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2007 Kia Amanti

103 messages,  Last post on Jun 19, 2008 at 7:17 PM

You are in the Kia Amanti Forum.

What is this discussion about? Kia Amanti, Sedan

Messages Page 6 of 11

#46 of 103 2008 Amanti Here by magmax

Jun 18, 2007 (12:44 am)

It's been a while since I've posted -- family crisis -- but I wanted to share that the 2008 Amanti is due to arrive at my dealer's later this week. I understand that the only difference from the 07 model that I have is the return of standard rear seat heaters. Mind you, this is for the Canadian market. Apparently we still won't see the power operated pedals, rain sensing wipers, or even the in dash 6-CD changer. It's the only vehicle in its class that doesn't have a 6-CD changer and neither the dealer nor I can understand why some jerk executive in Kia Canada would have made such a stupid decision. I'll be writing them to ask. I think it's rather strange that the 07 models didn't show up here until the last day of 2006 while now we have the 08s at the end of June. I wonder if they'll replace this body style with something based on the Azera and it's due for mid 2008 as a 2009 model.
 
MagMax

#47 of 103 Re: 2008 Amanti Here [magmax] by billh6

Jun 19, 2007 (7:31 am)

Replying to: magmax (Jun 18, 2007 12:44 am)
I've been waiting to hear from you about the grill, as I would like to change mine, but I understand. I'm so sorry about your family crisis.

#48 of 103 no Amantis to be had by billh6

Jun 19, 2007 (7:37 am)

A friend of mine contacted all 6 Kia dealers in our area and only found one, which did not have the features he was looking for, so they are ordering him one. What's the deal? I wonder why they are holding back? Supply and demand thing or are we just testing the '07 for the '08's?? I'm still delighted with mine (except for that white Hummer that gave me my first ding at the gym)

#49 of 103 Re: 2007 Amanti/Opirus Grille by mikewellsesq

Jul 01, 2007 (7:43 am)

Replying to: billh6 (Jun 19, 2007 7:31 am)
Look here for the Opirus grill for '07 Amanti's.
 
http://www.koreanautoimports.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=440
 
Amanti 2007 Luxury Chrome Grill
[KNOPLG1] $295.00
 
"Introducing the all new Amanti/Opirus Luxury Vertical OEM Mobis Grill. This upgrade is only available by Mobis in Korea and other European countries. Give your North American Amanti the Stunning style and amazing quality of this Opirus Luxury Chrome Grill. An absolute must have for every 2007 Amanti. Includes the embedded Opirus center badge. Matching Badges and rear emblems also available to complete the Opirus conversion. This Luxury grill is a direct fit to all region Amanti's using factory mounts, no modification needed."
 
If I end up buying the Amanti, I will order one of these! I'd like to totally re-badge the car to Opirus. We need for these guys to make available a replacement steering wheel center cover with the Opirus badge, as well as the chrome license plate surround with Opirus replacing the KIA badge. Think of all the people asking "What kind of car is THAT? What's an Opirus?"

#50 of 103 Re-badging '07 Amanti to Opirus by mikewellsesq

Jul 04, 2007 (5:09 pm)

To follow up on my comments about obtaining the Opirus grille for the 2007 Amanti, I have, on July 3rd, purchased a pewter beige Amanti with leather package (tan interior), ESC/safety package, 17 in. wheels and sunroof. When I started out shopping for a replacement vehicel for my wrecked 2001 XG300, I had not expected to seriously consider the Amanti due to the styling issues I had with the pre-2007 car as well as the reviewers dissing its "floaty" ride and underwhelming engine power. Test driving an Amanti after seeing an article online about the redesign for 2007 was a relevation. I seriously shopped the Amanti vs. the Azera and a couple of other nice sedans, and the Amanti won. I told my wife about the pewter beige Amanti, and when she saw it and rode in it, she was convinced that I had made the right choice. How often does that happen? I paid $26,700.00 after incentives. This car is an amazing value at that price. I am continually being amazed by the quality and features. The power and smoothness of the ride are truly a delight. I'd say this car, for 2007, is the biggest hidden secret on the U.S. market, since Kia is not doing any advertising that I can see. They took a pretty good sedan and turned it into a real quality luxury cruiser. I'd love to see this car in a "sporting" trim with handling improvements and some performance tweaks. It's really that good! But, of course, I'm preaching to the choir in this forum.
 
