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

[ZyroXZ2]

Erhm, customizing your car is fine, but branding is a whole different ballpark entirely. I didn't even say anything about the looks of the logo, but I glanced over someone that touched upon the reality: that IS their logo outside of Korea. People ask what it is when you debadge it because they wanted to know since the car IS good-looking: having a straight up recognizable Kia badge answers the question immediately and creates the mental association needed for brand recognition right off the bat. Otherwise, no cars would have any logos whatsoever... Purposely making it unrecognizable or non-descript defeats the purpose of branding. Speaking of which, I've actually had people look at my car, then see the Kia badge and turn cheek slightly upwards and away (and in one case, she walked back to her Mercedes without saying a word), lmfao

Customize my vehicle? You damned well bet I intend on Eibachs, a CF hood, a CF wrapped S type lip spoiler, better fascia tips (when they become available), etc. But take off that Kia badge because people associate Kia with econoboxes or because it's "ugly"? Nah, they can just eat their pride as they checked out my car only to find out it's "just a Kia" without me having to say a word

Should Kia rework their logo or update it? That is a separate discussion. The logo is what it is right now and sure it's not even remotely the best out there, but I'm happy to leave it there for onlookers. Kia earned my money and my respect.

P.S. I can tell some people didn't really read the post originally... So I reiterate: there are those of you who just debadge and rebadge anything you buy. Habitual debadgers are a different story, lol

 

[Ivansito]

You do you and I'll do me. I swear, the things we debate about.

 

[Mike04SVT]

I think rebadging is for riced out Honda's with fart can exhaust that sound like shit. BUT!! being Ex Military having a car that says KIA (Killed In Action) disturbs me. Badges will be changed on mine very soon.

 

[MerlintheMad]

LOL! Killed in action is always what I associate with KIA, and I am not ex-military. The Stinger can wear it and I don't care.

 

[Salman]

I read the whole thread... best 2 posts that read my mind..

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.

Erhm, customizing your car is fine, but branding is a whole different ballpark entirely. I didn't even say anything about the looks of the logo, but I glanced over someone that touched upon the reality: that IS their logo outside of Korea. People ask what it is when you debadge it because they wanted to know since the car IS good-looking: having a straight up recognizable Kia badge answers the question immediately and creates the mental association needed for brand recognition right off the bat. Otherwise, no cars would have any logos whatsoever... Purposely making it unrecognizable or non-descript defeats the purpose of branding. Speaking of which, I've actually had people look at my car, then see the Kia badge and turn cheek slightly upwards and away (and in one case, she walked back to her Mercedes without saying a word), lmfao

Customize my vehicle? You damned well bet I intend on Eibachs, a CF hood, a CF wrapped S type lip spoiler, better fascia tips (when they become available), etc. But take off that Kia badge because people associate Kia with econoboxes or because it's "ugly"? Nah, they can just eat their pride as they checked out my car only to find out it's "just a Kia" without me having to say a word

Should Kia rework their logo or update it? That is a separate discussion. The logo is what it is right now and sure it's not even remotely the best out there, but I'm happy to leave it there for onlookers. Kia earned my money and my respect.

P.S. I can tell some people didn't really read the post originally... So I reiterate: there are those of you who just debadge and rebadge anything you buy. Habitual debadgers are a different story, lol

 

[Kamauxx]

I read the whole thread... best 2 posts that read my mind..

I really like the part where he said "it's your money".

And that probably should have been the beginning and end of this discussion because while it's debatable if people are debaging because of snobetry (my word) what isn't debatable is how snobbingly (my word again) a person must be to tell people they are "WRONG" for doing something to their own car with their own money just because he doesn't agree with it.

The snobbingness (my word) has gone wild with anyone who views themself as the approving authority on what is/isn't acceptable for someone to spend their money on.

OP: "Spending your money to modify your badge on your car is WRONG!"

Also OP: "I'm going to modify my car with new exhaust, suspension, exhaust tips, carbon fiber hood, and carbon fiber spoiler. But that's different!"

Me: lol wut?!

 

[forzanerazzurri]

While some people may legitimately not like the badge, there are a significant number of Kia owners that also have a serious inferiority complex wit this car. Do what you want with your car but I think you gotta rock the Kia badge proudly.

 

[eljay]

While I was waiting for my oil change at the dealer yesterday, I saw that the Optima SX in the showroom had KLexus badges, front, back and on the steering wheel. (Also non-stock rims, I think. They were good looking.) The sales rep said they were doing this at the dealership to "some" cars--but on my walk around the lot, I saw that all the Stingers had stock badging.

