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Kia Optima Prices Paid and Buying Experience

472 messages,  Last post on Apr 13, 2013 at 4:51 PM

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What is this discussion about? Kia Optima, Sedan

Messages Page 33 of 48

#321 of 472 Re: 2012 Ex Base for $22,167. was my best price [chadecoen] by steveaspesi

Mar 23, 2012 (3:41 pm)

Replying to: chadecoen (Mar 23, 2012 12:34 pm)
this may seem like a wierd choice, but we're are trying to decide on either the Mazda 3 i-touring hatchback or the Optima EX
 
fun to drive vs. luxury
really good mpg vs. good mpg
can take the dog vs. not gonna happen
zoom zoom vs. quiet gentle ride
 
The Mazda sales guy was really slamming KIA for it's reputation in years past - claiming re-sale in notoriously bad for KIA. He also thinks the Optima will soften up over time and feel more like a lincon town car with a 4 cly engine after it breaks in.
 
He had some valid points, but I truely believe the current edition of the Optima is a winner.

#322 of 472 Need help to purchase 2012 SX by crfab

Mar 24, 2012 (10:28 am)

Hi all, I am interested in purchasing a 2012 SX.
 
2012 SX Optima
Premium Touring and Tech Package
 
THe MSRP is $31,600 (including the $750 destination fee).
 
Has anyone purchased the 2012 SX with the Premium Touring and Tech Package and able to share what they paid so I can try and work the same deal with a dealership here in Orange County or San Diego County here in CA.
 
Also, if anyone can recommend a dealership in either OC or San Diego County who can give me a good deal, that would be great.
 
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Milo

#323 of 472 Just sent out the on-line 'get a quote' by steveaspesi

Mar 24, 2012 (11:07 am)

for the Optima EX - base - no options.
It's interesting how this game works. First guy calls and offers up $22,800 with 8.25% financing.
I laughed at the rate offered and said "are you serious" he went on about how it includes a rebate that makes it really less - actually seemed insulted by my laugh and hurried to end the conversation. Next guy offers a decent price through the internet on some other model that I didn't request. The local dealer has a no hassel price hanging in the rearview mirror of the EX base for 22,100. They also offer 0% 36 mo. financing for up to $15k.
 
I'm going to see who will go $21,000 puls tax & title with some attractive financing. Will report back - this is taking place in the San Jose/Bay Area. I don't care how they do it, but all those silly incentives like "college grad" or "owner loyalty" are a bunch of BS to me. It's completely up to the dealer to set the price -I'm pretty sure there's no one at KIA headquarters making sure you were a recent college grad or own a particular vehicle.

#324 of 472 Optima LX ad in the paper this weekend by steveaspesi

Mar 24, 2012 (11:33 am)

Stevens Creek Kia "8 to choose from at this Upfront Sale Price!"
 
New 2012 Kia Optima LX
MSRP..................$21,490
Dealer Discount...-$1,999
Sale Price............$19,491
 
There's no fine print here saying you must qualify for any special rebate and they also say "All new Kia's have 0% APR available for 36 months with zero down up to $15,000 financed - with your good credit"
 
Seems like a great price for a no hassle up front quote - plus the financing.

#325 of 472 Re: 2012 Ex Base for $22,167. was my best price [steveaspesi] by chadecoen

Mar 24, 2012 (11:53 am)

Replying to: steveaspesi (Mar 23, 2012 3:41 pm)
Ha ha Steve, that is too weird. We were actually looking at the same cars! We liked the Mazda3 hatch with skyactive rather than the sedan but nice cars either way.
 
I am a big fan of the Japanese cars. I do think they build a better product than anyone else. They also have a better parts and dealer network in place already. I can usually work on a Jap car for almost half as much as the parts cost me on the likes of a Kia.
 
Mazda is hands down the more fun car to drive but it was way noisier on the inside. It also felt way more plastic and cheap or thin kinda than the kia. Odd to say, but the Kia felt more luxurious. Maybe that isn't the right word but it definitely felt more cush on the inside. The kia has a better warranty to cover what may or may not prove to be poorer build quality. The Kia, for not much more money, has more options and is larger. We just gave up on the gas mileage comparison. It is hard to beat skyactive right now.
 
