[krava]

I am here in Shreveport and they want to give me a Kia Cadenza for 11K off of MSRP the car is $43,200 and they are offering 10K off, I walked out of there today and they said buy today give you another 1K off so I know I can get 11K off. I am not sure if it is a demo or not I don't think it is. My other choices are a Lexus GS350 and Acura RL. I have had 2 Lexus GSs and I like them a lot. The thing I don't like about the Kia is I am used to putting my arm on the window sill and driving the car and this car is too big to do that. I can get a used GS that retailed for $60K for 36K also certified with 22K miles. It has better interior and also Mark Levinson sound which I think is better then the cadenza. Anyone have any suggestions? They want to finance me at 6.9 I have 740 credit and not enough credit history. I want something fast, sporty with a lot of luxary. From what I read on this car. People that get this car want something in the middle of a family sedan and a luxary car and I think that sounds right. Also I am interested if anyone have had any problems with this car yet?

 

[Carl3208]

Several people are having issues with the car (lood at the engine and technical discussions section). I LOVED mine at first and it has quickly become a lemmon. The still like the look and the feel of the car. I just have all this random clicking from the sunroof, console, doors, A-B-C pillars and etc. KIA has sent the Regional and District repair managers to fix my car and they still cant get it right. Kia has been giving me the run-a-round about this and I am pretty pissed. Some people are enjoying their Cadenzas, I am not. Good luck if you decide to buy.

 

[socalifk7]

KIA dealers have access to "program" cars that are essentially new but coded as demos and come with $9-11K off. They are full warranty, except your paperwork may say demo; most have not even been driven more than 10 miles.

CPO 20K mile Lexus vs. "Newish" KIA, is an unclear comparison. Depends on how brand conscious you are and what priorities you have. Lexus is a good to excellent car in many respects, but the GS is a rear driver (and no BMW). The ES350 is more similar to the FWD V6 Cadenza. Cadenza is more neo-luxury/family sedan than sports sedan. The Acura is AWD and a somewhat different car.

With the Cadenza you'll get a good value with a great warranty and low ownership cost. But don't count on high resale (hence the low purchase price). I would match the Cadenza sound system against many more expensive models. I would also say the Cadenza is as good a V6 FWD handling car as any in its class (ES350/Avalon, Impala LTZ, LaCrosse, Azerra, etc.). None of the above are perfect; but KIA reliability/quality is on the rise and ranking high in this segment.

So a lot of "it depends" here that can only be resolved with a very long test drive. See if they will let you have a Cadenza for a weekend. Also, shop for your financing; you should be getting closer to 3-4%.

 

[socalifk7]

PS: I've had no issues* with my Cadenza, but I don't have the sunroof option and I'm only at 6k miles. No squeaks or rattles or clicks; electronics and engine performance are just as expected.

This KIA model has been in production in Korea for several years; so it should be at a mature stage in quality control. But even with Lexus and Honda, some cars may have issues.

*Not counting getting rear-ended, but all is back to just like new.

 

[krava]

thanks for the advice. I think when it comes down to it the Cadenza isn't the right car for me. An article I read hit the nose on the handle (or whatever the expression is). The Kia Cadenza is a car for someone that wants a better car then just a family car and close to a "true" luxary sedan, something in the middle of that. The Cadenza has all kinds of tech I want all those things in my next car, but the car just doesn't feel like a true sports sedan and close but not quite a luxary car to me. Those 10K off prices are hard to rest, part of me says go for it and the other part says wait get what I truly want. I just don't feel the fit and finish is as good as the lexus. My 06 lexus gs300 sits outside and goes through high heat and cold and the paint looks like brand new, still glossy and shinny after all these years. I don't think the Kia's paint can keep up to that. I am thoroughly impressed by this car don't get me wrong, that is why I am even considering it so hard like I am now. The K900 which I drove today felt like a boat, just way too big for me. I am probably better in an optima type size or something. But thanks for the help. I will print this out to give to the guy tomorrow. I just don't like dealers that #1 act like there are nothing wrong with their cars (Acura is VERY VERY guilty of this for the RLX denying anything is wrong with the 2014 model), I want that RLX in Alabama but lots of people that own a RLX say stay away from it. The dealer I am dealing with at Kia is pushy. I let them know from the start I am looking I was just getting some ideas and then without asking, getting me to test drive and trying to run paperwork. To be honest if they would have given me 10K more off that Cadenza I still wouldn't have bought it that that point in time. I just don't like to be rushed. I went in, didn't know anything about the car they didn't care if I knew anything wrong with it or do any research. They did everything they could to keep me in there to buy. If the window wasn't so far away I might have took them up on the deal when walking away, but I can't alter the way I drive. I have driven with my arm on the window sill for all my life and I am just suppose to change? It is just like the TV ad says for CarMax. The dealer is looking for what car is best for them, not what is best for me. I am a sucker for a deal but the window sill being too far for me to rest my arm and hold the steering wheel was a complete no deal. Maybe I ranted a bit with this but I have wasted the entire day on this, didn't go to the gym and what was suppose to be 15-30 min has turned into an all day thing. I have looked and saw they are giving huge discounts on Genesis $36K or so for a 5.0 429HP Genesis but to me I lack the blind spot monitor, bad gas milage and it is big like a boat also.

