OT: Korean Cars... what's your opinion?

[drt7891]

Kia is coming out with a new luxury car called the K900 they are slating to compete with the Mercedes S class, etc. It has a 5.0 V8 and is Kia's first rear wheel drive "full size" sedan. Judging on the eye test and some of the comments in the article below, it seems to be impressive, but... it's a kia and looks SUSPICIOUSLY like a Ford Fusion (which looks suspiciously like an Aston-Martin). Hyundai (who ownes Kia... Kia is their "upscale" brand, similar to Acura and Honda) still has a so-so reputation, at least with me. Their products not too long ago were a step or two above "pure crap."

What do you guys think? Anyone drive a Korean brand? Anyone have any insight? This looks ambitious and don't know how well this will sell within the market they want it to.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1312_2015_kia_k900_first_test/

 

[Digging dog]

Crazy thing reading this in front of my tv and a Kia commercial comes on. I'm thinking it is gonna be this car but it was the new Optima. Still a very good looking car. As far as integrity and reliability, I have no idea?

 

[Snog]

I know folks that won't buy "American" made cars anymore after the GM bailout.

Two reasons.

1. The bailout. Should've let em fail.

2. Kia/Hyundai, Toyota, BMW(SUV), Mazada, are all built or have plants in the South. Non unionized labor(see number one).

I say go for it.

 

[dawgman42]

Love my 2013 Sonata Sport . . . about 12,000 miles on it now. Lots of bang for the buck (like an OM recruiting weekend). Prior to about 2007, I agree that their reputation wasn't great, but since then, it's improved considerably. Even the Kia's have come a long, long way in the same period.

The Hyundai Equus is also sweet for the $60k+ crowd. Hyundai basically hired away some of the best designers and engineers from Lexus to do them.

 

[drt7891]

I'm not interested, per se... I'm certainly not in the luxury car market. I find these topics interesting and have heard Korean cars are lightyears beyond what they used to be (which was pretty damn bad)... I'm just seeing what, or if anyone had differing or "changed" opinions on Hyundai/Kia.

I don't want to turn this into a union/non-union thread... I know people who are "anti-union" and hate GM and Chrysler for taking bailout money, therefore, buy a Nissan/Honda/Kia/Toyota because most are built in the south (some models are still built in Japan... up until 2009ish, many Accords were still imported... Maxima is the same way... I'm know some of those models still are exclusively built in Japan)... but others are "buy American" because "17 the Japs (apologies if you are Japanese)."

I personally think Japanese cars are great cars. I think Honda's 4 cylinder is best in the business and Nissan's 6 cylinders are best in the business. Both of those brands have drive trains that are VERY well built. With American brands, Ford is the only American auto brand I would buy (even though most Ford cars have Mazda frames and drivetrains... The Ecoboost 4 cylinders are turbocharged Mazda engines... the truck/SUV setups are the only "Ford Exclusive" designs). I do like the new Silverado/Sierra, though...

Just as a side note, I drove a Hyundai this summer as a rental and was far from impressed with the overall handling... the electric assisted steering made the car far too responsive for my taste. There is a reason Hyundai touts a "10 year, 100,000 powertrain warranty." They also have horrid resale value, so that's a factor, too...

 

[Snog]

Only experience I've had has been with Mazadas and Toyotas.

If you've got half a brain, you can beat the **** out of em, keep em serviced, and they'll keep running. A lot to be said for that.

As far as pickups, I'd never own anything other than a Ford or Chevy. The Japs are making strides in that area but, 13 and14 mpg are a killer. If the tundra got better mpg it'd be a damn fine truck.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Favorite part of the review

Was the "WTF does that light mean but I think it has something to do with my engine" light that was lit up on the picture of the instrument cluster. Quality.

 

[drt7891]

Toyota has always been a vanilla brand to me... they have ridden the "quality manufacturing" train for a long, long time, and I believe the Nissan Altima is getting ready to overtake them. They are still popular vehicles, but to me, they are absolutely bland cars and trucks. The only Toyota I'd consider would be a 4 runner, but even those get rough MPG. They are still good cars, so don't think I'm not saying that.

I'm right with you, I wouldn't touch a Japanese full-size truck. Nissan Titan drivetrains are awful, but they did get into the market at a VERY ****** time, so I don't blame them for not investing in that model more than they have. Tundras are just... well... I don't like them. I would buy a Tacoma or Frontier, though... the old Datsun and Nissan pickups were about indestructible. The Honda Ridgelines are pretty impressive, too. I hate the Ranger is no more... Ford made a mistake discontinuing those, I think.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

I'm on my third Hyundai, and I have nothing but good things to say.

