Pete, where on Gulf Coast are you? I moved to Orlando from Ft. Myers. Not many Amantis in my area yet. Actually I saw one last night in front of me (I recognized the tail lights) and I almost had an accident racing up to them to do the high five, which they smiled and gave a thumbs up. I am really enjoying my Amanti. No problems here. I only expect the normal things. BUT I will check tire pressure today! On sidenote, not that it matters, but I've written email to Kia Motors twice, once telling them how thrilled I am with my Amanti and why do they not advertise the Amanti more, to no reply.
I bought my Amanti at the end of May 2004, and I drove it through a nice scorching Phoenix summer. The A/C always performed very well. Even on the 115 degree days, it only took a few minutes for the automatic A/C to have the interior down to a reasonable temperature.
I traded a '95 Mercedes-Benz E320 on the Amanti, and in my opinion, the auto A/C on the Amanti performs MUCH better than the auto A/C on the E320 did.
I rarely have passengers in the back, so I really can't comment on the temperature in the back seat on a hot summer day.
Hi Bill! I'm down in the Bradenton/Sarasota area. How do you like Orlando? I enjoy visiting the area very much -except for the heavier traffic.
I see more and more Amanti's here, about 1 every week or so. I saw one today, so I guess it will be about another week until there's another Amanti to see.
I also wrote to KIA. I complained about an ad that ran here on TV, showing a bunch of screaming idiots at a dealership with banners and stuff. I thought these people did NOT represent typical Amanti owners and it had no class whatsoever, (something I think our car has). I found it rather embarrassing actually. I know they have to appeal to a certain public for their cheaper product line, but my thought was they shouldn't include Amantis. The ad quickly disappeared and I haven't seen it in awhile. I doubt I had anything to do with it, though.
Thanks for the feedback, Pete. It's nice to know that someone who's had his Amanti for a year already still loves it. I've got quite a few months to go before I'm at a year but I'm putting mileage on the car now and have no complaints, just compliments.
Thanks for the feedback, kmq, and thanks especially for the tire tip. I checked and mine were inflated to the factory spec. My dealer seems to have done a particularly thorough job in prepping the vehicle, so everything was done right. And every time I've dropped in, they wash the exterior and vacuum the interior for free! Lovely. I'm glad to hear that the A/C will cope with the Mojave. I'm sure it'll have no problems at all with our summers then, even when they're warner than normal.
Thanks for the info on the performance of the A/C in the desert. I've been planning a little trip into desert country this coming summer and it's nice to know I'll be in something that can keep me cool. Interesting to hear the comparison between our Amanti and a Benz E320.
Hi again Pete, About the advertisement, I think it's a really good thing that you did in telling Kia how you felt about their ads. After all, the whole idea is to bring new customers into the fold and portraying Kia owners as idiots doesn't seem to be a particularly enlightened way of achieving that. We have a similar ad running here that shows an Amanti racing through the desert with a huge dust cloud behind it, then coming to a turn and stopping, all without leaning or nosediving. Now, I have to believe that nobody who buys an Amanti is interested in racing across the desert sands in it so why show this? In my opinion, they should be showing the overall lines of the car, and then should focus on the ride and on the interior, where we spend our time. I'd say the interior could stand up to a comparison with pretty well anything else. Following your example, I may just write to the Canadian Kia headquarters to make some advertising suggestions for them, based on what owners here are saying about their cars.
I agree with you that one never sees the gorgeous interior of the Amanti promoted which in my opinion is it's finest feature. Not that the exterior is bad, but my greatest joy has always been entering and driving this car.
I was thinking about your comment on the desert Amanti ad. I've come to the conclusion that driving aggressively on a sandy (desert) surface, will greatly reduce the traction and keep the car from leaning and nose diving as it might on asphalt, let's say. It's kind of like playing tennis on a clay court where you can slide to a shot as opposed to a hard surfaced court where you can't slide as well.
But your point is well taken and I hope to see some fresh ads in the future.
I really like the look of my car, but never really cared for the front grill too much, (-although it's far better than the Korean Opirus). It's very dominant and so I made a simple visual adjustment, if you will. I have attached pictures of my car before and after for you to see. You may have to double click on the "album" to see both photos.
Then double click each photo to enlarge it.
I simply used some good quality electrical tape to cover the vertical chrome bars, which took me about a half an hour. This left the horizontal ones and makes the car appear wider. I have always felt the Amanti looked tall and this widens it up a bit. Let me know what you think!
