Kia EV9

[jimKRFC]

I'm sure it's not to everybodies taste (size/weight/no fun to drive...) but with four kids I'm really looking forward to this one!

https://www.kia.com/uk/new-cars/ev9/?cmpid=ppc%7cK...

[Byker28i]

Kia nicked the styling from a Defender? Looks nice

[J1990]

I hate how much I sort of love it... I wonder if it's going to be at a justifiable cost or if it's going to be another car that's only feasible via salary sacrifice/company car/PBCD's.

[Undercover McNoName]

J1990 said:

I hate how much I sort of love it... I wonder if it's going to be at a justifiable cost or if it's going to be another car that's only feasible via salary sacrifice/company car/PBCD's.

Why do you hate that you love it?

[J1990]

Undercover McNoName said:

J1990 said:

I hate how much I sort of love it... I wonder if it's going to be at a justifiable cost or if it's going to be another car that's only feasible via salary sacrifice/company car/PBCD's.

Why do you hate that you love it?

It's bulbous, looks like it's trying too hard and really does look like a knock-off defender. It just feels like something I should hate and yet I've signed up for marketing updates regarding the EV9 and I'm intrigued to see more.

[ChocolateFrog]

It's going to be big bucks for a decent size battery.

[jimmytheone]

tonka-tastic!
horrible wheels tho

[raspy]

jimKRFC said:

I'm sure it's not to everybodies taste (size/weight/no fun to drive...) but with four kids I'm really looking forward to this one!

https://www.kia.com/uk/new-cars/ev9/?cmpid=ppc%7cK...

apparently it will be between £65-85k when it launches in the UK market - a bargain for those with 4 kids!

[OctiMoron]

I've been waiting for something decently sized from KIA for a while and must say I'm tempted especially if we get the 6 seater option in the UK.

However one thing to note is this may also be the big test of KIA's push into Feature Unlocks via OTA updates, so not only will you be paying for a car loaded with tech you may not use, the bits you will want may cost you more again over the sticker price via additional subscription packages.

[David87]

I've three children and so my wife's current Model Y is a bit stopgap until something bigger was available. We've had an 'order' in for the updated Model X for what feels like ten years - still with no end in sight. If I can convince her to drive a Kia , I think this could be a great car for us.

[HTP99]

I think KIA may have put the new electric Ford Explorer on their website by mistake!!

[Evil.soup]

OctiMoron said:

I've been waiting for something decently sized from KIA for a while and must say I'm tempted especially if we get the 6 seater option in the UK.

However one thing to note is this may also be the big test of KIA's push into Feature Unlocks via OTA updates, so not only will you be paying for a car loaded with tech you may not use, the bits you will want may cost you more again over the sticker price via additional subscription packages.

This type of thing really does boil my blood, you can't even buy and own all the bits of a car anymore, even if you have a bag of cash, stump up 80 grand for the thing; 80 grand and you still need to subscribe to warm your arse on the seat!!

We, the consumer, are constantly getting fleeced in new and imaginative ways and people are dull enough to lap it up, really don't understand it...

[OctiMoron]

Evil.soup said:

OctiMoron said:

I've been waiting for something decently sized from KIA for a while and must say I'm tempted especially if we get the 6 seater option in the UK.

However one thing to note is this may also be the big test of KIA's push into Feature Unlocks via OTA updates, so not only will you be paying for a car loaded with tech you may not use, the bits you will want may cost you more again over the sticker price via additional subscription packages.

This type of thing really does boil my blood, you can't even buy and own all the bits of a car anymore, even if you have a bag of cash, stump up 80 grand for the thing; 80 grand and you still need to subscribe to warm your arse on the seat!!

We, the consumer, are constantly getting fleeced in new and imaginative ways and people are dull enough to lap it up, really don't understand it...

I'm hoping that if more manufacturers go down this route, all the toe rags that currently sell kit to thwart security so a keyless vehicle can be stolen or block digital mileage readings etc will turn their attention to hacking the feature unlocking side as it will be a big market.

