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PROs
1) Peppy 2.0-L. engine, loves to rev. 2) The clutch takes a bit of getting used to and the shift lever is a little notchy, but if you're assertive with your shifts, it's not a problem, regardless of what you've read in the automotive press. 3) All trim levels get the same generous array of safety features. 4) Front cupholders are deep and snug, so even tall cups are unlikely to tip over. My $3 Butt Bucket sits so low, it looks like it's OEM. 5) Heated mirrors. 6) Standard Bluetooth, SIRIUS radio and a decent stereo system. 7) The dash, steering wheel, and door controls are all back lit (BUT... see below).
CONs
1) No cigar lighter or ashtray, and no available "Smoker's Package". 2) Instrument panel lamps are always on, day and night. At night, they're so bright they fools you into thinking that your headlamps are on when they're not, especially so on a rainy night or on a well-lit boulevard. 3) All doors unlock when the ignition key is removed (it's a possibility that can be modified by the dealer). 4) No adjustable lumbar support on driver's seat. 5) No engine temperature gauge. 6) No alarm system, ergo no supplemental insurance discount (my insurer offers 20%). *THAT* really sucks, especially since all the infrastructure's in place. 7) This is totally subjective, but I'm not a big fan of glowing red interiors, and this car is awash with glowing red, everywhere, from the distracting odometer/tripmeter, to the glaring center stack, to the steering wheel and door controls. I can only be grateful Kia didn't incorporate the Soul's disco speakers.
If you opt for an EX with the automatic, and aren't planning to add the Premium Package (sunroof, 16" alloy wheels), I highly recommend the Economy Package. Among other modifications, you get a 5-speed AT: at 75 mph in top gear, the engine's barely turning 2300 rpm, unlike the 5MT or the 4AT (around 3,000 rpm), resulting in less wear and tear on the engine, better fuel economy, better engine response, and a quieter ride.
EX vs. SX
If you happen to reside, as I do, in one of the states complying with California emission requirements, when you compare weight to horsepower ratios, the EX is not at that much of a performance disadvantage against the SX. With manual transmissions, the SULEV EX (154 bhp) is at 17.6:1 vs. the SX (165 bhp) at 17.3:1. You then have to decide whether the 11 bhp difference (and the reduced fuel economy), along with the other niceties (215/45R17 tires, 6-speed MT, sport-tuned suspension, fog lamps, trip computer, to name a few), are worth the extra $1500 to upgrade.
My cell phone does not support downloading its phone book to the car's Bluetooth device, which is disappointing. If you have a phone that does, you can use voice commands to place calls by name. I can still place calls by reciting the number, but with computerization, who remembers anyone's phone number these days? I think there's a way to add contacts directly into the car's Bluetooth, but I haven't had the time to investigate it yet.
I tow a small camping trailer with my 2004 Hyundai Elantra with no problems.
Thank you.
(page 5-45) TRAILER TOWING
We do not recommend using this vehicle for trailer towing.
(page 5-47) Towing capacity
We do not recommend using this vehicle for trailer towing.
i have the forte in the dark cherry metallic color and i get compliments on it
everywhere i go.not bad for a car that cost me with rebates just under $16,000.00
my bluetooth works fine with no problems and the speaker quality is excelent.what iam really impressed with is the little things on this car such as haveing illuminated window switches on the drivers side for all 4 windows which is a nice touch for a car in the forte's price range.not all cars have this..
I might ask Kia if the warranty is void if you tow. It is strange that similar cars in Europe are rated for towing 3000 to 3500 pounds trailers.
Reviewers mention killing the motor starting out in first. I believe this is because of a dead spot when pushing the accelerator. You let out the clutch expecting rpm to increase, but with the dead spot, it does not...killing the engine. Its hard to get used to and I hope to get it adjusted.
I've had a few problems, but the dealership is really trying to get everything right.
If you have questions...post them and I'll answer...
Jim
1st,make sure that the volume isn't turned up to loud on the radio volume control or you will get a echo sound on the other end.2nd,make sure that you and the other caller talk one at a time and don't try to talk at the same time or else your voice might not be heard on the other end.3rd,talk directly into the microphone with a normal voice and don't shout or yell.if you follow these easy steps you won't have any issues regarding the bluetooth feature on the forte's.hope this helps....