Yes, your picture insertion worked fine. Actually I like it both ways. Beauty is in the beholder, so they say. That was one thing that attracted me to the Amanti, was the grill work. <G> I see a lot more Optimas around now and if you get the top of the line.. . I saw one in pearl.. it doesn't look half bad (and a lot less expensive) but we all know we have more car.
Hi topgear: I like it both ways but I like the original a tad bit better. You did an excellent job and great pictures. Keep us posted on your amanti. Mine is doing well no major problems. I did get a survey to fill out from Kia will do it tomorrow. Take care Buff
Hi everyone! Thanks for your comments. I just wanted to share some more photos of the Opirus, which is our car with a really unusual grill for the Asian market. There's also a very cool looking drawing of our car (conceptual) that seems to have been shown around 2001. I like it, too!
Hi everyone: I traded in my 2001 Olds Aurora on the Amanti this past November. I've been dealing with the same N.J. dealership for 14 years, and when they no longer sold Olds cars, I told out the Amanti for 24 hours. I like it and the inside reminds me very much of the features of the 2001 Aurora. I have 2,000 miles on it and am very satisfied with the vehicle.
Got a beautiful gold Amanti and have 12,000 miles on it.Love this vehicle,but there is a definite problem in the under carriage on them.The clunking noise from the suspension on rough roads or potholes is NOT tire thump.Other owners i have talked with are saying that they are having the same problem.My dealer brought it up on the computer and nothing showed on the gripe sheet.Two other problems were there but nothing on the suspension. The same problem showed up on mycar.com when i registered with them and they are going to keep me updated.There has been other letters on this forum pertaining to this problem.If anyone has any further dope on this,i would sure like to hear it. This is to nice a vehicle to not have this problem taken care of. Dick5
When I started my research on the Amanti I had several long looks at Kia's English language Opirus page, with all of the great photos and all the equipment available on this car, and even downloaded and printed out the brochure. I didn't mind the grille too much but have to admit that I'm glad it was changed for the North American market. I must say that I'd really like to have had the power rear sunshade and the power steering wheel adjustment as well as the headlight washers available. And one feature still bothers me a little: on the Opirus the rear centre armrest insert is in woodgrain, to match the rest of the interior while on the North American 2004 models it was black and on the 2005s it's light grey with the light grey interior at least. I'd still like to see it in woodgrain and might just try to order it from an overseas source and have it installed locally. And wouldn't it be nice to have the adjustable rear seats, side screens on the rear doors, and the adjustable suspension? But then the price would be up by a couple of thousand and that might make it less appealing.
Hi Dick, I'm really sorry to hear about this problem that you're having with your Amanti and hope that it's correctly diagnosed and repaired soon. One thing occurred to me: is it possible that it's related to the rack and pinion steering rack? Sometimes there's kickback that makes the rack move in its rubber mountings and that can be transmitted to the interior as a rattle. I had that problem on an Acura Vigor on some rough surfaces, when the steering wheel was just slightly off centre and no power was coming through the axle. I've felt it before on other cars but on that one it was definitely audible too. It might be worth suggesting that to the mechanics, just to see if they've checked the steering rack or tie rod ends.
My Amanti is the base model and while the sound system is very fine for me anyway, I was wondering about the large grill/high brakelight unit (one piece in rear) on rear shelf above rear seat.....does the up-grade 6 disc player also have a speaker in area I just mentioned??? My base model with the single cd player has the large grill ( part of the rear upper brake stoplight)but has no speaker in it....anyone know?????????
Dick5......check out Kia-Forums.com. Lots of stuff regarding front end noise problems for the Amanti............LOTS OF INFO BUT NO DEFINITIVE FIXES YET.........................
I wonder why kia-forums.com would be hosted by a company called Menara Mas Internet located in Bandun City, West Java, WJ40111, Indonesia--and why they would try to make it appear that they're actually in "zip 40111 US" ...hmmmm
Even though the site is hosted by a US isp, and seems to have some great Kia info, I'm going to have to think some more before I "register."
Hi! I agree with you about the goodies you mentioned, not offered for the North American market. It sure would have been nice, -at the very least, to have these as options. That really would have pushed the Amanti above and beyond some of it's competitors. Oh well...
The rear armrest does look a little unfinished without the matching wood trim. I mean the rear armrest still a substantial piece, but if you find information about the wood trim and it's not too pricey, I would consider changing mine also.
