Which Vehicle Was in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time?

"Jcarr" (jcarr) 06/29/2015 at 11:30 • Filed to: QOTD

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I spotted a Kia Borrego on my commute home one afternoon last week. Talk about wrong vehicle at the wrong time.

Introduced and retired from the Kia U.S. lineup for the 2009 model year, the Borrego was body-on-frame and powered by either a 276-horsepower 3.8 liter V6 or a 337-horsepower 4.6 liter V8. It was available with part-time 4WD with low range and could tow up to 7,500 lbs.

The only problem was that Kia’s reputation for quality was just starting to take hold. That, coupled with the collapse of the U.S. economy in 2008 and a dwindling demand for ‘traditional’ SUVs doomed the Borrego.

What other vehicles were at the proverbial wrong place at the wrong time?

CB > Jcarr 06/29/2015 at 11:34

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The 9-4x. People love crossovers, and it possibly could have done great, and then Saab died.

HammerheadFistpunch > Jcarr 06/29/2015 at 11:37

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There is someone who drives a Borego in my parking garage, its that burnt orange color. Good news? he probably got it for a song.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Jcarr 06/29/2015 at 11:38

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The only time I’ve ever been in a Borrego was (oddly enough) in SK. Very nice ride. It’s kind of weird that the Wikipedia article doesn’t mention being badged NA-style as a Borrego instead of a “Mohave” *in South Korea*, but I know one at least was.

Berang > Jcarr 06/29/2015 at 11:46

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There was and never will be a right time for this POS (especially with the gas engine).

Ford actually sold less Excursions per year than they sold Edsels.

boxrocket > Jcarr 06/29/2015 at 11:57

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Suzuki SX4 (and Kizashi).

A mix of “too late” (to keep the brand from leaving the US), yet too early, as everyone apparently thinks they need AWD now (which both offered, and with a manual IIRC), and with the SX4 Crossover essentially being a subcompact SUV like the HR-V, CX-3, Juke, etc., it would be very competitive now (had they kept it going, especially because it would have history and reliability scores behind it).

boxrocket > Berang 06/29/2015 at 12:00

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The Excursion has its place, and was good for what it was/is. They’re still in demand now for those reasons. Not that much bigger than a contemporary Subukolade XL ESV but more capable and with better rear door configuration options.

Berang > boxrocket 06/29/2015 at 12:06

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The Edsel was also good for what it was. Actually probably better for what it was. But it still didn’t find a market. The early 2000s was as good a time for huge SUVs as there ever will be, and the Excursion still couldn’t make it then.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Jcarr 06/29/2015 at 12:24

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...Kia made a V8?!

Jcarr > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/29/2015 at 12:31

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Hyundai, technically, but yes. Still made today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_T…

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > HammerheadFistpunch 06/29/2015 at 13:53

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The only Borregos I’ve ever seen were that same orange. I think it was ‘in’ at that point.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > Jcarr 06/29/2015 at 14:00

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The original, wagon-y Subaru Forester and Outback Sport. They were small, cheap, and basic, which current buyers flock to, but existed in the 90’s (or 80’s if you go back to the pre-AWD-for-all days). The most ironic part is that the Subaru Crosstrek - the literal descendant of the Outback Sport - is selling like mad, yet Subaru couldn’t give the old Outback Sports away, and the wagon-like Forester sold in much smaller numbers before it’s transformation to midsize SUB.

Nauraushaun > Jcarr 06/29/2015 at 22:56

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The 90s were all about Japanese sports cars. Toyota, Nissan, Honda - each had 3 or 4 sports cars on sale all at once.

The 2000s weren’t about sports cars. People wanted SUVs, the age of the budget Japanese sports car was long gone.

Where was the S2k in the 90s? If it had existed back then, we might’ve gotten more than 1 generation. We might still have it today! Thoughout the entire 90s Honda had a single RWD car, and it was the expensive NSX supercar. An S back then would’ve been gold.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Jcarr 06/30/2015 at 05:34

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i wonder how much money Kia lost in making those.