I've had the car (FORTE EX Sedan 5MT) for about a week now.
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.
I'm wondering how well the bluetooth works with cell calls. Is the sound from the speakers good and does the person on the recieving end hear your calls well?
I've only had three calls thus far, and each time I've asked the caller about the quality of the sound. They've all said that, on the initial connect, it was hard to hear me, but otherwise, it sounded normal, like any other cell phone call, and they're impressed when I tell them I'm on a speaker-phone in the car. The sound quality over the car's speakers is excellent.
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.
Could one of you new Forte owners please look in the owners manual for the trailer towing capacity for the Forte. I tow a small camping trailer with my 2004 Hyundai Elantra with no problems. Thank you.
i have owned my 2010 kia forte EX sedan with auto for about 4 months now.i test drove a mazda 3,honda civic,elantra,and corolla,before deciding on the forte.despite the reputations of the mazda 3 and the honda civic the forte won out over those cars.forte is much quieter,more power,more standard features,and longer warranty. 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 finally got around to manually adding names and numbers into the car's Bluetooth Phonebook. It's slightly tedious, but well worth it. I only added 10 numbers that I call fairly often, like voicemail, home, my wife's cell and work, etc. It works like a charm. If you speak quickly enough (without pauses), you can avoid all the intermediate system prompts. For example, saying "CALL BY NAME JOE ON MOBILE" will cause the system to go directly to the final confirmation prompt, greatly speeding up the process.
Thanks jimpimms. 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.
just wanted to say that iam really impressed with the little touches that my forte has such as illuminated window switches on the drivers side door for all four windows and the auto-locking and unlocking doors when you put the car in drive and unlocking the doors when put into park.i looked at some more expensive cars that didn't have these features.mazda 6,mazda 3,toyota corolla,just to name a few.
I'm an older driver with lots of sports car experience (Lotus, Alfa, RSX-S, Supra TT). I really like the Koup, corners well and ride is not too harsh...unless you are on some really rough pavement. I have a bad back, but no complaints with the Koup. Head room is tight for my 6'3", but OK. Stereo is very good for stock...lots of bottom on the bass...but have noticed a few rattles.
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...
I have a friend who had a Dodge Colt that had that dead spot glitch and I never learned how to get around it. It was never corrected!! Hope they can get it cleared out for you.
A few weeks ago, out of the blue, Kia mailed me a complimentary iPod interface cable; since then, I'd been wondering if I had to buy an iPod or MP3 player to take advantage of the Forte's USB/Auxiliary interface. Some time ago, I had purchased an 8-GB SanDisk micro-cruzer flash drive, to use for computer data portability, but had never gotten around to using it for that purpose, so I loaded some MP3s I'd downloaded from the web, to see if the Forte's head unit would be able to play its contents. The songs are in Documents / Music / [band name] folders. Sure enough, as soon as I plugged the flash drive into the USB port, the radio switched to USB input, and started playing the first song in the first folder, while displaying the band and song title. Folders can be selected by the up/down buttons to the right of the tuning knob, and turning the tuning knob sequentially displays the other available songs; pushing the knob selects the currently displayed title. Since I own a few hundred CDs, I downloaded a free CD-to-MP3 ripper, and now I'm in the process of copying many of those to the flash drive. I also noticed that two of the radio preset buttons are used for random (RDM) and repeat (RPT) functions. For anyone interested, Staples has a 4-GB SanDisk cruzer on sale this week for $15, which also includes a free $10 gift card.
hello folks,i was reading alot about people with forte's who said they are haveing problems with the bluetooth as far as not being able to be heard by the other person on the other end.if you read the drivers manual it tells you how to deal with this situation.i will share the info with you.. 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 picked up the car yesterday from the dealer who had to find one about 130 miles away. It was not the greatest feeling to see the mileage on the new car with over 130 miles, but I wanted SX manual without any other option... (because I sit tall and the sun roof option actually touches my head... and the leather, I hate it during summer.)
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...
seems to be a shortage of sx koup's on dealers lots or kia is only sending each dealer a few sx koup models.down here the sx koup is rare with the majority of kia dealers in south fla only getting the EX koup models.i got lucky and found a sx koup with auto and sunroof in the color i wanted"corsa blue metalic" sitting on my dealers showroom floor and purchased it the same day..traded in a 07 honda civic coup EX and the forte blows it away.never thought in a million years that i would be saying that about a kia over a honda but it's true.
Had my Koup for about 4 months now and I must say it is a pretty good car for the money. However, I do have a few complaints about some of the engineering decisions made by Kia. First of all the "alloy" wheels on the Koup SX are half alloy and half plastic. The silver parts of the wheel are plastic inserts. I would hate to see what happens to them if I nick a curb. Secondly, the car does not have any real carpet in it. The "carpet" is more like a piece of cardboard with some kind of fuzzy material on it , no padding at all. The carpeted floor mats are not much better and are very thin.
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 got my Forte SX sedan in about 2 weeks ago and I must say this is the most fun car Ive owned since my 2001 Mazda Miata. After cross shopping the Mazda 3, Honda Civic, and others I think this is the best all around car. The standard bluetooth and Sirius radio along with more interior room and power than the others sealed the deal for me. Oh and getting all that for much less money surely didnt hurt. MSRP was just over 19K and I payed just over 16K, and got KBB "good" value on my trade.
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.