Heh..topgear.....thanks for the info, had I done my homework I would have answered my own question...all the info (sales and magazine write-ups) clearly refer to standard 8 speaker system and the up-graded Infinity system with 9 speakers.....and finally using a flashlight and a little peering it is easy to see that the mesh cover in the back (shelf) is EMPTY...oh well, the 8 speakers sound just fine anyway....than you again.........harrier2.....
billh6...I laid my mesh flat in the trunk...works fine. Upright seemed awkward???? and yes there was a second trunk carpet in my Amanti..Don't know why????? rather Kia would have given us an extra set of interior floor mats instead.......now that would have been nice!!!!!!harrier2
Hi Everyone. I am glad that I found this forum, as it is by far the most informative source so far to allow me to research this car from an owners perspective.
My wife fell in love with the looks as soon as she saw the first commercials 18 odd months back, but as I hadn't until now, seen any comprehensive feedback, I've tended to shy away although I too like the looks of this car. I saw one on a lot in Kamloops BC this past summer, and had a close look at it then, it was a Sunday, so couldn't sit in it, drive it etc.
I am a long time resident of the Southern Gulf Islands on the left coast of BC Canada, and am in the process of selling of part of the family homestead due to the fact that it is too impractical to hang onto it any longer. I have promised my dearly beloved wife a new car once we make the sale. Up to now, we had basically narrowed it to the Sonata, Ultima, or Accord and not seriously considered the Amanti due to perceptions about it being underpowered etc.
I have just finished reading this entire forum, all 544 messages, and am now seriously putting the Amanti back in the running, especially as every time we occasionally see one when we are off island, my wife just gushes about the car, and can't help peering into the widows etc whenever we see one in a parking lot. Sheesh!
As you can imagine, I have a few comments and questions regarding the dialogue all you fine folks have posted here.
Question. In regards to the "tennis ball" clunk from the front suspension, can everyone here who has experienced this confirm whether or not their car has the suspension package? I feel that this might add some insight to the issue...
Comment. Air Conditioning systems in automotive applications. I think it was MagMax who was trying to shut down his compresser. These systems, in addition to refrigerant, also have lubricating oil (very special oil) mixed in. The design of the systems requires the compresser to momentarilly engage every so often to allow this lubricant to properly circulate to critical internal components. If this doesn't happen, among other things the seals will eventually dry out and you will ultimately lose the charge on the system. Hope that helps you out a little.
BTW, I am a journeyman marine mechanic, and an engineer officer on a passenger RO/RO ferry, although I don't work on KIA's per se, I know a little bit about how some of this stuff works..... (not trying to blow my own horn, just want to contribute to the group if I can)
Question. Does anyone know if the stereo system has auxilliary inputs? I currently drive a '98 Dodge RAM 3/4 ton 4x4. In it I have a little toy that I really like, and would install one in the new Kia if we end up buying one. It is a car mounted MP3 player called the Neo 35 Jukebox. Go to www.ssiamerica.com for more info on this unit. The company went open source on the firmware about a year ago, and there is a large online community that supports it. Mine has a 80GB drive in it, and I currently have around 18,000 songs on it. The kit comes with an FM modulator that plugs into the antenna lead on your existing radio, which is how I have it set up at the moment, but the sound quality is much better if you can direct plug it into the aux jacks on your system if available. This unit is fabulous on long trips, and you can take it in your house at night and run it through your stereo if desired, great for parties!!
OK, I've strayed a little here, its late, I'll think of the rest of my questions/comments as I go along. If I've broken any rules of conduct, feel free to berate me accordingly, I can take it.
BTW, if you take a look at the Rules of the Road linked at the top of the page, you'll have just about all the scoop on the ways of doing things around here. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.
Engineer Al: I love my Amanti. I traded in my Lexus RX300 for it. I know I made the right decision and saving lots of $$. I will say regarding the tennis ball sound, I have not experienced that with my '04. I went to another forum at kia-forums.com and found where an Amanti owner mentions that three different Kia dealerships and a rep from Kia Motors say that sound is normal, and they have no plans to do anything about it, BUT then they say that vehicles manufactured after 4-23-04 should not experience this sound, which tells me they've changed or done something different with the stuts (if it truly is the struts). The sticker on my driver's door says June of '04. Hey, my Lexus made a similar noise over bumps and they changed everything you can imagine and the sold never disappeared; albeit it was an intermittent sound.
I got my Amanti in January of 2004, build date is 10/2003. I do not notice the tennis ball noise. It is the base model. I wonder if the noise is specific to one of the available upgrades.
