As for Hyundai I can speak from experience can you? They are built just as well as Toyota if not better. And what gimmicks are you talking about?
You're speaking from experience are you mate? Because I'm talking about studies/statistics. When I go to buy for a car, I look at which ones are rated as being the most reliable by national studies...etc rather than 'oh in my experience _____ are no good'.
Check for example JD Power:
http://autos.jdpower.com/ratings/dependability.htm
Most dependable/reliable cars. Check the top brands... Toyota, Lexus, Scion, Mazda, Nissan... see a pattern? JAPANESE cars. Cameras... you'll see similar patterns... Nikon, Ricoh, Sony...etc. Korea just doesn't make the same standard of consumables.
Yes Korean cars and consumer electronics have come a long way. This is in part because brands like Samsung have copied the practices/techniques of GOOD brands (such as Apple, Sony, Nokia...etc).
HOWEVER Japanese and American quality sets an extremely high standard. Kia, Hyundai and Daewoo are nowhere near the standard of Toyota, Lexus, Mazda...etc.
Same deal... Daewoo (electronics), Samsung, LG...etc are not up to the standard of Apple, Sony, Nikon...etc. They've moved away from being cheap Chinese quality and offer this 'middle ground' which isn't quite Japanese/American quality but costs less without being really shonky like Chinese gear (which delivers the lowest price & quality).
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Gimmicks is a whole new section and I'm getting tired. If you don't understand what I mean then have a beer, think about it and come back to me if you still don't get it. Dictionaries help.