Penny Kia Service Visit

Last Wednesday I made an appointment for my 40,000 km service visit.  When I called on the previous Monday they tried to sell me a service #2 which was an oil change plus brake inspection which was $40 more than a regular oil change.  Not having any brake issues and knowing I would be sufficiently gauged for my 2 year check up in February I passed on the #2 and went for the #1 which is what the owners manual says I would need at this point.

When I called in I pointed out that my passenger side door sill light was not working, and that I had a problem with the drivers side door sill earlier this year which resulted in total car failure due to corroded wires under the door sill.  The service person listened intently, then I asked him if I could wait for my car and he said yes it should be 45 minutes to one hour maximum.  I asked since I had to have the door issue looked at would it take any longer than that and he assured me it would not.

So I showed up Wednesday morning and my service visit could not have gone any worse, I could describe it all but I think the email I sent to the service manager that night says it all, here it is verbatim.  See if you can figure out how it all ends before I post about how it turned out later this week:

I wanted to send you an email about my service visit today since I will probably getting a survey to fill out and it won't be entirely positive.  

On Monday I called in to set up a service appointment, explaining that I would be there around 8:30 and that I was having trouble with my passenger side sill plate not lighting up.  I told the guy that I had this problem before on the drivers side and it was caused by corrosion of the sill plate.  They ended up replacing the sill plate AFTER my car had broken down, I had it towed, the tow truck damaged my vehicle which was never covered.   I also explained that I would like to wait for my vehicle since I have to pick up kids at lunch time and whatnot.  After explaining my light problem I asked how long it would take to have the vehicle serviced and I was told 45 minutes to one hour.  I asked again if the problem would cause extra delay and there was no indication that it would.  Since I was told 45 minutes to one hour that is what I thought it would take.  The last time I was in it did only take about 45 minutes and I was very pleased with the service.

When I arrived the service person asked me what number I could be reached at but I explained that I needed it wait for my vehicle, and had made that clear when I set my appointment.  Again I told him that I had the sill plate problem before and that they had to replace it due to corrosion.   He told me it may be the bulb and that I would have to pay for a replacement bulb, I asked him if he was serious and he said yes.  Again I repeated that the problem before came from corrosion of the sill plate.  

I was killing time on the computers and enjoying a few timbits and coffee and after 1/2 hour noticed my vehicle still hadn't gone in for service.  I was sitting next to a nice lady in the lounge area who told me that two service technicians had called in sick today and that yesterday she showed up and the computer system was down so she had to go home and come back again today.  That poor lady was there almost as long as I was today and that was after coming yesterday and having to return.  If I had been told you guys were backed up from yesterday or short staffed I probably would have made a new appointment and saved myself 2 hours away from work.

So I waited and waited a bit more and then at about 10:20 the service person came over and I figured he would tell me my car was ready but said there was carbon build up in my intake and they were recommending I fix that and it would cost $65.... after I had waited almost 2 hours for an oil change and diagnosis of a minor problem.  It was difficult for me  not to act irritated but I politely declined the service since I had to get back to work.  Again I'm sure you understand my position and after waiting almost 2 hours the last thing I wanted to hear was that they wanted me to spend another $70.

When you saw me at about 10:30 I was totally at my wits end, I was there about 2 hours at that point, expecting to be 45 minutes to an hour and no one explained the delay to me.  When I finally finished up at 10:45 the service person told me a lot of the delay was diagnosing the sill plate problem.  This would in some cases be a reasonable explanation but I had told him 2 or 3 times about the problem I had with the drivers side sill plate earlier this year leading to its replacement, it rusted, the wires corroded, my car stopped working, I had it towed, the tow truck damaged it, etc etc....  It left a bad taste in my mouth.  Sure enough same issue with the passenger side, they have to order me in a new plate.  As an additional note, I don't find it comforting that after one winter I have had to replace both of these, one instance leading to total car failure and damage due to a tow truck.  I love my car but if this continues I will be unloading it before the warranty expires.

All in all this was not a good service experience.  As I said to both yourself and the service person, next time I need just an oil change I will be going to Jiffy Lube.  I understand the car business and I know you count on after sales service but I can't afford to give up over 2 hours to a simple oil change and diagnosis of a reoccurring problem.  I really think the service person was not listening to me at all and in the end I was correct in my diagnosis of the problem which I explained to him multiple times.   That is what I found most irritating, he just didn't listen to me.

