Electronic Controlled Suspension?

[scottiep]

Hi all,

I've been looking at the Stinger for probably 6 months or so and I'm hope to be purchasing a used one in the coming months. During this time, I had settled on a GT--I like the enhanced styling (exterior) it had over the base and premium as well as the V6, wheels, etc.

However, I just learned that the GT doesn't have the electronic controlled suspension that the GT1 and GT 2 have. So, I have to ask--what is the benefit of having it? Or what would I be missing if I didn't have it?

Clearly, I'm not a huge enthusiast if I'm having to ask the above question. But I am enough of a car fan that I'm attracted to the driving experience that the Stinger provides.

I'm on a budget so that is why I am waiting on a used Stinger that would be more in my price range, so I'm curious if I should go for the electronic suspension or stick with the GT.

I do like that Ceramic Silver, tho

 

[eflyguy]

It controls body roll, which you may not care about depending on how you drive and plan to use the car. The difference is pretty dramatic despite what many other comment here. However, I do not know if the GT is set up like a GT2 in comfort or sport, or somewhere in between. The only way you can know would be to drive both. In sport mode, the ride is not suddenly "harsher", it absorbs road imperfections just as well as comfort, the body roll change is dramatically improved - which you notice more in sweeping turns than really tight bends.

I personally never take my GT2 out of comfort unless I'm up in the hills, or am feeling a little "sporty" and coming up to stretches of roads that are fun to carve up. I don't mean speeding, we have a lot of hills and twisty roads in places where most cars have to slow way down. I ride motorcycles as well and the same ability to enjoy those sections of road applies.

 

[Johnnys Stung]

Sorry to bring back an old thread but it seems to be one of the top google hits for "Stinger Electronic suspension".

2019 Stinger GT2 owner here, just got it less than a week ago. In speaking to a very knowledgeable salesman, the GT w/o electronic suspension should be set up like 'comfort' by default. This uses normal shock rates and lets the suspension do its thing. In sport mode, it tightens things up a bit and as eflyguy had mentioned, controls body roll.

There's a great turn on the Long Island Expressway (LI NY) that is a long sloping left turn and in sport mode the car felt a bit more planted. Don't get me wrogn in comfort mode the car hauls and grips fine, but Sport mode gave it an extra feeling of wanting to rip through the turn. Had the Stinger never had electronic suspension, I don't think I'd miss it.

 

[CKeeler]

I’ve heard some say that the stock GT shocks are actually closer to the Sport mode on the ECS. All the problems I’ve read that people have with the ECS (too bouncyon some roads), I don’t notice at all in mine

 

[scottiep]

I appreciate you all posting your experiences. I actually got a new 2019 GT back in late July 2019 and really love it.

But I am envious of you GT1 and 2 owners. I miss not having memory seats, rain-sensing wipers. And I think I would enjoy the larger screens/displays, not to mention the cooled seats, premium sound system and yes—the electronic suspension.

 

[Johnnys Stung]

I’ve heard some say that the stock GT shocks are actually closer to the Sport mode on the ECS. All the problems I’ve read that people have with the ECS (too bouncyon some roads), I don’t notice at all in mine

interesting... let’s break that down. Bouncy can be interpreted as too soft and floaty, without any tightness and the car can “bounce” around on cornering vs staying planted. Or, bouncy in a pogo effect kind of way from being too stiff.

What are the typical driving conditions non-electric suspension GT cars have issues with? Genuinely curious.

 

[Johnnys Stung]

I appreciate you all posting your experiences. I actually got a new 2019 GT back in late July 2019 and really love it.

But I am envious of you GT1 and 2 owners. I miss not having memory seats, rain-sensing wipers. And I think I would enjoy the larger screens/displays, not to mention the cooled seats, premium sound system and yes—the electronic suspension.

You saved thousands over getting the higher trims! If that was worth it to you, excellent, $$ saved and reinvested elsewhere that matters more. If you’re kind of kicking yourself for not pulling the trigger on the higher trims, you can apply that logic for the next purchase. I knew I’d go crazy if I didn’t get GT1 or GT2, the stereo is quite lovely and the 3D cameras and sensors are great for parking in the garage and in right spots.

