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My wife liked it but I like the Sonata. Also had trouble getting the interior storage unit open but
the wife opened it from the passenger side.!!!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
As an Elantra owner, I still think the Elantra delivers more value per dollar, but the Optima/Sonatas are both fine cars.
...Someone made a comment, two years ago I believe, that companies like Kia or Hyundai will come and go into the American Market just like Yugo or Fiat did some years ago. I think whoever said this, doesn't really know much about world economy or industry. I'm not Korean, and neither Asian, but I do know that the industrial output of South Korea is as big and competitive as the French, Dutch or British. And, obviously, dozen of times greater than Yugoslavia's (home of the Yugos). In Asia, only two countries are right behind Japan in the industrial and technological fields. Yes! One is South Korea, and the other is Taiwan.
Back to the topic, I don't think these Korean brands are going away any time soon.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Summary - I've driven all of the contestants in this market segment and this car would be in last place by a long shot. I couldn't wait to get out of that car (300 miles). Not meant to offend, just my experience.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
magila--I also can't believe a word of your post. If you did not like the car, that's fine--just say so. But, the junk about being tinny and dangerous to drive was total BS--and you knew it when you typed it. I find it funny that people who like the Sonata will bash the Optima just because it's a Kia. I don't now if you said good things about the Sonata, but many people do this.
To the person wondering about the "investment." As others have said, it's not an investment. If you get new cars every three years, get the Corolla. If you want to drive it into the ground, get the Kia. The Kia is bigger and more powerful. Even if you don't need the larger interior now, you might one day. Also, why bash the 4 cylinder? It puts out 149 hp. The 4 cyl Accords are good for 150 hp. No body complains about 4 cylinder Accords. Up until a couple of years ago, 149 hp would have been considered a lot. Lastly, the Optima may not compare with Accord in quality (not yet anyway, maybe in a couple of years), but it certainly does compare in terms of size, power, and layout. Better, no--but certainly worth a look.
I said it was my opinion, and unless I've missed something, I'm entitled to that in this country. If you don't want to hear it, don't participate in an open forum. This is not marketing for Kia. We're not making propaganda here. It's about honest dialogue to help others make decisions. I didn't like it at all. I've owned Honda, Toyota, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Fiat (of all things), Mitsubishi, and Nissan. I like this car the least of anything I've ever driven. EVER. You don't have to believe it. I'm not going into the details anymore because you don't want to listen anyway. I thought my differing opinion might help someone, somewhere be happy with an expensive car purchase and make a more informed choice. And BTW, I understood the ergonomics, I just didn't like them. And for your information, Intonge18, ergonomics are not about what controls "look like", it's about where they're placed. The mirror impeded my vision. That's placement, bad ergonomics. And yes, I know the Sonata is basically the same car - didn't care for that one either.
I'm happy that you all like your cars with the passion (a.k.a. disbelieving venom) shown in your responses. Just remember, we all don't have to like the same things. If we did, there'd be only one car maker, one style of clothing, one haircut, one food choice, etc. Lighten up. If you are happy with your purchase, more power to you-enjoy the ride. Life's too short to be driving something you don't like.
First, these are 1-year residuals. And these cars have under 10K on them
Even Loaded-to-the-gills V6s arent pulling even $11K with 12K miles and Silver and Mint ($10,500ish).
What a lot of this originated from was Smart Shopper. Is the Optima a bad car overall? I dont think so, not from what I have seen so far. I drove one not too long ago. It wasnt bad. Was it in the same league as an Accord? I think the Accord is a better car. For the extra $$ it had damn well better be. And I also think that a Jaguar XJ8, which is close in Size to an Accord is a MUCH better car than the Accord. For over double the $$ it too had damn well better be.
I happen to dislike Camrys. I find them Boring to Drive. Accords arent much better IMO. I feel the same way about Optimas. Me? $12K? I'd buy something like a used 1995 BMW 540i, but that's me
That being said, I do think that the Accord is a nicer car than the Optima.
Now, If Kia can fix their reputation, and Hyundai is getting there ahead of them, in the future they'll do a lot better. But right now, things are what they are.
