I think that they meant to replace the Equus with the G90. K900 with the G80 and G70 - not sure, logic would suggest that the Genesis didn't get replaced but the G70 is too small for that, so I'm not sure.
The K900, Equus and first and second gen Hyundai Genesis were all just different shapes of their "BH" premium RWD based platform. Pretty solid and good value overall. I don't know if I would cal it stealth wealth or whatever but they're definitely great used car buys.
They're like a Lexus ES, but they're RWD based and the engine goes front to back instead of side to side like the Camry/Avalon-based ES, so if anything mechanically the K900/G80/Equus are smoother to drive as well. Maybe don't have Lexus fit and finish but they definitely don't have typical Kia/Hyundai fit and finish either.
Sure! Or some mix of a GS and LS, since they can get the V8 and are also a bit heavier too. The GS is more athletic. I used the ES because the target audience is more similar to the ES, Buick crowd type.
And also while some mix of GS and LS, not as high quality as either the GS nor LS. But still decent quality! Maybe Acura or Infiniti level I'd say, or a modern Mazda. Nice-but-not-real-luxury or whatever.
I have a 2016 Genesis ( ultimate trim) and it is awesome. Looks great in and out , rides great, 0 issues … I call it the poor man’s Bentley. Quality ride.
You will not have to pay for it if your vehicle is one of the ones affected by the compressor shaft seal leak. It also covers the condenser, which is problematic and leaks.
Kia I hear nothing but horror stories. Genesis seems to be more of a mixed bag, but most of the complaints I hear are based on the dealerships themselves. I'd be curious to get a look at that G90 though. Seems like they knew it had a major issue and chose not to disclose it. Which, again, is an issue with the dealerships. A G90 absolutely should not feel shakey at any speed. That's not acceptable.
Agreed. I love Hyundai and I owned one for 8 years until literally a week ago when I traded my 16 sonata with 105k in for a 2018 bmw 330i with 34k. But in no way are any of their models on par with a true luxury car.
That is a very nice looking car! I remember being very impressed with Kia’s upscale push when they started, so congrats on finding one that you really like.
One note about stealth wealth though, nobody who actually had money spent it on the Kia/Hyundai offerings. The main issue is that the Hyundai/Kia dealership experience is catered to the lower-end value conscious buyers. Everything from sales, to service is unacceptable to most people who had the money to buy a higher end Kia/Hyundai. The brands realized this too which is when they spun genesis into its own brand and started opening Genesis only dealers. It’s been an issue for most brands trying to do the same thing (VW with the Touareg/Phaeton, and Jeep with the Wagoneer brand that’s now been absorbed back into the Jeep brand).
Don’t take this at all like I’m ragging on your decision because I actually really like the K900 and this really started their Genesis push seeing the feedback from how great they are. I hope you enjoy every mile in your new car and think you found a great example of what the Korean brands can do!
The treatment you get at the BMW dealer is much different than the Honda dealer. Even though the cars might getting closer in quality to the MBs and BMWs, the whole experience and feel is what makes the deal to some people.
Definitely agree, the price point for entry is getting closer too, Honda and Toyota (Toyota especially) are increasing their prices and not changing their customer service while luxury brands are holding pretty steady price-wise and maintaining their service standards.
On the other hand the experience at an Acura dealer is quite similar to the experience at a BMW dealer. At the service department it might even be better because BMW rips off dealers on warranty repairs to the point the technicians will do anything to avoid diagnostics because BMW won’t pay them for that.
Kia knew that, which is why only select Kia dealers could sell (when new) the K900. Same with repairs. Non-approved Kia dealers can not do warranty work on the car, and most will even turn away non-warranty work.
I was an advisor at one of the approved dealers to work on the K900 and the new EV. Still tons of hoodrats in the lobby all day. Usually they just bought a Soul with 150k+ at a buy here pay here, brought it to me shortly after with a blown engine, and left in an uber because they had no service records for the car so we wouldn't warranty the engine.
The biggest issue for me is sales - Kia/Hyundai tend to have very young/ inexperienced sales people and are very shady in their finance practices. Tacking on fees, selecting cars based on monthly budget instead of price (common in value-driven brand dealerships), pushing hard to run credit before talking about prices, and being ruthless in the finance room because they assume they're dealing with novice car buyers.
If you go into even an Acura/Lexus dealership they are happy to discuss price without running credit and basing it on the cost rather than monthly payment. There is a huge difference in the buying experience and people who either are paying cash (as he referenced with his write up) or want to focus on the price itself won't stick around if they're being jostled too much.
For service, it's true they don't need to service it there. However if I bought a car that comes with free maintenance for X amount of time/miles, I'm going to use it. I also wouldn't pay for any repairs if it's in the warranty period either. I've noticed too that the value driven brands often recommend completely unnecessary services and sell them as hard as a Jiffy Lube tries to sell a cabin air filter.
The service difference is astounding at places like Lexus/Acura. They'll even pick up/drop off your car, or if it'll be an extended visit there's a no auestions asked loaner.
“Who are you callin’ a cootie queen, you *lint-licker*?”
“Pickle you, kumquat!”
Also, I agree. Still, even on the standalone Genesis side, things are bad.
I had simply *the worst* experience buying a 2018 Genesis G90 5.0 Ultimate AWD (a very lovely car) from a Genesis dealer. They lied and told me I had to file for registration with them and pay tax through them, even though I was out-of-state and paid cash. They took over 100 days to give me a title. They promised me a second key and a fuse box cover, and then tried to renege. And even after they agreed to provide the key, they kept lying and saying they’d contacted my local Genesis dealer to arrange it, when they’d done nothing of the sort.
Because the experience was so sour, I got rid of the car. I now have an S 550 Coupe. At least Mercedes-Benz knows how to treat a customer. Whereas with Genesis, most of its franchises started out inside Hyundai stores. Even now that Genesis is launching standalone stores—and the one where I bought my car was standalone—the dealer groups are mostly just moving their Hyundai clowns over to manage and staff the Genesis stores…with all the chicanery and foolishness you’d expect.
