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Have any of you noticed any KIA dealer "dopouts" in yor area? Will Hyundai dealers in my area perhaps carry their "sister" brand?
Input, please....thanks!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I dont know... i think it's just overreacting....
me some attention but kind of back off
when it has a recall...
You are new on the road and
you are hungry for customers
you should not make any mistakes
@ the very first time. Don't let
people say " Cheap products are low
on quality " Just like any products
in 99 cents stores,Only candies and
cookies are ok Don't you think so..?
1998 Ford Mustang GT/power seat shorted out and a recall
1998 Ford Crown Vic/two recalls and traded in for bad transmission dealer couldn't fix
2001 Lexus GS300/Tires replaced with large bulges in the side, roofline trim coming off, fog light fell off
2001 Cadillac Escalade/wood trim keeps coming off
1994 Toyota Corolla/bad wind noise from poorly designed seals, recall, window regulators broke twice
1993 Chevy Blazer/bad leaf springs, broken hinges on back window
1994 GMC Sonoma/computer went bad, a/c switch broken first day
1995 Mazda 626/new transmission after two years
2001 Chevy S-10/brakes replaced, computer chip replaced
So, from what I've personally had and seen I don't see any perfect manufacturers. I'll admit Kia was not on my list of cars to consider not long ago, not even Hyundai. But, so far, 4000 miles on my Optima and I'm totally satisfied. Guess Cadillac, Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Mazda, GMC and Lexus just happen to make one bad car each and get them to me and my friends. Oh well.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
have some bugs and those bugs will be fixed
when they are recalled. And ofcourse, NO ONE
is perfect. I believe there are some more bugs
on the very new models that we don't really know
and those bugs will be fixed on the next year models and I will have to wait and see how my
wife's future car the new "2002 optima" doing...
NO ONE is perfect. 10 years ago hyundai
was a piece of junk, the cheapest car
in the world and the lowest quality car
in the world also. But, Hyundai today is
second to none. The price, Value, Workmanship
and quality they are improved. I beleive today
car is better than yesterday car and somedays
the Korean cars will be on the road more and
more...BM
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
"Gee, Howdy, I think he went to the Kia dealer to buy a car"
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
They much prefer it (the Magentis) to the '99+ Sonata which bodes well for both the Optima and the '02 Sonata, from which most of the current Optima is derived. It will be nice to see what the coming 2.7L V-6 will do for overall responsiveness and drivability in both cars in the N.A. market.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
The review you posted seems pretty fair and balanced. Spends most time talking about features, price, and walkaround. Not too much time spent discussing driving. Points out that the car provides decent value. The driving experience isn't much to write home about. Soft setup designed for comfort that doesn't like to be driven hard. The acceleration times with the automatic are leisurely in the V-6 class, more due to the smallish 2.5L V-6 in a 3.0L competitive world. Moving to a 2.7L V-6 will help, but to be truly competitive, 3.0L necessary.
Optima seems to be pretty much like my '00 Sonata. I prefer my GLS V-6 w/5-speed manual. Just needs a sport package so she'd be fun to drive on twisting roads.
I have linked this discussion into that folder, but it will always reside here in Sedans.
Looking forward to meeting everyone!
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
Like I said, the review was strictly a short take. It was no more than a few small columns. I relayed the relevant high points of interest provided in it. Whenever a more thorough review becomes available, I won't hesitate to share it.
And you definitely cannot compare the Sonata with the Optima. They may be the same car under the skin, but the skin is different and that could account for the price difference.
Just enjoy your new car.
I know what you mean about the Optima. It has a kind of formality to it's design...a very classy look. Seeing any car in certain colors may improve the impression but can also have the opposite effect. The Optima grill is a little too overdone for my taste. I also feel the same about the Leganza grill. The '02 Sonata grill is more to my liking and will finally blend with the latest Hyundai family look.
Enjoy the vacation time. Don't overheat those SS brakes on the downhills. You know what warped rotors cost me.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
It does seem they are charging a pretty penny for it, though, if the 6 cyl is ending up at $23,000.
Anyone here have any 'real life" prices that they care to divulge? It looks like Kia beat Daewoo to the punch with a 6 cyl (the Leganza gets one for 2002, provided they are still here).
If it is an actual factory order, you might have something of a much longer wait.
Sorry.
I now have over 6K miles on the Optima. I had to take it in for the side airbag recall. There was no problem with mine but they did make whatever adjustment they deemed necessary. It took about an hour and was painless, got a free car wash in the process.
Anyone considering an Optima I say "Go for it!" I'm really happy with mine.