I drove various manuals for over 25 years, but this is the first car that I stalled 4 times already getting off in the 1st gear. The clutch is so light and as other poster here mentioned, and the accelerator response doesn't seem to be linear. When you give a little bit of gas, the engine doesn't respond until past certain point and then you get slammed with abrupt power. Until I get the hang of it, I am releasing the clutch.. so very slowly while giving a barest of gas. I hope I will get used to the clutch/gas control quickly.
Handling... It's not a sports car.. but for a compact car, you can't ask for more. Plenty of acceleration is ready to be felt with a slight pressure on the gas. There is a slight body roll (compared to Mazda 3 that I also tested), but it's not like Toyota Collora or Hyundai Elantra (which I also test drove) which bounce and rolls a lot. It's easy to forget that you are REALLY accelerating hard when you shift up based on engine noise only - without looking at the tachometer.
Gear throw is longer than Mazda 3 and some what rubbery compared to Mazda 3 manual. However, it's very easy to shift, even with two fingers. I have not yet tried to shift very quickly as I haven't got used to the clutch/gas interaction. The gear box feel is on par with Hyundai 2010 Elantra (blue)
Ride quality. It's a bit firmer than Honda Civic (which I test drove too), and almost feels like driving a Honda Accord, but harsher than Toyota Camry (definitely) and a bit bouncier than Hyundai 2011 Sonata. No where near Suzuki Kizashi's firm yet gentle ride quality. Make sure the tire pressure is near 32 psi. (mine was set at 34 by the dealer who filled it with nitrogen for free). Some cars come off the lot with like 45 psi and you can FEEL every crack in the road with this much pressure.
MPG - did not use up the first tank yet, but the trip computer says avg MPG is about 27 mpg for mostly suburb driving where the max speed is about 40-50 mph with a lot of stop signs.
The audio and bluetooth control on the steering wheel is very convenient. I had 3 calls so far via the car's bluetooth and one caller told me there was too much static.
IPod Cable. The manual says to use Kia's official Ipod cable (which is exactly the same one as the Hyundai Ipod cable), and not use the default Ipod cable as this may break the audio system. The audio is okay.
I really did not truly notice before, but the height of the hood and the trunk is a lot higher than other compacts. While backing out of the garage, I could not see the drive way clearly...
Will keep you guys updated.
The bluetooth is a nice feature, however, my wife says that she cannot hear me because I talk too loud. You must talk in a very quiet voice which is unnatural in a car. Also the audio system tells you that it is updating the phone book everytime you start the car. I don't use the bluetooth feature anymore.
I didnt like the rims on the SX coupe but the 17 inch rims on the SX sedan are very nice, no plastic. Also the EX and SX have a much nicer soft touch dash, so I prefered them over the LX. The carpets are a bit thin I will admit that, but not bad overall. I am coming out of a midsize Mercury Milan and this car has nearly the room and is just as quite. The bluetooth was a strong selling point to me. I read about the problems some had with being able to be heard but Ive made several calls and Ive had no problems. With one call I did have to turn it up a notch or two to hear them, but still well within what I would consider normal volumn. The bigger engine in the SX is a blast to drive and as a matter of fact made me sacrafice a bit of MPG to go with the 2.4 liter over the 2.0 liter in the EX.
The one complaint I do have is it seems the lower dash plastic is alittle soft and seems to scratch easily.
1) What kind of BlackBerry are you fortunate to have? I have a Blackberry Pearl 8130 but tomorrow FedEx is shipping me a BlackBerry Curve 8530. That phone sounds just awesome. BlackBerry's are da best! 3G and Wi-fi both with a cool looking design and very user-friendly e-mail features, texting and great mobile web-browsing capabilites. Can't wait ta get that pup. I love the music buttons on the top of the phone, too. Here she is. The Smokey Violet color is the bee's knees, man.
2) Are you a Tragically Hip fan? How far away from where you live is the home of The Tragically Hip, which is Kingston, Ontario.
Not sure what you mean about Bluetooth playing turn-by-turn over radio.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Judging from the rough ride I had, maybe the tires were overinflated as even small
irregularities in the pavement made themselves heard and felt. The door panels were another area of disappointment.
