Test drive: 2005 Kia Amanti
Thursday April 21, 2005
Korean cars have always been strong on value-for-money, so when they set out to design a luxury car, you'd better believe you're going to get a lot of kit for a small amount of cash. The Amanti is no exception. But what part of Kia's market research said we North American's don't like to drive? Philip Powell, our man in Canada (well, one of our men in Canada), found the Amanti to be almost completely devoid of driver enjoyment. Incidentally, if you like old planes, you'll like the photos: Phil stumbled upon an old Vickers Viscount, the world's first turboprop airliner, which made an excellent background for the Amanti. Though I'm sure Phil would have preferred to drive the Viscount home... -- Aaron Gold
Comments
I am trying to reach Phillip Powell to ask him about his test drive of the Kia Amanti. I have bought a 2006 Kia amanti and it is doing the same thing he described in his report. It is not changing gears until it gets to past 3000 rpm and then it is jumping. I have had it in to the dealer 3 times since Aug 31 and they say they can’t find anything wrong with it. I am scared of it and I have told them this. My husband can’t make it do it but he has been in the car with me when it does it. It does not do it on a regular basis. I just would like to know if anyone else is having this problem.
Check out the KIA columns at the KIA site, for ‘hesitation’ and acceleration issues. The dealer comment is standard, that they cannot find an issue.
http://www.kia-forums.com/kia-amanti-opirus-forum/31557-amanti-acceleration-problems-5.html
Yes, the same thing happens to my 2005 Kia amanti. I can push the gas pedal to the floor and dive for more than a mile before it leaps forward! This is a very had but the Kia or the dealer do anything about it. My next step is the ‘lemon law’.
I have a 2005 Kia that has been into the dealership many times for similar problems. They keep saying they find nothing so there is no problem. THIS TIME IT WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT - when i put on the brakes to slow down..the car suddenly accelerates to SPEEDING the harder i press the brakes - the car STILL keeps going forward and this time i hit NO, the car hit a truck!! What if i was braking for a pedestrian or a child? Kia does NOT care….I am afraid of the car and they are FORCING me to drive this WEAPON on WHEELs. I owe too much money to trade it in…and it’s NOT WORTH the paper it was written on - besides, i would NOT want to see another soul driving this KIA NIGHTMARE they sold me!! STAY CLEAR OF KIA - THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE CUSTOMER AT ALL and DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS!!!
I have a 2005 Kia Amanti that is doing the SAME EXACT thing. I press on the gas and it does not go forward for about acouple seconds and then finaly it moves forward. I think it is a transmission problem. Also the vehicle has horrible gas mileage only about 13-15 miles per gallon if i’m lucky!
OMG THIS HESITATION IN MINE IS GETTING WORSE. MINE JUMPED A CURB WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT. WE THOUGHT HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF OF THE BRAKE AND HIT THE GAS AND THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. NOW I KNOW IT IS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT NOW. MY GAS MILEAGE IS 22-27 IF I DRIVE 60 MPH DEPENDING HOW MUCH IN TOWN DRIVING I HAVE TO DO.