Will/would/have you rebadge(d) your Stinger?

[Kamauxx]

annnd why does rebadging seem to automatically come with the assumption it was done because it’s a KIA?

Because there are a couple of people running around the forum going on rants and E-screaming at people who change the way their car looks.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

I did mine February of 2018 and had a similar experience. I even put a heatgun to it and had no issues.

But with the amount of cars that have been damaged by rebadging there's no way it's a coincidence. Either something is up with the Stinger's paint or something is up with Stinger owners.

I must qualify that January here is the middle of summer & 40c is 104f so I didn’t need a heat gun...lol.
You have to be methodical & patent when doing the removal, I used fishing line to release & ease the badges off without direct lifting without any force.

 

[OliverNuther]

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[Coast GT]

The options don’t really cover it. I picked the one about rear large Stinger script, but I replaced the front badge with the E badge it’s a circle not an oval, also replaced wheel cap covers with E, and the steering wheel with a Stinger overlay. Anyway personal choice, I don’t care if others change their badges or not, and I’m not trying to hide it’s a Kia, I like the look on the faces of wankers in SS Commodores, Audi’s, BMW’s etc when I leave them standing still at lights etc. sometimes you can tell they want to have a go and I deliberately ignore them because I find it more amusing. But if anyone asks what is it, I always say it’s a Kia Stinger. Usually followed closely by best car I’ve ever owned.

 

[19GT-AWD]

So, let's sort this out.

There's no right or wrong answer. Just an answer.

"no right or wrong answer" lol

 

[Ozstung]

I did mine February of 2018 and had a similar experience. I even put a heatgun to it and had no issues.

But with the amount of cars that have been damaged by rebadging there's no way it's a coincidence. Either something is up with the Stinger's paint or something is up with Stinger owners.

A bit of both my Ceramic coater advised the longer the badge is on the harder they are to remove. Another words they bond harder as time goes on. With the instructions posted here in the early days the "Instructor" said patience was everything. Like Stinger gtss mine just about fell off. I calculate the badge was probably on the car from the Factory about two months only.

 

[Jimmer]

I did a complete rebadge on my 2018 GT2, but after trading it in for the 2019 GTS, the only thing I did was transfer my Es on the wheels from my 2018 to my 2019. So now, on the outside, only the front says KIA. Itll stay that way.

 

[Kamauxx]

A bit of both my Ceramic coater advised the longer the badge is on the harder they are to remove. Another words they bond harder as time goes on. With the instructions posted here in the early days the "Instructor" said patience was everything. Like Stinger gtss mine just about fell off. I calculate the badge was probably on the car from the Factory about two months only.

That's a good point. My badges were on the car for less than 3 months when I removed them. And that entire time was spent in the cooler winter temps.

 

[DrewU272]

I have 2019 GT2 I removed all of the badges (small stinger, AWD GT) and the dealership sticker from the back and replaced with large Stinger script. Love the clean look. Front placed K oval over the KIA. I have to say the K oval looks way better than the huge KIA. No ashamed/embarrassed about owning KIA in the slightest. Just prefer the current look.

 

[DrewU272]

Kia Motors front.

View attachment 31894

Black Stinger script rear.

View attachment 31895

Works for me.

Bad ass rims! where ya get 'em?

 

[Kamauxx]

Bad ass rims! where ya get 'em?

Thanks.

Don't want to hijack. Size, offset, manufacturer, seller, etc listed at this link: New Shoes for Lucille

 

[Stouder]

Can we get an option of changed the front oval with another and changed rear to large stinger script....just a suggestion since I’ve noticed a lot like that....if not I guess I fall under something else

 

[ScottM]

For me it's something I don't even think about until a thread like this comes up. The only badging that I changed was the steering wheel with an overlay to "stinger". I think for me it's just not that big of a thing and the KIA works for me. Also, when I see the stinger script on the back I think of Maserati and I don't have a Maserati. Maybe I should get a Maserati and then I won't have to worry about it.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I have a question for people that are so against rebadging with the KDM E badges. How do you feel about KIA rebadging the Stinger in the KDM? Do you think they're embarassed of their own brand so badly they hid the badges in their own country? I have a theory as to why they've done that. I believe that KIA thinks people would overlook and dismiss the car if they could clearly identify that the car is a KIA. They've added the badges in South Korea so at least people would take the time to ask and learn about the car before they see the badge and just dismiss it. I can't figure out why they didn't do the same elsewhere, unless they just wanted to test the waters in one market.

I have rebadged my car with the KDM oem badges. I love that people ask me what kind of car it is so I can tell them it's a KIA, it also opens up some dialogue so that I can tell them a little about the car, what kind of drivetrain it has and who was behind building and designing the car. That's my 2 cents at least.

 

[ScottM]

I'll be honest, when I first heard about the "E" badge when I bought my car in Feb of last year...I didn't even know what the "E" was! LOL!! Now that I know, it makes more sense. BUT...in my opinion, a person has got to do with their car as they see fit. I might not have said that a while ago as I felt that those who changed the badging didn't want it to be a "KIA". My opinion has changed very much so and it does provide a different look so as we are not all the same. Having said that, I've seen some dude talking about louvers for the rear window... that is a no go and I will never change my mind on that.

 

[AV8R]

Well your considering it then, just nervous to bite the bullet so to speak.

Always considering, just
I like look of the new badges better like everyone else does. Scared paint may lift.

 

[westcoastGT]

100% rebadged , E front , Stinger rear , GT steering wheel and wheel caps .....................


NOTE TO Manaz , pls add the E badge to the options

 

[Lynix]

I have no problem or have any shame in the car being a kia. Their logo is just ugly and that’s all there is to it. Once I get my Stinger I will change the back badge to the stinger script of course and change the front to that Lexus looking K. Also the E badge is way uglier than Kia’s logo, just so you guys know

 

[westcoastGT]

I have no problem or have any shame in the car being a kia. Their logo is just ugly and that’s all there is to it. Once I get my Stinger I will change the back badge to the stinger script of course and change the front to that Lexus looking K. Also the E badge is way uglier than Kia’s logo, just so you guys know

......well finally the answer , thanks

 

[MerlintheMad]

Disappointing choices. I'd have created the poll like this:
DO YOU REBADGE OR KEEP THE STOCK KIA AND STINGER BADGES?

• Kept the KIA and other stock badges on my Stinger
• Swapped the stock badges (one or more of them) for a different Kia badge
• Kept the KIA badges: put "K" or some other skin over them (now or later)
• I might swap out the stock badges in the future (I don't care for skins)
• I like the look of different badges but won't risk damaging my paint by rebadging
• My Stinger has been (mostly) debadged because I like the "clean look"
• Stock badges are gone and what I replaced them with has nothing to do with KIA
• I change badges to suit my current mood
• Driving a KIA embarrasses me
• KIA ROCKS

You get two votes.

I voted "Something else" simply because "Skins" was not an option.