Kia Rondo Replacements

[kevm14]

Highs: the powertrain (I think this goes without saying). It sounds awesome and pulls hard from idle to redline. It's also very responsive and shifts fast (not sure how much of that was due to the tune. The ride/handling balance was very good and the car was very composed even over rough (for NC) roads. Plenty of back seat space. User interface has real knobs and buttons, unlike CUE. Trunk is spacious.
Lows: Steering a bit lighter and number than I expected. I kick myself for not checking which mode the car was in so I could at least see if the steering weight could be improved. I know those modes with EPS don't really do anything for feel.
Verdict: Still a strong contender, but I also really want to drive a Vsport now to see if I like the steering better.

I guess the theory with EPS is, the less it is assisting, the more feel should come through. It's not like it is steer by wire - there's a real rack still. But overly heavy steering with no feel doesn't really do any favors. On the other hand, if you have no feel, you don't want it to be too light because you may be more likely to ask the front tires to do something they can't do. Maybe that was your issue. So hopefully it can be at least firmed up a bit, which probably will help.

[kevm14]

http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/en/ ... 5805057632

The SS’s steering system employs a variable-assist electric power steering system that saves fuel by drawing energy only when the wheels are turned. The variable-effort design provides lighter parking efforts at low speed and greater effort at higher speeds, for a more direct steering feel. The system is also calibrated to detect constant driver steering wheel load due to factors such as road camber and crosswind. The system will compensate to reduce steering effort to a more neutral level and lessen potential driver fatigue.

Sew fawn-say. Also, EPS gives you that auto parallel parking nonsense. So there's that.

So the 2015-2017 have this:

Magnetic Ride Control – the world’s fastest-reacting damping system – provides more precise body motion control that correlates with a more responsive, more refined ride. It is standard on the SS and features driver-selectable Tour, Sport and Performance modes.

But does the 2014, without MR, have any kind of drive mode? I mean there is throttle, steering and transmission mapping they can fool with still.

Oh.

Bose® 220-watt, nine-speaker premium sound system

I wonder if this is any good. It's probably good enough...

[Bob]

I did not try out the stereo. I mostly listen to voice radio now on my commute so it doesn't really matter a lot to me.

[Bob]

This is the 2014 version: http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrol ... 9773930660

Exact same text on the steering as the 2015 page.

[Bob]

Key competitors: BMW 5-Series, Dodge Charger, Ford Taurus SHO

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrol ... 5806204704

[kevm14]

This is the 2014 version: http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrol ... 9773930660

Exact same text on the steering as the 2015 page.

I see nothing about modes though. It would just be odd if it had no modes. But maybe.

[kevm14]

Key competitors: BMW 5-Series, Dodge Charger, Ford Taurus SHO

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrol ... 5806204704

Should read:

Target market: People who long for an E39 M5 but cannot afford to maintain one past 100k.

Or...

People who liked the 94-96 Impala SS and somehow missed the G8.

[kevm14]

I did not try out the stereo. I mostly listen to voice radio now on my commute so it doesn't really matter a lot to me.

Get off my lawn.

I am mixed. Some podcast, some Pandora. But when it's Pandora, I have been known to use most of the headroom available in the sound system so I still care.

[Bob]

Two closest Vsports to me. Neither one is overly convenient to get to, but the 2015 base model is somewhat close to one of my customers so maybe I could work it into a trip.

2015 base model with low milez for $38k:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... lCode1=CTS

2014 premium model for $38k:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... lCode1=CTS

[kevm14]

Damn, I guess it is less common to find high 20s, eh?