Which korean car would you choose?

[stevz]

I like everything about the Kia Optima except that awful C pillar treatment. Reminds me of a Datsun 180B.

[napmatt]

the I40's r pretty sweet, my girlfirends mum has one and they go pretty hard and so cheap.

[drew`SEVNT5]

I'd buy the Optima for the wifey

[FalconXV]

Originally Posted by flappist

The genesis will be here next year, V6 or V8 & RWD.

How do you know? Most reports I've read say Hyundai have no intention of building them RHD... Hope you're right though, would make for a more interesting automotive landscape.

[Toke]

I'd take an Optima (would love it to come with the 2.2L TD).

I have recently started working at a Ford/Kia/Nissan dealership and I have been amazed how much better the "new" Kia's are then what you expect, they are lot of car for the money. I am hanging out for our new Territory's to arrive so I can compare them with the Sorento

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by blueoval

This says a lot considering Toyota has had such a good reputation of the past. Is it just that KIA/Hyundai have stepped up or Toyota have dropped the ball?

In terms of commercial vehicles I find the Hyundai's are put together much better then the Toyota's. Mind you the commercial Toyota's aren't really from Japan anymore.

Mind you if I was to buy Korean it wouldn't be new.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by TUF_302

I voted for the Optima, but would never buy either, will always buy aussie cars or jap ones

Well I thought I was buying a "Japanese car" when we got our son the SuZuki Alto...

...until I noticed the little manufacturers sticker with build details saying it was made in India...

On the ABC radio tonight they read out a list of car manufacturers now, or who will soon, build cars in India...I think the only ones they left out were Ford and Holden...

[AEF_Silver94]

Kia Optima looks pretty good imo

[wrongwaynorris]

These two options are like asking would you prefer syphilis over gonorrhea

[StrokedXT]

I'm with Norris I enjoy driving so I'll take neither

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by CODSASR

Since I have started to work at a Kia dealer as a salesman I have reallised how good they really are for the price. Alot of people think a Kia is just Hyundai with different styaling but one big difference is that Kia change the suspension to suit australian conditions and also use there own 6 speed auto instead of hyundais 5 speed.

So though I would see what others thought of the Koreans here is a few pics to help you choose.

I would take the Optima over the i45.

I have had long term experience with both brands and had nil problems. I just think the Optima looks a little nicer.

CODSASR, any idea if we will be seeing this in Australia any time soon??

[flappist]

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

These two options are like asking would you prefer syphilis over gonorrhea

Luckily you will never have either if all you ever do is masturbate......

Although you may go blind.....or at least one eyed.

[CODSASR]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

I would take the Optima over the i45.

I have had long term experience with both brands and had nil problems. I just think the Optima looks a little nicer.

CODSASR, any idea if we will be seeing this in Australia any time soon??

Yellow I have not heard anything about a 7 year warrenty yet but would certenly make my job a lot simpler. When I tell customers our warrenty is 5 year unlimited km every one of them has made the comment " I guess that only covers minor things"

[vanman_75]

Originally Posted by Paxton

The new Hyundais are like Chalk and Cheese compared to the Excels and Lantras of old.

A Mate of mine had Lantra Sportswagon when they were new, and it was rubbish. His wife has a new i30cw, and it is probably better built than the new Corolla is. Definitely better than his Prado.

Lol, having owned both prado 150 and current Santa Fe at the same time ,your mate no offense is telling fibs...the boondy don't hold a candle to the prado full stop , quality is not the Hyundais selling point its price ...it was falling apart after twelve months , rattling, thin paint , terrible driving dynamics , hard seats , poor visibility. Each to there own and sales will dictate who wins .I won't buy another

[Gman_86_xr6]

I would not buy either, for the simple reason that I am not in the market for a mid size car. If I was, I would have to take both a Mondeo and a Kia Optima for a drive and find which one I prefer from there, personally I think that Optima looks great (I actually thought it was a new Renault or something when I first saw it, until I saw the badge of course). I've liked the look of the Mondeo since they came out 4 years ago, the Optima is the first mid size car that I have thought has taken it up to the Mondeo in turns of styling. The rest of the segment all look too much alike.

[CAMS290]

My mate sold his '04 Patrol 3 litre diesel hand grenade and bought a '06 hyundai Terracan diesel and he hasn't looked back.
That 3 litre Patrol almost sent him insane.

[mrghia]

they have both made a big turn around in there manufacturing and the quality of the cars. If we were all gonna buy cars based on there problems in the history the we shouldn't buy falcons or commodores because of the issue they used to have. I think we are still living in the past but if you really think about it the Hyundai Excel was only built as a "disposable" car and to prove that cars could be sold for $11,990 but how many are still on the road. I don't think i would get a new ford without test driving either of these. These would be more of a family car and i wouldn't care how quick it was if i want to drive a fast car i'd take my 351 XD for a spin.