On the upside, I bought some Weathertech mats today and found the parts person very helpful and especially nice to deal with today, the mats are great.  He would get 10 out of 10.

I have to say in my 20+ years of owning cars you are probably the best person I have ever dealt with and I think my Optima is a wonderful car, but today I was very disappointed in the service provided and will be reflecting this in the Kia survey I will be receiving.   I would be inclined to go elsewhere for any future simple oil changes but will may come in for more in depth servicing.  

As a family man and a busy person I hope you see the point here

Kia Optima - Re-Badging Complete!

I realized after I put up my last post that I had previously posted about ordering the Kia re-badge kit so some of it was redundant.  I don't have an editor (or bother to reread my own posts) so things like that happen from time to time.  Anyway today was a nice day so being the impatient type off I went to apply my new re-badge kit.

The first thing I realized was that the on-line instructions for removing the existing Kia badges was HORRIBLY INACCURATE.  The ones I saw suggested using dental floss or fishing line to remove the badges.... here's the problem.  The original badges have pegs that go into the sheet metal.... YOU CANNOT SLIDE DENTAL FLOSS THROUGH THE PLASTIC PEGS!  After breaking several pieces of fishing line I had to come up with an alternate plan.

The alternate plan involved a hair dryer and a screw driver. I gently lifted the badge and had my helper son apply some heat with the hair dryer, he was actually the one who got the first one lifted off so he deserves the credit for our success. Once we got it pried off it was pretty simple to keep applying heat and remove the entire thing.  The first one left a lot of the double sided tape behind which we had to remove with goo-gone but the back one came off with almost all the double sided tape intact.  I think our success with the second one was due to constant and heavy hair dryer heat application.  Once we had the old ones removed and the area cleaned up applying the new ones was a breeze.

For the wheel covers we simply had to place the new badges over the old ones.  Here is proof of our success, I think the new ones look way better than the old ones.  There is also another story in these pictures but I will get to that in my next post. (And its not the expert removal of my license plate in the second picture using MS Paint)

Kia Optima Re-badge Kit

One of the things I am not really in love with are the Kia emblems on the front and back of my Optima, they are also on the wheels and steering wheel.  I was reading somewhere that you can find replacements that are easy to install, they look like the picture to the left.  After a little internet research sure enough you can buy replacement kits, prices seemed to range from $50 to $80 for a set of 7 (front, back, 4 wheels, steering wheel).

On E-Bay there are lots of places selling the kits but some of them were located overseas which I normally avoid due to it taking forever for items to arrive and possible shipping damage.  I came across a place called the K5 Optima Store and the link to the items can be found here : http://www.k5optimastore.com/products/kemblems.  There were some good reviews on this company so I figured I would give them a shot.  Sure enough 5 days later the kit showed up in the mail well protected in a bubble envelope.

So next steps are to google some videos about how to apply these babies and I'll let you know how it turns out.

K5 Optima Store - Optima Upgrades

I was looking around for some ideas to spruce up the Optima and I came across the K5 Optima Store.  They sell some cool mods for the Optima like LED lights, re-badge packages and auto-fold mirrors.  I ended up ordering a re-badge package for $70 shipping included and can't wait for it to get here.  I was thinking the Kia guys might wonder what happened when I bring in the car in for service with the word KIA nowhere to be found but since I plan on keeping the car for a while I figured I'd do something to individualize it.  The link to the store is:
http://www.k5optimastore.com/products/kemblems

The LED fog light and tail light kits look cool as well but would take some effort to install so I will mull it over for a while.  I will post an update on how the re-badge install goes.  This is what the new emblems will look like:

Reality Check - Compact Luxury Sedans

http://www.autos.ca/car-comparisons/comparison-test-german-compact-luxury-sedans

Just read this great review article on compact luxury sedans on Autos.ca you should check it out.  It is surprising on a couple of fronts, firstly the BMW offering came in third behind the Merc and Audi and secondly, the new Cadillac would have placed second if it was included in the comparison.  Yes, Cadillac has a compact sports sedan that professional  auto reviewers rate higher than both the BMW and Mercedes.  It seems like the BMW is changing into the soft older person luxury sedan, a position firmly held by Mercedes in the past.  Cadillac wasn't even in the compact luxury segment last year but is now kicking some BMW butt...... go figure.  I might go test drive one just for the heck of it.

