Hi, sorry for Joning late;

yes forte is already on sell in SG.. for 4mths and is selling well..very well

its FC is very very good 12~13km/l on 1.6A (real life usage) paper showing 14km/l combined..
1.6 and 2.0 avails us comes with 2.4!

Cant beat vios in FC but sure a vios killer inside out.
i would say its better than City anytime.. but hey..its a korean brand.. so..
Specs wise, Forte hands down alone with ESC in this price bracket.
stock 17" low profile..
6 airbags for 2.0L offer, cluster instruments.. (aka instant FC etc.. computer).. ipod / usb connector.. and the list continue...
Let down being its MDPS, its too light with not much feedback (but was told uk program / firmware is better, not sure though.) and a hydraulic version is available too for lower end model..
yes while being 1.6/124ps its has a very smooth.. engine.. (tested) (US market even gets 5 speed auto) unlike CPS hard to drive nature. no offense.

it does has its few bugs from the initials batch (as of this writing), i.e knocking sound over hump, little sound here and there.

reliability wise.. in us kia offers 5 yrs / 100k, so i would trust its engine i think.

As for the Malaysia version, think boils down to the localized specs that naza / kia AD will want to launch.. if strips bare... then its nothing to shout about.. but for the shape.. its principle designer is from EX-Audi (original TT designer) so.. copying? haaa.. well...

Finally, until its confirmed official launch, its anybody guess.. full options forte matches even honda Civic in every aspect.. if not more..
koup hits 5 stars EuroNcap.. waiting for forte to be tested.. haa.

for those interested to know more of this forte may try this.
http://www.kia-cerato.com/

Cheers!

This post has been edited by Burgerlim: Jun 21 2009, 01:39 AM

Think most people will have that open market value in mind.. not selling is a matter of how long youll use it.. for 10years.. everycar is just about the same.. initial investment saving is better if we are talking about bread and butter (a to b) car here..

of course knowing your car worth better will just makes you feel better driving in it on the road? haa.

yes... but then if you 1st buy cheap, of course.. you sell cheap too ya? its precisely why waste unnecessary money upfront?

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Added on June 21, 2009, 10:41 pmOptima (AKA magnetis?) has gone thru facelift and new model based on Schreyer lines will be available soon..


i think its a stock clearing exercise...
car prices has a lot to do with the specs bundled as well taxes, duty etc etc.. its not just price that determine the success of a car selling.
lets hope msia version of forte will have that balance.


This post has been edited by Burgerlim: Jun 21 2009, 10:41 PM

its a re-tuned engine.. (not sure spectra) 124hp unit with very smooth curve.. checkout the website.. bodywise, its from avante.. hyundai with rear suspension changed to torsion beam...

hth.

hi, all just to update, Forte secured a 4 stars front impact only! hiaz. but full 5 with side (high end version with curtain airbag) in Ancap rating..
only drawback says it causes serious injuries to driver leg..

Ancap Forte

I think its not soo related to us after all since in ANcap / EuroNcap they uses full specs car.. full airbag.. etc..
Forte weak point lies on its steering column and pedals.. its not about the structural elements of the car which is pretty good.. looking from the side impact test. i think forte steering wheel is oversized.. causing little leg room..
however this part is really fixable.. as stated.. a furhter improvement already shows better result however its not shown as its after test..
haa.. looking forward to more test result..

wah.. 66K is really a bargain...
just pray its not a strips down version aka EX? think maybe the CBU units refers to SX variant..

2 doors version of forte is call KOUP... its out long ago..before forte
try google a bit.. awarded car design too...