The standard radio does not have external auxillary jacks. An FM modulator would work fine, I use one in the house to pipe computer audio all over the house on the FM band.
I change my own oil and have had no problems with Purolator Premium Plus filters leaking. It is a pain in the neck to change the oil since the car sits so low to the ground.
The cargo net lays flat and there are two carpets for the trunk, mine came in a roll also.
I certainly like the car, fun to drive, looks great.
Welcome engineer al! I bought mine Jan of '04 and have 20,000 miles and wonder if anyone has more miles than I do yet. The 'tennis ball in a tube' sound happens rarely. It occurs only when driving over a bunch of mild road bumps in the right side of the road. It is not a major problem -meaning I wish it wasn't there, but not enough for me to be annoyed by it too much. I do have an almost fully equipped US model with moonroof, but without the suspension and brake package that is (or was) offered.
Hi engineer, Nice to hear there's another potential owner in my part of the world. If you're not in a hurry to buy, I'd suggest that you wait for the new Hyundai Sonata or Kia Magentis equivalent that were just announced at the US auto shows in January and add them to your list. They've got a new V6 engine, feature traction control, ABS, stability control and all the other toys, and they should cost less than the Amanti. On the other hand, I'm absolutely delighted with my Amanti and would probably buy it again even if there were a new smaller Kia available. I don't think there are many more comfortable cars on the road, and certainly not at this price. The car has 200hp and that's plenty of power in the real world. Let's face it, most of the recent horsepower race is just nonsense anyway. When can you really use 280 hp in a car? The Canadian Amanti comes only one way, fully loaded, without options, so you'll have no choice when it comes to suspension, sound system, and so on. But it does mean that the costs are kept down because everything's on the car and they're all spec'd the same. Anyway, if you're looking at dealers in the Vancouver area I can definitely recommend the place I got mine. Let me know and I'll give you a name and phone number to contact.
By the way, in response to the other postings, I also finally decided to install my net flat on the floor. Now I'll have to check the trunk to see if I also got a second carpet. Never noticed before. It's amazing what you learn from this forum.
buff.........open driver's door look down on interior door frame and you will see a large black label which says maufactured in Korea and the date is there in large numerals.................
...for the quick responses to my posting. I've obviously found a good spot to vent my views. I'm also following the forum for my truck....
To clarify, I'm not all that worried about the suspension issue in that an intermintent sound won't bother my wife or I all that much, unless its presence has a negative impact on the longevity of suspension components. As MagMax can likely allude to, we have some of the most famous potholes in this corner of the planet. I'm sure that the manufacturer warranty would deal with any issues arising out of faulty components as long as we drive the car reasonably. I agree with the comment about horsepower, as long as there is enough to do the job comfortably, the rest is just there for bragging rights and making oil company shareholders happier. It is very encouraging to read about those of you who traded "higher end" vehicles in on this car, and are still happy with the result. As my wife just LOVES the look of this car more than about any other, I'll take a more serious look than I might otherwise. As mentioned before, I can't do anything until I flip the other property (Know anyone who wants to buy rare waterfront on Salt Spring Island?) I can provide a URL to those who are interested.
Back on topic (sorry) I can live with the FM modulator if need be, I was just hoping that the stereo would have aux inputs, hidden or otherwise. A lot of newer car stereos are capable of operating an external CD stacker, in these cases the inputs are there, the wiring harness to the unit might have to be changed out to access them in some cases. Has anyone seen any manufacturers clues on the radio other than KIA logos?
Regarding the oil filter, I am of the belief that as long as the vehicle is in the warranty period, only OEM parts should ever be used in case of problems. Otherwise, you could be on the hook for an expensive repair bill if something goes wrong if it could be even remotely construed that your jobber parts contributed to the failure. I have worked in the marine industry for a number of years, and I have seen a few cases where owners were left hanging out to dry as a result of these types of things.
