One more month and I'll have my Koup. What do I need to know?

3613 Views 31 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Djlukasrukas, Mar 3, 2010

Lesley

Discussion Starter · Feb 28, 2010

I wanted a black Forte Koup SX, the dealer had to order it from the factory. That worked well with my plans because it's going to be my summer car. Right now the wait is killing me but then I look at the slush and salt on the roads and I'm happy it's not going to be exposed to that. Service bulletins and recalls will be done before I pick it up but I will confirm that. I chose the six speed manual, I've driven a stick for more years than I care to admit so while I expect there will be a bit of a learning curve because of the extra gear it shouldn't be an issue.

Other than not driving like an idiot and getting a ticket my first day out is there anything I should know? My last sporty car was a Nissan Pulsar NX SE. Great car, I still miss it every day. For the last eight years I've been driving a Chev Tracker - my "new" winter only vehicle.

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Aidensgrand

· #2 · Feb 28, 2010

be prepared to absolutley fall in love with it!

Lesley

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 28, 2010

Aidensgrand said:
be prepared to absolutley fall in love with it!

The test drive did that. The hardest part is I have a 17 year old son who's itching to drive it.....

OrangeCrush

· #4 · Feb 28, 2010

Some 6spd tips.. your clutch release point is deep so be prepared to stall the first time as it catches even the most seasoned drivers off gaurd, 1st gear doesn't exist and 6th will never get touched unless you do a lot of highway driving.. I stay mostly in 4th as most of my roads are 35mph and I stay around 1500 rpm which gives me the best gas mileage.. Your gas mileage is gonna be horrible if you do mostly city driving.. I'm averaging about 17mpg right now.. I just need to get her on the highway and break her in..

You don't have an ECO mode like the Auto's but watch your instant gas mileage meter to see where your best results are.. The first week I had it I went through a full tank of gas(87 octane) from the dealership and only traveled about 220 miles, I put 93 octane in and I've only used a 1/4 tank in seven days and went over 100 miles so estimates would put me at around 400 miles per tank and that's strictly city driving and haven't touched the highway yet.. Just feel out your safe zone and don't over rev as she likes to do...

Other than that she'll be amazing to you and you'll love it to death... Handling is very responsive, great traction, smooth ride.. Enjoy!!!

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Lesley

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 28, 2010

The test drive was in a manual, it was pretty different. I've got a long drive over good secondary roads to get home from the dealer, lots of gearing up and down involved so that should be useful.

Interesting about the difference between low and high test gas. I always put premium in my vehicles, it pays off in the long run. I'll keep an eye on the gas mileage meter, that's a great idea, thank you. I do tend to drive pretty aggressively so it will be helpful.

OrangeCrush said:
Some 6spd tips.. your clutch release point is deep so be prepared to stall the first time as it catches even the most seasoned drivers off gaurd, 1st gear doesn't exist and 6th will never get touched unless you do a lot of highway driving.. I stay mostly in 4th as most of my roads are 35mph and I stay around 1500 rpm which gives me the best gas mileage.. Your gas mileage is gonna be horrible if you do mostly city driving.. I'm averaging about 17mpg right now.. I just need to get her on the highway and break her in..

You don't have an ECO mode like the Auto's but watch your instant gas mileage meter to see where your best results are.. The first week I had it I went through a full tank of gas(87 octane) from the dealership and only traveled about 220 miles, I put 93 octane in and I've only used a 1/4 tank in seven days and went over 100 miles so estimates would put me at around 400 miles per tank and that's strictly city driving and haven't touched the highway yet.. Just feel out your safe zone and don't over rev as she likes to do...

Other than that she'll be amazing to you and you'll love it to death... Handling is very responsive, great traction, smooth ride.. Enjoy!!!

Aidensgrand

· #6 · Feb 28, 2010

haha well im almost 20 so i can totally feel for your son. haha gunna have to hide the keys

ninian

· #7 · Feb 28, 2010

Interesting about the gas. I never really thought twice, and always put 87 octane in there. Should I be putting in the better stuff?

I get about 510KM / 325MI on a tank, which is a mix of city/highway driving. Is this good mileage?

OrangeCrush

· #8 · Feb 28, 2010

^^^ That's getting you a lil over 23 miles to the gallon which isn't too bad... I'm sure it would only get better...

Aidensgrand

· #9 · Feb 28, 2010

yes im a car noob, but what diff does the differnt options of gas is there. i have an AT i use the standard unleaded... am i able to use the more expensive types at the gas stations? ive always used the standard unleaded and im just curious.

