Saleofcar.com :Kia

Kia Forte SX (2012)
for sale

Price: US $13,800.00

Description:

If you're reading this and thinking about buying a Kia Koup, I'm assuming that you've already done some research and you know what you're looking for. If you're still doing some shopping and research, it's not really my job to tell you all about the model's details, features, and specifications, as you can easily do this for yourself online, or even by looking at the dealer ads here on Ebay. However, I'll try to add some color commentary here in regards to my own experience, and if you have any questions, please contact me.
As far as options and features, it seems silly to list items such as power windows and air conditioning and LATCH systems. .... do they even make new cars available for sale in the USA without items like this? Kia included a ton of standard features on the SX models. In my car's case, it makes more since to tell you what it doesn't have. I didn't get the Technology Package, so this car doesn't have the navigation system with backup camera. It does not have the remote engine starter. And I opted for the 6 speed manual transmission, since I really love to drive and feel the road. Incidentally, the titanium color of the body matches the titanium wheel color; this wasn't an option, but it's simply an added touch if you get your hands on a titanium Koup.
When I purchased this Koup in February 2012, I thought that I might eventually make some performance modifications, up to and including adding a turbo. But I never did. All factory warranties are still in place for this vehicle, and Kia's warranties are great. There are still over 6 years left on the original 10 year / 100k mile powertrain warranty, and over 1 year left on the 5 year / 60k mile limited basic warranty and 5 year / 60k mile roadside assistance. I recently had the car serviced and inspected at the local dealership, and I've also had it cleaned and detailed in preparation to sell.
I originally bought this vehicle because I needed another small car for my weekday commute of 45 to 50 miles round trip. Gas mileage and value was obviously a concern, but I wanted to get something that stood out from the rest of the class in looks and performance. The Kia Koup really shined in comparison to its competition, and I've never been disappointed with my choice, especially with its fairly high resale value. This body style looks better than the current generation, and I'm apparently not the only one to think so. But I no longer have that long commute everyday and I now have a three year old son; I probably should have sold this car a over year ago. It primarily stays in the garage, and I take it out for a quick ride every week or two so that it doesn't sit for too long. Most of my time in the car has been on the interstate with relatively little driving around town. Fuel use averaged 28 to 30 mpg in those conditions. On interstate road trips, I typically averaged around 32 to 33 mpg, at consistent cruising speeds up to 85 mph. Keeping it within 65-70 mph yielded 34 to 35 mpg. Curvy, fun, quick-shifting, two lane highway action here in the Ozarks and Ouachitas when I was not as concerned about fuel economy usually netted around 25 to 28 mpg. I seldom did any city driving, but I think the fuel mileage was around 24 to 26 mpg I know how to get the most out of driving a stick-shift. By the way, EPA says 22 city, 32 hwy mpg.
It may comfort you to know that I'm well above the typical demographic age for this type of vehicle; I bought it a few weeks before my 39th birthday. So this Koup has never been abused by a teenage boy or trashed by a girl who didn't care about her vehicle. I'm somewhat of a car guy. I learned to drive before I was twelve; I've had classic muscle cars, rock crawling 4x4's, modern sports cars, gas sippers, etc, a couple of which I owned and cared for over twenty years. I did put this car through it's paces a few times so that I'd know what it was capable of, but it was rarely if ever red lined (completely unnecessary with this car's generous torque and horsepower curve), as I was more interested in how it handled. I'm happy to report that the sport-tuned suspension and the 17 wheels on the Koup SX really do make a difference, and inspire lots of confidence in the curves. It's the funnest front wheel drive car I've ever had experience with, and reminds me of the good times I used to have driving cars that cost two or three times as much. It bears mentioning here that the brakes are more than adequate for anything you might experience other than under consistent racing conditions, and the ABS, traction control, and stability control all work well enough (if you leave them on). The transmission is geared appropriately for the engine. Overall, it's no surprise that there is some racing demand for this platform. But if you are a parent, don't worry; this is a safe and not-too-fast car when left unmodified and especially with all safety features engaged. It's simply a good looking, fun to drive car.
Luckily for me, Kia didn't make many SX Koups with manual transmissions, so there's actually been more demand over supply for them than is usual, ever since the car was new. If I recall correctly, when I bought this Koup, there were less than ten like it available on dealer lots in the USA, and even less on ships inbound from South Korea. If you're a driving enthusiast and you haven't driven a manual Koup before, its worth noting that the clutch release (and throttle response) reminds me of how things are set for European and Asian markets rather than how we typically get them delivered to the USA. It took a couple of weeks to get used to it, and if you've looked online you'll see a few people grumble about it, but I grew to like it more than the other stick-shifts I've owned. However, instructions on how to make adjustments are easy to find online in order to meet specific tastes. Additionally, it's worth noting that the SX models have enough torque to take off in 2nd gear without lugging the engine.
The interior is honestly in like new condition; I don't think anyone ever even sat in the rear seats. I never carried anything bigger than a small dufflebag in the trunk, so it looks great as well. No mechanical problems, nor have there ever been, and the engine compartment looks as good as you're going to get on a used car. I don't have the records of every trip to the dealer for an oil change, but I asked and they said they would gladly confirm it's service record for any buyer. One of the tires had to get plugged once because of a nail (no problems afterwards). The real only negatives are on the exterior, where someone keyed the car and left scratches down to the primer coat that couldn't be buffed out, and where two wheels scraped a curve. Photos should show this; I've nothing to hide and I wouldn't want anyone to have any rude surprises after buying a car from me. Unlike most sellers, I'll try to highlight the negatives in my photos. This car never went through an automatic car wash, so there are no paint swirls or micro scratches in the finish. Engine compartment is clean and looks almost new. There is also a paint scratch on the rear bumper as well as beneath the driver's door. I also just noticed a blemish on the hood that didn't buff out, which is noticeable in the sunlight. Outside of that, there are the standard little nicks and marks that you'd expect on the front bumper and here and there, but nothing that stands out once you back away from the car. The guy I paid to come detail my Koup actually gave me a nice discount because he said it was in such good shape already. I've discounted my own asking price by $600 to compensate for the scratches and wheels, but it should cost much less to make the cosmetic fixes or even buy new wheels in order to bring everything to as close to new condition as is feasible. Payment method is flexible depending on the situation, but of course I'll want cleared funds before my car goes anywhere. If you have any questions, just let me know.

_{update: 2016-01-12}