Car and Driver Compares the Kia K900 to the LS460L
#31
Lexus Fanatic
Its not respectable in any way. Its no Lexus and it has no brand prestige which is why we love Lexus.
#32
Lexus Test Driver
There's a chunk of people out there who are not car enthusiasts, do not want to advertise they are rich or have money, but would still appreciate having a spacious, comfortable car with high technology and nifty conveniences. Many of these people are business men and women, commuters, retirees, etc. We here on this enthusiast website are the opposite of that, and mostly judge cars for more passionate reasons.
#33
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
There's a chunk of people out there who are not car enthusiasts, do not want to advertise they are rich or have money, but would still appreciate having a spacious, comfortable car with high technology and nifty conveniences. Many of these people are business men and women, commuters, retirees, etc. We here on this enthusiast website are the opposite of that, and mostly judge cars for more passionate reasons.
"Passion" in auto-speak, does not necessarily mean fast driving, space-age styling, or having everything sport-oriented. I, for one, would certainly consider myself an "enthusiast" (consider my 50,000+ CL posts)..but I enjoy driving, reviewing, and talking about virtually anything on wheels......not just so-called "enthusiast" vehicles like sport-sedans, performance cars, sport-cars, exotics, etc.....That's why my logo says "Let's Talk Cars" instead of "Let's Talk Performance Cars".
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-13-15 at 04:51 PM.
#34
5% Club. Killing it!!!
iTrader: (15)
three years this month with my 2012 Kia Optima Turbo and Zero issues. I agree it's not as refined as other cars but I bought it for the gas mileage and point A to point B driving. Now our 2012 Kia Sorento I've had to replace the battery which was frustrating because it was only 3 years old.
#35
Lexus Fanatic
#36
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Quite believable. The K900 has only been on the American market a couple of months. The Land Cruiser has been in the American market 50 years.....since the 1960s.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-13-15 at 06:18 PM.
#37
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by tmf2004
three years this month with my 2012 Kia Optima Turbo and Zero issues.
I agree it's not as refined as other cars but I bought it for the gas mileage and point A to point B driving.
Now our 2012 Kia Sorento I've had to replace the battery which was frustrating because it was only 3 years old.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-13-15 at 07:20 PM.
#38
Lexus Champion
Fake richers buying used would still gravitate to the 7ers, the S-classes, and the LSes. The K900 is the opposite of fake-rich, it's fake-poor.
There is one possible reason......if people simply don't buy them. I think, though, that, despite some of the negative comments posted here, those who want a less-expensive LS460, and who actually take the time and effort to go look at the K900, will consider it. But, being a realist, I don't expect it to sell in LS numbers.
And before people bring in the 1G LS400 and say "well they said that about the S-class", the LS400 actually introduced its own unique parameters for which people would buy one over an S-class (i.e. superior reliability, service, and refinement for a lower price). The K900 offers no unique advantages aside from price. Price alone is not an adequate leg to stand on in this segment - which is evident again from sales numbers. The K900 is the cheapest car in the segment.
Who said this about Lexus? Toyota back in those days was still a respected nameplate, it was revered for its refinement and build quality. A more expensive Toyota was not necessarily a bad thing in terms of image. But even still the separate Lexus brand showed that even with Toyota, a premium badge is still required to compete in the long term.
Kia on the other hand has a bottom of the barrel mainstream brand image. A more expensive car with a bottom-of-the-barrel mainstream brand image is not a good place to be product wise.
This is for a RWD V8 car with a price tag in the range of what the old Acura RL used to cost. The V6 FWD Acura RL was axed when it was posting similar numbers and it was no doubt a much more profitable vehicle for Acura.
#39
Lexus Fanatic
If you don't thhink people ever laughed at a Lexus when they first came out, youtube some of the late night monologues about Lexus Lol.
#40
Lexus Champion
So if they laughed at Toyota, god help Kia.
Still in 10 years or by the late 90s Lexus had cultivated a very respectable image for itself. The Equus has still failed to do that in almost as long and the K900 will likely not live that long at this rate in the US market.
But we need to remember that these cars are primarily Korean market vehicles that have been transplanted for the US market for ****s and giggles (feel the crowd sort of thing). They are not as serious as entries as the LS400 or Lexus was. That project was focused on the US market and focused on becoming a long term competitor in the lux segments.
#41
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Mr. Burns
But we need to remember that these cars are primarily Korean market vehicles that have been transplanted for the US market for ****s and giggles (feel the crowd sort of thing). They are not as serious as entries as the LS400 or Lexus was. That project was focused on the US market and focused on becoming a long term competitor in the lux segments.
#42
Lexus Fanatic
#43
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Good point, SW. And, Kia's recent success is due to the fact that many intelligent and savvy shoppers are no longer laughing at them. Those that do are living in the past.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-14-15 at 12:58 PM.
#44
Lexus Champion
Kia and Hyundai are both mainstream volume brands, accepted by consumers, and aren't going away. Maybe a model or two might not make it in NA but that's about it.
#45
Lexus Fanatic
I would say Tier 2 volume brand, not exactly up there with Toyota, Chevrolet, or Ford. The Genesis overall as a whole has been great, it still has not really been accepted as a true luxury car, its more like a premium car.