How far have Hyundai and Kia come?

I own a 2003 Honda Accord and probably will for another six years.\ \ But, I''ve noticed that Hyundai and Kia look a lot better and seem to be better quality than before. \ \ I was recently in Atlanta for five days and rented a Kia Forte. Nothing spectacular, but I found it to be a very, very solid small car.\ \ And, I keep on seeing the new Hyundai Sonata and I think it''s a really great looking car. Is there an increase in quality matching the improvement,IMO, in appearance.\ \ BTW, while I''ve always loved my Hondas (two Civics and an Accord), I hate the look of the new Accord (though I''m sure the quality is still there). It''s like Honda is trying too hard. It''s not even that visually stunning in a love it or hate it way. Just seems like they thought they had to change it but had no clear vision. \ \ No one ever bought Accords for incredible styling or adventurous looks. I also don''t like that it''s now a full sized rather than mid-sized sedan. But, again, I''m sure the quality still remains.

• You write like someone who would be happy with a Forte. Perhaps you should get one.

• The new Accord has a cheap interior.

• Cars depreciate so quickly, I''ve never understood the desire to pay boatloads of money for one.

  Toyota Tercel

• I named my meat curtains Hyundai and Kia.

• I have a 2003 Camry and had a 1993 Camry. Loved them both and thought they were great looking. I have only 130k on my 2003 so I have quite some time before I have to get another but if they don''t make some better looking Camrys I will be stuck in your situation. %0D\ %0D\ I love Toyotas. I have had Hondas and Toyotas and I am a Toyota person. I buy mine about a year old with fairly low mileage since I don''t believe in getting a brand new car so I will be stuck with a car that is maybe ugly as sin. What the Toyota people are thinking I don''t know. %0D\ %0D\ I guess I will just have to see what is out there about 120k miles from now. My 1993 is up in the 350k now, a relative bought it from me, with no sign of giving up so I may run my 2003 to death.

• OP, I could''ve written your post exactly. I have a ''96 Accord w/150k and I love that car. I''ve had Toyotas and Hondas and would love to stick with them going forward.\ \ I recently rode a 2009 Camry. Loved the interior, not so crazy about the Camry grille (I''m OCD about grilles). \ \ For me, the newer Hondas (starting around 2008) are so uninspired on the outside that I can''t bear to think of buying one. The Sonata looks like they hired all the fired Mercedes Benz designers to class up/sex up their cars. I love the look. \ \ I also have friends who picked up the Elantra and another who bought a Fusion. Both rave about their cars and both were formerly Toyota/Honda owners.

  Turning Japanese

• I bought a Hyundai Santa Fe in 2001 because it was such a good value (under $20K then). It has been one of my best purchases. The car is still doing great with 275,000 miles. I will definitely consider another Santa Fe when the present one dies.

• My sister had a KIA SUV that NEVER ever broke down. The only inconvenience we ever experienced was getting buried while driving on sand (yes, an SUV, go figure).%0D\ %0D\ I was driving an inherited Mercedes C230, and spent over $5000 in repairs within one year (coincidentally, it was the car''s 4-5th year). %0D\ %0D\ However, when it comes to road power, the Mercedes feels much better of course. Also, my sister ended up selling the KIA in its 5th year and was able to do so very easily.%0D\ %0D\ The Mercedes is great now, but as I said, you need big bucks just for changing the oil.

  Not talking about Glee characters

• Seventeenth verse, same as the first:\ \ Hyundai/Kia is anti-gay.

  The Voice of the Night

• I''ve always driven smaller model Fiats, Toyotas and Hondas. My MO is to buy a very good slightly used car and drive it till the wheels fall off.\ \ My current car is a 2001 Mazda Protege that I bought new because it was less expensive than anything I could find used. After it bought it, I found out it is a great car.\ \ All I''ve put into this car, besides brakes, is routine maintenance. I get 43 mpg. That''s mighty cheap transportation and I actually enjoy driving it.

• We recently replaced our 1990 Camry wagon (which we loved, and which became the second car for hauling around garden stuff, etc.) with a 2010 Kia Sportage. Love the Sportage...tho the mileage isn''t great, Sirius radio is fun and it''s better to have airbags, isn''t it?%0D\ %0D\ Our 2000 Camry sedan will probably last forever!

• I bought a 2004 Kia Rio and love the performance of the car. It is a bit tight and my next car will be a Hyundai Elantra or Kia Spectra. The only car as reliable, that I have owned, was a Dodge "K" car that I bought second hand and put 125,000 miles on. It always started, rode smooth and only became a mechanical problem the last two years I owned it.

