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Comments
On my travels in the US, I can't say I noticed any dealership as you describe.
I've seen k5 in person. It's absolutely stunning car. I have a soft spot for Sonata, but I must admit Optima looks better than Sonata. I must give props to Peter Schreyer. dude is like a design rock star.
It's amazing what a little good product can do for sales, what that can do for profit and what that can do to generate a little extra money for maintenence to the facilty. They should continue to get better I hope.
That said, hell I'm ready to be a Kia dealership owner myself. I'm no salesman but I could make the case for the Optima all day long. Same for the Sportage and the upcoming Cadenza. I'd have to bone up on their other cars heh.
Around me though there are some as part of a multiple dealership lot that seem quite good. Others are a bit more run down. This is based on simply driving by, I've not been to any yet in person.
We don't agree here.
Nope. We don't. That steering issue could just as easily crop up in year 4 as year 1. Manufacturers test the heck out of their new models before releasing them now. That is a BIG change from some years ago, when testing and retesting was not nearly so comprehensive.
This is only anecdotal of course, but I have owned many vehicles, but since the mid-1990s, I have had no first year model problems whatsoever. Problems that have cropped up have been on a model that had been out for 4 years.
Few cars have done more to change a brand’s image than the sleek and surprisingly fun to drive 2010 Hyundai Sonata.
Oh and:
"The new cabin is spacious and equipped with every expected near-luxury feature, including very Sync-like navigation and concierge electronics Kia calls UVO."
Yet Edmunds said:
http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2010/08/2011-kia-optima-and-2011-kia-forte-5- -door-drop-by-edmundscom.html
"Highlights include the new nav system (with Kia's (UVO) take on the Microsoft/ Sync multi-media setup due later in the model year), "
Now, maybe by the time the turbo comes out the bugs will worked out. (fingers crossed)
A new article:
http://blog.caranddriver.com/10best-surprise-2011-kia-optima/
"We expected the Hyundai Sonata variants—2.0 turbo and hybrid—to be impressive, but perhaps the biggest surprise of this year’s 10Best tournament, at least for me, is the Optima, Sonata’s Kia Cousin. The Sonata, you’ll recall, has been busy proving that slick styling is definitely appropriate in the mid-size-sedan segment, a design that stands out in this conservative category. All things being pretty much equal, good looks helped to give the Sonata a winning edge in its comparison test face-off against a Honda Accord, the perennial class champ, last May.
So it was hard to imagine that another car using the same foundations could rival the Sonata at its own game. But that’s precisely what the Kia does. The exterior may not be quite as eye-catching as the Sonata’s, but I rate it as more elegant, and in any case it certainly doesn’t fade into the background. And its interior décor wouldn’t look out of place in a car costing $10,000 more.
Add dynamic responses that are actually a shade more athletic than the Sonata’s, plus feature content and bargain pricing, and the Optima emerges as hard to resist.
Now for that turbo version they’ve promised us."
Good stuff. The wheel choices are interesting, and, it looks really good with tan interior.
I really like it but it almost seems that Hyundai-Kia has got here too fast. I'm not knocking the brand at all but it took Honda and Toyota about 20 years to get to where they were really solid and Hyundai-Kia has really only came on the last ten years. Now new engines, bodies, accessories, technology, all almost at once. Not to say it can't be done with the right organization and decision making but it's a little scary to me. I'm hoping they got it right.
By the time this comes out the engine and underpinnings, in the Sonata, will have been on sale in Korea for over a year. The K5 will have been around since May in Korea. The way I am looking at it it's almost a mid year production. Assuming they are adapting to any issues that pop up, which you'd think they would.
I dont think there is a greater chance of an annoying issue in the new Optima than there is in any new model year car by a major manufacturer. I'd also say that if they're even half paying attention they'll have caught any minor issues before production in the US based on the K5 and Sonata performances.
Then again, I'm clearly biased because I really like what I see with this car.
I fully realize that the warranty is there on the Kia (which it is not on the VW), but to me time is money and I don't want to have to spend a lot of time at the dealer. I've been kind of spoiled wth my current 3 vehicles so maybe I'm oversensitive in this area.
I can live with a few flaws so long as they are fixable.