Part of what made Lexus so successful when it started out was that Toyota launched it correctly from the start. Toyota put quality and dealer service first and foremost, and earned itself a ton of loyal, lifelong customers because of it. I’ve had a few Lexus vehicles (two LSs and a GX). Their service is second to none.
Had Hyundai done that at the start with the Genesis—instead of the torturous path it took to finally launch the brand as a credible luxury automaker—we’d probably be having a different conversation.
Walk into a mainstream brand dealer then a luxury brand after and the experience is night and day.
The economy brands will immediate start with all the high pressure sales bullshit and try their best to bully the customer. This is where the sleazy car salesman stereotype comes from.
Walk into a luxury dealer and you deal with professionals that treat the intersection like a b2b sales deal.
VWs issues weren’t the dealers, the issue was the brand image. In Europe they’re seen as a premium brand, because VW has lower end brands (that they also own) like Seat and Skoda. Here we just have VW which is on par with like Toyota, maybe slightly above, but not on the level of Audi.
The Phaeton was expensive and no American wanted to pay $90k for a VW badge, when they could pay $90k for an Audi A8L (which was also a lighter, completely different car). VW made them for the Chinese market for another decade.
The Toureag sold pretty well despite its price, but the US market wanted a massive SUV and they didn’t need off road capability (also you don’t have to pay import tax if they’re made in the US like the atlas is) that the toureag had.
as someone who owns an elantra n can confirm the dealership experience is horrible. however the genesis dealers are not amazing. my dad owned a g90 and ended up getting rid of it after an awful dealer experience, they’re really not much better, at least in g
houston.
Yeah, wouldn’t ”stealth wealth” be something like a well maintained older Volvo or Mercedes? Something high quality, safe, practical, but looks modest. Something that was bought new 20 years ago, but has been kept in a garage, serviced properly and cleaned often.
It checks out tbh, Hyundai has done a great job in the past several years convincing people with a little bit of new money that their cars are the perfect luxury family vehicles. Those dogshit Palisades and Telliurides are probably the only thing keeping this brand alive in the US.
Any kind of person who considers buying a Toyota Avalon (OP) is the exact kind of person to get bamboozled by Hyundai.
I’m at a dealership and the used Hyundais have been nothing but problems. Our techs are great at their job but those things are unpredictable. I pray the customers buy a warranty.
I think the economic depression is what’s keeping Hyundai and Kia alive. They look decent so you can pretend like you’re not driving a piece of shit.
> They look decent so you can pretend like you’re not driving a piece of shit
The entire brand summarized in one statement. Even I have looked at those N line cars sometimes and have thought “…Maybe they’re not that bad.”
I’ve had multiple Kia/hyundais and I’ve never had a problem. I also take care of my car and do everything that needs to be done in order to make sure they last.
I feel like most cars are fine so long as you take care of them.
Also had a compass and a dodge (I drive a lot for work). All of them have gone well over 100k and I’m happy with my repair history.
I work in collision repair, and a customer of mine brought this in. Bumper and fender were dented and left headlight scratched. Total cost of job was $14,000 CAD.
This vehicle has THE single most expensive headlight assembly I have ever seen. $9900 for one side. Way more expensive than any other Merc/Audi/BMW headlight I have ever seen.
Previous record was $7200 for an Audi LED Matrix light.
Just had to put a pair of laser headlamps in a ‘23 M8 Comp. They are $11,000CAD each. Total repair value was $71,000. I nearly shit myself sending that sheet off.
Haha, we’re similar. I currently have a Kia and while mines wasn’t subject to theft (thank goodness for push to start), the way they handled the situation didn’t sit well with me. When it comes to the Japanese brands, it’s Honda/Acura all the way, as I love how sporty their cars look (though the Civic can go fuck itself). Ironically, a lot of rim theft has been occurring with Hondas and Toyotas in my area, so it’s like, might as well keep my Kia for the time being. Lol
I remember sitting in a Kia K900 at a car show and loving it. I’m quite tall and this car’s backseat is one of the few sedans I had headroom in. I have two big dogs so a sedan is not on my radar for new vehicles but the K900 would be a great car to drive around in.
As far as stealth wealth I would say an Acura MDX. It isn’t flashy but man is it comfortable and quiet.
A Buick Envision, designed (pretty sure) and made in China (for sure) has huge back doors and comfy back seats because wealthy Chinese all have drivers and ride in back (or so I'm told).
Absolutely, the backseat of this car makes me wish I had a driver. My wife and I are having a child later this year and the backseat will be perfect for the little one for so many reasons. Built-in sun shades even for the rear glass, a passenger seat that can be moved forward from the back, and a small drink chiller for the little guy's milk.
What more could you ask for?
He bought it with nearly no miles for like 35k cash. Didnt get an Avalon cuz sales ppl were pushy about financing and didint want him paying cash. Somewhere in his comments
Tbh, buying a used genesis is more like wanna be wealthy but too cheap to actually do it.. not bagging on OP but I wouldn’t try to convey myself this way if I am buying a used genesis.
This isn’t really what stealth wealth is. Nicer than one would expect? Absolutely. The K900 is a beast of a car for it being a Kia. But definitely not quiet luxury
I disagree. The definition of stealth wealth is “living comfortably but not ostentatiously.” In car terms, I would define stealth wealth as a luxury car that doesn’t come from a luxury brand (think VW Phaeton or Toyota Land Cruiser).
Even though this car may not stack up to your personal expectation of luxury, it is still objectively defined as a luxury vehicle and legally defined as a luxury vehicle for tax purposes. That makes it a luxury vehicle without the luxury badge aka stealth wealth.
Now how stealthy and how wealthy we’re talking here is a different conversation. Personally it’s not really my thing.