• OMFG!!! 12 REPLIES AND NO " KIA HATES GAYS" WITH LINK?

• I have a 2006 Kia Optima and haven''t had any problems with it. Everyone who rides with me notes how nicely it drives. It''s also a very solid car. I''ll probably buy another one when it''s time to get a new car.

• Hyundai is homophobic because the US auto companies and the Japanese are weak now and sales are up. It is important that when the competition catchs up, that Hyundai''s anti-gay history is made very public. They will reverse their anti-gay policies then, but Hyundai must always be framed as the company that was the very last to treat gays fairly.

• [quote]Hyundai is homophobic because the US auto companies and the Japanese are weak now and sales are up. It is important that when the competition catchs up, that Hyundai''s anti-gay history is made very public. They will reverse their anti-gay policies then, but Hyundai must always be framed as the company that was the very last to treat gays fairly.\ \ I don''t understand. Does someone have a link that can explain all this?

• love my 2008 kia rondo!

• This is a beauty.

  http://wot.motortrend.com/2011-motor-trend-car-of-the-year-contender-kia-optima-9819.html

• Gaywheels.com\ \ Non-Gay friendly Automakers (bottom of page)

  http://gaywheels.com/gff/

• This is the most depressing conversation ever. Don''t you people ever have to take clients out? What do you do? Just jam them into your Kia Corolla?

• [quote]This is the most depressing conversation ever. Don''t you people ever have to take clients out? What do you do? Just jam them into your Kia Corolla?\ \ Honey, this is DATALOUNGE. Hairdressers, florists, and hospital orderlies don''t take clients out.

• [quote]OMFG!!! 12 REPLIES AND NO " KIA HATES GAYS" WITH LINK?\ \ \ Better late then never @ r19. \ \ Thanks Kia hates gay troll/r19!

• "Kia Corolla?"\ \ \ Oh dear.

• Nice to hear from the local DL freeper R22. \ \ Praise Jesus!!!!

• "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE SHIT IN MY MOUTH!"

  r24

• .

• R21, you forgot toll booth and postal workers.%0D\ %0D\ Anyone try the HONDA FIT?

• New Toyotas are being made cheaper.\ \ The quality has dropped.\ \ RAV4 2010 owner.

• [quote]This is the most depressing conversation ever. Don''t you people ever have to take clients out? What do you do? Just jam them into your Kia Corolla?\ \ My car is for my own transportation, not for entertaining clients. If I need to entertain clients, my company provides a vehicle.

• What, r29, like a van or something?

• [quote]Anyone try the HONDA FIT?\ \ I did. Test drove it but needed more everyday drive time so I rented it for a week. It''s just ok. The handling is ok, braking is fine, acceleration is ok, & visibility is fine. What really bummed me out was how cheap everything was inside and out. Bad plastic everywhere on the car. Not worth the price the dealership was asking. Honda sells by name and they know it. It''s was disappointing.

• The interior of the Honda Fit is so cheap and nasty looking. Like a Tonka toy car. %0D\ %0D\ They may be a bargain, get good gas mileage and have a terrific engine but I could not stand having to be inside one for more than a few minutes.

• If you want to see cheap, check out the GM Aveo. Milk cartons are made of better materials.

• Sorry, gas mileage should have been better on the Fit.

  r31

• I liked the old Hyundai Sonata that looked like a Jaguar. I think it was the 2004, 2005, 2006 version. I think maybe Jaguar got after them about it, because the Sonata went from being a really cool-looking car to a totally boring look.

• kia cars are now very good.

• and?

• So, Kia and Hyundai have really improved, but are homophobic companies. \ \ It''s really sad that Honda and Toyota are getting cheaper inside.

• The US and China are homophobic. Are you going to stop buying their products? I think not.\ \ \ Hypocrites!

• I have a 2008 Kia Rio5. No problems. I love it!

• bump

• ,,,,,,,,,,,,

• I''m not a "car person" and don''t care what it looks like or if it has rich Corinthian leather. I just want the thing to get from A to B with no breakdowns.

