Is Kia the new Skoda?

[TonyTonic]

2 minutes ago, dunc69 said:

Optima Sportwagon with 242bhp petrol engine confirmed for the UK:

 

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-geneva-motor-show/refreshed-kia-optima-range-led-£33350-sportswagon-gt-fast

 

This or an Octy 245 ?

 

Its been on my shortlist for a while. Waiting for showroom appearance. Won’t drive as well as Octavia 245 probably judging by the performance figures. It is fully loaded for the price. 

[SC03OTT]

Certainly a good looking motor. And that 2.0T makes it a tempting proposition. As said, it won’t drive as well as the Octavia.  That won’t matter to a lot of people though. 

[Wet Kipper]

How big is the boot though ?

[penguin17]

I'd wait for Hyundai to expand their N range and possibly roll out a fast version of the next i40 tourer.  

 

I've said this a couple of times on here already but you have to remember that this is the first foray into proper performance cars for Kia and Hyundai, imagine how good the next generation is going to be!  The i30N is already touted as one of the best hot hatches available at the mo.  VW have had over 40 years to get the GTI right and Hyundai have pretty much trumped it on their first attempt.  Bodes very well for the future.

 

 

[ahenners]

2 hours ago, penguin17 said:

 VW have had over 40 years to get the GTI right and Hyundai have pretty much trumped it on their first attempt. 

 

VW have honed and perfected the Golf GTI over 40 years and it shows. It's still arguably the most complete, all-rounder hot hatch out there.

 

It doesn't excel in one particular area and rivals have it beat on specifics; fun, power, price etc. And whilst the Hyundai has trumped it in some areas, the GTI still remains king overall IMO. Interior quality and refinement better in the GTI. The infotainment is still better. Then there's the image, the heritage and reputation that VW have built for the GTI over those 40 years.

 

The i30N is nice and Hyundai have done a cracking job, but it's still not a GTI.

[penguin17]

44 minutes ago, ahenners said:

 

VW have honed and perfected the Golf GTI over 40 years and it shows. It's still arguably the most complete, all-rounder hot hatch out there.

 

It doesn't excel in one particular area and rivals have it beat on specifics; fun, power, price etc. And whilst the Hyundai has trumped it in some areas, the GTI still remains king overall IMO. Interior quality and refinement better in the GTI. The infotainment is still better. Then there's the image, the heritage and reputation that VW have built for the GTI over those 40 years.

 

The i30N is nice and Hyundai have done a cracking job, but it's still not a GTI.

Great post.  

 

I do agree with you 100% and in reflection, I probably did the Golf GTI a discredit.   I really do hold the GTI in high regard; it's an iconic car and up there with the 911 and Mk1MX5 as a true motoring great (by no means a definitive list, purely my opinion and likely to be frowned upon!) 

 

It's a good job I just bought my wife a GTI   (but the runt of the family, a Mk4).  

 

 

 

 

 

[logiclee]

7 hours ago, ahenners said:

 

VW have honed and perfected the Golf GTI over 40 years and it shows. It's still arguably the most complete, all-rounder hot hatch out there.

 

It doesn't excel in one particular area and rivals have it beat on specifics; fun, power, price etc. And whilst the Hyundai has trumped it in some areas, the GTI still remains king overall IMO. Interior quality and refinement better in the GTI. The infotainment is still better. Then there's the image, the heritage and reputation that VW have built for the GTI over those 40 years.

 

The i30N is nice and Hyundai have done a cracking job, but it's still not a GTI.

 

 

Agree with most of what you say but IMO the i30N is better to drive than a Golf GTi.

 

The best way I can describe it is the i30N feels more "GTi" than the GTi

 

Lee

Edited 10 August, 2018 by logiclee

[ahenners]

38 minutes ago, logiclee said:

 

 

Agree with most of what you say but IMO the i30N is better to drive than a Golf GTi.

 

The best way I can describe it is the i30N feels more "GTi" than the GTi

 

Lee

 

There's definitely "GTI" in the i30N, I'd go as far as saying that's the car they specifically used as their benchmark for development. Everything about it; the styling, the interior, the fact they offer a "performance" variant. They do say that imitation is the best form of flattery...

[Ootohere]

How cheap do they need to be with this before it sells?

[skomaz]

44 minutes ago, Offski said:

How cheap do they need to be with this before it sells?

 

Crap colour though - maybe that's why they can't sell it??

[john999boy]

15 minutes ago, skomaz said:

Crap colour though - maybe that's why they can't sell it??

Shhhhhh.

Auric might be watching!

 

[Ootohere]

You will get an Ex Demo in the Red or Grey, are any selling at the price that KIA Dealers are still asking for them?

[dunc69]

They are just starting to sneak under the £30k mark. 

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201805226746963?atmobcid=soc3

 

Edited 22 August, 2018 by dunc69

[vRSAnt]

So how long do you think before < 20K ? 15K ?
And the GTis discussion. The Golf mk1 GTI is the only car I actually feel moved by, having owned one and thats as close as I can get to being affectionate about VWs

The more recent R is different shift from earlier models, but to look at for me, still cosmetically nothing like what pokes the senses for me the same way as the mk1, or Peugeot 206 GTIs, Renault 5 GT etc. Doesn't feel iconic to me ?
Its just so dull to look at for me personally. If thats 30 years of evolution of the model then I think they missed the trick a bit on the actual styling, favouring engineering and power etc pity they didn't push out being more experimental on styling.

