[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by jrref

Thanks for the facts. If you read car reviews concerning longevity, repairs, etc., Kia/Hyundai have a terrible track record. Good cars but generally not for the long run.

Human nature is what it is meaning, generally everyone is looking for a "deal" without considering the quality of what they are purchasing. So, the cheaper the better and that's where Kia/Hundai fall. I'm not saying our american cars are a lot better but in general the Korean car market is lower on the totem pole.

Originally Posted by Aces4

I'm not impressed by snobbery but by reliability, styling and features. KIA makes some great vehicles, pricing is better and their warrantees are honored. Yeah, my Lexus RX had a beautiful price tag, a lot of bells and whistles of which 80% I don't care for and I don't have to sit in a massage chair with snackies and beverages to have my vehicle serviced every time. There is a lot of room in the market for Kia vehicles and I'm more impressed by the product than by the snobbery. Pretentiousness isn't my bag.

When I said there were "Tiers", I wasn't necessarily referencing "quality".

The Tiers are based on public perception, time in the market, customer satisfaction, dealer profitability, Manufacturer support ... a lot of things go into the equation and manufacturers (name plates) move up and down.

It was that long ago, Subaru was a 3rd Tier, now I'd put it in the 2nd Tier, depending on geographical location. VW has move up & down between 2/3. Hyundai is now upper echelon of Tier 3, Genesis has helped it.

Not everyone will agree with how our organization sees the Tiers, but we represent almost all the 2nd Tier Manufacturers, with only Mazda being marginally out of that Tier.

There's more than enough room in the market for Kia. I was perfectly fine spending 100K+ for my BMW and when it's been serviced, I better be sitting in a leather lounge chair, while I'm waiting for them to bring me my loaner BMW. Same with my Acura (bottom 1st Tier).

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

When I said there were "Tiers", I wasn't necessarily referencing "quality".

The Tiers are based on public perception, time in the market, customer satisfaction, dealer profitability, Manufacturer support ... a lot of things go into the equation and manufacturers (name plates) move up and down.

It was that long ago, Subaru was a 3rd Tier, now I'd put it in the 2nd Tier, depending on geographical location. VW has move up & down between 2/3. Hyundai is now upper echelon of Tier 3, Genesis has helped it.

Not everyone will agree with how our organization sees the Tiers, but we represent almost all the 2nd Tier Manufacturers, with only Mazda being marginally out of that Tier.

There's more than enough room in the market for Kia. I was perfectly fine spending 100K+ for my BMW and when it's been serviced, I better be sitting in a leather lounge chair, while I'm waiting for them to bring me my loaner BMW. Same with my Acura (bottom 1st Tier).

This is funny to me, snobbery tiers. The real funny part is that the younger generation is so much wiser on the whole to this money thing. The couple that owns the Kia I spoke of could easily have your BMW or two but they are young, financially stable and living the life they enjoy without sweat and waving their status around. It feels to me like the younger generation is so much wiser and on to the older generation's hang ups.

[jimhoward]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

When I said there were "Tiers", I wasn't necessarily referencing "quality".

The Tiers are based on public perception, time in the market, customer satisfaction, dealer profitability, Manufacturer support ... a lot of things go into the equation and manufacturers (name plates) move up and down.

It was that long ago, Subaru was a 3rd Tier, now I'd put it in the 2nd Tier, depending on geographical location. VW has move up & down between 2/3. Hyundai is now upper echelon of Tier 3, Genesis has helped it.

Not everyone will agree with how our organization sees the Tiers, but we represent almost all the 2nd Tier Manufacturers, with only Mazda being marginally out of that Tier.

There's more than enough room in the market for Kia. I was perfectly fine spending 100K+ for my BMW and when it's been serviced, I better be sitting in a leather lounge chair, while I'm waiting for them to bring me my loaner BMW. Same with my Acura (bottom 1st Tier).

All very interesting. I didn't know anything about "tiers" before.

My last car was/is a low-end Mercedes (GLK) and I was treated well by the dealer. Service is expensive, but they give you snacks, a nice work area with desks and charging ports while you wait, and they wash the car. They will also give you a loaner if you want. I never have bothered, because you generally need to give them more notice on your service appointment and it is just as easy to bring my laptop and work in their lounge.

I then bought a Hyundai Palisade because I wanted a bigger car to carry stuff and people on road trips to Florida; and I didn't want to spend $100K. But they also treat me very well. Service is much less expensive than the Mercedes, they also give you snacks, and they also have a nice lounge area where you can work and they also wash your car. I don't know if the loaners are free I haven't asked...probably not.

I am sure some of it is my lack of sophistication, but I haven't noticed a very big difference between my Mercedes dealer (tier 1 i assume) and my Hyundai Dealer (tier 3 as I have just learned)

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Aces4

This is funny to me, snobbery tiers. The real funny part is that the younger generation is so much wiser on the whole to this money thing. The couple that owns the Kia I spoke of could easily have your BMW or two but they are young, financially stable and living the life they enjoy without sweat and waving their status around. It feels to me like the younger generation is so much wiser and on to the older generation's hang ups.

I'd suggest you're hanging around in the wrong neighborhoods.

I belong to a mid-tier country club and regardless of a member's age, everyone has a luxury car. There's a handful of Bentley's & Maseratis, but most everyone else is driving a BWM, Mercedes, Lexus or some such thing. I'm fascinated by how much money the younger generations have and how they spend it. My daughter and her BF, go out for dinner in Boston, 4 nights a week ... & to 1st class restaurants.

I guess it depends on what you're used to.

