Is it time to take Korean cars seriously?
Discussion
volvos60s60 said:
I was about to buy a LR Evoque last year. I thought I'd just check out the Kia Sportage before I took the plunge to see what I could get for less money.
The new Sportage in the showroom, with a 2.0 diesel engine & auto option & leather came to over £28K, without much inclination from the dealer to haggle. For the same money I could have bought a 1 year old Evoque, which, without going into too much detail, is a better proposition for quite a few reasons.
In the end I bought a new Evoque, but the new Sportage vs one year old Evoque equation meant there could only be one outcome, for me at least.
However, consider this, the new Sportage was £28K & I paid £32.5K for the new Evoque. Both new, but the LR IMHO is better in every area, including resale.
The Kia is a fine car, as long as it keeps price from more desirable competition as a big differentiator. In my case the potential saving was simply not enough
So why not buy a 1 year old Sportage?The new Sportage in the showroom, with a 2.0 diesel engine & auto option & leather came to over £28K, without much inclination from the dealer to haggle. For the same money I could have bought a 1 year old Evoque, which, without going into too much detail, is a better proposition for quite a few reasons.
In the end I bought a new Evoque, but the new Sportage vs one year old Evoque equation meant there could only be one outcome, for me at least.
However, consider this, the new Sportage was £28K & I paid £32.5K for the new Evoque. Both new, but the LR IMHO is better in every area, including resale.
The Kia is a fine car, as long as it keeps price from more desirable competition as a big differentiator. In my case the potential saving was simply not enough
Edited by volvos60s60 on Sunday 3rd May 10:10
I know a bloke who had an Audi Q5. Come time to change he went back to Audi and they wanted 28k plus his car. Went to Kia instead and saved over 10k and got a car that is almost as good as the Audi. Residuals? He doesn't care as he's about to retire and intends to keep it for a long time.
The amount of Kias rolling around here show that they are being taken seriously by the masses, and from what I hear they really do stand by the 7 year warranty they offered. A friend had a Kia, 61 plate, and it developed a fault where it was dropping a copious amount of oil. They said they will rectify it, but had no space to book it in for 2 weeks, but he could drive it around still. He asked what would happen if the engine failed, they shrugged and said they's just chuck another in, on their dime, as it was their fault. No questions.
In my opinion, they are the definition of White Goods Motoring. Not bothered too much by the looks, just want it to do a job for a handful of years, then bin it and get another. And in that respect they are fantastic.
In my opinion, they are the definition of White Goods Motoring. Not bothered too much by the looks, just want it to do a job for a handful of years, then bin it and get another. And in that respect they are fantastic.
I'm switching our fleet of Hearsette's over from Ford Galaxy to Ssangyong Rodius Turismo and I'm seriously impressed.
5 Years / Unlimited Mileage warranty's on a car that does 60k per annum. The first one I've swapped over is now at 90k and as only needed service consumables to date.
Now that's build quality...
5 Years / Unlimited Mileage warranty's on a car that does 60k per annum. The first one I've swapped over is now at 90k and as only needed service consumables to date.
Now that's build quality...
I had a Kia Forte 2.0 sedan as a hire car in the USA recently. It's a good looking car, and the interior is great. A nice place to sit and comfortable too. The interior was much nicer than that in the Ford Focus I'd had the week before. The engine was decent, the auto gearbox was fantastic. The steering was precise but the feel was awful. It felt like turning the wheel on an exercise bike with belt resistance. There was a "sports" setting which stiffened up the steering but that just felt like tightening the belt on the bike. No road feedback.
That's a minor thing to fix though and perhaps it's just the bad side of EPAS. The rest of the car was a pleasure to drive. I really liked it. I'll consider them as seriously as any other manufacturer when looking at my next car.
That's a minor thing to fix though and perhaps it's just the bad side of EPAS. The rest of the car was a pleasure to drive. I really liked it. I'll consider them as seriously as any other manufacturer when looking at my next car.