So back from my digresssion and back to Smart Shopper:
I basically tell people to look at the big picture, and I harp all over the place to look at resale value because people tend not to, and because it is the single biggest consumer expense That's right. Your car is generally your second biggest purchase. And Depreciation is the biggest expense in car ownership. Want to get me to yell at ya? Tell me youre gonna buy a new: Buick, Q45, Diamante, Millenia, Cadillac DeVille, Jaguar XJ8/VDP, SAAB.
Now there are cars in that list that are wonderful cars. Some I love dearly (you all know my love of Jags). Still, buying a new XJ8 and trading it in after 3 years? You just blew close to $30,000.
That's freaking stupid. Want an XJ8? Great. Awesome car. Safe, reliable, sexy, ad nauseum. Buy an 00 for $35-36K. Buying a new one is just financial suicide unless you lease.
GOT to buy new? Buy a Lexus, BMW or Mercedes.
This is why I keep saying stuff like "A Ford Taurus SES, even after the rebates, costs as much to own after 3 years in depreciation dollars as a Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Coupe"
Back to our story... Look at the posts in RWTIVs. Look how many 99s people are trading in. Lots of em. Most people dont keep a car till it dies. The Average in FL is something like 33-34 months (I forget but its just around 3 years).
So say ya grab a loaded Optima V6 for, say, $17K. And 3 years later its worth $6,500 as a trade ($7K is about what a 40K mile 99 Sonata V6 GLS is worth and kias dont do as well, but who knows...)
That'll be $10,500 in depreciation.
But a 1999 Accord EX V6 with 40K on it is worth $15K wholesale.
(An 01 is worth $20,500 with 8K or so on it)
And TMV on that Accord V6 is $23,334
And TMV on that Optima V6 is $17,118 or so
In a year, if you trade the honda, you lose $3K. The Sonata? $6,500.
In 3 years, you lose $8,500 on the accord. $10,500 on the optima.
And the Accord V6s have, percentagewise, the worst resale of the line save the DXs (Which nobody seems to buy anyways)
You see where I'm going with this? The Accord is still cheaper to own.
So I'm not Saying the Optima is a bad car. I'm saying if you must have one, buy one used.
I'm not trying to be a Jerk here... I'm just basing this off what I see.
I rank on all cars like this, it just seems that we keep discussing Kias and Hyundais over this...
Hope I didnt sound like a Jerk.. wasnt my intent!
Bill
Research? I can do it with most any car I see out there... scares me sometimes
And I also think its a LOT better than a Sephia/Spectra. Buddy of mine owns a rental company here in Orlando, he says that the new Optimas are doing OK, ditto the Sedonas, but he's replaced all of his small Kias with Lancers. That's very strong priase from someone who is.. shall we say not a fan of Sephias (Neither am I.. I think you got real lucky with yours from what I have seen).
Bill
And here I thought you were all set to scour the country for that 2001 Rio I had my eye on?
Ah hell....Do need to start looking for a 99+ Jag. I've put 1400 miles on my 1998 in fear of my depreciation costs.
Shortly after I bought it an emission senor went out and set off the engine light. The dealer fixed it without incident.
Now for my question. It seems now that the gas guage will not register properly. After filling it up it only goes to below the full line. Between the 3/4 - full. After about 30 miles of highway driving it is on the 3/4 line.
Has any other Optima owners experienced this problem? I wanted to check before I take it back to the dealer and demand a new gas gauge senor.
Did you get that used Prizm instead?
Bill
Those check-engine lights issues are fairly easy to solve. An electronic scanner should be able to pinpoint the origin of the problem. Sensor problems are common. Some lousy mechanics replace them 2 or 3 times without any success (and that happens because either the sensor, and that whole batch, came deffective from the factory, or simply the sensor had nothing to do with the problem). In late '90 cars, in other cases, it maybe caused by a bad hermetic lock of the tank that results on some gas leak. On all other cases, if the car isn't loosing compression, burning oil, or broke a gasket, then the problem has to be an electrical.