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Kia Optima Prices Paid and Buying Experience

93 messages,  Last post on Aug 24, 2009 at 3:37 PM

You are in the Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum. Your Hosts are car_man & kyfdx

What is this discussion about? Kia Optima, Sedan


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#24 of 93
Re: Experience with Schaumburg Kia? [godwheel] by csandste
Aug 30, 2008 (10:45 am)
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Replying to: godwheel (Aug 28, 2008 2:00 pm)

Go to the 2009 Optima threads to see the new car. I agree with Backy in preferring the looks of the old car, although that is strictly from pictures. New car has Fordish front clip with rear changed to better match the new Spectra replacement.
#25 of 93
Re: Experience with Schaumburg Kia? [csandste] by ksmigel
Sep 11, 2008 (8:00 pm)
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Replying to: csandste (Aug 30, 2008 10:45 am)

I agree that Backy knows his stuff and gives out sound advice. I often read his posts in trying to help others, and I don't often comment, but he's an invaluable resource for accurate and timely information.
 
Thanks, Backy.
 
Don
#26 of 93
Re: Experience with Schaumburg Kia? [ksmigel] by backy
Sep 12, 2008 (7:50 am)
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Replying to: ksmigel (Sep 11, 2008 8:00 pm)

Well, that makes my week. Nice to know I have been of some help.
 
Now on the Optima... I've found a 2007 EX I4 that appears loaded except for the Appearance Package. So it has leather, heated dual power seats, etc. etc. AND most importantly has the ABS/ESC package. It's in my favorite color for the Optima, grey, has about 14k miles and appears from what I can tell from the photos and description to be in good shape. I haven't had a call back from the seller (private party) yet, but I was wondering what kind of offer y'all think would be appropriate? Asking price is $13,900. KBB is between $13k-13.7k, Edmunds is a bit higher. The ad states that it has the 10/100 warranty so I have to find out if it has the Kia extended warranty, since the 10/100 wouldn't transfer. I also want to find out why they would want to part with such a fine car so soon.
#27 of 93
Backy by ksmigel
Sep 12, 2008 (10:16 pm)
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Maybe it was rental picked up at auction?
 
I've noticed a lot of cars, whether Buicks, Hyundais, Kias, Chryslers, Fords - they are typically 12 to 18 months old with anywhere from 12k to 20k miles, and a lot of them seem to be former rental cars according to the free car fax reports that typically accompany those types of ads.
 
I personally think you can do a little better on the price - it seems that all car pricing, no matter the brand (except for the rare cars and hybrids), has become very competitive.
 
Good luck to you.
#28 of 93
Re: Backy [ksmigel] by backy
Sep 13, 2008 (4:12 am)
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Replying to: ksmigel (Sep 12, 2008 10:16 pm)

I found out the car has been owned since new by a family where the wife just got a company car, so they have one extra car on their driveway. I will go look at it tomorrow and see whether they are willing to negotiate. I also found out the seller did not know that the 10/100 warranty is not transferrable.
#29 of 93
Re: Backy [backy] by ksmigel
Sep 14, 2008 (9:23 pm)
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Replying to: backy (Sep 13, 2008 4:12 am)

 
 
Sounds like you may be able to score a pretty good deal, then. If it's a private sale ad, they probably listed it higher than they expected to actually get.
 
Also, as you insinuated, because I know you're sharp, the warranty issue (the fact they didn't know the 100k/10year warranty is cut almost in half for 2nd owners) might give you huge leverage to get that price much lower.
 
Finally, try to find honest figures on what they'd get on a trade-in from a dealer, or at a lot on a cash sale, and bring those numbers with you.
 
Good luck, Backy.
#30 of 93
Re: Backy [ksmigel] by backy
Sep 15, 2008 (4:15 am)
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Replying to: ksmigel (Sep 14, 2008 9:23 pm)

The car was sold before I got there. I had my numbers ready but to no avail. They got the price they asked. Hopefully the seller pointed out the warranty error in the ad to the buyer.
#31 of 93
Re: Backy [backy] by csandste
Sep 15, 2008 (7:08 am)
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Replying to: backy (Sep 15, 2008 4:15 am)

I've repeatedly tried to do deals on HyunKias. It appears that dealers don't want to give anything for them at wholesale but (in my experience at least) hold out for significantly over book at retail. Your loss, but the fact that a private seller got above book makes me feel a little better as an Optima owner.
#32 of 93
Re: Backy [csandste] by csandste
Sep 15, 2008 (7:12 am)
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Replying to: csandste (Sep 15, 2008 7:08 am)

Backy-- If the ESC package is that important to you, have you ever thought about going to California or another west coast market with lower prices and greater choice? It would be a three or four day drive back, but it could get you the car you want at a big discount. I know there's a database that sweeps newspaper ads for the lowest posted prices in the country. If you were going to pay over book for a used car, why not pay under for a new one?
 
I picked the local dealer, even though I could have gotten a base car cheaper elsewhere in St. Louis. Kind of regret it now that I see what tires are going to cost for replacement and frankly the car (low mileage) hasn't been back to the dealer in the almost two years I've owned it.
#33 of 93
Re: Backy [csandste] by backy
Sep 15, 2008 (8:08 am)
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Replying to: csandste (Sep 15, 2008 7:12 am)

I recently did an inventory search across the US on an Optima LX with ABS/ESC. There were ZERO. I would consider about 1000 miles my limit for travel, e.g. East Coast. That is where the best deals on Sonatas seem to be, for example.
 
Since Sonatas with ESC are really easy to find (i.e., ALL of them have it), and I don't prefer the Optima all that much more to the Sonata, that would be the route I'd take if I can't find an Optima LX with ABS/ESC or an Elantra SE at a decent price. I am also looking at the used route, as per my recent posts on the 2007 Optima.

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