Lesley

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 28, 2010

The weather is so nice, the wait is going to drive me up a wall.

Djlukasrukas

· #11 · Feb 28, 2010

Black Koup SX, nice choice!

Not much to report because I've only had mine for almost 2 weeks. Buy some rubber floor mats. You dont want to wreck the nice factory carpets. Kia dosent make a floor mat specifically for the Koup, they use a generic mat for all there vehicles. One size fits all is there motto but they really dont fit all.

Other than that Kia says regular gas is fine for the Koup but dont cheap out at the pump. 90 octane is way way way better for any car than 87. You can also buy octane booster from any automotive store and add it to your 87 fuel before filling ur tank. Dont cheap out on the gas, your Koup will preform better.

OrangeCrush

· #12 · Feb 28, 2010

It's no question it'll give a lil better umph where you need it... mix it with some synthetic oil and you'll definitely getter some better gains... It's not miracle fuel but it'll help... Octane booster will help as well, and as soon as you switch up the exhaust and put an intake on and throw a lil more air in the mix your feel will be amazing.. It'll be like a different car...

Red Rocket

· #13 · Feb 28, 2010

I think gas prices are high enough without adding 15 cents (plus) a gallon for premium gas. There is no need to use premium gas in a 4cyl engine when the manufacturer says its not needed. Just throwing away money.

Lesley

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 28, 2010

I've been putting premium in my vehicles for years, it definitely makes a difference. Every time I put mid grade in my Tracker I can feel the difference, in fact I loaned it to a friend, told him to fill it up with premium when he was done and when I drove it the next day I knew he had cheaped out, even though he denied it, it ran like a piece of crap until the tank was burned off and I filled it up with premium.

PowerofZe

· #15 · Feb 28, 2010

Hmm, never knew about the gas quality differences :O

On another note, I can definitely understand how your son feels like, im 17 as well ;p

ninian

· #16 · Mar 1, 2010

Oh, one thing you will need to get used to is the Bluetooth syncing everytime you enter the vehicle. A womans voice cuts off any music/radio and says "Transfer Complete". Dont think there is a way to turn this off.

Bluetooth is very nice though.

MFury

· #17 · Mar 1, 2010

Get used to turning off the TCS because someone woman in a jeep at a light will punch it to jump in front of you and the TCS will kick you back just when you were starting to pull ahead of her during a quick shift. Not that this has ever happened to me....

flynng

· #18 · Mar 2, 2010

3

Kia Floor Mats

You know what, my 6 speed Koup has floor mats that match the carpet and have KIA KOUP stitched into them on the ouside edge of both sides. Actually a nice set of floor mats made for the Koup.

Not much to report because I've only had mine for almost 2 weeks. Buy some rubber floor mats. You dont want to wreck the nice factory carpets.

Kia dosent make a floor mat specifically for the Koup, they use a generic mat for all there vehicles.

One size fits all is there motto but they really dont fit all.

Other than that Kia says regular gas is fine for the Koup but dont cheap out at the pump. 90 octane is way way way better for any car than 87. You can also buy octane booster from any automotive store and add it to your 87 fuel before filling ur tank. Dont cheap out on the gas, your Koup will preform better.[/quote]

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Djlukasrukas

· #19 · Mar 2, 2010

Thats what I was told by the dealer here in Vancouver. If floor mats are available I'd like to know where you got them from.

flynng

· #20 · Mar 2, 2010

3

Floor Mats

Came with the car. The were in it when I drove off the lot. Southwest Kia of Dallas. Below is straight from www.kiamedia.com

2010 KIA FORTE KOUP MSRP

Download the 2010 Kia Forte MSRP (requires Acrobat Reader).

EX 2.0L I4 M/T2.0L I4 A/TBase Price$16,595$17,595Leather Packagen/a$1,000Moonroofn/a$700Carpeted Floor Mats

STDSTDCargo Net$40$40EC Mirror w/Compass$180$180EC Mirror w/Compass & Homelink$250$250Wheel Locks$45$45
Destination Charge$695$695
SX 2.4L I4 M/T2.4L I4 A/TBase Price$17,695$18,695Leather Package$1,000$1,000Moonroof$700$700Carpeted Floor Mats

STDSTDCargo Net$40$40EC Mirror w/Compass$180$180EC Mirror w/Compass & Homelink$250$250Wheel Locks$45$45
Destination Charge$695$695

Djlukasrukas said:
Thats what I was told by the dealer here in Vancouver. If floor mats are available I'd like to know where you got them from.

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