Another not insignificant point is the price of these vehicles.  The Mercedes came in "cheapest" at about $55,000 after tax, this for a vehicle with no HID headlights, satellite radio, heated rear seats or back up camera.  I know a certain beautiful Kia Optima that is $20,000 less expensive with all those options and then some.  Just think about it... $20,000 less with more stuff and a larger interior and in my opinion looks every bit as nice or nicer.  The only thing missing on the Optima of course is all wheel or rear wheel drive.  I'm not sure that's worth $20,000.

Bridgestone Blizzaks - Winter Tires Day 1

Last night I had my winter tires put on, I know it's early but we are going on vacation next week and could very well come back to 25 cm of snow. It's better to be safe than sorry, and with my factory tires I would be VERY sorry if we had snow.

As expected the Costco car guys loved the Optima.  The cashier said how he had a Forte and loved it as well but my car was beautiful.  He mentioned how he had a dog and the salesguy told him that he was covered for any damage the dog did to the material in the car, I didn't have the heart to tell him he probably paid $500 or more for that without even knowing it.  He seemed happy enough about it all so that's all that counts, not everyone is as hard to get along with as I am.

I find the Blizzaks great for driving, they stick to the road and soak up the bumps far better than my original tires.  They look good too in my opinion, I am glad I never went with the black steelie rims and smaller tires.  Once my factory summer tires are toast, which will probably take about one more year, I am really looking forward to getting some good rubber on this car.  

I dropped back to Costco for the recommended re-torque today, a guy popped out and did it in five minutes and I was on my way again.  Can't wait to see how they work in the snow, that's probably not too far down the road.....

Kia - Website and Oil Changes

I was in for oil change #2 today, which as I noted previously is overpriced at $59.99 + tax.  It does include hinge lubrication, checks all major components except brakes and tops up fluids..... but still over priced.  I skipped recommended tire rotation of course because I have the new Costco Blizzaks on the way.  I got a call and they are in now so I will be getting those tomorrow and let you all know how they are.

Anyway, after I helped myself to two cups of coffee and a few timbits I went over to use one of their handy Internet stations (they have 4 now) and checked out the Kia website among other things.  They have really improved their online calculator which can be found here:

http://www.kia.ca/pages/pricing/pricekia.aspx?lang=en

Much better than before, next thing you know they will enter the 20th century and salespeople will have car pricing available in their offices..... we'll see.

So after waiting about 45 minutes my car was done. I noticed I only have 5mm remaining on each of my front tires and 7mm on the back, not great after one year of use, maybe I can squeeze 3 years out of them but it will be cutting it close.  I've got to say I booked this appointment on two days notice and was in and out in less than an hour, that's good service.  I really don't have a major issue with paying the $59.99 + tax.  (That they also add shop supplies to and comes to $74 in total)

Kia Optima Creation!

Check out this discovery channel show on the Kia Optima, I guarantee you will want to run out and buy one!

http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/discovery-presents/discovery-special-birth-of-a-kia-optima/

Tire Rim Protection

I was trying to figure out the best way to protect my beautiful aluminium rims from salt this winter. I did my normal ask on autos.ca

http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php/topic,80851.msg822373.html#msg822373

Poorboys Wheel Sealant seemed to be the solution but before I get to reviews on the product itself I have a funny story about trying to buy the product.  I went to the poorboys site and the product was $20 which seemed reasonable enough.  I proceeded to the checkout and selected Canadian shipping...... the total was now $1520.  I was thinking that $1,500 seemed a bit high for shipping on an 8oz jar of sealant that cost $20.  I`m sure it was some type of error in the shipping calculation but it did give me more time to review the purchase.

I checked out some reviews on the product and apparently nothing really gives good rim protection, and the poorboy`s stuff smells especially bad to boot.  That being said I am willing to give it a try but not for $1,520....  I checked Canadian Tire for rim protectant and they don`t have anything.  A lot of posts say just to try wax on the rims and clean them regularly.  The rims have a clear coat protectant on them which will keep salt away as long as the coating is still in tact.

