lol 180 degrees... no drifiting for you then.

The foot-operated handbrake is just like previous Mercedes Benz models. Feels awkward to use initially, but once you get used to it there shouldn't be a problem. I personally am not a huge fan of it but hell, it's not a big deal.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 1 2012, 05:19 PM

me no forte sifu ler... gregy is, that chap knows much more than I do. me noob.

Still hanging on my old Cera.... just had my 30000km service, changed spark plugs and now feels a little bit smoother in acceleration. No money to change cars now, not for the next few years.

Dad recently got the Optima though... gonna test drive it when I go back for holidays.

New Camry comes with a 6 speed box.

Don't think any upcoming D segment cars will come with anything less than 6 now, even most C segments that were released after 2011 have a minimum of 6, or are using CVT now.

Unless... what you meant was the old Camry but produced in 2012.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 9 2012, 08:37 AM

Cool. Overlooked the 2.0L model as it doesn't exist in where I am now

What a poor decision by Toyota if they really decide to do that, then again it that confirmed? The new Camry has been launched in other countries but most of them are 2.5L variants, not much info about 2.0L

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 9 2012, 09:17 AM

The inverted C LED rear lamp design that we get in M'sia (and Aust) is much better than the low and mid range Optima.



May I say that your mum is awesome?

quick thoughts after driving dad's optima for a while yesterday:

1. NVH is top notch! Very insulated from the outside world, and I think it wouldn't be unfair to say that it's on par with the luxury continentals. Engine noise is barely audible unless you rev it past 3K rpm, and despite having huge 18 inch thin profile Nexens tyre roar is minimum (unlike the 17 inch Kumhos on my Cera.)

2. It is HUGE inside. Loads of leg room although the low-slung front seats mean people with long legs can't slide their feet underneath them.

3. Foot operated parking brake is much easier to apply than older Benzes. You don't have to step very hard to engage the parking brake, and the step-to-release mechanism is less annoying then pulling a tight lever with your hand like Mercedes used to do.

4. The 6 speed box now shifts with much more urgency compared to the Forte's old 4 speed. I was quite surprised with the smoothness and the speed it upshifts when using the paddle-shifters. Good job, Kia. But now I understand why many car reviewers hate paddle-shifters that move with the steering wheel. It's much convenient to locate their position if they were fixed t the steering column instead.

5. Now for the downsides. First would be the front passenger seat. The low-riding chair with non-adjustable height makes you feel as if you're sitting on the ground. The seat cushion is somewhat a bit thinner than expected - not exactly the most comfortable place to be. Driver seat doesn't feel that way though. Rear seats are good enough.

6. 2.0L is waaaayyyyy too anaemic for a car of this size and weight. It revs pretty silently and with the slick 6 speed box hence you don't really suffer from a massive lack of torque; but no, it's not exactly zoom zoom either. Even with manual shifting, I son't seem to pull away from the pack as far as I normally would with my Cera and I must say I drive fairly aggressive... Go for the 2.4L when it's available (and if your wallet allows it). The 2.0 turbo can't come quick enough.

7. Goose neck hinges in the boot. Not a big deal, but it still crushes suitcases.

8. Only 1 exhaust pipe in the 2.0L version... MEH. The twinpipe design in 2.4L or above versions are much more elegant.

Will probably try highway cruising soon... update more later.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 16 2012, 11:22 AM

Not sure, but I'll be surprised if Naza/Kia didn't plan to bringing in one judging by how well the Forte was perceived. There should be sufficient interest in the Optima by now, although with Malaysian prices 2.4L is likely to reach RM170+K which is within the realm of 2.4L Corollas, Sonatas, and Accords.

Not a fair comparison by any means, but the top spec Platinum Optima in Australia can be obtained with 40K AUD with some spare change. A bit of haggling you might even get the off-road price of 37K. And Kia just released a lower spec Optima which comes with a full chrome grill instead of the sport grill, 17-inch rims, no sunroof, and non-LED rear lamps which goes for slightly over 30K. That is not exactly a good deal since for 7000 more you get much more goodies, although some may still prefer the lower price and sacrifice the extra toys.

Will Southeast Asia get the lower trim Optima? Probably not, since they can't sell it for 100K since that might cannibalise the 2.0L Forte's sales; I don't see how they will want to sell it for 120K as well.

The Optima's an awesome choice for the D-segment, anyone looking for a ride of this size would be foolish not to at least consider it. Nevertheless, it should be made clear that this car, despite its aggressive looks, is still pretty much a family sedan tuned for comfort, even in 2.4L form as reported by many foreign reviews. The 2.0L turbo has an amazing output yet the car itself is also nowhere close to the Germans, but good enough to outrun most V6s from the Japanese.

It's platinum graphite... not simple grey woh

I still think satin metal looks the best, kinda like Benz's palladium silver.
Was never a fan of white cars.... until I saw the C63AMG's special diamond-white in real life.... holy shitzzz... looks a bit like creamy white with golden sparkles under the sun... best colour ever.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 16 2012, 09:02 PM

There's no turbo version for right-hand drive Optimas... So we have to wait.

