K900 Commercial

[Waynerm002]

Not sure which market this is for but just found it this morning.

 

[Kia Stinger]

I'll be floored if this car doesn't sell well. It's just too good not to...

 

[Waynerm002]

Let's hope they don't cheap out on the tech, quality and paint. I really like the look of it. WHo knows, I might have to get one if it suits my needs. I was holding out to see it before going to the Stinger but we all know how that went.

 

[WildBill]

I traveled 3 hours to a KIA dealer that had like 15 Stingers on the lot just to be able to see all of the different trim levels, colors, etc. So apparently KIA was making the dealers order a K900 per every 10 stingers. So this dealer had to order in two K900s. Salesperson said they were like boat anchors, not going anywhere.

 

[Waynerm002]

Was that the 2019's? What was the prices on them?

 

[WildBill]

Was that the 2019's? What was the prices on them?

That was 5 months ago when I bought my Stinger. I don't remember the price, that wasn't remotely the car I was looking for.
I just searched their site and they are gone. Must have been sold or dealer traded.

 

[Waynerm002]

Those would be the 2017s, they never came out with 2018s and the 2019 isn't here yet. Maybe the end of the year or start of next year. I think the main issue is KIA's dealers don't know how to market and sell this level of vehicle.

 

[WildBill]

I don't know if it is a dealer or corporate marketing issue. I suppose they go hand in hand.

Pretty much the same as the stinger GT. A person needs to know about the car and go to the KIA dealer to see/buy it.
People shopping for the majority of KIA's lineup wouldn't be in the market for a Stinger GT or the K900 so the up-sell wouldn't be likely.
That and almost nobody in the market for those types of vehicles would go to a KIA dealer to browse their sporty / high end luxury models. Not like a person might go to Caddy / AUDI / Infinity / etc.

Dealers would be good to bring those models out to malls, festivals, etc. to get them out into the public eye more I guess. You need to find the people going about their everyday lives and surprise them.

 

[Waynerm002]

Exactly! They have to step outside the box with your marketing. KIA may run a commercial or 2 but you see the other guys commercial all over the place. Getting it out to places so people can see them and generate interest. Car shows are fine but as you mentioned, malls or at least do some driving clinics at dealerships. Mail info out to customers so they care seeing it, setup intro events and ride and drives at the dealer so folks get a first hand look/feel of it and decide if they want it.

 

[STINGER]

with the category of buyers they want to capture from the other high-end brands, they will need to change the whole buying experience and after sales maintenance treatment as well, the Stinger should be included as well. You cannot compare the dealer presentation and treatment for example at Lexus to Kia.

I am kinda interested to see how Genesis are going to do it at their new exclusive dealers.

 

[Waynerm002]

If KIA does the same thing Hyundai did with getting some sales folks qualified to sell them and do a separate part of the dealership for that, it could work. Of course in my mind, they just need to change over to a premium sales style.

 

[Kamauxx]

I still can't believe Kia is bringing a new K900 to NA. They still have brand new 2016s marked down 35% sitting on the lots. I think this is a horrible move for Kia.

 

[Kamauxx]

If KIA does the same thing Hyundai did with getting some sales folks qualified to sell them and do a separate part of the dealership for that, it could work.

They do have salespeople that specialize in K900 sales. They have to do some kind of K900 specific curriculum. Its been that way for a few years but hasn't made a difference.

 

[Kia Stinger]

The first generation K900 was a pretty darn good car. "Pretty darn good" doesn't cut it for the type of buyer who wants that type of automobile. The second generation K900 is a very damn good car...

 

[Ruturaj]

I still can't believe Kia is bringing a new K900 to NA. They still have brand new 2016s marked down 35% sitting on the lots. I think this is a horrible move for Kia.

With around 17k in lease incentive. I think they just want to push to market as advertise for the brand than actual profit.

 

[Kamauxx]

With around 17k in lease incentive. I think they just want to push to market as advertise for the brand than actual profit.

I agree. I think this is just Kia showing what it's capable of. BUT they can't advertise them if they can't even get them off the lot...even with insane rebates.

 

[Manchuz]

Slightly off topic but what happened to the Korean K9 using the E emblem. I've yet to see an image of it with the E badge.

If you go to the Canadian Kia website, the K900 isn't even listed as one of their vehicles.

 

[Waynerm002]

It didn't get that badge, which I was surprised about. You can check KIA's Korean website for info on it. I watch a lot of the Korean YouTube videos when these things are launched so I can see and find out what the Koreans think about them (some do an English version or add English Subs) before they come to this side of the world.

 

[YEH]

The 1G K900 was horribly outdated - still on the old Equus platform (floaty ride) where AWD is not available.

The 2G K900, while new, is already half a generation behind (the next gen G80 is getting a new platform), but still a marked improvement over the 1G in terms of ride and handling (plus adding the much needed available AWD.

Don't care much for the new sheetmetal, but the interior is very nice (the next Stinger needs to up its interior appointment level).

Think Kia will be happy if the 2G does around what the 1G did in its 1st full year of sale (if not a little better, tho that may be tough to do as CUVs/SUVs increasingly dominate) - 2,524.

Whatever they sell here is frosting on the cake as in Korea, it has been doing around 1,500-1,700/month in sales.

 

[Waynerm002]

I have to say of all the full size luxury cars, the only ones I liked were the 7 Series and A8. While large, they had a youthful look to them and to me they were still cars you want to drive, not be driven in.

A little off topic here.

I started to like the Merc after a romp on the highway in my hybrid when some girls in an AMG version were trying to "keep up." I say that as they were the type to make a bee line for the left lane and stick there while I worked my way through in the right lane and left them, then they find a way through, then zoom past me only to get stuck again. They seemed surprised that they could never lose me and that a hybrid was rolling with them. Was a "caravan" consisting of the Merc AMG, Camry V6 and a Toaureg. They wouldn't let me in as I guess they figured I couldn't keep up, but after multiple passes, the girls decided to follow my route. Mr Touareg wasn't a much of a follower and he blew past us and past a state trooper in an unmarked car, that had just wrapped up with another stop who came out and nabbed him. The girls pulled up along side and waved while looking the hybrid over, after some more miles I waved them past as I was going to exit. I thought, wow, that car really can move and handle well, which lead to me watching videos on them, then the K9 was announced and I was like, yeah! If Biermann does his magic on that to make it a drivers car, I might just have to go for one.

Of course I was waiting for it to come out before deciding on the Stinger but sadly, it still hasn't materialized. WHen they drop here, I will be going to drive one!