Hi, do you know what model is the new 17 inch Silverstone? Synergy M5 or Evol8? Thanks!

Hi, yesterday I contacted 3 Hyundai branch managers thru SMS & the answer I got was:

#1: SMS me back with dunno when launching & dunno what price

#2: Called me to tell me launch in Sep & price from 90K to 110K as still not finalized specs - if sell at 90K then many features will be taken out. Said can put RM500 booking.

#3: SMS me back with launch in Sep & price from 90K to 100K

If at that price, I supposed Forte 2.0 will get hit together with Chevy Cruze (not that they are selling well anyway)

Actually this Avante looks fantastic but I got 3 small concerns:

#1: Air-cond vents looks a bit small & located low on the dashboard - not sure efficient enuff to cool the rear passengers or not. If cannot then have to set air cond fan to HIGH most of the time & then will have more noise.

#2: Lots of reviews from US proclaims it the best compact car at the moment. However our beloved Forte is proven to be quite reliable & popular based on the 6,000+ units that are running on the road compared to Avante who will be new to our hot & pot-holed filled roads!

#3: Wish I could wait for it but since the Govt implemented 18-point check before selling 2nd hand cars, I need to get rid of mine fast!!!!!!! My Forte 1.6SX Clear White is coming next week!

Hi, sure got 1.6? I heard from branch manager #2 that they only have 1.8 & 2.0. Really hope they will not come out with a 1.6 Avante at a price close to Forte 1.6...... this will surely kill Forte & also lower down our resale value & make us jealous not to have a more beautiful car.

Hi bro, Forte also awarded "2011 TOP SAFETY PICK" la....all cars also "2011 TOP SAFETY PICK"




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Hi, let me help you out here since I have done my shopping for more than 1 year before deciding on the Forte 1.6SX which I will be getting this weekend!

1. Cruze 1.8 - Stylish interior, exterior front agressive but back got some Civic elements in the design, very low sales thus resale value would be low as well. From reviews, performance of engine is somewhat lacking. Brand name of Chevy in Malaysia not accepted by many. Not recommended.

2. Mazda 3 1.6 - Japanese car so quality is there but specs are lower than that of Forte 1.6. It is still using 4-speed gearbox with lower power & torque figures compared to Forte. If you are single or have very young children, it is suitable since the interior space is not that big. Mazda 3 in other countries is always considered a driver's car & highly recommended. If have cash, then can go for Mazda 3 2.0. Resale value of Mazda among all Japanese makes is one of the lowest.

3. Forte 2.0 Forte spare parts expensive? Go to a Service Centre to ask the prices of spare parts to confirm the "latest info" you received.

4. Inspira 2.0 - For around the same price range, you can get a local Lancer only if you can stomach the plain interior with a basic looking CD player, fiddly air-cond knobs and shallow boot. Proton cannot even give a chrome badge on the steering wheel.... save cost and mould out on the plastic - real cheapskate!

Happy shopping & hope you pick the correct choice .... Forte!

Hi bro SMK, please add me to your list - 1.6SX Clear White .... took delivery of the car on Sunday, finally the "fourteh" get his "Forte"!!!

So far so good, very happy with the features. Done 150 km so far, ride ok but some slight shaking at 100 km/h on a bad road... will try again on highway to see whether same thing happen or not.... maybe balancing or alignment out.

Only thing I wished they have put into the Forte is proper side view mirrors. "OBJECTS ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR" is quite dangerous especially if you want to change lanes! Now I always confirm with the centre rear view mirror or a quick glance over my shoulders before changing lanes.

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Added on June 15, 2011, 8:26 amHi, you can get it from this seller http://kiaceratoforte.blogspot.com/search/label/INTERIOR

Price is RM55. Call him (Nick) before you visit his shop to make sure he is around, nice guy.

This post has been edited by fourteh: Jun 15 2011, 08:26 AM

Hi Taipan, so far so good, no abnormal sound from the interior at all.....hope will be this way forever

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Added on June 16, 2011, 10:24 pmHi, thanks for the update

This post has been edited by fourteh: Jun 16 2011, 10:24 PM

Hi, I had the 2 car for almost 2 weeks now & have used the Bluetooth function. No problem at all with the mic above my head..... ppl can still hear me clearly. :-) I am sure Kia has tested and found that there is no problem with the mic in that location. If people cannot hear you then speak louder la

Hi, since it is almost near Q4, why don't wait for Avante before you make your choice? :-)

If you guys are going for 2.0 Forte, then might as well wait & see how much is the high spec 1.8 Elantra (according to a Hyundai SA, Avante will be renamed Elantra for the coming new model). Actually if I had the budget as you guys, that is what I would do but then I already bought 1.6SX which I comfort myself that I have a good car at that price, only thing I wished for is a bit more power which I am thinking of improving by changing to lighter & smaller 16 inch rims tho suffer from the looks.

Elantra has set the standard for interior & exterior design for C-segment cars & they are selling about 20K units in USA every month. If you buy it, the design will last you for many years. Don't get me wrong, I am still a Kia fan as I feel this Kia projects a sporty, young & agressive image but for you guys with the budget, why not wait & check it out before making the decision?

Hi bro,

I agree with you on the looks of the rims. Went to a few tyre shops but the designs somehow don't match our Forte. Somemore the offset of the aftermarket rims does not match to Forte's which is at 50mm. I read from the Net that if we change the offset, there will be wear on the suspension components! Anyway, my mileage is around 23xx so I might give it a while more to see if FC & power will improve.

Anyway mind to share what mods you have done to get more power...... maybe cheaper than changing a new set of rims & tyres Thanks a lot!

Sylphy costs 30K more than Forte so how to compare......30K more can get Altis or Civic or Peugeot 407 which has bigger engines & more comfort. Forte at 85K is value for money. However, you may be facing dashboard problems too which I am facing in my 2 month old 1.6SX. Fuel consumption also poor at about 10.7 l/100km but my mileage is at 2.5K so I will give it a while more for the engine to loosen up & hopefully FC will improve.

Sylphy is running on 15 inch tyres for a 2.0l car while our Forte has a tiny engine but massive wheels!!!!!

Hi, yours new car? When you send in for your next service, tell them you have the alignment problem & they will fix it for you. I had mine done in Selayang SC & now the car goes straight as an arrow.

Any members here had their dashboard rattling fixed & at which SC? Thanks!

Why don't you ask the Service Centres???

No need to change la, I have driven 80 ~ 100 km/h in heavy rain also no problem. Noise is the main problem with this tyre, apart from that it is ok for its price. I see no point in spending extra few hundred bucks to solve the noise problem and for something that is getting botak for every km you drive it.