Car designers are so boring and risk averse nowadays.

 

[dunc69]

On 22/08/2018 at 23:17, vRSAnt said:

So how long do you think before < 20K ? 15K ?
And the GTis discussion. The Golf mk1 GTI is the only car I actually feel moved by, having owned one and thats as close as I can get to being affectionate about VWs

The more recent R is different shift from earlier models, but to look at for me, still cosmetically nothing like what pokes the senses for me the same way as the mk1, or Peugeot 206 GTIs, Renault 5 GT etc. Doesn't feel iconic to me ?
Its just so dull to look at for me personally. If thats 30 years of evolution of the model then I think they missed the trick a bit on the actual styling, favouring engineering and power etc pity they didn't push out being more experimental on styling.

Car designers are so boring and risk averse nowadays.

 

On that (design) note, at least the Stinger is bold and different.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but, for me, the Stinger GTS looks different and exciting. 

[shyVRS245]

1 minute ago, dunc69 said:

On that (design) note, at least the Stinger is bold and different.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but, for me, the Stinger GTS looks different and exciting. 

There is a company already modifying Stinger GTS raising power to 450bhp and torque to 750NM similar to a BMW M3 Competition. Should give it 0-60mph in around 4 seconds as they also fit Michelin PS4 tyres which alone shave 0.3 seconds off the standard not very good tyres!

[dunc69]

1 minute ago, shyVRS245 said:

There is a company already modifying Stinger GTS raising power to 450bhp and torque to 750NM similar to a BMW M3 Competition. Should give it 0-60mph in around 4 seconds as they also fit Michelin PS4 tyres which alone shave 0.3 seconds off the standard not very good tyres!

I think the GTS comes with PS4s as standard. 

 

365bhp probably enough for me! 

[vRSAnt]

18 minutes ago, dunc69 said:

On that (design) note, at least the Stinger is bold and different.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but, for me, the Stinger GTS looks different and exciting. 

Yeah I agree with that sentiment, its more enticing that the Golf, 5 generations of turning a car more and more into something resembling an appliance? No other generation can touch the mk1, for originality......style......iconicness.......IMO.

I don't think the Stinger BTW is worth 40k exciting lol, and imagine a lot might agree with lack of demand/sales.
I mentioned somewhere I'd easily choose something that is real car porn like a Jag something ( XKR, F, etc etc) over it anyday.

 

But they clearly didn't realistically plan to sell that many I'm sureits like Aldi/Lidl loss leaders - maybe to some respect Audi etc too lol! Get people in then shift the stuff you stocked cheap while they are in lol.
Make people aspire to your best cars, then you can sell shed loads of the basic crap - german mondeos/taxis, etc.......

[shyVRS245]

23 minutes ago, dunc69 said:

I think the GTS comes with PS4s as standard. 

 

365bhp probably enough for me! 

Just checked 2 official GTS Kia dealers cars for sale and both show Continentals as standard tyres.

[Ootohere]

shyVRS245,  go give a standard one a drive on a damp or cold road if you have not already.

 

From page 1 of this thread.

Edited 28 August, 2018 by Offski

[dunc69]

23 hours ago, shyVRS245 said:

Just checked 2 official GTS Kia dealers cars for sale and both show Continentals as standard tyres.

Ah, PS4s in the US. Contis here. 

 

Not, however, what I would describe as ‘standard not very good tyres’ though. 

 

Still, every day is a school day.... 

[Ootohere]

There it is the Michelin Pilot Sport in 225/40R 19 front and 225/35R 19 rear, 

but the option of All Season P225 45R 18, which would be just fine here.

Edited 29 August, 2018 by Offski

[Beachy]

I recently viewed a Kia Picanta GT Sportline. Compared to the Citigo Monte Carlo it was probably better specced and certainly well screwed together. A fantastic car for a young driver.

[Ootohere]

But even with both discounted as much as you will get them if buying a new one the Kia Picanto GT Sportline will be over 2 grand more expensive.

[auditek]

Having been the proud owner of 4 Skoda's, all VRS'S, the most recent Octavia VRS 230, I bought this (New to me) Kia Stinger 3.3 a couple of weeks ago. She is Nov 2017 with 2k on the clock. Even though she is my new baby, I have to say she is the best car I have ever owned, for performance/spec, and driver fun. OK, she guzzles the gas, but I knew that when I bought her. 365 BHP with £ 140 road tax !! The only option you have when buying new, is metallic paint, which mine has, everything and his dog is included as standard ! Obviously, as with Skoda, there will be the badge snobs who wouldn't touch this with a barge pole. Having owned German cars before, the quality is right up there with them, if not better, not the slightest squeak or rattle. When I took her for a test drive, it was the first time I had seen one in the flesh, and I was just blown away..You can see heads turning, wondering 'What's that'