Are Kia Owners Embarrassed of Their Badge?

"412GTI" (sixspeedab) 10/09/2019 at 12:50 • Filed to: None

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Because they shouldn’t , Kia makes pretty dang good vehicles now. The Stinger looks great and the Telluride damn well might be first or second in a very competitive class.

BUT I keep seeing Kia vehicles with plastidipped or blacked out badges (like above) on everything from Optima’s to Stingers, even a Telluride last week. At least some people replace theirs with a KDM badge.

What’s with that? I just find it interesting how many I see around my city, there shouldn’t be any shame in owning a Kia nowadays.

Great, now I miss my old SI

Even my old roommate blacked out his Kia badge on his Forte, guess I never really asked why back then.

For Sweden > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 13:02

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You, a peasant: I don’t like my Kia badge

Me, a visionary:

Spanfeller is a twat > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 13:03

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Yes, I am embarrassed, but not by the “Kia”

The other names are kind of stupid. I don’t want anyone to know my car is named after “Sharp organ typically found in arthropods ” or random medium sized cities in the US.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 13:05

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The KDM badge is objectively a better logo.

412GTI > Spanfeller is a twat 10/09/2019 at 13:06

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That’s funny. I get it, but I’d prefer that to Q50 or E400/43, etc. The constant  changing is annoying to me.

412GTI > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/09/2019 at 13:07

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Agree. Plastidipping over the regular badge just doesn’t make sense to me. 

Nick Has an Exocet > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 13:07

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I like the KDM badge. I’m not a fan of text-badges.

jimz > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 13:08

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the opposite, the few people I know with Kias who have a strong opinion of the brand are hugely positive about it.  

jimz > Spanfeller is a twat 10/09/2019 at 13:09

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would “Kia Ovipositor” be better?

Chariotoflove > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 13:09

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Not this Kia owner. I like being different.

I remember my dealer service rep saying they don’t have access to order the KDM badge, but they can install it for you if you bring it to them. So, it’s sanctioned. I’ve seen it on a fair number of Optimas.

CalzoneGolem > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 13:10

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We liked our Kia so much we went out and bought another one!

Spanfeller is a twat > jimz 10/09/2019 at 13:12

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Just like, something dummer would be better... like, remember the K900?

Call this thing the K330... I dunno. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 13:22

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I met one guy who was embarrassed by the logo. I think the Korean cars are pretty good generally.

facw > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/09/2019 at 13:22

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Disagree, the KIA badge isn’t great but the KDM one always looks like a Lexus knockoff to me... embarrassing

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Spanfeller is a twat 10/09/2019 at 13:34

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I always like the Hyundai Tiburon for the name alone.

The car itself I didn’t lik e  at all. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > facw 10/09/2019 at 13:35

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It’s better than the Lexus logo.

CRider > jimz 10/09/2019 at 13:38

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Kia  Cloaca rhymes better.

DukenPuke > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 13:45

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I have a 2019 Stinger GT1 with stock Kia badges. I like it just fine.

I’m perfectly happy to school anyone that says "Oh, you bought a Kia?"

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CalzoneGolem 10/09/2019 at 13:53

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I’m sure glad you didn’t sell your Soul.

Arrivederci > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 14:01

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I like the KDM badge, but not enough to put it on my wife’s Sorento.  It’s a Kia and it’s a fine car.  Those things aren’t mutually exclusive anymore.

just-a-scratch > Spanfeller is a twat 10/09/2019 at 14:06

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By this logic, driving a Tacoma should also be embarrassing.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 14:10

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I think people should be proud of whatever brand of car they like, so covering the badges seems sortof stupid. Replacing them with KDM etc versions is fine with me though.

Heck, I want to get the KDM-market ‘Verna’ and ‘Sporty’ badges for my car, as the Accent is sold as the Verna in South Korea and the hatchback models of the 2006-2010 Accent like mine were called the ‘Sporty’

Ash78, voting early and often > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 14:12

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I still have a hard time seeing the USDM Kia logo without neon shoe polish on the windshield and 8 balloons tied to it.

CalzoneGolem > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/09/2019 at 14:18

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My wife passed her black Soul to our daughter and we purchased a brand new Soul for my wife.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CalzoneGolem 10/09/2019 at 14:29

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Your daughter was Soulless until then? I guess a dirty, dark Soul is better than none.

Where do I get one if I need one...?

412GTI > CalzoneGolem 10/09/2019 at 14:30

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Always liked  driving Rental Souls (wait that sounds weird lol) so I get it!