First was a Santa Fe bought in summer 06. Drove it about a year and a half when my wife got rear ended and sandwiched. The car was totaled. Did I mention that she was six months pregnant at the time? Thankfully, wife and child were fine. Went right out and bought another one in Oct 2007. I forget who we were playing that day but I listened to the XM broadcast on the way home. That one now has a little over 100,000 miles on it and has only been in the shop for regular maintenance and a few cosmetic things (like the sun visor). Couple of other little things in the last year like the power seat motor died, but warranty covered it.

Two years ago this month I was in the market. I'm pretty much just a four door sedan guy and had been in a Honda Accord for several years. I drove the new Accord first, then drove the Sonata. I thought it handled better and was more comfortable. I had done a good bit of research on other similar cars and had narrowed it down to these two, so I went with the Sonata.

For me, price is also a factor. Especially with those first two vehicles, the price point of the Limited (highest trim level) was equal to a base model of other vehicles. I should add here that with the Santa Fe, the wife's biggest factor is does the car look good. She refuses to ever drive a van, and before the Santa Fe she had been in a Mercury Cougar. Anyway, the Santa Fe met the looks good test, but when she figured out her choice was Santa Fe Limited with leather, sunroof, XM, DVD, etc, or a base model Jeep or Nissan, her decision was made. Over the last five years, Hyundai's prices have steadily risen. When we go back after another vehicle in a year or two, it will be interesting to see if Hyundai is still a good buy in comparison to its competition.

 

[Snog]

Yeah. The ranger was a good un. We ran a couple around the farm.

And what I don't get is people spending 10 grand on a damn Polaris ranger when you can get a used Tacoma for the same or less money that will do the exact same thing with less noise, heating/ac, power windows, and windshield wipers.

****, I can take a Tacoma anywhere. Drive through the woods right up to the deer, load his *** up, and be gone.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

We've owned 6 Huyndai vehicles since 2004. Dependable with good gas mileage. I would buy a truck from them if they made one.

 

[Philly Dawg]

What about Ford? They didn't participate in the bailout.

 

[Digging dog]

I know folks that won't buy "American" made cars anymore after the GM bailout.

Two reasons.

1. The bailout. Should've let em fail.

2. Kia/Hyundai, Toyota, BMW(SUV), Mazada, are all built or have plants in the South. Non unionized labor(see number one).

I say go for it.

Guilty!!!
Had a 93 S10 Blazer that left a bad taste in my mouth. Wife threatened to drive it in the reservoir at one point.
Own Toyota Tacoma, Honda Odyssey, Nisan Altima. I do have a 66 mustang in the garage though.

 

[Snog]

Same people told me Ford is the only one they would consider.

 

[drt7891]

Ford is the best American company, by far. They didn't take bailout money, but everything but their trucks/large SUVs are pretty much Japanese (engines, frames, etc... most people don't know that, though). Their merger with Mazda saved their ***... without it, I dare say GM would have been left in better shape than Ford. Prior to 2007, there was very little difference between Chrysler, Dodge, and Ford.

I have no issue with Ford... most people with issues with Ford are anti-Union or just don't like them.

 

[Snog]

The Cobra Mustangs they're building are ridiculous. Damn near 600 horses out of the factory is scary.

 

[Dawg1976]

I bought my first Hyundai just a few weeks ago. A 2013 Santa Fe GLS. It really drives well and gets pretty good gas mileage for a 6cyl.

So far so good. And not only do they have a 10 year 100k powertrain warranty, the bumper to bumper is for 5 years 60k miles. That's pretty good insurance imo.

 

[SwampDawg]

Years ago I took Toyota to BBB arbitration over a top of the line 4 Runner I had bought new. Complete lemon. The BBB made them buy it back. I was off foreign cars completely. However, a couple of months ago my wife and I went on vacation and rented a Kia. Beautiful car, excellent gas milage. Took it FOREVER to use a tank of gas.

 

[Palos verdes]

Kia has made strides and are light years from where they were 10-12 years ago. I know this because I've seen modern Kia cars and remembered my friend's old Kia Sephia, in which the accelerator pedal repositioned itself while driving once. Had an old lady been driving it, there might have been trouble. He simply reached down with his hand and forced the pedal linkage back to it's former position. We had a good laugh and made it to the bar safely.

Maybe I misunderstood the OP, but I never realized that Kia was Hyundai's luxury brand, always thought it was the opposite.

 

[drt7891]

Well... I'll say this, that Hyundai wants Kia to be it's "higher end" brand. For years, it was it's own company (Ford had a stint in the 80's owning Kia, then Hyundai bought them out), so perhaps the "Acura/Honda" comparison was a little inaccurate. Acura is solely a Honda brand, where as Kia is not really and was not founded as a Hyundai brand.

