As i said before, im quite impressed with its road handling. Mid range acceleration is quite good although sluggish from start. Suspension comfort is good despite the 18 inch tyres. Braking systems are crisp and precise. Gives u alot of confidence.

But only thing lacking is there is no indicator when the ESP has kicked in. This is actually a safety feature in most cars to let the driver know it he has reached the limit of his capabilities and the ESP is now taking over. We need to always remind ourselves that, ESP and all the safety features are not meant to replace safe driving.

There were 2 Optima's on display. 1 didnt have the rear aircon and it was a 2011 model. The one mentioned above as Jan 2012 is not a 2012 model but just a carry forward from 2011.

The other thing i noticed was the water vapor in both front headlights. This shows the seals arent good and if this problem appears on cars this new then it aint good. I was told that this is a common problem with the Forte's and there is some mention about it in the manual. Can anybody confirm?

But funny thing is, I didnt notice the burnt smell this time. And i think i know why. I had high revs for a short period and then shifted to high speed (6th gear) before driving slowly around 1 Utama. This slow drive probably removes all traces of the smell. So from what i gather about this burnt smell, it comes during high revs only and disappears during normal driving which is why those of you who drive fast on highways over a longer period of time, didnt get the smell.

To test this i would suggest just doing a high rev drive around your taman. High revs doesnt always need to be high speed. U usually hit high revs during the first 2 gear shifts. So floor your pedal then release when u reach an obstruction, then floor it again and repeat a few times as u turn or go over bumps. Do this for about 10-15mins then stop and smell. Dont drive casually after the high rev drive. Stop immediately and smell as this burnt smell seemingly only occurs immediately after a high rev drive.

As for the guy asking bout the Peugeot 508 and if its worth paying RM27K more, i would say this. The specs on the 508 are better than the Optima for sure. It also has a more powerful turbo engine. Hence the extra 27K. I was very impressed with the specs and power on the 508 but as i said before the following put me off:

4 main drawbacks of the 508 (in my opinion):

1) Design - rear design is poor and overall doesnt have a wow factor
2) Warranty terms - only 3 yrs/100,000 km
3) Too many issues on the 308T have yet to be resolved. There are chances of it being repeated in the 508
4) Rear seat discomfort over bumps/uneven roads - due to 18 inch tyres and harder suspension

But i must say the specs and interior design of the 508 is the best out there if u compare the Mondeo, Passat, Optima, Camry, Accord, Teana and Sonata. I would even say that the interior looks more classy than the new BMW 3 series 320d and Audi A4 1.8T.

If it had a better design and a 5 yr warranty i would have gone for the 508. But for now, i think the Optima is the best all rounder.