I saw in the Victoria paper today, the KIA dealer was advertising Amanti's for $31,995 CDN. I wonder how much wiggle room there is on that price? I am in a way glad that all options are there on the Canadian models, simplifies the buying process immensley without having to haggle over anything beyond the colour. As well, due to our roads, I would want the suspension package anyhow, in addition to ride quality issues, it would hopefully make that system a little more robust in the long run.
engineer al......I would certainly not exclude the Amanti when comparing it to the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima, while those other products are fine cars my experience with the Amanti has been outstanding. I had an Infiniti Q45 before the Kia and I do not think the quality is much different between the two albeit the Q was 9 yrs old and my Amanti is one yr and 9800 miles old. As far power is concerned the Amanti is adequate for a 4 thousand pound car and cruises nicely at 85...the Q was rated at 289 HP and had a little more get-up-and-go but not that much. As far suspension problems (noises, sounds, clunks, etc. etc. ), there seems to be two major but separate kinds of problems..1.the clunk-tennis ball noise which seems to be more common that the front end problem #2 that I have been having which is a pronounced SQUEAK in the right front area. It does not make the squeaking sound when going over bumps, washboard roads, potholes but only when stopping slowing as when coming on to the drive way and then only slightly. There are days that go by and never hear the squeak at all.But when it is there you HEAR it. So far the strut and ball joint have been replaced but it continues and now new upper arm bushings are on order. I have the base model and do not have the suspension package...so this seems to be a horse of different color and not the clunking others have experienced. Hopefully the new bushings will fix the squeak. Other than the squeak I have had no other real problems to speak of.The car rides like a dream and yes the mileage is not so hot but the fit and finish is superb. But of course one year and 9800 miles is probably a bit premature to make strong definitive remarks regarding how TOTALLY WONDERFUL this car is.....but for now I have no reservations about buying this car. BTW, I agree with you that using Kia parts (ie oil filters) make a lot sense...helps quarantee that the warranty will work for you........regards
I also have a beautiful Gold Amanti for 8 months with 6,000 miles. I have all the packages on my car. I totally agree with you that there is a problem with the front suspension. I been having this knocking/tennis ball sound from the right front wheel since we purchased the car. My car has been back to the dealership many times over the last few months. I even called the Regional District Office to try to get this problem resolved. We were told that a TSB was coming out in November. I am not happy that I have to drive a brand new KIA Amanti with an annoying knocking sound. I agree with you Dick5 this is to nice of a vehicle to not have this problem taken care of. Regards, Rong1
I just hope this forum continues to be a place for viable information to share with one another about our awesome Amanti and not just speculation and unfounded gossip.
rong1....can you fill in some info since the front suspension problems on the Amanti appear to be more prevalent than not....you say you have been back to the dealer many times for this suspension problem but what did the dealer do during you visits???This kind of info is helpful to all of us with similiar type problems ( clunks, knocking, squeaks, etc., etc.)Can you elaborate on exactly what the dealer did to try to fix your car. And also what kind of a reception and info did the regional rep offer?????? Do you feel it was beneficial to involve the regional rep????? If you share exactly what the dealer did to repair the problem, this might give the rest of us some ammunition to help resolve the dam problem(s).........harrier2 AS I SEE IT, THE ONLY TO GET THINGS FIXED WITH THE DEALER IS TO GO IN ARMED WITH LOTS OF INFO FROM LOTS OF SOURCES....
harrier2-the info about what repairs were made at dealership is front right strut, strut mount, upper bushings, sway bar links which all took about 6 trips back to dealership. Several times they had to order parts. After all these repairs we still have same knock and it is more pronounced than ever. Just to let you know I made many phone calls on 800#. One customer service rep on 800# finally was kind enough to leave message with Eastern Regional Rep. The Eastern Regional Rep was polite, and they contacted district parts rep to try to resolve this problem. District parts rep told dealership to order 2 upper bushings. Also want you to know took a test drive with top dealership mechanic and he also verified he heard knocking sound at low speed from right front suspension. He told me they were waiting for a TSB. I will be returning again to dealership and making lots of phone calls again!!! If you find out any more information please advise. Regards, Rong1
In reply to Engineer, I do have a friend on Salt Spring who might be interested in waterfront property. It all depends on the location and the price, of course.
The Canadian pricing is a bit deceptive at the moment. The low prices that are being offered are for in stock 04 models and apply only to a cash deal. If you want to finance, that low price disappears. I went through all that two months ago and had to make my deal the hard way. The only real difference between an 94 and 05 in Canada is the lack of a 6-CD in dash changer and no heated rear seats in the 04. The 05 also has upgraded automatic wipers, a different centre armrest insert if you choose the grey interior, a slightly modified front console lid (one fewer strip of faux wood), and a plain inset instead of faux carbon fibre in the panel behind the rear door quarter window. So, the 04 at that price is a pretty good deal, I'd say. I went for the 05 because I wanted the CD changer and the heated rear seats and my list price was $35,900 plus pdi & freight. Fortunately they wanted to make a sale and I was a persistent bargainer (more than an hour after closing time on a Sunday)so I got a good deal. Most importantly, I got a great car.