 

[krava]

SoCal: first of all I will go to my bank to see what kind of rates I can get I don't see why I can't get a good rate at my credit level. I do not want the lexus ES350 that is a boring car to drive. The cars I have driven that I liked are the GS350, The BMW 535D (not sure if that is correct) and audi a6. Didn't really like the E class, didn't like Avalon, didn't like the ES350H Toyota Camry Hybrid. Those didn't have the "oh yea" feeling when I was driving and getting into it. Maybe this suggest what kind of cars I am into.

 

[sh30469]

If you are looking for a "sporty" car, then you are definitely looking at the wrong car here. The Cadenza has very capable handling, stance, little body roll, and a good engine/trans, but sporty it is not. The engine will get you up to speed but the steering is pretty lifeless even at higher speeds, a lot of small tweaks will be required to keep you going straight sometimes, not that it wanders but it's just really light. The seats are bolstered for lateral forces but not a whole lot. It sounds like you also want a smaller car, midsize or under, this is a full size sedan, you may want to step down a class (optima) as quite a few of the cars you mention above are midsize. You also may want to look for rear-wheel drive vehicles instead of front wheel. I would've recommended the Genesis to you but you don't like it as it is larger. If you want a "fun" sprotier vehicle I think you will have to give up on the "not great" gas mileage thing. Have you looked at a Ford Taurus SHO? Maybe a Mustang or Camero? The Taurus being the only sedan out of those. What exactly are you looking for other than "sporty"?

Sedan vs coupe vs wagon/hot hatch
NA engine vs tubo
Car size (full size, mid, compact, etc...)
Front wheel vs rear wheel vs AWD
Manual vs Auto

We may be able to help but we will need more info. From what it sounds like you want you'd have to step up in price to something like a Jag, very nice and luxury but also an actual performance vehicle. That comes at a price or you usually get 1 or another (if not other factors like fuel econ, cheap, etc...).

 

[Beezwax]

If I could it all over again I would have waited for the Limited Cadenza in Snow White Pearl...

I came from a 2010 BMW 550i and I can say that this car is by far more comfy, much better gas mileage and the seats hold up better. It doesn't have the power of the v8 but it's no bad at all.

 

[MadMax]

I'm shocked at all the love for the white. Face it, when it's clean and in the right light, it's a great looking paint job. Otherwise it's just another white car on the road. I own it in white, but primarily because I wasn't going to get a dark car. Black roof is hot enough as it is, at least with white it doesn't absorb near as much heat as a blue or black...trunk stays cool even in direct sunlight for hours. But you see it anywhere in a parking lot, it just does not stand out.

 

[socalifk7]

So I really like the look of my Platinum Graphite; but its a very similar color to my previous BMW, Mercedes, Saab, etc.

I was just thinking that next time I will go with a white car; I like the Cadenza white/black roof combination (panoramic sunroof). I parked next to one and thought what a great looking combination.

Funny thing was when I was stuck in rentals, I had a white Buick LaCrosse with tan interior . I got more compliments on the color combination than any other car I've recently driven. So I guess it opened my eyes to white cars again.

 

[Swive]

I get compliments on my White/beige combination often. And the car does stand out to me. Love that its a cross between a BMW and an Audi. I like it better than the new 5 series, and the handling is very similar (except for the light steering feel mentioned above.) So far (21,500 miles) I've had zero problems. And the service advisor at my local KIA delaer has been extremely accommodating re free serice/oil changes.

To each his/her own.

 

[thedunk300]

I've got the white/beige as well although I like the black and blue colors as well, except my last car was black but always hot inside. The Cadenza is a large affordable vehicle with tons of extra's that you would have to pay extra for on the Lexus and Acura. Although the Lexus may be a nicer look inside it's not really much sportier and be ready to pay $ for just simple extras. It doesn't have much more hp then the k7 and the Acura rlx may be faster but those extra features our car has is at a better price, plus the required premium fuel. Although my girlfriend has a 335i sedan and thats a true sport car, although its smaller. The issue with the Cadenza is just deprecation imo because you can find 2014 sxl for 24k like this example: 2014 Kia Cadenza SXL Limited - NAVIGATION - PANORAMA ROOF | Temecula, California | Abramovich Motors.

 

[Hstead]

I have the white and just last week two ladies asked me what the car was since I have the K badges. I told them Kia and one lady was like "it looks like a lexus".

I have never owned a Lexus, but have owned MB and Audi. The Cadenza is not quite on par with those brands, but it is **** close and in some places better and for a heck of a lot less money. This is becoming my favorite car I have owned. I have 11K on mine with zero rattles or problems so far knock on wood. It is definitely not a sports sedan if that is what you are looking for, but it handles well and has enough power to keep me satisfied. I actually wish it had a touch of a softer ride, I like that super soft suspension where you barely feel a pot hole.