I think I will just go with the wax and wash this winter and see how it goes.  If my rims get pitted from salt I won`t be happy but I think with some TLC  we will make it through unscathed.

Winter Tires - The Saga Continues... and ends

So I had a nice plan to get a set of 16" X-Ice 3's from Costco for $970 on winter rims.... then today I called Kia just to make sure they would be a good fit and not have any warranty issues.  I remember when I bought the car it came with larger brakes which I thought was nice.  The thing I didn't account for is that those larger brakes would mean I needed larger rims to clear the brake callipers.

So they called me back shortly after saying they tried to fit 6" rims on a EX Luxury with no luck and the 17" steel rims would not fit but they had some 17" alloys that would fit..... and cost $210 a piece.  SO for the low price of $1640 + tax and installation I could get some 17" winter tires on alloy rims.  After slowing my increased heart rate I said thanks for the info but NO.  They also mentioned that if I damage my original rims it would cost about $600 to replace one, I guess as a last ditch effort to sell me the 17" wheel/rim package.... thanks but I'll pass.

So on to plan B.... keep my nice rims on all year round and bite the bullet on a set of 18" winter tires.  I wasn't looking forward to ugly black rims anyway so it was partly a blessing.  The unknown factor is how much a set of 18" winter tires would set me back.  I was headed to Costco tonight anyway for a cheap propane fill up (I still can't believe they only charge $12 to fill a tank), so a trip to the tire center was in order.

I gave them the size (225/45/18) and they said it would be a special order but all that meant is I would have to pay up front as opposed to paying when I pick them up, no big deal. They didn't have any X-Ice 3's in my size but they did have some Blizzaks they could order in.  They would be  $218 each as opposed to $140 for the 16"  version so they were more expensive but not prohibitively so and I didn't have to buy rims now.  There was still $70 off a set so all in with $15 installation fee per tire (which includes nitrogen and a 60 month road hazard warranty) the total was just north of $1,000.  I was ready to commit $970 to the X-Ice 3's so I guess that wasn't too bad and my rims won't look like crap for half the year.

In the end I think it all worked out well, can't wait to try them out after our first snowfall of the year!

Meguiar's Ultimate Wash & Wax

I ran out of my 10 gallon jug of Armor All Car Wash from Costco and they didn't have any new stuff over there so I went to Wal-Mart in search of some new stuff.  It's always fun to go roaming the car care aisle to see what new and interesting products are out there to keep the Optima in tip top shape.  I immediately gravitated towards this cool looking yellow stuff from Meguiar's.  It was also the most expensive at 19.99 so it has to be good right?

Along with the normal cleaning stuff it says it has a carnuba / polymer wax compound for extra protection and shine-ability.  It also says you only need one ounce per gallon of water so it would last quite a long time with 48 ounces per jug.

So I dumped an ounce or two into my bucket and set off to try out this funky yellow care cleaning product.  You can see how much I used because I took the above picture after I used it, wasn't much.  It soaped up good for the little bit I used and there was enough to do the whole car but just barely.  Next time I think I will use a little more, maybe 2 ounces.  It certainly got the car clean and it left a good shine.  I also noticed it made the water really bead up well when I was rinsing it off.  Is it worth $20..... I'm not really sure but it does work well and really put a nice shine on my rims.  Check out the end result!  DAMN THAT'S A FINE LOOKIN RIDE

Kia Optima EX Luxury - First Highway Trip

So we took our first family road trip this past weekend, it was about 700 km round trip and included only two of my three kids.

For some quick info, I got 7 L / 100 KM as compared to 10 L / 100 during a regular driving week.  I thought that was great considering I was hauling 4 bodies and clothes for a couple of days.  My average speed was probably about 110 so I was driving fairly easy using cruise control for the large majority of the time.

It was pouring rain on the way to our destination..... I mean pouring and I was still able to keep a comfortable 100 km / hr going.  I know for a fact my tires are useless in the snow but seemed to be fine in the rain.

The drive was comfortable, both kids had enough room for a nap in the back seat and we had lots of trunk storage for what we needed to take.

