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Car Forum / Kia Cars / July 2007Hyundai or Kia..Who's at the top status-wise ?
I was listening to the radio this morning and there was an advertising promo show from World Kia here in Las Vegas. The main theme of the program (other than selling Kia's), was that Kia was the premium brand, outdoing the Hyundai as far as luxury and quality. I thought it was the other way around, that Kia was the entry level vehicle from the Hyundai-Kia corporation in Korea. I guess it was sort of like the relationship between Chevrolet and Buick was for a while in the old days. Can someone please clarify this? Please understand that I own both a Kia and Hyundai and like them both, so I am not biased towards one or the other. But what I see from industry sources is: *Up until now, Hyundai has run circles around Kia in terms of quality. Even amongst similar vehicles, the Hyundai has always had the edge. It helps that Hyundai hasn't sold a real quality lemon in a while. The 2002-05 Kia Sedona really drug down Kia's quality (admitting this even though i own one). *From the people who test-drive these vehicles, the closest consistent comparison given is that Hyundai tends to tune their vehicles a little "sportier." I haven't noticed that at all, but if so, it means that Kia is a lot like a Pontiac, or at least what the Pontiac moniker is supposed to mean. Hyundai is trying to change its image from Chevrolet to Oldsmobile. But, like GM, the Hyundai and Kia vehicles are becoming so similar that I expect any differences to be pretty much gone within the next couple of years. >I was listening to the radio this morning and there was an advertising > promo show from World Kia here in Las Vegas. The main theme [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Buick was for a while in the old days. Can someone please clarify > this? If the post didn't make sense, I meant to say that, "KIA tunes their vehicles a little sportier." Hyundai tries to tune their vehicles a little more "family-comfort" oriented. > Please understand that I own both a Kia and Hyundai and like them both, so > I am not biased towards one or the other. But what I see from industry [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] >> Buick was for a while in the old days. Can someone please clarify >> this? > If the post didn't make sense, I meant to say that, "KIA tunes their > vehicles a little sportier." Hyundai tries to tune their vehicles a > little more "family-comfort" oriented. Never having driven a Kia, I can't say what the difference is. OTOH, the Hyundai is much sportier than any of my last three Buicks, in spite of the fact that Buick has improved. My '97 LeSabre was similar to driving a living room sofa. "Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> scribbled: >> If the post didn't make sense, I meant to say that, "KIA tunes their >> vehicles a little sportier." Hyundai tries to tune their vehicles a [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > spite of the fact that Buick has improved. My '97 LeSabre was similar > to driving a living room sofa. And I will add that my 06 sonata is much smoother than my Grand Am's. The Pontiacs feel like they have no suspension in them. You can feel every tiny ripple in the roadway, the steering is almost stiff, the throttle has a heavy spring and is really touchy. Just look at it, and you are taking off from the light. It's awful at parking lot speeds. My Amanti is much roomier on the inside than the Hyundia. The materials seem to be fitted slightly better and I look at both VERY closely before buying the KIA. Because of the added room I choose the KIA brand in spite of the dealership. The KIA dealership has a well earned POOR reputation > I was listening to the radio this morning and there was an advertising > promo show from World Kia here in Las Vegas. The main theme [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Buick was for a while in the old days. Can someone please clarify > this? Yes, I hear that, and more frequently than I would prefer. But my own Kia dealership is also my Hyundai dealership, and their reputation is about the best of any in town (and deservedly so). But I also have two other dealers within 50 miles. One is also a combined Hyundai/Kia dealership with a lousy reputation (also well earned), and the other have separate Hyundai and Kia franchises, with the Kia people having a bit better rep than the Hyundai people. I've said it before. You would think by now that car manufacturers would have learned that service reputation is EVERYTHING these days. But apparently not. > My Amanti is much roomier on the inside than the Hyundia. The materials > seem to be fitted slightly better and I look at both VERY closely before [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >> Buick was for a while in the old days. Can someone please clarify >> this? Hi Rev, I'm the same as you.... I own a 2003 Kia Sedona and a 2006 Sonata. I've never had a bit of trouble with either except when the dealership screwed up a simple spark plug replacement on the Sedona (didn't hook the plugs back up for the cooling fan system). I love them both although we mostly drive the Sonata now and just occasionally use the Sedona to pull a small enclosed trailer. I think your analysis is right on. Tom > Yes, I hear that, and more frequently than I would prefer. But my own Kia > dealership is also my Hyundai dealership, and their reputation is about [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >>> Buick was for a while in the old days. Can someone please clarify >>> this? At present (2007) if in the market for a new car, I would look at Kia. Not so a few years ago....But then again, traded 02 SOnata for my 06. What a difference, my dad callis it my "Little Jag".. Steve, AZ > Hi Rev, > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] >>>> Buick was for a while in the old days. Can someone please clarify >>>> this? >I've said it before. You would think by now that car manufacturers would >have learned that service reputation is EVERYTHING these days. But >apparently not. I think Hyundai hears you. They made an announcement a couple of months back that some "under performing" dealers would be dropped. Perhaps they were talking about sales, but I got the impression they were talking about service. - Bob I hope you're right, but don't hold your breath. If you are right, that is about the best commentary that could be made for that company, and proof that they are really trying to move in the right direction. And BTW, I have a couple of dealers that I would love to turn in to Hyundai to get added to that list. But something gnaws at me that you're wrong. In that case, it is the United States of America, and Hyundai is just like the others. I guess it is like football coaches - the only ones who lose their jobs (typically) are ones who are losing. Even those who have committed infractions or indiscretions are usually only fired when some losing is involved. For most companies, losing is defined ONLY by dollars and