korean cars

[sandra]

why don't people drive them?

[yoMAMA]

they don't?

in minneapolis they are everywhere, Hyundais and Kias.

Daewoo is, of course, defunct.

2006 hyundai sonata [built in alabama]

http://www.hyundainews.com/presskit2...onata_06_4.jpg

[kpih]

Well for the most part the engineering, design, prestige, quality, appeal, performance, livability, and everything else about them are still far behind Japanese cars. I have yet to see an impressive Korean car. The only draw is their low cost.

I know I am harsh.

American cars share the same problems, yet the whole patriotic bullshit is the best advertising campaign ever...

[hooligan]

The auto talk guys on sunday mornings on NPR love the 2006 sonata, they say that car is probably a competitor to the accord.

[yoMAMA]

Originally Posted by hooligan

The auto talk guys on sunday mornings on NPR love the 2006 sonata, they say that car is probably a competitor to the accord.

it even looks like the accord.

[Arex]

^--- I'd venture to say that the Sonata's tail lights, while Accord-esque, are actually superior to the present Accord.

Honda's about to put the Accord through it's mid-model life revision though by changing the tail lights entirely.

I see Korean cars being driven all the time. I actually like the design of the Kia Sorrento. It's got a nice balance to it. And some of the design elements on the Hyundai Tiburon are nice (overall though, thee car looks awkward in its proportions). Would I ever drive a Hyundai or Kia? Probably not anytime soon. What can I say, I'm a snob.

RX

[pablohoney]

Originally Posted by kpih

Well for the most part the engineering, design, prestige, quality, appeal, performance, livability, and everything else about them are still far behind Japanese cars. I have yet to see an impressive Korean car. The only draw is their low cost.

Or at least people's impression is that they're behind. You can't lump all Japanese automakers together. I don't see Hyundai/Kia as behind Mitsubishi, whose entire line-up has been largely panned in the US and whose reputation is in the gutter after their defect cover-up scandal. Mazda is moderately successful but is owned by Ford. Nissan has made huge strides the last few years, but for most of the 90s they were an also-ran. I would agree that they're behind Toyota and Honda, but who isn't? They're the gold standard of mass market automobiles. But even then, the gap has been decreasing every year.

However, I don't think they'll truly get over the hump unless they start taking a more leading-edge approach to their cars, rather than making derivative knock-offs (albeit good ones) of other companies cars.

[yoMAMA]

Originally Posted by pablohoney

Mazda is moderately successful but is owned by Ford.

Ford only owns 33% of Mazda.

Just like to point it out, since I hate to see my beloved Mazda getting lumped together with Ford.

[golden_buns]

Originally Posted by yoMAMA

it even looks like the accord.

It looks like an accord from the back and like the previous Audi A4 from the front.

I've driven it, I gotta say that Hyundai has gone a long way now. It felt like riding a altima or an accord, it's pretty powerful, silent, has great handling, and rides smoothly.

The only thing that I disliked about this car is the lack of originality on its design, but everything else I think is a great deal

[Meki]

Hehe... Oh I know I will most likely be called a sellout but I wouldn't own another Korean made car. My very first car was a '89 Hyundai Excel (they discontinued production in '98) it ran on gerbil powah! Seriously, if I turned off the A/C I would get a small turbo boost from the gerbil...

However, I guess they've gotten better. My cousin had a Kia Sephia and it wasn't too bad. She never had any problems with it. I think they are ok if you want an economic choice. I see several Korean made cars being driven around but I rarely see them being driven by an Asian. But still, I personally wouldn't get one.
Sorry GB... I know... I have no K-pride... ^_^;;

[Napoleon Chynamite]

^Whatcha talkin bout Willis. I know shitloads of Koreans that drive Korean cars~...in fact, that's almost a sure way to tell that the people driving it are Korean if it's a Hyundai, haha. Although...my mom just bought a new Hyundai last year, but maybe it was because she didn't want to invest more in like a Japanese car or something. My dad has something against buying Japanese cars in general even if they may be better or more efficient.

[golden_buns]

Originally Posted by Meki

My very first car was a '89 Hyundai Excel (they discontinued production in '98) it ran on gerbil powah! Seriously, if I turned off the A/C I would get a small turbo boost from the gerbil...

Yeah, the 86-89 Excel came up with a lot problems and that's why it got discontinued so quickly. Aside from the Pony, You were lucky to have owned the most unreliable and most defective car in the Korean Auto Industry

Originally Posted by Meki

Sorry GB... I know... I have no K-pride... ^_^;;

NO need to worry, I've never owned a Korean car

[mrazntre]

Korean cars have improved a lot over the years, but it just hasn't caught on. I'd venture to say that they haven't dug into the car consciousness yet because they lack a mainstream style. There are some japanese companies that have been caught in the same rut (like Suzuki) who have never been able to break out. I think the problem is also predicated on the early failures of the korean car makers and associated problems with their cars and company image. It's just a cycle that will eventually break in a couple decades if they can keep going. Japanese cars weren't liked until they found a way into the market thanks to OPEC and eventually ran away with the car king title.

I doubt i'd ever buy a korean car just because of the stigma. Same goes for an american car.

[bulldog]

They look ugly even tiburon is a very shark ugly car
Another ugly car is anything subaru including the rex

[mrcfo]

Korean cars dont have the reputation down here in Australia. First two years, OK but during the 3 to 6th years stage, poor craftsmanship and design start to show up. Low resale value and poor safety performances add to the woes. Price is still the Korean manufacturer's number one selling point.

Though having said this, they are miles ahead of Chinese cars which are often 5 to 8 years behind in technology.

The main reason why Kia and formerly Daewoo had a number of cars sold here was due to the "corporate car launch". Small and medium enterprises were enticed with virtually give away deals about $9,000 for Excels and around $15,000 for their Sonatas as well loads of "free extras".