up.The ride is pretty firm,but I find the handling quite good and once on the highway the suspension seems just right,
There...there is a personal review.
PS in 2008 some of the options are sold with somewhat different packging.Try one of the "build your own" sites.
The reader reviews are for the 2007 Optima so they may be holding the 08's back until the old ones sell. I suspect you can get a pretty good discount on the 07's and (unlike the 09 Sonata), I doubt if the changes will be major for a mid-platform adjustment.
If you don't remember I was considering the Elantra SE AT, Honda Fit M/T or A/T .(Haven't decided , I heard Hondas had Auto trans issues), Now, the 07 Optima I4 with appearnce pkg. And I even snuck a peek at the new Accord but I'll have to limit it to an LX manual to keep prices down!
My next purchase will be as our second car mainly for my wife to take to work as I have a 02 Chrysler T&C ex to take the kids (3,under 7yoa). I may use new car to drive the kids around too if it is safe enough as my wife seems to think five in a Fit is too tight.?
A few questions:
1. Backy , would you buy a Honda Fit now if the seats were not an issue and if so an M/T or A/T?
2. I know 5 will fit in an Elantra better but is it any safer??
3. Is the Optima the best choice??
4. Elantra A/T or M/T ? Does it have a timing chain or belt?
Mileage is pretty important because I can forsee four $ per gal. !
My limit is about 21K but anytime I can save $ and get a good reliable ride I would consider it ...Thanks .. anyone else is welcome to opine! ... Macsan
Another advantage with the Optima is the timing belt in the Elantra can be a pain to deal with unless you can do your own work.
For the 3-4 MPG difference I took the added comfort & went with the Optima.
2. Is the Elantra safer than what? The SE you are looking at has standard ESC, while it's hard to find on the Optima, so that is a safety plus for me. I'd like to see IIHS side crash test results on both the Elantra and Optima before buying one. The Optima is looking good there so far--Good on frontal and rear crashes.
3. If I could get an Optima LX for about the same price as an Elantra SE, it would be a tough choice but I'd lean to the Optima. It would depend on whether I could find the Optima with ESC and how the IIHS tests shake out.
4. Personal preference on the Elantra AT or MT. I haven't been able to find a MT to test-drive, but I've read reviews praising the light and smooth clutch and shifter. But also there's been complaints about engine roar at high speed with the MT, so that would be something to check. I like the fact that the AT is covered by the 10-year powertrain warranty, while wear parts (like clutch pressure plates) on the MT would not be covered.
If you are willing to spend $21k, be sure to check out the Sonata. If you like an MT, the SE I4 might be a nice package for you--you could get it for under $20k and it's well-equipped with sharp 17" alloys, power seat, rear spoiler etc.
I tell u what , I can't get over how much fun I remember having when I drove the Fit, so much so that I 'm trying to get something that's at least close to being as fun to drive as the Fit. ( I test drove it four times)
I drove the Sonata I4 and I didn't care for the way it rode .. Plenty of cushiness-too "Buicky" for me. Or "floaty" you know what I mean. I read various write ups on the Optima that said it had a good balance of comfort (cush) and sportiness in the suspension so I'm leaning more towards the Optima. I've noticed there are no 08 Optimas on any of the local dealer inventories here. 90% of them were 07 LX A/T with out the apperance pkg. Few were 07 EX's in the 23-24K range.
Has anyone seen more recent pics of the Elantra Touring? Since we're talking about Optima's , being a midsize, what do you think of the new Chevy Malibu/ Accord etc.?
There is the small toyota too.I forget what it's called,but even the base model comes with standard AC.It retails for about $12 K.
Back to the Optima though... it does have a tighter suspension than the Sonata, so I could see how you would prefer the Optima. I don't have any problem with the Sonata's ride though, especially with the 17" wheels/tires. If I were you, I'd look for the LX with both the appearance and ABS/ESC packages--I think you still have to get the appearance package to get the ABS/ESC package for '08, which really frosts me. C'mon, Kia, this is 2008--ABS is standard on every other mid-sized car (I think), not a hard-to-get option!
If you want opinions on the Optima vs. other mid-sized cars like Accord and Malibu, you might check out the Mid-Sized Sedans 2.0 discussion, and you can talk about any/all of them there and stay on topic!
I took a good look at the Kia Optima, especially after seeing one in Jackson Hole, WY, in white that looked awesome. At that time I was strongly perusing a red Toyota Yaris 4-door sedan and a 2006 Scion xA in Polar White and 5-speed transmission. I hung on to our 2001 Kia Sportage 4X4 instead of buying one of those. But the 2007 Kia Optima was on my list, yes. I just like it's body design and solid mechanical setup, more so than the Hyundai Sonata. But the Sonata is a cool midsize car, though. Very, very competitive package Hyundai and Kia both have put together in the midsize sedan range.
