Differences Between Trim Levels

[hereward]

Yep just on principle I don't think I can talk myself in to paying 53k plus for a car that doesn't have some of the features my 4 year old optima that was 27k has. Just found a 2017 Jaguar F pace online for 57K It is used but only has 5k miles on it. I bet I could get them to knock at least a couple Grand off that price. I really liked the stinger but I don't think I can buy one when I can get all the F-pace has to offer for 1500 more?

As good or perhaps even better, is the 2018 Honda Accord coming for sale this fall. It'll be just a tad over the 2017 model, so the top of the line Touring model with the 2.0T engine ( hp and torque in the same ball park as the Stinger) with ALL the driver assistance packages is likely to be around $35K. Add to that the reliability of Honda, it all looks very attractive. Yes, Accord is fwd, so it sticks in the craw of my rwd BMW habit, but Stinger is looking less attractive to me by the hour.

 

[davebo]

Out of curiosity, if you don't care about fwd vs. rwd, how would the 2018 Accord stack up against the Optima?

 

[hereward]

Out of curiosity, if you don't care about fwd vs. rwd, how would the 2018 Accord stack up against the Optima?

Dave, I've not driven an Optima but have some experience with Honda which I think drives nicely. The Optima is almost certainly a Honda Accord equal, especially given the strides Kia has made in reliability. So, all in all, the Optima can be a good contender for the Stinger if one were to overcome the rwd prejudice.

One appealing item about the new Accord is that the 2.0T engine comes with an option for the matchless Honda 6-speed manual gear box.

Actually, when we contemplate a departure from rwd, what about the Kia Cadenza? The ones I've seen at the dealer were exquisitely finished.

 

[eljay]

Actually, when we contemplate a departure from rwd, what about the Kia Cadenza? The ones I've seen at the dealer were exquisitely finished.

The Cadenza I drove last week was, on a limited drive in city traffic, so nice that it's now my 3rd choice, and only 3rd because it doesn't have the hatch I want. It has HUD and surround view, and at a reasonable price, loaded.

 

[hereward]

The Cadenza I drove last week was, on a limited drive in city traffic, so nice that it's now my 3rd choice, and only 3rd because it doesn't have the hatch I want. It has HUD and surround view, and at a reasonable price, loaded.

Yes, the hatch was a deciding factor in choosing the Stinger, but in itself it may not suffice for the marketing mess by Kia. Too bad.

 

[jbweb7]

The new Accord is nice looking and by all accounts Honda has put the special sporty sauce back into the mix. Like a few others, I've got experience with the brand and owning a Honda really is so easy. The first car I ever bought was a used 1996 V6 Accord EX-L. I bought it with just under 50k and sold it with over 220,000 and it still ran like a top. If Honda had AWD I'd probably be jumping that way about now since I'm so disappointed in the specs of the Stinger 2.0T. At this point I'm probably waiting for the 19 Stingers, the 18 Regal or a Ford Fusion Sport. I'm betting the Fusion Sports are going to be be a heck of a deal once the new 19 redesign comes out.

 

[davebo]

Yes, the hatch was a deciding factor in choosing the Stinger, but in itself it may not suffice for the marketing mess by Kia. Too bad.

I really want that hatch. Just chucking my mountain bike in the back, all the equipment I need to haul for work, it's a real quality of life improvement for me. So it's the Stinger or the Buick Regal GS, and I don't really need awd, and the only "color" that comes in is red. I know I'm still pissed that they arbitrarily stole sunset yellow from the usa market but switching to Buick won't get me a yellow car so all I can do now is either switch back to blue or wait a year and see.

 

[Jayce]

For me its not one thing by itself. Like no heated rear seats = no purchase. Its all one synergistic combination of missing options, higher price than it should be, gas mileage lower than all other players, good but not class leading performance (that is exacerbated when the faster cars get better fuel economy) and brand perception that leads to heavy depreciation of an already too expensive item.