On the positive side, the build quality seemed very good and the controls well placed and smooth in operation. I think Kia should change some things to appeal to a larger demographic group.
http://www.kia.com/#/upcoming/
First of all, I "fixed" the dead spot/engine stall problem. I love the car now that it responds like a normal stick shift.
See http://www.forteforums.com/forums/do-yourself-articles/1342-best-throttle-mod-ev- er.html
Likes after few months of driving:
- good acceleration
- decent mileage: 31.5 mpg based on 65% highway/ 35% city driving
- roomy inside. It doesn't feel like a compact
- using voice controlled bluetooth to make phone calls
- decent stereo
- ok seats
- responsive cruise control that doesn't slow down when going up hill
- back center console with cupholders. pretty handy during travel.
- the sun visor with the extension. I use it every day to keep the sun out !
Dislikes
- the back trunk sits too high ==> less visibility ==> difficult to estimate distance when backing into a parking spaces
- the need to down shift to 5th or 4th during highway speed when trying to pass (from 6th gear). If I keep it in 6th gear, you don't get much acceleration at all
- need to keep air conditioner fan at "2" instead of "1" when hot (because the roof is not insulated too well causing the car to heat up quick). I don't like the noise of the fan setting on 2.
- wide front bumper has too many stone chips already.
- burns a bit of engine oil - need to "refill" about 1/16 of a quart every 1000 miles
- Had warranty issues:
1) paint defect under the clearcoat
2) leaking fluid from fuel injector (waiting for parts)
Dislikes
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
The main issue is the dead spot on the accelerator.
Without the throttle mod, there is about 3/4 inch dead spot when you press on the accelerator before the engine would respond. The impact of this dead spot is that when you shift and engage gear by releasing the clutch, it's very hard to find the right pressure to push down on the gas pedal to rev the engine and engage the gear correctly. First timer to Forte would either stall the engine (most common) or really chirp the tires because you over compensate. It took me about couple of weeks to get it right. Even after that, you really have to watch how you let out the clutch and give gas.
With the throttle mod, where you basically eliminate the dead spot, the gear shift is very smooth like any other "normal" stick shift
Pardon me if I've missed it when you've talked about this problem before on this thread, but I'm still just a titch bit curious how it all worked out as far as the fix. And, of course, one would think that Kia Motors is no longer producing manual-trannied Forte sedans (or Koup's, for that matter) straight-from-the-factory anymore with this throttle problem. Kind of a DUH, but I just want to read of your concurrence on this matter. Thank you and happy Kia motoring to all of you.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
This is not a ECU fix, but a slight movement to one of the accelerator assembly that controls voltage output from the accelerator which in turn controls how the throttle responds. BTW, this is done via very minute shift of a plastic cover, either forward or backward. My guess is that this somehow changes the resistance setting within the assembly and thus changes the output voltage value associated with when the accelerator is in "idle" mode.
Please read the link above.
Anyway, after the "fix", you no longer feel the dead spot and the clutch/gas interaction feels like any other normal stick shift.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I would be very interested to see how the 5-speed automatic and 2.0L engine perform together, but that combination is only available in the EX with the "Fuel Economy Package". In addition to the 2mpg increase in city and hwy mileage, acceleration should be a bit better also- going faster and using less fuel sounds like a win-win setup to me! Hopefully the 5-speed auto would perform as smoothly in this application as it does in the SX model.
But I have never seen a Forte EX with the Fuel Economy Package on any dealer's lot. I've spoken with sales managers at three different dealerships and they've never seen one either. Have they actually made any of these or are do they only exist on paper???
Great Car for the money, but few things to know before you buy (I would, however, still buy the same car ):
- There's a "deadspot" on the accelerator which you may want to fix. check this forum or other Kia forum for "best throttle mod". Without it, the manual is so difficult to drive.
- When turning fast over a rough patch of road, the rear side of the car will skip.
- The steering wheel does not feel solid and responsive when driving at highway speed (when compared to honda). There's a bit of dead spot on the center.
