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

[StevieB]

Been reading through a lot of car mags recently, pondering,as you do, what car you might buy next (which wont be for at least another year)....gotta say that I think many of the current Hyundai's and Kia's are really good looking cars...seem to be reliable, have a cracking warranty and the owner reports suggest that buyers love 'em. I started thinking that a second hand i30, or C'eed estate wouldnt make such a bad family car, I mean I only drive a Passat after all and thats hardly exciting! As for the current Kia Sportage, I find it worryingly alluring!!

......But for some reason, petrolheads generally turn their noses up at Korean cars, whiff of white goods and all that. The comment by a blogger on this weeks SOTW thread about crappy Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10 says it all really... Perhaps the Top Gear boys are to blame....reminds of the situation with Jap cars in the 70s before stuff like the Celica came along...

Do Ph'ers think this will ever change? I mean, would you..(buy one that is...)