> Stealth wealth is choosing to keep your wealth under wraps, blending in without the flashy indicators of affluence. It's about living comfortably but not ostentatiously, prioritizing privacy and financial peace over public displays of wealth.
What part of your own personal and probably incorrect definition of "stealth wealth" is different?
So pathetic that people are trying to look ‘stealth wealth.’ Baller on a budget is the right term for this.
Volvo is becoming the baller on a budget choice around where I live, the low class have realized their 12 year S Class or 7 series adorned with chrome stick ons and financed rims screams ‘broke nobody.’
My thoughts exactly. This the opposite of stealth wealth. This some self impoverishment broke boi activities right here. I can’t understand. I’d take any given American car over any Kia. Incredible.
I wouldn’t call this “stealth wealth” bc it didn’t/doesn’t require substantial wealth to buy these. They are nice cars, but still a Kia. I would call something like a Toyota Landcruiser (economy brand but still optionable over $120k, a f-series truck in a limited trim (not lifted/gaudy, also optionable to $120k plus), or an Audi RS6 avant (looks like a station wagon but costs $150k) more stealth wealth. This is more budget luxury. Most people I know driving these vehicles are stupid rich and don’t flaunt it. I know someone driving a limited f250 with no gaudy bells and whistles and they are worth $25mm.
So many people in here have zero idea what this car even is. Writing it off just because *it’s a Kia* is just lame. Has more in common with the current crop of Genesis vehicles and targets a much different buyer than Hyundai/Kia.
I ended up getting this 2020 CPO Kia K900 VIP with 13k miles for just over 38k. Before I get into my reasoning why, I'd like to thank everyone who suggested a model for me. Now on to why I choose the Kia.
I really wanted a car that was stealth-wealthy. Beyond reliability woes, I really didn't like the amount of attention my C43 would bring to itself. I live in a nice area with a security-protected parking garage in my apartment complex. But, my work sometimes takes me to lower-income areas. Also, the Mercedes would beat me up on the poorly paved roads. Also, since I sold that car on Wednesday I had to pick something quickly.
My first stop was the Toyota dealership, many people recommended that I check out the Avalon and Crown, so I did. I found this really nice 2022 Avalon Touring that had 22k miles on it for 37k. I test-drove and liked it quite a lot. Now here's the issue, I wanted to buy the car outright in cash. But, the dealership really wanted me to finance. I didn't want to pay interest on a car, so I insisted to them that I preferred cash. At this stage, the salesman left me to talk to the manager and I was just standing around for 20 minutes.
Then they came out straight up and told me that they'd need to bundle in a bunch of other fees and packages which brought the Avalon up to 43.7k. I told them that that was simply too much for a used car and then they went on about how the car was very desirable, with many people enquiring about it and that they needed to make the deal profitable for the dealership.
At that stage, the experience was kinda soured so I wrapped things up and left.
The next car I checked out was a 2021 Volvo S90 T6 Inscription with 12k miles on it for 41k. Solid car, felt well built and was comfortable. The one gripe I had with this car was that the infotainment system was confusing to use. To the point where I didn't feel comfortable adjusting the temperature while driving. This was my backup car.
I then went back to the Kia dealership to check out the K900 again. This just reaffirmed what I had already thought the first time I test drove the car. This car genuinely feels special. The ride quality is superb, and one of the most comfortable I've ever ridden in.
It has so many features including this really cool one that shows you what's in your blind spot when you turn on the turning single. Also, the interior quality was easily above that of the Toyota and even the Volvo. I was sold after the test drive and the buying process was pretty seamless as well. After consulting with my family, I went to the bank and got a check.
So far, I really like that car. My only gripe is that I wish it had the V8 like my aunt's.
Honestly man, it was super frustrating. I spent like 2 hours there in total and I got the sense they didn't want to sell me the car 😂
Though I think I got the right car in the end, so it makes spending all yesterday shopping worth it 😃
I asked them about that, paying it off very quickly. They straight-up told me that would lead to a penalty fee. Instead of arguing whether or not that's legal, I told them I'd be back and left. I was there for so long, if they seriously wanted to sell me the car they would have
Well i think it’s not legal. Car loans can be paid right next week even, you just need to not tell the stealership that info. Ofc they will say there is penalty fee lol. Maybe someone knows better than me.
i’ve seen penalty fees be written into contracts sometimes. they exist; and definitely aren’t illegal everywhere. it’s called a prepayment penalty and whether it’s allowed varies by state.
"Stealth wealth" is owning your own home and several other properties including maybe a portion of Walmarts and driving a 40 year old Ford pickup.
Several members of the Walton family were known for doing exactly that.
I love these. A more affordable g80/70 and way easier to get people to work on it. This is an amazing purchase compared to the other options you listed.
Most people drive these around in 4 seater mode which leaves an imprint in the center seat.
You can use a hot paper towel in a zip lock to relieve the imprint in the rear center seat.
Enjoy your new ride and send it sideways for me please.
I picked mine up last year for 31.5k with 31k miles. I absolutely love it. I went to go look at the alavon/crown, g80/g90, and c300. This came out on top. Between the v6 and great seats and tons of room, it made sense. I have close to 42k miles on it now, about to do the 42k mile service on it.
Mine is silver with black interior with the luxury package.
The only issue I had was that the rear main oil seal went out. It was covered by warranty. Make sure the car was seen for the left turbo oil line recall.
Don't listen to the nay sayers. Most of them drive beat up civic and corolla's, let alone drive or own a car.
Are you the poster I commented about the K900 and making sure that you know about the service radius for the area?
I absolutely love these cars still, and I hope you enjoy it. We looked at one that had the caramel tan quilted interior. But that 94 mile trip to the nearest servicing dealership scared us off.
I hope you enjoy it. And I hope on occasion people notice and ask what it is. It's a shame they're not in production any longer but as a used car I can only imagine the value proposition here. Can I ask what the mileage was and what you paid? Reddit only lets me see the first three photos on my phone so I don't know if there are any interior shots where I could have seen the mileage myself.
