Futureshite - The KIA Optima

[gtd2000]

Well I arrived at San Francisco airport in the middle of the night and thought I'd have something somewhat different from the National line up in the "Premium" section...

 

I'm not convinced that the KIA actually should be considered a "Premium" selection but I can say that so far it's a competent enough machine.

 

Will take more photos tonight when I get away from the office.

 

 

Edit:

 

Took a few snaps last night..

 

This is basically the same car as the new Hyundai Sonata but feels a bit more sporting in the suspension department.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Optima was the name for the Magentis over here.

[tonedepear]

Is the Optima a Magentis over here?

 

Edit: Asked before you added all the bumf!

[gtd2000]

I don't know what's up with Photobucket today - I've rotated that last photo correctly 3 times today....

[Shep Shepherd]

SIRIUS satellite radio FTW. I wish that it was available over here.

[ashmicro]

I like that a lot. There's a touch of the XF about the hindquarters.

[RedSparrow]

Bloody hell. Just needs an MG badge...

[KruJoe]

Do we get them here yet? I've not seen one.

 

I don't know what's up with Photobucket today - I've rotated that last photo correctly 3 times today....

P'bucket can be really frustrating for this, the only way to be sure to get it right is to rotate them before uploading them. I think even after you try to rotate them in pb and view again online, your computer still remembers them the wrong way. So I try to check them carefully before I upload. Oh, and find the way to turn off the 'auto-rotate on upload' function.

Anyway, yours all look ok to us now.

[skattrd]

How many buttons on the steering wheel?

I'd crash it while trying to figure out what they did.

 

I think I like it, hopefully they'll sell a few over here so in 5yrs they'll be going through the auctions for next to nothing

[Albert Ross]

Seen a few, one was crunched. Had really nice wheels on. I reckon they might fit Fords......

[gricer]

I'm driving one at the moment. It's light years from a Magentis. Feels very European (designed by Peter Schreyer, ex-Audi).

 

I expect residuals will fall through the floor, but it's far from shite. Every bit as good as a Peugeot 508, for example.

[Jack_Harpers_Teeth]

They've put the steering wheel on the wrong side.

[Guest]

Fucking vile.

 

Although by the looks of it it's more successful at being a half arsed Audi rip off than the Insignia is. I suppose that isn't saying much.

[gtd2000]

SIRIUS satellite radio FTW. I wish that it was available over here.

 

The thing about Sirius/XM radio is that despite having a large number of stations available you tend only to listen to a handful of them. Even then, the playlists tend to be overly short and you hear the same tunes over and over again...the first time I had a car with satellite radio back in 2007ish, I thought it was great as there appeared to be so many obscure genres of music but either I was dreaming or they've seriously cut down the channel list.

[gtd2000]

Is the Optima a Magentis over here?

 

Edit: Asked before you added all the bumf!

 

Sorry about that - put the Edit line in to show I'd changed it

[gtd2000]

Bloody hell. Just needs an MG badge...

 

There's no need to cheapen the KIA brand image

[gtd2000]

Do we get them here yet? I've not seen one.

 

I don't know what's up with Photobucket today - I've rotated that last photo correctly 3 times today....

P'bucket can be really frustrating for this, the only way to be sure to get it right is to rotate them before uploading them. I think even after you try to rotate them in pb and view again online, your computer still remembers them the wrong way. So I try to check them carefully before I upload. Oh, and find the way to turn off the 'auto-rotate on upload' function.

Anyway, yours all look ok to us now.

 

It was probably our server cocking things up. As you say it all looks OK now

 

I think this model has been out in the UK for a few months now?

[cort16]

I've driven the diesel one of these and thought it rather splendid and more handsome than the Mongdeo and Ishitgnia.

[cms206]

Think we only get the 1.7CRDi engine over here. I'm seriously tempted by one as the next Motability car for the old dear as she can't drive and won't get in my motley collection of rammle.

[Rod/b]

They're selling well over here, you see a lot of them about. I was chatting to a bloke who had one at the carwash and he was well impressed with it.

 

And remember if you do get one and the residuals are shit, you can always go and stand outside Kia HQ with an A4 sized banner to express your displeasure. Yeah, that will work.

[gtd2000]

I can't say there's anything about it that I dislike other than the red illumination at night.

 

I have had a couple of issues with the Bluetooth not working properly with my phone - it pairs and connects but the audio doesn't always come through. This never happened with the Sonatas that I had before this Optima.

 

It's certainly a fairly handsome looking bugger - especially for a KIA

[Lacquer Peel]

The last generation Hyundai Sonata is the peak of Korean saloon design.

I think this Optima would look alright if it the details weren't so fussy and naff looking, like the vents on the wings.

[gtd2000]

I'm going to get one of those Sonatas at some point - I've had my eye on one since running around Washington DC in one back in 2007.

 

I'll probably wait till they're down to the £1500~2000 price mark or less and just have one for occasional use when I'm back in the UK.