Has anyone seen any Stingers in the wild?

I saw my first Stinger in the wild today--MINE! :):):) More tomorrow, as I was at the dealer from 3 p.m. to after 11 p.m. and I'm in a haze. :sleep: Must . . . sleep. :sleep:
 
I saw my first Stinger in the wild today--MINE! :):):) More tomorrow, as I was at the dealer from 3 p.m. to after 11 p.m. and I'm in a haze. :sleep: Must . . . sleep. :sleep:
Why were you at the dealer for so long?
 
Why were you at the dealer for so long?
Looooooong story. The car had just come off the carrier when they called me. It was just prepped enough for a test drive when I got there, but there was still a lot of plastic to peel and other prep to do. Then during the "negotiatons" I gave them the list of stuff I wanted that wasn't already on it. Most of it should have been a cinch to install, like the splash guards, but I think it was the puddle lamps that took most of the time. They claimed that one pair had just arrived in the parts department. (I got the ones that the manager was going to put on his ceramic silver GT2--gorgeous car!) They said that I was the first in California to have them installed on a Stinger, so no one had done this before. (Really? Anybody in CA get theirs installed before the 28th?) In other words, very steep learning curve, and they kept coming back from the garage to tell me how they were really working hard to make sure they did it right. But then, as we've seen all over the Forum, it appears just about everything with Stingers involves a steep learning curve for Kia dealers. :laugh: They couldn't have been nicer--unless they had taken me out to dinner during that time ;)--and I think I know everyone in the dealership now, and half of their life stories. Since I had no idea the car was coming in yesterday, and since all my friends who otherwise would have come to my rescue were either sick, working, or out of town, I was stuck at the dealership for the duration. I'm just coming off a virus of 12 days duration, or I might have cracked the whip a little more, but after waiting for this car since January, what's 8 more hours? Besides, this way I got to drive home after rush hour was well over.
 
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Looooooong story. The car had just come off the carrier when they called me. It was just prepped enough for a test drive when I got there, but there was still a lot of plastic to peel and other prep to do. Then during the "negotiatons" I gave them the list of stuff I wanted that wasn't already on it. Most of it should have been a cinch to install, like the splash guards, but I think it was the puddle lamps that took most of the time. They claimed that one pair had just arrived in the parts department. (I got the ones that the manager was going to put on his ceramic silver GT2--gorgeous car!) They said that I was the first in California to have them installed on a Stinger, so no one had done this before. (Really? Anybody in CA get theirs installed before the 28th?) In other words, very steep learning curve, and they kept coming back from the garage to tell me how they were really working hard to make sure they did it right. But then, as we've seen all over the Forum, it appears just about everything with Stingers involves a steep learning curve for Kia dealers. :laugh: They couldn't have been nicer--unless they had taken me out to dinner during that time ;)--and I think I know everyone in the dealership now, and half of their life stories. Since I had no idea the car was coming in yesterday, and since all my friends who otherwise would have come to my rescue were either sick, working, or out of town, I was stuck at the dealership for the duration. I'm just coming off a virus of 12 days duration, or I might have cracked the whip a little more, but after waiting for this car since January, what's 8 more hours? Besides, this way I got to drive home after rush hour was well over.
Glad you got one! I know you've been waiting for a while. What color did you get? A white one?
 
I haven't seen any yet on Long Island, NY or in Vegas but I'm always looking.

Edit: After I posted this comment, later this day I did see one on a car carrier on Long Island, NY. A white 2.0T
 
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From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
Glad you got one! I know you've been waiting for a while. What color did you get? A white one?
Yup, I was just trying to decide whether to start a strand or just tack on to an existing one. She's a snow white pearl GT2 RWD. I was glad to see how pearly the pearl is--the only other white one I saw wasn't prepped yet and didn't glisten like mine. This is soooo much more car than I need, and I LOVE it. I need to get some sleep before I really take her out for a long drive, plus I need to relearn how to drive. All these electronics are new to me. I've never had an infotainment system or nannies. Haha, and I talked about the Kia dealers having a steep learning curve!
 
Do people doing testdrives count? The yes ... just today, a white showroom model drove in the roundabout before me. First one I ever saw outside, though (besides the one I sat in).
 