 

[CKeeler]

interesting... let’s break that down. Bouncy can be interpreted as too soft and floaty, without any tightness and the car can “bounce” around on cornering vs staying planted. Or, bouncy in a pogo effect kind of way from being too stiff.

What are the typical driving conditions non-electric suspension GT cars have issues with? Genuinely curious.

I genuinely do not know. It would probably take me an hour to find all the post of people complaining about the “bounciness“ of the rear end in the electric suspension. But those with the Mando suspension controller don’t have those complaints anymore apparently. I never experienced it because I don’t have the ECS.

 

[Johnnys Stung]

I genuinely do not know. It would probably take me an hour to find all the post of people complaining about the “bounciness“ of the rear end in the electric suspension. But those with the Mando suspension controller don’t have those complaints anymore apparently. I never experienced it because I don’t have the ECS.

Looks like Sport mode only uses 60% of maximum firmness, makes sense. There needs to be a reserve so as to never push any component to 100%. Our turbos are not at 100% max output nor is the engine or the drivetrain etc, why push a suspension part to 100%? Full stiffness is probably great for spirited and/or track fun, but this is not a track car it’s a luxury performance sedan. The ride quality would probably suck, especially on Long Island aka pothole island.

So if stock GT is somewhere between comfort and sport, it’s safe to say sport is tighter and comfort is looser? I’d be hard pressed to believe a stock GT is more firm than a sport GT1 or GT2. As I drive the car more and utilize the different modes and road surfaces, perhaps I can explain this further.

 

[7Andrei7]

I have the 2.0 GT-Line that comes with the standard suspension and 19" wheels. In the car sheet it says: "Suspensii - TUNNING MODE - HARD". So I guess it's closer to the "Sport" setting rather than the "Comfort" one.
I've also been wondering if the ECS makes a big difference to the standard but never had the chance to test it.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I got the GT1 because it satisfied the three "must haves": full surround sound, 3.3L engine and sunroof. I wanted nothing else and only got what I did by happenstance; e.g. heated steering wheel, seats, ECS, AWD. Etc. As I got accustomed to my trim and its features, I started wondering what the difference in handling/feel would be with a "base" GT? In all of my reading on the forum (as here) I still cannot know the answer to that question. It seems that in the GT without ECS, when you move from Comfort to Sport, the electronics stiffen the suspension. This is something outside of ECS, but it has to be related to what goes into ECS on a fundamental or base level. Am I right?

So, without ECS, Sport simply stiffens up the four corners uniformly. And I assume that ECS goes further and adjusts each corner as feedback to the "central computer" demands a further stiffening or softening of that particular corner. Is this right? In addition to adjusting the suspension momently, brakes are applied and power is applied or cut to each corner on the AWD that has ECS. This is incredibly complicated and no tyro like me is going to be able to compare to anything driven before, that does not have any of this gizmo stuff.

Bottom line, I guess for me at least, is to just take your car for what it is and learn how it feels/behaves under all conditions: and don't worry if something else feels/handles differently. RWD, AWD, ECS, no ECS, LSD, no LSD, staggered wheels, squared wheels setup, etc. and etc. and etc.

And then each individual vehicle seems to vary somewhat (the tuning or programming is different for whatever reasons; and now we're getting into comparing Stingers from different markets). This programming of features, or features entirely missing, is probably the most misunderstood factor in what makes individual vehicles come across differently for different drivers. We say, "The Stinger handles like a true sports car!" Or, "The Stinger isn't buttoned down like my [previous ride]." Or, "The Stinger could be less floaty/bouncy/hoppy/loose in the rear end", etc. Or, "The Stinger in Sport mode really hugs sustained, high speed curves." And every one of these objective assertions will attract objectors or fans (others who agree with the description of the handling under discussion).

