Kia Amanti Midsize | Compact

Kia Amanti Midsize | Compact 

DESCRIPTION

New for 2009:
With its unibody frame fitted onto a platform more than 250 pounds lighter than the previous generation’s, Amanti’s 3.8-liter all-aluminum DOHC V6 engine generates 264 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Assisted by a five-speed gated automatic transmission with Sportmatic® shift, Amanti delivers more power than the standard V6 output from segment competitors including the Buick LaCrosse, Chrysler 300 and Ford Taurus.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 12  
[Feb 15, 2011]
Anne Newman
Model Reviewed: Amanti

I loved my Amanti (notice the past tense) til my battery had to be replaced in July. Since that time, I have had nothing but PROBLEMS! It goes deader than a doornail" about once monthly; and Kia cannot find the cause. And now I'm learning that I'm not the only one with this problem. Time to start car shopping but I no longer trust Kia.

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[Nov 01, 2010]
Gary
Model Reviewed: Amanti

Strength:

Nice looking car even though it is no longer in Kai's auto stock.

Weakness:

Not good on gas

Loud noise when engine is on and stays that way turning into the shop asap

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[Sep 03, 2009]
loslocos38
Model Reviewed: AMANTI

Strength:

GOOD LOOKING

Weakness:

NOT TO CHEAP

ITS HAS MANY PROBLEMS, THE SHOOKS ABSORVERS
DOES NOT WORK,ANY LITTLE BUMP, I FELT IT ALL
THE WAY UP TO MY REAR.
THE LIGHTS ON THE EMERGENCY BAGS. ON, ON ,ON.
SOUNDS ADDRESSING SEAT BELT ALERT.
WHEN SEAT BELT ITS ALREADY PUT ON

Similar Products Used:

HONDA ACCORD LX

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[May 24, 2009]
Michaels
Model Reviewed: Amanti

Strength:

Quiet / Options / Interior / Ride. The way the car looks its a real headturner

Weakness:

Fuel economy but there car does weigh over 4,000lbs.

I must say that I have owned quite a number of cars in my day. Including Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Buick, Volvo. But I can't remember being as impressed with any of those as I have been with my Amanti. Now I've read the reviews and done my fair share of research and it seems as if most either love it or hate it. Some say its underpowered, at least the 2004, but I put premium gas in this baby and had to scale back to midrange fuel as it increased the performance that much. So where do some guys come from saying this car needs more horsepower. Some reviewers have also mentioned that this car has lousy handling. Nevertheless, one review I read mentioned that when they came to the handling portion of there test they expected this car to fail miserably. They were shocked when they pushed this up and down the mountains of California, through hairpin turns and up steep hgills only to mentioned that the car had more than enough power. There conclusion was, that when pushed this car will surprise you and i found that to be so. I believe that part of the problem is the name Kia, as soon as some people hear that they write off the car. In fact some don't even get in the drivers seat and write it off. Its an amazing car! Some say its no Mercedes or Jag, what amazes me is that they think highly enough of the car to even consider it in that category. When in reality its in the Chrysler 300, Toyota Avalon, category. Man if this Kia'(2004) first attempt at building a luxury car then thay are going to smoke the competition, but there again in my opinion they already have!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 14, 2008]
hu6969

Strength:

Seems luxury.

Weakness:

Bad gas milege. Cheap parts. Design looks like a copy of something else.

If you want luxury car in this price range this would be one of the possibilities you may think of. I also thought like that way, but that was huge mistake. If a car costs $25,000 its value is $25,000. Although this Korean manufacturer describes this "luxury" car as cheap Mercedes/BMW/Lexus this is still Kia (probably can say the same thing for Hyundai "luxury" cars).
I had a lot of problems with this car in about 10 months. The problems include the major components such as engine and suspension.
The parts are cheap and plastic-like even if they pretend to be luxury.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Feb 15, 2008]
RKG
Model Reviewed: Kia Amanti

Strength:

Style, options.

Weakness:

Unreliable, too many repair issues, no replacement parts in stock.

What a disappointment! Although I love the car, I'm ready to junk it. Yes, it is luxuriously appointed, lots of options, rides smooth, quiet interior, nice exterior style. BUT, too many problems. I'm so far upside down on my payment I will probably have to finance negative equity to get out of it - which I'm ready to do because I hate the problems.

The dealer has replaced both front struts, replaced the ESP light component, removed and re-installed the transmission because of jumps and delays in movement, re-programmed the transmission to hopefully finally cure that problem, repaired the rear power window, and now has had the vehicle for 3 days to repair the horrendous noise in the engine upon cold starts. I just read another review stating the same problem. Unfortunately, this engine noise problem did not even start until the day AFTER I paid $480 at the dealer for the 30K mile maintenance routine....what a bite. The steering column rubs and groans like a 20 year old car - a problem they can't seem "to duplicate." That's the catch all phrase - "we can't duplicate the problem."