Korea should have it, US definitely has it. Australia only offers the 2.4L with two trim levels. Even many places in Europe which are left-hand drive don't have the Optima, let alone the 2.0L turbo version. However Kia's approach to the European market is slightly different, with the Ceed being the main product instead of the Forte or the Optima. Venga doesn't seem like a huge hit despite winning awards for its design and it seems that the new Rio is going to take over its market share.

Probably due to the fact that brighter colours such as blue, green, yellow, and red are often less desired.

The blue looks awesome in photographs but in real life it lacks the classy look. Santorini Blue Fortes look sporty but not elegant at all.

Depends on whether it's bright silver or satin metal. Bright silver should be similar to Vios silver, satin metal is more "metallic" looking with a darker shade, but not as dark as Benz's palladium silver.

Then again I'm not sure whether the Malaysian Optima comes in these two shades or just one of them.

More points to ponder for the Optima.

1. While the Optima is silent and comfy in low-speed urban settings, it's nowhere near a GT car. Unfair comment I know, since GT cars often cost an arm and a leg. Wind noise is kept to a minimum, but the thin-profile 18 inch rims do allow quite a significant amount of tyre noise into the cabin. Not as intrusive as the Forte, but this is clearly no Mercedes Benz. Rear passenger seats are quite comfortable for long distance journeys I must say, unlike the 308T which may seem a bit stiff-riding and bouncy for some.

2. The MDPS feels much better-weighted than the Forte's which is much lighter, yet at the same time it doesn't weigh a ton like the 308T. The steering wheel has two subtle bulges at the 2 and 10 o'clock positions which makes more comfortable to grasp. The leather used for wrapping the wheel feels much better quality than the Forte's.

3. ECO mode is a pain to use on the highway. It's ok for city-crawling where you seldom go above 60kmh and get stuck in jams, but when you need a bit of acceleration it doesn't respond. Step on the gas pedal and it takes an eternity before the gearbox downshifts for acceleration. I'd recommend turning it off completely if I'm being honest, and even so it still feels very lethargic. 2.0 is adequate for the Forte, not the Optima.

4. Some rpms at certain speeds (4-spd Forte's in brackets):
60kmh - 1400 (1400)
80kmh - 1600 (1800)
100kmh -2000, I was expecting 1800 given it's a 6-speeder (2200)
110kmh - 2200 (2400-2500)
120 kmh - 2400 (2600-2800)
130 kmh -2600 (3000)

5. I really don't like the power of a 2.0L engine, or rather the lack of it, in a heavy D-segment car; be it an Optima, Accord, Camry yadda yadda. A 2.4L is adequate but not particularly outstanding either... The Japanese and Koreans should follow the footsteps on the Germans quickly i.e. turbo/supercharge smaller capacity engines. And the 2.0T Optima can't come soon enough.

6. Paddle shifters in the Optima do shift slightly quicker than the semi-auto mode in my oldancient 4-speed box, but it's no DSG. Still, anything is better than the 308T's old 4-speed which is very jerky.

7. I'm not a fan of the smart-key and push-start button. Gimmie the good old key-in-ignition+twist anyday.

8. The LCD display in between the tacho and speedo can appear too dim when sunlight is shining onto it, even at maximum brightness. A minor issue, since the information displayed there isn't something that you would constantly fix your eyes on anyway.

9. I did not experience the burning smell as mentioned by some of the members here.

10. I'm quite disappointed by the fake side-gills. Yes, for a non-performance car these parts do nothing to affect airflow; but if they decided to put in some go-faster bits, might as well use one with real fenestrations for better visual impact. Very half-arsed here. I also do not like the light sensors tucked behind the rear view mirror. It's as if the designers ran out of space to put them and just randomly chucked them there. Granted it's at a location where you would often see them but it's still an eyesore. Yes, I'm kinda picking bones from eggs.

Should you buy one? I personally wouldn't go for a 2.0L model given its lethargic performance, yet a 2.4L should be sufficient. For those looking for a D-segment and don't have the budget to go beyond 2.0L models, the Optima is still a good package, if not the best, that's available in Malaysia.

With the release of the Kizashi which packs more grunt at a similar price, Naza/Kia now has even more incentive to bring the 2.4L. The Kizashi will offer more zoom zoom for a similar price, but you'll end up with a much smaller car. Speaking of the Suzuki, it has been released in Australia for some time now, but the reception isn't as good as expected (not like the Optima is anyway).

For now I'm sticking with my old Cera. Not even going to think about the 2.4L unless Kia brings in the turbo... as if I will have the money anyway

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 24 2012, 10:50 PM

Design is subjective. I think the Kizashi's rear end is pretty good-looking although the front is somewhat underwhelming. The layout of the dashboard and centre console isn't too bad either, although it's hard to comment on the build quality based solely on pictures. The interior space however is indeed disappointing since it's supposed to be a D-segment.

That's a huge jump cyber.... from a 140K budget to 270K !!