To get to my point, I want to totally re-badge this car to the Korean-market Opirus trim. The one objection my wife had to the car was the KIA logos on the car. Kia, regrettably, has had a reputation in the U.S. for selling cheap cars. Strange that, in Korea, the Amanti is sold as the Opirus, with no Kia nomenclature on the car at all, but here Kia wants to badge it the same as it less expensive cars. Remember that Toyota felt that its image in the U.S. required that they give a totally independent name and dealership system for their top-of-the-line sedans, and came up with the Lexus badge. Well, I want my new car to have that kind of separate identity from the Kia brand.
 
Luckily, the folks at KoreanAutoImports.com can supply all of the exterior trim and badges to make the transformation, including the deluxe Opirus grille, and tell me that they sell a whole re-badging kit to folks like me who want a new, mysterious identity for their Amanti's. They don't, at this time, have the all the pieces necessary to completely rebadge the interior, but I'm hoping to find a solution to the steering wheel cover badge and the door sill plates. I'll be photographing the changes and will report on my progress.

#51 of 103 Re: Re-badging '07 Amanti to Opirus [mikewellsesq] by mikewellsesq

Jul 14, 2007 (2:05 pm)

Replying to: mikewellsesq (Jul 04, 2007 5:09 pm)
Here's a photo of the new grille:
 
http://www.carspace.com/mikewellsesq/Albums/mikewellsesq%27s%20Album/Amanti_Opirus.JPG/page/photo.html#pic
 
Look in my CarSpace photo album under MikeWellsEsq for more photos as the project progresses.

#52 of 103 Re: Re-badging '07 Amanti to Opirus [mikewellsesq] by gary12

Jul 15, 2007 (12:50 am)

Replying to: mikewellsesq (Jul 14, 2007 2:05 pm)
Looks Good. Did you do the work yourself?
 
Gary

#53 of 103 Re: Re-badging '07 Amanti to Opirus [gary12] by mikewellsesq

Jul 15, 2007 (9:44 am)

Replying to: gary12 (Jul 15, 2007 12:50 am)
Yes, although I would advise having the grille replaced by a professional if you don't have the right tools. What you really need, and what I did not have, is a good offset Philips head screwdriver or a racheting screwdriver, because several of the screws that hold in the grille are in places with very little clearance, and getting enough leverage is difficult.
 
The steering wheel emblem required a little extra 3M double-side sticky tape to adhere properly. I'm now waiting for the rest of the items to arrive from Korea. I may have a professional mechanic replace the license plate surround. The wheels will have to be taken off the vehicle to pop out the center caps, as far as I an tell. From what I am told, using a hot air gun or hairdryer on the "Amanti" lettering will soften the double-sided adhesive holding them on enough to lift off the letters. I'll then stick on the "GH380" chrome letters on the right-hand side of the trunk lid.
 
The Opirus has really cool looking sill plates with blue illumination, but I don't know of anyone who has them available yet.

#54 of 103 Re: Re-badging '07 Amanti to Opirus [mikewellsesq] by billh6

Jul 17, 2007 (12:41 pm)

Replying to: mikewellsesq (Jul 15, 2007 9:44 am)
Mike, I was just about ready to purchase my new grill from Korean Auto Imports for $269, but have to wait until I get outside of my home painted. Is that a good price? BTW, I am a retired court reporter.

#55 of 103 Re: Re-badging '07 Amanti to Opirus [billh6] by mikewellsesq

Jul 17, 2007 (4:13 pm)

Replying to: billh6 (Jul 17, 2007 12:41 pm)
Is it a good price? I don't know of anyone else importing the grille, and let me give props to Korean AutoImports for this: I finalized my order for the grille on a Saturday, and I received the grille by USPS at about 6:00 p.m. EDT Monday. The other parts have to come from Korea, and will take longer (I think they get deliveries from Korea in about 14 days). What makes the grille worth the price is how much it improves the looks of the car, I still can't get over how good the front end looks now. The American grille is just so plain and down-market; I really don't understand why Kia won't import it with the Opirus grille. If they want to have a "sport" version of this car, with stiffer springs and shocks, etc., then put on a stainless steel mesh grille and some discreet body fairing.
 
Bottom line: I think it is a great value in that your car suddenly looks like it cost $10,000.00 more than you paid for it!

Messages Page 6 of 11

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