But then again perhaps the manufacturers will actually put the effort into some proper security/encryption on their vehicles if its likely to hit their bottom line.

[Evil.soup]

OctiMoron said:

Evil.soup said:

OctiMoron said:

I've been waiting for something decently sized from KIA for a while and must say I'm tempted especially if we get the 6 seater option in the UK.

However one thing to note is this may also be the big test of KIA's push into Feature Unlocks via OTA updates, so not only will you be paying for a car loaded with tech you may not use, the bits you will want may cost you more again over the sticker price via additional subscription packages.

This type of thing really does boil my blood, you can't even buy and own all the bits of a car anymore, even if you have a bag of cash, stump up 80 grand for the thing; 80 grand and you still need to subscribe to warm your arse on the seat!!

We, the consumer, are constantly getting fleeced in new and imaginative ways and people are dull enough to lap it up, really don't understand it...

I'm hoping that if more manufacturers go down this route, all the toe rags that currently sell kit to thwart security so a keyless vehicle can be stolen or block digital mileage readings etc will turn their attention to hacking the feature unlocking side as it will be a big market.

But then again perhaps the manufacturers will actually put the effort into some proper security/encryption on their vehicles if its likely to hit their bottom line.

I would imagine you are right on both counts.

Manufacturers make little effort to solve problems after the product has been sold, even if they know it isn't up to scratch. If it sees them out of pocket of course, then that will be a different story.

Slightly off the thread but on this point, a fine example of this would be the door seals on the Ford Focus. For decades they have simply been glued in place and Ford are well aware that they will just fall off after a few years. Ford don't care of course as it won't really cost them anything and its a cheap way to seal the door. I have even seen the very latest Focus with the door rubbers dragging on the floor so they knowingly continue to do this at the determent of the customer, Ford and most of the other manufacturers don't give a toss once you are out of warrantee, their goods are designed to last just a few years.

[rscott]

Evil.soup said:

OctiMoron said:

I've been waiting for something decently sized from KIA for a while and must say I'm tempted especially if we get the 6 seater option in the UK.

However one thing to note is this may also be the big test of KIA's push into Feature Unlocks via OTA updates, so not only will you be paying for a car loaded with tech you may not use, the bits you will want may cost you more again over the sticker price via additional subscription packages.

This type of thing really does boil my blood, you can't even buy and own all the bits of a car anymore, even if you have a bag of cash, stump up 80 grand for the thing; 80 grand and you still need to subscribe to warm your arse on the seat!!

We, the consumer, are constantly getting fleeced in new and imaginative ways and people are dull enough to lap it up, really don't understand it...

Weren't BMW the first to start this? (At least in the car world, IBM and Bull were doing it 25 years ago with their servers).

[DMZ]

I think I managed to convince myself at some point that subscribing to features can be a good idea. All/some of the obsessing about options would go away basically and you can also try before you buy. That tech pack business pro plus wasn’t actually as business pro plus as it said on the tin. Given that we are going from sport plus plastics to business pro software it kind of makes sense. I think it’s maybe only bad news for the third buyer who is usually used to getting the features for free but the manufacturers can also alter the pricing accordingly as they’re selling air at that stage.

[dapprman]

rscott said:

Weren't BMW the first to start this? (At least in the car world, IBM and Bull were doing it 25 years ago with their servers).

But IBM (I remember it from Power7, so a good decade after IBM dropped the Bull branding and tech) you got a fully specified server for the cost of what you wanted, it just cost you the new price (as always ever creeping up) for the codes to turn on the extra CPU and memory. Difference (though I think someone suggested one of the motoring manufacturers were going to do the same) was you could 'rent' additional CPU/memory, and that was where over time IBM was making the money.

[Evil.soup]

rscott said:

Evil.soup said:

OctiMoron said:

I've been waiting for something decently sized from KIA for a while and must say I'm tempted especially if we get the 6 seater option in the UK.

However one thing to note is this may also be the big test of KIA's push into Feature Unlocks via OTA updates, so not only will you be paying for a car loaded with tech you may not use, the bits you will want may cost you more again over the sticker price via additional subscription packages.