412GTI > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/09/2019 at 14:32

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Right, I feel if you’re proud enough to spend your money on it there should be no reason to cover it up (unless you think the blacked out look is cool, idk).

A Sporty badge sounds like it would look cool. 

412GTI > Chariotoflove 10/09/2019 at 14:33

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I’ve mainly seen the KDM badges on Optima’s too. Glad to hear you’re proud to be different, I kinda wish I had my father  look at a Cadenza or Stinger instead of getting another Accord.

Sprocket Oil > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 14:33

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As a Stinger owner I don't really care. But that KDM badge does look great! 

CalzoneGolem > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/09/2019 at 14:34

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We only have the two Souls to share among the four of us.

412GTI > Nick Has an Exocet 10/09/2019 at 14:34

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Agree, text badges are very plain. 

412GTI > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 10/09/2019 at 14:35

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I think they’re quite decent now and are a good choice for a lot of consumers. 

CalzoneGolem > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 14:35

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I hear that a lot. People love them some rental Souls. That’s how we ended up with the first one. My wife’s sister rented one and told her how much she loved it. Which, of course, meant more than anything I could say about them.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 14:46

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I think that’s been largely true for ten years or more.

Chariotoflove > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 14:50

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I just can’t get enthusiastic about the Accord, as good a car as it is.  But, it’s his money. As long as he’s happy.

Spanfeller is a twat > just-a-scratch 10/09/2019 at 14:53

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If it were up to me, all cars would be de-modeled ... only the manufacturer name would remain.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CalzoneGolem 10/09/2019 at 14:58

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Interesting.

When’s the last time you’ve had a Soul-cleansing experience?

CalzoneGolem > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/09/2019 at 15:16

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Well ... it rained the last couple days.

I’ve got a Soul draining experience coming up in about 1000 miles.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 15:27

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That’s what the badge looked like, lol:

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/rallydarkstrikes-random-accent-facts-of-the-day-1837977689

deephouse > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 15:32

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It not the embarrassing aspect of owning Kias, they produce some of the top notch vehicles nowdays.  It's the plane looking current badge.  I love my Stinger and proudly tell everyone who ask who makes my car!

abbott > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 15:37

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Of course they are embarrassed, they don’t want people to say “Oo h look at that hot car! Oh nevermind it's a KIA lol"

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 15:40

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The KIA logo is terribly boring, but blacked out logos are worse. I’d replace it with the “ K”  logo I think

Ticallion The Baptist > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 15:44

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Have a Stinger. Not embarrassed a t a ll to own a Kia.  But it's not a great badge. As well-executed as the rest of the car is (and I think you can say this about several of their designs), the badge seems like an afterthought. That said, I don't think the unique KDM Stinger "E" badges look good either. I think the standard KDM badge is the best option and I don't get why they don't use it everywhere. 

412GTI > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/09/2019 at 15:47

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Nice, love that red accent - pun sort of intended haha

412GTI > DukenPuke 10/09/2019 at 15:48

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That’s the right attitude I feel. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 15:49

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Pun accepted! :P

decosoul > DukenPuke 10/09/2019 at 16:09

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Kia did a mid 2019 refresh and dropped the Kia Badge in the back for a  centered  St inger script.

My neighbors kid thought it was a Maserati when he rode his bike by... Had to correct him on that. I now back into my driveway

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CalzoneGolem 10/09/2019 at 16:17

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Much better than a Soul-crushing experience!

not for canada - australian in disguise > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 16:57

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The “KDM” badge isn’t actually a KDM badge used by Kia in Korea, instead it’s a popular aftermarket badge that’s never been officially on any Kia from the factory, even in Korea. H owever it does bear a strong resemblance to the badge you could find on Kias, mostly Korean-market ones, in the early 2000s, mostly the first gen Sorento.

However, it looks about 1000 times better than Kia’s current badge, which is an artifact of the mid 90s when Kia were competing with Lada and the bus, rather than Toyota and even BMW. Kia would be better off if they changed their badge to something more stylised.

Ruturaj > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 17:53

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Their badge looks like no one put any effort in designing or building. Look at the badge on k900, that's a completely different story.