How about popping some photos into the gallery/album section?
I will. I'm getting a slow start this morning--for some reason I couldn't sleep, can't imagine why :rolleyes:, but I'll try to post some late today and tomorrow. So far this is all I've got:

IMG_0278.webp

In with the new . . . . out with the old!
 
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From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
I will. I'm getting a slow start this morning--for some reason I couldn't sleep, can't imagine why :rolleyes:, but I'll try to post some late today and tomorrow. So far this is all I've got:

View attachment 1699

In with the new . . . . out with the old!
Great shot, @eljay! And congratulations! Ya know, your Grand Am actually looks pretty good thing. Kinda like new. You certainly take good care of your cars... I'm glad to hear the Stinger is way more car than you need! Imagine that? Kia buyers now have "excess" with their cars. The Stinger is an amazing vehicle and I'm sure you're going to love it.

One of the things I first noticed about driving German cars - which typically handle REALLY well - is that they can make great drivers out of ordinary drivers. Since the Stinger is technically a German car (I mean, we know how and why) - you're going to find you can maneuver better, FAR better, than you could with the Grand Am - making you an even safer driver than you already are. Getting out of a potential accident situation is much easier with a car that handles as well as the Stinger - AND you're not driving a tiny little car (typically handle better) AND you have high tech safety features watching out for you... :)

I look forward to hearing more about your experiences - and seeing more pictures... :)
 
Great shot, @eljay! And congratulations! Ya know, your Grand Am actually looks pretty good thing. Kinda like new. You certainly take good care of your cars... I'm glad to hear the Stinger is way more car than you need! Imagine that? Kia buyers now have "excess" with their cars. The Stinger is an amazing vehicle and I'm sure you're going to love it.

One of the things I first noticed about driving German cars - which typically handle REALLY well - is that they can make great drivers out of ordinary drivers. Since the Stinger is technically a German car (I mean, we know how and why) - you're going to find you can maneuver better, FAR better, than you could with the Grand Am - making you an even safer driver than you already are. Getting out of a potential accident situation is much easier with a car that handles as well as the Stinger - AND you're not driving a tiny little car (typically handle better) AND you have high tech safety features watching out for you... :)

I look forward to hearing more about your experiences - and seeing more pictures... :)
Thanks!

Haha! Don't insult Old Paint--she's a Grand PrixGT! And you obviously didn't see the bumper scrape from the garage door spring, from when I had to maneuver around my idiot neighbor's car illegally parked in the condo driveway in the middle of the night. :( I hope she finds a good home--she was just about to turn 97,000 miles, and the leather was like day one. I'll miss her--but not much, and not for long! Well, except for the CD player.

But I liked this photo to show that I do have a "type"--I see a lot of similarities between them. And of course the MAJOR differences!

I'm not sure my friends--mostly "elderly"--will agree that this car makes me a "better" driver after I press them back into their seats, but I agree with you that it will improve my (already sterling) driving abilities. I just may cause a few heart palpitations among the geriatric set, however.

I'll get out to take some glamour shots soon. The ugly condo driveway and my busy street are not the place for this!
 
Thanks!

Haha! Don't insult Old Paint--she's a Grand PrixGT! And you obviously didn't see the bumper scrape from the garage door spring, from when I had to maneuver around my idiot neighbor's car illegally parked in the condo driveway in the middle of the night. :( I hope she finds a good home--she was just about to turn 97,000 miles, and the leather was like day one. I'll miss her--but not much, and not for long! Well, except for the CD player.

But I liked this photo to show that I do have a "type"--I see a lot of similarities between them. And of course the MAJOR differences!

I'm not sure my friends--mostly "elderly"--will agree that this car makes me a "better" driver after I press them back into their seats, but I agree with you that it will improve my (already sterling) driving abilities. I just may cause a few heart palpitations among the geriatric set, however.

I'll get out to take some glamour shots soon. The ugly condo driveway and my busy street are not the place for this!
dont mind me asking but .....................how old are you ??
 
Thanks!

Haha! Don't insult Old Paint--she's a Grand PrixGT! And you obviously didn't see the bumper scrape from the garage door spring, from when I had to maneuver around my idiot neighbor's car illegally parked in the condo driveway in the middle of the night. :( I hope she finds a good home--she was just about to turn 97,000 miles, and the leather was like day one. I'll miss her--but not much, and not for long! Well, except for the CD player.