This type of thing really does boil my blood, you can't even buy and own all the bits of a car anymore, even if you have a bag of cash, stump up 80 grand for the thing; 80 grand and you still need to subscribe to warm your arse on the seat!!

We, the consumer, are constantly getting fleeced in new and imaginative ways and people are dull enough to lap it up, really don't understand it...

Weren't BMW the first to start this? (At least in the car world, IBM and Bull were doing it 25 years ago with their servers).

Yes, and I am sure they won't be the last of course.

As said above, this will be more an issue as the car changes hands, unless of course they switch everything on after so many years, would seem rather petty to leave all these features switched off for the life of the product if the 4th or 5th owner simply can't afford to subscribe.

Equally, doesn't this go against the sustainability ethos? Fit a car with everything as it is more cost effective, but rather wasteful when much of what they fit may never be used.

[Fastdruid]

DMZ said:

I think I managed to convince myself at some point that subscribing to features can be a good idea. All/some of the obsessing about options would go away basically and you can also try before you buy. That tech pack business pro plus wasn’t actually as business pro plus as it said on the tin. Given that we are going from sport plus plastics to business pro software it kind of makes sense. I think it’s maybe only bad news for the third buyer who is usually used to getting the features for free but the manufacturers can also alter the pricing accordingly as they’re selling air at that stage.

Subscribing makes sense if you are getting something new (or updated) for your money. Subscribing to "software" where you get continuous improvements or a magazine/streaming service where you get new articles/music/films etc. It makes sense for computer "cloud" as you don't have to care about hardware and can just vary how much you consume[1].

So, a subscription to navigation with continually updated maps, improvements in routing etc, yes. Self-driving/Auto-pilot, where there are again continuous updates happening. Sure.

Hardware OTH like heated seats etc or a "subscription" for extra (engine) power. fk off and then once you've fked off, fk off some more. I would rather pay someone to hack it than pay the manufacturer.

I'll pay a subscription for a service that comes *with* hardware, but if I'm buying the hardware, it's mine, I want the features that are physically included.




[1] But is more expensive than buying/maintaining your own tin.

[Evil.soup]

Fastdruid said:

DMZ said:

I think I managed to convince myself at some point that subscribing to features can be a good idea. All/some of the obsessing about options would go away basically and you can also try before you buy. That tech pack business pro plus wasn’t actually as business pro plus as it said on the tin. Given that we are going from sport plus plastics to business pro software it kind of makes sense. I think it’s maybe only bad news for the third buyer who is usually used to getting the features for free but the manufacturers can also alter the pricing accordingly as they’re selling air at that stage.

Subscribing makes sense if you are getting something new (or updated) for your money. Subscribing to "software" where you get continuous improvements or a magazine/streaming service where you get new articles/music/films etc. It makes sense for computer "cloud" as you don't have to care about hardware and can just vary how much you consume[1].

So, a subscription to navigation with continually updated maps, improvements in routing etc, yes. Self-driving/Auto-pilot, where there are again continuous updates happening. Sure.

Hardware OTH like heated seats etc or a "subscription" for extra (engine) power. fk off and then once you've fked off, fk off some more. I would rather pay someone to hack it than pay the manufacturer.

I'll pay a subscription for a service that comes *with* hardware, but if I'm buying the hardware, it's mine, I want the features that are physically included.




[1] But is more expensive than buying/maintaining your own tin.

This is exactly my feeling on the topic. I subscribe to plenty of things, but these are things I cannot actually own, things that are constantly evolving or changing, such as streaming services. A subscription to use a physical item that you own is just insane!

I wish more people would just stand up and simply say, no, I'm not paying for that!! Won't take long for the manufacturers to revert back to charging for optional extras as part of the sale with a one off payment.

The trouble is of course, many people are happy to be fleeced and make it easy for these companies to get away with these stupid ideas...I say the idea is stupid, but actually no, the idea is genius from a manufacturers perspective, it's paying for it that is stupid.