They are decent enough looking with a long warranty, for the masses that is enough and the cars will suit them well.
For me at the moment, its the engines that let them down as there seems to be nothing really to match the German's in that department.
They will get there soon enough though, and then, we will take them seriously!
That concept though, looks lovely
For me at the moment, its the engines that let them down as there seems to be nothing really to match the German's in that department.
They will get there soon enough though, and then, we will take them seriously!
That concept though, looks lovely
We were in the same situation last year when my wife wanted an suv type vehicle, Our driving history is mainly Audi, VW, Porsche, basically all German,
First choice was an Audi Q5, But thought we would have a quick look at a 62 plate Sportage that was 11 months old and had covered 6000 miles at the main dealer.
Was so impressed with it that we bought it on the spot, we have had it 17 months now and it is very good in every way, I still drive an Audi and we still own a Porsche but would we buy another Sportage?
Definitely I cannot really fault it, it does everything you would expect and well,
I remember the dealers last comment,
It was a pleasure doing business with you and I probably wont see you again because it wont go wrong!!
That's confidence in your product and apart from one service I have had no reason to visit the dealer again,
But having a 7 year warranty does give peace of mind if anything does go wrong.
First choice was an Audi Q5, But thought we would have a quick look at a 62 plate Sportage that was 11 months old and had covered 6000 miles at the main dealer.
Was so impressed with it that we bought it on the spot, we have had it 17 months now and it is very good in every way, I still drive an Audi and we still own a Porsche but would we buy another Sportage?
Definitely I cannot really fault it, it does everything you would expect and well,
I remember the dealers last comment,
It was a pleasure doing business with you and I probably wont see you again because it wont go wrong!!
That's confidence in your product and apart from one service I have had no reason to visit the dealer again,
But having a 7 year warranty does give peace of mind if anything does go wrong.
OwenK said:
I hope they produce it looking just like the concept. It's got a nice back end and lovely contouring
(What have I become
)
err, Honda accord anyone? (What have I become
)
I fail to see how anyone can get excited about it.
or even vauxhall <whatever> they're all the same.
Edited by CoolHands on Sunday 3rd May 11:40
I've just got a Hyundai i35 (I choose it over the Sportage because the dealer is about a mile away from me whereas the Kia one is the over side of town, apart from that they're pretty similar)
I've got to say I'm hugely impressed. It doesn't get my pulse racing, but it's a very nice car.
Good quality finish and loads of kit.
I've owned 2 fords from new before and it's better than both the fiesta and focus in many ways.
It is a "white good" but anything else for the daily grind would be a waste.
I'd recommend it but would have had reservations with the fords.
I've got to say I'm hugely impressed. It doesn't get my pulse racing, but it's a very nice car.
Good quality finish and loads of kit.
I've owned 2 fords from new before and it's better than both the fiesta and focus in many ways.
It is a "white good" but anything else for the daily grind would be a waste.
I'd recommend it but would have had reservations with the fords.
My wife's on her second Cee'd, she love's them. This latest one is a nice looking car and fully loaded, and we bought as an approved used so came with the full 7 year warranty despite being 9 months old. The old one developed knocking at the rear at about 5 years old due to worn bushes, and all replaced FOC under the warranty.
My bro-in-law has a Sportage, and I think it's the best looking SUV out there, and more practical than my Evoque.
My bro-in-law has a Sportage, and I think it's the best looking SUV out there, and more practical than my Evoque.
Have to say these are well made and already very close to the concept you guys are looking at, my brother wanted a daily as his job has change & the M3's to juicy plus he wants to keep his mileage low & we looked at these he's decided to buy as he'd have to spend an extra 5k to get a Mondeo & as he said it's just a set of wheels, Remap & slight drop away from looking very good.
