Feature disparity (from Interesting Discoveries Thread)

[AV8R]

Hmmm, getting very hot in this thread! We need to take it down a notch.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. So what I mean is that you can’t have everything on this car and buy it for the price they are selling it for. Yes I think the features should be standard across all models but it comes down to Kia’s market research. No use giving me a heated steering wheel when I live in a hot country like Australia. There is a lot of stuff the rest of the world gets and features from other manufacturers that I would like but unfortunately I don’t but I still bought the car.
Opinions are ok but be careful how you structure them in your posts. I once got some good advice.... if you’re upset, sit on it for a day, the emotion usually settles down after that. Then write away, hopefully then the posts would be less aggressive.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Hmmm, getting very hot in this thread! We need to take it down a notch.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. So what I mean is that you can’t have everything on this car and buy it for the price they are selling it for. Yes I think the features should be standard across all models but it comes down to Kia’s market research. No use giving me a heated steering wheel when I live in a hot country like Australia. There is a lot of stuff the rest of the world gets and features from other manufacturers that I would like but unfortunately I don’t but I still bought the car.
Opinions are ok but be careful how you structure them in your posts. I once got some good advice.... if you’re upset, sit on it for a day, the emotion usually settles down after that. Then write away, hopefully then the posts would be less aggressive.

Say it, forget it.....write it regret it.....simple.

 

[Photogbill]

Exactly! It's in the Canadian Gen, but not the American Gen. Just like the Korean Gen has stuff we both want, but don't have access too (sort of).

What I'm getting at is that the "next gen" will have more world wide options based upon what is selling now. Why did America not get the 360 camera? Was it an oversight (semi-pun)? Was it that they ran out of them? Was it that they didn't feel that we as American's needed to see 360? Not really, just the idea of seeing what works. Does it make sense to me...not necessarily. BUT, I'll bet you a peso/rupe/dollar/Euro that these options and much more will be available later and at a higher cost in the next Gen to us US'ins. Ahhhh, see what they did there? They won, they raised their prices by $5,000-$6,000+ (US dollars) for something that was already available to you in Canadia. AND, they'll add hp/TQ and maybe a meaner horn sound and presto... I've just traded my car back in within 4-5 years. Simple really.

There's NO excuse for KIA not including the 360 camera on their Premium & GT models, IMO. Even my 2016 Optima SXL has that feature but my major gripe if their $2000 additional cost for their "Drive Wise Package"!

 

[Marc Collins]

So, overall I am happy with the car and the price/value equation, but am copying my post from another thread here. Why? Because I really thought KIA had lept out of the box with this car and was suddenly in tune with buyers and enthusiasts of this class of car. Sorry, a few engineers have put together a great vehicle, but the rest of the operation is lagging far behind. I have been sad to discover a disturbing trend with every single niggle or complaint I have about the car:

In every instance I care about so far, the problem or issue has actually already been resolved and it is simply an issue of morons in marketing distributing equipment and fixes differentially across markets.

• Fake sounds--OFF option already available in sister car, the Genesis G70.
• Map updates--already free in some countries.
• Updates available to UVO separate from map updates--KIA too lazy to implement this when they can charge money for map updates that also update UVO.
• Use camera instead of maps to read speed signs--KIA already does this in other vehicles in some countries.
• No txt messages read or displayed via Bluetooth--KIA already has this on their cheapest vehicles (as does every other company).
• No bi-modal exhaust OPTION that is desperately needed--already available in Australia and a different system already developed in Europe and was made available to journalists in the COTY contest.
• No limited slip differential option on several models that should have it as an option or standard--already standard on AWD G70 and some RWD Stinger models already, so what is the explanation for not offering it when people are willing to pay extra to get it?
• Manual shift issues that many have complained about--already fixed and was made available on cars supplied to journalists in the European COTY contest.
• Ugly exposed cup holders--already have a better console with cup holder covers, but only available in certain markets.

And I am fortunate to be in Canada, but if I was missing all the other things that are not available in USA (full app featues like remote start, wireless charging, rear heated seats, nicer headliner material, 360 camera, cargo net for trunk, etc.), I would be furious enough to not buy this car.

