You're welcome. There'll be more discount and price slash on new models if the Koreans failed against Japanese King Strategist few more waves of offensive strategies. Since they'll bring in Korean B segment, that's their last hope. Fiesta that is competing against Japanese B segment, it failed despite having quality and technology. Rio has failed, the new Accent, without good Strategist, it will fail too just like the rest.

The older Cerato was sold really cheap price. New one slash price a lot that affects old Cerato resale value soon under really bad marketing strategies.

Mondeo 2.0T was priced at RM179k too when it was launched. Accord, Camry 2.4L at rm170k too but Mondeo failed to sell, not even when they slashed high discount. Mazda 6 2.5L was priced higher than Mondeo 2.0T yet far more people bought Mazda 6 2.5L. Now new Optima GT is following exactly Mondeo footsteps. Even worse, no test drive available.

Value for money actually counts practicality and secured long term ownership. If it failed that 2 main criteria, then it's not value for money. It has power but at cost of higher FC and engine working harder. The larger engine would just relax when churning out the extra power.

Horse power bisa...

I'm not brand conscious generally but if they are bringing in a D segment or C segment which priced like the jap... I'm not buying it.

optima GT if it's 140k ish.. I'm heading to the showroom..

I'm a bit puzzled on this man.....sometimes what you write have technical sense, but there are times also that really don't makes sense.....

2 person using the same account kah??

Yea and there is this kind of people.. your car more than 5years liao... no change car = poor mofo.

Everyone knows why I don't post tech talk that would benefit Korean cars at the moment. I'm just news commentator posting news and results. Not helping the losing brand to win this time. The Passat turbocharged is at good offer now, cheaper than Accord 2.4 and Optima GT. Why would people pay so much for Optima GT that will end up like Mondeo 2.0T when they can buy Passat turbo at much lower price? Top up a bit more can get Volvo.

The Passat turbo is RM199K OTR without insurance. With the RM15K discount for Raya promotion it comes to RM184K which is still RM9K more than Optima GT at RM175K OTR without insurance.

But let's say if both cars are sold at the same price why would people buy an Optima instead of a Passat? There are many possible reasons I can think of:

1. A Korean car is generally more reliable than a Continental car.
2. Passat will be more expensive to maintain after warranty with higher cost of spare parts, harder to repair and more expensive labour.
3. 6 speed auto transmission is more reliable than DSG and smoother in low speed traffic.
4. Passat's adaptive dampers are wear and tear items and are damn expensive to replace.
5. Optima GT is CBU from Korea. Passat is CKD in Pekan with our unimpressive assembly quality.
6. Optima has higher resale value. In 3 years expect the Optima to maintain 60% of its value while the Passat will only be worth 40%.
Edit:
7. The DSG is a wear and tear item which will need replacement at some point.
8. VW's mechatronic is another unreliable item with high failure rate. Failure cannot be predicted and when it fails your car is immobilized.

So you want to top up a bit more for a Volvo? That's a very expensive car to maintain.

This post has been edited by kluseng: Jun 19 2017, 08:23 AM

Again Bobby says continental cheap to maintain .

Really that heated seats in Optima GT hnnnnnng. It is just lacking those safety in Ioniq HEV+ - for god sake it is ~RM180k and none of those HEV+ safety. WTF. When Honda release Accord Hybrid with Honda Sensing at that price, good luck Optima GT - back to drawing board.

Just like Ioniq HEV now got kicked by Jazz Sport Hybrid. When they add Honda Sensing to Civic or even City or Jazz Hybrid, HEV+ pricing can just vanish in the background.

Why everybody must compare with Ioniq HEV+ features? How many cars in our market have those features?


This post has been edited by kluseng: Jun 18 2017, 09:45 PM

Why can't we? They are released later than HEV+, should have those as standard. Otherwise it will just be beaten down by any upcoming releases that have all those tech included, and end up doing a facelift 'retro-fitting' those techs just to trying hard to catch up, make it more attractive and lure back customers - by then too late. Vios can be a case study here - I've no idea how much retro-fitting extra stuff they can do in order to even get close to City sales.

If Hyundai/Kia isn't aiming for market leader and not aiming to strike a price/performance leader position (before competitors react), nobody would want to treat them as one as well. In the end it will be another product that only get the lime light during launch.

I almost go for Ioniq HEV+ seeing they have given it some nice thought - giving a full size spare tire... only to know that its HU is replaced with another severely castrated unit vs the global version HU; and giving a lame reason saying the 'good HU' interfere with the electronics.

This post has been edited by dstl1128: Jun 18 2017, 10:11 PM

Problems all lies on branding...

If the logo changed to Honda or Toyota, this car will sells like hotcake!

It just unfortunate many ppl unable to enjoy this good car!

This car ticks many or most boxes but got unticks on the brand's box...

This post has been edited by dman: Jun 19 2017, 10:55 AM

I've gone thru Bobby Ang review of this car. Everything seems prefect except the price point that Malaysian would complain about and the RV.

The car design is very sporty and something to shout about. the badge KIA that makes everyone turn away.

It's a very powerful and well-built car with great features for the price but because it's a Korean car people either expect it should be cheaper than a Jap car or demand much more if it is priced the same. Then they spend the same amount to buy a Camry or Accord with old tech engine, shitty CKD quality, tacky plastic interior and less features. Those who can look beyond the brand are those who get to enjoy the power and quality of the Optima GT. In terms of RV there is very little difference in D-segment RV whether Jap or Korean and 2.4L engines may have worse RV than 2.0L.


This post has been edited by Ginny88: Jun 19 2017, 01:57 PM

You're right but unfortunately, too many Malaysians are just too afraid to step out of their comfort zone and preferring to stay within the herd based on instinct...the Optima GT deserves to do better

Let's say right now, everything on the Optima GT remains the same, CBU with RM 180k pricing. However, the car is now known as Toyota Camry GT.

Would you buy?

Well I have to choose GT with e-parking brake than a camry or Accord that uses foot operated brain park.

Perhaps I would.

Sure yes, will choose Camry GT over Optima GT at that price point anytime.

Korek... 2.4 rv is bad due to higher rtax
But ausie sell this at 150k with more features so msia should sell around that price too then people might consider (coz less features)

Nope...

This post has been edited by sitescope: Jun 19 2017, 09:55 PM