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Kia Optima 2006 and earlier

609 messages,  Last post on Sep 20, 2011 at 11:45 AM

You are in the Kia Optima Forum.

What is this discussion about? Kia Optima, Sedan

Messages Page 41 of 62

#393 of 609 do the right thing, buy a kia!! by 45auto

Aug 16, 2003 (5:31 am)

Whats all this babble about some stupid consumer confidence thing? I have written ya'll several times singing the praises of kia and apologize for not writing sooner. I have a 99 sephia with almost 90k on it and its been wrecked three times and runs like a clock. ALSO my wife has a 2002 optima 4 cyl se pearl white, and all we have done to it is rotate the tires, change the oil, and replace (under warranty) a fog light bulb. Dont forget- when kia overrated their horsepower, they gave extended warranty. My dad worked for GM and would not buy their crap. I am having trouble with gmac mortgage as well. My next car (after the 120,000 power train warranty) runs out will be a Kia. P.S. my wifes car gets stares every where it is parked. Elliott Parrish, Belmont,MS

#394 of 609 Ya mean Kia is offering extended warranty coverage because by iluvmysephia1

Aug 16, 2003 (1:00 pm)

big bro HYUNDAI inadvertently listed their own car's hp ratings too high? I'm pretty sure Kia was not part of that, umm...scandal a while back. But, since they're 51% owned by Hyundai Hyundai may be agreeing that for good PR they'll give the extendo-warranty coverage. Check with your local dealer if this sounds too good to be true. The Long Haul Warranty is already industry-leading regardless of what Jeep and Suzuki keep spewing. They say in their ads that they offer "America's Best Warranty.' What are they smoking? Both of the mileage coverages are lower than Kia's. Go figure, eh?

#395 of 609 My Second Optima by serpentki

Oct 09, 2003 (3:58 pm)

...is in my driveway. After more than 41K trouble-free miles of pleasurable driving I traded in my '01 Optima LX and bought a new '04 Optima EX - the new designator for the previous SE model.
 
This seemed noteworthy enough to ask the moderators to re-open this board. I've been happy with my KIAs. I got this '04 straight off the truck. I had to take delivery the next day so I could grab this one that was equipped right, I-4 with leather interior, and the right color, Pearl White.

#396 of 609 serpentki, I haven't read a post from you in literally years! by iluvmysephia1

Oct 10, 2003 (12:06 am)

Where ya been? So you're on your 2nd Kia now? So am I-I traded my '99 Kia Sephia for a 2001 Kia Sportage 4x4 and I continue to be impressed by this very solid little SUV. So did you get 5-speed transmission again? Didn't your old one have a stick?

#397 of 609 Actually I'm On My Third KIA by serpentki

Oct 10, 2003 (7:06 am)

Initially I had a Spectra but traded it when the Optimas came out. So now I have my second Optima. This one is an automatic, but you are correct, my first had the 5-spd.
 
I had too many start-stop freeway trips through Los Angeles and made the 5-spd a pain. I'm glad to see the I-4 now comes with the SportMatic dual-gate shifter. So far I like this transmission.
 
Ilu, it is nice to see you and some other familiar names still on this discussion board. I have had very good luck with all my KIAs, actually I think it is more Korean engineering skill than luck though.
 
It was a few months back a friend of mine that owns an automated machine shop rode in my Optima. He has been very impressed with what the Koreans are doing presently. He opened the panels of a new Korean milling machine to show me how well it was put together. Then he showed me a similarly new Japanese machine. The difference was amazing. As a tech type I could appreciate what I saw. Those Koreans are really putting out some amazing products.
 
Similarly, when I brought my new Optima to work this week a group of folks from the Japanese Defense Force, who are in for their annual testing, were very intently looking over my Optima. I know they were impressed with how many Japanese cars are being driven here in the US, I could see by their expressions when looking over my Korean-built car that they were concerned and probably thinking to themselves, "look out." It's obvious they were impressed with my car, but concerned.
 
