Bilstein is waiting

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

I've emailed Bilstein, K&W and some others. Bilstein wrote back immediately, and said if there was demand from Stinger owners, they would produce a line for the car. K&W was a bit snobby, and said they didn't make products for any Kia and had no plans to. Since Bilstein will make shocks for the Stinger, with demand, I was curious--if they started making a suspension upgrade for the Stinger, would you be likely to buy it? What are your thoughts on the suspension and what is your setup?

 

[xot1]

Yes

 

[CaliSting]

If they make electronically controlled units for GT2 I’d buy a set yesterday. I wrote them as well.

 

[CaliSting]

We apparently are not alone!

Hello ,

We have not started any development on this chassis in the US. They may tune on this vehicle in Germany before we do it here.

I have added this request to the many we have gotten on this vehicle.

Thanks for your interest.

Kind Regards,
Technical & Warranty Support Expert
thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America, Inc
T: +1 858 386-5956, F: +1 858 386-5256, www.bilsteinus.com

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

Regarding chassis, the G70 has the same, right? So, a product for the Stinger might fit the G70 as well (although presumably vehicle specific adjustments would be needed). If you can feed two birds with one crumb, that's nice from a manufacturing standpoint.

 

[xot1]

Regarding chassis, the G70 has the same, right? So, a product for the Stinger might fit the G70 as well (although presumably vehicle specific adjustments would be needed). If you can feed two birds with one crumb, that's nice from a manufacturing standpoint.

Yes.
The suspension is the same, maybe the spring rate needs to be changed a bit because of the weight but it is not mandatory. (remove the sunroof on the stinger and you got the same weight as the G70 with a sunroof)

 

[SteveCo]

... remove the sunroof on the stinger and you got the same weight as the G70 with a sunroof ...

Remove the sunroof??? Never!

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

(remove the sunroof on the stinger and you got the same weight as the G70 with a sunroof)

How much weight does it save? I chose not to have a sunroof just because I didn't want the added road noise, and also because I assumed it would be more structurally sound with a continuous steel roof. I didn't think of weight savings, so that would be a bonus benefit.

 

[xot1]

How much weight does it save? I chose not to have a sunroof just because I didn't want the added road noise, and also because I assumed it would be more structurally sound with a continuous steel roof. I didn't think of weight savings, so that would be a bonus benefit.

It saves 80kg which is about the weight difference between two fully spec'ed Stinger and G70.
I had a similar reasoning as you said and I didn't get a sunroof.
No sunroof meant: No risk of rattles, a lighter car, a lower center of gravity, a stronger frame, a little more head room inside the cabin, slightly cheaper to tint (one less window) and the option was 800 bucks so it also saved some cash.
But I understand people getting one because when the weather is good, you're happy to have one.

 

[phxgt]

It saves 80kg which is about the weight difference between two fully spec'ed Stinger and G70.
I had a similar reasoning as you said and I didn't get a sunroof.
No sunroof meant: No risk of rattles, a lighter car, a lower center of gravity, a stronger frame, a little more head room inside the cabin, slightly cheaper to tint (one less window) and the option was 800 bucks so it also saved some cash.
But I understand people getting one because when the weather is good, you're happy to have one.

They're is no $800 option in the US. The Premium, GT2 and GT1 come with the sunroof. If I could have deleted the sunroof on a GT2 I would have.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

It saves 80kg which is about the weight difference between two fully spec'ed Stinger and G70.
I had a similar reasoning as you said and I didn't get a sunroof.
No sunroof meant: No risk of rattles, a lighter car, a lower center of gravity, a stronger frame, a little more head room inside the cabin, slightly cheaper to tint (one less window) and the option was 800 bucks so it also saved some cash.
But I understand people getting one because when the weather is good, you're happy to have one.

That's true except for the headroom, which is actually less. Usually that is the case, but with the design of the Stinger, there is more headroom in the sunroof model--if you pull the sunshade back.

They're is no $800 option in the US. The Premium, GT2 and GT1 come with the sunroof. If I could have deleted the sunroof on a GT2 I would have.

Also true. Kia is clearly testing different options and market preference predictions. Since you live in Phoenix, SkyHarborGT, I'd look into some options to try and prevent the sunroof from exploding. I know one forum member here put some film on it, hoping that would prevent it from shattering, but I'm guessing the black sunshade below it is increasing the heat which leads to their uncontrolled rapid disassembly (trying to make another airplane reference). Perhaps a thin white, or light tan, colored material on the top of the shade would reduce the heat. I'm not a physicist, but it's one thing that came to mind.