I tried to file under the GA Lemon Law after the bout with the transmission (a real, actual SAFETY problem), but couldn't.

So sorry I bought this car. I'm torn between really liking it, and just plain being fed up with it.

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[Oct 11, 2007]
Clarence
Model Reviewed: KIA Amanti

Strength:

Interior fit and trim is nice.

Weakness:

Cheap carpeting, loud engine, bolting transmission (jumps and jerks), chassie squeaking at every stop and turn, air-conditioning control has not worked in over 12 months (KIA cannot fix), rear view mirror will not maintain a driver's settings (clicks like crazy, trying to reset), rear brake light has gone out twice in 90 days, etc. You get the picture. Lastly, the used price of the car will never catch up with the amount I owe on it. I will be upside down as long as I own it.

The Amanti ran well until about 24,000 miles. The motor began making a very loud noise when the car was first started. It calmed down after the car warmed up. Gradually the noise began to get louder and now it is constant even after warming up. The dealer stated that the valves were not receiving oil correctly. I guess this is something they do not consider worthy of fixing, as I went to two dealers and neither would fix the car. Frankly, I am ashamed of driving the car because of the noise coming out from under the hood; it sounds like an old wornout tractor. This is a lemon if there ever was one. I heard another KIA with the same engine noise; hence, this is not an isolated problem. When I purchased the car from Gwinnette KIA, I was guarranteed that KIA made a hitch to carry our bicycles. We paid for the hitch and was given a "We Owe" on the car. When we took it in, the We Owe disappeared and we were told KIA didn't make a hitch for the car. They gave us a credit; however, we are stuck with bicycles sitting in the basement which we cannot take to the trail to ride. Don't trust this company.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
2
[Jul 19, 2007]
Casey
Model Reviewed: Kia Amanti

Strength:

Warranty. The Kia 100,000 mile warranty is awesome. The price is a huge advantage and based on what I just read about this car from JD Power and Associates, I doubt it will be priced like it is for long. The car is very attractive and super comfortable inside.

Weakness:

I haven't encountered one yet, but I would imagine that the downside is Kia is not a premium luxury brand, which will turn off some people. Too bad because one test drive would seal it. It did for us.

We have a Sedona and love it. Kia knows how to make comfortable cars. We decided to get a luxury car and checked out Volvos, Lincolns, Cadillacs, Infinity, etc. and I happened to see that Kia had a Amanti. So we went to check it out and holy cow this car rode better and had more features than ANYTHING we were looking at. We were going to buy it new for $32k, but saw that there was a used one with <12000 miles on it. It was super hot in Phoenix -- this is the best time to buy a car because car lots ar dead. Bottom line is we walked out with an intact warranty, just like a brand new car, for $20k. We literally cut our budgeted spend in more than half for a car that we bought for comfort, not price. Anyone old enough to remember the old Lincoln Continentals and Towncars and Mark IVs will remember that floating, effortless feeling. We had one when I was a kid and it was the car we always wanted to ride int. The Amanti is the only car on the market today that has this same feel -- at least among the cars we sampled. It is unreal.

Similar Products Used:

Wide range of higher end cars. The Amanti doesn't belong in the midsize car field here -- it should be with the luxury cars. The auto magazines and such compare it to the Lincoln, Lexus, etc. It should be here.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 04, 2007]
CoolCee1
Model Reviewed: Amanti

Strength:

NONE,

Weakness:

Weird gas pedal, when you tap it, car takes off,suspension is cheap, can't change radio station from steering wheel.

I thought the car/value where good, downfall, the suspension stinks, I've been to the dealer twice, it sounds like the struts, loud sounds when I hit bumps.
What is strange is that the Tech. said to me that he had to tighten the bolts, where the struts meet the body frame, he also stated that that happens,(bolts loosen up from Factory)go figure.I would like some advise from anyone on the next step I should take, the vehicle is still making the same noise.I would never buy another Kia, in my life, JUNK!!!!

Similar Products Used:

I've driven Neons, better than this

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
2
[Jan 12, 2007]
pieter & sue chwiecko
Model Reviewed: KIA Amanti

Strength:

Smooth and quiet, has alot of get up and go.

Weakness:

Makes people enveous of you.

This car has no faults, so far it has been an awesome buy!
I would recamend this car to anyone over 6 ft tall.

Similar Products Used:

many to much to list.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-10 of 12  

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