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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 61

#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.

#403 of 609 Optima vs. Sonata by wantapassatnow

Nov 13, 2003 (4:36 pm)

The Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata are on my list to look at for a new car, which I need to get in the next month or so. I've asked the Hyundai board why I should choose Hyundai over Kia, but I'm all for equal time, so can anyone here please tell me why I should choose Kia over Hyundai? I have to admit, right now I prefer the look of the Hyundai to Kia. BTW, I am looking at the Sonata LX cuz I like the leather seats. Is leather available on the Kia? It doesn't seem to be standard on the high-end model. Thanks!

#404 of 609 yes. leather is available by uga91

Nov 14, 2003 (8:12 am)

on the Optima. The Optima--as you may know since you are shopping both--is thw same thing as a Sonata. I have been told, but do not know for sure, that the leather seats in the Optima are the seats from the XG350 and not the Sonata. I find that a little hard to believe, but you never know. I would get the one you like from the dealer you like more since they are the same car. You like the looks of the Sonata more, so go for it! Good luck!

#405 of 609 uga91 by wantapassatnow

Nov 14, 2003 (11:43 am)

Thanks for your input! I'll still check them both out, just for the heck of it.

#406 of 609 2001 Optima SE at 89,000 by ekubec

Nov 17, 2003 (12:54 pm)

Hello everyone.
 
Here is my KIA story. I bought a 2001 Optima KIA SE with 89K on it at a public auction in Commerce City Colorado. The intention was to buy it, sell it, and make some money. I won the auction for $4000, which was more than I needed to pay for a used KIA. I drove it about 30 miles, wondering if the timing belt had ever been changed. (Recommend to change it at 60k). Found out the hard way that it had not been when it broke. The dealer replaced the belt and the camshaft positioning sensor and got it back up and running.
When we got the title, we discovered it had been a repo and was 'ridden hard and put away wet.' A few fuses had blown, the door lock mechanism on the drivers side was worn out, and the antenna was not going up and down. The fuses, door lock, and antenna were pretty easy to fix and inexpensive (under $100). The tow bill and timng belt change was not (about $850).
Unfortunately, KIA's do not have a high resale value, especially with high miles. I was looking at at least a $1500 loss. I was frustrated cause me and my girlfriend really liked the car! So we decided to keep it.
 
Although the car has 89k miles on it, you would never know it. It is smooth, quiet, solid, sound. Put new tires on it and it runs completely straight down the road. No drips in the engine.
 
So here is the good and the bad news for KIA optima owners I think: The first Korean Hyundais were horrible. Because of this, resale values are bad. But remember the early 80's when Honda's first became popular? Everyone thought that they were crap as well, and the first generation models did lack. Overtime, whenthe things were still running at 150k miles, they got a reputation for longetivity which increased their resale value. I expect in the future that KIA resale values will go up, as there are more KIAs on the rode with high mileage still running.

#407 of 609 by justin

Nov 17, 2003 (2:43 pm)

i am excited about the good news with Kia/Hyundai. my mom likes my V6 Accord, but doesn't want to pay Honda $$$. she really likes the Optima and Sonata both. she also drives about 80 miles a day. so, the long warranty would be great for her. after Christmas, she is making up her mind and taking the plunge on one of them. (she REALLY likes the warranty)
 
are the Optima and Sonata built at the same plant in Korea? why does Kia still have such low scores reliability wise, while Hyundai has improved?
 
thanks!

#408 of 609 Optima v. Sonata... by csandste

Nov 17, 2003 (5:15 pm)

Haven't checked Edmunds yet, but Kiplingers car issue listed a remarkable difference in the two in terms of depreciation. Apparently the Optima is associated with the Spectra and other sub-par cars.
 
During the summer I checked three identically used cars on an Enterprise used car lot. If memory serves me right the Sonata was priced at $15K (remarkable for a rental car w. 25K), a Mazda 626 at $14K and two Optimas at $12K. And-- Enterprise doesn't dicker. All models sold quickly.
 
My advice-- buy new get a Sonata. Buy used get an Optima.
 
The new Spectra replacement looks great and the one year advance on the Elantra re-do should get it some added sales and make Kia a higher regarded mark.

Messages Page 41 of 61

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