Anyway if I recall correctly you wanted something unique that was nice, and you 100% nailed it with this. Would love to see a follow up post with a couple months under your belt.
You are a clueless trash talker. This is literally a rebadged Genesis G90, same chassis.
Mercedes, BMW and Audi entry models built on cheap platforms are REAL FAKE luxury
It's unique for sure, but idk about the resell value if that's a concern. When I think stealthwealth I usually think Lexus or Acura, but the higher end kia's have nice interiors.
Such a great car! I have a 2015 K900 and it drives so comfortably. Only word of caution... Because this car is so uncommon, parts will be scarce, very quickly. I had to replace my transmission TCU (failed capacitors) and I learned that the previous gen is now considered "end of life" and parts are no longer stocked, even though Kia's support period is 10 years. It is just such a low-volume car.
When I think stealth wealth, I think sensible, not flashy, somewhat boring choices that will be reliable (ie not wasting time waiting on repairs). This seems more like a Merc wannabe with a cheaper price tag. It wants to look expensive.
2020 was the last US model but other markets still have them. We had one on our show room floor for two years. Kia did INSANE lease options offering $12,000 in Kia cash and rebates. It finally sold but they are nice cars.
I loved my K900! It was easily one of my favorite cars. I had a 2016 V8 black with white leather. I just hated when the engine blew. Again. And again. And again. But good luck though. I’m sure you’ll love it.
This comment section literally proves you right.
People are dumb, someone could buy a Rolls Royce, change the badges for Kia basges and they would think he is poor lol.
Today I learned this car existed
It's sad it's discontinued because they are a deal for what you get and ride quality is actually on par with an E class
Genesis G90. Basically the same car
Eh more similar I’d say to the G80 5.0 since that’s what it was based on at the time and the G90 didn’t exist
I think that they meant to replace the Equus with the G90. K900 with the G80 and G70 - not sure, logic would suggest that the Genesis didn't get replaced but the G70 is too small for that, so I'm not sure.
The K900, Equus and first and second gen Hyundai Genesis were all just different shapes of their "BH" premium RWD based platform. Pretty solid and good value overall. I don't know if I would cal it stealth wealth or whatever but they're definitely great used car buys. They're like a Lexus ES, but they're RWD based and the engine goes front to back instead of side to side like the Camry/Avalon-based ES, so if anything mechanically the K900/G80/Equus are smoother to drive as well. Maybe don't have Lexus fit and finish but they definitely don't have typical Kia/Hyundai fit and finish either.
So, a Lexus GS?
Sure! Or some mix of a GS and LS, since they can get the V8 and are also a bit heavier too. The GS is more athletic. I used the ES because the target audience is more similar to the ES, Buick crowd type. And also while some mix of GS and LS, not as high quality as either the GS nor LS. But still decent quality! Maybe Acura or Infiniti level I'd say, or a modern Mazda. Nice-but-not-real-luxury or whatever.
Got it. It looks nice. At first I thought it was a Jaguar XF or predecessor.
I have a 2016 Genesis ( ultimate trim) and it is awesome. Looks great in and out , rides great, 0 issues … I call it the poor man’s Bentley. Quality ride.
Don’t forget about the Hyundai Equus
[удалено]
Worrying about reliability and then buying a Chrysler product? Bold move.
> I named it Diet Bentley You get your rims and do the grill swap yet?
My '09 Camry's transmission began to slip at 75k.
My 2019 Honda Civic"s water pump had to be replaced at 38k and my A/C compressor went out at 46k...
There's a warranty extension on that A/C compressor. Did you pay for it?
Do you have to pay for it? I think mine was fixed for free on recall last fall
You will not have to pay for it if your vehicle is one of the ones affected by the compressor shaft seal leak. It also covers the condenser, which is problematic and leaks.
What year 300? My favorite is the 2016 Chrysler 300C Platinum due to the Jazz Blue Pearl paint, indigo/linen interior, and heated/cooled cup holders.
Kia I hear nothing but horror stories. Genesis seems to be more of a mixed bag, but most of the complaints I hear are based on the dealerships themselves. I'd be curious to get a look at that G90 though. Seems like they knew it had a major issue and chose not to disclose it. Which, again, is an issue with the dealerships. A G90 absolutely should not feel shakey at any speed. That's not acceptable.
you getting the the 300 with a v8? and you must have gotten a bad one cause the g90 is like a bank vault
The 300 is similar (especially the ft suspension) to the then current E class, it should last a long time w regular maintenance.and be fun to drive!
How about the budget luxuury king, the Buick LeSabre. I got one of those. Love it. People have no idea how nice it is when I'm out driving around.
I adore “diet bently”, lol. I am not a fan of crystler but the 300S is a really cool car.
God I hate this sub. On par with an E class. Not even close. People just toss shit out there.
Agreed. I love Hyundai and I owned one for 8 years until literally a week ago when I traded my 16 sonata with 105k in for a 2018 bmw 330i with 34k. But in no way are any of their models on par with a true luxury car.
A sonata is a LOT different from a k900 lmfao
Of course it is, but the point still stands. Everything from the car to the actual process of buying the car is leagues below any true luxury brand.
They are super comfortable
it's on par with an s class
You mean those LeBron James commercials didn’t work?!
It would steer me away from them
Fr all I see is optimas and k5's, the occasional soul and stinger
Lucky I see souls every day
That is a very nice looking car! I remember being very impressed with Kia’s upscale push when they started, so congrats on finding one that you really like. One note about stealth wealth though, nobody who actually had money spent it on the Kia/Hyundai offerings. The main issue is that the Hyundai/Kia dealership experience is catered to the lower-end value conscious buyers. Everything from sales, to service is unacceptable to most people who had the money to buy a higher end Kia/Hyundai. The brands realized this too which is when they spun genesis into its own brand and started opening Genesis only dealers. It’s been an issue for most brands trying to do the same thing (VW with the Touareg/Phaeton, and Jeep with the Wagoneer brand that’s now been absorbed back into the Jeep brand). Don’t take this at all like I’m ragging on your decision because I actually really like the K900 and this really started their Genesis push seeing the feedback from how great they are. I hope you enjoy every mile in your new car and think you found a great example of what the Korean brands can do!
