Are you a
badge swapper, so he couldn't see the Kia name?
I really don't blame anyone for swapping the
badges. It's NOT all bad for Kia, ya know. I know most people don't see it this way - but I have a TON of first hand experience how the
badge can actually HELP. Around me there's something called "City Place" in West Palm Beach. It's like an outdoor mall with restaurants, bars, stores, etcetera. For the past several years Hyundai has been keeping a
Genesis Sedan and
Genesis Coupe there for show. The cars had no flying H's - only winged Genesis
badges.
I'm a huge fan of South Korean luxury and I've been following Hyundai's Genesis since 2007 or 2008. Do you know how many people I've seen comePLETELY lose interest after I told them it was a Hyundai? I've seen so many people walk around the car as if it were their dream car and since I knew pretty much everything about it - I'd often chime in and talk about it with them. Not every time but SO MANY times - after I told them what it was - that was the end.
But...
They took the time to walk around and let it soak into their brains. SOME of these people will come away and say, "Ya know... I have to hand it to Hyundai. They had me for a while there" -- OR -- "...I really like what they've done here" -- OR -- "I might actually want a Hyundai!".
However... If that Hyundai
badge was on the car to begin with - they'd have never given it the time of day... Some of these brand snobs will hate the car just because of the
badge. But if you/we let it sink in a little bit - before we tell them it's a Kia - they just might come around...