Mine comes from Korea... no rattling sound from the dashboard so far. Some forums mentioned that it is due to a tiny gap between the glovebox lid and the dashboard; easily fixed by glueing a thin, soft rubber strip along the top edge of the glovebox.

However, I do experience an annoying rattle that comes from the driver/passenger reading lamps which is only evident when going over bumpy roads. Push hard onto the plastic xsurrounding the lamps and the rattle disappears, so it's most likely a loose piece inside. Will probably fix it during the next service which is still 11000km/9 months away.

The heavy beat from the speakers ocassionally will cause the door panels to shake too, but that's only if you're playing bass-heavy songs at a loud volume.

Yup I set my volume at 6 too... 5 is too soft, while anything more than 7 will blow up my ears...

Mega TT.... Cera cannot swim ler... T_T

Got.

These two buayas...

Come come... I got 2.0L, >1.6

Whoa... K5 on the road...
http://kiatf.com/bbs/view.php?id=photo_mycar&no=168

Funny looking from this angle.


Driver-focused dashboard ala BMW style, but the plastic rim housing the console looks cheap... need clearer pictures though.


Skinny rims... rear end looks tantalising.
http://kiatf.com/bbs/view.php?id=photo_mycar&no=165

No significant difference for me in either auto or shiftronic. The latter is more fun to drive although shifting it at the wrong rpm will sometimes cause a jerky upshift.

Singapore = Cerato Forte
Australasia, Middle East, Russia = Cerato
Elsewhere = Forte

Kancil -> Forte... what a big jump...
Honestly, you are free to spend whatever you want but like most of the others mentioned, 2K salary paying for 80K car... whoaaaaaaaaa... monthly installments gonna kill you mate, not forgetting the petrol.

Anyway, at K5 poison...
http://kiatf.com/bbs/view.php?id=photo_mycar&no=181
http://kiatf.com/bbs/view.php?id=photo_mycar&no=179


Absolutely beautiful. The rims may look space-age but it actually gives the Optima a unique look. Gorgeous butt too with obvious Bangle bootlid. It would be real sweet if there was a red LED strip on the bottom bumper that lights up when the brakes are depressed instead of a mere reflector.

It's the first time that I've heard someone's Forte computer showing low FC after filling up. Most of the time it will overcalculate and show 13-15L/100km before gradually dropping to the average 8-10L/100km. 7.4 in city driving is still pretty good; for city I usually get 8 on the display although the real-life, manually calculated numbers are not surprisingly higher.

Anyway, clear SLR bling bling shots of the K5.... hell... want... new... car.... nowwwwwwww.......
http://www.slrclub.com/bbs/vx2.php?id=them...lery&no=1259987

Base model tadak...
High end model ada...There's a thin strip of LED lamps at the side mirrors...


Base model mah... High end model should get the bling bling space age rims as shown above.

2.0? Me. but not in Msia.

Theophilus Chin photoshopped some great looking Kias... Koup cabriolet... Forte hatchback...

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 20 2010, 06:53 PM

Go test the Lancer, it's a pretty good package if you're willing to pay more.

As for City vs Forte... you're in a Forte thread so you pretty much know our answer. If you're talking about handling, the relatively narrower and taller City with smaller rims won't eat take on corners as well as the 17"rim Forte would. Having said that, neither car will give you the feeling of a go-kart.

If you love your car, it will always be fun to drive regardless of what other people think. I enjoy driving different cars, be it my own Forte, or the old baremetal Kelisa; even the heavyass, roti-looking, but funky Xsara Picasso in our family.

Can't compare between these two. Forte is a C segment whereas 2 is a B.

For interior space, the 2 is tiny even for a B segment. The 1.5L is good enough for city driving but it whines and groans whenever going up hills as with most smaller cc engines. Handling wise it's probably quite easy and precise due to its light weight and hatchback configuration. Exterior design is very subjective, but personally I quite like the sporty looks yet the feminine and cute rounded surfaces of the interior dash is a huge turn off.

If not for the price, I would actually recommend the Jazz which has a more versatile interior space and larger boot would be more practical. But of course, this is a Forte thread so you know my answer for best recommendation.

Too bad the Venga is only available in Europe.