Here's something that gives you an idea how obsessed Hyundai/Kia is with quality. Recently Kia recalled 100,000 cars worldwide (35k in the US) for wiring problems. Nothing too special there, recalls happen all the time. The response was unusual, though: Kia's CEO resigned because of it, taking responsibility for the gaffe in quality.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/07/kia-ceo-chung-sungeun-res_n_706973.html-
With that kind of focus on quality and avoiding defects, I would tend to trust Hyundai/Kia there as much if not moreso than any other automaker. Also, I have 10 total years of ownership experience with 3 Hyundais that has demonstrated to me how reliable these cars are. And two of these cars were designs from the 1990s, which are less reliable than what they are turning out now.
But if you think you would second-guess yourself for buying a Kia, and worry about when the first defect will show up, maybe better for you to get something else. One of those perfect mid-sized sedans out there. Like a... uh... never mind.
My point is that there are always going to be some unforseeables with manufactured products. The reassuring thing with Kia and Hyundai and Mitsubishi is their Warranty. They will expect you to maintain your vehicle and if you do, you'll be fully completely covered in your 2011 Kia Optima.
Do you still want that red? Red, red, I like red, red's the one that I like best. Technicolor red. Oh yeah. Keep us posted man, you're desiring a very, very well-built and fine car in the 2011 Kia Optima.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I will check out the Optima Turbo when I'm ready to buy a car next January. I hope they will be available for test drives by then. It'll be interesting to see how it stacks up against it's German 2.0T competitors in the Regal and CC.
Speaking of which, there ought to be a 4cyl turbo sedan comparison. The Sonata, Optima, Regal, CC, Legacy and perhaps the S60 T5.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
But yes I'm still fully planning to get a Red Optima SX just like the one pictured, assuming I like it in person of course. Probably different rims though, we'll see. I'm not so much nervous about Kia, it's just the first year thing. Honestly, I know it's a bit paranoid though.
I wish it would just come out already!
The PR team is launching the all-new 2011 Kia Optima this week in Southern Cal and welcomes our journalists. We'll keep you posted with the news and reviews.
new details on the Kia US website introducing the new Optima
http://www.kia.com/#/2011optima
I also own a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe - an early production model of the current design. It has been solid and dependable, and a great car all the way around. The build quality is good, although the fit and finish and paint quality on later models is marginally better. The Santa Fe is generally holding up as well as my Honda. Maybe better.
The only glitch with the Hyundai has been an issue with the passenger side airbag sensor, and Hyundai has been responsive about fixing it under warranty. Hyundai also updated the vanity light cluster to a later, improved design that they introduced in 2008 onward. Hyundai offered that upgrade as an option, for no charge - which I thought was pretty darned thoughtful.
Granted ... there are reports on the Edmunds boards of some production glitches with the new Kia Sorrento (plus a general scarcity of parts, since it is a new model). I would check out those boards and see the discussions. And I would always avoid getting one of the first models of a totally new design - just because (even though that's exactly what I did with my Hyundai Santa Fe).
http://www.kiamedia.com/secure/optima2011_specs.html
and on the same page you can then print out the features and options
the base 2.4L will have 200hp and 186 lbs of torque
the 2.0L turbo will have 274 hp and 269 lbs of torque
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l32/Dashel2/RedSXnew.jpg
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/kia/41954/
"RVINE, Calif., Sept. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Kia Motors America (KMA) today officially launched the all-new 2011 Optima midsize sedan, first seen during the 2010 New York International Auto Show. Set to arrive in retail showrooms in early fall, the next generation Optima continues Kia’s design-led transformation while revealing a completely new and stunning design language for Kia, highlighted by a dynamic and streamlined profile that conveys elegance and athletic confidence from every angle. Optima’s groundbreaking spirit continues under the hood and inside the cabin with the introduction of three new powertrains – including the brand’s first-ever hybrid in the U.S. (available in 2011) – which is expected to deliver an increase in power and fuel economy while offering the latest technology features and luxury amenities."
To KiaHyundais, I've bought two new models: an 01 Elantra that gave me no trouble, and an 07 (early, probably 6 months after 06.5 introduction) Optima that has also been flawless. That's my wife's car and it's not driven very much, I prefer my 05 Malibu Maxx, but GM has been much worse in new car problems than the Hyundai or Kias.
I suspect that if you don't know what it means, it won't matter to you.
#2. This interior looks so much classier than the tan interior in the Sonata. Why? Somewhat the actual dash layout but mainly because it doesn't have that ugly two-tone steering wheel! If the colors in this picture are true, it is also a better blend of color rather than a contrast.
http://www.kia-newoptima.com/
If you go to Style > Exterior and click on the wheels you can see all the options. I like the 18" luxury one I think even though it's very similar to the other one.
http://www.thecarblogger.net/2010/09/2011-kia-optima-officially-launched-in.html-