2002 Kia Optima

I have had no problem with this car.

By Cyndy (CO) on Monday, June 10, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 104,000

Pros: "great price for a car that is fun to drive ."

Cons: "No sun or moon roof."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I have owned this car since 2006, and have found it fun to drive, reliable and with the fold-down back seats, I can carry just about anything. The body needs a little work, but it shouldn't cost a lot. The stereo is a great companion when I drive to Denver-it plays CD's and the sound is quite wonderful. The seats adjust to any I need them to, including lumbar support. The steering wheel tilts, which comes in fairly handy when I want to add an element of security. It starts on the 1st try, even in our cold Colorado winters. I really love th front-wheel drive."

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very good vehicle for a short person

By DeeDee (TX) on Tuesday, January 15, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 38,000

Pros: "Great price, very reliable, easy to drive and park"

Cons: "Back seat pockets elastic is too strong"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"vehicle works great for a short person. the back seat neck braces obstruct drivers view. removed mine as no back seat passengers. the only problem I have had is the air bag light coming on and staying on when no problems with the air bag. This only happens when the drivers seat is put in a different position. Have had no problems since I no longer move the driver seat."

7 people out of 7 found this review helpful

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Loved this Car

By Angell (CA) on Friday, January 04, 2013

I owned and sold this car
Reason: Totaled - My approximate mileage is 100,000

Pros: "Engine never missed a beat, ok on gas"

Cons: "Electrical stuff started to fail."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Engine Never failed it was clean and never even sounded funny. I literally lived in it for 2 yrs. it was the first car I owned. So I scratched it up but it still looked great from a distance. I nicked and dinged it like crazy but was not easily damaged. Comfy and rugged believe it or not. I put this car through a lot and as long as I did all the maintence it stayed steady"

4 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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This is my second Optima

By Moniker (MI) on Monday, November 26, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 90,100

Pros: "Very reliable, afforadable, and great on gas."

Cons: "Seats can feel small to larger men"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I bought my first Optima and put 80K on it. This is my second Optima and have put 90K on it. I am looking at buying my third Optima. Rides like a bigger sedan."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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MY FIRST CAR

By Jon (TX) on Thursday, September 27, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 123,000

Pros: "fun to drive, Accelerates good, handles well"

Cons: "None"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 7

"I love my 2001 Kia Optima LX. I am only 18 and i purchased this lovely vehicle, it is just for me to go form point A to B and let me tell you i have never had a Major problem or issue, i did once when the check engine like came on for something so small, which it cost me under $30 and that was it. It is safe. I get really good gas mileage."

4 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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Worst car I ever owned! Literally fell apart!

By MJH (TX) on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

I owned and sold this car
Reason: This car is not durable-- literally falling apart - My approximate mileage is 114,000

Pros: "Good gas milage, handled well"

Cons: "Cheaply made door locks, sensors, and latches fail"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"From the moment we bought the Kia Optima, small things began failing on it. The quick response from the engine and the manageability of this car was a great selling point, but it is NOT DURABLE AT ALL. Every time I turned around something small and plastic broke on this car. The starter was replaced on this car 3 times in 3 years. It was less than 24 months old when the windshield SPONTANEOUSLY (no chips in the glass) broke all the way across from one side to the other on a hot summer day. I sat in the car and watched the crack travel across the glass. Then the latches on things broke-- the center console storage, the fold down middle armrest in the back seat, the glove box latch, and the trunk release latch-- all malfunctioned or broke off. Then the door locks began to fail-- they are all plastic gears inside the doors and will suddenly stop locking and unlocking. I can't count how many times we would have to "work" with the doors to unlock. I got "locked" in this car more than once and had to crawl out the opposite side because neither the key lock or the door handle would open the door. We fixed one door and another door did the same thing. The side moulding on the exterior this car also became lose and would come off. The clips that hold it on break off, causing it to peel off the car while driving. During the time we had this car, we replaced the headlight bulbs numerous times (my husband started carrying extras in the car)-- and I have never had a headlight "burn out" in any other car. The final straw was when the sensors for the air bags began malfunctioning. You cannot get it inspected with lights blinking that the airbags had failed, and it was only the sensors giving false readings that needed to be replaced (repeatedly). This car felt "cheap" and plastic and was not worth the money that we continuously poured into it to keep it running and looking good. The only good thing I can say about this car was that it got good gas milage."

11 people out of 11 found this review helpful

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