This is a great observation
The treatment you get at the BMW dealer is much different than the Honda dealer. Even though the cars might getting closer in quality to the MBs and BMWs, the whole experience and feel is what makes the deal to some people.
Definitely agree, the price point for entry is getting closer too, Honda and Toyota (Toyota especially) are increasing their prices and not changing their customer service while luxury brands are holding pretty steady price-wise and maintaining their service standards.
On the other hand the experience at an Acura dealer is quite similar to the experience at a BMW dealer. At the service department it might even be better because BMW rips off dealers on warranty repairs to the point the technicians will do anything to avoid diagnostics because BMW won’t pay them for that.
Kia knew that, which is why only select Kia dealers could sell (when new) the K900. Same with repairs. Non-approved Kia dealers can not do warranty work on the car, and most will even turn away non-warranty work.
I was an advisor at one of the approved dealers to work on the K900 and the new EV. Still tons of hoodrats in the lobby all day. Usually they just bought a Soul with 150k+ at a buy here pay here, brought it to me shortly after with a blown engine, and left in an uber because they had no service records for the car so we wouldn't warranty the engine.
Left it in an Uber?
Because their car wouldn't run
What is the dealership experience?
The biggest issue for me is sales - Kia/Hyundai tend to have very young/ inexperienced sales people and are very shady in their finance practices. Tacking on fees, selecting cars based on monthly budget instead of price (common in value-driven brand dealerships), pushing hard to run credit before talking about prices, and being ruthless in the finance room because they assume they're dealing with novice car buyers. If you go into even an Acura/Lexus dealership they are happy to discuss price without running credit and basing it on the cost rather than monthly payment. There is a huge difference in the buying experience and people who either are paying cash (as he referenced with his write up) or want to focus on the price itself won't stick around if they're being jostled too much. For service, it's true they don't need to service it there. However if I bought a car that comes with free maintenance for X amount of time/miles, I'm going to use it. I also wouldn't pay for any repairs if it's in the warranty period either. I've noticed too that the value driven brands often recommend completely unnecessary services and sell them as hard as a Jiffy Lube tries to sell a cabin air filter. The service difference is astounding at places like Lexus/Acura. They'll even pick up/drop off your car, or if it'll be an extended visit there's a no auestions asked loaner.
“Who are you callin’ a cootie queen, you *lint-licker*?” “Pickle you, kumquat!” Also, I agree. Still, even on the standalone Genesis side, things are bad. I had simply *the worst* experience buying a 2018 Genesis G90 5.0 Ultimate AWD (a very lovely car) from a Genesis dealer. They lied and told me I had to file for registration with them and pay tax through them, even though I was out-of-state and paid cash. They took over 100 days to give me a title. They promised me a second key and a fuse box cover, and then tried to renege. And even after they agreed to provide the key, they kept lying and saying they’d contacted my local Genesis dealer to arrange it, when they’d done nothing of the sort. Because the experience was so sour, I got rid of the car. I now have an S 550 Coupe. At least Mercedes-Benz knows how to treat a customer. Whereas with Genesis, most of its franchises started out inside Hyundai stores. Even now that Genesis is launching standalone stores—and the one where I bought my car was standalone—the dealer groups are mostly just moving their Hyundai clowns over to manage and staff the Genesis stores…with all the chicanery and foolishness you’d expect. Part of what made Lexus so successful when it started out was that Toyota launched it correctly from the start. Toyota put quality and dealer service first and foremost, and earned itself a ton of loyal, lifelong customers because of it. I’ve had a few Lexus vehicles (two LSs and a GX). Their service is second to none. Had Hyundai done that at the start with the Genesis—instead of the torturous path it took to finally launch the brand as a credible luxury automaker—we’d probably be having a different conversation.
Comparable to a buy here/pay here, high pressure corner used car lot.
Walk into a mainstream brand dealer then a luxury brand after and the experience is night and day. The economy brands will immediate start with all the high pressure sales bullshit and try their best to bully the customer. This is where the sleazy car salesman stereotype comes from. Walk into a luxury dealer and you deal with professionals that treat the intersection like a b2b sales deal.
VWs issues weren’t the dealers, the issue was the brand image. In Europe they’re seen as a premium brand, because VW has lower end brands (that they also own) like Seat and Skoda. Here we just have VW which is on par with like Toyota, maybe slightly above, but not on the level of Audi. The Phaeton was expensive and no American wanted to pay $90k for a VW badge, when they could pay $90k for an Audi A8L (which was also a lighter, completely different car). VW made them for the Chinese market for another decade. The Toureag sold pretty well despite its price, but the US market wanted a massive SUV and they didn’t need off road capability (also you don’t have to pay import tax if they’re made in the US like the atlas is) that the toureag had.
as someone who owns an elantra n can confirm the dealership experience is horrible. however the genesis dealers are not amazing. my dad owned a g90 and ended up getting rid of it after an awful dealer experience, they’re really not much better, at least in g houston.
A stealth wealth Kia lmfao how ironic
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Yeah, wouldn’t ”stealth wealth” be something like a well maintained older Volvo or Mercedes? Something high quality, safe, practical, but looks modest. Something that was bought new 20 years ago, but has been kept in a garage, serviced properly and cleaned often.
More like a stealth wealth killer with that reliability
No, see, the secretly wealthy buy these cars by the six-pack so they can just pop open a new one when the transmission inevitably shits the bed.