The new climate control system is a nice feature. I also have an '85 Nissan 300ZX Turbo, too old for my commuting but a great weekend sports car, it has a climate control system but is never as controllable as a manual system. The Optima's allows me much more control over the ducting, fan, and settings, all the control of a manual system plus being automatic.
 
Another nice new feature is the automatic dimming rearview mirror. I do most of my commuting during the night hours - if you recall, I drive about 150 miles to the air terminal and home each way once a week and remain at my island workplace for a week at a time - this new dimmer really works great for eliminating glare from headlights in back of me, then returns to a normal setting allowing better visibility when the glaring lights are gone.
 
I think this new Optima and I will get along just fine. I'll keep the board updated about any praise or complaints I might have. My '01 Optima was just terrific. This one is even better.

#399 of 609 Why is the Optima I'm buying tomorrow so cheap? by hiwattt

Oct 28, 2003 (5:48 pm)

Hi,
I'm buying a Kia optima tomorrow(We could pass on the jokes, thanks)It's a 2002 with 26,000 miles. The only noticeable defects are two or three small dings in the body. Both the inside and body rate at least 9 out of 10. It's the LX model with the V6.. The price I'm paying is $7,999 Which is a down right steal compared with the prices I come up with in my research. I went to usedcars.com and searched through 300 2002 optimas and the cheapest car I could find was posted at $9,995. Most of them were around 11,500. Why is mine so cheap? The dealer has a good reputation and actually has two Optimas to choose from, both identical $7,995. I was to pick the car up today but the dealer told me he came across a recall (Something with a crankshaft censor)that must be addressed, so the car is being taken to a Kia dealer to have the part replaced. I'm pretty certain the dealer gets his kias from the parent company who is a kia dealer. I suspect the optimas were either rentals or leases. Anyway I just feel like I'm getting a really good deal .. a little too good at $7995 for a 2002 with 26,000 miles. Any opinions?
 
BTW, I am informed as to the pros and cons of kia and made my decision to buy one none the less.
 
Thanks!
Don

#400 of 609 Don, welcome to the Kia family! by iluvmysephia1

Oct 29, 2003 (9:58 am)

I am on my 2nd Kia(a 2001 Kia Sportage 4x4)and love it! The reason you're getting your Optima so cheap is because Kia's have poor resale value. You are getting a good deal, though, so take advantage of it. I have had very good fortune with both of my Kia's and I have a feeling you'll like your Optima, too. Post back with your experiences with it, OK?

#401 of 609 Optima Resale... by csandste

Oct 29, 2003 (11:11 am)

There is an Enterprise rental resale lot a few miles from me. An 02 Sonata was going for $14K, a last-gen 02 Mazda 626 was going for $13K and two Optimas were going for $11K. All had mid twenties for mileage. Sonata was decked out a bit better than the Optima but no big deal. Couldn't believe the pricing difference.
 
Enterprise moves all of these cars quite rapidly and as far as I know, no dickering. So-- IMHO you got a real good deal on the Optima.
 
These prices were last summer. Rental lot prices tend to cheapen up a great deal in winter so things are probably headed south.

#402 of 609 Optima problems by dogood

Nov 07, 2003 (3:25 pm)

I bought a 2003 Optima the first week of October and it's been in the shop since. The second day of ownership the "check engine" light came on. The dealership said it was the oxygen sensor and it had to be ordered. A week later I got the car back. The same day the "check engine" light came back on. "Bad plugs" were replaced. Again the "check engine" light came on as I drove from the repair shop. This time it turned out that the shop had to call Kia to get an idea what was wrong. It turns out the engine block was miscast and the engine had to be replaced. Today I was told the engine has been replaced but there is antifreeze leaking from a gasket which has to be replaced. The dealer's shop doesn't stock the gasket since "the car is new and you don't expect a gasket to go bad" so the part isn't stocked and will have to be ordered from Kia and Kia won't say how long it will be before the part can be delivered. Needless to say, I am disgusted with the wait for this car to be fixed.
 
My brother owns the same car and loves his. I bought this one based on his recommendation and the few days I was able to drive it I loved it.
 
I have a bad feeling about this particular car and wanted to post this message to alert others to my problems.

Messages Page 41 of 62

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