It's Wrong to Debadge "Kia" from the Stinger

[Schpok]

I have nothing against the Kia logos But there is something OEM out there that imo just Looks better than the original logo
and they should have done it globaly in the prist place or as an Option

so if it bothers me enough i'll Change it to the E-Bage and the Skript
if my car would be blue i'd changed it already like @StingerGT68 did above

 

[Stinger GT SS]

If Kia fit E badge & Script on rear it is still OEM, just like here in OZ, guys change out Holden badges on Commodore with Chevrolet badges as sold in the US, also vice versa, US guys change out Chevrolet badges with Holden badges, still the same, just personal choice to change, that’s what makes freedom to express ourselves as individuals so much fun.

 

[NickUK]

completely agree with the OP - i won't be changing the badges, despite how cool the rear stinger badge is. Kia deserve credit for what they've built and to take the badges off is to do the company a disservice. The whole point of the Stinger is to raise brand perception - if you want Kia and the Stinger to do well and for the Stinger to be a success, keeping the Kia badges are absolutely essential.

This, coupled with the fact that i don't subscribe to a certain brand because of their history or perception is why i won't be changing the badges.

 

[Kamauxx]

Can't we all just live and let live?

/hippism

 

[Schumi Jr]

completely agree with the OP - i won't be changing the badges, despite how cool the rear stinger badge is. Kia deserve credit for what they've built and to take the badges off is to do the company a disservice. The whole point of the Stinger is to raise brand perception - if you want Kia and the Stinger to do well and for the Stinger to be a success, keeping the Kia badges are absolutely essential.

This, coupled with the fact that i don't subscribe to a certain brand because of their history or perception is why i won't be changing the badges.

I see your point. But I think these pictures illustrate the counter point.

 

[StingerNYC]

Would anyone buy a lincoln navigator if it had a ford logo on it? They would have to drop the price a ton. Every company out there has a different badge for their premium cars. Kia should of done the same. Keeping the same badge as a 14k Rio does not add value to the car. It detracts from it.

 

[Kamauxx]

Would anyone buy a lincoln navigator if it had a ford logo on it?

Well, actually they would. They'd just call it a Ford Expedition...

But I agree with your point. (Honda-Acura, Toyota-Lexus, Nissan-Infinity, Kia-E )

I think Kia just needs to fix their ugly badge for all cars. It's been around since the 90s. And since then virtually every other major auto maker has redone/updated their badge.

 

[NickUK]

Would anyone buy a lincoln navigator if it had a ford logo on it? They would have to drop the price a ton. Every company out there has a different badge for their premium cars. Kia should of done the same. Keeping the same badge as a 14k Rio does not add value to the car. It detracts from it.

You can buy a £20K 1Series BMW that has the same badge on it that a £150K BMW i8 roadster does - don't see why Kia should be any different. Whether or not you think they should change their branding is a discussion for another time, but for now Kia's logo is what it is.

 

[Schumi Jr]

You can buy a £20K 1Series BMW that has the same badge on it that a £150K BMW i8 roadster does - don't see why Kia should be any different. Whether or not you think they should change their branding is a discussion for another time, but for now Kia's logo is what it is.

Why is it a discussion for another time? I am not trying to be argumentative, I just don't follow.

 

[NickUK]

I see your point. But I think these pictures illustrate the counter point. View attachment 9055 View attachment 9056

Sure, Kia should maybe consider freshening up their branding, but for now this is Kia's logo and this is what will help raise brand perception when they see it on a brilliant vehicle such as the Stinger.

 

[ballistic]

The whole point of the Stinger is to raise brand perception

that's the whole point of the stinger for kia, but not for me. i didn't buy the stinger for kia.

 

[Schumi Jr]

that's the whole point of the stinger for kia, but not for me. i didn't buy the stinger for kia.

I wonder where this leaves me. I enjoy telling people its a KIA, but I swapped the badges. But I swapped the badges from a purely aesthetic viewpoint.

 

[NickUK]

Why is it a discussion for another time? I am not trying to be argumentative, I just don't follow.

because until Kia decide to change it, it's irrelevant. The logo is the logo for now and having a K badge or E badge or whatever, that is completely different from the standard Kia logo will not help associate a good looking, quick, well built car with the Kia brand. If Kia is to one day shake off it's perception (incorrectly in my view) of being low quality A to B only, boring cars, linking these associations of quality, luxury to the Kia brand is imperative. Otherwise the exercise is doomed to failure.

 

[NickUK]

that's the whole point of the stinger for kia, but not for me. i didn't buy the stinger for kia.

sure, that's fine with me. My point is the Stinger being a success and being able to buy further iterations of the Stinger in say 5 or 10 years time (which surely most stinger owners will want to do or have the option to) depend on each other.

 

[StingerNYC]

Every car company has their premium brand. KIA missed a major opportunity here to recreate their image the way Hyundai/Genesis has done.

 

[StingerGT68]

Every car company has their premium brand. KIA missed a major opportunity here to recreate their image the way Hyundai/Genesis has done.

Or even just brand it like Ford brands the Mustang. (Although that's essentially what they did in Korea with the E badge and Stinger script in back...just not here in the US).

 

[Ivansito]

This topic never ends. Its a topic that all car enthusiast community are always at odds with. You have those who appreciate the finish products and are content with not personalizing it. Then you have your group that see it as a great potential canvas to creating their own masterpiece. Both are needed in any community. What fun would it be if we all ran around all looking the same? Where's the boldness? Where are the trend setters? Where are the thinking outside the box mentality trend setter? Right here among us all.

Plus.... I pay KIA , KIA does not pay me.

 

[James5623]

I am the consumer, not a sales person. When asked about the car, the first words out of my mouth are, it’s a Kia Stinger.

The proposal that I am “wrong” in doing so is “wrong”.

I promise the same amount of people turn their heads, take pictures of or with my car as they would otherwise.

Watching someone pull out their phone at stoplight to google it.. pure magic.

 

[eflyguy]

I'm also in the "KIA badge is ugly" camp - I removed them on my Sorento as well, along with all the other unnecessary model and trim stuff.

 

[ScottM]

I'm a big fan of overlays. I only say this because it's the style of the badge and placement that creates the "KIA" awareness. When I had my ford f-150 harley truck, I got some overlays for the ford badge. It still had the "Ford" badges in place and of course the brand awareness. <Not that Ford needed it, I'm just saying. Having said that, I don't get the "E" badge or the "K" thing. I mean, it's not for me. I understand it's how they badge things in other parts of the world so maybe I'd get it if I was there. And that scripting on the back...it's looks semi cool, but it reminds me of a Maserati.

Anyway... to each there own and that's what money was made for, to buy stuff you want!