Just wondering if the quality for Hyundai and Kia is on par with the Toyota and Honda now. Internal engine parts on par?
What about longevity vs Honda and Toyota?
Is Mazda in the same league? Also what about longevity vs Toyota and Honda?
Hyundai and Kia vs Toyota and Honda also Mazda
- Thread starter Michelob
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Saw the engine compartment of a 2004 KIA Optima today....all of the plastic wire shielding (the convolute covering) was brittle and missing large chunks.Touching it,would make it crumble in little pieces.If the plastic protective covering is not standing up,how can anything else? Where else have they cheapened out? And its an Optima,not a Rio.....should be better made.
My 88 Dodge has intact wire covering. (you would think something as simple as that,would last).
I have owned several Mazdas. Some over 250,000 miles. Currently I have a Hiroshima built 2001 Protege' with 199,000 miles no oil burning, no problems and no complaints (original owner). I am very happy with Mazda (not Fazdas though had a Probe which I liked alot) I know people with trouble free Kias and Hyundais with over 100,000 miles for the exception of their minivans. For some reason their minivans are more problematic. Though I know someone who has an Oddesey with 120,000 miles on it's third transmission. New Kias and Hyundais seem to be as well built as any other offering from the same continent or nearby.Originally Posted By: Michelob
Just wondering if the quality for Hyundai and Kia is on par with the Toyota and Honda now. Internal engine parts on par?
What about longevity vs Honda and Toyota?
Is Mazda in the same league? Also what about longevity vs Toyota and Honda?
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Saw the engine compartment of a 2004 KIA Optima today....all of the plastic wire shielding (the convolute covering) was brittle and missing large chunks.Touching it,would make it crumble in little pieces.If the plastic protective covering is not standing up,how can anything else? Where else have they cheapened out? And its an Optima,not a Rio.....should be better made.
My 88 Dodge has intact wire covering. (you would think something as simple as that,would last).
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Saw the engine compartment of a 2004 KIA Optima today....all of the plastic wire shielding (the convolute covering) was brittle and missing large chunks.Touching it,would make it crumble in little pieces.If the plastic protective covering is not standing up,how can anything else? Where else have they cheapened out? And its an Optima,not a Rio.....should be better made.
My 88 Dodge has intact wire covering. (you would think something as simple as that,would last).
In 2004, Kia had not found it's way yet.
The Optima from that era was used in a Subaru campaign to epitomize the mediocre Asian sedan. It deserved it. It did not ride comfortably nor did it handle well. It came in last on virtually every comparison. (Safe bet that it is not an inspired car if a low level Dodge Stratus and Chevrolet Malibu from that time is ranking better). And that Hannibal Lector grill 
If I'm not mistaken, Kia was still using a variant of the Mitsubishi Sirius engine in that generation. Could be wrong about that though.
The next generation was styled better, had better spring rates than a "click" type ball point pen, and better dampers. It had Hyundai's variant of the GEMA engine. But they still weren't there yet.
We had a brand new Optima SX turbo in my shop for installation. From the other clients getting out of their cars and gawking, taking pictures with their cel-phones, and asking, "Is this really a Kia?" I would have sworn that I had a Ferrari in my shop. They've definitely found their way on styling. Handling is getting pretty darn close to what you would expect from Honda or Mazda.Unfortunately no real good data on Kia/Hyundai.
Depends what you mean on "longevity". Some folks 150k is a long time and a new vehicle. Others go 200k+.
Hyundai/Kia is cutting costs somewhere but still delivering a wonderful product at the surface. Something has to give and longevity and repair frequency in elder years is my guess. But again pure guess.
Originally Posted By: Michelob
Just wondering if the quality for Hyundai and Kia is on par with the Toyota and Honda now. Internal engine parts on par?
What about longevity vs Honda and Toyota?
Is Mazda in the same league? Also what about longevity vs Toyota and Honda?
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
There are plenty of Ford Ovals under my hood.
Quote:
So that leaves us the MX-5 Miata, Mazda5, CX-7, and RX-8 as "uniquely Mazda" Say what you will about the Mazda Wankel Rotaries in the RX-es but no one has done a rotary better or longer lived than Mazda.
Both my Mazdas were built in Hiroshima Japan. I love them! I never owned one till about 5 years ago. Been a hooked fan ever since. Just bought an 06 Miata Grand Touring with 20k miles as well.
Solid build quality. Never ever in the dealer for any problems.
I've also owned a brand new hyundai Accent, 2006. Good reliable car. Excellent gas mileage. After 40k miles the AC compressor took a dump. $1000 to fix. Also had to replace 2 batteries before 40k miles. Those were the only problems. Expensive ones. I still think the Japanese cars are a little more refined then the Koreans. Just my opinion.
It's easy to say that Hyundai/Kia of today is "totally different" than in 2004, but realistically we won't know until 2018. Certainly the initial quality seems higher, but I know from experience that it doesn't necessarily translate to long term ownership.
To be clear, I'm not speaking against them. I'm just saying that through history, there have been a lot of claims of how great the "new" cars are (from any brand) but time tells a different story.
There is no easy answer. Honda and Toyota cheapened out quite a bit, but their drive trains are still very, very reliable. On the other hand, Hyundai is betting a lot on DI engines, lots of electronic gizmos and polarizing styling, while still having a fair amount of cheapness to them.
There is no clear winner here.
Hyundai now has lots of content in the cars, while refining the driving characteristics enough to be livable. Not top of the line, but livable. They used to go for driving characteristics moreso than content in the cars. A 2011 Elantra might have a far nicer interior than a 1999 Elantra, while that 1999, even with 150k miles on it, rides/corners/stops better. I test-drove a 2011 Elantra back in the summer, and my folks recently acquired a 1999 Elantra station wagon. HP/torque is the same between the cars at 138 hp/120ish ft/lbs. MPG is about the same too, with the 2011 getting about 29-30 mpg average while the 1999 gets about 27-28. The 1999 has IRS, while the 2011 has a twist beam.
So, while their styling/interiors/marketing have improved, the driving experience has gone downhill.
Considering a Toyota Corolla is the epitome of beige appliance, and a Civic isn't far behind, the clear winner here is Mazda. The 3, while not getting that fantastic MPG, does drive like it wants to be driven, not like driving is a chore.
Originally Posted By: 2Fast4U
I read a bumber sticker 3 years back that sumed it up best. It said...
Out of a job yet?
Keep buying foreign.
Hyundai and Kia have come a very long way, but...........I'd still take a Honda or Toyota over a Hyundai or Kia. Although the likelihood of me owning any of the 4 mentioned is pretty slim at the moment. YMMV
Originally Posted By: chubbs1
I am going with an American made car next. 2012 Charger with the V6 Pentastar is a good deal right now. They also have some 2011's left, very nice car and engine. Just do your home work on as many sites as possible.
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Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Originally Posted By: chubbs1
I am going with an American made car next. 2012 Charger with the V6 Pentastar is a good deal right now. They also have some 2011's left, very nice car and engine. Just do your home work on as many sites as possible.
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