Isn’t it a V8 or am I wrong
It checks out tbh, Hyundai has done a great job in the past several years convincing people with a little bit of new money that their cars are the perfect luxury family vehicles. Those dogshit Palisades and Telliurides are probably the only thing keeping this brand alive in the US. Any kind of person who considers buying a Toyota Avalon (OP) is the exact kind of person to get bamboozled by Hyundai.
I’m at a dealership and the used Hyundais have been nothing but problems. Our techs are great at their job but those things are unpredictable. I pray the customers buy a warranty. I think the economic depression is what’s keeping Hyundai and Kia alive. They look decent so you can pretend like you’re not driving a piece of shit.
> They look decent so you can pretend like you’re not driving a piece of shit The entire brand summarized in one statement. Even I have looked at those N line cars sometimes and have thought “…Maybe they’re not that bad.”
I’ve had multiple Kia/hyundais and I’ve never had a problem. I also take care of my car and do everything that needs to be done in order to make sure they last. I feel like most cars are fine so long as you take care of them. Also had a compass and a dodge (I drive a lot for work). All of them have gone well over 100k and I’m happy with my repair history.
Stealth wealth would be like VW Phaeton with complete refurbished services done
But would they have wealth left over after? 😅
Anyone that can drop near bentley level labor and costs to keep these things still rolling now are some of the most fascinating creatures imo
The Passat W8 was supposed to be pretty bad for that as well. I'd still live to have one though.
I work in collision repair, and a customer of mine brought this in. Bumper and fender were dented and left headlight scratched. Total cost of job was $14,000 CAD. This vehicle has THE single most expensive headlight assembly I have ever seen. $9900 for one side. Way more expensive than any other Merc/Audi/BMW headlight I have ever seen. Previous record was $7200 for an Audi LED Matrix light.
Holy crap! They probably total the car out if both assemblies get damaged.
Just had to put a pair of laser headlamps in a ‘23 M8 Comp. They are $11,000CAD each. Total repair value was $71,000. I nearly shit myself sending that sheet off.
That's still $1k USD cheaper than this Hyundai's. Also anyways under warranty work they slap full time/MSRP.
How was that not just totaled? Prob $10k off the actual depreciated value
Nice but I no longer trust Kia as they put out a decade of vehicles with horrible engine defects. Honda/Acura all the way
Also the ease at which it's easy to steal them.
Haha, we’re similar. I currently have a Kia and while mines wasn’t subject to theft (thank goodness for push to start), the way they handled the situation didn’t sit well with me. When it comes to the Japanese brands, it’s Honda/Acura all the way, as I love how sporty their cars look (though the Civic can go fuck itself). Ironically, a lot of rim theft has been occurring with Hondas and Toyotas in my area, so it’s like, might as well keep my Kia for the time being. Lol
But then you have to tell people you drive a Honda. Unless you tell people you drive a Honda and you are referring to the NSX at home.
Honda's offerings have been the default for decades now. A Honda won't impress anyone, but it also doesn't scream poor. They're just solid vehicles.
a clean s2000 could also fit
I remember sitting in a Kia K900 at a car show and loving it. I’m quite tall and this car’s backseat is one of the few sedans I had headroom in. I have two big dogs so a sedan is not on my radar for new vehicles but the K900 would be a great car to drive around in. As far as stealth wealth I would say an Acura MDX. It isn’t flashy but man is it comfortable and quiet.
A Buick Envision, designed (pretty sure) and made in China (for sure) has huge back doors and comfy back seats because wealthy Chinese all have drivers and ride in back (or so I'm told).
The government is the number one buyer of Audi and Buick in China.
Ay, it's the same amount of rear seat headroom as my Geo Metro.
Absolutely, the backseat of this car makes me wish I had a driver. My wife and I are having a child later this year and the backseat will be perfect for the little one for so many reasons. Built-in sun shades even for the rear glass, a passenger seat that can be moved forward from the back, and a small drink chiller for the little guy's milk. What more could you ask for?
>"stealth wealth" >mid mileage k900's sell for $20,000 🤔
He bought it with nearly no miles for like 35k cash. Didnt get an Avalon cuz sales ppl were pushy about financing and didint want him paying cash. Somewhere in his comments
I think wealth and KIA are antonyms.
40k for a Kia 😣🤕🤧
I would call it more Stealth Luxury
Indeed, I have seen these on the road before, but had no idea what I was looking at.
The first time I saw one I thought it was a Mercedes branded Kia.
Tbh, buying a used genesis is more like wanna be wealthy but too cheap to actually do it.. not bagging on OP but I wouldn’t try to convey myself this way if I am buying a used genesis.
This isn’t really what stealth wealth is. Nicer than one would expect? Absolutely. The K900 is a beast of a car for it being a Kia. But definitely not quiet luxury
Nothing says stealth wealth like a pre owned 4 year old Kia 👍
It’s a used Kia?
I disagree. The definition of stealth wealth is “living comfortably but not ostentatiously.” In car terms, I would define stealth wealth as a luxury car that doesn’t come from a luxury brand (think VW Phaeton or Toyota Land Cruiser). Even though this car may not stack up to your personal expectation of luxury, it is still objectively defined as a luxury vehicle and legally defined as a luxury vehicle for tax purposes. That makes it a luxury vehicle without the luxury badge aka stealth wealth. Now how stealthy and how wealthy we’re talking here is a different conversation. Personally it’s not really my thing.
> Stealth wealth is choosing to keep your wealth under wraps, blending in without the flashy indicators of affluence. It's about living comfortably but not ostentatiously, prioritizing privacy and financial peace over public displays of wealth. What part of your own personal and probably incorrect definition of "stealth wealth" is different?
lmao okay there buds.
😂
Yikes, a *KIA*
Lmao yeah I’ve never seen anyone in a Kia and thought “daaaaaaaaaamm that’s one rich motherfucker”
Literally the point....
