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mattob · (This post was last modified: 10-29-2011 01:37 AM by mattob.)

A week before my 33rd birthday in September, I purchased a 2012 Kia Forte SX hatchback. I've been thinking about a new car for roughly a year, right around the time lots of little cumulative annoyances about my base model 2006 Chevy HHR started to annoy me. Now, I bought that car specifically for it's 'practicality' and did enjoy it for most of my time with it. But it was time to get a new one and the Forte SX Hatchback is what I got.

After having a bare bones HHR (but with custom wheels and tires, came that way when I bought it in early '08), I decided if I was gonna have a car payment, I wanted to get as much as I could get within my budget. And that I did, getting one with preloaded all interior options except the Nav and automatic climate/push button start setup. That would've been cool but I didn't think it was necessary to request such things be added to the car. it was fine w/the key, the sunroof, the nav, the heated seats, etc. I've gotten to use the seats for a couple of days now and it's nice to have! I did buy the iPod cable and it's great to have, though I think this is where the Nav would've been better as the 'stock' stereo is hard to navigate through the menus, particularly with over 140gb of music on the iPod!

I'd previously been looking at crossovers and also some hatchbacks cause I wanted to keep the practicality hatchback but when I saw the looks of this Forte, I knew it was the one. Then I drove it and for what Kia offers inside, I was smitten. The car is simply fantastic and the fit and finish is top notch. It feels like a steal and you can't beat the warranties that are offered (that is unless you get a Hyundai w/the same warranty)!

While the MPG of the car isn't as 'good' as the suggested #s of some class competitors, I think Kia isn't completely aiming for 'class-leading' MPG #s as they're aiming to be a more sporty option from Korea. That's fine by me as I work from home and like the pep the engine provides with the smooth 6 speed and the paddle shifting is fun too. Also, I work from home so while I like better mileage, it's not the main reason for buying the car, the cabin quality and look of the car were more important to me. Still, I normally drive around 300-500 miles a month but in my 5 weeks of ownership so far, I've gone 1,000 miles (right around average usage) and averaged around 21mpg in the city and 30 on the highway during this break-in period.

So all-in-all, I'm very happy with the purchase and the Dealership (one of 3 "Carnival Kia" dealerships in the Nashville area) was/is great with all of my dealings with them. Friendly and courteous and no hassles.

I've attached a picture to the post as well

Smudgey · 10-29-2011, 05:56 PM

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your purchase! Your hatch looks great with that bug guard. Is it the titanium color?

Ratdaddy · 10-29-2011, 10:43 PM

Welcome to the madhouse . Good choice on color ...

mattob · 10-30-2011, 01:24 PM

(10-29-2011 05:56 PM)Smudgey Wrote: Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your purchase! Your hatch looks great with that bug guard. Is it the titanium color?

Yeah, it's the titanium color. If they had had the blue color at the dealership that day in SX trim level, I'd have gotten that as its' a sharp color but I've owned 2 other cars with a similar color now - the last car, the 2006 HHR and the last new car I bought, the 2000 Nisssan Sentra - so I definitely like this color Wink