The Homelink/Compass mirror option is not offered in Canada but can be purchased as an "add-on" accessory ($250.00) from the U.S. Has anyone added this accessory to a Canadian Forte and was it a "plug-n-play". Canadian Dealer did not know if car pre-wired for plug-n-play or not.
Just bought a Forte so a couple of questions Dealer could not answer - Does Bluetooth only link with Cell "phone" feature. I have a Blackberry with Garmin Nav application. Would be nice if Bluetooth would play turn-by-turn over radio as well.
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.
The Bluetooth does not play the directions from my TomTom Go 720 over the radio. I looked into it, and found that there is a different protocol for that type of thing as compared to the 2-way cell phone. Whether that holds true for the Garmin I don't know, since it might use the cell phone protocol.
It's a Blackberry Bold (9700) with the Garmin Mobile Nav application ($99.00) uses Blackberry GPS for routing. Works same as stand-alone Garmin Nuvi, speaks turns and street names through BB speaker.
This is actually the Garmin mobile application that runs on the BB using the BB GPS module and BB speaker to speak directions. If Forte Bluetooth links with full audio then should work.
Just drove a new Forte last week. EX with automatic. I'd have to pass this one up. The car was quiet and fairly quick, but the suspension is designed for sportier handling so the ride quality was not as I'd hoped. Compared to the Spectra, which it replaced, it's an entirely different vehicle. The Spectra was far smoother riding.
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.
Kia US, just posted some info on their website with regards the 5-door. Its under future vehicles/upcoming. As usual the Canadian site has nothing, they don't even mention the new Optima or Sportage.
I now have about 4,000 miles. First of all, I "fixed" the dead spot/engine stall problem. I love the car now that it responds like a normal stick shift.
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)
question about the stick shift on your Kia Forte 6-spd. sedan. How is the shifting working out? There were some early concerns/complaints about the "clunky" Forte shifter or clutch. More than just a few complained so I'm curious how your experience is. The new Forte sedan is along with the Soul and the new '11 Optima my favorite new Kia's being produced so I'm curious.
The issue is not really the shifter or the clutch. The shifter is a bit rubberly, but ok. The clutch is soft, but you get used it to very quick.
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
hmowner, I spose this was an ECU computer fix that Kia Motors did for all of you all with this problem then, paid for by Kia Motors?
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.
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.
hi folks,i have a 2010 kia forte koup sx and today i noticed that after washing my car that there was water dripping all over the passenger window where the speaker sits.all windows were closed shut while i was washing car.dealer can't figure it out.but the water is leaking in regardless.anyone else experiencing this problem??
I've driven both a Forte EX with the 4-speed automatic transmission and the SX model with the 5-speed automatic. Both were great cars and the EX was actually the more pleasant highway car with a slightly softer ride and less road noise than the SX. The EX's only real flaw is the 4-speed automatic tranny! It was reluctant to downshift at highway speeds and when it finally did so, it was much more abrupt than I would have liked. The 5-speed auto in the SX responded much faster and downshifts were just as smooth as upshifts...of course, the added power of the 2.4L reduced the need for downshifts in most situations.
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.
some very good points, have you considered forwarding these onto both KIA US and KIA Motors and also Kia Buzz as I'm sure they would be interested in getting feedback from an owner.
hello,i have a 2010 kia forte koup sx with auto trans.the only issue i have had from the ones you have mentioned here is the bluetooth sometimes not connecting automatcly.yes this does happen to me on occasion as well for unknown reasons.but it does work and you do have to have the windows closed in order to be heard from the bluetooth system.as far as the a/c goes mine works very well down here in the south fla heat and iv'e actually had to turn it down a few notches because it got to cold..maybe the sedan forte sx has more issues than the koup version but i have had my car since march of this year and it's been pretty good overall.
Has anyone else experienced the following "anomolies" that our EX Koup has experienced in the first week since owning it?
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.
i have the forte koup sx and have not experienced the issues that you are describing here.you could possibly have some electrical issues with the car.even though it's brand new sometimes these things happen due to defects from the factory.but that's what new car warranty's are for.bring it back to the dealer and let them diagnose the problem.
Guess what Forte Koup lovers? 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.
Have you had any resolution yet? I have the same car and when it rains (which is frequently) the driver side seatbelt gets soaked... The dealer has supposedly fixed it twice, but it's back in the shop today.
the dealer did a water leak test a few weeks ago and could not duplicate the leak that i told them i had..problem is that it only happens when water is comeing in sideways like when it's very rainey and windy and not when it's comeing straight down.might be something that i'll just have to live with unless it gets worse...
your right,when they did the water leak test they probably just filled a cup of water and just poured it over the window rather than do a more thorough leak test.anyway,did they discover why your seat-belt was getting soaked on the driver side when it rained???
What is that light near speedmeter that turns on and off while I am driving ? 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 seen the tail light issue on the 2011 optima as well. Must be by design. But I'm not sure what purpose it serves other than drain the battery some.
I didn't find anywhere in the manual on how to manually input and save numbers in the phonebook. I really wanted to do it by voice, but unsuccesful. How did you get the numbers to save manually ? Thanks
There's a brochure available at your dealership, or online at Kia's website [http://www.kia.com/#/bluetooth/ -- click on View Printable BLUETOOTH Wireless Technology Manual (541kb)]. It allows you to print it. If you have a small but indispensable program called pdf24, you can print it directly to a .pdf file. If you have any problems getting a copy, shoot me an email with "Kia Bluetooth Manual" in the subject line, and I'll send you the .pdf.
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??
Comments
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??