cents. You'll note I said cents, not sense. We will see which one Hyundai cares about. >>I've said it before. You would think by now that car manufacturers would >>have learned that service reputation is EVERYTHING these days. But [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Bob >You'll note I said cents, not sense. We will see which one Hyundai cares >about. Well, only time will tell. Before I bought my 06 Sonata, I read the signs. I have been personally involved in a company turnaround, and I recognize some of the signs. When the top officials must go out on a limb, it's a good sign. They must make public pledges and declarations. They must do and say things that will get them canned if they do not follow through. Publicly comparing their cars to industry icons is another sign. If they fail, the corporate officials will be humiliated. Other good signs are disproportionately large cash allocations for producing a quality product. This will include modern automated plants and equipment. Offering such perks as longer warranties and roadside assistance is also a good sign. Knowing the above, I feel confident that Hyundai will honor my warranty, and even help out on some gray areas. I think they would rather incur some losses than risk harming their not-so-great but improving reputation. - Bob > >I've said it before. You would think by now that car manufacturers would > >have learned that service reputation is EVERYTHING these days. But [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Bob They were talking sales. Hyundai corporate had expected a minimum number of vehicles sold by Hyundai America and that target was not met. Naturally, service does play a role in that but it was the sales arm that is being targeted. I don't know about Hyundai of Canada. As far as who has the higher "status", I think it's still early in the game but Hyundai seems to be reserving the polish of prestige for itself. The Sonata, Azera and the new Santa Fe and Veracruz all ooze class. Add to that the upcoming "Genesis" model - which might very well be the genesis (pun intended) of a line of high prestige vehicles - and a picture emerges of a classier Hyundai. Kia seems to retain a sportier, edgier image. The upcoming Kia Kue will set a new tone and direction for the company, IMHO. My 2 cents.  SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >> >I've said it before. You would think by now that car manufacturers >> >would [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > My 2 cents. FWIW ~ when I was younger and couldn't afford anything "classier" than a thoroughly used beater, I would look "up" at the flashier models. Now that I am several decades older and living comfortably, my ultimate definition of "car class" are the three little words "It's paid for"! Rich 2002 Optima SE V6 "mookie" <z@tink.net> wrote in message > FWIW ~ when I was younger and couldn't afford anything "classier" than a > thoroughly used beater, I would look "up" at the flashier models. Now [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Rich > 2002 Optima SE V6 That describes a lot of us. I have a "good" car and an older car (former good car) and when I know I'll be in an area with tight parking, I take the older car. No worries about a parking lot ding. If you drive a high priced luxury car or sports car and want to take up two parking spaces in the back of the lot at the supermarket, be my guest. Try to do that up close, you can be sure I'll park an inch from you with my old car. > "mookie" <z@tink.net> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Try to do that up close, you can be sure I'll park an inch from you with > my old car. Many years ago I saw a movie short on TV called "Road Hog" starring W. C. Fields. I've searched for it (to buy) but can't find it. Fields plays a motorist who has had it with rude drivers, goes to a used car lot buying the entire stock, hires enough day laborers to drive every car in a caravan and heads off looking for a rude driver. To cut this short - every time a rude driver cuts him off, Fields crashes his car into the offender and yells "Road Hog!". Then he gets into the next car and starts all over again. The movie went about 20 minutes. How prophetic! >If you drive a high priced luxury car or sports car and want to take up two >parking spaces in the back of the lot at the supermarket, be my guest. Try >to do that up close, you can be sure I'll park an inch from you with my old >car. I call the high dollar cars "back 40 cars". I was at a big store early one day, and the parking lot was almost empty. Well, there was a sleek BMW 6 series at the far end, about 300 feet from the nearest car, 400 feet from the store. We laughed, but I know how he feels. I don't even like new dings on my old beater Toyota truck. That store has very wide parking slots. That only made things worse, because there is now room for a double row of shopping carts between the cars. - Bob >>If you drive a high priced luxury car or sports car and want to take up >>two [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > because there is now room for a double row of shopping carts between > the cars.<< I don't know if it's just a UK thing but, given a virtually empty car park, someone is almost certain to take a quick look at the two hundred empty spaces - and then come and park right next to you! I daresay psychologists could explain it - something to do with the fundamental need for human beings to feel part of a group, or something like that. As I drive cars no more than 2 years old, I'm happy to be as far away from the rest of the paint-chipping herd as possible ;) >>>If you drive a high priced luxury car or sports car and want to take up >>>two [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > As I drive cars no more than 2 years old, I'm happy to be as far away from > the rest of the paint-chipping herd as possible ;) Not a UK thing.... It's alive and well here in the USA. I can park as possible with, as you say, 200 empty spaces between me and the next car and, upon my return, someone will have parked not only in the stall next to me, but so close I can barely get into the car. And it's usually someone who has a "Kid's First" or "Peace" or some such decal on their car. > >>>If you drive a high priced luxury car or sports car and want to take up > >>>two [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > but so close I can barely get into the car. And it's usually someone who > has a "Kid's First" or "Peace" or some such decal on their car. I take most offense at people who purposely ding cars! A couple of weeks ago I had parked my Sonata pretty far from the entrance to a local walmart and was walking to the store when I see this group of 4/5 guys in their late teens push an empty shopping cart with all their might in the direction of a parked swanky Lexus.... I did manage to stop the cart before it would have made much more than a ding in the car, however a security guard who was standing nearby just stood there like a bystander....
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