Seeing some of the other posts about people (including myself) getting fed up with waiting for orders when a lot of the reviews are so lackluster, I thought I’d take this opportunity to also express my thoughts/frustrations since I was really ready to have a new car a month or 2 ago. I do agree that part of the struggle with the ‘professional’ reviews is that they so often miss the point. They criticize it for compromising on power over the other premium compact hatches, but then again for giving up mileage to the Prius. They criticize it for being too firm/loud for a Lexus, but then not sporty enough compared to the Mazda3. The car is a compromise- I recognize that you can’t have V8 power with 2.0L mileage, ride/noise isolation with sports-car response and feedback. Lexus quality at Kia price? The reviews feel like the national political debate, that they expect to have to go to the extreme end of the spectrum to get something that’s the ‘best’ in something, and then act disappointed when the car refuses to go all-in. I’d rather have something that, like me, does a little bit of everything (I do HR, financial analysis, and IT support for a medium-sized company), and does it all well, if not the best.
My History: Had a sportbike and a Subaru WRX wagon. Sold sportbike around the time I got married. Didn’t trust WRX transmission, didn’t need AWD when moved to the South, so split the difference and got a compromise between those 2: a 4-wheel motorcycle AKA 1.8L Miata—was daily driver for a few years, then became 3rd car for the past couple years. SCCA prepped, a lot of fun, but sadly even less power than the CT. But with fully swapped suspension, man could she handle. Here in NC there wasn't a month out of the year I couldn't drive with the top down. But, with a 2-year old and another one arriving next week, just don't have time/energy for a 3rd car that I still don't feel safe in, and I just got bored with it. Got hit 3 times in last 4 years because “they didn’t see me.” Sold it 2 months ago.
Daily Driver-- V6 Sonata. Bought this when I stopped feeling safe driving the Miata ~70 miles/day commuting in decently heavy traffic. It is a phenomenally adequate car, and my wife doesn't understand why I'm now so impatient to get rid of it. Have had 0 issues, requires 0 maint., gets 27mpg mixed (I drive like a grandma), smooth and quiet. Got a great deal used. But it has no soul. No character. Not engaging to drive, and even though it's a handsome enough car, I hate not even giving it a second glance in the garage. I may not be an HP addict, but I still consider myself a “car guy” and I want to look forward to getting in my car.
My History: Had a sportbike and a Subaru WRX wagon. Sold sportbike around the time I got married. Didn’t trust WRX transmission, didn’t need AWD when moved to the South, so split the difference and got a compromise between those 2: a 4-wheel motorcycle AKA 1.8L Miata—was daily driver for a few years, then became 3rd car for the past couple years. SCCA prepped, a lot of fun, but sadly even less power than the CT. But with fully swapped suspension, man could she handle. Here in NC there wasn't a month out of the year I couldn't drive with the top down. But, with a 2-year old and another one arriving next week, just don't have time/energy for a 3rd car that I still don't feel safe in, and I just got bored with it. Got hit 3 times in last 4 years because “they didn’t see me.” Sold it 2 months ago.
Daily Driver-- V6 Sonata. Bought this when I stopped feeling safe driving the Miata ~70 miles/day commuting in decently heavy traffic. It is a phenomenally adequate car, and my wife doesn't understand why I'm now so impatient to get rid of it. Have had 0 issues, requires 0 maint., gets 27mpg mixed (I drive like a grandma), smooth and quiet. Got a great deal used. But it has no soul. No character. Not engaging to drive, and even though it's a handsome enough car, I hate not even giving it a second glance in the garage. I may not be an HP addict, but I still consider myself a “car guy” and I want to look forward to getting in my car.