Bumpers are supposed to be soft nowadays, unlike the older cars which have a black hard strip across it. The Forte's bumper does indeed give one the impression of being overly soft, but it has its purpose by being flexible. My Forte got kissed on the butt before by an emergency-braking Camry and luckily there wasn't even a scratch nor a dent. Only two very tiny nibs visible beneath the rear bumper which you won't see unless you squat down and look for it.

Probably from the offending car's number plate.

It's hard to say whether the Mazda 3 is a better car than the Forte as there's no many direct comparison tests apart from this one; which is somewhat unfair as it pits the 2.4SX vs the 2.0 3. Having said that, if you go through most reviews it is pretty much agreed that the Mazda offers sharper handling but loses out in NVH and interior (esp rear) space.

Another interesting review which throws in the Golf for fun, where it loses the top spot to the 3 Sport. Nevertheless the Golf tested here is a low spec one that doesn't have the 7-speed DSG or the acclaimed 1.4TSI engine. There's also another review in the Australian Wheels Mag (not as good as Autocar ) which chooses the Golf as the winner so again it depends on which spec models are you looking at.

I suppose there's still no "fair" comparison between the C segment rivals. For example do you compare the SLi/SX Forte vs the full spec Mazda 3 (Maxx Sport here in Australia)? If you really go hardcore there's the 2.3L MPS or even the fire-breathing, Golf GTi-rivalling SP25. Or do you go by similar prices, where in this case you only get a bare metal low trim 3 Neo with no goodies?

At the end of the day, it still depends on what one wants from a car. Some don't give a crap about occupants' comfort and just want a zippy ride; some prefer an all rounder; some want bang for buck; some just want a box with 4 wheels. As I always say, the various C segment rivals are more similar to each other than they are different - test drive them and pick the one that tickles your fancy.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 23 2010, 06:12 PM

Played around with photoshop and gave Cera a facelift... stuck K5's bumper onto it and now Cera has LEDs

LOL... how to fight with C class?

C63AMG from Tassie beside Cera... walaoeh 6.3L V8... 3 biji Theta II also cannot fight. The price? Can buy 6 Forte liao...


Sexy 18" rims.

You import Cadenza from Korea to tapao her A5 loh

Totally agree. Leather, apart from "looking" upmarket doesn't necessarily provide more comfort. In fact in hot and sunny Malaysia it'll burn your bum and when you're sweaty it sticks and peels your skin.

As for Nicky's post... go easy on him ler... I actually don't feel that he's trolling; if anything, it's how poor Naza's leather wrapping is. After all, a showroom model is supposed to be as perfect as possible to attract potential buyers. All of us here are proud of our Fortes and will be more than willing to defend it, but honestly speaking I do think that Kia has much room to improve before it can truly vanquish the Japs. It's elder sister Hyundai is still ahead in this aspect.

Having said that, if anyone has sights on the Forte, you're in for a good treat.

No worries. I speak out for what I believe in.

I still think the Forte is a better choice than the overpriced, under-spec City (It's a Forte thread, what do you expect? ); but of course at the end of the day you're the one driving and paying for the car. There's no point for us to praise the Forte if it doesn't suit your needs. If the City is what you want and need, go ahead and buy it... don't bother about what others say... there'll always be fanboys be it Honda or Toyota, same goes with Kia.

At the end of the day, what we car buyers want is a car that gives ourselves the feeling of satisfaction every time we open the door and seat behind the wheel; not listen to what people are bragging or whining about.

Speaking of which, there's something noteworthy which I read from autoworld's forum:

http://forum.autoworld.com.my/index.php?showtopic=91397

Again, the reason I posted this is not a jab directed at the Jap rivals; but just to highlight how good a bargain Korean cars are. Everybody should at least consider a Korean car these days when looking for a ride, don't be myopic and be blinded by the outdated perception that Korean cars are "high FC + low resale".

Even Titanium Silver. Cera now looks as if she has a rash due to rain drops and mud... And I just waxed and polished her 2 weeks ago

I don't understand the use of the glass plate. For bling?

Give it a bit more time. Cera's getting around 10L/100km in urban driving, 11 if there are heavy jams.

Pretty good. Cruising at low speeds you probably won't hear much unless you are accelerating hard. At highway speeds the wind noise is quite prominent but it's comparable to other C-segment rivals. Engine noise at 100kmh is barely noticable because (1) wind noise is louder (2)2.0 only revs at 2.2K rpm (3)you'll probably be enjoying the good quality sound from the speakers.

WHOA.... bright red brakes behind the bling bling space rims?

I want K5.