But I liked this photo to show that I do have a "type"--I see a lot of similarities between them. And of course the MAJOR differences!

I'm not sure my friends--mostly "elderly"--will agree that this car makes me a "better" driver after I press them back into their seats, but I agree with you that it will improve my (already sterling) driving abilities. I just may cause a few heart palpitations among the geriatric set, however.

I'll get out to take some glamour shots soon. The ugly condo driveway and my busy street are not the place for this!
Haha, this is sounding like a commercial - you in the car with these ladies getting smooshed back into their seats. :p Then again, they HAVE driven with you in the Grand Prix GT! So, they're probably used to at least a little pep. :p
 
dont mind me asking but .....................how old are you ??
Of course I mind! ;) Let's just say I retired early half a decade ago. But some of my friends are older, so they really ARE old. But young at heart.
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
Of course I mind! ;) Let's just say I retired early half a decade ago.

Careful there, @eljay. I once made the observation that only women more than 3 years older than me wouldn't reveal their age. And you don't want to be older than me. But maybe that was my absolute age so maybe you're OK. And no comments about age at all, @voon.

I haven't even seen mine yet, although I know the local dealer has sold a few so there's some on the road around here.
 
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Since mine is apparently one of the few "in the wild" in my neighborhood, I'll report my first two "Stinger Stares." Friday while I was waiting at a four-way stop, I watched a guy in his obviously much-pampered Audi stare at my Stinger from crosswalk to crosswalk as he slowly traversed the intersection in front of me. To stare any longer, he'd have to have had the neck of an owl. It meant so much more to me that it came from an Audi owner.

Then yesterday I was sitting in my car in my garage with the door open, going through stuff in the manual, and I became aware of someone standing in the driveway. I turned to see my newish young neighbor, who once told me he's owned four Kias, standing there with his mouth hanging open. His first remark: "I just saw the commercial for this!" He went on to say, "I . . . I . . . knew you were going for a Kia, but, but . . . " "You thought I was getting something like a Cadenza?" "I thought maybe . . . an Optima?"

Ah, yes, Kia, the power to surprise!
 
Since mine is apparently one of the few "in the wild" in my neighborhood, I'll report my first two "Stinger Stares." Friday while I was waiting at a four-way stop, I watched a guy in his obviously much-pampered Audi stare at my Stinger from crosswalk to crosswalk as he slowly traversed the intersection in front of me. To stare any longer, he'd have to have had the neck of an owl. It meant so much more to me that it came from an Audi owner.

Then yesterday I was sitting in my car in my garage with the door open, going through stuff in the manual, and I became aware of someone standing in the driveway. I turned to see my newish young neighbor, who once told me he's owned four Kias, standing there with his mouth hanging open. His first remark: "I just saw the commercial for this!" He went on to say, "I . . . I . . . knew you were going for a Kia, but, but . . . " "You thought I was getting something like a Cadenza?" "I thought maybe . . . an Optima?"

Ah, yes, Kia, the power to surprise!
I've had several experiences , I'm completely rebadged so people dont know what it is , but they all love
 
Since mine is apparently one of the few "in the wild" in my neighborhood, I'll report my first two "Stinger Stares." Friday while I was waiting at a four-way stop, I watched a guy in his obviously much-pampered Audi stare at my Stinger from crosswalk to crosswalk as he slowly traversed the intersection in front of me. To stare any longer, he'd have to have had the neck of an owl. It meant so much more to me that it came from an Audi owner.

Then yesterday I was sitting in my car in my garage with the door open, going through stuff in the manual, and I became aware of someone standing in the driveway. I turned to see my newish young neighbor, who once told me he's owned four Kias, standing there with his mouth hanging open. His first remark: "I just saw the commercial for this!" He went on to say, "I . . . I . . . knew you were going for a Kia, but, but . . . " "You thought I was getting something like a Cadenza?" "I thought maybe . . . an Optima?"

Ah, yes, Kia, the power to surprise!
You're a good story teller. :p Nice ones. I'm sure many will follow... :)
 
You're a good story teller. :p Nice ones. I'm sure many will follow... :)
Thank you! Hey, that reminds me, is there any way to add a "thank you" to the "like, agree, funny," etc. symbols?
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
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