Marketing nonsense at best/worst: Kia Rio

[VIPFREAK]

Both Kia and Hyundai are just butt ugly to me. I wouldn't buy one, maybe at the very least a Tiburon but that's about it. Sadly it seems Toyota is heading in Hyundai's direction too. And then Hyundai is bitting off the Accord.

 

[R a g e]

What about the rio rx-v?

Nothing wrong with hyundai anymore, they had problems with the excels early on in the N.A. market. I drive a 99 accent and its just fine.

 

[niky]

Kia's actually have TWO good things going for them:

1. They're cheap

2. They're cheap to fix

Same can't be said of Daewoos... they're cheap, yes, but you can't fix them... they're disposable.

I've seen a lot of old Kias here in service as taxis... and they're almost as popular as Corollas (Corollas are #1 because of durability)... but ANY CAR will break down under fleet usage in the tropics... that's why Kias are popular, as buying... say a steering rack, for example... costs about 20$ (brand new) versus about 100$ (b.new for a Corolla).

They're tough little buggers, by the way. And if the engine becomes a pain in the ass, we usually just swap a Mazda or Mitsubishi engine right in there.

 

[Carl.]

The people who laugh at the ad are correct; it's absurd.

By the same token:

The people in this thread who have posed the question 'Why buy a Kia?' or have doubted Kia or the Republic of Korea are completely ignorant.

I've never owned a Korean car, I'm not Korean, and I've never even been to Korea, but it takes an absolute fool to doubt Hyundai and Kia. Of course, it also takes an absolute fool to make brand allegiances, but we can look past that in this thread.

No, the Rio isn't a great car. But Kia as a brand does make good cars, and Hyundai makes even more. Wake up people, it's not 1986 anymore.

I totally agree. My girlfriends has a Hyundai and it's nothing to write home about, but it's very far from being a bad car. She bought it 2 months before we got togheter, otherwise she would have somethings else, but I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it, it's very decent, and MUCH BETTER than offerings in the same category from GM which I had the displeasure of driving as rentals, for example. (but that may have changed since now they put GM badges on Korean cars... )

For example, the new Sonata V6 looks like a pretty good deal for a new car. Well equipped, decent motor and a great warranty. No wonder Hyundai currently has the fastest growth in the auto market, they made leaps in terms of quality while keeping low prices.

 

[Ev0]

I totally agree. My girlfriends has a Hyundai and it's nothing to write home about, but it's very far from being a bad car. She bought it 2 months before we got togheter, otherwise she would have somethings else, but I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it, it's very decent, and MUCH BETTER than offerings in the same category from GM which I had the displeasure of driving as rentals, for example. (but that may have changed since now they put GM badges on Korean cars... )

For example, the new Sonata V6 looks like a pretty good deal for a new car. Well equipped, decent motor and a great warranty. No wonder Hyundai currently has the fastest growth in the auto market, they made leaps in terms of quality while keeping low prices.

Same thing with my mom's Santa Fe. Not a brilliant car, but it's far from being a bad car. And besides, the manual shift mode works great! Much better than a full automatic, especially for highway driving.

And the new Sonata is by all accounts a great car, despite the fact it's a blatant copy of the Honda Accord in terms of styling. I'd still buy one though (if for some reason I had to buy new).

 

[Speedbird223]

................

 

[Carl.]

According to a poster I see every week at Heathrow Airport which suggests Kia are the fastest growing in the UK!

I wouldn't know for the European market, but here it's not just posters that suggest this...

http://au.news.yahoo.com/050803/3/vcga.html
http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-news/25-int/12186/

 

[Tornado]

Both Kia and Hyundai are just butt ugly to me. I wouldn't buy one, maybe at the very least a Tiburon but that's about it. Sadly it seems Toyota is heading in Hyundai's direction too. And then Hyundai is bitting off the Accord.

And what direction is that? Making boring but very reliable and cheap cars filled with options? Toyota has been doing that for years with the Camry. Not to mention half of the Lexus' they sell fit that bill. Hyundai's and Kia's are not sporty cars at all, but they are safe, reliable transport for little money. They also have warranties far longer than any other company, barring Toyota and Honda, have a right to use. I also see no problem with Hyundai copying the Accord. It is one of the best cars you can buy, especailly when you factor in cost. Why is that a deplorable thing to shoot for?

 

[VIPFREAK]

It's not I suppose, but I don't like Hyundai kind of blobbyness like the Elantra. Toyota's are gettin Real blah though which I've always thought Kia and Hyundai were at. I didn't think Toyota's were bad at all before but I guess with the start of the current gen Camry, that look has transfer to other cars and it's gettin old.

 

[1X83Z]

So you're dismissing a brand based on how its cars look? Why are you even participating?

