Kia is jumping into the lux sedan fray

"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
10/15/2014 at 15:18 • Filed to: None

I got a K900 yesterday for a week to review. Nice looking, roomy car with a smooth (floaty) ride and ALL the gadgets. Cool-looking TRON headlights too, but is the market accepting a $60k+ Kia? (I already know the answer here)

And of course they hid the damn engine under an acre of plastic.

Cool headlights though. Head-on at night the car has a TRON vibe to it which I kinda dig. The four-segment square design is neat, and IIRC there's a cooling fan to keep them from overheating. Unreal.

DISCUSSION (14)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
10/15/2014 at 15:21

I prefer the Equus, bur I test-drove one of those a while back and was quite impressed, particularly by the interior. Controls were a bit numb, but I'm sure there's a crowd of aging people out there who will love the floaty, old-school feel.

Milky > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
10/15/2014 at 15:35

I don't think anyone getting one of these is getting chauffeured around. The fact that the A6 has a smaller rear seat doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/15/2014 at 15:37

I had an Equus last year, and liked it very much. They're selling better than the Kia, for sure but neither is setting any records. They're really nice cars but hamstrung by brand perception.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Milky
10/15/2014 at 15:40

In S. Korea these things do have chauffeurs, I've read. I may have read about a LWB version for that market; don't recall.

area man > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
10/15/2014 at 15:44

Who do you write reviews for?

Milky > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
10/15/2014 at 15:51

Too bad only about 1 million cars are sold in S. Korea a year, compared to our 15 million.

Burrito de EJ25 > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
10/15/2014 at 15:54

The market can eat a dick. If a badge is the only thing keeping you from getting into a really great car (provided it truly is), than go screw off to your bland German dealership and pick up your middle management uniform.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
10/15/2014 at 16:00

Same platform, lower cost, same engine, looks better IMHO and "I drive a $50k Hyundai" is more tolerable than "I drive a $60k Kia"

Kinja'd!!!

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
10/15/2014 at 16:29

The Equus would be a better comparison, not the midsize Genesis. I have a new Genesis coming 2 weeks after the K900. Should make for an interesting comparo.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Burrito de EJ25
10/15/2014 at 16:30

Agreed.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
10/15/2014 at 16:34

I totally forgot all about the Equus. That would make for a better comparison. But still- I'd much rather say I drive a $60k-$70k Hyundai than Kia.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
10/15/2014 at 22:33

Yup. And the Equus/K900 sales ratio would back you up, too. They're both very nice cars, but the brand perception just doesn't fit in that price range.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
10/16/2014 at 00:12

If I had the money? I'd have one...

m2m, apex detective > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
10/16/2014 at 06:54

That's the same kind of trouble you get with VW and Audi ... the Phaeton failed because people couldn't warm up to the idea of an expensive Volkswagen. Just ask Jagvar ... 'tiz a misconception that got the better of a great car.