I'll just say this ...

[Mike_TX]

I've had my Stinger Premium 2.0T for over 8 months now, and I never drove or even rode in a GT until today. While my car was in for an oil change I got my salesman to get the keys for a GT2 to take a spin. I drove the car for a good half hour on surface streets and freeways, and what was my impression?

You GT guys will throw rocks at me, but I have to say I was disappointed. I expected the GT2 to deliver, kind of like the BMW 550i or maybe the Infiniti M56 or Lexus LS460 I used to have. But it wasn't quite that thrilling.

Oh sure, it pulled hard ... if I stomped it from a stop, or when I floored it at 65mph. But short of burying the throttle, there wasn't as much there as I expected from a 4.7-second car. I mean, there just wasn't the surge I expected when scooting around traffic or going from a service road up the ramp to a freeway, etc. Those are the everyday boring partial-throttle accelerations, where you don't really need to floor it, but they're the kind of thing you typically do more than you do full-throttle runs.

For what I call "normal everyday" driving, the 2.0T seems to spool up faster and has the low-end torque needed for everyday maneuvering on the roads. There is less turbo lag than the 3.3 and it seems more responsive to smaller throttle inputs. In those conditions, the 2.0 seems a little more lively to me.

Maybe if you haven't driven the 2.0 you might ask to drive one next time you're at your dealer. Just for grins, you know, like I did the GT2.

 

[SKStinger]

I've had my Stinger Premium 2.0T for over 8 months now, and I never drove or even rode in a GT until today. While my car was in for an oil change I got my salesman to get the keys for a GT2 to take a spin. I drove the car for a good half hour on surface streets and freeways, and what was my impression?

You GT guys will throw rocks at me, but I have to say I was disappointed. I expected the GT2 to deliver, kind of like the BMW 550i or maybe the Infiniti M56 or Lexus LS460 I used to have. But it wasn't quite that thrilling.

Oh sure, it pulled hard ... if I stomped it from a stop, or when I floored it at 65mph. But short of burying the throttle, there wasn't as much there as I expected from a 4.7-second car. I mean, there just wasn't the surge I expected when scooting around traffic or going from a service road up the ramp to a freeway, etc. Those are the everyday boring partial-throttle accelerations, where you don't really need to floor it, but they're the kind of thing you typically do more than you do full-throttle runs.

For what I call "normal everyday" driving, the 2.0T seems to spool up faster and has the low-end torque needed for everyday maneuvering on the roads. There is less turbo lag than the 3.3 and it seems more responsive to smaller throttle inputs. In those conditions, the 2.0 seems a little more lively to me.

Maybe if you haven't driven the 2.0 you might ask to drive one next time you're at your dealer. Just for grins, you know, like I did the GT2.

There is little to no “turbo lag”. You have to push the peddle to accelerate and then it just goes... not sure what exactly you were doing.

My other car is a 2.0t A4 and I feel like I’m in slow motion when I drive it.

 

[westcoastGT]

I've had my Stinger Premium 2.0T for over 8 months now, and I never drove or even rode in a GT until today. While my car was in for an oil change I got my salesman to get the keys for a GT2 to take a spin. I drove the car for a good half hour on surface streets and freeways, and what was my impression?

You GT guys will throw rocks at me, but I have to say I was disappointed. I expected the GT2 to deliver, kind of like the BMW 550i or maybe the Infiniti M56 or Lexus LS460 I used to have. But it wasn't quite that thrilling.

Oh sure, it pulled hard ... if I stomped it from a stop, or when I floored it at 65mph. But short of burying the throttle, there wasn't as much there as I expected from a 4.7-second car. I mean, there just wasn't the surge I expected when scooting around traffic or going from a service road up the ramp to a freeway, etc. Those are the everyday boring partial-throttle accelerations, where you don't really need to floor it, but they're the kind of thing you typically do more than you do full-throttle runs.

For what I call "normal everyday" driving, the 2.0T seems to spool up faster and has the low-end torque needed for everyday maneuvering on the roads. There is less turbo lag than the 3.3 and it seems more responsive to smaller throttle inputs. In those conditions, the 2.0 seems a little more lively to me.

Maybe if you haven't driven the 2.0 you might ask to drive one next time you're at your dealer. Just for grins, you know, like I did the GT2.

They can't give them away in Canada , dealers arent carrying much spec stock of them either , I've never seen one on the road ................good to hear that they are delivering good performance ............

 

[fastestneon]

I don't know if us GT guys will throw rocks at you lol.. Everyone has there own preference and there shouldn't be any bashing because of it..
Personally though since the 2.0 stinger has just about the same 0-60 and quarter mile times as a base touring Honda civic it kind of pushed me to the GT when I bought mine...

 

[Rob M]

Did you do any of the driving in Sport mode? With the 3.3L in Sport there is a really noticeable difference in how responsive the Stinger feels.

