Korean cars, will they ever get accepted by petrol heads?

Korean cars, will they ever get accepted by petrol heads?

Author
Discussion

deltashad

6,731 posts

196 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
Ian974 said:
.
For a hot hatch, don't think they have anything to compete with a gti or type r or anything for now, but I'm sure the time will come.
The Proton Satria GTi nearly broke the cycle. Based on the old Mitsubishi Mirage with a decent amount of poke and Lotus handling engineering.

Triumph Man

8,670 posts

167 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
As above, I like the look of the Genesis and various large saloons. The only thing putting me off is the fact they aren't available here! Surely with the new Subaru and Toyota coupes, Hyundai missed a trick?

Fire99

9,844 posts

228 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
Definitely. They just need a 'Stand Out' car. The Kia Pro-Ceed is an excellent mainstream car, not to mention the current Sportage.

If they can just do something a bit bolder/unique with slightly better dynamics. They're close IMO.

RV8

1,570 posts

170 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
I am not sold on most new cars irrespective of manufacturer, there is nothing really that catches my imagination. Super cars are just like supermodels, realistically I am never going to get iside either of them, and everything else is dishwater. The only exception for me is some of the aus and yank muscle cars of late which look, go and sound like a car should. In europe at least bmw and mercedes have designed some nice looking cars recently.
If the Koreans ever make something which looks like a 70's muscle car, sounds like one and goes like one they might get my interest but everything else is just white goods imvho and that is directed at most of the motoring industry which subverts people from otherwise bland products by fitting toys like reversing cameras, auto park and other driving gizmos, which imo essentially help people who cant drive, and probably shouldn't, do a slighly better job. not my bag.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
pistonchris said:
I had a look at a kia soul the other day and thought it was a really cool looking car.
Really like it to be honest.
They do look interesting. Oh, hang on, it's a car from the Far East. What are we thinking? Repeat after me: Kia Souls look bland.

dowahdiddyman

965 posts

210 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
deltashad said:
My grand daughter, or daughter maybe. But not in my lifetime.

My older brother, he's 40. Reasonably successful accountant, last year bought a Korean car. A Kia Rio. I actually feel sorry for my nephew and niece having to travel around in that car. It's black and it doesn't even have tinted windows, nevermind blacked out windows, which I would expect as standard equipment on any Korean car.

I may consider one if I was a muslim woman and wore a burka everyday.
Obviously a well informed response.

Lordglenmorangie

3,053 posts

204 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
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When the Japanese first brought cars to our shores, we fell about laughing. Not laughing now are we wink

dowahdiddyman

965 posts

210 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
Lordglenmorangie said:
When the Japanese first brought cars to our shores, we fell about laughing. Not laughing now are we wink
Exactly, We can all remember the likes of the Hyundai Stellar etc and wouldn`t have wished them on our worst enemy but now they are a totally different kettle of fish. The new Sorento,Sportage,Optima,i40 etc are all damn good cars.

EDLT

15,421 posts

205 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
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thinfourth2 said:
Japan

Builder of poor quality crappy cars or builder of top quality cars?
Plenty of people on here still won't buy them because plastics.

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

203 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
EDLT said:
thinfourth2 said:
Japan

Builder of poor quality crappy cars or builder of top quality cars?
Plenty of people on here still won't buy them because plastics.
Yes but people who lick the interior of their car are a bit odd

Alfanatic

9,339 posts

218 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
EDLT said:
thinfourth2 said:
Japan

Builder of poor quality crappy cars or builder of top quality cars?
Plenty of people on here still won't buy them because plastics.
Yes, and plenty won't buy German because its overpriced and unreliable, or dull, and plenty won't buy Italian because it will fall to bits and the electrickery will leave them stranded at the roadside, plenty won't buy British because of all of the above, and plenty won't buy American because they are state of the ark and can't go around corners.

Some won't buy a Lamborghini because it's a tractor, a Porsche because it's a Beetle, a MINI because it's German or a Bentley because rappers like them.

I am not disagreeing with what you are saying about Japanese cars, the interiors often don't have the luxurious feel of their German counterparts, but I think they are now pretty much on level pegging with everyone else in terms of level of acceptance.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
Yes but people who lick the interior of their car are a bit odd
hehe

steviegunn

1,415 posts

183 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
Triumph Man said:
As above, I like the look of the Genesis and various large saloons. The only thing putting me off is the fact they aren't available here! Surely with the new Subaru and Toyota coupes, Hyundai missed a trick?
There was talk of a rhd Genesis being available in Australia in 2013 so you never know, should the Toyburu be a success and with the demise of the RX-8 and Tiburon / Coupe, Hyundai may see a reasonable sales opportunity, I guess it depends on how they want to push the Veloster as their car in the coupe segment, though the Genesis would be a very different proposition.

heebeegeetee

28,591 posts

247 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
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Isn't the Genesis coupe supposed to be crap? There's a review in Motor Sport magazine and they give it a right panning.

In response to thread title though, I'm certainly old enough to remember when Japanese cars were seen as a joke and it was inconceivable that the day would come when they'd appeal to enthusiasts.

Contigo

3,113 posts

208 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
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Just bought a Hyundai Coupe 2.0 16V SE for 800 notes. It's mint and has only done 78K miles. The engine is a peach (Mitsibushi) and it just drives so well. On a 300 mile drive I had no discomfort and compared to the M5 the seats are way better.


jbi

12,668 posts

203 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
heebeegeetee said:
Isn't the Genesis coupe supposed to be crap? There's a review in Motor Sport magazine and they give it a right panning.
http://www.motorauthority.com/overview/hyundai_gen...

http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/hyundai/2013...

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2013-hyundai-g...

seems like a great car according to these reviews


odyssey2200

18,650 posts

208 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
www.spirra.com



What's not to like?

Dilligaf10

2,431 posts

209 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
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Bought a 2008 Kia Sedona with 10k miles 2 years ago and it has 95 k on it now.

It has never missed a beat, is well equipped with dual zone aircon, full leather, electric doors all at an excellent price. That is why they are so popular. It may not be exciting but it does what it says on the can and realistically that is what most people want from their car.


Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

166 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
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A colleague of mine bought a new Optima a couple of months ago. He looked at 3 Series and C Class, but aside from the snotty dealers that didn't seem keen to take his money he found that the cars base price was a little higher than the Kia was, but he had to spend thousands to bring zee Germans up to the spec of the Kia. He's not mentioned how close the Kia is in driving dynamics or refinement. My guess, and it is a guess, is that zee Germans are nicer to drive and push all of the right buttons, but there is no escaping that the Kia was thousands cheaper, the dealers wanted to deal and it is still a rather nice looking car.

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

208 months

Saturday 12th May 2012
quotequote all
I have had loads of SsangYongs.

I loved them, even the Rodius.

HTH