NONE of these things makes any sense to include or not include in various markets--most don't even cost any money, but are just one method or option versus another. Completely incompetent and counter-productive "product planning" decisions made by people who have too much time on their hands and don't drive sophisticated vehicles.

So I wrote this (above) in June and now it is November. What has happened since then?:

• Fake sounds--OFF option already available in sister car, the Genesis G70.
• Map updates--already free in some countries.
• Updates available to UVO separate from map updates--KIA too lazy to implement this when they can charge money for map updates that also update UVO.
  • Turns out you can apply the update from any SD card that has it and then put your original card back in for map licensing purposes. You get the latest UVO, with the maps you already had. Everyone get bugging KIA/dealers to do this ASAP.
• Use camera instead of maps to read speed signs--KIA already does this in other vehicles in some countries.
  • I couldn't even imagine back in June how ridiculously out of date the map-based speed limits are. Literally everywhere I drive there are so many errors that you can't possibly keep count or remember to go volunteer your time to go tediously update HERE. The number of secondary and tertiary roads with no embedded speeds is also astoundingly high. You turn off a main road onto a small road and there is the inevitable speed sign right after the turn. Car thinks there is no speed limit, so turns off the function. It is so inaccurate as to essentially be worthless. You cannot rely on them. My other cars with the camera-based system make an error only in the extremest of rare situations like being on a five- or six-lane wide expressway and the speed sign is so far to the right it cannot "see" it.
• No txt messages read or displayed via Bluetooth--KIA already has this on their cheapest vehicles (as does every other company).
  • Addressed in latest UVO update v.12.5, but many people already used up their one free update (that shouldn't have counted as an update if it was simply installing the current version available when they picked-up their car) and some people with cars that do not have an SD card slot can't get the update at all.
  • Turns out you can apply the update from any SD card that has it and then put your original card back in for map licensing purposes. You get the latest UVO, with the maps you already had. Everyone get bugging KIA/dealers to do this ASAP.
• No bi-modal exhaust OPTION that is desperately needed--already available in Australia and a different system already developed in Europe and was made available to journalists in the COTY contest.
• No limited slip differential option on several models that should have it as an option or standard--already standard on AWD G70 and some RWD Stinger models already, so what is the explanation for not offering it when people are willing to pay extra to get it?
  • See this link: Sharper Stinger: Testing Kia's upcoming performance-tuned AWD
  • As usual, no commitment from KIA as to when or which markets will get it until about two days before the first cars will be delivered
  • Better late than never, I guess...
• Manual shift issues that many have complained about--already fixed and was made available on cars supplied to journalists in the European COTY contest.
  • Works in Sport mode--car will not revert to "D"
  • If you also turn of TC, the car will not aut-upshift at redline in Sport mode, either
  • If your car doesn't do this, you need an update
• Ugly exposed cup holders--already have a better console with cup holder covers, but only available in certain markets.

 

[Mach_Tuck]

TURN OFF TC and ESC in SPORT mode and the car WILL autoshift IF you try to bounce or hold the rev limit. I agree that it holds it MUCH MUCH better with everything off but it will shift if you force it

 

[Marc Collins]

TURN OFF TC and ESC in SPORT mode and the car WILL autoshift IF you try to bounce or hold the rev limit. I agree that it holds it MUCH MUCH better with everything off but it will shift if you force it

There's supposed to be an update to address this. They demonstrated it on the cars used in the contest I mentioned. That was almost a year ago...

But if it behaves other than holding the throttle right on the click point and it bouncing off the rev limiter for 2 or 3 seconds or so (indicating driver is asleep at the switch), that is not a problem. It's when it shifts before the red line (at the optimal shift point for acceleration) that it is misbehaving and sometimes does the opposite of what you want.

Manual is for manual control. If you just want to drag race, the car will shift by itself better than you can shift it. Unfortunately, it seems that people try to use manual (badly) for launch control and rarely use it for what it was intended--times when you need to hold gears for whatever unusual road or traffic conditions.