I did run into one minor issue, while going up steep hills the cruise control had trouble holding speed which I found weird.  Instead of dropping back a gear it insisted on trying to get up to speed in 5th on the hills which was not working, I lost about 10-15 km/hr several times but it could have easily been prevented by down shifting.  Luckily I could manually down shift with the manumatic mode but without that I would have been stuck losing speed on the larger hills.  Next time I am in for an oil change I will ask about it.

Overall first road trip was great in the Optima.

One month in - Kia Optima EX Luxury review

So I am one month into the Optima and figure its time for a preliminary review.  Getting 11 l/100 km fuel economy consistently still which is good but will only get better the summer.  The vehicle is great, I am still very happy with the purchase and still can't find any downside other than the definite need for winter tires, the all seasons are really only meant for non-snow seasons.  The little bit of snow we have had really does the job on handling with the all seasons.

I had to get used to putting things in the trunk as opposed to poking it into the vast expense of the Pilot, but that's no big deal.  My youngest son had some adjustment and got a bit car sick initially with the low ride and new car smell but is getting over it.  The ride is on the firm side for sure, I like it but if you don't like a firm ride then this car is not for you.  Lots of power, feels like even more than the 200hp stated, probably because the vehicle is relatively light.  I can't see you wanting or needing more.

The heated seats are great and rear heated seats for the kids in back is a great bonus in winter.  One thing I didn't expect is how nice the heated steering wheel is.  It just feels great to have warm hands on our freezing cold days.

The stereo is fantastic, bluetooth integration is nice for playing my blackberry songs and I can store songs on the hard drive once I figure out how to do it!  I am not fussy on the serius satellite, it cuts out a fair bit and plays the same songs over quite a bit I find.  I like the hair metal station but the song rotation seems limited.  I have free subscription for 3 months but won`t be renewing for almost $20 a month.  Radio, CD, and blackberry songs are suiting me just fine.

One thing I decided not to use is the comfort access where the seat moves back once you turn the car off to make it easier to get in and out of.  When you start it up it moves back to your last position.  I just prefer to have the seat kept where I like it.  If you had two different drivers I could see it being more useful.  It also has a memory driver seat which is great for switching drivers.  I find the seats really comfortable and the rear seats are kind of reclined a bit which the passengers seem to like.  It also has a power passenger seat which is a nice option.  Some articles say the seat bottoms are short but I don`t find that, maybe because I am fairly short myself.

So that leads me to my only possible minor criticism.... not for me but if you are over 6 feet tall I think you may have some headroom issues with the sunroof.  I have enough clearance but with another 3 or 4 inches it would be tight I think, same with rear seat headroom.  On the sunroof by the way it is a fantastic option, it really brings tons of light into the cabin with the glass in front and back and the shade can be closed if you don`t want to see it at all.  It has to be the best sunroof going on a non-luxury vehicle.

The brakes are great (upgrade for luxury model), I like the steering, it has decent feel and handling is really good for a non-luxury vehicle.

So, it drives great, looks great, excellent fuel economy, I have no regrets.  If I go with another Kia after this though I think I will go to a different dealership if possible, just because the local one was so annoying from beginning to end.  I took the opportunity for one last shot across the bow though.... here is my email from last week.... which they didn`t respond to I might add.
_____________________________________________
Hey car sales guy,

Just got the thank you card in the mail form you guys and it reminded me to email you about my customer survey response. I gave you guy really good marks for everything but not perfect because a few small pdi items were missed, the seatbelts had some plastic and elastic bands still on them and there was a grease or some type of stain on the back seat. No big deals but just letting you know.

I have a few people asking me about my vehicle, just keep in mind if anyone says I sent them give them a price without all the extras and let the nice finance lady worry about the upselling!

I love the car, you guys will sell tons more once you move the dealership into the 21st century I am sure! You should check out autos.ca for some tips, I post there all the time.

Thanks and good luck with it all... busy season is right around the corner
___________________________________________________________

Fuel Economy - Tank #2 + tailight pic

On tank #2 I got 11.0 l/100 km, which is not bad.  In case you have never been to St. John's it is VERY hilly here, so you would never get great fuel economy no matter how you drive.  I figure once summer hits and the engine is properly broken in I should get 10 or under no problem which is just fine by me.  We got another 5cms of snow here today so I back to a dirty Optima again......

