Giving up

[ronjay]

After months of frustration, shifting dates, the worst dealers in the auto industry we are giving up on the Telluride. Going to upgrade to a real luxury model. Where you don’t have to pop off and replace the name badge. We have been to countless Kia dealers, the same bait and switch tactics, lying & cheating. I can only imagine how service will be and based on reviews it’s not good. I am happy for those who were able to get what they wanted and not get taken advantage of, as well as getting it in a reasonable timeframe. We just couldn’t put all that together.
Hopefully the fair dealers will prevail especially the ones on here. But the ones we dealt with soured the entire brand for us. We won’t be back.
Good luck to the hopeful on your quest.

 

[Tellmeride]

If you knew there are fair dealers on here, why didn't you just order one with JF right off the bat and not waste so much time with countless dealers?

Yeah, and I know exactly what you mean with the badge comment, cracks me up too.

 

[Husker Soze]

After months of frustration, shifting dates, the worst dealers in the auto industry we are giving up on the Telluride. Going to upgrade to a real luxury model. Where you don’t have to pop off and replace the name badge. We have been to countless Kia dealers, the same bait and switch tactics, lying & cheating. I can only imagine how service will be and based on reviews it’s not good. I am happy for those who were able to get what they wanted and not get taken advantage of, as well as getting it in a reasonable timeframe. We just couldn’t put all that together.
Hopefully the fair dealers will prevail especially the ones on here. But the ones we dealt with soured the entire brand for us. We won’t be back.
Good luck to the hopeful on your quest.

I completely understand your frustration. I was in the same situation and pretty much rage quit on getting a KT.

That being stated, we wish you good luck on your new vehicle ... whatever that "real luxury model" is

Cheers!

 

[jw_tx21]

After months of frustration, shifting dates, the worst dealers in the auto industry we are giving up on the Telluride. Going to upgrade to a real luxury model. Where you don’t have to pop off and replace the name badge. We have been to countless Kia dealers, the same bait and switch tactics, lying & cheating. I can only imagine how service will be and based on reviews it’s not good. I am happy for those who were able to get what they wanted and not get taken advantage of, as well as getting it in a reasonable timeframe. We just couldn’t put all that together.
Hopefully the fair dealers will prevail especially the ones on here. But the ones we dealt with soured the entire brand for us. We won’t be back.
Good luck to the hopeful on your quest.

All the best, and no reason to say "real luxury". You've said that a few times in posts, and it doesn't make sense. The Telluride is not competing with luxury vehicles - nor intending to. You will be getting a better sales and service experience along with a more powerful engine with a luxury vehicle, and if you are buying / leasing a new vehicle, you will pay for it. That's great if that's your choice.

You are right that many Kia dealers need some work and the sales process needs a lot of help. We've said that on the forum, and a lot has been written about it. If the vehicle were in stock, it'd be much easier for you. I understand not wanting to spend more time to hunt a vehicle, so please enjoy the XC90 or whichever luxury vehicle you choose. Adios.

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[JCzoom]

Really sad that almost all Kia dealerships are awful. Is corporate getting any of this feedback? Do they even care? As far as the badge, I consider myself a "car guy" and don't understand why so many people don't like the badge. Seriously? Self conscious about something? IMO, the aftermarket badges look way more goofy than the KIA badge. My wife's Moss SX is a awesome ride! (with stock badges)

 

[jdaake07]

It's definitely been one of the most perplexing and poor purchasing experiences in my life. Sure, putting my name down 10 weeks ago was really easy, but no updates during that time is simply inexcusable. I was going to buy two on the spot but decided to wait to see if I liked the first one. Kia almost certainly won't be getting money for the second one. I'll likely be leasing an X3 M40i for $50/mo less than the Telluride whenever it actually shows up (likely March at the earliest).

I think the most frustrating part of the wait is that it is for a super basic build --SX, AWD, Ebony Black, Black interior. I'm not asking for a obscure color combination, this is as basic as they come. Meanwhile, my dealership keeps getting low optioned, obscure colors and FWD vehicles which don't move.

 

[JCzoom]

All the best, and no reason to say "real luxury". You've said that a few times in posts, and it doesn't make sense. The Telluride is not competing with luxury vehicles - nor intending to. You will be getting a better sales and service experience along with a more powerful engine in most cases, and if you are buying / leasing a new vehicle, you will pay for it. That's great if that's your choice.

