Any of you guys read Car and Driver? Well, in the latest issue, there is a road test of the new Kia Spectra5. It's almost humorous how close it is to the Protege5 in concept and execution, right down to the "5" attached to the end of the model name. Let's count the similarities:

1) Sport suspension, upgraded from sedan
2) Mild body kit, upgraded from sedan
3) Large round foglights in the front
4) Priced from around 16 grand
5) Small hatch spoiler
6) 2.0L engine, producing 138hp (yes, a little more than the stock P5)
7) Satin nickel finish interior trim
8) Available with side airbags
9) Marketed as a "sports wagon"

And there are probably more, but I'm too lazy to brainstorm right now. The car actually got a decent review, but how many of you out there want friends and family confusing your P5 for a Kia in the future?

What are your thoughts on this shameless exploitation of yet another clever idea from Mazda?

 

Actually, it's a clever idea from Kia...Mazda killed off the P5 way too soon.
Why not take advantage of the hole created in the market?
And yes, its getting favorable reviews all around but have they even hit the showroom yet?

 

in all honesty.....its not a big deal.

So what if someone copied the P5... Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

 

BEAT ME TO IT....matty's imitation quote

 

hmmm


looks very similar...





i still think our p5 looks better...

 

agreed, but that is VERY close!

 

yeah, the P5 looks WAY better. This new Kia looks fagish..

 

Yeah, but I wonder what the bolt pattern on those 16s turns out to be.

 

looks like standard 4-lug.

 

According to the review, it's a good car. But as an auto enthusiast, a really well executed original idea is always a lot more exciting to me than another good copy of something. Case in point: I would take a Hemi 300C any day over the Camry!

And if imitation is a sincere form of flattery, who do you suppose is flattered by this Kia? I doubt Mazda regards it as proof that their P5 was a job well done any more than Microsoft is thrilled about the bootlegged copies of Windows coming out of China.

 

Yeah...but 4x100 or 4x114. And offset? Weight?

Might be a future 16" rim to consider. The local big block, domestic oriented junkyard sells that "jap crap" for cheap. (yes I know they're Korean)
I got a set of minty 15" Acura rims for $150.

 

Yes the KIA does look extrordinarily similar to the P5, but it kinda rubs me the wrong way. I wonder how Mazda really feels about it.

If you have the magazine, take a further look at the VDub R32...that is where it's at. That hatch is a beast, and an autocrossers dream. 240 hp, 6 spd, AWD, 14.3 quarter STOCK. I truely am in love . Anyone ever seen an Audi A3?

 

Here you go

 

Yeah, the R32 is pretty sweet indeed. A little heavy with the AWD, but pretty sweet.

Every now and again, the temptation to buy a 1.8L turbo GTI hits me... it makes less hp than a VR6, but there is something that I like about manic little turbo cars. Actually, a part of me has wanted a GTI since high school... back then, the GTI 16V was one of the hotter street cars around.

The Audi A3 is pretty sweet, but have you seen the BMW 1-series hatch? The autocrosser in you has got to love the fact that the BMW is rear drive...

 

Yeah I've also wanted a GTI for some time now. I actually have seen the BMW 1 Series, one of my best friends is a BMW fanatic, he actually has a really sweet X5...but yeah RWD is definetly a plus.