 

[codeDawg]

1. The bailout. Should've let em fail.

So they won't support an American car company because the US government chose to save it and its suppliers from going out of business. Makes sense.

 

[kired]

This was how we felt when I bought my wife an 09 Santa Fe. We could get a loaded limited version for the same price as similar sized baseline models from other brands.

We've got about 55,000 miles on it with no problems. My only complaint is the drivers seat is uncomfortable for me. Fine for my wife. Maybe I'm too tall (i'm 5'10' --- she's about 5')

 

[DAWG61]

Korean ****** what's your opinion?

 

[DawgatAuburn]

I'm a shade over 6 and it's fine for me. Sometimes I have to move the seat down and back to get it just right. If you haven't already moved the steering wheel, you might try that too.

 

[mcdawg22]

BM

Delete

 

[Philly Dawg]

It also fails to consider that foreign car manufacturers may get governmental aid from their governments as well.

 

[mstateglfr]

We have an '08 Kia Optima

Love it. It isn't a luxury car and doesn't haven anything that luxury cars have. Comparing it to other vehicles that are in the same category/class, I think it's been great.

Its was thousands cheaper than Toyota, Honda, Ford, and Chevy cars that are mid size 4door.
The engine is consistent, it's relatively quiet, and has enough pickup to not complain.

They nailed the mid sized family 4door entry level market.

We will seriously consider Kia when we get another vehicle, whatever type of vehicle it is.


The cars aren't even in the same ballpark as what was on the market 10-15 years ago. Don't even think about those cars when considering your options.

 

[Snog]

So they won't support an American car company because the US government chose to save it and its suppliers from going out of business. Makes sense.

Banks, Manufacturing, Mortgages, ......money does run out.

 

[harrybollocks]

Not sure why bailout money matters, name a big business today that doesn't

Banks, Manufacturing, Mortgages, ......money does run out.

benefit from government favors? Better not buy any G.E. products or use credit cards from big banks. And don't watch the NFL, a non-profit exempt from anti-trust legislation whose owners and players benefit from taxpayer funded stadiums. A lot of Americans depend on GM being a viable company, btw. I'll stop here and say that Hundai makes nice cars and everyone I know who owns one is quite satisfied. For the price you're getting more extras than anything Toyota or Honda can usually toss in and the 10-year warranty comes in handy (let's face it, things break on all cars). Reputation for Honda and Toyota, something earned over the past couple of decades, allows those companies to charge more for a little less. They earned it. I chose a Honda (if you interested in politics, Japan is by far our greatest Asian ally) because the price and interest rate were comparable to a similar Hyundai model but the resale value is much better. That could change by the time I sell the car. Find out about dealer service and location. The Honda dealership is a little closer to where I live so that was a factor in my decision. Regarding Kia, I just don't know and don't even consider them. The first Kia's were terrible but I know they're much better now. Still wouldn't choose them before Honda, Toyota, Hyundai (really in no particular order other than personal taste) or Nissan if you're looking exclusively at "foreign" cars built here. Or, do your homework regarding prices and extras, buy what you prefer, and don't get buyers remorse. You'll enjoy your car much more. To be honest, cars don't really matter much to me. I just want them to be reliable and I don't need many extras.

 

[DreadNought.sixpack]

We bought a 2011 Elantra for my daughter for reliability, gas mileage, price and great features like hands free blue tooth and streaming audio, etc. The biggest issues I have with it are the wind noise and rough ride. Better window seals and improved suspension would make these farther best in the industry.

 

[512taylor]

Kia is coming out with a new luxury car called the K900 they are slating to compete with the Mercedes S class, etc. It has a 5.0 V8 and is Kia's first rear wheel drive "full size" sedan. Judging on the eye test and some of the comments in the article below, it seems to be impressive, but... it's a kia and looks SUSPICIOUSLY like a Ford Fusion (which looks suspiciously like an Aston-Martin). Hyundai (who ownes Kia... Kia is their "upscale" brand, similar to Acura and Honda) still has a so-so reputation, at least with me. Their products not too long ago were a step or two above "pure crap."

What do you guys think? Anyone drive a Korean brand? Anyone have any insight? This looks ambitious and don't know how well this will sell within the market they want it to.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1312_2015_kia_k900_first_test/

Dennis Rodman loves his RNK Sportster. Drop him a line.

 

[BogeyGolfer.sixpack]

I swear by...

Toyota.. I bought my wife a Lincoln SUV 6 years ago and we already had a Toyota Camry. I bought SUV for her because she would have the kids most if the time. She never gave up the Camry and it drives and looks just has good as the day we bought it. I got stuck driving the SUV until my son got his license and now he drives it...the Camry now has a better resale value as well..., I say research it, but I would go for it if I was comfortable with gas milage and quality.