It's Wrong to Debadge "Kia" from the Stinger

[ZyroXZ2]

Maybe someone has posted this somewhere which makes me a repeat, and maybe not, but... I think it's incredibly mean to debadge the "Kia" from the Stinger.

They made a good car at good value. It's not perfect, and it's not meant to be. It's meant to be great bang for your buck. They did a good job overall between the platform design, the looks, and the powertrain. Kia has earned the right to have their badge on this car.

I learned years ago that Hyundai was catching up, though, and I started to respect that. I'm no brand loyalist (obviously: I just bought a Kia! lol ), but I think there's a real "brand" issue (read: snob issue) that we, as owners of the Stinger, should be doing our best to turn around.

If you're a habitual debadger, then yea this doesn't really apply to you since you just take badges off everything. But for those people who purposely debadge the Stinger because they want to get rid of the "Kia": I think you're doing Kia an injustice. Sure, it's your money, but if you're embarrassed to be driving a Kia, you clearly picked the wrong car.

Just my two cents.

 

[Soca Boy]

I agree with you, but that Stinger badge in the back instead of the KIA logo is nice. Even KIA replaced the KIA logo in the rear for the 2019 Stinger Atlantica model.

 

[Crisis]

Fair comment.

I am a "habitual de-badger" (I really like that term) and would have no badges on the rear of my car, if it wasn't for the holes that are left from the Kia badge on the back. Given that I can't have a completely clean rear end of the car, I will be replacing the Kia badge with a large "Stinger" script. I've already removed the other rear badges and will hopefully replace the other rear badge tonight.

But as for the front badge, I have no plans on replacing that one. In my opinion, none of the replacement badges are an improvement over the stock Kia oval (I think the EE just confuses people even more) and, as you say, we have nothing to be ashamed of because we're driving a Kia. If anything, driving a Kia Stinger shows that we know how to get great bang for our buck - no shame in that.

 

[Soca Boy]

Fair comment.

I am a "habitual de-badger" (I really like that term) and would have no badges on the rear of my car, if it wasn't for the holes that are left from the Kia badge on the back. Given that I can't have a completely clean rear end of the car, I will be replacing the Kia badge with a large "Stinger" script. I've already removed the other rear badges and will hopefully replace the other rear badge tonight.

But as for the front badge, I have no plans on replacing that one. In my opinion, none of the replacement badges are an improvement over the stock Kia oval (I think the EE just confuses people even more) and, as you say, we have nothing to be ashamed of because we're driving a Kia. If anything, driving a Kia Stinger shows that we know how to get great bang for our buck - no shame in that.

Plus having the front badge helps the people who stare at the Stinger figure out what brand it is, lol.

 

[DiabloStinger]

i'd made some snarky comment to rebutt you but it really is a personal choice. the stock kia logo is not attractive.

 

[westcoastGT]

just remember that Kia does not have Kia branding in Korea on the Stinger ........................and yes I'm debadged and loving it !

 

[ballistic]

most people just don't like the ugly badge. that is all.

 

[1RADKIA]

ReBadging POINT - OVERLOOKED: people are removing a "Kia" badge and installing a "Kia" badge. Not a Mercedes badge, Cadillac badge or something else. Seems as if many of us feel the Korean Kia badging is simply more appealing. Enough so to spend the time... and money. Ahhhh.... the freedom of choice and individuality. db

 

[Dark_Knight GT]

I blacked out the car and went with the Korean for the front and the Stinger in back. I find it quite amusing to have folks stare and read their lips “what the f$&k is that” as they drive by. I’m not hesitant to let them know it’s a kia (had a guy this weekend offer to trade me for his 5 series, and he didn’t even know what kind of car it was).

I just think the traditional kia logo is lame for this car, even though I appreciate kia’s need to do so for name recognition. As soon as they pay me a sponsorship fee, I’ll put it back how they built it.

 

[StingerNYC]

Maybe someone has posted this somewhere which makes me a repeat, and maybe not, but... I think it's incredibly mean to debadge the "Kia" from the Stinger.

They made a good car at good value. It's not perfect, and it's not meant to be. It's meant to be great bang for your buck. They did a good job overall between the platform design, the looks, and the powertrain. Kia has earned the right to have their badge on this car.

I learned years ago that Hyundai was catching up, though, and I started to respect that. I'm no brand loyalist (obviously: I just bought a Kia! lol ), but I think there's a real "brand" issue (read: snob issue) that we, as owners of the Stinger, should be doing our best to turn around.

If you're a habitual debadger, then yea this doesn't really apply to you since you just take badges off everything. But for those people who purposely debadge the Stinger because they want to get rid of the "Kia": I think you're doing Kia an injustice. Sure, it's your money, but if you're embarrassed to be driving a Kia, you clearly picked the wrong car.

Just my two cents.

Nothing against KIA, but the badge is hideous. I can't stand it. It looks low class, low quality and cheap. It does not belong on a car that is looking to step up and compete against luxury brands.

 

[Rango]

Ebadge on the front ... Stinger script on the back here. All OEM (just not American OEM). I don't need to stand up for KIA's "excellence" in car manufacturing ... the people who drool over my car do that for me!

 

[Kamauxx]

Sure, it's your money,

 

[Dan1028]

Habitual debadgers, meet perpetual Badgers! (it had to be done):

 

[Schumi Jr]

I just didn't like the Kia badge being the only thing in chrome. Had it been in dark chrome like the rest of the car I would have left the emblems alone. They were out of place.

 

[Never thought]

I don’t get how you can say it’s incredibly mean for people to change a badge. Are you kidding me? I paid for the car, it’s mine, I can do whatever I want to it. The Kia badge is ugly. That’s the reason I took that badge off but went with the other Kia badge, the E badge.

So I guess I am incredibly mean...

 

[westcoastGT]

I don’t get how you can say it’s incredibly mean for people to change a badge. Are you kidding me? I paid for the car, it’s mine, I can do whatever I want to it. The Kia badge is ugly. That’s the reason I took that badge off but went with the other Kia badge, the E badge.

So I guess I am incredibly mean...

yes you are , now go to therapy ! baw

 

[StingerGT68]

New badge but still Kia

 

[jdouga]

Logo looks ugly, E badge is more appealing and same with the back(i get kia is trying to make their brand recognizable which is why korea is the only one with the E and the big stinger logo in the back) i love my kia and i tell ppl its a kia, but the big oval is just ugly af

 

[MerlintheMad]

New badge but still Kia
View attachment 9029

I am tempted by this one, actually.

 

[Ivansito]

I've had more people approach me to inquire after rebadging. Always happy to point to the only KIA badge remaining, inside the heart of the car. The steering wheel.