Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Saw the engine compartment of a 2004 KIA Optima today....all of the plastic wire shielding (the convolute covering) was brittle and missing large chunks.Touching it,would make it crumble in little pieces.If the plastic protective covering is not standing up,how can anything else? Where else have they cheapened out? And its an Optima,not a Rio.....should be better made.
My 88 Dodge has intact wire covering. (you would think something as simple as that,would last).
In 2004, Kia had not found it's way yet.
The Optima from that era was used in a Subaru campaign to epitomize the mediocre Asian sedan. It deserved it. It did not ride comfortably nor did it handle well. It came in last on virtually every comparison. (Safe bet that it is not an inspired car if a low level Dodge Stratus and Chevrolet Malibu from that time is ranking better). And that Hannibal Lector grill
If I'm not mistaken, Kia was still using a variant of the Mitsubishi Sirius engine in that generation. Could be wrong about that though.
The next generation was styled better, had better spring rates than a "click" type ball point pen, and better dampers. It had Hyundai's variant of the GEMA engine. But they still weren't there yet.
We had a brand new Optima SX turbo in my shop for installation. From the other clients getting out of their cars and gawking, taking pictures with their cel-phones, and asking, "Is this really a Kia?" I would have sworn that I had a Ferrari in my shop. They've definitely found their way on styling. Handling is getting pretty darn close to what you would expect from Honda or Mazda.