I'm still having some familiarization problems with my car's climate control. I have it set on automatic now and no longer care if the A/C compressor's running or not. I used to feel that it was a bit of a waste in cool weather but I've stopped worrying about it. Here's a question, though: when I start my car from a cold start, it always starts with the climate control settings that were in place when I turned it off the day before. About a minute after I start it, the system suddenly switches to the max defrost setting, for no reason that I can tell. I push the defrost button twice to turn it off and for the rest of the day, even after stops and starts, the system remains in the auto setting. But the next day, after it's sat for a while overnight, it's the same story over again. Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong? Has anyone else had this problem? Maybe problem is too strong a word because otherwise the system works beautifully so it's no trouble to just reset the system each day. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone else who's experience this and also from anyone who has a suggestion about fixing it.
Manufacture date was 11-03.Kia mechanic at my dealer told me that he thought that the suspension on these models was too soft for the weight of the vehicle.Nice for the highway--bad for bumpy or washboard type roads.Sounds right but still waiting for an answer on the clunking noise's. Seems to be worse on the right side--front and rear,almost swear that something was banging the frame.I'll keep working on it. Dick
I'm having the same kind of problems with my climate controls, they change all the time. Rear window defrost comes on, flow-through vs. recirculate change off and on. AC comes on. fan turns it's self off. I need to get it checked.
I just bought a used 2004 Amanti today, so am going through the fun of learning the car. Of course, my initial impression of the car is very good. A couple of questions though.
Only 1 key was available and the key code was not included. Is it any problem for the Kia dealer to match the vin to the key and make duplicates?
My mirror has the three buttons for triggering electric garage doors. I can't find in the manual how to put the garage frequency code in those buttons.
Is using regular unleaded any problem (87 octane or better.)
Thanks for the help. I'm enjoying the discussions.
Hi Jautze: Welcome to our forum you will finds great tips on your new car. I just love to read this board. As far as the garage its in you manual look up back index. I forgot where it is but my husband set it up not hard to do. To play it safe I use prem gas. The dealer gave me two keys at the time of my purchase. He told me that they were one hundred dollars to replace them. Why did'nt you get two. Enjoy you car what color did you get and what kind of package did you get.
I called Kia today about the garage door openers and they looked through the manual and could not find the info in the 15 minutes on the phone. Its probably in there, but buried in some strange chapter of the book.
I bought my Amanti off the Budget Rent a Car lot with 15,000 miles, about 7,000 off the new price. It is silver, and although I am not familiar with all the packages, it seems to have everything: sunroof, leather, dual temp control, 6CD Infiniti sound. Budget only had the one key, which is why I need another. Kia sent me to a locksmith who can laser cut the blank they have ordered for me. Budget did discount the car $150 when they realized they only had one key, which is about right since the blank and electronic opener will be $120.
Hi I went out to my car and looked it up in the manual its on page Chapter 5-23 its caqlled Homelink wireless control system. It also says if equipped. Its under driving tip that is a stupid place to put it. I am not skilled at scaning pages or photos or I would send it to you. What I can do is if you have a fax I go to work on Thursday. I can copy pages on copier then fax them to you. Hope this helped. Buff
Comments
Bill
I traded a '95 Mercedes-Benz E320 on the Amanti, and in my opinion, the auto A/C on the Amanti performs MUCH better than the auto A/C on the E320 did.
I rarely have passengers in the back, so I really can't comment on the temperature in the back seat on a hot summer day.
I see more and more Amanti's here, about 1 every week or so. I saw one today, so I guess it will be about another week until there's another Amanti to see.
I also wrote to KIA. I complained about an ad that ran here on TV, showing a bunch of screaming idiots at a dealership with banners and stuff. I thought these people did NOT represent typical Amanti owners and it had no class whatsoever, (something I think our car has). I found it rather embarrassing actually. I know they have to appeal to a certain public for their cheaper product line, but my thought was they shouldn't include Amantis. The ad quickly disappeared and I haven't seen it in awhile. I doubt I had anything to do with it, though.
Well, bye for now!
-Pete
MagMax
Magmax
Magmax
Magmax
I agree with you that one never sees the gorgeous interior of the Amanti promoted which in my opinion is it's finest feature. Not that the exterior is bad, but my greatest joy has always been entering and driving this car.
I was thinking about your comment on the desert Amanti ad. I've come to the conclusion that driving aggressively on a sandy (desert) surface, will greatly reduce the traction and keep the car from leaning and nose diving as it might on asphalt, let's say. It's kind of like playing tennis on a clay court where you can slide to a shot as opposed to a hard surfaced court where you can't slide as well.
