- #10628 of 13222
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Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [oldcem]
by mickeyrom
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Aug 27, 2008 (10:44 am)
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Replying to: oldcem (Aug 25, 2008 8:02 pm)
I did not know that the Jags had 4 wheel drive.He has a 2003 S model,maybe it's different. I'm sure it's a better car than my $22K Optima,but then it should be when you consider the price and the "snob" value. It obviously one of it's selling point.
BTW he bought it used,so I don't know what it cost him,but I believe the S is in the 60K range when new.Am I mistaken?
BTW again,my stepson has the big Jag,and honestly I love it,but it did not feel very "sporty" to me.
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- #10629 of 13222
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Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [mickeyrom]
by akirby
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Aug 27, 2008 (10:48 am)
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Replying to: mickeyrom (Aug 27, 2008 10:44 am)
Only the Jag X-type had AWD, not the S-type.
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- #10630 of 13222
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Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [jeffyscott]
by mickeyrom
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Aug 27, 2008 (10:49 am)
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Aug 27, 2008 10:01 am)
There is no problem,just surprised on how harsh your criticism was.Maybe you didn't mean it that way.Am I being paranoid?
You did not mention what you drove,so it would be nice to what it came out second best.Quoting reviews from test drives falls short of driving it for almost two years and 20K miles.
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- #10631 of 13222
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Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [akirby]
by mickeyrom
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Aug 27, 2008 (10:50 am)
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Replying to: akirby (Aug 27, 2008 10:48 am)
Thank you,now I know 
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- #10632 of 13222
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Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [mickeyrom]
by mickeyrom
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Aug 27, 2008 (10:56 am)
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Replying to: mickeyrom (Aug 26, 2008 5:59 pm)
That was my point Jeffy.To see the Optima as a a soft ride,you must be driving a Corvette.Comprende my friend ? In other words the Vette rides so hard that almost anything else sems soft.
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- #10633 of 13222
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Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [mickeyrom]
by jeffyscott
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Aug 27, 2008 (4:27 pm)
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Replying to: mickeyrom (Aug 27, 2008 10:56 am)
Never been a a Corvette.
My anti-optima-ism is not really about the ride, it is the handling. But overly "supple" (to use CR's term, whom I quoted merely to back-up my own impressions) rides and undesireable (to me) handling characteristics generally seem to go together in this class of cars.
I drive a Mazda6 and while the ride is certainly firmer than an optima, I would not call it uncomfortable or hard and certainly not harsh. The handling is so much tighter and more responsive, than the rental optima that I had to be very careful to keep my car under control when I drove my Mazda home from the airport. "Oh, I turn the wheel just a little and the car changes direction instead of continuing in a straight line" .
What did you drive before the Optima?
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- #10634 of 13222
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Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [jeffyscott]
by explorerx4
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Aug 27, 2008 (5:21 pm)
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Aug 27, 2008 4:27 pm)
kind of hesitant interrupting the discussion, but in my experience, many rental cars have the tire pressure set very low. i guess they get less complaints about soft handling versus a hard ride.
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- #10635 of 13222
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Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [jeffyscott]
by mickeyrom
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Aug 27, 2008 (5:38 pm)
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Aug 27, 2008 4:27 pm)
I have never been in a Mazda,let alone driven one.I have heard good things about them,so I am not about to argue with you about it's qualities. I am not sure what the term "handling" means to you,but to me it's how responsive it is to the driver's touch on the wheel. I am quite satisfied with it's handilng maybe because my other car is a Chrysler Town and Country.Now that one does not handle very well.
I keep my tires at 35Psi and the ride is very firm.If I had the 17 wheels,I think it would be almost unbearable.Oh well..."different strokes for different folks"
PS I would bet that mazda 6 as well equipped as my Optima (leather, heated seats,moonroof,six disc changer,etc.etc.etc)would probably cost a lot more,and I think value has it's own quality.
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- #10636 of 13222
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Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [mickeyrom]
by oldcem
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Aug 27, 2008 (7:46 pm)
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Replying to: mickeyrom (Aug 27, 2008 10:44 am)
OK - I'm with you now. I have an X Type - It's the only Jag Model with AWD. The S was a good bit more expensive new than what I'm driving. When I priced the S in 06, the new 6 cylinder models were running in the upper $40 K range, and, the top of the line 400 HP V8 R models were around $60K. The dealer had a certified pre-owned 6 cylinder one that he kept trying to sell me, but, the car, while very plush inside, just didn't appeal to me. I didn't even test drive it, and, have to agree with you. Didn't think it was worth the money.
Regards:
Oldengineer
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- #10637 of 13222
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Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [jeffyscott]
by backy
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Aug 28, 2008 (4:44 am)
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Aug 27, 2008 4:27 pm)
I have driven the Mazda6 numerous times and it does handle more crisply than the Optima. But the Optima is definitely a sharper handler than cars like the Camry and Sonata, and even the 2008 Accord, while it does have a "supple" ride (which I see as a positive and not the same as "soft"). So someone who highly values crisp handling would probably not find the Optima to his liking, nor would he like most cars in this class.
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