 

[StingerGT68]

While I was waiting for my oil change at the dealer yesterday, I saw that the Optima SX in the showroom had KLexus badges, front, back and on the steering wheel. (Also non-stock rims, I think. They were good looking.) The sales rep said they were doing this at the dealership to "some" cars--but on my walk around the lot, I saw that all the Stingers had stock badging.

That bothers me because the KLexus badge isn't even an official Kia badge...

 

[Ivansito]

Do what you want with your car but I think you gotta rock the Kia badge proudly.

We will and no thanks.

That bothers me because the KLexus badge isn't even an official Kia badge...

It is an official KIA badge. KIA used it on their South Korean cars till 2009. Hence it current name destination "Vintage K".

 

[StingerGT68]

We will and no thanks.



It is an official KIA badge. KIA used it on their South Korean cars till 2009. Hence it current name destination "Vintage K".

Actually the Vintage K is different. That's this (not the circle part, mainly just the K design in the circle):

The KLexus is this (also known as the "K 3.0"):

 

[Ivansito]

I can't no more with this thread.

Going to enjoy my weekend driving around my Stinger with my controversial "Vintage K" emblem. See YAA!!!

 

[StingerGT68]

I can't no more with this thread.

Going to enjoy my weekend driving around my Stinger with my controversial "Vintage K" emblem. See YAA!!!
View attachment 9190

Yes! That's the Vintage K, just not in the circle badge. The Klexus looks different (worse lol)

Edit: funny enough, the forum even links to the store badges

 

[NickUK]

I can't no more with this thread.

Going to enjoy my weekend driving around my Stinger with my controversial "Vintage K" emblem. See YAA!!!
View attachment 9190

While we may not agree on badging, i like the yellow Stinger colour a lot

 

[bumble bee]

It is my car I can do what I need, and whatever i want!!!!

Enjoy ladies and gentelmen!

 

[DiabloStinger]

what I don't get is the premise that it is "wrong" to debadge from the KIA logos. who cares?

 

[Kamauxx]

who cares?

The mod police! Here to arrest anyone making unapproved vehicular modifications. Tread lightly!

 

[DanD]

I've had more people approach me to inquire after rebadging. Always happy to point to the only KIA badge remaining, inside the heart of the car. The steering wheel.

Same - I have people who come up to me and ask about it all the time. And I can tell they like it. Hell they'll even admit they really like the car... And then when I tell them it's a KIA their minds are blown. I think that has a powerful affect on changing their opinion of the brand.

Whereas if it had the KIA badge on it - they might just dismiss it outright, and let their badge bias prevent them from giving the car a fair shot.

It's like tasting food. If you've been told it's something you think you don't like up front - you might not even want to try it. But if you go into it blind, you might find you enjoy it - and then find out later it was Dog Meat. LOL

-Dan

 

[Fred Pahlke]

Erhm, customizing your car is fine, but branding is a whole different ballpark entirely. I didn't even say anything about the looks of the logo, but I glanced over someone that touched upon the reality: that IS their logo outside of Korea. People ask what it is when you debadge it because they wanted to know since the car IS good-looking: having a straight up recognizable Kia badge answers the question immediately and creates the mental association needed for brand recognition right off the bat. Otherwise, no cars would have any logos whatsoever... Purposely making it unrecognizable or non-descript defeats the purpose of branding. Speaking of which, I've actually had people look at my car, then see the Kia badge and turn cheek slightly upwards and away (and in one case, she walked back to her Mercedes without saying a word), lmfao

Customize my vehicle? You damned well bet I intend on Eibachs, a CF hood, a CF wrapped S type lip spoiler, better fascia tips (when they become available), etc. But take off that Kia badge because people associate Kia with econoboxes or because it's "ugly"? Nah, they can just eat their pride as they checked out my car only to find out it's "just a Kia" without me having to say a word

Should Kia rework their logo or update it? That is a separate discussion. The logo is what it is right now and sure it's not even remotely the best out there, but I'm happy to leave it there for onlookers. Kia earned my money and my respect.

P.S. I can tell some people didn't really read the post originally... So I reiterate: there are those of you who just debadge and rebadge anything you buy. Habitual debadgers are a different story, lol

Nice post. I agree.

 

[Weareblondi]

i was hanging with stungblue last night and the topic of the debadge came up. i think what invansito has done, debadged the back end with just the stinger logo centered( and i am sure others had done it before him, but i saw his first...and, he has a yellow stinger like mine, so i am partial) i think that cleans up the rear quite nicely. as for the front, i am proud that it is a kia, like i have posted before. the mrs and i have gone back and forth on the "k" and the "e" badge, but figure, if its a kia, it will remain a kia.