

Year | Make/Model | Nada Odds per 100 Cars | Lemon Odds per 100 Cars | ||
26 vehicles, 11.8 months per vehicle, 73200 miles driven2013 | Kia Optima | Join or sign in to view | see reported repairs | ||
26 vehicles, 11.8 months per vehicle, 73200 miles driven |
Kia Optima Brand Reputation: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Kia doesn't have the best reputation, though I get the sense that it's slowly improving. Speaking personally, I would have laughed at the idea of buying/leasing anything from Kia even three years ago. However, in that time, I've had two: a 2011 Kia Sportage EX and, now, a 2013 Kia Optima SX Limited. The mediocre brand image is a unfortunate, because if you slapped another make's emblem on this car, people would probably be absolutely gushing over it. As I said, I don't think their image is improving, though. see full Kia Optima review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 161-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
poor trade in value but intend to keep long time due to great warranty; Kia discounting cars in USA to gain brand penetration; much better priced here than in Europe for the same car. see full Kia Optima review |
Mazda RX-8 Brand Reputation: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Coupe 232-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed manual RWD |
Drove a 1979 Maxda RX-7 for more than 100,000 miles -- only brand with a rotary engine! see full Mazda RX-8 review |
2006 | 4dr Coupe 238-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed manual RWD |
Reliable--my last Mazda was a daily driver for 15 years. Sporty image. see full Mazda RX-8 review |
2005 | 4dr Coupe 238-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed manual RWD |
the brand has a quality reputation with my car having a 100k miles warrenty. Also like mazda in general for their sporty feel/image they try to put in every car. see full Mazda RX-8 review |
2004 | 4dr Coupe 197-horsepower 1.3L R2 4-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
Mazda is fairly reliable. Not much else to say on this really. see full Mazda RX-8 review |
2004 | 4dr Coupe 238-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed manual RWD |
Mazda and the RX-8 is about the driver, everything inside the car points toward the driver and the spirit of driving being fun. see full Mazda RX-8 review |
Mazda RX-8 Brand Reputation: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2004 | 4dr Coupe 238-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed manual RWD |
My personal biases show here being someone that drives almost exclusively European cars. There is nothing I hate more than under lighting and flame kits on exhausts and the RX-8 fall smack dab into that category. see full Mazda RX-8 review |