Here is a pic of the rear LED tailights.... aren't they cool?  I know it is not a great pic, I will get some better ones once the snow goes away again.

After the storm......

So 2 days ago we had a blizzard that delivered 25 cm of snow...... today it was 12 degrees Celsius and I gave my new baby her first hand wash lunch time.... you will notice the contrast from the pic two days ago!!!  Only in Newfoundland!

Winter Driving in my Kia Optima

So winter made a return visit to St. John's today.  Just when all the snow was about gone we got walloped with 25 cm of fresh snow, luckily most of it fell on the other side of the street due to the accompanying 100 km winds.  As you can see from the pic my driveway is basically snow free without any shovelling on my part while they are bogged in across the street.

Everything was closed up this morning due to the blizzard but by lunch time everything was all clear and I made my way into work.  I am definitely going for the 16" winter tires next year.  Traction control came on about 8 times on the way to work, which is only about 5 km away from my house.  I liked the heated seats and steering wheel though.  I never had any real problems with the snow but big difference than the Pilot, definitely recommend winter tires!

Response to comment Optima vs Forester Part 2

Dear T,

I wouldn't be worried about space with one kid, ever with all the unnecessary crap people take along with kids these days, the Optima has a huge trunk and very spacious back seat.  The kid will love the heated rear seats when he gets it sit on them!

If you go to get prices on both make sure you ask for the non-extra pricing as a good starting point.  Then if for some reason you want over priced extras you can add them on after.  Just ask what the price of the vehicle is and do your own loan calculations at home once they give you some numbers.  I had extensive email trails I could refer back to so get them to put all the details you want in email, it's a good bargaining chip if nothing else.  Don't fall for the slickness of the salesperson either, it's all smoke and mirrors.  Go home and do the numbers yourself. 

Are you trading in a vehicle or just buying new, if you are trading, don't mention that until you get a price, then if you get a trade quote ask for the before tax trade value.  I found Subaru were VERY low ball on the trade but it might just have been their starting point, I never got into serious negotiations with them.  Not that Kia were much better but they were slightly better.

As far as Kia losing 80% of it's value, that is the OLD Kia.  If you could get a 5 year old Kia Optima EX Luxury in good shape for $6,000.... I'd say buy it.  I have no idea why anyone would pay substantially more for a 5 year old 2011 accord over a 2011 Optima that has been under warranty for 5 years.  I think the honda/toyota vs Kia reputation gap is closing fast, I mean the Optima was car of the year I think that speaks volumes!

Lemme know how you make out with it.

Response to comment Optima vs Forester

I had a comment left from someone considering either an Optima or Forester.  I had similar considerations along the way and really this is a fundamental question you have to ask yourself when buying a new vehicle.  Do you want practicality and convenience of AWD or do you want the better driving experience, creature comforts and fuel economy benefits of a mid sized sedan.

A lot of the decision will be based on your current family needs.  My kids are older so I don't need a massive amount of cargo room any more.  If you have small kids with car seats and whatnot then an SUV may be the way to go.  You can get a decently loaded forester (touring trim) for around the same as the Optima EX Luxury.... but here's what you get on the Optima you probably won't get on the forester:

1. heated and cooled front seats
2. heated rear seats
3. 530 watt infinity stereo
4. panoramic sunroof
5. leather seats
6. 18" tires
7. voice command
8. heated steering wheel
9. 5 year bumper to bumper warranty
10. better interest rate 0% vs 2.9%
11. MUCH MORE FUN AND ENGAGING TO DRIVE 
12. a vehicle that is not very common yet
13. about 20% better fuel economy
14. A wicked looking ride

Here's what you get on the forester that's not on the optima:

1. AWD
2. More cargo space with all the seats down (the optima does have a large trunk though and folding rear seats)
3. Way more boringness

If you need AWD then the Optima should be off your list, other than that it should be on it.  I just plan on buying a good set of winter tires next year, I mean until 5 or 6 years ago most people drove cars as opposed to SUVs and they got along just fine.  I would go 100% with the Optima over the Forester unless you have a couple of small kids.  I will keep you updated on how the Optima holds up in the snow tomorrow!  We are expecting 30cms!