 

[Revvdmedia]

I don't feel the stock Stinger GT feels all that fast IMO. I would only imagine the 2.0 is much slower and I've driven cars with very similar performance - they felt slow. A tuned Stinger feels a lot more meaty, especially if you go from tuned back to stock. But I will agree the stock GT doesn't knock your socks off.

It's all opinion though. I know people with 2.0 turbo SUV's and call them "fast."

 

[GenesisG70]

To be fair I have driven my cousins 2.0 for 1 week while I was out of town and he lend me his car and yes the 2.0 feels like another sedan out there for the masses, then I came from from Vegas and drove my GT2 put it on sport mode used paddles shifters and I was holly f kng s t! The GT2 pulled like a monster compared to the 2.0. Can't compare a BMW which or S5 which would cost you 20k more and they have been making cars for more than 120 years before Kia was born. The Stinger GT2 is an amazing, reasonable priced sexy sports grand turismo car.

 

[Kamauxx]

I don't feel the stock Stinger GT feels all that fast IMO. I would only imagine the 2.0 is much slower and I've driven cars with very similar performance - they felt slow. A tuned Stinger feels a lot more meaty, especially if you go from tuned back to stock. But I will agree the stock GT doesn't knock your socks off.

It's all opinion though. I know people with 2.0 turbo SUV's and call them "fast."

I'm with you. When I first drove a GT I was pretty underwhelmed. But my previous sports/muscle cars were small-block built V8s (LS6, LS1s, LS2s) so my expectations weren't realistic. But it had a lot of other things I was looking for in a car so the performance wasn't a primary concern, especially since I knew I'd be able to make it fast.

Now, I also had a 2.0t Optima--which is essentially the 2.0t Stinger's FWD cousin--and can say with confidence it was not even remotely on par with the Stinger's performance. Maybe the car Mike tested out was in eco mode...

 

[bpang1]

Did you do any of the driving in Sport mode? With the 3.3L in Sport there is a really noticeable difference in how responsive the Stinger feels.

I want to know this as well...everything he writes sounds more like throttle response criticism.

 

[Revvdmedia]

I'm with you. When I first drove a GT I was pretty underwhelmed. But my previous sports/muscle cars were small-block built V8s (LS6, LS1s, LS2s) so my expectations weren't realistic. But it had a lot of other things I was looking for in a car so the performance wasn't a primary concern, especially since I knew I'd be able to make it fast.

Now, I also had a 2.0t Optima--which is essentially the 2.0t Stinger's FWD cousin--and can say with confidence it was not even remotely on par with the Stinger's performance. Maybe the car Mike tested out was in eco mode...

I think that's where the Stinger is deceptive. While it doesn't feel as quick as it is...the 1/4 mile and 0-60 tell a story of a car that should FEEL faster.

Amazingly enough, even with AWD, first gear feels no faster than I remember my Mustang GT feeling, but this car is every bit as quick according to what I've run with it. An AWD normally feels faster than 2WD equivalent, as I found in some cars like the Focus RS.

 

[westcoastGT]

 

[MerlintheMad]

OP, LOL! You knew this would happen.

I won't be test driving any 2.0L, because I don't want to. No other reason. Total package of the Stinger is why I bought it. If it had come with only the 2.0L at either side of six seconds to sixty, I MIGHT have still bought one: a test drive would have told me. I looked the car over for months, slowly deciding that roads trips were more in my near future: and if I was going to do a lot of driving, it had to be in a car that moved out: no more getting shut down by semis and maroons who wait till the last second to slooowly pull out and block the left lane, etc. I MOVE now and close the gap before said-merging maroons make their move. Would a 2.0L do that well enough? Maybe. But since the 3.3L is obviously faster, there was no way I would settle for less acceleration than available. 3.3L was my first "must have". The test drive convinced me that I wanted this engine: I didn't need to compare to a less strong engine. But you are right, for 99% of the daily driving we do, the 2.0L has the pep and then some. How do I know that if I haven't driven one? The numbers do not lie. And you and @rocket23 and other 2.0L drivers are witnesses that it is a fast car.

 

[MisterMac]

This is hilarious! I've driven both several times. The 2.0T looks as fast as the 3.3 TT while standing still. Once each starts moving, the 2.0T isn't even close at 27% percent slower.

However. It's exciting that you are thrilled with your two litter!! Keep on keeping on!

 

[SnazZ]

I kinda agree with @MerlintheMad ...the 2.0 is plenty for most people (especially as a daily driver.). But, as a 2.0 owner who has test driven the 3.3 on several occasions, there is definitely no comparing the two in certain situations. If you are going to drive it like you stole it, I'd rather have the 3.3. For all other situations, the 2.0 is plenty.