I also share the sentiment that the new 3 is not as appealing as previous beemers. I do like the F01 and the F10 looks pretty decent too yet the E60 still looks more striking, even after 8 years since its launch. Newer beemers overseen by van Hooydonk simply fail to recreate the magic of Chris Bangle. Love him or hate him, Bangle's designs do turn heads. Nevertheless, the new 3 has won lots of praise for its build quality and driving mechanics according to foreign reviews.

I personally dislike the ipad design for the central console display that all the big 3 German manufacturers are incorporating. Looks cheap and flimsy, but that's just me. It's also worth mentioning that the Germans like to play the game of optioning - the price tag shown to the public is often the base model, add up goodies here and there and the total cost shoots through the roof ! The facelifted C-class and the recently-released coupe in Australia had such an attractive price tag when it was announced, but expect to pay up to 8-10K more once you add in some look-good options.

The "new" A4 should be a facelift, which will share the redesigned corporate fascia like the new A5. Much better looking I must say, although the original B8 is already a good-looking car. Can't really tell what other changes it will have compared to the old B8 though.


This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 26 2012, 09:23 PM

Not sure how fast does the 2.0 Optima sprint to 100kmh, probably around 11 seconds. The 2.4 on paper does it in 10s, 2.0T around 6.5s.

Century sprint numbers are nice to look at on paper, but it's quite impractical in real life. Rarely does one shift at redline all the time. 0-60kmh and 80-120kmh would probably be something that's worth considering as these are the speeds you'll do in urban settings and from ramp to highways respectively.

Golf R.... not if you need to ferry the missus and kids !! The GTI's suspension is stiff enough to jolt your bones... let alone the R.

Passat CC is gorgeous, but the new version that incorporates the current VW family fascia makes it look less sleek than before.
The R-line looks great with a larger engine but a RM100K add-on is somewhat crazy.

4 door coupes... nothing beats the new CLS65AMG in terms of design.
That gorgeous ass.


This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 27 2012, 02:36 PM

Sorry bro, no idea about the new A4. In fact I'm not based in Malaysia most of the time, you guys probably have more information about the local car market than I do ! It's a 2013 model hence it should be out by mid to late 2012, but not quite sure when it'll reach the shores of SEA.

Pictures of the new B8 A4 have already been released earlier this year. Subtle changes can be seen, mainly a new hexagonal front grill, different DRL, and redesigned rear lamp clusters.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-audi-a4-first-drive/

The facelifted A5 however, has a much angier-looking snout due to the extra-lengthy DRL stripes but they are fairly similar.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 27 2012, 11:06 PM

aiyoh... ada orang buat kecoh here pulak.

Naza won't be able to bring in the 2.0TGDi until Kia's factory rolls out a right hand drive version.

I'm totally not surprised that the 2.0L Forte smoked the 2.0L Sonata despite the latter having a negligible bit of extra torque. Just like how lighter B-segments or even Kei cars with less engine output can outrun our 2.0L Fortes in short distance traffic light races. If it's a proper quarter or even half mile drag then it's another matter.

Even during high revs the 2.0L struggles to pull the heavier Optima compared to the Forte. In the Forte when the rpm revs past 4K rpm esp in 2nd gear you'll feel your kidneys being pushed into the seat whereas the Optima is more gentle.

And you can't change gear whenever you want with the paddle shifters... if your speed is too low the gearbox would not allow upshifts to prevent losing torque.

For me there are no other rims that complement the Optima better than its stock 18-inch alloys. The lower spec 17-inch versions, despite being fairly decent-looking on its own, appear somewhat dull when fitted to the Optima as opposed to the 2.0 Sonata which is fitted with similarly-designed rims.


http://cafe.naver.com/k5club.cafe?iframe_u...rch.boardtype=I
Scroll through the pages to have a look at what the Koreans are doing with their Optimas...

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Apr 4 2012, 10:30 PM

These are the same rear lamps for the Optima, aren't they?

Hmmm... the link that you posted did mention factory OEM rear lamps... unless for this version the entire lamp cluster lights up instead of just illuminating the inverted-C external lamps.

Your front lip ganas sial...

There are no 2.0T for right-hand-drive markets in the world right now.

I'm actually secretly wishing that Kia would drop the 2.0T engine into the Koup to make it a true performance car. The Veloster will soon be equipped with the new 1.6T but the Koup deserves more.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Apr 10 2012, 11:43 AM

Sorry to burst your bubble mate, but there's only the 2.4L Optima in Australia. The video that you watched is likely the caradvice one, or the shorter NRMA one, where both features the same Platinum version. Over here Kias are sold as S, Si, SLi, and Platinum variants instead of the North American LX, EX, SX.

In fact, Kia has recently hinted that they are shifting their focus to refining their smaller engines such as the 1.2T and 1.6GDi due to the shift in the global market demand to small cars. Which means even more bad news for the RHD Turbos. The domestic Korean market and North America are Kia's priority, and la and behold both are LHD markets. As with the majority of Europe, which will see Kia focus on the Cee'd and its variants which will utilise the smaller engines.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Apr 10 2012, 02:09 PM

Don't descend to his level by calling him names. And we still need him around since every class needs a clown.

So cyber now waiting for new A4 instead of Optima?