I get all the retorts as well: I don't need that option; its still cheaper than a BMW; it has "more room" so its not as fast/gets worse fuel economy; all sedans depreciate because SUVs; et al. So I have to ask, will telling myself I have a "discount BMW" make me happier driving it? If I already have to give up certain options can I give up even more to find something at a lower price? Do I need that much space or can I go smaller (and maybe faster)? When I thought we were getting every option for under 50k I was not inclined to go down these roads. Now, not so much.

This is also how I feel. If they don't have those features, I likely won't get one. If you want to give us less options than every other place, then I'll vote with my wallet and I won't buy it. Maybe next time they'll get it right.

 

[zoop]

Maybe a certified A7 is the way to go. Here is an example.

https://www.carmax.com/car/15053940

Proven platform -- Check
Depreciation hit -- Check
Better resale -- Check
Power everything -- Check
Luxury Brand -- Check
AWD V6 Turbo -- Check

Just warranty and 360 camera and maintenance would be negatives for the same money.... I'm not giving up yet though!

The A series steering is way too loose. Nobody considering the Stinger should be looking seriously at the A7. The S7 on the other hand is a completely different story, but it is also going to be 25k more than the Stinger.

The thing about the Stinger is there is really no *comparable* car. The 3 and 4 series have absolutely no rear legroom. The Audi S5 sportsback suffers the same problem. Step up to the BMW 5 series or S7 and the pricing is not competitive. Throw in the fact that nobody wants to keep a BMW or Audi beyond the warranty period because repair costs are through the roof and I dont see their cars as real competitors. People who have money to burn and care about the badge will get those cars. Getting a used Audi or BMW to compete on price will just result in higher expenses later while Stinger owners will be happy with the warranty coverage.

Acura TL and Infinity Q50 sport are both a nice mix of sport and luxury but lean more towards the luxury side and are still 5-8k more than the Stinger fully equipped without the handling that we are seeing in the reviews of the Stinger.

 

[zoop]

Dave, I've not driven an Optima but have some experience with Honda which I think drives nicely. The Optima is almost certainly a Honda Accord equal, especially given the strides Kia has made in reliability. So, all in all, the Optima can be a good contender for the Stinger if one were to overcome the rwd prejudice.

One appealing item about the new Accord is that the 2.0T engine comes with an option for the matchless Honda 6-speed manual gear box.

Actually, when we contemplate a departure from rwd, what about the Kia Cadenza? The ones I've seen at the dealer were exquisitely finished.

Main issue with the optima (I drive a 2012 Optima Hybrid) is the depreciation. Totally not worth buying an Optima new when in 1 year they will depreciate 10k. Can even get a still new 2017 Optima on dealer's lots for 6-7k less than they were at the beginning of the year.

 

[Chris]

Main issue with the optima (I drive a 2012 Optima Hybrid) is the depreciation. Totally not worth buying an Optima new when in 1 year they will depreciate 10k. Can even get a still new 2017 Optima on dealer's lots for 6-7k less than they were at the beginning of the year.

You don't think the stinger is going to drop in value even faster? Look at the k900. I saw a 2015 with 27k miles I think for less than half the cost new. Over 50% in 2.5 years. With the way Kia is pricing the stinger I see the exact same thing happening. In a year or two they will be offering the same 11k lease cash they are offering on the k900 and the value of a used stinger is going to tank.

 

[zoop]

You don't think the stinger is going to drop in value even faster? Look at the k900. I saw a 2015 with 27k miles I think for less than half the cost new. Over 50% in 2.5 years. With the way Kia is pricing the stinger I see the exact same thing happening. In a year or two they will be offering the same 11k lease cash they are offering on the k900 and the value of a used stinger is going to tank.

No I definitely think it'll drop in value in a similar fashion if not faster... but I dont switch cars usually in 3-5 years and in 7-8 years the depreciation tends to catch up on most cars. The S series Audis and the BMWs dont fare much better when it comes to depreciation after the warranty period. The Acuras on the other hand have crazy good resale value. One other car I forgot to mention in the comparison is going to be the Tesla Model 3... have a deposit down on that one also but I will hopefully get to test drive it before I have to make a decision on whether or not to actually purchase. I have a feeling I wont be impressed though as even the model S feels a bit too 'luxury' and not enough 'sport' for me.