RE: Paris 2012: the hot Kia Pro_Cee'd

RE: Paris 2012: the hot Kia Pro_Cee'd

Author
Discussion

J4SON88

53 posts

138 months

Friday 28th September 2012
quotequote all
This could easily steal a lot of left field sales in this segment, people who aren't badge snobs or like something a little different.

I'm assuming there will be a manual? In which case is already beats some hot hatches as they don't come with one, and it looks better then quite a few others. I think dynamically it will only need to be 'good' to sell very well. If its 'exceptional' then the establishment might have a few issues.

LukeSi

5,753 posts

160 months

Friday 28th September 2012
quotequote all
Really looking forward to this car. Blimey a few years ago saying that about a Kia would be a hanging offense here. Really hope this is a viable alternative to the current offerings.

Tartan Pixie

2,207 posts

146 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
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OK it's got to page 4 and no one's said it.

Op, op op, oppa gangnam style.




I for one welcome our new Korean friends. smile

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
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pilchardthecat said:
Never mind that. They need to make this;





ahh the kia JCW's wink

blearyeyedboy

6,252 posts

178 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
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Tartan Pixie said:
I wonder how long the marketing bods have been waiting to put the word Pro in there, or whether there was a fight over the possibility of using the prefix Ex instead?
This is an Ex Cee'd.



Sorry, couldn't resist. hehe

(To be fair, that one had a 5 star NCAP!)

Seriously, the Pro Cee'd looks better than some established models and if done right, could give the sector the same kick up the behind that the first Lexus LS400 did for luxury cars.

wheelsmith

138 posts

141 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
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kambites said:
Interesting. My experience has been the opposite. I'd trust Kia beyond another manufacturer in terms of reliability, and certainly far behind any of the German companies.
Interesting,

What German car did you compare it too, was the same age?

Lordglenmorangie

3,053 posts

204 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
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Dave Hedgehog said:
since the current golf gti with a few options can set you back 35k even if they charge 20k it will be a bargain
I must be getting old, 35K for a Golf, you are getting into 997 Turbo territory . I have always been embarrassed by the cost of my car as every month goes by I am starting to feel smug . Back on post Kia are looking very good indeed and that warranty too driving

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
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wheelsmith said:
kambites said:
Interesting. My experience has been the opposite. I'd trust Kia beyond another manufacturer in terms of reliability, and certainly far behind any of the German companies.
Interesting,

What German car did you compare it too, was the same age?
It's just a general impression, mostly from numerous new VAG/BMW cars - I don't think I know anyone who's bought one new and not had to send it back for warranty work, and in several cases it's been big things like new engines. I know a few Kia/Hyundai owners and as far as I know none of them has ever had a problem with them.

Perhaps my experience has been atypical, but I don't think I'd buy a new German car now and I certainly wouldn't pay a premium for one on the basis of reliability.

Older German cars, I've generally found to be pretty reliable, although rather expensive to repaid when they do go wrong.

Edited by kambites on Saturday 29th September 09:41

LuS1fer

41,086 posts

244 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
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The Crack Fox said:
How long did it take Skoda, 5 years or so ?!
Maybe in your generation.. but in mine, Skoda will always be a rear-engined Iron Curtain car and the badge will never amount to a hill of beans.

blearyeyedboy

6,252 posts

178 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
Maybe in your generation.. but in mine, Skoda will always be a rear-engined Iron Curtain car and the badge will never amount to a hill of beans.
Not sure if you're deeply prejudiced, or just trolling.

LuS1fer

41,086 posts

244 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
quotequote all
blearyeyedboy said:
Not sure if you're deeply prejudiced, or just trolling.
It's really not a question of prejudice or trolling, the Skoda badge will always have that association for many people. It's no different to all the people who won't buy Vauxhalls or Fords and buy "the badge".

In my experience, the only people who are happy that Skoda have overcome this history are the people who bought Skodas. There is of course a generation who don't know any Skoda that isn't a rebadged VAG car for whom this association was never made.

Similarly, there are thousands who will never buy Italian based on cars that rusted in the 70s. It's all very illogical but undeniable.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
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LuS1fer said:
In my experience, the only people who are happy that Skoda have overcome this history are the people who bought Skodas.
I think perhaps you're getting your cause and effect muddled up there. I had nothing against Skodas long before I even considered buying one.But then I'd happily buy a Ford or Vauxhall too - I try to buy cars on their merits rather than their badge.

blearyeyedboy

6,252 posts

178 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
Similarly, there are thousands who will never buy Italian based on cars that rusted in the 70s. It's all very illogical but undeniable.
Thanks for answering in an amiable manner that was intended (but wasn't proprerly expressed, in retrospect) with my question.

The dichotomy you suggest between people who know the old cars and those who don't isn't at all absolute. I learned to drive in a pre VAG car and it was more like an agricultural machine than any other car I've driven. But the VAG era stuff is different and I was impressed enough to buy one. I wasn't happy that Skoda came up in the world because I bought one; I was happy to buy one because they'd vastly improved.

Similarly, Kia's of old were utterly appalling but they've come on in leaps and bounds and deserve a bit of people's attention.

Look beyond badges, and you might find that the machine's to your liking.

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
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LuS1fer

41,086 posts

244 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
quotequote all
blearyeyedboy said:
Look beyond badges, and you might find that the machine's to your liking.
I always have done and have never owned a BMW and have owned and liked some VWs from a Variant Type 3 to a Scirocco and Golf GTI. That's why I have Fords. I would, of course, buy a Skoda - the Superb looks a gereat buy but it would be despite the badge not because of it. Oddly, my wife is 32 and when i suggested even looking at a Skoda, she poo-pooed the idea. Though I tried to poo-poo her poo-poo, there was no budging her poo-poo.

Ultimately I am reminded of that Monty Python sketch about woody and tinny words and conclude that Skoda is just not a great word. smile

blearyeyedboy

6,252 posts

178 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
Though I tried to poo-poo her poo-poo, there was no budging her poo-poo.
Many laxatives are available from your local pharmacist. wink

Bringing the point back to Kia, I do see where you're coming from. I just think that the prestige brands became thus because they began with good products. Perceptions won't change overnight and as your partner demonstrates, some people are more easily budged than others. Nevertheless, I suspect that in 20 years, even if we don't use Kia in the same breath as BMW, we'll certainly use it in the same breath as Honda.

LuS1fer

41,086 posts

244 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
quotequote all
But again I think Kia is a nice sounding name and I quite like it. I couldn't really own a Hyundai because it sounds terrible. Tell me I'm wrong... smile

blearyeyedboy

6,252 posts

178 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
quotequote all
You're wrong. wink

Mind you, you have to decide between the US "Hyoonday" and the UK "High-yoon-die" before deciding whether you like the word.

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Sunday 30th September 2012
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Dave Hedgehog said:
pilchardthecat said:
Never mind that. They need to make this;





ahh the kia JCW's wink
It does look like a customized Mini you're right smile

I like it

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

197 months

Sunday 30th September 2012
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Krikkit said:
Who ever thought the day would come when a Kia could perhaps be an acceptable PH purchase? (Not just for a snotter, I might add...)
That day came ages ago, huge warantees cheap and a good product. Only a badge snob would avoid them. Then there are a lot of badge snobs on pistonheads. Even more in the general public.