Here's Gene on December 14, 2013, telling how he "traded in a 2011 Accord EX-L V6 with navigation" to a new Kia "2014 Optima EX with Premium":
2014 Optima EX with Premium Owner
Confirmation from his own forum: "Kia Optima."
What Kind of Car Do You Drive?
List price seems to have been $23,950 + $3,300 for that premium package:
2014 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan Pricing and Options
Here's him warning others how BMW "will try to extort a big fee to replace expensive run flat tires at the end of a lease":
Question re lease return
Which seems to confirm he had a leased BMW before that Accord, and apparently "I was never enamored of BMW audio, using a 2008 3-series as an example":
Hello from Nor California!
Also V6 VW "the engine has about the same horsepower as the Honda and VW I had, with V6 engines, in the early 2000s":
Debating on an Optima - Page 3
Which was "Had a 2004 Passat V6 GLX. Built on the same platform as the Audi A4, so it was a fancy ride."
What Kind of Car Do You Drive?
With optional goodies again: "I was favorably impressed with the VW Passat GLX after two test drives and took home a Brilliant Silver version with the optional stability control"
2003 Volkswagen Passat Warning Reviews - Top 10 Problems
According to this comment, he has also sent a begging email roughly a week before that first message on the Kia forum, and those kept coming:
An Open Letter To Ufology
There seems to a pattern of brand new cars with high performance engines and optional goodies every 3 years or so. If he hasn't bought a new one yet, please help Gene and send lots of money, as he would be overdue for a new one.
Edit: Never mind that last part, he already had a VW again on June 26, 2017: "My now departed car, a VW sedan, is well rated for safety. I wear seat belts religiously, and the air bags went off as designed when the collision occurred."
June 25, 2017 — John DeSouza