Been busy selling my condo on the coast and it's closing escrow in about a week or so. I will receive a fairly substantial windfall, maybe put in a new pool and remodel my kitchen, I may even buy a new pickup but I intend to drive my Optima for quite a while yet - really love it. -SK
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Crisswell Kia, Gaitherburg MD, supposedly the #2 Kia dealer in the US, only had seven on the lot!
My local Kia dealer, Don Phillips, Frederick MD had two, upscale models.
Other local dealers in Hagerstown and Westminster only have a few upscalers also.
I lucked out at Criswell with an LX, 4-cyl, auto, in beautiful shimmering Gold!
I'm having them put on a cruise control.
The minimum model is fine, but seems hard to get.
Got a couple hundred off because my wife really wanted Steel Blue, but she settled on the Gold.
My test drives of the V6 vs. I4...the V6 runs smoother and quieter in city stops&gos. But the I4 is plenty peppy. On the Interstate, I noticed very little difference, even in passing pick-up. I didn't play with the V6's "+/-" shifter.
On the road price, $16100 (plus MD 5% tax-ugh!).
Comfy, quiet on the road, smooth over the bridge seams, and I think my wife is quickly getting over her Steel-Blue-fixation, and is taking all the comments about how nice the Gold looks to heart.
So...I like it for all the manly reasons, my wife likes it for all the womanly reasons, and my 15-year-old daughter even likes it and can't wait to start her Driver Training so she can be seen driving around town in it!
I'll be watching here for comments about maintenance and performance and will add my 2-cents as time goes on.
But...there is a problem.
The trunk "floor" is made of a flimsy thin pressboard.
I noticed this when I checked out the car on the lot, but it didn't concern me then.
Since, I have used the trunk several times to cart stuff around.
When I placed a small but heavy object in the trunk, at a relatively unsupported spot, the "floor" bowed. If I had dropped the object, it may well have broken thru.
I intend on reinforcing the floor with a sub-floor of 1/4-inch pressboard or plywood.
Meanwhile, I parked it one day beside a Gold Lexus, and the Optima gleams much more than the Lexus!
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
We bought it as a third car, to begin putting fewer miles on my aging minvan.
Still, my wife seems to be putting excess miles on the Optima!
She seems to enjoy it too much!!!
Frankly, if I wanted to spend $23K on a car, I would have gone with a Honda or Toyota and put in a few more $K's, for proven reliability and resale value.
But...I bought a lower-end Optima. Knowing that the basic mechanical diferrences between the LX and SE are small, I opted for a car with some comfy "luxuries", yet inexpensive compared to what I could get in a base Hon or Toy, or even Taurus. Optima has filled this niche for me.
Now it seems that Edmond's, and probably other reviewers, will opt for an up-scale Optima to review. Most reviews I think will end up the same as my statement above. Why not throw in a few extra $$ and get a Hon and Toy.
If Kia is smart and wants to sell lots of Optima's, they should target guys like me, basically poor yet smart, and ship more lower-end versions. Most Optimas on the lots now are high-end equiped.
Just my two cents.
It is a 4Dr, Automatic transmission, Passive alarm installed, AM/FM Stereo Cassette/CD player, Cruise Control, Carpeted Floor Mats,Dual Front Air bags, Side airbags, first aid kit, air conditioning, 60/40 rear seat, Power locks/mirrors/windows, dual front/rear cupholders, tilt steering wheel,etc
Price being offered is $14,595. I just want opinions on if I am being taken for a ride or if I am getting a good deal. First impression is that its a steal but want to know first hand from people that are currently driving one. Its a 4 Cylinder also.
2) Anyway, after 1000 miles, my Optima is doing nicely. Since my wife insists on always driving, I prefer to sit in the back seat on jaunts around town, letting my 15-year-old daughter sit in the front seat. Its one way to get points with her that I can hopefully cash in when Algebra homework comes due.
3) Another complaint though. The trunk lid opens nicely out of the way to let you get big things in. But, when it is raining and there is water nicely beaded on the trunk lid, it rolls down over the back edge of the lid into the trunk getting thingsa little wet.
4) The dealer-installed cruise control works nicely. The only issue here is that it is the same off-the-shelf cruise control that I installed myself on my Dodge Caravan several years ago. My initial look in the crowded Optima engine compartment intimidated me to the point where I agreed to pay the dealer to install it. But looking at the job now, I think I could have done it, since the parts fit nicely in the engine compartment. But I'm older and not as nimble crawling under the dashboard and maybe the extra money was worth it.