Ride Comfort: GT vs GT1/GT2

[PTMStinger]

Wondering for those that have a gt1/gt2 what setting are you driving with and are you happy with the daily drive comfort from the adaptive suspension? I have a Panthera Metal GT w/ the safety tech package. Drove the car for roughly 2 weeks and just recently found out that the suspension in the GT is not adjustable. Was told by the sales rep that the base GT does have different modes to select and I assumed that includes the suspension. Only found out after I noticed that switching from comfort to sport I did not feel much difference with the suspension and when I went to the custom setting I realized there is no setting for the suspension. After living with the car for about 2 weeks, I found the ride quality to be a bit harsh. I had several cars previously - Golf GTI Mk 6, S4 B8.5, Lexus GS base and the Stinger GT feels the most harsh. Reminds me alittle of the GTI, but I think the GTI is more forgiving, or maybe I was just younger then. Now with 2 kids and family, I think I prefer a better dampened car for daily commute. I live in Los Angeles with pretty poor road condition so that may have made things worst. Contemplating of even trading in the GT at some point and getting the GT1 if the comfort mode in the GT1/GT2 is softer than the current GT set up. Will probably have to get a test drive later but I think usually it's hard to get a feel until you have the car for some time. I only test drove the GT during the dealer visit.

 

[mldavis2]

I don't mess much with drive modes - either Comfort or Sport depending on where I am. But Comfort mode in the GT2 is a bit more supple than Sport. I find it firm but not at all harsh. I've always gone with heavier suspension on my cars and ordered the optional suspension packages when available, so I don't think as much about ride comfort as about handling. Only way to really know how it fits you is to compare trim levels on a known stretch of road, otherwise there are too many variables.

 

[Ron]

I don't mess much with drive modes - either Comfort or Sport depending on where I am. But Comfort mode in the GT2 is a bit more supple than Sport. I find it firm but not at all harsh. I've always gone with heavier suspension on my cars and ordered the optional suspension packages when available, so I don't think as much about ride comfort as about handling. Only way to really know how it fits you is to compare trim levels on a known stretch of road, otherwise there are too many variables.

I keep my GT2 in New Jersey and drive it back and forth to NYC I would say I keep it 90% of the time in comfort mode.
Rides nice and I have gotten as much as 27 miles to the gallon.

 

[SonomaGT]

IMO there is a big difference between comfort and sport. I know what you mean - I'm in N. CA, potholes and torn up roads everywhere. Constantly dodging so I don't get a flat. My husband has a bad back and I keep it in comfort when he's in the car. He can feel the difference too. I'm disappointed for you. Didn't realize you didn't have that as a standard option in the GT.

 

[Johnni]

I was wondering the same thing about the Base GT don't come with the adaptive suspension. Now it is confirm only the GT1 and GT2 have the adaptive suspension and that mean I will be shopping for after market adjustable suspension in the future, which for better or worse, only time will tell. For now I am just going to enjoy what I had and the saving I got when I choose the base GT over the GT1 and GT2 trim.

 

[PTMStinger]

Thanks for the reply guys. I will have to go get a test drive on the GT1/GT2

I was wondering the same thing about the Base GT don't come with the adaptive suspension. Now it is confirm only the GT1 and GT2 have the adaptive suspension and that mean I will be shopping for after market adjustable suspension in the future, which for better or worse, only time will tell. For now I am just going to enjoy what I had and the saving I got when I choose the base GT over the GT1 and GT2 trim.

I think the confusing part is that all the media put the car as the Stinger GT in their headlines when in fact they are given a GT2 for review. They will use the term GT and GT2 interchangeably so when you are reading reviews online one would assume the GT does in fact comes with the adaptive suspension. The adaptive suspension is one of the feature that really drew me to the car.

