[EscalonJon]

What do you Guys Think?

<Originally posted by Buckeye Optima on the OptimaForums.com on 6/28/2013 - Used by permission of the original author>




Just a random thought on the Kia emblem

I was spending a lot of time today watching youtube videos of optimas/cadenzas and a bunch of other cars. I know the "Kia emblem" debate has raged on long and hard, but I had some very strong clarity of thought today. You have those that say, "there is nothing wrong with the Kia emblem and it should stay the way it is". You then have those that don't care for the Kia emblem and even change it out (me included). Every person is 100% entitled to their personal view and thoughts, but then there is "the real world". I really feel that when Kia was in the works to build the first optimas and start a "new" life for the Kia corporation with better cars, cooler looking cars, options that other car makers weren't even thinking of offering at the time, they should have taken a GIANT PLUNGE and changed the "KIA" emblem to a really cool symbol. I was looking at how much the new cadenza looks like a B.M.W. and admiring the rear end and I always come back to looking at that Kia emblem. It dawned on me, the emblem as it stands now is a reminder of the past, just as the ford symbol is to them, but Kia DOES NOT have a good past here. The old emblem will forever carry with it a sense of cheapness and a bad feeling. It carries a feeling of failure to a degree. It's not really any ones fault, it just is what it is. I pondered today how cool the optima and cadenza and the forte and the turbo sportage would look with a new strong symbol of luxury and quality, it would act as a rising phoenix for the new optima's. I truly truly believe when the 2011 optima was rolling out it would have been an incredible time to make the change, and I truly think it would have paid huge dividends for the future of Kia's cars. Well, I will stop rambling now and end this. I am not looking to stir up a hornets nest, I just really believe it is the new cars Kia is putting out that truly are deserving of a proper symbol.​

Last edited by buckeye optima; Today at 06:10 PM.​

 

[EscalonJon]

For some of us ex-military types and many others, "KIA" has connotations that are not positive ones. Every times I see an optima or Cadenza or other cars in the lineup, I see "KIA" and it detracts from the otherwise awesomeness of the new cars the company is putting out on the market. But the aversion to "KIA" is not because of the company's past because I do realize the great strides that they have made in both quality and design. It's just hard for me to get past the "KIA" moniker on the badge itself.

John

 

[aloukienko]

I agree with you John...I still have KIA on my 2 year old Optima but I already changed it on my 1 month old Cadenza...I think it will be first thing to change on Quoris too

 

[EscalonJon]

Thanks, Andrei! It will be so awesome when you get a "Q"! ....another dang forum to attend to....lol

John

 

[Starkemann]

John, for me personally I wish you hadn't made this post because now I can't get it out of my head. I too served faithfully on Active Duty in the Armed Forces for 31 years and I never put the two together. I guess because I have only thought of the word and not the letters individually. Now knowing how you and others feel I don't know what to do about my car. I understand the reason that some people change the badging is to be traditionalists or some want to disquise what they are driving but in either case when people ask where they can buy the car you have to tell them the truth. So changing the badging doesn't work for me either but either does knowing that I am rehashing unforgetable memories for people when they see the moniker on my car.

I really think that I am going to have to sell my car and go with a different automaker because of your post. As much as I wish that you hadn't made the post I appreciate that you did to bring it to my attention and broaden my awareness of how I was making you feel.

 

[EscalonJon]

Starkemann! Oh my Gosh!

I would have never dreamed that my comments would/could have such an impact. They are just my opinions. I know that some others have referred to whatever symbolism the emblem had in their minds was similar to what I said. I, and probably you, was deeply embroiled in the military mind-set during the Viet Nam period wherein the term was heard on the radio as reference to the casualty count. They (the radio reports) were so pervasive that after a while they didn't mean much on an intellectual level, but the long lasting subconcsious effect gave the term a very negative and painful connotation. If you look at it another way, the way we look at the term "POW" as an honorable and and hopeful one, then I guess the same or even deeper honor can be applied to "KIA". I guess it's just reverse psychology of sorts. I personally choose to change the badges to the "lazy K" type. Not only because I think that they are attractive, but they forward the classy image that the vehicle deserves. Some would say that changing badges (or removing them) is because there is some shame in the car-maker. For me, it is because of what you and I are talking about right here and that I think the badge is ugly. Yes, Kia should have thought it through more thoroughly when they spent millions (billions?) designing, engineering, and marketing such obviously great cars. If they couldn't set these cars apart with another echelon or level and with a new name (e.g., Genesis for Hyundai), then they could have at least devised a new emblem or symbol to decorate and denote the vehicle manufacturer in a more attractive way. I'm sure, seeing as though "kia" has a meaning in Korean (I think it's something like "to the world"), KDM would stick with that name. In Korea "KIA" probably has very little meaning because of their national language and experience as a country, which is different than ours.

I feel terrible that you would consider getting rid of a fine car because of some thing that I put into your mind. It was not my intent. The beginning posting of this thread is from the Optima Forums wherein the OP submitted a very well thought out dissertation of his feelings. I happen to personally feel that he was very eloquent and thoughtful in his statements. I felt as though it was good "food for thought" and applied to our forum and would be interesting to see if the perspective of the (probably mostly a little older) community here is similar. Again, my thanks to Buckeye Optima.

Starkemann, Thank You so much for your proud service to our great country. I am proud to be your "Brother-in-Arms"! I am impressed that the crux of what I said was so deep, intimate, and painful in your mind that you would forgo the pleasures of such a fine car because of it. Please agree with me that it can be said that if it's in our minds as such, that if you choose to keep the car (and badge) that the badge can be in your mind as a tribute to our brothers who never returned. (Do it for them)

(soapbox out)

Thanks, Brother!

John

 

[EscalonJon]

(unsolicited P.S.)

I am still going to buy the Cadenza and the Sorento, change the ugly badges, and pray for the souls of my fallen brethren as I enjoy my new cars, and be proud of them all.

God Bless all our KIAs, MIAs, and POWs!