So pathetic that people are trying to look ‘stealth wealth.’ Baller on a budget is the right term for this. Volvo is becoming the baller on a budget choice around where I live, the low class have realized their 12 year S Class or 7 series adorned with chrome stick ons and financed rims screams ‘broke nobody.’
"Kia" and "stealth wealth" 🤭
This is absolutely stealth wealth and much nicer than people give it credit for
It is stealth wealth because KIA is cheap initially, then you pay for it in the long run with repairs.
My thoughts exactly. This the opposite of stealth wealth. This some self impoverishment broke boi activities right here. I can’t understand. I’d take any given American car over any Kia. Incredible.
>I’d take any given American car over any Kia I also would choose a high-mileage 2003 Chevy Aveo over this
>I can’t understand. I’d take any given American car over any Kia. Incredible. Well then you're just stupid
That is broke in plain sight
This is the opposite of stealth wealth, this is faking being wealthy.
Stealth wealth isn't a used kia. That's fake wealth.
The first time I saw a K900, I thought someone LS4 swapped a Kia Optima. Because that's what my brain went to, instead of they made a "Kia" with a V8
k900? that's barely stealth, man.
We all know a person with real wealth would never buy this Kia. It’s always the 2000s Toyota Camry.
Nothing says not wealthy like a KIA
The inside is nicer than my G70 lol
95% of those commenting are stuck in 2012.
I always thought these cars looked gorgeous. Nice choice.
I wouldn’t call this “stealth wealth” bc it didn’t/doesn’t require substantial wealth to buy these. They are nice cars, but still a Kia. I would call something like a Toyota Landcruiser (economy brand but still optionable over $120k, a f-series truck in a limited trim (not lifted/gaudy, also optionable to $120k plus), or an Audi RS6 avant (looks like a station wagon but costs $150k) more stealth wealth. This is more budget luxury. Most people I know driving these vehicles are stupid rich and don’t flaunt it. I know someone driving a limited f250 with no gaudy bells and whistles and they are worth $25mm.
So many people in here have zero idea what this car even is. Writing it off just because *it’s a Kia* is just lame. Has more in common with the current crop of Genesis vehicles and targets a much different buyer than Hyundai/Kia.
Lol
I ended up getting this 2020 CPO Kia K900 VIP with 13k miles for just over 38k. Before I get into my reasoning why, I'd like to thank everyone who suggested a model for me. Now on to why I choose the Kia. I really wanted a car that was stealth-wealthy. Beyond reliability woes, I really didn't like the amount of attention my C43 would bring to itself. I live in a nice area with a security-protected parking garage in my apartment complex. But, my work sometimes takes me to lower-income areas. Also, the Mercedes would beat me up on the poorly paved roads. Also, since I sold that car on Wednesday I had to pick something quickly. My first stop was the Toyota dealership, many people recommended that I check out the Avalon and Crown, so I did. I found this really nice 2022 Avalon Touring that had 22k miles on it for 37k. I test-drove and liked it quite a lot. Now here's the issue, I wanted to buy the car outright in cash. But, the dealership really wanted me to finance. I didn't want to pay interest on a car, so I insisted to them that I preferred cash. At this stage, the salesman left me to talk to the manager and I was just standing around for 20 minutes. Then they came out straight up and told me that they'd need to bundle in a bunch of other fees and packages which brought the Avalon up to 43.7k. I told them that that was simply too much for a used car and then they went on about how the car was very desirable, with many people enquiring about it and that they needed to make the deal profitable for the dealership. At that stage, the experience was kinda soured so I wrapped things up and left. The next car I checked out was a 2021 Volvo S90 T6 Inscription with 12k miles on it for 41k. Solid car, felt well built and was comfortable. The one gripe I had with this car was that the infotainment system was confusing to use. To the point where I didn't feel comfortable adjusting the temperature while driving. This was my backup car. I then went back to the Kia dealership to check out the K900 again. This just reaffirmed what I had already thought the first time I test drove the car. This car genuinely feels special. The ride quality is superb, and one of the most comfortable I've ever ridden in. It has so many features including this really cool one that shows you what's in your blind spot when you turn on the turning single. Also, the interior quality was easily above that of the Toyota and even the Volvo. I was sold after the test drive and the buying process was pretty seamless as well. After consulting with my family, I went to the bank and got a check. So far, I really like that car. My only gripe is that I wish it had the V8 like my aunt's.
Thank you for sharing, but good lord that Toyota experience is frustrating. What a poor representation of how to price your inventory appropriately.
Honestly man, it was super frustrating. I spent like 2 hours there in total and I got the sense they didn't want to sell me the car 😂 Though I think I got the right car in the end, so it makes spending all yesterday shopping worth it 😃
Couldn’t you finance it and then just pay it off the next week or so?
I asked them about that, paying it off very quickly. They straight-up told me that would lead to a penalty fee. Instead of arguing whether or not that's legal, I told them I'd be back and left. I was there for so long, if they seriously wanted to sell me the car they would have
Well i think it’s not legal. Car loans can be paid right next week even, you just need to not tell the stealership that info. Ofc they will say there is penalty fee lol. Maybe someone knows better than me.
i’ve seen penalty fees be written into contracts sometimes. they exist; and definitely aren’t illegal everywhere. it’s called a prepayment penalty and whether it’s allowed varies by state.
Correct. It’s not legal. It sounds like OP just bought wherever BS they were telling him.
"Stealth wealth" is owning your own home and several other properties including maybe a portion of Walmarts and driving a 40 year old Ford pickup. Several members of the Walton family were known for doing exactly that.
people gave attention to a C43?
I love these. A more affordable g80/70 and way easier to get people to work on it. This is an amazing purchase compared to the other options you listed. Most people drive these around in 4 seater mode which leaves an imprint in the center seat. You can use a hot paper towel in a zip lock to relieve the imprint in the rear center seat. Enjoy your new ride and send it sideways for me please.