 

[mldavis2]

Thanks for the reply guys. I will have to go get a test drive on the GT1/GT2



I think the confusing part is that all the media put the car as the Stinger GT in their headlines when in fact they are given a GT2 for review. They will use the term GT and GT2 interchangeably so when you are reading reviews online one would assume the GT does in fact comes with the adaptive suspension. The adaptive suspension is one of the feature that really drew me to the car.

and then not all reviews are for trim levels in the U.S. - come are Canadian, some European, some Korean. GT is generic. You have to be careful and pay attention not only to the trim level but also the country.

 

[Soca Boy]

I have a GT2, I use custom if not in sport. For engine/transmission -eco, steering wheel -sport, suspension -comfort, AWD -comfort, Active engine sound -enhanced, those are my settings.

 

[iclicku]

I think it's noticeable when switching between comfort and sport. Hope the test drive confirms what you want to find out.

 

[Waynerm002]

My first drive of a Stinger GT was on the Base GT model and I liked the way the suspension was tuned for everyday driving. That being said, I didn't drive it on bad roads but we felt it was pretty comfortable for a sports car on 19" wheels and tires. I'll have to go drive a GT2 to see how it differs in each mode.

 

[SteveCo]

My first test drive in a Stinger GT Limited (GT2) was fully in 'Comfort' mode, as I never even thought about changing modes until we got back to the dealer parking lot. When I realized that, we went out for another 20 minute loop in 'Sport' mode and I noticed a substantial difference in the steering feel and damper settings, as well as the more obvious remapped throttle response. This was on 18" winter tires and over a mix of highway, city, and good and (very) bad condition roads.

Made a huge difference in my opinion of the car - must have been good, because now I own one ...

 

[davebo]

I'm only at the tail end of my thirties but I love the firmness of the suspension in the base GT. In my Corvette I'd bounce between Sport and Performance but never bothered with the Touring softer setting. I thought reviews were pretty fair in detailing the price and trim of their test model, but yeah all the headlines just said GT, so I can understand the confusion.

 

[17th_Letter]

So i have test driven the GT2 with both AWD and RWD, i own a Base GT. I will say that the Base GT with standard suspension is firmer than the GT1/2 on sport. I have driven the same loop with all three cars and i honestly prefer the standard suspension to the adaptive suspension. i also have been known to replace suspension shortly after buying a car cause it normally feels to soft.

That being said, the base is so stiff after driving it for two months, i'm almost of the mind of not replacing the suspension. It handles everything so well to me. I just wish i could the car a little lower and keep the ride the same.

 

[Ucinn]

I'll give you a ride in my Mustang and then you will think your GT is riding on air

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

So i have test driven the GT2 with both AWD and RWD, i own a Base GT. I will say that the Base GT with standard suspension is firmer than the GT1/2 on sport. I have driven the same loop with all three cars and i honestly prefer the standard suspension to the adaptive suspension. i also have been known to replace suspension shortly after buying a car cause it normally feels to soft.

That being said, the base is so stiff after driving it for two months, i'm almost of the mind of not replacing the suspension. It handles everything so well to me. I just wish i could the car a little lower and keep the ride the same.

Thank you so much for that! You've put my mind at ease. I have the GT, and like the OP, when got it was told by the salesperson is had the variable suspension (he said the suspension was adjusted with the "AWD" setting). My issue with the suspension is how soft it is. I thought getting a GT1 would give me a firmer ride, but if the GT1/2 are softer in sport than a GT, then I got the right car by accident. I find the standard suspension to be fine for highway driving on the awful roads in Washington (wish it had 18" wheels though), but wanted something firmer for Montana-class interstate mountain passes. I'm still in break-in phase, just did my 500 mile oil change. I'm looking forward to being done with this tedious breakin process, all the oil changes, and actually getting to drive the damn car.

