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Kia Optima 2006.5-2008

905 messages,  Last post on Aug 30, 2012 at 7:54 PM

You are in the Kia Optima Forum.

What is this discussion about? Kia Optima, Sedan

Messages Page 37 of 92

#352 of 905 Did we ever get that question answered by iluvmysephia1

Jan 22, 2007 (9:32 pm)

about the 2006.5 and 2007 Kia Optima's and their timing chain instead of timing belt? Was it just on the 2.4L 4 cyl engine that a timing chain is installed and not on the 6?
 
Or was this found to be bunk information?
 
csandste...I found out yesterday that the 2008 Chevy Malibu us not going to have a manual tranny on any model 'Bu. I have removed myself from that particular race then.
 
Oh, well...I still have the '08 Lancer, '07 or '08 Optima, '08 Hornet, '08 Obvio! 828/2, '07 or '08 Suzuki SX4 crossover and SX4 sedan to follow closely as owners get 'em and drive 'em to make up my mind what I might want next. Also, the Rondo is cool, the Kue looks cool, the Soul may come here(or is the Soul really the Kue)...whoa...Kia has been/is very busy lately! Lots of choices so the '08 'Bu can be dropped with no real pain inflicted.
 
But I do wonder about the new Optima's timing belt vs. timing chain question. Did we resolve that?

#353 of 905 Re: csandste... [csandste] by mickeyrom

Jan 23, 2007 (6:06 am)

Replying to: csandste (Jan 22, 2007 8:41 pm)
The 2006.5 Optima 2.4 engine has a timing chain.I managed to find the actual diagram of the engine.The 2.7 V6 has a belt.

#354 of 905 Re: csandste... [csandste] by mickeyrom

Jan 23, 2007 (6:08 am)

Replying to: csandste (Jan 22, 2007 8:41 pm)
The new Elantra isnt quite as attractive,but is roomier.About like the Optima.Also is rated as 36MPG Hwy.

#355 of 905 Re: csandste... [mickeyrom] by joe131

Jan 23, 2007 (10:45 am)

Replying to: mickeyrom (Jan 23, 2007 6:08 am)
The new Elantra is about like the Spectra in size, not Optima.

#356 of 905 Re: csandste... [joe131] by mickeyrom

Jan 23, 2007 (2:46 pm)

Replying to: joe131 (Jan 23, 2007 10:45 am)
I sat in one and it was just like my Optima.Outside looks a bit smaller.

#357 of 905 Elantra/Optima/Spectra by joe131

Jan 23, 2007 (11:50 pm)

For 2007, the interior sizes of the 3 are actually all different from one another, but the Elantra and Spectra are very close, while the Optima is significantly larger for passengers.
 
EPA lists volume in cubic feet for passengers/cargo:
Elantra........98/14
Optima.......104/14
Spectra........97/12
  
Manufacturer lists passenger/cargo volume:
Elantra........97.9/14.2
Optima.......104.2/14.8
Spectra........97.0/12.2

#358 of 905 This might answer Mickeyrom's ride complaints... by csandste

Jan 25, 2007 (10:14 pm)

http://newcartestdrive.com/
 
"Ride quality varied between the cars we drove, with the LX wearing the Kumho tires on 16-inch wheels the less compliant, although by no means rough or bumpy. This surprised us, as generally the taller a tire's sidewall, the more give and the better the ride, and on the Optima, the 17-inch wheels wear the lower-profile Michelin tires with shorter sidewalls. On the other hand, and probably because of the sidewall height, the EX delivered the crisper, more responsive handling. This isn't to imply the EX is a sports sedan, given its forward-weight bias and comfort-oriented suspension settings, but merely that it's the more enjoyable of the two models."
 
Looks like the 60 series Kumho tires are actually stiffer than the sporty Michelins. When they wear out you might want to change tires. Kumhos usually score pretty high with TireRack.com's user ratings. This might be a unique tire-- OEM tires are sometimes cheaper.

#359 of 905 Re: This might answer Mickeyrom's ride complaints... [csandste] by mickeyrom

Jan 26, 2007 (6:06 am)

Replying to: csandste (Jan 25, 2007 10:14 pm)
Its not so much a complaint ,as an observation.My car originally came with Michellins,but they seemed to be out of round,so they just switched the wheels with another Optima.Before I bought this car I drove an Optima with the appearance package,which includes the 17 in. rims.This one was definitely a harder ride than the 16 inchers.Matter of fact I found it so hard that I had almost decided to forget about the Optima altogether.A loaded Sonata Ltd. would have cost me only around a thousand more after the discounts.The only reason I went to the KIa was for the alleged better mileage.34 v 30 MPG on the top of the line car.You might not know,that there is no Sonata with leather available with a 4 cyl.

#360 of 905 Re: This might answer Mickeyrom's ride complaints... [mickeyrom] by csandste

Jan 26, 2007 (10:57 am)

Replying to: mickeyrom (Jan 26, 2007 6:06 am)
Look back at my earlier post about add-on leather (not you, others-- too late for you unless you buy a Hyundai). Dealer only charged me $500 charge. Actually looks as good as factory leather to my untrained eye.

#361 of 905 Re: This might answer Mickeyrom's ride complaints... [csandste] by mickeyrom

Jan 26, 2007 (1:12 pm)

Replying to: csandste (Jan 26, 2007 10:57 am)
Yes,I saw that post.I also wanted a power seat and that required a LTD.

Messages Page 37 of 92

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