Yes, I am a Kia Fanboy

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind) 01/08/2016 at 13:18 • Filed to: Kia Cadenza

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In fact my top three favorite brands are Maserati, Jaguar, and Kia. For the last two years though my favorite Kia (and one of my favorite sedans at that) has been the Cadenza/K7.

I wasn’t sure about the new design, but now I’m really falling for it. I’ve already started saving my pennies with fingers crossed for an AWD model with the 370hp 3.3T V6.

Oops, that’s not a Cadenza!

There we go! Yeah, it’s not just luxury features that Kia brings into reach for average consumers, it’s design as well, and I love that. I want things that are out of reach, so when any company can give me a hand in gaining the things I want, I salute them!

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 13:29

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It's a Maserati clone! If it had those bullet-hole things on the front quarter-panels it'd be naerly indistinguishable from a Quattroporte.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 13:33

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Yeah, I don’t know the statistics but man KIA has hauled ass on their quality in the past few years, it seems the only reason people are holding back is because of their previous reputation.

Wobbles the Mind > gin-san - shitpost specialist 01/08/2016 at 13:36

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Exactly, and that is NOT a bad thing.

deprecated account > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 13:36

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THAT’S SWEET!!! If only my dad had waited two years to buy one!

not for canada - australian in disguise > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 13:36

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My main gripe with Kia is the fact they won’t make this damn thing already. Or bring an Optima wagon to NA.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 13:38

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The Korean manufacturers are doing some incredible things in the value and design of their cars right now.

I also think they’re in the verge of shaking their percieved reputation for poor quality here in the US, much like Japan did in the 80s and early 90s. Hopefully the Genesis marke can be their Lexus, cementing a good reputation in the eyes of the public.

I was really pulling for the Genesis Coupe to be the car that launched the Korean tuner revolution, but don’t think the economy or the company were in the right spot in ‘08 at launch. Here’s to hoping they try again with Kia in a couple years after spinning off Genesis.

Wobbles the Mind > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 01/08/2016 at 13:38

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But that is true about every automaker. GM, Ford, Chrysler, all reputations just as bad or worse than Kia and Hyundai. Honda, Acura, Nissan, and Infiniti can’t live up to the ridiculous hype over their reputations. Poor Toyota and Lexus can’t even branch out and explore because if there was even one unreliable product with those badges, the brand would be assaulted on all ends.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 13:39

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Only complaint I had for the Cadenza and its Maxima competition was that at $40,000, neither of them had a passenger seat that moved up and down. For me, to not include that function on an already power seat (and on a premium car) is silly. Other than that, I like them.

Wobbles the Mind > deprecated account 01/08/2016 at 13:40

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Luckily if it’s out this year as a 2017 model, he can get one 18 months later for 35% off.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 13:40

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Yeah its true, especially with non car people because if they have a poor experience with one product, they give a bad reputation to the entire brand. Luckily there are a lot of non car guys lol.

d15b > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 13:40

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Maserati that looks like a Kia or a Kia that looks like a Maserati?

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 13:45

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I don't really like cars looking the same, but in a case like this it's not a bad thing at all. I'd happily drive around in this K7.

Wobbles the Mind > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/08/2016 at 13:45

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It will be ok. The GT4 Stinger wouldn’t handle as well as the Toyobarus or Miata/Fiata, so wouldn’t get the enthusiast vote. The power would still be slower than a 370Z, GenCo, Ecoboost, or 4-cyl Camaro, so that’s a loss. Honestly there is just too much competition from bigger performance brands at the moment for it to be anything above lukewarm. Still want it though.

Wobbles the Mind > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/08/2016 at 13:47

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That is something changing now. The full adjustment passenger seat is a very US focused feature and I think every automaker is catching that now from what I’m seeing. Like German cars with touchscreens and cupholders, give it time. That is a gripe I have too and a deal breaker.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 13:47

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It’s funny to think about a Kia that you’d buy just to get noticed.

Also, as much as I like those lights, they can't possibly be legal. Aren't there minimum height requirements for headlights?