 

[Mach_Tuck]

But if it behaves other than holding the throttle right on the click point and it bouncing off the rev limiter for 2 or 3 seconds or so (indicating driver is asleep at the switch), that is not a problem. It's when it shifts before the red line (at the optimal shift point for acceleration) that it is misbehaving and sometimes does the opposite of what you want.

Manual is for manual control. If you just want to drag race, the car will shift by itself better than you can shift it. Unfortunately, it seems that people try to use manual (badly) for launch control and rarely use it for what it was intended--times when you need to hold gears for whatever unusual road or traffic conditions.

What you have described here is a perfect summary. In Manual SPORT with TC and ESC OFF, the driver can hold redline gear without it upshifting on its own. UNLESS, as you stated, asleep, and are forecefully trying to rev it higher. I found this out by testing alone as i wanted to see what would happen. Turn the ESC back on and it shifts a few hundred RPM early, even in manual mode.

Being able to hold 2nd gear within 500 RPM of redline is perfect for some of the sportier roads so this was a nice discovery. Prior i always found it shifting to 3rd and the worst times...BEFORE i found that turning off ESC was the key.

 

[Marc Collins]

What you have described here is a perfect summary. In Manual SPORT with TC and ESC OFF, the driver can hold redline gear without it upshifting on its own. UNLESS, as you stated, asleep, and are forecefully trying to rev it higher. I found this out by testing alone as i wanted to see what would happen. Turn the ESC back on and it shifts a few hundred RPM early, even in manual mode.

Being able to hold 2nd gear within 500 RPM of redline is perfect for some of the sportier roads so this was a nice discovery. Prior i always found it shifting to 3rd and the worst times...BEFORE i found that turning off ESC was the key.

However, we should have full manual mode in Sport even when the traction and stability nannies are still on. It's not like the car switches to manual mode by itself--you have to activate it and you can easily deactivate it (hold the right paddle in for a few seconds), so why the limitation?

 

[Mach_Tuck]

No argument from me there

 

[David C Dubbin]

iaOTE="Marc Collins, post: 69307, member: 2123"]I still don't get what you or others are talking about--next gen? The 360 camera (and every other thing in my list) is already in this gen--I have it. KIA just decided that as an American you didn't deserve to have access to it, for free or as a paid option.[/QUOTE]
Mark, I am in total agreement with every point you make. As a mass produced car only made in one plant in the world all of the technological features you have mentioned are baked in to the cake at the factory. The Wiring harness is the wiring harness. All of the features have the technological capability (a little cost per copy) to be "IDENTICAL". The only thing creating a differential should be the laws or the jurisdiction in which the vehicle will be sold. I can personally attest to US buyers calling Canadian dealers investigating the GT Limited Canadian exclusive car, it's enhanced option features and most importantly the fact that we pay less money for a car with a superior option package. The car @ MSRP is $2000 or so more in the US and that is not factoring in the exchange rate. I agree. Pay to update my maps? Not FREEKING likely! I bought my car in January/18 and my Nav already shows me driving in a Farmer's field when I am on a road that was finished in 2016. Android Auto? You mean Andriod CAN NOT Auto anything. Dig my Blue Tooth connectable phone out of my pocket, plug it in, just so that I can have a hands free, voice activated method to receive and reply to texts, oh ya and use MY data plan to navigate via the Google map feature on MY phone. Hello KIA, this is a safety enhancement feature. Distracted driving laws abound. Make anything tedious and people won't use it. A UVO connect App that only works in Canada because Kia is too cheap to enter into a roaming contract with Bell Canada. ON STAR, Ford Connect are both NORTH AMERICA wide features. Can't turn on my Heated seats with the ridiculously slow to launch and activate, more sizzle than steak, UVO Connect system despite being able to do so with other KIA products that cost thousands less using the same App. And don't forget, only in Canadian Eh! Did I mention that UVO connect doesn't work on your car in the states. Oh ya, I guess I did. Starting to sound like another rant. Gotta go and launch UVO Connect so that I can start my car after a couple of minutes and have my steering wheel heated up while I plant my rear end on a -20C cold seat. Oh wait, no I can't, I am south of the 49th right now. Thanks for our post.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

iaOTE="Marc Collins, post: 69307, member: 2123"]I still don't get what you or others are talking about--next gen? The 360 camera (and every other thing in my list) is already in this gen--I have it. KIA just decided that as an American you didn't deserve to have access to it, for free or as a paid option.

