Anyone see it?
Triathlon as the subject, not merely a background.
Some marketing types must have decided that it is an untapped market.
or not 
I for one would never ever drive a Kiaā¦hell, for the price of my tires I could buy a damn Kiaā¦I have to much prideā¦I wonder if they know that most Tri folks bikes have a higher resale value than their carsā¦
I wonder if they know that most Tri folks bikes have a higher resale value than their carsā¦
Good Point!
I think Dan needs to publish some of his demographics. The sport ought to attract a better class of product lines.
Think they say Bike, swim, run. It would have been nice to get the order right.
I would also think that showing triathletes in the background would promote sales of a mini-van or SUV, not a sedan.
jaretj
strange ad. No roof rack/bike rack - where does the bike go?? Also, not your typical looking group of triathletes.
I think Dan needs to publish some of his demographics.
for dan to publish some of his demographics, he would first need to KNOW his demographics.
and without a fairly significant incentive (i.e., money or other compensation) to ellicit accuracy and honesty, i think it might be mighty tough to get a lot of reliable data from his current mishmash of semi-anonymous forum users and webpage readers ā¦
yes, but does need some workā¦ at least its much better then the pitiful FORD (major triathlon sponsor) ad? ā***ride it like a ford?ā ***
strange ad. No roof rack/bike rack - where does the bike go?? Also, not your typical looking group of triathletes.
What? You dont stand on a foggy beach Pre Race and strech in line like Japanise factory workers?
Triathlon as the subject, not merely a background.
Havenāt seen the KIA commercial. Ford filmed a triathlon commercial here in Austin earlier this year for their ātrade shows.ā All us extras were hoping to see it one day, but still havenāt. The people doing the commercial knew nothing(!) about triathlon so we had to give them lots of tips to make it at least semi-realistic. The finish line scene was hilarious with the real triathletes being very careful not to pass the āstars.ā
strange ad. No roof rack/bike rack - where does the bike go?? Also, not your typical looking group of triathletes.
What? You dont stand on a foggy beach Pre Race and strech in line like Japanise factory workers?
right on! i was thinkingā¦what the heck are they doing there? tai chi?
And, not to be picky, but - oh hell, yes I do mean to be pickyā¦Whereās the Start? Whereās the buoys? Whereās T1? Volunteers? Looks like they didnāt consult, like, anybody in the sport for some help w/ the set!
Still cool to see tri in a commercial. 2nd tri commercial this year! Entry fees should be going up soon!
Letās give them a chance, after all, who has actually HEARD of a triathlon after all? Let alone how one actually works.
Despite that little flaw, RDās will certainly raise the rates as it is now a āmainstreamā sport.
Just canāt win.
Weāre looking at a Kia Van. My dad owns one ā¦ uses it as a work truck. See he spent $40K on a SUV that heād never use to haul anything b/c it might get scratched. So, types like my dad, buy an inexpensive van, remove the back seats and use it to haul everything from menards and back.
Heās had it for 3 years w/ no major repairs. The warranty is for 100,000 miles.
Iām looking at one b/c I donāt really care what image comes with the vehicle. I want to get from A to B reliably and in reasonable comfort. It pisses me off that when I spend money on a vehicle, itās value decreases by $5K the moment I drive away from the dealership (or soon there after).
Really, I have never been one to really want a medium-expensive car or be willing to spend on one. Weāre also looking at other vans (yeah, I know vans. I never thought I would either), but I would have no problem driving a Kia. Itās a vehicle. othing more nothing less. If someone wanted to categorize me or make assumptions based on the brand of my vehicle, thatās cool. But, I am not gonna spend more for less to accomodate that. I see way too many peopple (IMO) spending a ton of money on cars.
Again, I have never, and likely never will be a ācar guyā. I mean, unless itās a classic 64 GTO or a Lambourghini, itās ājust a carā. The only real thing a $35K vehicle gets you that a $20K vehicle doesnāt is a few years worth of car payments, right?
The only thing I have heard bad about Kia is the negative connotation that comes from āthe priceā.
āI wonder if they know that most Tri folks bikes have a higher resale value than their carsā¦ā
henceā¦ the Kia!
The only real thing a $35K vehicle gets you that a $20K vehicle doesnāt is a few years worth of car payments, right?
For the most part, I am in agreement with you. Too often, too many people put their coin into expensive automobiles for a false sense of status. After all, they donāt understand that real prestige comes from big-ticket bikes and a nice pair of shaved legs. 
However, there are other differences between a $35K and a $20K car. Safety is a big issue.
Four years ago, my wife was shopping around for a new car. We were at a point financially we could splurge beyond the inexpensive (and used) models weād always driven. She is much smarter than I, so safety was a big issue for her. We opted for a Volvo XC. It was a luxury for us and we spent around $40K. Less than three weeks later, while driving with our two sons, the car was seriously T-boned by a full size Ford pickup. Her pelvis was shattered and she was trapped inside 90 minutes before they could cut her out. Paramedics at the scene were amazed she was alive. Later, they were even more amazed she wasnāt paralyzed. Our two boys, in the back seat, were safe and walked away. One had a small cut under his eye where a piece of glass (out of thousands) made it past the safety curtain as it dropped. The happy ending is that my wife is alive and well and walking ā¦and cycling.
The thing that struck us was that every person, every single person, involved in her rescue - the police, the paramedics, and the doctors at the hospital - all commented that in most cars (based on their vast experience with auto accidents), she either would be dead or paralyzed. Now, there are less expensive cars that offer safety features, but rarely at $20K (new). For me, I became a believer. That extra $10-$15K I āsplurgedā was the best money Iāve ever spent.
Their motto should be āBuy our car so youāll have money left over for that $5,000 bike you want.ā
Iād buy a Kia if it came with a free set of Zipp 808ās.
I have always wondered if anyone in the military would buy a with the acronym āKilled In Actionā (KIA)?
Untrue. I have been doing a lot of research lately with the intent of buying a new car at the end of the year and have found that the true line for safety differences is much lower then $20,000. Most $20k cars have equal safety measures of higher priced cars. A Volvo is actually a poor example since Volvoās have always been amongst the safest cars on the road from their bottom vehicle all the way to the top.
Safety and resale value (depreciation) are two things we check.
Iām the worst person to car shop with. Whatever spouse asks I basically respond with āI donāt careā (not so rudely though). I donāt really care what it looks like, I donāt really care what color it is, what interior it has. Itās a car. I want it to be reliable, get decent gas mileage, and not lose value rapidly and eventually be worth than what I still own on it.
It always kills me to hear someone (sorry Chip ā¦ although youāre not the only one I hear say this) say āIāll never drive a Kiaā (b/c they are inexpensive or a new company), and theyāre driving a cough $28-32K āluxury vehicleā (that loses value rapidly).
Untrue. I have been doing a lot of research lately with the intent of buying a new car at the end of the year and have found that the true line for safety differences is much lower then $20,000. Most $20k cars have equal safety measures of higher priced cars. A Volvo is actually a poor example since Volvoās have always been amongst the safest cars on the road from their bottom vehicle all the way to the top.
Granted, my attitude is primarily based on anecdotal evidence. But, for me anyway, it was a powerful lesson - backed by expert opinion. As well, it has been four years since I did my research (and will likely be another 4-6 years before I do more), but in 2001, I was unable to find the same safety standards in less expensive cars as I found in higher-end cars (i.e. side impact doors, side airbags/curtains). If that has changed for the better, that is outstanding news.