A couple of notes:

*The 2007 is indeed a (partial) re-design of the Amanti.  The engine in the
'07 is a 3.8L V6, as opposed to the 3.5L in the 2006.  The biggest
difference is that the 3.5L engine takes a timing belt that must be replaced
every 60,000 miles (the 3.8L has a timing chain you should never have to
worry about).  Otherwise, having owned two vehicles with this 3.5L engine in
it, it is a very smooth, responsive and powerful powertrain.  Fuel economy
may disappoint, but otherwise you will like it.  Early reports on the 3.8L
V6 is that it is one SERIOUS engine - as much power as you could ever, ever
need;

*The re-design makes the new Amanti virtually identical to the Hyundai
Azera, a vehicle that has gotten kudos from numerous automotive corners.  If
the Kia dealership in the bedroom community doesn't pan out, this is a
similar alternative you can take a look at;

*The thing a friend of mine who bought the new 2007 is bragging about the
most is the new stereo, something that both Hyundai and Kia had been very
unimpressive in previously;

*Remember that any 2006 model car, even one with 19 miles on it sitting in a
dealer's showroom, is now already considered a one-year-old used car, and
the value will reflect that the moment you drive it off the lot.  While the
new Amanti/Azera is obviously too new to compare how the resale will hold
up, the rather unremarkable record of the 2006 should give you pause, unless
you intend to keep the car a long, long time;

*Having said that, the new 2007 Amanti appears to be quite the "hot" car, at
least at this time.  While that may bode well for future re-sale value, for
the time being, it means that Kia dealers have been selling most of these
pretty close to full retail, an extreme rarity for Kia.  Kia, at least in
most parts of the country is offering $1000 cash back on it, and that may be
the most the dealer would do for you;

*I think that, just as both Kia and Hyundai have been working hard to
upgrade their vehicles, so you will find a number of things incrementally
better on the 2007, especially over the life of the car.  That said, any
re-design always carries with it at least some risk of
"first-year-car-itis," the disease that has especially bad with
all-new-domestic cars for decades.

*So which one to buy??  I guess it depends on where your life is right now
with the settlement and everything else.  As one who currently has one of
those 3.5L engines with the odometer reading just under 62,000 miles, and is
facing the daunting and terribly expensive task of replacing the timing
belt, I would have to lean towards the new model.  Everything about the 2007
seems to be something you can brag about compared to ANY other car out
there.
But mine is a 2004 that I bought in early 2005, using the same trick you are
considering - saving me thousands of dollars.  In my case, it allowed me to
buy a vehicle I needed (minivan) that there was no way I could have afforded
otherwise.  I did buy "gap" insurance so that, in the case of a wreck, I
would get back the total I owe, rather than what it is worth (a difference
of about $6000 right now).  If you want to feel like you are making the
steal of a lifetime, why not?

Again, since you asked about the engine in the '06, you will like everything
about it except the timing belt, and maybe the fuel economy.  The smoothness
fits the car, and the power is more than you need.

Hope this helps.

Tom Wenndt

On Feb 16, 7:16 pm, "minus200(DELETETHIS)"

<snip>

I'll just add that while I really like Kia vehicles, having a bad
dealer service dept is what really ruined a lot of things for me. It
got to the point that the last thing that came up(torn CV boot) just
inside of the warranty, I bit the bullet and fixed it myself with a
reman axle. Those goons at the dealer broke more stuff than they fixed
and I didn't want to give them another opportunity.

I have to drive clear across town now to get dealer parts(but
understand that I do NOT have to go very often....). If the service
dept at the dealer already has you concerned, I would suggest shopping
another dealer to see how that one works for you. The new dealer I use
for parts is great, the counter help is always professional, they sell
parts for MSRP without marking them up, etc. They're just a bunch of
great guys who care about keeping the customer happy. And if you want
a good ownership experience you really need that from the start.

Good luck with your decision.

Chris