You are right that many Kia dealers need some work and the sales process needs a lot of help. If the vehicle were in stock, it'd be much easier for you. I understand not wanting to spend more time to hunt a vehicle, so please enjoy the XC90 or whichever luxury vehicle you choose. Adios.

Yep, go ahead and spend 20-30K more on a "real luxury" vehicle to get half of what your getting with the Telly. Oh wait, you'll have a really cool badge worth 20-30K... Should have done your homework before trying to buy the hottest vehicle on the market.

 

[raydog9379]

All the best, and no reason to say "real luxury". You've said that a few times in posts, and it doesn't make sense. The Telluride is not competing with luxury vehicles - nor intending to. You will be getting a better sales and service experience along with a more powerful engine with a luxury vehicle, and if you are buying / leasing a new vehicle, you will pay for it. That's great if that's your choice.

You are right that many Kia dealers need some work and the sales process needs a lot of help. We've said that on the forum, and a lot has been written about it. If the vehicle were in stock, it'd be much easier for you. I understand not wanting to spend more time to hunt a vehicle, so please enjoy the XC90 or whichever luxury vehicle you choose. Adios.

I beg to differ on the comment around the Telluride not competing w/ luxury vehicles. In my case it 100% is. I will be replacing an Infiniti JX35 with the Telluride if it ever comes in, and I also drive a $100k Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid. I looked at and drove a Yukon Denali, and an Expedition Platinum all of which are $75k-90k+ with what I want on them. I'm tempted to see what the new MB GLS is like as well (if it can fit the 5 of us as comfortably, obviously the looks are there as is tech), but then I'm looking at $90k with what I want. I'd say in many cases it is directly competing after seeing the used cars that were traded in on Telluride's sitting at the lot (a couple BMW SUVs, a Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7's, etc...)

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[raydog9379]

Yep, go ahead and spend 20-30K more on a "real luxury" vehicle to get half of what your getting with the Telly. Oh wait, you'll have a really cool badge worth 20-30K... Should have done your homework before trying to buy the hottest vehicle on the market.

I think luxury with the brand goes a lot further than the badge alone. I'd say the whole buying experience and service are a big factor. Yes, you're going to pay for it. However many of us looking at SX and SX-P are coming from historically luxury brands that know how to treat customers well from before you even set foot in the dealership. Might be the hottest SUV on the market right now, but it's incredibly short sighted on the brand or some dealers to treat customers the way they have in many cases.

I'm not sure how much more anxious I will be when I'm 10 weeks in (I'm 4 weeks in now), but can imagine the frustration on how they might feel they've been treated. We're seeing many cases of dealers not ordering cars for months, or ones that ordered and the dealer sold their car to someone else for huge ADM without telling them it arrived, to dealers taking many orders yet will likely never have the allocations to be able to fill the order in less than 6 months.

Getting a new car is supposed to be exciting and drive great emotion.

 

[boatman]

Well said raydog

I remember watching the Super Bowl in February. Kia bought a commercial spot for the Telluride and that’s when it showed up on my radar. So now I have driven the different models and formed a positive opinion on the Telluride itself. As for Kia and many of its dealerships, I feel like many times I’ve gone “slumming”. Just an overall poor customer experience from the basic levels of honesty and transparency.

 

[Lucas & Craig]

After months of frustration, shifting dates, the worst dealers in the auto industry we are giving up on the Telluride. Going to upgrade to a real luxury model. Where you don’t have to pop off and replace the name badge. We have been to countless Kia dealers, the same bait and switch tactics, lying & cheating. I can only imagine how service will be and based on reviews it’s not good. I am happy for those who were able to get what they wanted and not get taken advantage of, as well as getting it in a reasonable timeframe. We just couldn’t put all that together.
Hopefully the fair dealers will prevail especially the ones on here. But the ones we dealt with soured the entire brand for us. We won’t be back.
Good luck to the hopeful on your quest.

We'd like to help you. Please email me if we can be of assistance. jfox@kiaofmuncie.com

 

[np86]

If you're a member of this forum, you know that it takes on average about 12 weeks to get your order. This individual (from their history) ordered on 10/21. Its been less than 2 months...
As you said "waiting costs you nothing", but an XC90 is going to cost 10k more with less in it. This speaking as someone who's final two choices were the XC90 T6 and a Telluride.

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[NREVANS]

I'm coming up on 14 weeks, so I guess I'm making the average higher...