Kelly > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 17:53

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I’m definitely not ashamed of the logo and get kind of annoyed at people that replace it with the “fancy” K that makes them look like they’re trying to be a Lexus. I love my O ptima, especially after being rear-ended in it and needing a whole new back end.  They’re good cars.

rusticfarmer > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 18:38

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We waited 5 months for our top-of-the-line Kia Telluride to be delivered . It is, hands down (IOO) , the most comfortable, elegant, spacious SUV we have ever owned (trucks, SUVs and sedans, leased and owned) , and is the best car so far, over BMW and Mercedes, Lexus and Audi. We get many, many compliments, accompanied by surprise (the Telluride logo itself is not pretentiously displayed), not that that’s the reason we bought it, but every person who has seen it says, “WOW!” It’s a dream to drive. We will keep that badge on, and proudly.

subexpression > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 19:05

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The blacked-out fad has somehow not totally faded away yet. Maybe there is a lot of overlap between that and Kia owners.

Steve > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 19:45

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Im a proud owner of a 2019 kia Optima. I love it. Only ever owned 1 other brand new car it was a 2000 general motors product. I don’t want to name the car. Buy it was a nightmare and built cheap. My Ki a is solid. I lease it and look forward to a new kia every 3 yrs for the rest of my life. Thank you kia.

412GTI > not for canada - australian in disguise 10/09/2019 at 19:46

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Wow learn something new everyday

Steve > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 19:50

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 Spent a short time in a UAW machine shop. Made ford and Chrysler parts. I remember my 1st day showing up to work in my Kia. I love my car but felt odd until I walked thru the parking lot and saw a half dozen Kia's there also. I see I'm not the only one proud to own a Kia

Matt Letchworth > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 19:57

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I debadged my Kia Sedona and put all black K 3 .0 emblems front and back. I’m not ashamed at all that it’s a Kia. But yeah, the “KIA” emblems are totally boring and don’t match the dynamic styling on most of their vehicles.

Cirrus1993 > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 20:44

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The silver comes off of the badges, I think it was an effect of salt and winter weather. I made Kia replace mine in the 4th year. I have a 2012 Forte Koup SX and I love it, have loved it for 7 years now. But back in the day in the car circles people would make fun of kia, so some people did purpose ly change them. . Y ou are right in saying they really shouldn’t anymore. My car is awesome and all I've ever had to do is maintenance. 

Cirrus1993 > Cirrus1993 10/09/2019 at 20:46

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Ccorrection, the black came off and my badge was all silver. 

JShobbs > DukenPuke 10/09/2019 at 21:53

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My husband prefers to leave the original badges so all the high end cars know they got smoked by a Kia.  We have a Stinger and LOVE it! Throw some winter tires on and it performs just as well in the snow, we live in Wy9ming.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > DukenPuke 10/09/2019 at 22:30

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Get back to me in a year after you’ve explained your decision for the 100th time to someone who still does not relate or fully agree with you.

StandingArnold > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 22:34

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“If it’s not black, it’s whack!” I seriously hope dudes mindset is not that blacked out badges mean the owners are ashamed of the car brand... that’s some next level crazy ex gf bs thinking right there... I blacked out my badges because I murdered out the vehicle. Vehicles look so much CLEANER without the big ugly badges that stick out like nips in winter. (Don’t get me started on the 14” bow ties Chevy put on their tail gates, )

Murdered ftw. Cheers.  

Larry A > 412GTI 10/09/2019 at 22:44

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I don’t think it’s a matter of being embarrassed by the KIA badge...I just bought a Tellride and love it but t he stock KIA badge is...well...ugly! It has no class or style to it like the badge from other companies.  

Chip-n-Texas > 412GTI 10/10/2019 at 00:26

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I’m not ashamed at all ....I even took it UP a level!

Note the custom plates... KIA is LEGIT now folks.

Kirkaiya > Spanfeller is a twat 10/10/2019 at 00:30

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What medium-sized city? I assume you're referring to some model *not* called Telluride, since the city of Telluride has roughly 2,500 residents. It's a ski vacation place. Similar to how Chevy uses Tahoe, or Dodge with Durango. 

Kirkaiya > CalzoneGolem 10/10/2019 at 00:33

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Does that get a clean ticket into heaven?

/joking

Kirkaiya > 412GTI 10/10/2019 at 00:46

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I agree with what seems to be the prevailing sentiment: the “KIA” badge is boring. I have a Telluride, and at the SX trim (which is what I bought), it’s nearly as luxurious as a new Volvo XC90 or Audi Q7, and with some features they lack (at least, in any sanely-priced trim), like a color HUD, and seven USB ports (min 2 in every row, plus an extra in the center console). And an intercom to talk to the third row.

And I like the wide-spaced “T e l l u r i d e” lettering on front and rear. But the badge, ugh. I'm tempted to do the KDM badge, but I'm not a huge fan of that either.