Thank you to those who affirmed Kia/Hyundai and who realize not every car can be a performance car.

 

[VIPFREAK]

So you're dismissing a brand based on how its cars look? Why are you even participating?

I was referring to his questions but no... after seeing my friend's hyundai as well as VW for their build quality I wouldn't get one.

...who realize not every car can be a performance car.

Why are you even pointing this out? That's a no brainer.

 

[Speedbird223]

It is one of the best cars you can buy, especailly when you factor in cost

I think the cheaper cost is something of a misnomer. Korean tend to lose a much greater percentage of their value, whereas a European equivalent (some, not all European equivs!) may be more desirable and hold its value better. In the long term whereas the European may have cost more to get in the first place you sell for a much better price and lose less overall.....oh and have a better car for the period of ownership!

 

[Omnis]

I think the Kia SUV looks great. Can't say much beyond that, because I've never been in one and haven't driven one.

But anyway, I really respect Hyundai as a company, and I'd never underestimate koreans. They love topping Japan, after all.

 

[Carl.]

I think the cheaper cost is something of a misnomer. Korean tend to lose a much greater percentage of their value, whereas a European equivalent (some, not all European equivs!) may be more desirable and hold its value better. In the long term whereas the European may have cost more to get in the first place you sell for a much better price and lose less overall.....oh and have a better car for the period of ownership!

That is bound to change though, given their current reliability, good warranties, and the fact that their reputation is far from where it was. Of course resale values is not on the same level as Honda or Toyota, but it doesn't look that bad compared to many Ford, GM or VW products.

 

[1X83Z]

Why are you even pointing this out? That's a no brainer.

You'd think.

 

[Hell Raiser]

ehh... Lexus is not similar to Merc at all?

ARE YOU BLIND?
HELL,Lexus is a good car,but they pushed themsleves on to the market as a cheaper Mercedes. And don't EVER say that Lexus don't copy Mercedes

 

[Hell Raiser]

no, people were just jealous the Lexus were nicer and actually lasted longer. (made that up by the way) but I'd seriously get a Lexus over a Merc anyday even if it was just for looks.

You must be on something

 

[VIPFREAK]

ehh... Lexus is not similar to Merc at all?

oh... I see why your tripping so much. Embarassed "German enginneering" [insert Conan O Brien speaking German here] gets owned by Japanese?

 

[Danny]

The Kia Rio is not a bad car.

Deal with it.

 

[Hell Raiser]

oh... I see why your tripping so much. Embarassed "German enginneering" [insert Conan O Brien speaking German here] gets owned by Japanese?

You have to be on crack to quote your own self
As for the embarassing part...........as you people say it "wishful thinking"
Leuxs might come close to Mercedes,but it will NEVER be one,so dream on buddy 👎

 

[Ev0]

The Kia Rio is not a bad car.

That may be true, but you're much, much better off buying a used Civic or Corolla (could be cheaper depending on model year, better build quality, better reliability, and so on). If you ask me, you have to be an idiot to take a new Rio over a Civic or Corolla that's a few years old.

 

[Speedbird223]

The Kia Rio is not a bad car.

Deal with it.

Hmmm.

Top Gear magazine say:
'A cut price sort of Fiesta rival but you'll be forever wishing you'd gone for the Fiesta instead because the Rio feels like it came free with the cereal you ate this morning'
Scored: 6/20
Alternative Drives: Ford Fiesta, Honda Jazz, Mazda 2, a pogo stick

In fact Kia do poorly, with highest car rating 10/20 and most between 6 an 9

 

[1X83Z]

The Kia Rio is a bad car. It's underpowered and for its spec level, it's overpriced. Worst, it fails at its main goal: efficiency. Its fuel economy levels don't even come close to those of class competitors which deliver more horsepower and, furthermore, better spec and reliability, not to mention a better resale value.

Look, I don't judge by manufacturer, but I do judge by car. The Kia Rio is among the worst vehicles on sale. If someone with the cash to buy a Kia Rio can't afford a Suzuki Aerio, he should simply look used - there's no excuse for buying a Rio.

 

[Carl.]

Agreed about the rio, and it's not very good, and fugly. But that's not because it is Korean, that's just a bad car, period.

The spectra, on the other end, is much better. It did very well in this comparative match from Motor trend, for those who care about Car Magazines opinions. The current Elantra is very decent for the price (for a new car, obcviously), and the new Sonata isn't bad either.

 

[retsmah]

Heh, just tonight my dad said something about how he would never buy a Korean car... it's funny because twenty years ago he was saying the same thing about Japanese cars, and now he owns a Mazda.

 

[1X83Z]

Heh, just tonight my dad said something about how he would never buy a Korean car... it's funny because twenty years ago he was saying the same thing about Japanese cars, and now he owns a Mazda.

You can't challenge innovation.