Oh, for those that don't know, back on March 21, 2007, I traded our '01 Kia Sportage 4X4 in for a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS. I absolutely love my Lancer GTS but in 10 months of ownership I've had two flat tires and now I've got a slow leak going on in my left front tire, too. This will be the third tire repair. I'm leaving in an hour or so to go get that tire repaired and get my Lancer's 5th L-O-F. I'm wondering if my air filter is dirty, living here in SE Arizona with all of the blowing dust/sand. I'll check it out.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Unfortunately, the ABS/ESC package on the LX costs a lot more than $600 because Kia forces buyers to also get the appearance package ($1000?) in order to get the safety package. New Kia slogan: "Look good, be safe." :P
You Optima owners seem to be very happy w/these cars. All I read here says "do it". What do you owners think???
You Optima owners seem to be very happy w/these cars. All I read here says "do it". What do you owners think???
2007 Optima EX V6, Deep Ocean Blue
Appearance Package
Power/Tilt Sunroof
$21,989 out the door, including TTL in Southern California
Plus $500 trade, $500 competitive model rebate
$20,989 financed.
I purchased from Citrus Motors in Ontario, CA, and they were great. If you're in the southern California area, go give them a shot, and ask for Mike. He was no pressure, worked the best deal he could, and was an all-around nice guy.
As of day 2, I'm completely and fully happy with the vehicle, and can't wait to continue to drive it for years to come.
I'll post my final review in the midsized comparo and wait for the taunts of the Korea haters.
I actually own both an 07 Optima and an 05 Malibu Maxx. The Optima got rammed while parked. Damage was minimal but I got a two day rental on an 07 Mazda 6.
Although the Mazda was tighter handling than my Maxx (which I still prefer to both cars, all things including utility and comfort considered), it was not better than the Optima. Both had the same Michelin 17 inch tires. The Mazda looked like about 70% of the way to wear out at slightly more than 20,000 miles. Ouch.
NVH and internal fit and finish were better on the Optima. Maybe I'm too old to appreciate zoom zoom zoom. The Mazda 6 was less comfortable than the Optima, especially in the lumbar region. Instrumentation (if you like red, I guess you like red) was not up with the semi-electroluminescent panel of my appearance pack LS. The Mazda did have more thigh support (longer seat), a short coming of the Optima. I didn't like the additional seat bolstering, probably because my fat [non-permissible content removed] was too wide.
I've criticized the Kia for having a crippled DIC compared to my Maxx (no MPG for example--probably corrected in 08), but the Mazda had nothing but outside temperature and two trip odometers. Hopefully the new one will catch up.
I'm not a Mazda hater. I loved my 01 Elantra but could see that the 3 was clearly a better car. Not so with the 6 v. the Optima.
Both the Milan and Fusion were on my short list when I bought the Optima. Frankly both interiors were less polished than the Optima but the cars were more satisfying than the 6 and would have been the equal to the Kia with the exception of engine power and price. I think both handled slightly better than the Optima. Not so the 6 which was slightly more compliant (surprise, earlier Korean cars I bought were softer-- probably the tires). The Mazda traded the better over bumps feel for poorer on-center handling.
Maybe it was 20,000 miles of rental car abuse and maybe it's just that the 6 is more than ready for an update. I've read that Mazda has among the lowest rates of brand retention, IMHO it's because the 3 is clearly the better vehicle than the 6 and drivers take off for more refined hot handling brands.
Unlike the (probably) last 20 renters, I didn't abuse the car and have no idea whether or not the 6 would be better on the skid pad; my preferences were based on normal around town and interstate driving.
seems to be a number of them at the Atlanta dealers. I am going to list me car my car on my own and then go back to a dealer.
Bruce
Car Price = $18,200 +Tag, Tax etc= 20,544 out the door! (No trade, No competitive Bonus, just dealer deal and $2,500 rebate. Paid Cash)
I think I got great deal!
The dealer only had one 2007 EX with Appearance Package and was willing to sell it and bring 2008s the whole process took about 2~3hrs (dealing and purchasing).
since it's my first car I would really appreciate any advice as I'm new to owning cars!
by the way I just came up the name for my new/first ride
Lotze!
Found out that Optima is called Lotze in Korean market. Lotze is supposed to represent one of Himalaya's highest mountain Lhotse. So I guess it mean the top,
PS I went back and read my post. I said "except for the 17" rims and the duals".. His car does have the 17" which I can see by the styling of the rims. !7 and 16 rims are different.
The new price is 11,995.00 for a new kia 2007 optima LX with auto msrp 18,235.00. I just need to sell my old car before going to the dealer. I hope come with cash on march 31 7:00PM and get the car out the door price of less than 12,000.00
This is the kind of discount that devalues my 2006.5 Optima EX. I had to pay pretty close to MSRP. Of course you would be getting last years model,but there really is very little difference between 2007 & 2008. Where do you live? I have not seen comparable discounts on Optimas in my area.
Fuel tank air filter I know is located beside the filler tube.
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