I picked mine up last year for 31.5k with 31k miles. I absolutely love it. I went to go look at the alavon/crown, g80/g90, and c300. This came out on top. Between the v6 and great seats and tons of room, it made sense. I have close to 42k miles on it now, about to do the 42k mile service on it. Mine is silver with black interior with the luxury package. The only issue I had was that the rear main oil seal went out. It was covered by warranty. Make sure the car was seen for the left turbo oil line recall. Don't listen to the nay sayers. Most of them drive beat up civic and corolla's, let alone drive or own a car.
Nice! Install an ignition kill switch. This is a Kia Boys wet dream: An easily to steal baller-mobile.
lol you got no clue what your talking about the k900 don't when the glitches than make it easier to steal
K900 used a different ignition, similar to the g80/g90. In other words, safe from the kia bois.
just as unreliable as a real luxury car!
Stealth wealth is a fully loaded Avalon and it’s not even close.
This. Those Avalons are nice.
Lexus GS350 is my jam these days for this purpose
Yeah but what about the engine..
I got the 2015 v8, I love it so much
Wonderful choice my friend! One day I will have my dream MINI! Haters will hate lol
i hope the kia boys don’t get to it 😭
Nothing about a Kia is stealth wealth
“wealth” and “Kia” should never be this close
Are you the poster I commented about the K900 and making sure that you know about the service radius for the area? I absolutely love these cars still, and I hope you enjoy it. We looked at one that had the caramel tan quilted interior. But that 94 mile trip to the nearest servicing dealership scared us off. I hope you enjoy it. And I hope on occasion people notice and ask what it is. It's a shame they're not in production any longer but as a used car I can only imagine the value proposition here. Can I ask what the mileage was and what you paid? Reddit only lets me see the first three photos on my phone so I don't know if there are any interior shots where I could have seen the mileage myself. Anyway if I recall correctly you wanted something unique that was nice, and you 100% nailed it with this. Would love to see a follow up post with a couple months under your belt.
You CHOSE that? Lol
Love these years of the K900. Gorgeous styling. If it would've gotten the V8, it would be sublime but the 6 is great too.
Fake luxury is different than stealth wealth. This is the former.
You are a clueless trash talker. This is literally a rebadged Genesis G90, same chassis. Mercedes, BMW and Audi entry models built on cheap platforms are REAL FAKE luxury
What’s the price?
Is that basically a Genesis before there was such a thing?
Nah they made this concurrently with the Genesis brand
Chevy SS baby
Would be the same as buying a Equus
The worst part of this car is the badging. Get rid of all it and go sleeper mode will look way better
Bro you can make that 5.0 sound insane. You can get older ones super cheap too, it’s a shame only some dealers can work on them
that's a myth, i have a 2015 and any kia dealer would work on it
Stealth wealth is more like Volvo S60 Recharge. You'll have a lot of issues getting this vehicle serviced...
Stick a Kia badge on a Rolls Royce and then call it stealth wealth.
Was this produced after or before Hyundai switched all luxury branding to Genesis?
After. Last model year was 2020, though.
Or you can just get the basic E class that no one will look twice or can tell apart from taxi.
Maybe in Europe. In the USA anything with Mercedes badge is considered luxury.
k900, genesis and stingers are good cars but if you want stealth wealth these aren't it chief
Is this the 3.3 V6?
I’ve seen these but never really looked at the interior closely. It is very close to the Genesis G90.
It's unique for sure, but idk about the resell value if that's a concern. When I think stealthwealth I usually think Lexus or Acura, but the higher end kia's have nice interiors.
I’d never seen this car until today and I think it looks good. I do tend to like Kia’s too because they’re durable.
Literal theft target
No it’s Kia
Stealth wealth car? 1998 Corolla.
Such a great car! I have a 2015 K900 and it drives so comfortably. Only word of caution... Because this car is so uncommon, parts will be scarce, very quickly. I had to replace my transmission TCU (failed capacitors) and I learned that the previous gen is now considered "end of life" and parts are no longer stocked, even though Kia's support period is 10 years. It is just such a low-volume car.
When I think stealth wealth, I think sensible, not flashy, somewhat boring choices that will be reliable (ie not wasting time waiting on repairs). This seems more like a Merc wannabe with a cheaper price tag. It wants to look expensive.
Honestly it’s an F150 with options. So many multi millionaires driving them.
Nice enjoy! I just got a 2023 Stinger myself 🐝
Those things are super nice and there are a lot of people here that are butt hurt about it for some reason.
Is this the v8 or the 6cly
That's nice! The analog clock is a classy touch.
Solid car.
Did they keep making the K900? That looks a lot newer than the last one I remember seeing.
2020 was the last US model but other markets still have them. We had one on our show room floor for two years. Kia did INSANE lease options offering $12,000 in Kia cash and rebates. It finally sold but they are nice cars.
I loved my K900! It was easily one of my favorite cars. I had a 2016 V8 black with white leather. I just hated when the engine blew. Again. And again. And again. But good luck though. I’m sure you’ll love it.
i actually really like this, i hope to own one eventually just because i think they're so neat
I work at a body shop and I'll tell you this much when your headlights leveling system goes out it's 10gs for both headlights
And a pain in the ass to do as well.
Kia’s are stealth wealth? I’d say that’s more like a Toyota Avalon, Lexus ES, or any Acura is more stealth wealth.
Check the headlights on these. They can cost a lot depending on which model. I love this and the Equus and theyre plenty reliable.
Modern Hyundai Genesis will give you the Stealth Wealth
The V8 model was always on my wishlist. Just a big obnoxious sedan Kia had no business making but it was cool anyways
This comment section literally proves you right. People are dumb, someone could buy a Rolls Royce, change the badges for Kia basges and they would think he is poor lol.
KIA K900 lmao I have one, 420 hp, shits a sleeper, big body too
This or a Genesys, wish they sold in EU
“Guys, you don’t get it, my Casio is stealth-wealth!”