 

[Soca Boy]

Thank you so much for that! You've put my mind at ease. I have the GT, and like the OP, when got it was told by the salesperson is had the variable suspension (he said the suspension was adjusted with the "AWD" setting). My issue with the suspension is how soft it is. I thought getting a GT1 would give me a firmer ride, but if the GT1/2 are softer in sport than a GT, then I got the right car by accident. I find the standard suspension to be fine for highway driving on the awful roads in Washington (wish it had 18" wheels though), but wanted something firmer for Montana-class interstate mountain passes. I'm still in break-in phase, just did my 500 mile oil change. I'm looking forward to being done with this tedious breakin process, all the oil changes, and actually getting to drive the damn car.

Did they tell you to do an oil change so early or did you just do it?

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

Did they tell you to do an oil change so early or did you just do it?

That was from the break-in procedure thread here. This was my first new car, so I wanted to do the breakin process as best I could. That thread recommended an oil change at 100, 500, 1000 miles. Then, at 1,500, both an oil change and a transmission flush. The idea is that apparently there may be some small metal shavings in both a new engine and transmission, and doing this just flushes any such particles out before they get mashed down. Whether it makes a difference, I don't know, but it doesn't hurt. I put about 400 miles on today, carefully mixed city/highway and shifting both RPM's and speeds, as described. So, tomorrow I'll do the 1,000 mile oil change, and then next week do the 1,500 mile oil change and transmission flush. Driving this baby in "manual" is incredible. I can't imagine going back to "auto" now. I never had a manual car before either, but after driving this for the past two days in "manual", I certainly get why "drivers" prefer them. Given the gear ratios, the T stick is pretty critical, because I'm shifting into 2nd and 3rd while turning from a stoplight, then switch to the paddles in 3rd once the car is more or less straight. I haven't used "sport" mode much yet, because I haven't been anywhere it applies. I find the throttle response too extreme for general driving, so I drive in "custom" with everything set to "comfort" except the steering (which I prefer more weighted), so that's set to sport. Anyway, in that configuration, driving "manual"...just delicious. The car comes alive, and the beast is unshackled.

 

[mldavis2]

The Stinger transmission is non-servicable. You could have them suck fluid out of the fill hole, but there is no scheduled maintenance on the transmission. My G8 GT had a sealed transmission that 200,000 on it when I traded it. Ran like new.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

The Stinger transmission is non-servicable. You could have them suck fluid out of the fill hole, but there is no scheduled maintenance on the transmission. My G8 GT had a sealed transmission that 200,000 on it when I traded it. Ran like new.

The manual says the transmission fluid needs to be flushed every 60,000 miles for severe driving conditions, just like other cars, (chapter 7, page 14). Driving mountain passes is considered "severe", and that's what I enjoy doing with my cars. Once I do the 1,500 mile service, I'll be hitting the slopes.

 

[Soca Boy]

That was from the break-in procedure thread here. This was my first new car, so I wanted to do the breakin process as best I could. That thread recommended an oil change at 100, 500, 1000 miles. Then, at 1,500, both an oil change and a transmission flush. The idea is that apparently there may be some small metal shavings in both a new engine and transmission, and doing this just flushes any such particles out before they get mashed down. Whether it makes a difference, I don't know, but it doesn't hurt. I put about 400 miles on today, carefully mixed city/highway and shifting both RPM's and speeds, as described. So, tomorrow I'll do the 1,000 mile oil change, and then next week do the 1,500 mile oil change and transmission flush. Driving this baby in "manual" is incredible. I can't imagine going back to "auto" now. I never had a manual car before either, but after driving this for the past two days in "manual", I certainly get why "drivers" prefer them. Given the gear ratios, the T stick is pretty critical, because I'm shifting into 2nd and 3rd while turning from a stoplight, then switch to the paddles in 3rd once the car is more or less straight. I haven't used "sport" mode much yet, because I haven't been anywhere it applies. I find the throttle response too extreme for general driving, so I drive in "custom" with everything set to "comfort" except the steering (which I prefer more weighted), so that's set to sport. Anyway, in that configuration, driving "manual"...just delicious. The car comes alive, and the beast is unshackled.

I might get my oil change, I agree with you on sport mode, I find myself in comfort most of the time.