i rented a fully loaded Optima in San Diego, that thing was quick as heck and very nice!
Kia Spectra - the best econobox???
- Thread starter JHZR2
- Start date
- Status
Low-speed impact tests are even more interesting. They take some cars and back into a pole, crash the corner into a wall, etc and add up the cost of repair. A Focus, Santa Fe, Protege and such would suffer a total of $3000-$3500 in damage while a Beetle or A6 would have ZERO damage! Zero or sometimes $200 or so. Slo-mo camera of the corner into a wall....the Protege looked like it had explosives packed into the headlamp housing, the A6 panels just rippled a bit and then settled back into place. Hard to beat that and it says a lot about quality and engineering. There is a reason people don't mind fixing their "glitchy" $20 coilpacks.
I don't think I've ever purchased a car based on crash worthiness. I don't buy cars to crash. I drive them.
If you plan on crashing your car, maybe you should quit driving? Stay home. Your couch is safer!
I think that GM vs Ford vs Toyota vs Honda vs.....argument is pretty lame and see it every day here. They can argue all they want when Kia/Hyundai is the company to look out for. They already outsell Honda and Nissan worldwide!
Kia/Hyundai give you alot of car for the money. Now they need to develop a full-size pickup.....
If you plan on crashing your car, maybe you should quit driving? Stay home. Your couch is safer!
I think that GM vs Ford vs Toyota vs Honda vs.....argument is pretty lame and see it every day here. They can argue all they want when Kia/Hyundai is the company to look out for. They already outsell Honda and Nissan worldwide!
Kia/Hyundai give you alot of car for the money. Now they need to develop a full-size pickup.....
are kia and hyundai the same company?
With that line of reasoning, I approve of your conclusion.
is the Optima comparable to the Elantra or Sonata? seems a loaded elantra is $2500 less than optima.
JHZR2
Staff member
Quote:
With that line of reasoning, I approve of your conclusion.
I didnt buy my MB diesel because daimler was top-notch in safety engineering (though they still are and even send engineers to analyze real-life wrecked cars to improve them)... I bought it because daimler was top notech in PC diesel engine design.
However, being rear-ended at over 50 MPH and taking the brunt of damage ina 4-car pileup, I sure am glad that daimler did what they did in designing the car. Had I been in a civic or corolla, the fiancee's integra, etc. Id likely not be here, and if I was, would have a really sore neck at the minimum.
As much as I dont buy cars with crashing in mind, I buy cars with good crashworthiness, but good snowtires for the winter, etc., becaue I do not trust others' ability to drive well/safely, nor their ability to keep their out of control car away from my in-control car.
JMH
spectra costs more than the fully loaded elantra!
I think you're right, i just left their sits and can't believe the higher cost of the Kia's
I've always felt that its a better value to buy a used Honda/Toyota/etc vs a new Kia/Hyundai for the same price. If you want to buy Korean, get one used as they depreciate faster than anything around. I've never been impressed by their engines, either. Usually they have more displacement, the same HP, and less MPG and refinement compared to the Japanese brands.
I'm not impressed with the new honda and toyota's....now, the new focus and fusion, that's a different story
My guess is that people are not trading in their Civics and Corollas on Hundais and KIAs. Just like when someone says their X brand of new tire is great, I want to kow what their last tires were, same thing...most owners of new KIAs, and the like, previously owned a (cough) non-premium used car. Sorta like going from dog food to TV dinners, mmm...TV dinner, yum.
Before I bought my accent in 02 I test drove the toyota echo and honda civic. Yes, on paper the toy and hon looked better. But the test drive wasn't. The "more refined" engines were low emission or zero emission, what ever they called it. The flat power at normal cruise rpms was very noticable to me right off. Reminded me some bikes with real lean epa calibration. This leanness is where they pick up the mpg and lower the emissions and compared to the "less refined" accent it was like they forgot to install the torque. They were also a little overgeared IMO, feeling like they needed to be down shifted more. Again where they picked up a epa mpg or 2. The accent seemed geared about right for the size engine. If not a little low, top gear drive away seemed a lot snappier. Not saying the hyundai is on par or better than the japanese offerings but will say when I was shopping the "more refined" engine didn't impress.
Hyundai bought kia when they were going under. They were going to make it a second line under the hyundai. Kia would basically build off last years hyundai parts. But Kia has grown legs of their own now so I don't think they are being positioned as second line. Being lower priced, even if quality is up, can hurt in "perceived quality". Also, as mentioned, resale. They got the foot in the door now and I think the prices will start going up.
Resale? I bought mine for around 9500 out the door, same honda or toy would have cost me 16,200 otd. 6700 savings. I didn't finance but lets say most people do. What the additional interest on 6700?, plus the extra insurance, plus the extra tax and yearly license? And what if the 6700 saving was invested into something else? Start doing the math and resale flys right out the window.
Hyundai bought kia when they were going under. They were going to make it a second line under the hyundai. Kia would basically build off last years hyundai parts. But Kia has grown legs of their own now so I don't think they are being positioned as second line. Being lower priced, even if quality is up, can hurt in "perceived quality". Also, as mentioned, resale. They got the foot in the door now and I think the prices will start going up.
Resale? I bought mine for around 9500 out the door, same honda or toy would have cost me 16,200 otd. 6700 savings. I didn't finance but lets say most people do. What the additional interest on 6700?, plus the extra insurance, plus the extra tax and yearly license? And what if the 6700 saving was invested into something else? Start doing the math and resale flys right out the window.
I'll bet a few year-old Honda is worth $5000 more than a same year KIA.
wileyE, what car did you drive before the 02 Accent? Do you have any recent/current pics of it? I see a lot of 02 Civics on the road that look pretty nice.
I'm very happy with my car and that's what matters, in my opinion, it's the best. But what one person likes, another person might hate, and I respect that. -nods- I know my girlfriend really likes the Kias/Hyundais however, but she's become partial to the Fit.
It looks like a 02 accent 48k always garaged, nothin fancy or to be proud of. It's just a cheap commuter car, same as a civic or echo I compared it too. It wasn't bought as a replacement vehicle but as an additional car. Lexus 300 is my "good" car in the garage, 4 runner, '40 chev, 88 suburu for the snow, and ford pickup to tow stuff. My company car is a POS chevy classic and a new chevy express? Not counting two bays of bikes.
My GF has a new civic and it is a very nice car, be a lot more fun if it wasn't an auto, LOL. Used civic? sure, as long as kids haven't owned them. if there is any sign at all of akid being near it I'd shy away, exhaust, stereo, susp, +1 wheels, blue smoke, etc
- Status
Similar threads
