These were gorgeous cars. I remember my family rented a silver Amanti circa 2004-05, we absolutely loved it. Long haul plush leather seats. They sure don't make them like this anymore.
@@RetroCarReviews It's like the Kia designers were trying to describe a W210 E-Class to the engineers in South Korea over a static-filled phone call while high on Xanax 😂
I remember in 2004 a neighbor down the street(a pastor) had got this new and immediately running to it to see wtf it was because I knew it wasn’t a Jaguar😂
They're still one of the better cars for the money and they give far more and its far cheaper than the rest and quality is also good with these yrs of kia vehicles they're not bad for the money...
I worked at a Kia dealer back then in the parts Dept. I remember a guy with one and the had taken all the badges off and replaced them with E class Mercedes badges😂😂
I have the second gen 2009 version of this car. Mine's black on black people today in 2023 confuse it for a Bentley or Mercedes-Benz even during the day LOL. It's got the 2003 E-class front end and the 2006 or so Bentley Continental rear end or even the Lincoln Town Car. The thing I like about my 2009 as they did do a refresh but the biggest thing they did was take the 3.8 L out of the Genesis which is close to 300 horsepower and they threw it in the last year they made this. Sounds like a G35 and I can keep up with the newer cars if not beat them with a twelve-year-old 2009. I have almost 200k on mine and everything works and everybody is correct they didn't make a lot of these and they are extremely hard to find in good condition I've only seen three since I've owned one.
So this is what a Jaguar S-type mated with a w210 Mercedes E-class looks like 🤔 Still a nice car for the value, though. I consider this and the Hyundai XG350 the forebears to the Genesis brand (despite their FWD architecture).
These would’ve been a hit because they were actually somewhat popular at the time, but the power train for the class was lackluster, And those puny pedestrian wheels were terrible
My '99 Acura RL 3.5 had 200 HP. Though a bit more torque and probably a lot smoother. I think Acura boosted it to either 215 or 230 a year or so later.
It's in the eye of the beholder, i think it's one of a kind. Actually it drives like a Rolls, and i know because i own one for 15 years. 350.000 miles now without any major problems.
Thing was a Frankenmonster. So hideous. I own a Hyundai/Kia now. Once they stopped trying to hybridize design concepts from accepted brands and designed their own stuff they did better.
These were gorgeous cars. I remember my family rented a silver Amanti circa 2004-05, we absolutely loved it. Long haul plush leather seats. They sure don't make them like this anymore.
One of my favorite cars when I was a kid.
Ahh the faux S-Type/E-Class 😂. Also thank you for the V70 XC upload!
THE FRONT END, ESPECIALLY THE HEADLIGHTS, LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE A MERCEDES W210 💯
@@RetroCarReviews It's like the Kia designers were trying to describe a W210 E-Class to the engineers in South Korea over a static-filled phone call while high on Xanax 😂
I remember in 2004 a neighbor down the street(a pastor) had got this new and immediately running to it to see wtf it was because I knew it wasn’t a Jaguar😂
Still got mine I’m a second hand owner. She’s got 255k miles.
The Amati looks too cute for a luxury full size sedan.
They're still one of the better cars for the money and they give far more and its far cheaper than the rest and quality is also good with these yrs of kia vehicles they're not bad for the money...
Im suprised it was sold in US.
Kia sold like 4 of them in Europe.
:)
you are full of Sh... in my town there are dozens, You are known as a negativity, how can you judge if you've never had one.
Fire. I need one. I had a 04 Sonata.
Hard to find the second gen refresh model, the 3.8 is strong.
I remember you used to see these on every Corner when they first came out.
Kia Amanti Looks Like Korean Mercedes Benz E Class From 1996 Or Jaguar S Type as Well
I worked at a Kia dealer back then in the parts Dept. I remember a guy with one and the had taken all the badges off and replaced them with E class Mercedes badges😂😂
Rear side airbags, impressive!
I have the second gen 2009 version of this car. Mine's black on black people today in 2023 confuse it for a Bentley or Mercedes-Benz even during the day LOL. It's got the 2003 E-class front end and the 2006 or so Bentley Continental rear end or even the Lincoln Town Car. The thing I like about my 2009 as they did do a refresh but the biggest thing they did was take the 3.8 L out of the Genesis which is close to 300 horsepower and they threw it in the last year they made this. Sounds like a G35 and I can keep up with the newer cars if not beat them with a twelve-year-old 2009. I have almost 200k on mine and everything works and everybody is correct they didn't make a lot of these and they are extremely hard to find in good condition I've only seen three since I've owned one.
Looks like a 1980 Lincoln or Chrysler, handles like one. Ot has the same nosedive.
So this is what a Jaguar S-type mated with a w210 Mercedes E-class looks like 🤔
Still a nice car for the value, though. I consider this and the Hyundai XG350 the forebears to the Genesis brand (despite their FWD architecture).
I thought it looked like a Chrysler 300 and Panther platform Lincoln Town Car had an drunk quicky behind the 7-11. This was their stunted offspring.
My mom had A Kia Amanti in Puerto Rico long time ago
0:34 *Optional* leather and 1:05 *optional* sunroof, and this was their top of the line? :)
And 3:16 OPTIONAL Electronic Stability Control, too.
Did they make it to 100k?!😅
Jim Friberg brought 2005 Kia Amanti in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Who the heck is Jim Friberg
@@matthewbowen5841 my old friend
When you buy a Mercedes E320 from Temu ahh car
These would’ve been a hit because they were actually somewhat popular at the time, but the power train for the class was lackluster, And those puny pedestrian wheels were terrible
3.5 liters and only 200 horsepower in 2004 is terrible, were cars really that underpowered so recently?
the 4.6l Mustang GT at the time only made about 260hp - emission regulations at the time were deadly for displacement
How much do you need??????
It had punchy low end, afaik.
For 2007, the Amanti got the 3.8L V6 making 263 hp. I guess it took Hyundai a little bit of time to develop the motor.
My '99 Acura RL 3.5 had 200 HP. Though a bit more torque and probably a lot smoother.
I think Acura boosted it to either 215 or 230 a year or so later.
Kia Opirus / Amanti (2003 - 2010)
I've always known this as the fake jaguar
This was a clear S Type rip off front fascia
Too bad the exterior was so ugly. The interior was pretty nice though.
It's in the eye of the beholder, i think it's one of a kind. Actually it drives like a Rolls, and i know because i own one for 15 years. 350.000 miles now without any major problems.
I love the design
Lancia Thesis copy...
Wish I could buy a new one.
Thing was a Frankenmonster. So hideous. I own a Hyundai/Kia now. Once they stopped trying to hybridize design concepts from accepted brands and designed their own stuff they did better.