Kia Optima review

[the head]

Since I STILL don't have my truck back from the bedliner repair, I figure I'd share a quick review of the Kia that I'm using in the interim. My Nissan dealer (Advantage in League City, TX) uses Enterprise rent-a-car for their loaners.

Man, I hated it at first because I just couldn't see around anything. Now I guess I'm used to it. I've had it since May 2, the day I dropped my truck off. It gets about 26mpg in city/hwy. Handles decent (better than the titan) and does emergency swerves pretty good. I've almost been hit twice from idiots changing lanes into me. The radio is better than the 6-disc I have in the truck. Road noise is actually more than the titan. Brakes are about the same. I've bumped my poor daughter's head a couple of times, as well as my own, not being used to the roofline height when putting her in the carseat. Seats are pretty comfy. Power to about 50mph is good if the thing is still in 1st gear. If it gets to 2nd, acceleration is poor. The windshield wiper sprayer doesn't work and the car has about 22,000 miles on it. Engine noise is more than the titan as well (stock vs. stock). Other than that it is a typical 4-door roller skate. I think it is considered a "mid-size". It rides well, but big dips in the road get it wiggling a little. Bump absorption is fair. The gas cap door locks such that you need to press a button to open it. I kinda wish we had that as well.
It would actually fit in my garage if I decided to put it there.

For grins I took a spin in a Subaru Forester XT the other day. I had no idea those were so fast. The salesman told me that they run 13.9s stock. I didn't believe him, but after looking around a bit - it's true! I guess that's one wagon I will give some respect to. It was a nice ride, but with no bed I dunno that I could own something like that (where would my bike go?). Still, I really liked it. I need my truck back so I'll stop window shopping for stuff...

[VShortt]

Originally Posted by the head

Since I STILL don't have my truck back from the bedliner repair, I figure I'd share a quick review of the Kia that I'm using in the interim. My Nissan dealer (Advantage in League City, TX) uses Enterprise rent-a-car for their loaners.

Man, I hated it at first because I just couldn't see around anything. Now I guess I'm used to it. I've had it since May 2, the day I dropped my truck off. It gets about 26mpg in city/hwy. Handles decent (better than the titan) and does emergency swerves pretty good. I've almost been hit twice from idiots changing lanes into me. The radio is better than the 6-disc I have in the truck. Road noise is actually more than the titan. Brakes are about the same. I've bumped my poor daughter's head a couple of times, as well as my own, not being used to the roofline height when putting her in the carseat. Seats are pretty comfy. Power to about 50mph is good if the thing is still in 1st gear. If it gets to 2nd, acceleration is poor. The windshield wiper sprayer doesn't work and the car has about 22,000 miles on it. Engine noise is more than the titan as well (stock vs. stock). Other than that it is a typical 4-door roller skate. I think it is considered a "mid-size". It rides well, but big dips in the road get it wiggling a little. Bump absorption is fair. The gas cap door locks such that you need to press a button to open it. I kinda wish we had that as well.
It would actually fit in my garage if I decided to put it there.

For grins I took a spin in a Subaru Forester XT the other day. I had no idea those were so fast. The salesman told me that they run 13.9s stock. I didn't believe him, but after looking around a bit - it's true! I guess that's one wagon I will give some respect to. It was a nice ride, but with no bed I dunno that I could own something like that (where would my bike go?). Still, I really liked it. I need my truck back so I'll stop window shopping for stuff...

One question. Did you run it at HRP?

[HavockWK]

Originally Posted by the head

Since I STILL don't have my truck back from the bedliner repair, I figure I'd share a quick review of the Kia that I'm using in the interim. My Nissan dealer (Advantage in League City, TX) uses Enterprise rent-a-car for their loaners.

