2005 Kia Optima LX from North America - Comments

I recently bought a used Kia Optima 2005 model with 13k miles on it and have driven for three more thousand miles. It cost me $10,800. Again, as pointed out by other reviewers, it is not a mileage in which I can juudge a car correctly, but still, getting a year old Kia Optima with just 13k miles on it in $10,800 with manufacturer's bumper to bumper warranty for next 4 years and 45K miles looks like a good deal to me. Compare it with the japanese models where you pay the premium upfront. Till now the car looks/drives great. It's a V6 so can't complaint abt a city mileage of 24 mpg, but it also gives car enough power to make you feel good while driving it. I can and will recommend Kia to my friends.

KIA's can be great car, just remember maintenance, any car this applies to!...My brother had a 95 KIA Sephia. He bought it with 0 Miles back in 95 and just sold it in 2005. The miles was 263,487 miles on it and it was still going. Never had engine or transmission work done... He upgraded to a Kia Sorento (FAMILY NOW) and also bought a truck. He has has gone cross country with it (KIA SEPHIA) and never had a problem. The only thing was probably in Colorado climbing up at 8,000 Feet, the kia was not keeping up with the other vehicles, but still made it through. Tough little KIA.

I own a 2005 Kia Optima and it has 40,000 miles on it, when its cold outside, say 25 deg's, the car starts, but only runs on 4 or 5 cylinders, running very poorly. Its done that to me twice now and I called the roadside assistance for help, they said it would the next day for a tow, so I took the day off work and they told me someone has to be with the car or they will not tow it. Then they called the morning it was supposed to be towed and said they could not find anyone to tow it, they were all to busy, that I needed to call back and reschedule the tow! I told them I am not home all week that I work 3 hours from my home, and I can't afford to take another day off because they are busy. So far I would have to say the service sucks really bad.

I disagree with the gentleman who wrote the comment on 31 October 2005 stating "you get what you pay for with a Kia". Just for your information, I purchased a 2004 Optima EX and accumulated 65K in it in 2 years - loved the build quality. Traded it in on a (same body style) 2006 and ran it up to 45K in a year and a half. I presently own a 2007 LX with the sport package and I absolutely am sold on this product. Back to the "you get what you pay for" crap...

I owned a 2005 $28K Mazda 6 and it was (really) falling apart at 15K miles. How much was it worth at trade in, this $28K vehicle? $13,500 a year and a half later. I bought a 2007 Sonata with all the bells and whistles except for heated leather leather seats, which the Mazda had and paid $19,500 out the door. People get tired of others bashing Hyundai and Kia products. I've owned Celica, Supra, numerous Audi ($$$) and so on. Some folks buy Kia for their low price and granted, they are cheap in price compared to most other vehicles out there. On the other hand, people like me (whom have owned expensive cars in the past) have GROWN UP and don't see the need to spend extra for a vehicle that does it's duties no better than Hyundai or Kia. Granted, build quality was questionable at best when these cars first hit our shores, but compared to most other makes, they have made leaps and bounds in a much quicker fashion in build quality (not to mention the killer warranty) than the other makes. When was the last time anyone said that domestics have gotten "substantially better"? I rate Hyundai and Kia "right up there" in build quality with the best from Japan.