Our Fleet Test Drive: Kia Optima - 8th Report
Date:
14 June 2012
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Author: Guy Bird
Scratch repair
Remember our report a while back on possibly the first publicly recorded case of 'severe Kia envy', when our Optima was keyed by a local dipstick?
As anyone who's been through such a small-scale but irritating incident knows, the aftermath is rarely straightforward, especially where a company vehicle is concerned.
Various quotes have to be obtained and then there's the usual to and fro before the job can be approved, booked in and work can finally start. But start it did, and swiftly too, courtesy of an independent mobile Smart scratch repairer who arrived at BusinessCar HQ's car park and completed the repair of the multiple scratches down one side of the car in about four hours. This required our team only to open the office window so he could access the building's mains electricity via his extension lead. At £300 all in as opposed to the £350+VAT quoted by the franchised dealer repair centre, plus avoiding the associated cost of having the car out of action for two to three days, the mobile solution made sense both from a cost and time perspective. If you're based in the South East, try Tony of Scratch Doctor on 07764 849676 for a quote.
Kia Optima 1.7 CRDi 2 Tech (manual) | Mileage | 2450 | Claimed combined consumption | 57.6mpg | Our average consumption | 35.8mpg | P11D price | £21,640* | Model price range | £19,595-£25,995 | CO2 (tax) | 128g/km/18% | BIK 20/40% per month | £65/£130 | Service interval | 12,500 or 12months | Insurance | group 17 | Warranty | 7yrs/100,000 miles | Boot space | 505 litres | Engine size/power | 1685cc/134hp | Top speed/0-62mph | 125mph/10.2secs | Why we’re running it | To see if Kia really can mix-it with the fleet’s big boys | Positive | Smart looks, spacious, good value | Negative | Attracts envious vandals! | *Before options fitted: Metallic paint £475 |
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