• This thread is very timely because I will be buying a brand new Honda Accord next month and giving my old one (2000, with 240k mileage) to my niece for college. By far the most reliable car I''ve ever owned. Prior to that I owned different GM cars that frequently need repairs. Expensive repairs. The I got the Accord 11 years ago and it''s pretty much been wear items. I just had a pretty big repair done (oil leaks) but hell, after 11 years 500 bucks ain''t bad. And that has been the most I''ve ever spent in 11 years of owning this car. I will never buy another American branded car.\ \ However, I do agree with OP that the Hyundai and Kia cars look a lot nicer. I got kind of depressed looking at the new Accords. Bland on the outside and the interior (especially the dash) is just plain ugly. I do plan on buying one though, but I plan on test driving a Sonata.

• Had 2 Kia Rios (01 and 05), and got an 11 Sonata back in November. Like it a lot, and it''s great on long hauls. Very comfortable. And the XM radio with Sirius best-of is entertaining.

• Just got a 2011 sonata because the accord we looked at was just awful. I love the car. Great look very comfortable seats, Xm radio, syncs to my iPhone for hands free, USB port for music on a flash drive. I got a 100,000 mile warranty. Best car we have had in years.

• love me 2008 Kia Amanti.

• [quote]Don''t you people ever have to take clients out? What do you do? Just jam them into your Kia Corolla?\ \ Almost all of my clients have their cars, so I don''t need to drive them anywhere. If they notice my modest car, a 2006 Toyota Rav4, they won''t worry that they are overpaying me for professional services.

• [quote]professional services\ \ Is that a euphemism for something?

• I read the 2011 Kia Optima was car of the year.

• About 6,386 miles.

• Jesus, what a "viral" marketing snooze this turned out to be.%0D\ %0D\ Except for the anti-gay car company info. Good to know.

• 2011 Ford Edge. We shall see in 3 years if Quality is job one.

• I have 18,000 on my Kia without any problems. Love the ride.

• I''m with R43. All cars look alike to me. I don''t know a Cadillac from a Mustang.\ \ Seriously.

• I have a 2005 Kia Sorento two-wheel drive SUV. It''s had no breakdowns or problems, and it runs great...but at 57,000 miles, parts are starting to wear out (motors in two power door locks) that will lead to expensive repairs. %0D\ %0D\ %0D\ There are no independent Kia repair shops in town, so I''m stuck with the dealership. The service reps keep pestering me to get the timing belt replaced, minimum cost $400 - isn''t it a bit early for that fix?%0D\ %0D\ %0D\ I''m not planning to replace my Sorento for the next few years, but the remodeled Kia Sportage appears to have a lot of features for the money.

  Phrank in Phoenix

• R20 must an entry level pharmaceutical salesman, or something similarly soul destroying.\ \ Do you work in an office park, R20? Because I work in a city, and my clients are based in other big cities.\ \ When they come for a visit, or when I go to visit them, if we want to go to lunch, we walk outside and pick a restaurant.\ \ What do you do, and where you do live, where taking your clients to lunch requires a car?

• Just read that list on gay wheels.com. No explanation for why Porsche isn''t considered gay-friendly, while their sister companies VW and Audi are....

• [quote]The service reps keep pestering me to get the timing belt replaced, minimum cost $400 - isn''t it a bit early for that fix?\ \ \ Is it under the Kia warranty? If so you should do it because $400 compared to a few thousands is a big difference.

• r56 this might help you.

  http://www.kia-forums.com/3g-2006-rio-rio5/56351-replacing-timing-belt-60000-miles.html

• Thanks R59/60...I asked because my previous SUV didn''t need that service until 75,000 miles.

  R56

• No problem r56/r61. I will do it when my Kia Rondo gets close to 60,000. Just in case. :)

  59/60

• bump

• I just got a 2010 Kia Sportage, but have no where to get it serviced. I used a Toyota dealership for many years for our Camrys....[Camries?]%0D\ %0D\ Will they also service the Kia?

• The problem I have with Hyundais and Kias is that I never see older ones being driven around. Newer ones are everywhere, but not older models.\ \ If you drive a car a few years and then sell it and buy a new car, they would probably work well for you. I don''t know about their resale value or depreciation because that would certainly be a factor.

• I love driving my Kia Forte EX. I feel like I''m driving a Cylon ship. \ \ \ Sent from my iPhone.

• [quote]I just got a 2010 Kia Sportage, but have no where to get it serviced. I used a Toyota dealership for many years for our Camrys....[Camries?]\ \ \ \ Why would you buy one then?

• [quote]The problem I have with Hyundais and Kias is that I never see older ones being driven around. Newer ones are everywhere, but not older models.\ \ My Mom has a 10 year old Hyundai 350 xl with 130,000 miles on it. She''s had no problems.

