LX Turbo Is the One to Get - 2016 Kia Optima Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

LX Turbo Is the One to Get - 2016 Kia Optima Long-Term Road Test

For the 2016 Kia Optima, we'd recommend getting the LX Turbo trim level for its blend of features and ride comfort.

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s197gt

Short of the heated seats there isn't anything I'd miss.

As I get older I really don't need the highest HP engine anymore and I was just commenting yesterday (again) to my wife about the TERRIBLE roads that seem to be everywhere. 16" wheels are definitely the way to go anymore; besides, I like to buy aftermarket wheels to suit my taste.

I think I am going to look at the construction season a bit differently this summer.

adamb1

I'm too lazy to look up the true market price for this car. But, $27k and change is what I paid for a new, fully loaded, Fusion Titanium. No thanks Kia.

daryleason

I'm not a big fan of huge rims and skinny tires. I was born during the tail-end of the 70s, grew up in the 80s, and started (legally) driving in the 90s. Which means, to me, most cars don't look cool with a 20 inch rim and a 1/4 inch of sidewall. I get why some companies do it, due to the size of the disc brakes. As for the pricing that Adam1 mentioned, I agree with Edmunds that the car is probably priced about right on MSRP, simply because Kia is normally pretty good about offering generous discounts.

But am I the only person that seems to get car values stuck in their heads from when they first started driving? I'll give you an example. When I saw the $27K price listed for the Optima, I immediately flashed back to my parents buying a 1993 Chevrolet 1500 Silverado extended cab, SWB, 5.7 Liter V8, fully loaded (except for leather) for just under $22K AFTER tax, title, & license. Back then, that was a HUGE price for a truck. It's hard to believe that 1, that's been over 20 years ago, and 2, that inflation has hit us that hard. I KNOW the 27K is about right, but I don't FEEL it's right. Y'all got me?

ebeaudoin

adamb1 said:

I'm too lazy to look up the true market price for this car. But, $27k and change is what I paid for a new, fully loaded, Fusion Titanium. No thanks Kia.

And that Ford was probably discounted quite a bit to $27k. Nobody will pay MSRP for a Kia, just like you didn't for the Fusion.

bankerdanny

$27k isn't expensive for a sedan of this size today, but even with 0% financing you're looking at a $400+/month payment on a 60 month loan, which isn't affordable in my world.

schen72

People seem to get hung up on MSRP and are always comparing the MSRP prices of cars. No one actually pays anywhere near MSRP, right? At least I don't. It's more realistic to compare the real market value of a car, because I'm 100% sure deals can be had on this Kia to bring the price way below MSRP. I just bought an Acura a few weeks ago, and I paid about $4000 below invoice.

s197gt

well, ideally, hopefully, a buyer has some kind of down-payment as well and/or some equity in a trade-in.

invoice, plus trade-in, plus down-payment, plus 0% apr...