But your point is well taken and I hope to see some fresh ads in the future.
-Pete
Then double click each photo to enlarge it.
I simply used some good quality electrical tape to cover the vertical chrome bars, which took me about a half an hour. This left the horizontal ones and makes the car appear wider. I have always felt the Amanti looked tall and this widens it up a bit. Let me know what you think!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tgear2/my_photos
I've never attached photos before , so I hope this works!
-P
Bill
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tgear2/album?.dir=1c30
-P
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tgear2/my_photos
This site should show all my shared photos. The group on the right is the Opirus group I was referring to.
Thanks, -Pete
Tom
MagMax
MagMax
I wonder why kia-forums.com would be hosted by a company called Menara Mas Internet located in Bandun City, West Java, WJ40111, Indonesia--and why they would try to make it appear that they're actually in "zip 40111 US" ...hmmmm
Even though the site is hosted by a US isp, and seems to have some great Kia info, I'm going to have to think some more before I "register."
The rear armrest does look a little unfinished without the matching wood trim. I mean the rear armrest still a substantial piece, but if you find information about the wood trim and it's not too pricey, I would consider changing mine also.
Thanks, -Pete
-Pete
Also, did anyone else get a roll of extra trunk carpet with their vehicle?
Bill
My wife fell in love with the looks as soon as she saw the first commercials 18 odd months back, but as I hadn't until now, seen any comprehensive feedback, I've tended to shy away although I too like the looks of this car. I saw one on a lot in Kamloops BC this past summer, and had a close look at it then, it was a Sunday, so couldn't sit in it, drive it etc.
I am a long time resident of the Southern Gulf Islands on the left coast of BC Canada, and am in the process of selling of part of the family homestead due to the fact that it is too impractical to hang onto it any longer. I have promised my dearly beloved wife a new car once we make the sale. Up to now, we had basically narrowed it to the Sonata, Ultima, or Accord and not seriously considered the Amanti due to perceptions about it being underpowered etc.
I have just finished reading this entire forum, all 544 messages, and am now seriously putting the Amanti back in the running, especially as every time we occasionally see one when we are off island, my wife just gushes about the car, and can't help peering into the widows etc whenever we see one in a parking lot. Sheesh!
As you can imagine, I have a few comments and questions regarding the dialogue all you fine folks have posted here.
Question. In regards to the "tennis ball" clunk from the front suspension, can everyone here who has experienced this confirm whether or not their car has the suspension package? I feel that this might add some insight to the issue...
Comment. Air Conditioning systems in automotive applications. I think it was MagMax who was trying to shut down his compresser. These systems, in addition to refrigerant, also have lubricating oil (very special oil) mixed in. The design of the systems requires the compresser to momentarilly engage every so often to allow this lubricant to properly circulate to critical internal components. If this doesn't happen, among other things the seals will eventually dry out and you will ultimately lose the charge on the system. Hope that helps you out a little.
BTW, I am a journeyman marine mechanic, and an engineer officer on a passenger RO/RO ferry, although I don't work on KIA's per se, I know a little bit about how some of this stuff works..... (not trying to blow my own horn, just want to contribute to the group if I can)
Question. Does anyone know if the stereo system has auxilliary inputs? I currently drive a '98 Dodge RAM 3/4 ton 4x4. In it I have a little toy that I really like, and would install one in the new Kia if we end up buying one. It is a car mounted MP3 player called the Neo 35 Jukebox. Go to www.ssiamerica.com for more info on this unit. The company went open source on the firmware about a year ago, and there is a large online community that supports it. Mine has a 80GB drive in it, and I currently have around 18,000 songs on it. The kit comes with an FM modulator that plugs into the antenna lead on your existing radio, which is how I have it set up at the moment, but the sound quality is much better if you can direct plug it into the aux jacks on your system if available. This unit is fabulous on long trips, and you can take it in your house at night and run it through your stereo if desired, great for parties!!
OK, I've strayed a little here, its late, I'll think of the rest of my questions/comments as I go along. If I've broken any rules of conduct, feel free to berate me accordingly, I can take it.
TTYL, -=[al]=-
BTW, if you take a look at the Rules of the Road linked at the top of the page, you'll have just about all the scoop on the ways of doing things around here. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.
Have fun!
Billh
The standard radio does not have external auxillary jacks. An FM modulator would work fine, I use one in the house to pipe computer audio all over the house on the FM band.
