Things I didn’t know existed: Manual Optimas

"Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise) 03/04/2018 at 12:54 • Filed to: Manual, Kia

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This could be a real option as a daily if my Corolla were to die or if I wanted a newer cheap daily. I’ve sat in them and they are nice and big inside which is key as a 6’3” driver. Plus that’s pretty inexpensive for such a new car.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Captain of the Enterprise 03/04/2018 at 13:05

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That interior somehow looks even more plastic fantastic than I remember Optimas being.

LOREM IPSUM > Captain of the Enterprise 03/04/2018 at 13:08

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Are those FWD or RWD (or AWD?)

dogisbadob > LOREM IPSUM 03/04/2018 at 13:15

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They are FWD

Midsize sedan, an Accord/Camry/Sonata competitor

LOREM IPSUM > dogisbadob 03/04/2018 at 13:26

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Kinda figured as much.

fhrblig > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 03/04/2018 at 13:28

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It’s not that bad, but I will say that the build quality on mine isn’t perfect. No rattles yet, though.

fhrblig > Captain of the Enterprise 03/04/2018 at 13:31

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Yeah, I think I’d pass. I’ve yet to meet a Korean car with a manual that isn’t vague or imprecise. And the six speed slushbox in mine is actually pretty good.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > fhrblig 03/04/2018 at 13:31

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I didn’t think the one that I rode in was that bad either. For some reason the image above instantly makes me think of a LittleTikes playset though.

Steve in Manhattan > Captain of the Enterprise 03/04/2018 at 17:05

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Seems to be NP - probably dead reliable as well.

Captain of the Enterprise > LOREM IPSUM 03/04/2018 at 17:35

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FWD

Captain of the Enterprise > fhrblig 03/04/2018 at 17:36

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If I went automatic which makes sense for daily duty and my commute I could get the 2.0 turbo motor too.

fhrblig > Captain of the Enterprise 03/04/2018 at 18:05

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I went with a used 2013 LX and it’s mostly base. I think the only optional equipment it has is fog lights. It’s been reliable for the last two years. It gets poor city mileage, so I only average about 23 mpg. It’s big and comfy though.

It’s going to have a serious drop in usage now, because I’m about to be issued my work van which I get to take home. My commute to work is about 45 miles total every day, and soon I won’t be using the Optima to do it. I’m going to drop from around 20k miles per year to less than 10k probably.

Captain of the Enterprise > fhrblig 03/04/2018 at 19:37

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That’s cool, congrats on the van! I drive about 45 minutes to 1 hour to get to work and class each way and it really racks up the miles on my Corolla. I just hit 150,000 and have done 29,000 miles in just over 2 years of ownership.