Wobbles the Mind > d15b 01/08/2016 at 13:47

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Doesn’t matter if you like both!

Wobbles the Mind > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 01/08/2016 at 13:51

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Tuner vehicles always take two generations to really cement in unless the brand itself pushes it forward like TRD and Mopar especially. Once you get consistent generations, tuners don’t feel like they are wasting their time creating mods for a vehicle that was only going to be relevant for 4 years. The BRZ would not have so many options if it weren’t for all the years of WRX and the Toyota side of the market. It guaranteed both cars would have a mod culture within 18 months of release.

Wobbles the Mind > gin-san - shitpost specialist 01/08/2016 at 13:56

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Yeah, but the eventual version would just have an HID circle at the top and stacked LEDs or foglights or something underneath. Think R8 with Cadillac DRLs.

d15b > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 13:56

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I suppose so!

Ash78, voting early and often > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 14:00

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Just dropping by to say I don’t blame you at all.

We just spent 3 days with a new Sedona van as a rental. It was a ~$23k model, and the build quality, ergonomics, drive, and materials blew the $40k+ Odyssey out of the water. I wish we had waited another few months for them to come out.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 14:07

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Good point. I think Hyundai and the Genesis could have really benefited from an in-house tuning company to kick things off a couple years back. When N// launches they should now be in a much better position to sell performance models than they were back 7 years ago. Comparing the quality and design of Hyundai’s model lineup between now and then is like night and day. It’s not to say the Genesis coupe was a failure, but they’re not ubiquitous at Autocross and Car meets like the FR-S/BRZ is, despite similar price, and beating it to market by a couple of years.

I hope they don’t try to take N to seriously though. IMO, at first they should just offer bolt-ons and trim level specials like TRD, rather than full car overhauls like M or AMG. The later seems over ambitious, and I don’t know how many people would pay a large premium for models by a tuning arm with no pedigree.

Wobbles the Mind > Ash78, voting early and often 01/08/2016 at 14:08

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The Kia brand is like the 996 Turbo, something people don’t think about but is a phenomenal value because other models killed the reputation. Once you have experienced either compared to the competition, the value makes them seem like a steal. Right now though, Kia’s are best in the mid-level trims and will be the best used cars you can find.

Ash78, voting early and often > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 14:23

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Totally agree...in fact, we’re mulling over the idea of waiting a couple years, selling the Odyssey and reaping its excellent resale value, then turning it around into a similar-aged (or newer) Sedona that’s more heavily depreciated. I’m not a car-flipper*, but if you can game the depreciation system just right, it can be reasonable.

*I just got my third car at age 37. The last one I had for 14 years.

Jayhawk Jake > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 15:03

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This looks amazing. I’m a fan. I did used to be ‘Resident Kia Fanboy’ back when I had a Forte, and I still love the brand. I just wish they would make a car for me.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 16:07

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I’m a Hyundai fanboy so I guess they are pretty much the same so it totes counts.

I keep checking the clasifieds for the right Genesis 5.0 R-spec even If I have no intention of buying one because I’m broke. But for what these are selling for now it’s a goddamn bargain.

Wobbles the Mind > Jayhawk Jake 01/08/2016 at 16:39

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They are getting closer, a few more years. From 2010 to 2015, the Forte was the best Civic on the market to me.

Jayhawk Jake > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 17:35

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I’d 100% own a Pro-Ceed GT right now if it was available here

I had a 2011 Forte Koup SX. It was great

kanadanmajava1 > Wobbles the Mind 01/08/2016 at 18:05

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In Europe Kia isn’t offering anything interesting. In Finland the new Optima is the most exciting that is available here (unless you really like hatchbacks). It seems to have two engines available and the gasoline model is also available with automatic. Multiply the prices with 1.09 to get the prices in USD.

Here the new car prices are pretty firm. You might be able to negotiate a set of winter tires to be included with asking price but much more than that.

deprecated account > Wobbles the Mind 01/09/2016 at 18:35

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No, I meant he has a Cadenza right now that he bought about a year and a half ago.