I change my own oil and have had no problems with Purolator Premium Plus filters leaking. It is a pain in the neck to change the oil since the car sits so low to the ground.
The cargo net lays flat and there are two carpets for the trunk, mine came in a roll also.
I certainly like the car, fun to drive, looks great.
-Pete
By the way, in response to the other postings, I also finally decided to install my net flat on the floor. Now I'll have to check the trunk to see if I also got a second carpet. Never noticed before. It's amazing what you learn from this forum.
magmax
To clarify, I'm not all that worried about the suspension issue in that an intermintent sound won't bother my wife or I all that much, unless its presence has a negative impact on the longevity of suspension components. As MagMax can likely allude to, we have some of the most famous potholes in this corner of the planet. I'm sure that the manufacturer warranty would deal with any issues arising out of faulty components as long as we drive the car reasonably. I agree with the comment about horsepower, as long as there is enough to do the job comfortably, the rest is just there for bragging rights and making oil company shareholders happier. It is very encouraging to read about those of you who traded "higher end" vehicles in on this car, and are still happy with the result. As my wife just LOVES the look of this car more than about any other, I'll take a more serious look than I might otherwise. As mentioned before, I can't do anything until I flip the other property (Know anyone who wants to buy rare waterfront on Salt Spring Island?) I can provide a URL to those who are interested.
Back on topic (sorry) I can live with the FM modulator if need be, I was just hoping that the stereo would have aux inputs, hidden or otherwise. A lot of newer car stereos are capable of operating an external CD stacker, in these cases the inputs are there, the wiring harness to the unit might have to be changed out to access them in some cases. Has anyone seen any manufacturers clues on the radio other than KIA logos?
Regarding the oil filter, I am of the belief that as long as the vehicle is in the warranty period, only OEM parts should ever be used in case of problems. Otherwise, you could be on the hook for an expensive repair bill if something goes wrong if it could be even remotely construed that your jobber parts contributed to the failure. I have worked in the marine industry for a number of years, and I have seen a few cases where owners were left hanging out to dry as a result of these types of things.
I saw in the Victoria paper today, the KIA dealer was advertising Amanti's for $31,995 CDN. I wonder how much wiggle room there is on that price? I am in a way glad that all options are there on the Canadian models, simplifies the buying process immensley without having to haggle over anything beyond the colour. As well, due to our roads, I would want the suspension package anyhow, in addition to ride quality issues, it would hopefully make that system a little more robust in the long run.
That said, Happy Amanti Motoring!
Bill
The Canadian pricing is a bit deceptive at the moment. The low prices that are being offered are for in stock 04 models and apply only to a cash deal. If you want to finance, that low price disappears. I went through all that two months ago and had to make my deal the hard way. The only real difference between an 94 and 05 in Canada is the lack of a 6-CD in dash changer and no heated rear seats in the 04. The 05 also has upgraded automatic wipers, a different centre armrest insert if you choose the grey interior, a slightly modified front console lid (one fewer strip of faux wood), and a plain inset instead of faux carbon fibre in the panel behind the rear door quarter window. So, the 04 at that price is a pretty good deal, I'd say. I went for the 05 because I wanted the CD changer and the heated rear seats and my list price was $35,900 plus pdi & freight. Fortunately they wanted to make a sale and I was a persistent bargainer (more than an hour after closing time on a Sunday)so I got a good deal. Most importantly, I got a great car.
MagMax
MagMax
Only 1 key was available and the key code was not included. Is it any problem for the Kia dealer to match the vin to the key and make duplicates?
My mirror has the three buttons for triggering electric garage doors. I can't find in the manual how to put the garage frequency code in those buttons.
Is using regular unleaded any problem (87 octane or better.)
Thanks for the help. I'm enjoying the discussions.
Jautze
Keep us posted on how your car is. Thanks Buff
I called Kia today about the garage door openers and they looked through the manual and could not find the info in the 15 minutes on the phone. Its probably in there, but buried in some strange chapter of the book.
I bought my Amanti off the Budget Rent a Car lot with 15,000 miles, about 7,000 off the new price. It is silver, and although I am not familiar with all the packages, it seems to have everything: sunroof, leather, dual temp control, 6CD Infiniti sound. Budget only had the one key, which is why I need another. Kia sent me to a locksmith who can laser cut the blank they have ordered for me. Budget did discount the car $150 when they realized they only had one key, which is about right since the blank and electronic opener will be $120.
Jautze