Well, Camry 2.0 vs Optima GT 2.0 @ RM150k .... I think Optima GT is a good buy. With this price RM150k I will just ignore.com on Camry 2.0G/X and Altis 2.0V.

Thank you. Yes, I can get entry level preowned BMW 3 series or Mercedes C-Class at similar pricing, only 6 months old driven by staff and most of the time only parked there. So they are still in good condition. New Optima won't survive like this unless they got 2.0L NA engine but will require good Strategist to lead and plan. If it's just any ex salesman or marketing cert guy, they can forget about selling.

If Optima GT sales volume low, how does that give cheap spare parts? The 2.0GDI engine and dual clutch gearbox are far less on the road. If spare parts imported in small numbers or only when there's order onpy, then the price of spare parts won't be cheap. Take Koup, Veloster 1.6T for example, rarely see 1, spare part shops won't stock in lots of parts, so is SC. Remember when forte launched, no spare parts for broken windscreen yet expensive and took a month to arrive. How is that practical? No difference than buying BMW, Mercedes that have plenty of spare parts and tech expertise

In fact, BMW and Mercedes have plenty of parts except for the failed models like 8 series. That is why many bought. In referring present day series F10 5 series and F30 3 series, if you cannot afford SC price, outside there are good specialist that offers lower labour cost. Spare parts you can choose original parts or replica parts that are made under licence that are cheaper.

Under present day condition, many would go for good FC and stable resale value. D segment 2.0L millennium sprint slower but beats FC of 2.4/2.5L. If I get Mazda 6 2.0L, it has good sprint 10.5s, build quality high, RV stable, spare parts plenty as sales volume good. I go for Accord or Camry, they are safe to own long term, no worry on spare parts, RV,  when bored, just trade in and get new replacement. For same feeling secured over long term ownership and wanted more power, they can go for 2.4L or 2.5L.

Optima GT, with what the distributor doing now, its after sales won't be good if sales volume poor, followed by RV and ended up being another Mondeo. Many that owned 2.4, 2.5L and turbocharged 1.6, 2.0T, but most obey law, even if they sprint for fun or overtaking, they don't bother counting the sprint when they already have less than 9s acceleration. They are happy as long as the car could overtake well. FC is more concern than acceleration at this stage. Do you know that BMW and Mercedes engines today are FC saving that beats Japanese rivals?

As tested by Japanese King Strategist and US consumer group, the Sonata 2.0T that shares same engine, gearbox, chassis as Optima GT gets poorer FC than Sonata 2.4L. If a person bought Optima, he pays more petrol and rarely gets to enjoy the sprint, drive normal on highway only. Then have to risk end up with less or no spare part having to import. Another person who bought 2.4, 2.5L Japanese brand, he enjoys better FC with little power still with good after sales

Conclusion

Kesian Elantra, no wonder no people visit showroom. Because you also said like this. What is your comment on Elantra future here? They didn't bring in 1.6L entry level this time. Looks like they are planning to bring in new Accent 1.4 and 1.6L. if they do, under current rules on pricing, 1.4L at rm75k while 1.6L at close to rm90k.

Behold their last hope, new Accent, Elantra as smaller brother. Difference on the grille that adopted new Sonata style, rear lights are Genesis style. Expect public to say 1.4L underpowered while 1.6L fuel thirsty when compared to Japanese rival 1.5L.

Thanks to all those wise buyer including you for choosing Japenese B segment or Japanese car. And also to your strategist friend. Must not support kimchi car and their shitty pricing.

Because of you guys, I manage to make booking for full spec Cerato 1.6 with full leather for almost the price of mid spec Honda City after rebate + haggling 

Objectively,

Accord 2.4liter - 175ps@6200rpm & 225nm@4000rpm with 5 speed automatic

Optima GT 2.0T - 242ps@6000rpm & 350nm@1400rpm with 6 speed automatic

With GT, the peak torque available at low rpm, you will feel the power of 350nm right at the tap of the gas pedal while in accord, you have to press the pedal to 4k rpm to get a tiny 225nm of power (the max power you can get).
Both come with 6 airbags although u can find the optima is listed in the ncap website with 5 star score while accord is not listed.
Features wise, GT equipped with sport leather ventilated seat (very comfortable with Malaysia humid climate), Harman/Kardon premium audio system. wireless charging. and many more.

The interior design layout is of european flair with dashboard and switchgear arrangement looks like bmw and audi.

Price wise, the accord is rm172k vs the optima rm179k

not much of diff in pricing but a huge diff in performance and luxury feel.

Brand wise - lets face it, either accord or optima, they both run of a mill machine not a luxury brand...to the eye of those who drive luxury cars both are cheap sub 200k car...

hence better get the one that is more value for money...for what is worth...the kia optima performance is almost the same as the 5 series 530i.

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.

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? 

What's the big deal that Kia uses the Theta engine instead of the Nu engine for the Optima GT? It just means that they haven't developed turbo for the Nu engine, that's all. Do you think that such a big corporation like Kia can't maintain 2 separate engines? What confusion for the technicians? Every auto company have a variety of engines and they have no problem on spare parts and training for all of them. You talk as if Kia will collapse under the weight of maintaining both the Theta and Nu engines. Even Proton has lots of different engines and Proton is a fraction of Kia's size.

The problem with you is that you tend to blow things out of proportions to fit your blinkered view that Korean cars are dying without you and your friends' help. You can talk till the cows come home but Kia and Hyundai are doing very well without your help. Your vision of doom and gloom is just to satisfy your biased mind but it isn't going to happen. Korean cars continue to improve every year and they are almost on par with the Japs. Give them a few more years and they will overtake the Japs. Korean cars no longer compete on being cheaper, they compete on quality and value for money now.

If you think Korean cars are dying then so be it. It's enough that you convince yourself, there is no need to try and convince others. There's so much prejudice and hatred in you towards Korean cars that you can't be a good judge of their future.