Kia

Recently I traded my gas hog Lincoln Aviator for a Kia Optima. If you're thinking this is an unusual move... I'd have to agree with you. I've driven SUVs for about 15 years and switching to a car was a drastic move. About 15 months ago I got a used Aviator in great shape, low miles and a great price. This thing was almost show room new... yet it was actually 2 years old. I've always wanted a Lincoln. When I say always I'm saying I've wanted to drive a Lincoln for 25+ years. I finally was able to work my way into one at an affordable price. But I was really disappointed. This thing had rattles and imperfections and sucked gas horribly. I should have known about the gas, but I guess I wanted one so bad I overlooked that part. For example, there was a gap under the radio where you could see metal... rusted metal... in the dash. What the hell?

I've come to the realization that you probably can't get a really high quality luxury car unless you spend $100,000. Sad but true. A $60,000 Cadillac and other vehicles in the $50,000 range just aren't the high quality that I'd expect for that kind of cash. I think you need to go to the ultra-high priced models to get real quality. I'm not going to pay $50,000 for something that has rust showing through the dash. I'm also not going to pay $100,000 for a car! I'll leave that to the rich people and to companies who lease vehicles.

So I decided to step down to a very good quality car with a great warranty at a great price. I got my Kia Optima for less than I could get a used Honda or Toyota. I didn't want to go from an SUV (15 years of driving SUVs) to a Compact car, so I wanted to go to a Mid Sized Sedan. I figured my budget wasn't going to get me a new car, so I wanted used but as new as I could get for my budget. I know that Honda and Toyota are the best cars on the road. Period. So I set out looking for a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. While looking at used Honda's at Hagerstown Honda/Kia I discovered a Kia Optima that was brand new and cost less than my budget for a used Honda. It has a 5 year bumper-to-bumper warranty and 10 year, 100,000 mile power train warranty.

I went for it! I got a brand new sedan for less than a used one. This was a couple months ago and I'm still really happy. I kind of surprised myself actually. I wasn't sure I'd be happy in a car after driving an SUV for so long.

The guys in Hagerstown were great to deal with too. No pushy sales going on over there. At some of the other places I visited I ran into very pushy sales people that were intimidating and even abrasive. Not at Hagerstown Kia. This was the first time dealing with them and it was a pleasure.

I know that a Kia is not the same quality as a Honda or Toyota. So don't even go there with me. I know the resale value will not compare to those two either. But I saved money and got a high quality car with a good warranty. That's enough for me. I know some others who have these Kias and they've all been happy. So far I'm happy too.