Re: New Car Reviews

On 19/08/2026 20:56, Wilson wrote:
> On 8/19/2026 3:32 PM, Julian wrote:
>> On 19/08/2026 19:46, Wilson wrote:
>>> On 8/19/2026 11:31 AM, Julian wrote:
>>>> On 19/08/2026 16:04, Wilson wrote:
>>>>> On 8/18/2026 8:02 PM, Dude wrote:
>>>>>> On 8/17/2026 8:43 PM, dart200 wrote:
>>>>>>> On 8/17/26 7:56 PM, Dude wrote:
>>>>>>>> "We planned on a year of bare-bones motoring. These features 
>>>>>>>> make us feel like we're cheating." - Aaron Gold, Aug 17, 2026
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Motor Trend:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Five—No, Six—Sorry, Eight—Features I Didn't Expect in Our 
>>>>>>>> $25,000 Kia K4
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> https://tinyurl.com/2mmsamkj
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> most of those are software feature that cost zero to replicate 
>>>>>>> once implemented. the fact they aren't standard across all new 
>>>>>>> cars is kind of a market failure imo
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> You forgot to mention the Kia warranty:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Powertrain Warranty: 10 years or 100,000 miles for engine, 
>>>>>> transmission, and drive parts.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Basic Warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles for most other vehicle 
>>>>>> parts (bumper-to-bumper).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Anti-Perforation Warranty: 5 years or 100,000 miles for rust hole 
>>>>>> damage on body sheet metal.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Roadside Assistance: 5 years or 60,000 miles for 24/7 help like 
>>>>>> towing or flat tires.
>>>>>
>>>>> They need those because they have a deservedly bad reputation for 
>>>>> reliability.
>>>>
>>>> Certainly a decade and more ago and until five years ago
>>>> easily stolen but, at least in Europe, they are well above
>>>> average, in the top 10, for reliability.
>>>> https://www.whatcar.com/news/are-kia-cars-reliable-most-and-least- 
>>>> reliable-models-revealed/n27619
>>>
>>> I might be behind the times in my negative attitude towards the Koreans.
>>>
>>> "Kia (and sister brand Hyundai) transformed from lower-tier 
>>> reliability in the early 2010s through major quality investments, 
>>> platform sharing, and engineering improvements. Recent models are 
>>> generally viewed as dependable daily drivers with competitive build 
>>> quality.
>>
>> "Made in Korea" signified "Cheap imitation" until the 1980's which
>> fixed the post war economy and facilitated big national investment
>> in the likes of Samsung, Hyundai, LG and Daewoo. By 2000 they were
>> becoming among the elite in advanced heavy, shipbuilding etc., and
>> electrical/onic engineering.
>>
>> There's one thing they are not very good at making and that is
>> people...
>>
>> According to United Nations and demographic projections, South Korea's 
>> total fertility rate is expected to slowly rebound from its historic 
>> lows to approximately 1.0 child per woman by 2050, remaining well 
>> below the 2.1 replacement level needed for a stable population
>>
> 
> That country is going to go extinct unless they change that.

Yes, and they know it. In 2024 the rate was the global lowest.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-68402139