On a classy set of BBS's this was what swayed my brother.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Basically Fully Loaded with 50 Miles on the clock for 18k with Nav LED & Xenon lights Panoramic Roof, DAB 12 Speaker Infinity 550 Watt System CD MP3 USB Aux Bluetooth Music Streaming, Reversing Camera, Parking Sensors Front & Rear, Air Cooled Front Seats, Parallel Park Assist, Heated Front & Rear Seats, 19 Inch Alloys, Hill Start Assist & MOST IMPORTANTLY it doesn't look gopping lol :HEHE:
On a classy set of BBS's this was what swayed my brother.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Basically Fully Loaded with 50 Miles on the clock for 18k with Nav LED & Xenon lights Panoramic Roof, DAB 12 Speaker Infinity 550 Watt System CD MP3 USB Aux Bluetooth Music Streaming, Reversing Camera, Parking Sensors Front & Rear, Air Cooled Front Seats, Parallel Park Assist, Heated Front & Rear Seats, 19 Inch Alloys, Hill Start Assist & MOST IMPORTANTLY it doesn't look gopping lol :HEHE:
Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 3rd May 12:12
I had a long taxi trip yesterday. Unusually for me I didn't notice what the car was - large saloon.
Inside I was still unsure - it seemed pretty decent quality, the driver had replaced the stereo with an aftermarket one - I didn't recognise the climate controls etc. I was fairly sure it wasn't anything VAG, I knew it wasn't Merc ,BM or Jaaaag, so I was thinking Japanese of some kind. Then I saw the taxi licence card - Hyundai Sonata. Not a petrolhead car, granted, but so very far from some the older Korean offerings. It's no wonder I saw so many (including my hire car) in the USA last year.
Inside I was still unsure - it seemed pretty decent quality, the driver had replaced the stereo with an aftermarket one - I didn't recognise the climate controls etc. I was fairly sure it wasn't anything VAG, I knew it wasn't Merc ,BM or Jaaaag, so I was thinking Japanese of some kind. Then I saw the taxi licence card - Hyundai Sonata. Not a petrolhead car, granted, but so very far from some the older Korean offerings. It's no wonder I saw so many (including my hire car) in the USA last year.
CoolHands said:
err, Honda accord anyone?
I fail to see how anyone can get excited about it.
or even vauxhall <whatever> they're all the same.
My thought exactly. An Accord Tourer with concept car wheels and body kit. They'll build it, without those details, call it the i60 and everyone will go dewy eyed over it and I'll still he seeing the emperor's new clothes. The thing I think people are surprised about is simply that their cars no longer look like 90's Nissans. But, while attractive enoug, I still find them contrived and lacking any genuine style. Not to mention having no wish to push the envelope the way the best French and Italian cars do. I fail to see how anyone can get excited about it.
or even vauxhall <whatever> they're all the same.
Edited by CoolHands on Sunday 3rd May 11:40
Had a 62 Reg i10 park next to me in the car park. Poor thing had dents and scrapes already and wasn't looking as good as a few neglected 10 year old Fiesta and Focus's near by. The Rust on what was a minor scrape was pretty impressive. Don't see them as a factor in my car buying for a while. Colleague had a Sportage and was so impressed his next car was a Nissan Juke.
Edited by telecat on Sunday 3rd May 13:03
Ali_T said:
CoolHands said:
err, Honda accord anyone?
I fail to see how anyone can get excited about it.
or even vauxhall <whatever> they're all the same.
My thought exactly. An Accord Tourer with concept car wheels and body kit. They'll build it, without those details, call it the i60 and everyone will go dewy eyed over it and I'll still he seeing the emperor's new clothes. The thing I think people are surprised about is simply that their cars no longer look like 90's Nissans. But, while attractive enoug, I still find them contrived and lacking any genuine style. Not to mention having no wish to push the envelope the way the best French and Italian cars do. I fail to see how anyone can get excited about it.
or even vauxhall <whatever> they're all the same.
Edited by CoolHands on Sunday 3rd May 11:40
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