Am I making the right choice?

2024 Kia K5 GT-Line - 9,000 miles - $28,000 (after a $4,000 down payment) - 800 credit score - No accidents - No imperfections.

It has all the features: heated seats and steering wheel, all-wheel drive, remote start, red interior, panoramic sunroof, wireless CarPlay, wireless charger, etc.

I had a bad experience with my previous car spinning out on the highway; fortunately, I didn’t hit anything and my car was okay. Because of that, AWD is essential for me since that experience was quite traumatic.

The heated steering wheel is also a must-have since winters here can be very cold, and it was tough driving early in the morning with a freezing wheel.

For context, I’m currently shipping it from Florida to North Carolina, and it’s in transit, but I’d like to get some opinions.

I’m not keen on the 2025 K5 models, and this specific configuration in the photo has been what I’ve wanted for four years. I know I could get a newer model or even a GT for a similar price, but I want to avoid raising my insurance costs unnecessarily. My justification is that this has been my dream car for over four years, and I’ve finally found one I can afford. You can’t really put a price on that, but I’m curious:

Am I paying too much?

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If that’s your dream car, I say go for it! However, I recommend trying to negotiate for a lower price, especially since it’s coming from the South (I know it’s being shipped). Look into any incentives or similar options to help reduce the cost. With an 800 credit score, you should have some leverage in negotiations.

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No way. You can get a brand new one for that price, all expenses included.

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I might be biased, but I think it’s a good choice, lol. I just bought the same car two weeks ago—a 2024 GT Line in white with red interior. I opted out of the sunroof since I live in Florida and didn’t want to deal with potential leaks or damage (my previous car had one, but I never used it in this heat). I paid $27,000 and put down $4,000. The car had 6,685 original miles, a clean Carfax, and I had my mechanic inspect it. I have no regrets at all.

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Simply use Autotrader or CarGurus to compare prices. Also, I recommend test driving the cars since some have issues with their brake rotors, which can cause steering wheel vibrations. Additionally, keep in mind that the 2025 model features a touchscreen, so you might be missing out on that.

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I think the price is a bit on the high side, but it’s a great car overall. It should really be in the high $20,000 range. I own a 2021 GT Line AWD that’s about to reach 40,000 miles, and I’m the original owner.

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