Chinese car companies lack styling studios.....

[Fulcrum525]

And I thought the Japanese were bad when it came to copying cars. Check out what the Chinese are doing (right down to the badges )


http://indianautosblog.com/2008/07/chinese-are-the-best-xerox-machines-in-the-world

[Hatterasguy]

The Koreans do it to, they have a car out that looks just like a BMW 5 from the back.


Look at it this way, these cars are for people who buy fake Rolex's. Its a $30k millionaires wet dream.

Yup, that's how the ricers started in the 50s/60s; 20 years later they ate detroit's lunch. Japan and Korea need to looking over their shoulders at China and India.

[catmandoo62]

that fake rolls would go over real good in harlem.with a name like "honkey"

[C280 Sport]

I belive there many jokes about the Orientials copying everything they see?

[t walgamuth]

I never would have imagined anybody could build an uglier car than the new Rolls....

(I just checked for a smiley retching but sadly had to settle for an eek)

[mgburg]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I never would have imagined anybody could build an uglier car than the new Rolls.... ... (I just checked for a smiley retching but sadly had to settle for an eek)

Try these Tom!

Smilies2

RS, # 71 down -

RS, #137 down -

LS, #138 down -

Smilies3

LS, # 21 down - (Looks like he's GOING to heave...but just static...)

Good luck!!!

[Angel]

I've been looking at minivans recently (spare the negativity please =) and I swear that Kia just took a Toyota Sienna, put it in a copy machine, labeled it a "Sedona" and threw them at the dealers.

As an engineer who tries to recognize IP ethics, this bothers me, but not enough to cease considering the Kia as our next vehicle.

-John

[Skippy]

If they're just going to copy designs, couldn't they copy some that look good? Late 60's Mopar, late 60s-early 80s Mercedes, etc.

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by Angel

I've been looking at minivans recently (spare the negativity please =) and I swear that Kia just took a Toyota Sienna, put it in a copy machine, labeled it a "Sedona" and threw them at the dealers.

As an engineer who tries to recognize IP ethics, this bothers me, but not enough to cease considering the Kia as our next vehicle.

-John

My wife's co-worker has a kia, it only has 48k on it and it has already been to the dealer several times for electrical issues, spark plug wires failing, coil failing, fouled plugs, stalling, tons of issues. Its not even 4 years old. Run far away from Kias!

[Pavka007]

I don't wanna be negative but KIA stands for:

K- Kill
I - In
A - Accident

They are like a soda cans...

[GregoryV022]

the Chinese have always been considered the worlds best Xerox Machine

[SwampYankee]

Dooood, check out my Tomahawk!

http://indianautosblog.com/2008/08/weird-dodge-tomahawk-based-chinese-atv

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by Angel

As an engineer who tries to recognize IP ethics, this bothers me, but not enough to cease considering the Kia as our next vehicle.

-John

As an IP engineer you should have enough brains not to even consider a Kia to begin with.

- Peter.

[Angel]

fwiw- I'm not an IP engineer, I'm into Electrical/controls at a power plant. I think that all Engineers should be at least slightly concerned about IP protection because it fosters innovation- which is what makes engineers (as a whole) useful to society...Which is why the Sedona bothers me...a little.


I'm not buying what the anti-Kia crowd is selling - its OT, but this thread was dying anyway.

1) One person's story of how their car sucked (or how their dealer sucked) does not paint a picture of the entire company/dealer network. I can cite you numerous stories of Chrysler minivans that did not stand the test of time- but that's because there are so many of them out there.

2) They are in the American market for good now - its in their corporate interest to build a better car if their early models didnt hold up to the current reliability 'standard' (which isnt really reliable - I expect a machine to begin falling apart at 100k nowadays.)

3) the 06/07 models that I'm looking at still have the balance of a factory 6/50k b2b and 10y/100k powertrain warranty - who can compete here ?

4) Show me a better value for the money ($15k is all I have to spend on a minivan) - you must show that it will be less trouble-free and cheaper to own (sorry Odyssey transmissions...). A 5 spd auto and traction control are worth something to me so be sure to include this.

5) safety - The IIHS thinks they are ok -
IIHS Sedona rating

But I don't give anyone's crash ratings a lot of credit- I'll give them some, but not a lot: - if you know how you are going to crash, its relatively easy to design a car to minimize the damage. Unfortunately for us real humans, we don't always know how we are going to crash before we buy a vehicle. If I could buy a minivan that would guarantee that no one would ever hit the side door where my son is sitting- I'd give that some preference =). I've been through this in the motorcycle community many times - tell me how you will crash and I'll design a helmet/gear that will protect you. Otherwise its your driving/riding vs. the world.


I'll concede a few things:

a) they arent made in the USA - I don't like this, but $15k is too much for me to gamble on Chrysler's reliability record- I think that CR agrees. And I'm not buying new anyway so If I go CPO a % of my money is going to this country (taxes) anyway.

b) Their first entries into this country did suck. I'm not gonna argue this. The Sedona was redesigned/re-xeroxed in 2006.

-John