[Plinker]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

All very interesting. I didn't know anything about "tiers" before.

My last car was/is a low-end Mercedes (GLK) and I was treated well by the dealer. Service is expensive, but they give you snacks, a nice work area with desks and charging ports while you wait, and they wash the car. They will also give you a loaner if you want. I never have bothered, because you generally need to give them more notice on your service appointment and it is just as easy to bring my laptop and work in their lounge.

I then bought a Hyundai Palisade because I wanted a bigger car to carry stuff and people on road trips to Florida; and I didn't want to spend $100K. But they also treat me very well. Service is much less expensive than the Mercedes, they also give you snacks, and they also have a nice lounge area where you can work and they also wash your car. I don't know if the loaners are free I haven't asked...probably not.

I am sure some of it is my lack of sophistication, but I haven't noticed a very big difference between my Mercedes dealer (tier 1 i assume) and my Hyundai Dealer (tier 3 as I have just learned)

I have owned many high five-figure cars and one six-figure car. Here is the biggest difference. After purchasing the car, you NEVER have to return to the dealer unless it is time to trade it in. A loaner car of the same brand will magically appear on your driveway in the morning when it needs servicing. You can then head out for a round of golf and an adult beverage following the carnage and disappointment you just endured.
Upon returning home, later in the afternoon, your loaner car will disappear from your driveway and your car will reappear. It has been washed and vacuumed and the service is complete.
Seriously, why would anyone want to take the time to drive to a dealer and sit in a waiting room if they purchased a high-dollar car?
Perhaps, ego and not sophistication is at play.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Plinker

I have owned many high five-figure cars and one six-figure car. Here is the biggest difference. After purchasing the car, you NEVER have to return to the dealer unless it is time to trade it in. A loaner car of the same brand will magically appear on your driveway in the morning when it needs servicing. You can then head out for a round of golf and an adult beverage following the carnage and disappointment you just endured.
Upon returning home, later in the afternoon, your loaner car will disappear from your driveway and your car will reappear. It has been washed and vacuumed and the service is complete.
Seriously, why would anyone want to take the time to drive to a dealer and sit in a waiting room if they purchased a high-dollar car?
Perhaps, ego and not sophistication is at play.

Yeah, that's ego all right. We would do it for the same reason we wash our own clothes, clean our own home, cook our own food for the most part, do our own books, invest our own money, do our own grocery shopping.. we don't consider it beneath us. We're still ambitious and how many rounds of golf can one play in a day? To each their own.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I'd suggest you're hanging around in the wrong neighborhoods.

I belong to a mid-tier country club and regardless of a member's age, everyone has a luxury car. There's a handful of Bentley's & Maseratis, but most everyone else is driving a BWM, Mercedes, Lexus or some such thing. I'm fascinated by how much money the younger generations have and how they spend it. My daughter and her BF, go out for dinner in Boston, 4 nights a week ... & to 1st class restaurants.

I guess it depends on what you're used to.

Maybe you're hanging around in the wrong neighborhoods. Our hangouts sound more authentic and when we belonged to a club up north with valet parking, I didn't pay any attention to what others were driving. Who cares?

[ThisTimeIsDifferent]

Not sure about Florida but in Maryland, the State Attorney General's Office of Consumer Affairs was helpful with uncooperative car dealerships. Below is the info for Florida. I agree you were scammed and the dealership needs to be investigated for fraud. Good luck to you and thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

To contact the Florida Attorney General's consumer affairs division, call their toll-free Complaint Line at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226) or visit the My Florida Legal website, myfloridalegal.com, to file a complaint or find consumer protection information. The office is responsible for protecting Florida consumers from fraud and can help with various scams and business disputes.

[Pinball wizard]

This is why I used a car 'buyer'. Not a buying service like true car. I paid a fixed price for his service. He knocked off all of the 'add ons' and then worked on getting the best price below MSRP. All I had to do is go to the dealer and sign the forms. Of course, I still had to say NO to the extras from the finance manager but that was easy. Great experience.

[BrianL99]

So I'm curious.

At least once a month, the subject of buying a New Car comes up on this site.

Within day, there are at least 50 posts, decrying all the thieves and crooks, selling cars.

There are at least 25 posts, with Posters describing their technique, tips and theories, on how to buy a car for the right price.

Every time someone asks about buying a New Golf Cart ...

Within a day, there are at least 50 posts (presumably from the same automobile posters), recommending in the strongest terms .... walking into Village Golf carts and paying $5000 to $6000 more than one would have to pay from a competing golf cart dealer.

Any golf cart bought from Villages Golf Carts for $22,000, can be bought elsewhere, for around $15,000.

Why don't Villages mind getting raked over the coals on a golf cart, yet proclaim all the auto dealers in the area, are crooks?

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by biker1

The average price for a new car is about $48K. My Tesla Model Y was significantly less than that. While you can spend over $100K for some Tesla models (just like you can spend over $100K for some Chevy models), the most popular models are much less.

I just bought a new Chevy Colorado and my wife still likes her car, but if we were looking to get her a new car, a Tesla would be at the top of our list. I know afew people that drive Tesla's and are very happy owning one. The buying process is a plus for sure.

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by Steve Y

On March 1st around 9am my wife and I arrived at KIA of Clermont to look and possibly buy a Kia Telluride SX Prestige X-Line (referred to as car). Mike was assigned to me as the sales person After hours of haggling with him and some of his bosses we made a deal for the car purchase.

Aside from the fact that we've learned never to buy any car in Orlando or surrounding area....... seriously who wants to steal a KIA???