Kia Optima EX Luxury - Week 1

So it was my first week of new car ownership in about 5 years, I posted proudly on autos.ca at http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php/topic,77967.msg772876.html#msg772876

There are a lot of things to like about this car:

Heated and cooled front seats
heated rear seats
Nice leather seats and interior
Heated steering wheel
panoramic sunroof
530 watt infinity stereo
beautiful 18" wheels
auto-dimming compass mirror
dual zone climate in front with vents for the back
xenon headlights
led taillights
5 year bumper to bumper warranty with roadside assistance
It looks wicked!

It has great power at 200hp for a relatively light mid-sized car, gets great gas mileage, has ECO mode for better fuel economy if you want to surrender some power and has manual shifting.

True, there is less cargo and carrying capacity than the pilot and it is not AWD but I knew that going in.  It is at least 200X more fun to drive and next winter I will hook myself up with a good set of winter tires to get me though our 5 months of winter.  I think I will go for a nice set of 16" winter rims and tires.... no ugly black rims for me.

Anyway one week in and I am loving it.  My first tank was just under 12 l/100 km as opposed to 16-17 I was getting on the pilot the last few weeks.  And that is on a brand new unbroken in engine.  I should be able to easily get under 10 by the time the summer rolls around.  Half way through my second tank I am already down around 11.  And I don't exactly drive gently.

It looks beautiful, drives really nice, is comfy and fun to drive.

We are supposed to get 20cm of snow in 2 days....... I think that should make for some interesting blog fodder on Wednesday.  I am looking at my nice 18" tires thinking they are not intended for slippery surfaces...... probably not much snow in South Korea.

Buying my new vehicle - Part 4

So Mr. Kia salesman called me back and said the best they can do is $279 bi-weekly.  Which of course was more than the $259 from Grand Falls.  I told him there was no way I was paying $20 bi-weekly for the same car.  He then asked if the Grand Falls car was an EX Luxury and I said no it was an EX+.  Well he said their $283 was based on an EX Luxury.  Now I asked him at least twice what their showroom model was and he said EX+ although I thought it was a Luxury because it had the Infinity stereo.  

But the point was that at $283 bi-weekly they were no longer trying to rip me off.  If you use the online calculator (www.kia.ca) you get very close to the same amount with allowance for admin fees of $399.  SO FINALLY they had listened to me and gave me the price on just the car without all the crap they try top add on.  Here is the list of ad-ons that they assume everyone wants and gets quoted up front:

Undercoating (why with a 5 year rust warranty and it costs $500!)
Fabric Protection (on leather seats???)
Tire warranty (say what??)
Globali Security blah blah blah (they can't even tell you what this is and it costs $300)
Gap protection (I have no idea what this is)
Life insurance
Freedom driving club (paying for all maintenance up front)

So all this stuff costs several thousand dollars and they assume everyone wants it.  Who out there has ever gotten their $400 worth out of a tire warranty???  I mean the tires only last 2 or 3 years tops.   But they assume everyone wants this and won't question paying for it because it is only an extra $20-$30 bi-weekly but that can add up to over $4000 over the 5 years.

Anyway I liked the car so we had a deal at $283 bi-weekly..... until I found out they still had undercoating included because they said it was already done, until I had them check it and it clearly wasn't so they cut me a cheque for $500.   Then at the last minute I added tinting so it crept up to $285.

Off to the finance lady I went and she tried to sell me all the stuff I didn't want in the first place.  They always put the attractive women in the finance shop, I guess so men won't say no to all the extras.  She she told me the tire warranty was very popular and 99% of people buy it, I said I am the other 1%.  Then she started on insurance and I told her not to bother with it all just give me the papers to sign.  So she printed all the stuff, I noticed she left out the 90 day no payments (how convenient) so she had to call the bank and redo the paperwork, I waited 5 minutes and the deal was done.  They still added in $80 in more admin fees for something but I let it slide. 

Anyway out I went to get my new car, the salesguy made a point of saying that I would be getting a survey from Kia and his commission was based on how I filled it out...... Oh I could be so mean but its not his fault the dealership tries to squeeze every cent out of unsuspecting customers.  They left some plastic on the seat belt and a small stain on the back seat but other than that everything was perfect.

Next post will be about my first week with my new baby!

If anyone wants more info just leave a comment and I will respond.