QUOTE(Quang1819 @ Jul 30 2022, 01:38 AM)
Hey guys, if you were to have a budget of 100-120k, which of the two you'd go for?
Optima GT
Pros
- powerful engine, great torque
- very planted at high speed (200km/h). Not that I'll go that fast but 160-180km/h on highway is absolutely comfortable. Cruises like a ship.
- decent interior
- panoramic roof
- spacious
- comfortable seats, like really comfortable
- not much but kinda like it's functional air vent at the front bumper haha
Cons
- horrible FC. 70L tank can only go up to 380km in city. Mix of highway and city is only around 450km top.
- heavy for its class
- scarcity of spare parts. Heard it's only about 500 units were sold on our shore.
- handling isn't that great. Feels a little gimmickry and not as connected
320i
Pros
- good looking car. Love the LCI lighting
- decent FC
- good power for its size. Torque is great for normal driving.
- great handling
- reliable ZF tranny
- spare parts are always easily available and isn't as pricey
- a little bonus for BMW badge snob? Lol
Cons
- dated interior
- prone to have minor issues here and there with the silly and unreliable sensors. Especially speed sensors.
- typical conti engine issues like coolant, gasket etc.
- B48 tends to have a part at the bottom of the engine that get rusty easily on Malaysia weather. Quite a costly fix too.
- sticky plastics. But it's an easy and cheap fix anyway
There. Still in a dilemma between the 2. Let me know if you have any suggestions within the budget. Only sedan, turbocharged and C/D segment. Bonus would be sunroof haha.
I won't consider the Kia at call. Cantonese call it cold door. You're going to get a lot of headaches down the road, how I know? I got cold door cars at home. And seriously between these 2 its no comparison, unless you need space. The BMW hands down.
B48 rust? Totally not aware of this. Apart from the usual gasket issues and oil leaking which is common with BMWs, never heard of rust issues. If anything the Bx8 series have been pretty reliable relative to its predecessors with the DISAs and VANOS wear & tear issues. Also rust is more prevalent if you are near the sea, or in winter countries where they salt the road. In Malaysia? Not really that bad relatively. Gaskets are not expensive fix.
No sensor issues I've heard of from owners group. Speed sensor / ABS sensor is common with VAG, not BMW.
Sticky plastic is common issue but easy fix.
Nobody gives a shit you drive a BMW, whole road also BMW so no bonus there. As for the dated interior, step inside the BMW G20, and then step inside the Mercedes W206. The BMW is dated. Actually it is their interior design language, less flashy, more functional and consistent across its generation. I think the word journalists uses is Teutonic design language. Stepping in between E46, E90, F30 you won't feel a revolution, just evolution over time.