We also drove the focus, the forte, the soul, and the mazda 6. Other than the stuff I already stated, the kia just our personal choice. We just liked what it offered more than the others.
 
That being said though, there are several Mazda dealers very close to where we live that offer discount online prices with NO dealer fees. Plus tax and that is all. That really helped us try and compare apples to apples in a world that every dealer wants to charge a different paperwork fee and some as high as $799! In the end though I like the optima and glad we chose it but we only have a thousand miles on it so far. Who knows what it will be like at 100K miles.
 
Good luck,
Chad

#326 of 472 Re: Just sent out the on-line 'get a quote' [steveaspesi] by backy

Mar 24, 2012 (12:37 pm)

Replying to: steveaspesi (Mar 24, 2012 11:07 am)
It's completely up to the dealer to set the price -I'm pretty sure there's no one at KIA headquarters making sure you were a recent college grad or own a particular vehicle.
 
Not quite. Dealers do set the price, but it can be influenced by special offers available from the manufacturer: general rebates, college grad rebates, military rebates, competitive rebates, auto-show rebates, loyalty rebates etc. If you don't qualify for these special offers, it WILL affect your final price.
 
I've benefited from these kinds of offers before, although not on a Kia. And they DO check your qualifications. For example, when I got a loyalty rebate from Hyundai, I had to bring in the title for the other Hyundai that I owned to show proof of ownership. The dealer needs to check qualifications before they send the rebate form into the manufacturer, to ensure they get the money from the rebate.

#327 of 472 Re: 2012 Ex Base for $22,167. was my best price [chadecoen] by steveaspesi

Mar 24, 2012 (12:45 pm)

Replying to: chadecoen (Mar 24, 2012 11:53 am)
that is a coincedence to say the least - we were looking at the i-touing hatch with sky active - got the price to $18,900 plus tax & title.
 
I agree that the Japanese build a better car - and it's all in the design to build that makes the difference. American manufacturing is catching up, but I do wonder if they have to cut corners in materials to make up for higher hourly wages. The Mazda 3 leather is like hard vynal - the Optima leather is very impressive.
 
with that said the Optima being built in Georgia is a plus to me - I definitely feel better buying a car built here in the States.

#328 of 472 Re: Just sent out the on-line 'get a quote' [backy] by steveaspesi

Mar 24, 2012 (12:58 pm)

Replying to: backy (Mar 24, 2012 12:37 pm)
I don't doubt they checked your degree or the current title for a loyalty rebate, but it's just smoke and mirrors. There's no one at headquarters making sure those documents are real. It just allows the dealer to advertise a very low price and decide if he's going to give you the deal.
 
if I get a price that equates to the same deal as someone with the degree and or a owner loyalty or competitive product rebate - do you think the dealer is losing more money on the deal?
 
he's not - I assure you.

#329 of 472 Re: Just sent out the on-line 'get a quote' [steveaspesi] by backy

Mar 24, 2012 (1:23 pm)

Replying to: steveaspesi (Mar 24, 2012 12:58 pm)
Maybe there's no one at headquarters confirming the documents the dealer forwards to them. The dealer inspects them and determines if they are legitimate, or seem to be. I supposed someone could forge a title to a car or a college transcript in order to get a rebate, but I doubt that happens very often.
 
If you get a price that's the same as someone who qualifies for one or more manufacturer rebates, yes, the dealer doesn't make as much on the car they sold to you, because the manufacturer reimburses them for the rebates.
 
Have you worked in sales in a dealership so you know this is not true?

#330 of 472 Re: Just sent out the on-line 'get a quote' [backy] by steveaspesi

Mar 24, 2012 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: backy (Mar 24, 2012 1:23 pm)
have I worked for a car dealership? no
but I did sales for over 15 years including advertising for car dealers - and I can assure you they'll do anything to close a deal or take someone to cleaners if they think they can get away with it.
 
I've also worked in sales for companies that offer the incentives just to make the buyer believe they are special - when they really aren't any different from someone who just knows how to drive a hard bargain.
 
and yes, it would be easy to produce a fake title or college degree to get the "rebates" because no one is going to make you prove they are real. Would someone really feel bad if they hood winked a car salesman?

Messages Page 33 of 48

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