Mark, I am in total agreement with every point you make. As a mass produced car only made in one plant in the world all of the technological features you have mentioned are baked in to the cake at the factory. The Wiring harness is the wiring harness. All of the features have the technological capability (a little cost per copy) to be "IDENTICAL". The only thing creating a differential should be the laws or the jurisdiction in which the vehicle will be sold. I can personally attest to US buyers calling Canadian dealers investigating the GT Limited Canadian exclusive car, it's enhanced option features and most importantly the fact that we pay less money for a car with a superior option package. The car @ MSRP is $2000 or so more in the US and that is not factoring in the exchange rate. I agree. Pay to update my maps? Not FREEKING likely! I bought my car in January/18 and my Nav already shows me driving in a Farmer's field when I am on a road that was finished in 2016. Android Auto? You mean Andriod CAN NOT Auto anything. Dig my Blue Tooth connectable phone out of my pocket, plug it in, just so that I can have a hands free, voice activated method to receive and reply to texts, oh ya and use MY data plan to navigate via the Google map feature on MY phone. Hello KIA, this is a safety enhancement feature. Distracted driving laws abound. Make anything tedious and people won't use it. A UVO connect App that only works in Canada because Kia is too cheap to enter into a roaming contract with Bell Canada. ON STAR, Ford Connect are both NORTH AMERICA wide features. Can't turn on my Heated seats with the ridiculously slow to launch and activate, more sizzle than steak, UVO Connect system despite being able to do so with other KIA products that cost thousands less using the same App. And don't forget, only in Canadian Eh! Did I mention that UVO connect doesn't work on your car in the states. Oh ya, I guess I did. Starting to sound like another rant. Gotta go and launch UVO Connect so that I can start my car after a couple of minutes and have my steering wheel heated up while I plant my rear end on a -20C cold seat. Oh wait, no I can't, I am south of the 49th right now. Thanks for our post.

From the sounds of your comments I get the feeling that if you had done your homework on the car prior to purchasing it you may have gone a different route with car ownership.
Always intrigues me that people go out spend a bucket load of cash on a car only to hate it because it does have this & doesn’t do that....only if I knew this before I purchased it...really are you angry at Kia or with your purchase that doesn’t fit your needs/requirements.
Sorry & generally speaking here, I just don’t get all the negativity towards YOUR choice to own this car.

 

[Marc Collins]

From the sounds of your comments I get the feeling that if you had done your homework on the car prior to purchasing it you may have gone a different route with car ownership.
Always intrigues me that people go out spend a bucket load of cash on a car only to hate it because it does have this & doesn’t do that....only if I knew this before I purchased it...really are you angry at Kia or with your purchase that doesn’t fit your needs/requirements.
Sorry & generally speaking here, I just don’t get all the negativity towards YOUR choice to own this car.

Nope--has nothing to do with buying another car. It has to do with disappointment with idiotic marketing decisions that tarnish what is otherwise a well-engineered vehicle. For example, manufacturers that install the same manual mode for a transmission in a minivan and n a supposedly sporty vehicle. Do you like that Aussie's get an even more disabled manual mode than everyone else in the world? Why is that? Are no other cars in Australia available with a proper manual mode, or is it a legacy of KIA marketing too slowly evolving their view of what customers expect or want in a car like the Stinger? You get rewarded for having the car launched in Australia ahead of other markets by getting the worst configuration. Nice. I don't find those decisions acceptable when every single person on this board (the actual customers as it turns out) could have told them not to do it had KIA bothered to ask or even had half a wit's worth of sense in the first place. Unfortunately, there are too many other examples of these inexplicable decisions (when as @David C Dubbin notes the cars all come out of the same factory) to list here.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Nope--has nothing to do with buying another car. It has to do with disappointment with idiotic marketing decisions that tarnish what is otherwise a well-engineered vehicle. For example, manufacturers that install the same manual mode for a transmission in a minivan and n a supposedly sporty vehicle. Do you like that Aussie's get an even more disabled manual mode than everyone else in the world? Why is that? Are no other cars in Australia available with a proper manual mode, or is it a legacy of KIA marketing too slowly evolving their view of what customers expect or want in a car like the Stinger? You get rewarded for having the car launched in Australia ahead of other markets by getting the worst configuration. Nice. I don't find those decisions acceptable when every single person on this board (the actual customers as it turns out) could have told them not to do it had KIA bothered to ask or even had half a wit's worth of sense in the first place. Unfortunately, there are too many other examples of these inexplicable decisions (when as @David C Dubbin notes the cars all come out of the same factory) to list here.

