Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "" video.

  1. With the new generation Soul Kia continues to knock it out of the park as it joins the Stinger and Telluride generating rave reviews. It's no wonder that the Soul model lineup has been expanded. The demographic range of buyers is probably broader than any vehicle in the industry. My local dealer could install a vending machine in the showroom and eliminate a salesperson or two. They sell as fast as they're unloaded on the lot. The strength of each Soul model is its versatility. This is compact hatchback marketed as an SUV that's nearly a foot and a half shorter than a Mazda CX-5 yet offers more overall cargo space (62.1 cubic ft vs 59.6). Comparisons of the GT Line to the Subaru WRX or the Veloster N are amusing. One might as well compare the Soul GT to the cost of remodeling a kitchen. The WRX is a great platform for building a rally vehicle. And the Veloster N is a track toy out of the showroom. But which best accommodates four passengers for a several hour drive (or even a journey half that)? Which is the best vehicle for a monthly trip to Costco? Which offers the best infotainment system and other convenience and safety features? Bottom line? Boxes have been used for hundreds of years as containers. There's a reason for that. They hold a lot of stuff. It's not a perfect vehicle. No vehicle is. Some will complain that it lacks AWD. But KIA says their market research indicates neither current Soul owners nor potential customers rank AWD as a high priority. In fact, about 30% of current owners thought their Souls already had AWD! In any event while AWD is a trendy feature in some climates, FWD in a small vehicle with a good set of winter tires and the weight of the engine over the drive wheels will perform just about as well in challenging winter conditions as a comparable AWD vehicle. All at a weight savings equal to an NFL defensive back sitting in the back seat. And sometimes a small item can be very important to some. For me, it's the lack of rear seat HVAC vents. My big dog's second home is the back seat of my GTI. He would complain loudly if he couldn't have that. (Not to mention my 15 y/o daughter.) All in all, I wouldn't trade my GTI and its superb DCT for a Soul GT. But I can understand why my local snail mail person who delivers a wide range packages all over our island in her Soul is so happy with it after 200K miles.
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  2. Always love to see the "Vehicle X is overpriced. It should be Y dollars." comments. Usually from those who can't afford a vehicle priced even at Y dollars. An MSRP is a marketing tool meant to send a message to consumers and it may or may not represent a real world price arrived at through serious negotiation with a dealer. Some years ago KIA's MSRP was "This is a budget car for those who need cheap transportation." Those days are gone. Today KIA's MSRP message is "Our vehicles match or exceed the components, features, and reliability of its rivals at a price no higher and sometimes lower than the competition. We're not a 'budget' brand; we're a 'value" brand." And it's a message that works well.
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  3. The panoramic sunroof is gone but a standard size sunroof remains.
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  4.  @ampiciline  And a GTI and a Golf R share the same E888 engine despite a huge difference in HP and performance and other features. I didn't say the performance or driving experience were the same. I simply noted that they shared the same basic powerplant. Furthermore, you made my point for me. Just who would purchase a one bedroom house (i.e. a Veloster N) for the same price as a three bedroom house (i.e. a KIA Soul.) when the priority is room for a family?
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  5. You could also remodel your kitchen or book a round the world cruise. Despite the fact that the two vehicles share the same basic engine they're aimed at completely different market segments. Each has features the other lacks and the venn diagram of their overlap for shoppers is a null set.
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