- manual shift is not so smooth as compared to other cars (like Honda). 2nd gear and sometimes 5th gear goes in a bit rough. Dealer says it's normal - i.e. other Fortes has the same symptom)
- gear ratio between 2nd and 3rd gear is too great. 3rd gear feels "too tall".
- Weak air conditioner or lack or roof insulation causes the car to feel warm/hot during very humid and hot (90+ degrees) weather, even with the fan blowing at full.
- 17 inch low profile tire is NOT a good choice if you often drive on rough pavement. Car bangs around a lot You will feel every imperfection on the road. One way to mitigate is to keep the tire pressure at 31 - 32 psi.
- Great highway mileage ( 38 mpg when going at 65 mph, and about 32 mpg@ 80mph), but terrible city mileage ( about 20-21 mpg). When passing at highway speed, you will definitely want to down shift to 5th or 4th gear.
- Engine has "ticking sound" which the dealer and KIA says is normal, but I don't particularly like it
- Engine oil burn - it stops around 6,000 miles.
- The seats are bit firm and seems to about an inch narrower and/or shorter than other cars. It's a bit uncomfortable on long trips
- Blue tooth. Often, you have to pair the phone again as it stops from connecting automatically or stops from automatically downloading the phone book. You cannot talk with windows open... Too much background noise.
- Front bumper and front portion of the hood will chip easily. Check every week and use touch up paint to cover up noticeable damage (BTW, use a thin brush or tooth pick to apply the paint. Do NOT use the paint "PEN" which leave noticeable and ugly application marks)
- The inside of the engine will start to rust - especially the pure iron parts - during humid weather.
- Inside the engine compartment, certain black tape around wires would start to come loose. Just clip it.
- Sound. speed dependent volume control doesn't seem to always work.
- Ealge LS2 tires are VERY noisy on concrete highways. I started noticing the noise after about 4,000 wear on the tires.
- Stones/rocks hitting the rear tire wall sounds VERY loud.
- head light by itself doesn't seem to illuminate the road well. The fog light helps. BTW, the factory setting on low beam is too high and you probably will need to re-adjust.
1. Twice, when turning off the car and removing the key from the ignition, the radio will continue to play for a few seconds, sometimes up to 10 seconds, but then will turn off.
2. Once, after exiting the car, the rear tail lights were still on. The car was off and the keys were removed and the car had been locked. Noticed it while inside at a 7-11 gas station. We have the auto-headlights enable, but the headlights themselves were turned off. It was only the rear tail lights that were still lit.
Otherwise, love the car!!
2010 will see Kia Canada continuing to Drive Change by entering the Motorsports arena.
Kia has a spicy red Forte Koup SX in the 2010 Targa Newfoundland. The Forte Koup is driving for Team Wishful Thinking and hopes to raise $100,000 for Children's Wish Foundation.
Check out kiacanada(dot)ca/targa- and on on Twitter (at)kiadrivechange or Kia Canada on Facebook. Details on the Forte Koup can be found at kiacanada.ca/targa.
Drive Change!
Gigi
Or what about a simple hose? It's not that hard to duplicate water coming in at an angle.
I asked the dealer and he said that the car is running in efficient mode .. something like it.
I test drove the car at night, and it was a bit annoying to see that turning on and off...
Does everyone notice this light ? not annoying at all ? or any option to turn that off ??
Thanks
I've had my Kia Forte 2010 for a little 4 years now and although I wouldn't complain about the car itself, I've had horrible experiences at the dealership. It makes me dislike my car...
A few issues I've found with my car:
The TPM light ALWAYS comes if I've driven for longer than 1.5-2 hours straight. It freaked me out the first several times because it was a new car. Went to the dealership to get it checked, no issues. But it still does it... 4 years later.
The car has also a few recalls, so I've had to take it back to the dealership three times. This is my first car, so I don't know if that's common or not. It's annoying because I hate going to the dealership.
Overall feel of the car is ok, but I don't really love it or hate it. But props to KIA for making a lot of positive changes to their vehicles and brand image.
Will I buy another KIA? Probably now. With gas prices going up all the time, I need to get a hybrid! I'm seriously considering trading in my Kia Forte for a Toyota Prius.
Anyone here have any experience with reselling your kia forte??