SKYOTTO > 412GTI 10/10/2019 at 04:22

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Quite proud of my V6 Grand Sedona badge. In fact I’ve had the opposite - people are very surprised and impressed. Ohh wow Kia! This minivan stylishly stands out in the carpark and aggressive on the road especially on your rearview mirror. Kia did an e xcellent job on this design. I would love to buy a Telluride but it's not available in our market. South Africa.

Genocistic > DukenPuke 10/10/2019 at 04:31

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Loyz > 412GTI 10/10/2019 at 08:32

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I am not embarrassed at all. Actually proud to be drive a Kia, after owning a Mercedes Benz, that kept falling apart until the warranty expired, and continued to do so past the warranty, I didtched the car to a dealer and traded it for a Kia, then a bought a second one brand new, they are great, best value in the market. I had android auto years before Mercedes and Bmw offered it. I call these cars now overpriced trash, even Japanese cars like honda and Toyota are overpriced, their designs are so bizarre lately and infotainment systems are so yak. My dream cars are the Kia stinger in all black, the new Telluride is awesome also, i ll drive those cars for years after you changed your range rover 6 times.

CalzoneGolem > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/10/2019 at 08:35

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Yeah hopefully we have a while before that happens.

CalzoneGolem > Kirkaiya 10/10/2019 at 08:41

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Depends on how well svended they are.

SafferAtAll > DukenPuke 10/10/2019 at 08:59

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I swapped out the front Kia badge on my Stinger for the Korean E badge, thinking about going back though. I WANT people to know it's a Kia, but then they immediately pre-judge the car. With the E badge, they look at the car and think, "wow, that's a cool car, what is it?"

KDM.Bock.412 > 412GTI 10/10/2019 at 09:14

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To Clarify, the K badge instead of the word k ia is n ot changed out of embarrassment of owning a Kia, but out of pride in owning a kia because that is the Korean issue badge for the car. Another trend that I am guessing you’re not familiar with this one is called de badging in which you remove the badges from any vehicle not just a K ia in order to give it a smoother body line. I would think a little more research into the Korean tuner scene, much like the japanese, would help you understand why some of the things that you’re inquiring about are done. It would be the same as a MK III Jetta owner putting a vento badge on their car in place of the Jetta badge, or Bora for a MK IV. An Acura owner changing the Acura A to a Honda H. Or, myself personally having an Avante badge on my Elantra(since it is closer to the Korean offering than the one manufactured in Kentucky, based on tuning and powertrain and options configuration) Out of curiosity, Did the Forte in the pic have any decals on it with the letters KDM? That would be an indicator.

Spanfeller is a twat > Kirkaiya 10/10/2019 at 11:12

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Sedona,CA,USA

Sorento,Naples ,Italy

Rio,Brazil?

Soul,Korea? 

They love using cities as names 

Norton15890 > 412GTI 10/10/2019 at 16:23

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Kia is all right. I had an orange Picant o for a while and it’s pretty luxurious. Surely I wasn’t getting any pussy in th at thing, but it made me feel comfortable and carried me a bit around college for a while back then. I like to say: KIA At least we’re not Hyundai (in part).

The IDGE > 412GTI 10/10/2019 at 17:53

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I have no problem w/ the KIA badges on my Forte , but I do like the look of those KDM badges....

DanielT > 412GTI 10/10/2019 at 21:04

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It’s not that they are embarrassed of the Kia they are driving, they are embarrassed of the poor a** excuse of an emblem that Kia still makes. The K logo emblem, which I have on my Sorento,  looks way better than the “KIA” logo.

Kirkaiya > Spanfeller is a twat 10/10/2019 at 22:37

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Well, only one of those is in the U.S. (you specified “medium sized cities in the U.S.”), and Sedo na’s population is only 10,300, which is a small town. So, I think you meant just anywhere in the world, then.

Spanfeller is a twat > Kirkaiya 10/10/2019 at 22:55

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Hmm, I’m a bit rusty on my california geography

what I mean is; no geographic names. 

Ken > 412GTI 10/11/2019 at 08:29

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I got a 2019 Kia Stinger GT1. The car is awesome. No shame here with the Kia badge. 

ZOWIESMOM666 > 412GTI 10/11/2019 at 12:15

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IT’S A CAR! SHEESH!

Mercedes Streeter > Spanfeller is a twat 10/14/2019 at 16:11

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Meh. I’d rather have a car called “Stinger” (which to me does sound pretty dope) than random word and number soup . Looking at you, McLaren MP4-12C and various Lincoln models.