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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 8 of 11

#69 of 103 Amanti owners: The Few, The Proud by mikewellsesq

Aug 18, 2007 (1:32 pm)

Just thinking today about how much I appreciate my 2007 Amanti. It really is the best car I have ever owned, and I am enjoying driving it. I feel badly that I see so few Amanti's on the streets where I live. I have seen a few 1st Generation Amanti's, but I have yet to see another 2007 model on the road. It does seem that Kia is strangely reticent about publicizing, advertising, or even providing cars to dealers. With the recent recent great free publicity from the IIHS side-impact tests ranking the Amanti among the safest "luxury cars" you would think Kia would take advantage of the situation to try for a bigger splash with the 2008 Amanti's. I honestly did not know about the changes to the 2007 Amanti until I started researching to replace my wrecked Hyundai XG300 in late June. Had there been any advertising at all, I think I would have noticed. I guess I have become a bit of a Kia booster now, as I am so impressed with the quality and value of my Amanti/Opirus, and by the other Kia's I looked at while shopping (the Optima with appearance package and black leather interior looked amazing; if I were a younger guy, I would have bought that car in a heartbeat). It bugs me when ignorant people in discussion groups dismiss all Kia's as "POS Korean crap", etc. I hope that more people keep test driving Kia's and enjoying finding a well-built vehicle with great value. I am not prejudiced against domestic American cars, but I just did not see any that appealed to me. The Amanti pushed all the right buttons for me, and I like the fact that has rather unique looks. I get compliments regularly from people who see the car.
 
What attributes of the Amanti most appeal to folks in this forum? What do you like best about the car? Are you happy with your purchase? If you are proud of your "Korean Bentley", post a photo!
 

#70 of 103 Amanti safety by himi1

Aug 19, 2007 (12:53 pm)

Amanti crash test video: http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2007/08/19/video-kia-amanti-crash-test/

#71 of 103 Re: Amanti owners: The Few, The Proud [mikewellsesq] by billh6

Aug 21, 2007 (2:16 pm)

Replying to: mikewellsesq (Aug 18, 2007 1:32 pm)
Mike, your pictures look so good. I'm jealous. Now I must do that. Did you have your dealer put everything on for you? What was the total price? I have the wind reflecters on all windows with the Kia name. I was really impressed that the Amanti crash test outperformed the BMW. Like you, I too love my car. This is my second one.
Bill H.

#72 of 103 Re: Amanti owners: The Few, The Proud [billh6] by mikewellsesq

Aug 21, 2007 (4:33 pm)

Replying to: billh6 (Aug 21, 2007 2:16 pm)
Thanks! Re: installation; I installed the new grille myself, as well as the Korean-market Kia logo on the airbag cover, and I removed the "Amanti" lettering from the trunk lid and applied the "GH380" lettering.. The center caps for the wheel (the wheels had to be taken off the car for this step) and the trunk garnish I had installed by a local Kia dealer. They charged me $135 for this. When I drove up to the dealership, the sales manager saw the Opirus grille and followed me to the service bay "Did you import that car from Korea?" he asked. I explained the re-badging project, and he was quite excited by the idea and loved the new grille. He asked about where I got the parts from and I left him a card from Korean Auto Import. My wife and I were at the same dealer yesterday, and several salesmen kept checking out my car and asking me where I got it from. Everyone agrees that the car looks better than the standard Amanti, especially the grille. We were at the dealer looking at some used cars for my wife and/or 16 year-old son to consider. My wife was looking at some 2006 Amanti's they had there pre-owned. She decided that she really needs something more wagon-like, but I'm thinking that a fairly low mileage Amanti for my son would be about the safest car I could put him in for the money (around $18,000). Of course, if I bought him one, then we would have to "Opirus-ize" it, too!

#73 of 103 '08 by billh6

Oct 10, 2007 (6:58 am)

I went to my dealer to get my first oil change in my '07. There were 4 new Amantis on the lot. I asked him if they were selling. He said yes, even with no advertising, but that most come to Kia for smaller, more fuel efficiency vehicles, which is why Kia is not pushing the Amanti. Has anyone heard about the '08s, if any changes. I am paying over my reg. car payment, in hopes of keeping this for a long time, but then again, I might be pursuaded to trade, but with under 6k miles I might just stay put. I've still not changed my grille but it's on my list of things to do.
Bill

#74 of 103 Re: '08 [billh6] by mikewellsesq

Oct 10, 2007 (6:08 pm)

Replying to: billh6 (Oct 10, 2007 6:58 am)
Bill:
 
I checked on Kia's website and the only change for 2008 that I can see is that the Cobalt Blue color was dropped and Dark Red Wine was offered in its place. I was hoping that they would correct the one issue I have with the car, and that is the lack of any kind of aux audio input, or the ability to play MP3 CD's.
 
I'm surprised that you would be considering trading in your car so soon, but then, my habit is to keep a car that I like for as long as I can drive it. There are rumors of a significant design change for 2009, but I would assume that their new German designer would want to have creative control over the re-design. I'll be curious to see what he does with the Amanti/Opirus.

#75 of 103 Re: '08 [mikewellsesq] by billh6

Oct 12, 2007 (2:03 pm)

Replying to: mikewellsesq (Oct 10, 2007 6:08 pm)
No, I'm not going to trade (yet). I have the Cobalt Blue, so mine will be unique later on. My only unhappiness is what I see as a sluggish transmission now that the engine has more power. It seems to slow me down somewhat.

#76 of 103 air intake by redptc

Oct 26, 2007 (5:32 pm)

Anyone come up with ideas to improve the air intake on a 2007 Amanti? Seems like these engines starve for air. Always looking for ideas. My local kia dealer has 3 2008 Amanti`s all about the same price as a 2007.

#77 of 103 Re: air intake [redptc] by billh6

Nov 02, 2007 (7:13 am)

Replying to: redptc (Oct 26, 2007 5:32 pm)
I'm not sure what you mean by air intake. Not overheating, is it? Mine does seem to hesitate when I put the pedal to the metal but I was told it was caused by the transmission.

#78 of 103 Re: air intake [billh6] by redptc

Nov 02, 2007 (1:01 pm)

Replying to: billh6 (Nov 02, 2007 7:13 am)
I should have said a cold air intake, hooking up to the thottle body. The regular intake is above the radiator bolted to the radiater brace.The intake looks very small. Seems to me it should be bigger.But who knows. Try using the manual shift lever when you floor it.It goes like a bat out of h---.

Messages Page 8 of 11

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