 

[turboAWD]

You GT guys will throw rocks at me, but I have to say I was disappointed. I expected the GT2 to deliver, kind of like the BMW 550i or maybe the Infiniti M56 or Lexus LS460 I used to have. But it wasn't quite that thrilling.

Oh sure, it pulled hard ... if I stomped it from a stop, or when I floored it at 65mph. But short of burying the throttle, there wasn't as much there as I expected from a 4.7-second car. I mean, there just wasn't the surge I expected when scooting around traffic or going from a service road up the ramp to a freeway, etc. Those are the everyday boring partial-throttle accelerations, where you don't really need to floor it, but they're the kind of thing you typically do more than you do full-throttle runs.

It's interesting you mention the M56 - I found a magazine tested it at 4.7 0-60, 1/4 at 13.2, more or less the same as the Stinger - 4.7-4.8, 13.2-13.3 stock. I think the LS460 is slower all around.

I do agree that the Stinger throttle mapping in anything but Sport is atrocious for sporty driving - it's for grandmas on Sunday. Coming from a tuned Legacy GT, especially my 1st upgraded VF40 (small turbo) with "touchy throttle remap", 1/4 throttle was like 80% performance. On the Stinger, 1/4 throttle is like 15-20% performance. You really have to hit the pedal to actually hit the performance curve. I think that's deceptive. And it does depend on where you benchmark it - we DO lose to big V8s after 75 or 100 mph. But around town, it's quite quick if you push the pedal far enough. However, I *HAVE* seriously thought about a BMS pedal tuner, because this car really doesn't like to do anything until you hit 50-70% throttle, which is somewhat annoying.

 

[Tonkabob]

Sounds like you where driving around in comfort mode.

 

[Mike_TX]

Sorry, been occupied and couldn't get back to the forum.

Yes, I drove the GT2 in Comfort mode, because 1. that's what I drive in almost all the time, 2. the car defaults to Comfort after each restart, so it is a pain to switch it every time, and 3. I don't like the way the transmission behaves in Sport ... it hangs on to lower gears and revs way too long ... kick it down to get around a truck and the car goes 4000rpm for the next mile. And if the car can't deliver in its "normal" mode it ain't set up right IMO.

And yes, I expected to get slapped around for posting this, but I do think the 2.0T is a very good option for a lot of people. Unfortunately, it gets overshadowed by the 3.3TT hype, and I think that's a shame. With this engine, the car isn't a race horse, but I regularly beat everyone else off the line at redlights, and scoot around fast enough to terrify most passengers. Lol.

As roads have gotten more and more congested everywhere, I've come to value low-end torque and engine flexibility to get through it. Higher-rpm power is fine in some situations, but when you seldom get over 45-50 on surface streets and 75-80 on the occasional freeway or road trip, bigger-displacement grunt isn't a big factor. It's taken me years to get to this point, but I've finally had to admit that smaller engines with boost are more usable for me than the big engines I loved as a kid. (And it's always fascinating to me to see that the old muscle cars - I had a few, like my bored 348 '61 Impala, my '67 GTO, and my Turbo Supra - wouldn't keep up with this little 2.0 turbo.)

I just thought it would be interesting for 3.3 owners who haven't driven a 2.0 to do so and comment. I know it would be hard to do that with an open mind, so I guess it's academic. After all, if you bought the car for the 3.3TT, you're not likely to view the 2.0T too fondly.

 

[Tonkabob]

Pretty certain the 2.0 is more laggy than the 3.3. What you are feeling is the lazy throttle mapping in comfort mode. Lug that big boy for fuel economy. We do need a transmission or throttle option seperatly in custom to get the sport throttle response with the comfort shift rpm.
Or add a pedal tuner for $100 bucks

 

[MerlintheMad]

I just thought it would be interesting for 3.3 owners who haven't driven a 2.0 to do so and comment. I know it would be hard to do that with an open mind, so I guess it's academic. After all, if you bought the car for the 3.3TT, you're not likely to view the 2.0T too fondly.

Pretty certain the 2.0 is more laggy than the 3.3. What you are feeling is the lazy throttle mapping in comfort mode. Lug that big boy for fuel economy. We do need a transmission or throttle option seperatly in custom to get the sport throttle response with the comfort shift rpm.
Or add a pedal tuner for $100 bucks

The GT/GT1 shifter has manual gate. Does the 2.0L? Because that is the way to drive with instant response. There is no throttle mapping to drive modes using manual gate and the paddle shifters, or bumping/tugging the shifter. All the drive modes do then is adjust the suspension.

Torque with either engine is the biggest selling factor. And TX is right, in most driving situations the 2.0L is going to be more than enough to satisfy the need to seize the opportunity and maneuver.

 

[MisterMac]

I will say this...

My dealer has cut back on selling Optimas with the 2.0T in favor of stocking more Baby Stingers. I think it's a wise move on his part.