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Added on July 4, 2009, 11:07 pmToyota (Vios) should worry about this.. but unless our perception about MIK (made in korea) change! that is.. haa..
funny that is in SG this car even threatening Altis.. range (almost the same price) but its not even close here.. haaa



This post has been edited by Burgerlim: Jul 4 2009, 11:07 PM

Personally i think forte interior is much.. much better than vios../altis alike.. (yes.. agreed its full hard plastic!) but i do not think its dated... but design is subjective.. for some of the down side in review..
1. light steering... due to motor driven.. not too worry.. there is hydraulic version too.. for low end model.. so its a choice..
2. jerky drive train.. not too sure too.. but.. its engine is smooth.. very smooth.. only complains its a 4 gears ver.
3. drive, here.. i must say its sound insulation still has room for improvements but that again depends on the kind of insulation they provided, for rpm > 4K.. its intrusive.. but i kind like the engine sounds... but its again much better then vios.. (very less busy)....
4. contradicts to some.. Vios actually has slightly bigger boot space.. hmm... (in litres term) see how perceptions could tell a very different story.. no offence

Overall..lets let the ride tell the story, only worry now is NAZA as the distributor..hee.. to me ESP really works.. and FC is great too >13km/L (light footer) is achievable..

certainly in design term.. i like mz3 and civic better.. but mz3 here is sg is selling > 20K over.. 50K vs 69K (base model) civic is over 80K!

so depending on country AD marketing.. lets hope for the best..

yes.. agrees.. looking forward.. to the test drive... soon..! hopefully..

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Added on July 15, 2009, 1:23 pmhi, All


http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2009/06...lt-forte-sedan/

look at this!

This post has been edited by Burgerlim: Jul 15 2009, 01:23 PM

At 66K its a steal.. in sg this car sells for > 47.5kSGD! for base model without ESC (traction, cornering, EBD, ABS... ) but again it depends on the specs.. korean car is well known to have different batch diff specs.. full spec forte could match any MIJ car anytime.. from climatic a/c all the way to instrument cluster...
at that price.. maybe it comes somewhat like EX (as in here in SG) model? 15" wheel..basic accessories?

check it out at www.kia-cerato.com (me no sale of kia / naza...)

Forte at 17" 1.6 124bhp is just ok.. (a little underpower in pickup... cruising is v.good.. ) suspension is good too... but ride can be a little noisy depending on the insulation given... and very surprise.. many could achieve 12/13km/l FC.. that v.good.. considering of the wheel size.. 80/20% Highway/Urban...

FYI, from the forum too.. think many of those issues is due to new model.. and Forte manufactured after july 09 is fixed with the above Windscreen cracking problem..(some mould adjustment i think) so i dun think msia model should be affected... reliability wise.. other then those few little hickups..sensor.. lights etc.. its a fine car.. kr car has come a long way... try it and you could instantly forget about Vios.. (personal opinion)..

servicing by naza not too sure.. la... looking at the way they sell car... not too sure...

HTH...

This post has been edited by Burgerlim: Aug 12 2009, 03:49 AM

any waja+lancer photos for sharing?

I dun think Forte FC is high, but at most average... comparing to vios / city
should be close to Altis 1.6 or better i think since altis engine is really old... ?

2 cents.

Hi, bro,

Forte 1326Kerb weight is inclusive of a 75KG driver... should minus that off... its typically ~1250KG
and in SG the power output for 1.6 forte is 124PS / 156Nm... only 1PS less then 1.6Civic available here..


Push button only apply to LHD, too bad for us.. and i can tell you the key look and feel.. ahem.. che*p..
but there are after market avail already... but wont be cheap lo...

hmm...
i am not too sure which PS you are referring to (German horse power? Pferdestärke?), but i think here is the conversion ratio for PS to BHP,
1.0 PS = 0.98632 BHP, technically its 124PS / 91.2KW@6300 rpm for forte, it should 122bhp?
i may be wrong.. .so you may want to verify this again? but from a marketing point of view they would want to show the higher number specification...

As for the weight...
SG Gov record showing 1236KG (iirc) while extracting from Kia Website (canada) these are 2.0 (Top 2 rows) and 2.4litres version... (bottom 2 rows)
CURB WEIGHT, kg (lb.) LX, EX SX
5-speed manual transmission 1,228 - 1,289 (2,707 - 2,842) -
4-speed automatic transmission 1,243 - 1,304 (2,740 - 2,875) -
6-speed manual transmission - 1,294 - 1,343 (2,853 - 2,961)
5-speed automatic transmission - 1,301 - 1,350 (2,868 - 2,976)

I dun think 1.6L should be anywhere close, and of course depending on local specification, i.e sound insulation could easily top 20-30KG?