• I wondered how long it would take that ubiquitous single naysayer to pop up, R68. Millions of these cars have been sold and so far your mother''s is the only one we know of with high mileage and a good service record.\ \ I''ve known several people who have owned both of those brands of cars who have sold them within a few years because they were starting to have problems.

• "For the love of God, somebody please shit in my mouth!"

  r69

• Well sorry r69 I am with r68 have my Hyundai Accent since 2002 and Thank Goodness it runs very well.

• I see old Hyundai/Kia all the time in Los Angeles. You just have to LOOK.

• I still don''t really know what to think of it, but last weekend I got stuck in a brief traffic jam behind a Hyundai with blue smoke coming out of its tailpipe. The car had a "Who is John Gault?" bumper sticker on it.\ \ At any rate, I can tell this brand is not for me.

• My parents purchased a Kia Sportage last year and love it.

• [quote]I still don''t really know what to think of it, but last weekend I got stuck in a brief traffic jam behind a Hyundai with blue smoke coming out of its tailpipe. \ \ \ \ Blue Smoke: Blue smoke is caused by engine oil entering the cylinder area and being burned along with the fuel air mixture. As with the white smoke, just a small drop of oil leaking into the cylinder can produce blue smoke out the tailpipe. Blue smoke is more likely in older or higher mileage vehicles than newer cars with fewer miles.\ \ The car has many seals, gaskets, and O-rings that are designed to keep the engine oil from entering the cylinder, and one of them has failed. \ \ \ This happens all the time in ALL brands of cars.

• My mom has a Kia Rondo--she wanted a car she could buy for cash that had a good warranty. Kia and Hyundai have impoved tremendously in quality, and they are still warranting their cars aggressively in order to spread the word.

• What does the rondo look like?

• Here''s a video review of a 2007 Rondo. Looks dull outside but inside looks nice. People mover SUV for sure.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpoThHygMAc

• buuuump

• [quote]My car is for my own transportation, not for entertaining clients. If I need to entertain clients, my company provides a vehicle.\ \ So did mine!

  Denise Richards

• The higher Hyundai''s profile gets, the more likely it''ll come around on LGBT employees'' benefits. HRC targets the largest of the large.

• bump out!

• [quote]HRC targets the largest of the large.\ \ I''m sure Hyundai is really frightened. \ \ *rolls eyes*

• Kia and Hyundai are on in the same now. \ \ That said, they have improved quality wise over the years. \ \ I rented a new Sonata and it was a good car. Got decent mileage, had all the creature comforts. \ \ The Koreans are finally up to the same bar as the Japanese cars.

  LuciferTheLightBringer

• The new Hyundai''s and Kia''s are looking really good. They have or are about to release compact and subcompacts that get 40 mpg on they hwy. I''d be worried if I were the competition.

• My Hyundai is in the shop.

  Ken Ryker

• WOW! This is the 2012 Rio? Awesome!

  http://www.netcarshow.com/kia/2012-rio/

• My dad (who''s 74) got the hamster car, and he loves it. He''s six foot, and he says he''s never had a small car with this much head and leg room.\ \ \ Go Dad!

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VutSJIKsixc&feature=related

• bump-o!

• [quote] Kia and Hyundai are on in the same now. %0D\ %0D\ Oh dear.

• South Korea is the most Christian country in the Far East. It should be no surprise that they would be homophobic. Let''s stipulate that they can make good cars. There are good reasons not to do business with them. There are still plenty of other brands to choose from.\ \ Just like there are plenty of other gas companies than Exxon/Mobil.

  Anomynous

• What kind of grown-ass man drives one of these shit boxes? Seriously disgusting. Get some self respect.

• God, there are soooo many homophobic US companies that we can target but yes let''s focus on a S.Korean company.\ \ Silly gays ALWAYS have their priorities all fucked up. \ \ SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• bump-oooo!

• The newly designed 2011 Hyundai Sonota was recalled within 2 months of being released because the doors were falling off.\ \ Hyundai products are garbage products made with stolen American, Japanese and European technology, by a company who hates Gays - refuses to give them the same healthcare rights every other major auto manufacturer in the world does.\ \ If you are going to buy a Hyundai/Kia product. you might as well just give the money to James Dobson and walk to work. (which is what you will be doing when the car doors fall off of your new 2011 Hyundai)

  http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/2011-hyundai-sonata-door-latch-recall-gets-official/

• r95 must be a angry lesbo.

