"LJ909" (lj909)
08/30/2018 at 11:32 • Filed to: None
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"LJ909" (lj909)
08/30/2018 at 11:32 • Filed to: None | 1
| 23 |
You’d have to be dumb to introduce a big, thirsty full size SUV during an economic downturn right? Yes, but Kia did it anyway with the introduction of the Borrego (also known as the Mohave in other markets) at the 2008 NAIAS in Detroit.
It was an SUV through and through too, designed with Americans in mind. It was body on frame, had 3 rows of seating for seven and came with 2 engine choices: a standard 3.8 V6 with 276 horses, and an early version of Hyundai’ s Tau 4.6 v8 with 300 horses. Both came paired to a newly developed 6 speed auto as well as AWD and a 7500 lb towing capacity on the V8 (the V6 still made good with 5000 lb capacity ). It also had some off road chops with adjustable air-suspension, hill-descent control and a high- and low-range.
Inside it was ok for end of last decade Kia with lots of gray plastic that was of decent quality. It was offered in 3 trims: a base LX that started at $26,245; a mid level EX that started at $27,995 and saw the available option of the V8; and a top line Limited trim that started at $38 grand.
But being introduced during the Recession, where everyone was broke and gas was sky high proved to be a mistake. It was only sold for 3 years here in the US. And it did not sell. Like at all. Its first year on the market,’08, saw a whopping 1869 finding buyers. ‘09 saw 10,530 sales, its best year. 2010 saw 9,835 and its last year on the market, 2011 saw only 429 sales. Kia promptly discontinued the model and redesigned the Sorrento to take its place in the lineup. We should be seeing something akin to it again here soon, with the rumors that the Telluride concept coming to production. Its already been seen testing as well:
So if you’ve been waiting on another big proper Korean SUV and you cant find a Borrego because there was too few, dont worry, they’re working on it again.
jasmits
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 12:05 |
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huh, didn’t realize these were BOF and could be had with a V8 and proper 4 wheel drive. I kinda like it.
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LJ909
> jasmits
08/30/2018 at 12:09 |
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Yea they really were an ACTUAL suv. They are crazy cheap too if you look hard enough.
RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 12:09 |
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There is one in that same shade of orange that I see daily around here! :)
Probenja
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 12:17 |
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They still sell it here in Chile with a small facelift and a 252hp 3.0 v6 diesel. T he price is US $45.000 which is a lot for an old Kia so I have only seen two in its 10 year production run. Hope the Telluride lives up to its concept phase.
ToyotaFamily
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 12:17 |
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Imagine if Kia would’ve made this in the early 2000’s to compete with the Explorer and Trailblazer, I’m sure it would’ve done well, even if their quality wasn’t quite there back then.
Borregos are actually hard to find in decent shape, many of them are beat up.
and 100 more
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 12:19 |
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I love the look of these, and I wanted so badly to test drive one when I was last car shopping. Hell, I’d still test drive one today. Maybe I should.
Can I make a suggestion for the next Forgotten Cars article you write?
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LJ909
> Probenja
08/30/2018 at 12:19 |
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Yea I forgot to mention that the diesel was an option in other markets. Crazy its still on sale virtually unchanged . Its almost like Kia’s Montero. But the Telluride should prove surprising .
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LJ909
> ToyotaFamily
08/30/2018 at 12:21 |
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Yea that would have been a huge cash cow for them back then. I think we would have seen their turnaround and emergence of things like the Genesis brand much more sooner had they done that.
But yea if you can find a Borrego, a lot of them are beat up like you said. Paint quality doesnt seem to hold up well either.
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LJ909
> and 100 more
08/30/2018 at 12:22 |
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Yea good luck finding one though. An d like someone else said, a lot of them are in bad shape so be careful if you do find one.
And yea of course go ahead.
HammerheadFistpunch
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 12:24 |
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So what you are saying is that Kia is predicting another downturn in the market followed by high gas prices.
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LJ909
> HammerheadFistpunch
08/30/2018 at 12:25 |
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Ha. Thats good. Hel l of a coincidence though if you think about it...
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and 100 more
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 12:26 |
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There are a shocking number of Borregos around the Austin area, actually. I know how rare they are, which is why I’m always surprised at how many i see around here. I can think if three different ones I see regularly on my commute.
As for the article, l ook into the 2nd-gen Suzuki Grand Vitara.
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LJ909
> and 100 more
08/30/2018 at 12:30 |
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Really? Thats weird. I wouldn’t take Austin, or Texas rather, as a taker of Kia’s. Maybe the BoF construction and V8 appealed to people there?
And yea thats a good one. Ill add it to my list thanks . That gen of Vitara was actually pretty tough.
SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 12:39 |
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Fun Fact: This is one of my saved Carmax searches haha
I-have-to-many-sports-cars-according-to-my-wife
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 12:51 |
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I was Actually working for a KIA dealer when these hit dealers. There was another problem that was not helping them sell. The first wave of 2009 Borregos we got were well into 2010 due to a strike at the port. With that strike, there were no port inspections being done. So all 5(maybe ?) we sold, needed a lot of repair before going on the lot, and even then had many problems right after they were sold.
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and 100 more
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 12:51 |
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I know, Texas, go figure. I think you must be right, the V8/BoF combo must’ve hit the right nerve for some folks, plus the fact that Texas was shielded from a lot of the gas price hikes up until recently.
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LJ909
> I-have-to-many-sports-cars-according-to-my-wife
08/30/2018 at 12:54 |
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Damn I didn't know that. So a strike pretty much inadvertently lead to a poor reliability perception you think?
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I-have-to-many-sports-cars-according-to-my-wife
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 13:04 |
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For the dealerships in my area, for sure. Not to mention that they were trying to sell 2009 SUVs in 2010 without discount, because we just received them.
Under_Score
> Probenja
08/30/2018 at 13:48 |
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It looks pretty up-to-date on the inside, though, so there’s that.
fhrblig
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 14:09 |
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A RWD (I assume) V6 model keeps popping up in my car search. I’m actually really tempted.
https://maxxummotors.com/2009-Kia-Borrego/Used-SUV/Lakewood-CO/10956854/Details.aspx
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> LJ909
08/30/2018 at 14:17 |
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Isuzu Axiom
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LJ909
> fhrblig
08/30/2018 at 14:23 |
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For $5800? You’d be crazy not to pull the trigger.
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LJ909
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
08/30/2018 at 14:30 |
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