Hi, Bro

not too worry, production starts from July (from korea) should not have this problem anymore... their engineers actually flew in to check on few "sample cars" (see how people work? )
mold adjusted and tadaa... That is why (personal opinion) MIKorea is catching MIJapan while MIMsia is matching MIIndia...

well... new chasis / design will usually face with this problem.. here and there... while agrees this may be a big one (lets hope they really fixed it). MIJ, Conti.. all have some kind of problem.. this problem is not unique to Forte.. SuZuKi share the same problem too...

Suzuki windscreen crack...

remember last Mazda 3 lauched with some bad brake issue.. ended recalling all to change (at least here in sg..). and the different is that they correct up the problem / flaws soonest..

wah... if remove import tax.. then.. can sell even lower liao issit... think this will soon become national car... haaa...

hi, all some update..

driving 1.6 here in sg, hmm... not exactly powerful but not underpower at all... comparing to Waja.. its pretty similar...
but only concern is this car really like to cruise... otherwise ..FC suffer to like 10l/100km.. (start stop) so.. think not that good for city driving... in highway.. it could reach 7-8l/100km easily..

here to share... KOUP is LAUNCHING.. in SG too... now... and not very far diff in $$$... those likes 2 doors should keep a look out for it...

launch photos.. http://www.ceratoforte.sg/general-discussion-for-forte-owners-f2/hot-kia-road-show-vivo-kia-koup-t1341-50.htm#53831

KouP! site

hi, there..

1. at 100 its ~2.6k (still run in..) so never over 120yet... IIRC 3K AT 100 for Manual
2. <1000, yes... FC improves as we drive in.. to about 5-6k clocked.. avg 8.5l/100km now..
3. only complain so far is the sound proofing, could have been better.. (top calss avante.. still edge out slightly..) but its still very quiet in cruising...
4. Full specs? mind SX so with better specs but nope.. no push start.. (only LHD) but latest model may have (koup comes with that) but at 1k SGD extra..!! other specs v.good (can forget about vios / city too) ESC (ABS, CBC, EDB etc... ), 17", 6 dics console.. 4 disc brake.. climate a/c, heated mirror, EC rear view mirror, MDPS... all in..

HTH..

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Added on September 7, 2009, 12:34 amI seriously dun think forte is copying anything... thought it looks similar in to Civic Type R coupe.. but copying? i dun think peter sch.. would... on his reputation and ability...

This post has been edited by Burgerlim: Sep 7 2009, 12:59 AM

bit by bit.. i dun think Vios is anywhere close to this car.. Tested both before buying into this MIK... space / spec / size / look out and in / features, you name it...
Altis yes and no... as many pointed out its C-seg.. in most car review.. this car is targeting on Civic, M3, Nissan... and Corolla (altis).. HTH...

yes FC not better then vios / city but lets not forget its on 17" rims 205/215 - 45 profile, i am getting 7.5l/100km now / 13.3km/l (80/20% H/C) which i think is fantastic for a 1.25t car with 17" wheel... those Ex users here (in SG) could manage 6.xl/100km which is on par if not better...

much much less busy driving... (aka far more quiet)... at least here.. since AD will have say in term of insulation level. in SG the car price is steadily going up (COE contributes too) and think its still selling like hot cakes... from 43k to 49k liao... still people buying over...

personally prefer Mz3 but.. price is another 18k more! haaa...

HTH...

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Added on September 8, 2009, 4:57 pmHi, Bro
the Standard BK on forte is from AD and it claim to be 1.5k SGD! haaa... i dun think at this time you could get it at 600SGD... we original buyer still waiting for the installation like hell... like 4-5mths backlog...

This post has been edited by Burgerlim: Sep 8 2009, 04:57 PM