In terms of production, there are differing philosophies between east and west. The US market is willing to stop a production line to give you what you want and lower their efficiency. So you end up buying from an inefficient market so you can get what you think is right. Behind the scenes that lower efficiency ends up costing you in a more expensive car because of its higher labor cost to stop a whole production line for one customer. Then multiply that by all the other customers that want what they want and stop the line for them as well.
KIA has chosen a more efficient assembly process. I had the same argument with the dealership where I ordered my stinger. He was telling me the chances of getting a configuration with 18" wheels wasn't very likely because of the way KIA does things for efficiency. My counter to that was why put it down as an option then if they aren't going to make them. I guess he didn't know they were making them. I told him when I did my build your own at KIA's website they showed me GT2's with AWD and 18" wheels but they were all 2,000 miles or more and all in red. He started to look at other areas in the country and found that about 1 or 2 % of those shipped to the US market were indeed 18" wheel configurations.
So what does that mean for me. It means I wait till their production line produces the color I want in that configuration. I'll end up getting what I want and still help KIA keep making cars that have the "Power to Surprise"!
So if you want to keep paying for an inefficient system that gives you what you want that's fine with me. Will you get a 10 yr/100,000 mile warranty with them? Will you get more bang for your buck? Will you be proud to drive something that cost you more in those terms, just to get what you want?
I once heard a KIA VP tell a joke, but it had truth behind it, which is what makes a good joke. He said, "People who buy KIAs have more brains than bucks, and people who buy Toyotas have more money than brains." Saving dollars buying the KIA brand gives us more money left over for tuning.
The Stinger will be my 3rd KIA. I bought my first one in 2006 and then the one I'm driving now in 2013. I'm thinking of keeping the one I have now for my daily driver because of it's fuel economy and because its paid for. The Stinger will be the car I drive to Church on the weekend, take to the track to satisfy my need for speed, and when I drive back to PA to visit my 2 sons and 4 grandchildren or other trips where I'm not worried about fuel economy.
Am I tired of all the whining and complaining? Yes. I can't abide whiners and complainers. I'm not one. I try to follow the wisdom of the serenity prayer when it comes to my outlook on life. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change. The courage to change the things I can. And wisdom to know the difference. Do you really think complaining about something you can't change right now is going to change the marketing strategy of a company that thinks on different terms than US companies? If so, why are you complaining about it here in a forum instead of complaining to some KIA executives? Do you think they are all over this site or other KIA sites getting the pulse of the US market so they can cater to a bunch of future hopeful customers?
I came here to: 1.) Learn more about the product. 2.) To see what is available (not what isn't) for improving what is going to be a great car to make it even better. 3.) To have fun and share my success and enthusiasm for a brand I love.
Dare I ask the question, Why are you here? If it's just a place to air your grievances, put it in your introduction and then I can just avoid your posts when I see them. Nothing but the best to all of you.
.....stepping off my soapbox now.
