2006 Kia Optima LX review from North America

Nothing.

Excellent value. I had previously owned a used 2004 Optima EX (4-cyl) for only 6 months and was so impressed with the build quality that I turned around and bought a new 2006 (old body style) just for the warranty. I opted for the 4-cyl LX manual trans because of the torque. I swapped the wheels for similarly-sized 15" alloys and increased the tire size to 215/60-15 Kumho's that would accommodate 44psi. The car handles so much better than before. In light of putting 30,000 miles on it in under a year, it is still tight as day one. Mileage is better than advertised and I average 30-33 mpg.

Did I mention that I got this car for only $12,500 out the door? It was still new on the lot, as the dealer stated that it had 6000 miles because it was a "demo" (sure, 5 speed, no options, and hubcaps) - but I just couldn't pass up this bargain. It fits my job perfectly (I repair copiers and haul a lot of gear, need a large back seat, and travel so much).

Overall, a very comfortable car with a touch of sporty pretenses with a rock-solid powerplant that can stand up to countless miles of punishment.

Sad to say this, but in 5 years this car will have about 200,000 miles on it, and I wonder if I'll ever get this kind of deal again, considering that Kia and Hyundai (just picked up a 2007 Sonata) are improving substantially each year. One final note: buy them now while the prices are still cheap...