As an example of your statement what has “Aussies not having a proper manual mode” got to do with Marketing? The marketing departments job is to market the car they are given.
Car manufacturers all around the world put different options in to suit particular countries/markets, pricing structures & currencies ...marketing departments in those regions sell what they are given.
Being an Aussie in an Aussie market I do not know any different to what I don’t have, the same as our US colleagues did not get the 360deg camera, how can you miss something you did not get.
Again, if I see a car released here in OZ that I like I’ll do my research on it & it’s trim levels to see what best suits my needs, if it doesn’t I’ll move on to another brand/model & I’ll do the whole process over again until I find what suits my requirements then make a purchase, I don’t just buy a car blind then complain what I should have got them blame the marketing department.
I can only make informed decisions on what is offered here in OZ, what I don’t do is look at what the rest of the world get or don’t get & ponder on what if....that has no relevance what’s so ever.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Like I can’t read more than 1 paragraph at a time. Please paraphrase ffs

 

[Marc Collins]

As an example of your statement what has “Aussies not having a proper manual mode” got to do with Marketing? The marketing departments job is to market the car they are given.
Car manufacturers all around the world put different options in to suit particular countries/markets, pricing structures & currencies ...marketing departments in those regions sell what they are given.
Being an Aussie in an Aussie market I do not know any different to what I don’t have, the same as our US colleagues did not get the 360deg camera, how can you miss something you did not get.
Again, if I see a car released here in OZ that I like I’ll do my research on it & it’s trim levels to see what best suits my needs, if it doesn’t I’ll move on to another brand/model & I’ll do the whole process over again until I find what suits my requirements then make a purchase, I don’t just buy a car blind then complain what I should have got them blame the marketing department.
I can only make informed decisions on what is offered here in OZ, what I don’t do is look at what the rest of the world get or don’t get & ponder on what if....that has no relevance what’s so ever.

I would say you hadn't heard of the Internet, but you are here...

Sorry there is no Aussie-only Stinger site for you to restrict yourself to.

 

[AV8R]

I would say you hadn't heard of the Internet, but you are here...

Sorry there is no Aussie-only Stinger site for you to restrict yourself to.

I think the aussies are more realistic and dont have expectations that's probably why we stress less and live longer. Nothing to do with internet nor has it anything to do with having a aussie stinger forum, we have it right here amongst the rest of you.
From an outsiders point of view australians have more positive things to say about the car and are less picky. Yes we have the occasional gripe but we dont go on for 50 pages about it like some other threads.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Marc Collins 0
Aussies 1

 

[Marc Collins]

I think the aussies are more realistic and dont have expectations that's probably why we stress less and live longer. Nothing to do with internet nor has it anything to do with having a aussie stinger forum, we have it right here amongst the rest of you.
From an outsiders point of view australians have more positive things to say about the car and are less picky. Yes we have the occasional gripe but we dont go on for 50 pages about it like some other threads.

Not much else to do in the frozen North this time of year except complain

 

[AV8R]

Not much else to do in the frozen North this time of year except complain

Come to Australia we can fix that. Lol

 

[Soca Boy]

Not much else to do in the frozen North this time of year except complain

Lol, come to truck loving Alberta, you’ll go back with a smile.