[MrZ]

I already have an i45, for nearly a year now. The choice was a clear one.

[Dusty1]

I've been to Seoul twice and been in a few of their cabs. Many drive better than ours do with more kms and have no doubt been better looked after.

My mate who speaks the lingo asked them how many kms and most have done over 200K with few issues. Some are even manuals, and those drivers have nothing but praise for them. They all seemed to be Hyundai's though.

The local mini vans where also pretty impressive. Obviously they were local cars and not going to come here, but they were comfy, quite and well appointed.

Saying that I looked at the Sorrento to replace the Mondeo, and it was just not big enough in the boot, so it's Territory for me.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by CAMS290

My mate sold his '04 Patrol 3 litre diesel hand grenade and bought a '06 hyundai Terracan diesel and he hasn't looked back.
That 3 litre Patrol almost sent him insane.

You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard of guys doing that out here. Those Terracans are breeding like flies out here in the bush...they can handle the roughish stuff, sip diesel at a tiny rate, and seem to put up with all sorts of treatment.

[BPXR6T]

I'd probably go the Hyundai. Thrashed an i30 renter around cairns relentlessly for a week recently. Handled crap, ugly, and slow but unbeleivable on fuel and it stood up to my abuse.

[chevypower]

The Sonata/i45 are really the same car, and both look great in my opinion. I would get it with the 2.0 GTDI

[Mr Hardware]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard of guys doing that out here. Those Terracans are breeding like flies out here in the bush...they can handle the roughish stuff, sip diesel at a tiny rate, and seem to put up with all sorts of treatment.

They're just recycled pajeros

[Burnout]

I drove a Hyundi I30 Diesel this arvo....... what a piece of pus.
Rubbish.

[flappist]

I went for a ride in a 2006 Getz belonging to a mate of mine who runs a security business. It was used nightly for patrols and had been doing so for 4 years (he bought it used) and was driving rather well especially as it had 481,000km on it.

[Road_Warrior]

I saw a new Optima the other day. It would be a tough decision IMO between that and the Mondeo. Although the Mondy has the hatch option which the Optima doesn't but they both look nice.

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by flappist

I went for a ride in a 2006 Getz belonging to a mate of mine who runs a security business. It was used nightly for patrols and had been doing so for 4 years (he bought it used) and was driving rather well especially as it had 481,000km on it.

LOL. Let me guess, the guy is Indian or Pakistani? As a Hyundai owner myself, I can tell you the Getz is an absolute joke of a car. It offers good value for money and that's *all*. I think its laughable that security firms are using these as patrol cars. Imagine you're a crim - are you really going to be afraid if you see a little 1.4L hatchback approaching you?

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Davez621

LOL. Let me guess, the guy is Indian or Pakistani? As a Hyundai owner myself, I can tell you the Getz is an absolute joke of a car. It offers good value for money and that's *all*. I think its laughable that security firms are using these as patrol cars. Imagine you're a crim - are you really going to be afraid if you see a little 1.4L hatchback approaching you?

I will ignore the racism as apart from that fact that it does not apply, even if it did it would be irrelevant.

I think that your understanding of what security firms do is laughable. They are not police, they cannot chase cars, they cannot bear weapons or even touch let alone detain people except under extreme circumstances.

Upon finding a possible crime in progress all a security guy does is watch and call the police.

The fact that they have driven almost 500,000km on patrol using a very cheap to operate vehicle with almost no down time allows them to offer a service at a lower cost making it more affordable to businesses and therefore reducing insurance payouts which goes on to make insurance policies for EVERYONE cheaper.

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by flappist

I will ignore the racism as apart from that fact that it does not apply, even if it did it would be irrelevant.

I think that your understanding of what security firms do is laughable. They are not police, they cannot chase cars, they cannot bear weapons or even touch let alone detain people except under extreme circumstances.

Upon finding a possible crime in progress all a security guy does is watch and call the police.

excuse me but how is what I wrote racist? Most security cars I see driven around (especially Getzs) are driven by Indians.

Secondly, I completely understand what security firms do, and it's what they do that I find laughable. Install a couple of night vision CCTV cameras and you've made the little Getz driving wimp completely redundant.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Davez621

excuse me but how is what I wrote racist? Most security cars I see driven around (especially Getzs) are driven by Indians.

Secondly, I completely understand what security firms do, and it's what they do that I find laughable. Install a couple of night vision CCTV cameras and you've made the little Getz driving wimp completely redundant.

Yes the CCTV cameras are good at checking doors and windows are locked, investigating noises, looking all around a building or property or even the one next to it, working out that the people inside the building after hours are actually employees not crims so as to lighten the load on our already grossly overloaded police services.

As far as a wimp driving a Getz, well you have already stated your personal expertise in that field.....