• Get%20the%20'12%20elantra%20special%20edition.%20Great%20car.%20

• There's a reason Hyundai has that 100,000 mile warranty - it's because the cars are a piece of shit. I know one guy I worked with who had his Hyundai in the shop literally every other month and the courtesy van was constantly dropping him off and picking him up from work. Kia is a piece of shit too. I know a woman who bought a brand new one and a week after having it, it wouldn't even start.

• I've%20wanted%20to%20try%20one%20of%20the%20Kia's%20or%20Hyundai's%20but%20I%20just%20can't%20spend%20that%20kind%20of%20money%20on%20a%20product%20from%20a%20company%20that%20doesn't%20treat%20people%20like%20me%20the%20way%20they%20treat%20everybody%20else.%20I%20talked%20about%20this%20to%20a%20few%20sales%20people%20locally%20and%20they%20agree%20that%20sales%20would%20be%20stronger%20if%20their%20supplier%20would%20wake%20up%2C%20but%20they%20don't%20see%20a%20real%20downside%20since%20they%20have%20all%20the%20sales%20they%20can%20handle%20with%20mostly%20straights.%20One%20told%20me%20the%20average%20fag%20doesn't%20really%20care%20about%20anyone%20but%20his%20own%20best%20interests%2C%20not%20unlike%20most%20straight%20people.%20

• Girl%2C%20I%20know%20Hyundai%20and%20Kia!%20They%20stay%20on%20the%20next%20street%20over!%20Kia%20just%20did%20my%20hair%20the%20other%20day.%20

• I%20love%20the%20%22I%20know%20a%20guy%2F%20I%20know%20a%20girl%22%20troll.%20LOL!

• Not sure if you're talking about my post, but I wasn't "trolling"; if I was going to troll about something, it wouldn't be on a stupid topic about cars.

  R98

• Everyone%20uses%20the%20story%20of%20%22I%20know%20a%20girl%2Fguy.%22%20

• In%20journalism%20terms%20that's%20using%20%22weasel%20words.%22%20%0A%0AI%20know%20a%20girl%2Fguy%20is%20like%20saying%20%22some%20people%20say%22%20or%20%22many%20people%20say%22.%20

• R103 R104 And??? God, gay men are so bitchy and always complain.

• %22%20I%20wipe%20back%20to%20front!%20%22

  r105

• 95%2C%20ALL%20auto%20brands%20have%20recalls%20many%20times%20over%20in%20one%20year.%20It's%20just%20you%20never%20hear%20about%20them.%20%0A%0A%0AIn%202010%20Hyundai%20had%202%20and%20Kia%20had%201%0A%0A

  http://autos.aol.com/gallery/2010-top-car-recalls/

• %5Bquote%5D%20The%20service%20reps%20keep%20pestering%20me%20to%20get%20the%20timing%20belt%20replaced%2C%20minimum%20cost%20%24400%20-%20isn''t%20it%20a%20bit%20early%20for%20that%20fix%3F%0A%0ASome%20manufacturers%20recommend%20replacement%20at%2060%2C000%20miles.%20

• %5Bquote%5D%20There's%20a%20reason%20Hyundai%20has%20that%20100%2C000%20mile%20warranty%20-%20it's%20because%20the%20cars%20are%20a%20piece%20of%20shit.%20I%20know%20one%20guy%20I%20worked%20with%20who%20had%20his%20Hyundai%20in%20the%20shop%20literally%20every%20other%20month%20and%20the%20courtesy%20van%20was%20constantly%20dropping%20him%20off%20and%20picking%20him%20up%20from%20work.%20%0A%0AI%20owned%20a%20Subaru%20and%20had%20the%20same%20experience.%20Sometimes%20you%20get%20a%20lemon%20off%20of%20the%20assembly%20line.

• I%20just%20switched%20from%20Honda%20Civic%20to%20Kia%20Spectra%20on%20Sept.%201.%0A%0ASo%20far%20so%20good.

• What%20year%20is%20the%20Spectra%3F%20New%20or%20used%3F

• if that's what you can afford then buy it.

• Bumpeeeeeeeeeeee!