This post is a fresh invitation to any experienced, knowledgeable drivers who actually can shed insight into what is included in ECS vis-à-vis AWD, RWD and stock (no ECS) on our various trims.

Thank you.

 

[Johnnys Stung]

I started wondering what the difference in handling/feel would be with a "base" GT? In all of my reading on the forum (as here) I still cannot know the answer to that question. It seems that in the GT without ECS, when you move from Comfort to Sport, the electronics stiffen the suspension. This is something outside of ECS, but it has to be related to what goes into ECS on a fundamental or base level. Am I right?

This post is a fresh invitation to any experienced, knowledgeable drivers who actually can shed insight into what is included in ECS vis-à-vis AWD, RWD and stock (no ECS) on our various trims.

Thank you.

Wow thanks Merlin, very informative reply! One thing is news to me; the GT1 and GT2 have the ECS and mode selector (as we know) but the base GT has comfort and sport mode too? I didn’t think it did, assuming that only GT1 and GT2 has this.

Agreed on your point of driving and knowing your car; you can compare specs all day and want or desire what others have and they may feel the same in return, but in the end you just need to know you car and drive it how it can be driven

What intrigues me the most about the OPs question and some replies and what we’ve read elsewhere is the idea that a base GT non-ECS setup was somehow stiffer or less bouncy Or ::insert magnitude of varying assessments here:: different than the electronic suspension of the premium trims. I too want to hear from others who may know more about the ECS.

My experience? Sport stiffens the suspension up enough to feel it ever so slightly over road imperfections and speed bumps, especially so in tight turns and spirited driving. While it’s tighter and better for Sport driving, I prefer Comfort Most of the time which feels smoother than 99% of cars I’ve ever driven in, bravo Kia for making a refined driving experience. Just turn the dial to have some more fun or more comfort, I think that’s exactly what Kia wanted to accomplish and I feel they did it well.

This car is just so damn cool I want to know everything about it.

 

[7Andrei7]

Doesn't the Electronically Controlled Suspension mean that it has adaptive dampers electronically controlled? I am pretty sure that my car, with no ECS, only modifies the steering and throttle when I move from Comfort to Sport. Maybe it's different in different countries but I always thought ECS=adaptive dampers and no ECS means pre-tuned suspension with one basic setting (Hard in Europe, for example).

 

[CKeeler]

The stock GT has no difference in suspension between the different drive modes. Only changes throttle response, shift points and steering feedback

 

[eflyguy]

Doesn't the Electronically Controlled Suspension mean that it has adaptive dampers electronically controlled?

That is correct.

 

[nhcowboy28]

MONDO

 

[MerlintheMad]

One thing is news to me; the GT1 and GT2 have the ECS and mode selector (as we know) but the base GT has comfort and sport mode too? I didn’t think it did, assuming that only GT1 and GT2 has this.

I am pretty sure that my car, with no ECS, only modifies the steering and throttle when I move from Comfort to Sport.

I see that I have been pursuing my "understanding" of this from a misconception: that being, that Comfort or Sport in a Stinger without ECS alters the suspension but not dynamically: turns out that the suspension isn't involved in drive mode selection at all, and instead is tuned at the factory in ONE setting only. And that makes sense, now, out of the question "where" is that suspension tuning set? It has been said, "somewhere between Comfort and Sport"; and other subjective opinions about how the static suspension tuning compares to the drive modes with ECS have been offered. I would like to know, just for the sake of satisfying my curiosity. But unless someone has driven Stingers with and without ECS, with the specific intent to determine how the non ECS feels and handles compared to ECS (and then throw in the difference between AWD and RWD), I don't see how such an answer can be arrived at.

 

[eflyguy]

But unless someone has driven Stingers with and without ECS, with the specific intent to determine how the non ECS feels and handles compared to ECS (and then throw in the difference between AWD and RWD), I don't see how such an answer can be arrived at.

I drove both before I owned one.

 

[moinmoin]

MONDO

eh... MANDO ECS10

 

[nhcowboy28]

eh... MANDO ECS10

Whatever.