Only YOU Can Stop Accelerating Optimas. "You", In This Case, Means The Hapless Dealer Body
Are you a Camry owner who just isn’t sure whether it’s worth surfing that Korean wave? Are you waiting for Kia to deliver that complete Toyota experience? Good news: the new Optima is such a solid competitor to the Big T, it even has its own accelerator-pedal issue!
Reuters reports that Kia is advising dealers to check out accelerator pedals on the 2011 Optima. Only 135 of the new 2011 model have actually been sold to customers, so Kia at least has a jump on the issue. The issue is apparently with the return spring on the pedal itself; it can become “noisy” or have, um,
What does that last phrase mean? Korean apologists will probably claim that it refers to the possibility that the right pedal may not glilde back with Mercedes Lexus-like smoothness, while the Kenkanryu krowd are more likely to think that Kia has slavishly copied the Camry’s purported tendency to accelerate at max potential towards the nearest schoolbus, daycare center, or Critical Mass event. Regardless of how this shakes out, we’d recommend that all TTAC readers check their new Optima for satisfactory pedal responsiveness. And while you’re doing your walkaround, consider covering up the faux-Aston-Martin side vent with duct tape, will ya?
More by Jack Baruth
Comments
Join the conversation
"consider covering up the faux-Aston-Martin side vent with duct tape, will ya?" As if. They paid good money for that hole! Kia, this is what happens when you copy someone else's homework.
I think the former Audi designer Schreyer (sp?) did a GREAT job on the Kia lineup. They're very cleanly styled, little adornment, and they all look like one family of cars, one line of thinking. I guess since were used to the odd lumps and humps of the Camry, Accord and Sonata, something that doesn't look like an alien love child is considered ugly and derivative. Hmmm...
Sorry Jack, but this story smacks of sour grapes. In order to remotely compete with Toyota, Kia would need to wait about a decade before bringing this up as a problem. A few PowerPoint decks explaining the tens of millions they saved by not doing appropriate repairs, while in the midst of a decade of decontenting and declining quality. THEN they would be competing with Toyota.
Are there really any Korean apologists? Mostly it's people commenting on what a good job they seem to be doing lately with most of their vehicle lineup.