• I love what Hyundai/Kia are doing, but the Sonata has had problems with road camber - an annoying propensity for the car to wander to the left or right while moving at speed, requiring constant steering wheel corrections. They never had an official recall (which means that they are acting like a big car company now.), but are offering to fix the problems for owners.

  http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/08/hyundai-announces-fix-for-sonata-steering-pull-issue-alignment-tsb.html

• [quote] And, I keep on seeing the new Hyundai Sonata and I think it's a really great looking car. Are you sure you are seeing the new Sonata? There was a Sonata a few years back that looked like a Jaguar. You may be seeing that older model on the road. Now they are pretty uninspired looking.

• Like!

• Love my 2012 elantra

• Helped my Mom buy a 2012 Sonata yesterday. Gorg!

• Love love their new small car, the Veloster. Looks great. Their car naming could use some help though.

  http://origin-m.hyundaiusa.com/vehicles/2012/veloster/veloster/photo-gallery-1.html

• Where is the Hyundai/Kia hates gays troll with link?

• The new Azera is stunning:

  http://www.autodic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/2012-Hyundai-Azera-Top-Picture.jpg

• Nerdy type gives his impressions of an Azera.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DhZqDqCfUCoU

• [quote]God, there are soooo many homophobic US companies that we can target but yes let's focus on a S.Korean company. And there are so many car companies that are not homophobic that you could choose from, but you'll insist on supporting one of the few that discriminates against gays. What kind of company do you want more of in the world?

• the nerd is kinda hot.

• That Veloster is the ugliest thing on the road. Our neighbors recently traded a top of the line Acura RL for the Hyundai Genesis and they are very pleased so far. The new really big one, the Equus, looks like it's going to be the next Town Car with demographic to match.

• Twink takes a quick look at Hyundai Elantra, the 2012 North American Car Of The Year!

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DlHPFptUIwec

• The Equus' styling is awkward and derivative. And it comes in only FOUR colors - what's so premium about that?

• The Equus' is gorg.

• Straight guy with a beard expounds on the joys of the Hyundai Equus.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DjNOP8p-sydM

• bump

• bumpy

• ..........

• I have an '09 Sonata Limited (yes, with the boring styling) with all of the bells and whistles and so far (fingers crossed) no major problems. The long warranties (5/60 on everything; 10/100 on drive train) were a major factor in my decision to go with a Hyundai, as well as the fact that you get more car for the money than with a comparable Honda or Toyota. (BTW, I've owned a Datsun, a Toyota, a Subaru, a Mazda, and a Honda previously.) So far I've enjoyed the Sonata enough that I'd consider upgrading to a Genesis when I need a new car. My only concern is that that there aren't enough of them sold and it might be expensive to get service and parts for a Genesis. (There's no way I'd go for the Equus- I can't see paying $60K for ANY car.)

• Why would someone who is not looking to get another car for 6 YEARS be asking about current cars?

• and?

• I have a 2003 Civic that I'm thinking about trading in because it's starting to not look so hot. I've always had a Nissan or Toyota or Honda, but I just don't love any of their current models, and I am still wary of Kia and Hyundai. I like the Mazda 3, but I'm really liking the new 5 door Ford Focus. I've never bought an American car, but I really like the interior and the reliability is supposed to be good. Any thoughts?

• The Koreans are definitely better than Chrysler. At this point, it's about their resale value. Supposedly it's improving, but still will below their rivals. If you are gonna buy one, make sure that you are gonna keep it for a long time.

• I test-drove Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and Nissan. I went with the Nissan Rogue. Hyundai Santa Fe was my second choice. Both Honda and Toyota had that cheap plastic interior everyone keeps talking about. I love my Nissan.

• Nissans will easily outlast any Hyundai, as will any Toyota or Honda. Nicer plastic inside means squat, when your car starts falling apart 1 year outside of its warranty.

• I tested an Accord and Camry before I got my Subaru Legacy. For $20K with the AWD it's the most solid car out there for the buck.

• Volvo used to be the most solid car out there, until the Chinese bought it and moved production to China.

• On this week's episode of PBS' MotorWeek, a panel of car experts and regular civilians test drove all the major mid-priced sedans and here were their rankings for 2013: 1--Honda Accord 2--Ford Fusion 3--Kia Altima 4--I think it was the Hyundai Sonata??? 5--Toyota Camry

• I meant to say Kia Optima at #3.

  R142

• r139 knows NOTHING!

• R142 Since Kia and Hyundai share common ownership, are the Sonata and Optima fairly similar?

• Prius V, bitches.

• Koran cars suck

• " Koran cars suck " oh dear.

• R146 I was intrigued by the Prius V when it first came out, but it seems to have gotten very bad reviews.

• Koreans certainly do not like Gays.