Man, I hated it at first because I just couldn't see around anything. Now I guess I'm used to it. I've had it since May 2, the day I dropped my truck off. It gets about 26mpg in city/hwy. Handles decent (better than the titan) and does emergency swerves pretty good. I've almost been hit twice from idiots changing lanes into me. The radio is better than the 6-disc I have in the truck. Road noise is actually more than the titan. Brakes are about the same. I've bumped my poor daughter's head a couple of times, as well as my own, not being used to the roofline height when putting her in the carseat. Seats are pretty comfy. Power to about 50mph is good if the thing is still in 1st gear. If it gets to 2nd, acceleration is poor. The windshield wiper sprayer doesn't work and the car has about 22,000 miles on it. Engine noise is more than the titan as well (stock vs. stock). Other than that it is a typical 4-door roller skate. I think it is considered a "mid-size". It rides well, but big dips in the road get it wiggling a little. Bump absorption is fair. The gas cap door locks such that you need to press a button to open it. I kinda wish we had that as well.
It would actually fit in my garage if I decided to put it there.

For grins I took a spin in a Subaru Forester XT the other day. I had no idea those were so fast. The salesman told me that they run 13.9s stock. I didn't believe him, but after looking around a bit - it's true! I guess that's one wagon I will give some respect to. It was a nice ride, but with no bed I dunno that I could own something like that (where would my bike go?). Still, I really liked it. I need my truck back so I'll stop window shopping for stuff...

Is the Optima supposed to be the Civic competition or the Accord competition? Just remembering their commercials comparing themselves to the Hondas.

Thanks for the review!

[the head]

Originally Posted by VShortt

One question. Did you run it at HRP?

Nope. I didn't have a Folgers can to tape onto the tip for that 2 second gain.

[the head]

Originally Posted by HavockWK

Is the Optima supposed to be the Civic competition or the Accord competition? Just remembering their commercials comparing themselves to the Hondas.

I dunno. I wouldn't own one.

[bestatchess]

Why is bedliner repair taking so long?

[the head]

They said it was the worst one they've had yet. I dropped the truck off on a Monday and they didn't get it to the repair facility until Wednesday. Then, it wasn't ready to be sprayed until the following Tuesday.

[keiffers]

That's weird that the dealer is taking so long to repair it. Granted my fix was a replacement of the entire bed, but I would think it wouldn't take very long to get it fixed. I got ahold of an F150 when I got my bed replacement, but even when it was in about the mirror and fuel gauge, I had a 2005 Grand Cherokee Laredo with only 90 miles on it. Great car. I try when I have to have a rental to get something of decent size. I drove a Civic for years and one thing I learned is that they're no match for the big vehicles out there now. I just want to be able to survive LOL

[rcflier_97]

My wife has a Hyandai Sonata - nice little car- good gas milage - pretty good ride. No headroom for a 6 footer. But I do love the warranty - why can't Nissan do the same?

[the head]

Because some people like driving through 2" mud puddles and clogging the engine up with mud AAHHHHH!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

[Titan4x4Aggie]

i went by there yesterday to pick up part of an XE door handle to change mine to black. the parts guy didn't seem the most knowledgable, that's for sure. he didn't even realize there was a difference between the XE and the SE / LE door handles. the online parts listing didn't state a difference, so he doubted me.

funny how i almost always know more about my cars than the dealer / service people, and yet they still doubt me. i had to drag him to the lot to prove it.

kind of funny though how they have a truck accessories shop right next to the new dealership lot though

[the head]

Yeah I've run into that myself.

[the head]

Did I mention that the Forester XTs come with a $2000 factory rebate right now? Hmmm...

[Cominatcha]

Originally Posted by the head

Did I mention that the Forester XTs come with a $2000 factory rebate right now? Hmmm...

Dont they use the same flat 4 that the wrx has?

Have you been raggin that rental to death? I love "putting them through thier paces" which is why i wouldnt buy one. Once had a dakota 4x4 and did some moderate offroadin.

[BLoch]

I took a Monte Carlo rental 200 miles on the Pony Express Trail through Utah's west desert. Monte Carlos are surprisingly good at off roadin'.

I think I'd rather walk that by a used rental car.