 

[SorentoSXL]

There are two different issues at play here. Many Kia dealerships simply are not good, we all know that. However, the quality of the dealership has no bearing on how long it will take to get the vehicle. Kia underestimated the demand for this vehicle, point blank. You may choose to blame Kia directly or the dealerships, but that issue is not going away at this time.

The Telluride is not unique in the realm of hot new in-demand vehicles. Many brands have introduced super hot sellers right out of the gate. And guess what, people either waited, or got tired of waiting. The same is true here. Sure, you could have a nice dealership coddle you with useless updates, but even then, it would not cause the car arrive any sooner. This is the game with hot new vehicles, mark-ups and restricted supply. If you can't wait, then don't.

The Telluride will be my 3rd Kia. I like to buy loaded cars which would preclude me from buying a "real" luxury car. Kia has traditionally been able to offer feature rich vehicles for a reasonable sum. For whatever reason, the press and the public have largely ignored their cars before the Telluride so you have a lot of bandwagoneers jumping onto the train that would have never set foot into a Kia dealership in the past. For those of us who discovered Kia before the Telluride, the only issue at hand here now is the long wait/queue to get the vehicle. Those of who know, know it will be worth it.

 

[np86]

I'm coming up on 14 weeks, so I guess I'm making the average higher...

Yeah it took me 4.5 months, almost 18 weeks to get mine.. 12ish seems to be the new average based on peoples comments here, but really just wanted to highlight the impatience.

 

[Husker Soze]

The Telluride will be my 3rd Kia. I like to buy loaded cars which would preclude me from buying a "real" luxury car. Kia has traditionally been able to offer feature rich vehicles for a reasonable sum. For whatever reason, the press and the public have largely ignored their cars before the Telluride so you have a lot of bandwagoneers jumping onto the train that would have never set foot into a Kia dealership in the past. For those of us who discovered Kia before the Telluride, the only issue at hand here now is the long wait/queue to get the vehicle. Those of who know, know it will be worth it.

And rightfully so! What other Kia vehicle besides the Telluride you think deserve the spotlight that was better than the competition? There's a reason those have been largely ignored by the press and the public.

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[JCzoom]

And rightfully so! What other Kia vehicle besides the Telluride you think deserve the spotlight that was better than the competition? There's a reason those have been largely ignored by the press and the public.

Stinger? The Soul does pretty well too. I'm a "bandwagoneer", so I guess I can't say much.

 

[SorentoSXL]

And rightfully so! What other Kia vehicle besides the Telluride you think deserve the spotlight that was better than the competition? There's a reason those have been largely ignored by the press and the public.

I beg to differ. Also, "better than the competition" is an awfully loaded statement. There are tons of choices in each and every class of vehicle. If there were a unanimous "better" vehicle in each segment, you'd have an extremely lop sided marketplace.

For example, the press claimed the CX-9 was the "better" midsize 3 row SUV for a good two years yet it never sold great due largely to its space inefficient design. What was best for them clearly wasn't best for many people who load these things up with kids, pets and stuff.

I've loved my two Kia's and they were the better 'for me.' I don't need the automotive spotlight cast onto the car I buy to make my purchase feel justified. You're entitled to your perspective however.

 

[Husker Soze]

Stinger? The Soul does pretty well too. I'm a "bandwagoneer", so I guess I can't say much.

Concur on the Stinger...but I'd argue that it's not really ignored and have gotten pretty good press as well.

I guess you can put me on the "bandwagoneer" list as well as this is my first Kia.

 

[Husker Soze]

I beg to differ. Also, "better than the competition" is an awfully loaded statement. There are tons of choices in each and every class of vehicle. If there were a unanimous "better" vehicle in each segment, you'd have an extremely lop sided marketplace.

For example, the press claimed the CX-9 was the "better" midsize 3 row SUV for a good two years yet it never sold great due largely to its space inefficient design. What was best for them clearly wasn't best for many people who load these things up with kids, pets and stuff.

I've loved my two Kia's and they were the better 'for me.' I don't need the automotive spotlight cast onto the car I buy to make my purchase feel justified. You're entitled to your perspective however.

Exactly my point. Kia hit the homerun with the Telluride and are getting all the accolades and hardware that goes with it.

Hence you have all these new Kia customers...or "bandwagoneers" as you described them, trying out this new brand. Because none of the other vehicles (with a few exceptions, e.g. Stinger) Kia made was "good enough" for their own set of needs/standards to leave what other brand loyalty they have with the other manufacturers. Just my humble opinion.