1st Gt test drive

[CoconutRob]

I had my first test drive today @ Felton Holly Kia. I drove a GT AWD. The car was everything I taught it would be and I really like it although I still am interested in GT2 RWD. The sales man was a really nice guy and very informative on some things but was a little of a mess. Telling me it had ventilated seats, an electronically-controlled suspension, along with a few other things. It was AWD that drove fine but felt a bit heavy. I think my mind is made on a RWD. The reviews may over exaggerate the quickness. It was quick enough for my needs but not knock your socks off fast as I was lead to believe. With that being said at one point I was traveling 55mph and it felt as if I was going 30MPH so maybe it was me. I did like it a ot and excited to drive a RWD GT2.
The dealership experience was just weird. Had a random guy hanging around (maybe security). Everyone was a little sloppy. Don' really know how to explain it but went to Ford after and that experience felt like a high end dealership in comparison.
So I have to say my 2 stinger experience' to date were aweome and it is on top of my purchase list BUT the dealership and service rumors keep me a step back.

 

[iclicku]

Ya know I agree with the whole power thing. I've never owned a car with over 300hp and was expecting break neck acceleration/speed. After I test drove the S5 and Stinger GT I felt underwhelmed. Still happy I chose the Stinger but I think I'll need a car that gets 0-60 in 3.0-3.5 seconds to get the rush I expect from a high performance sports car.

No ragrets.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Us Aussies don’t get the AWD option, but I suggest you test drive the RWD one before you decide. Also I don’t know your location but try another Kia Dealer not all of them are the same it may help with your final decision. Either way you will enjoy this car & everything it has to offer.

 

[mldavis2]

The power is deceptive because of the turbo lag (very minimal with the twin scrolls) and the flat torque curve from low RPM on up to 6K. But the numbers don't lie, and almost every reviewer has gotten better than 4.7 sec. 0-60 times with C&D claiming 4.4 sec. Unless you're a street racer, the power is where you need it without the driveline shock of cars like my 425HP GTO.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

The power is deceptive because of the turbo lag (very minimal with the twin scrolls) and the flat torque curve from low RPM on up to 6K. But the numbers don't lie, and almost every reviewer has gotten better than 4.7 sec. 0-60 times with C&D claiming 4.4 sec. Unless you're a street racer, the power is where you need it without the driveline shock of cars like my 425HP GTO.

Totally agree with this, my old SS was 260kW after a little work it felt quick but you had to “wind” it up, this has the power on demand no matter where you are the the acceleration is so smooth you don’t realise how quick it actually is, this is what I love about this car, opens peoples eyes once you punch the go pedal.

 

[CoconutRob]

Ya know I agree with the whole power thing. I've never owned a car with over 300hp and was expecting break neck acceleration/speed. After I test drove the S5 and Stinger GT I felt underwhelmed. Still happy I chose the Stinger but I think I'll need a car that gets 0-60 in 3.0-3.5 seconds to get the rush I expect from a high performance sports car.

No ragrets.View attachment 3032

Yeah don' get me wrong it' all I need and it' ' quick for 4000 pounds but after watching and reading a bunch of reviews made it underwelming. I think Kia did a great job on a GT car. I would like the exhaust to be just a touch louder that would be one of my only negative' of the actual car besides color combo options. Also the 360 camera is a non issue for me since I can' even get used to a backup rear camera. Lol

 

[CoconutRob]

The power is deceptive because of the turbo lag (very minimal with the twin scrolls) and the flat torque curve from low RPM on up to 6K. But the numbers don't lie, and almost every reviewer has gotten better than 4.7 sec. 0-60 times with C&D claiming 4.4 sec. Unless you're a street racer, the power is where you need it without the driveline shock of cars like my 425HP GTO.

That' funny you mention turbo lag because that' one thing I wanted to mention. I felt very minimal turbo lag(first turbo car ever driven). After at Ford the twin turbo I dove there felt very powerful (not quicker) but horrible lag and off my list because of that reason. I don' know if any of this makes sense but it's my experience

 

[Kamauxx]

Keep in mind the AWD Stinger is heavier than the RWD version, OP.

I wasn't terrible blown away by the speed until about 30 minutes ago when I did a couple of short jaunts with launch control. It thew me back in my seat and put my heart in my stomach.

 

[mldavis2]

@Kamauxx makes another good point, although launch times between the RWD and AWD are essentially identical. The AWD has the advantage of better traction, the RWD has a 170 lb. weight advantage which is negligible, IMHO. Both versions meet the performance specs.

The reason there is little turbo lag is because of the twin scroll design. You might look them up for an explanation of how they are better than a single scroll design. I had a Saab EMS turbo in '75 which had an older style single scroll design. The boost was there, but you had to wrap it up tighter before you got the boost. Take a look at the power curves and especially the torque curve of the 3.3 with the twin scroll twin turbo design. The flat torque curve, as @Stinger GT SS said above gives it usable power right in the power band, and the Kia-designed 8-speed does a great job of keeping within that power band. The car really is faster than you think, even when driving it. It is faster 0-60 than my 425HP GTO RWD with LSD. And don't let the KIA badge distract you from being objective in evaluating the car. I spent many days and looked at many cars. If you think you need a 0-60 time any faster, you need to double the price to find it unless you build your own.

 

[Clearly Canadian]

That' funny you mention turbo lag because that' one thing I wanted to mention. I felt very minimal turbo lag(first turbo car ever driven). After at Ford the twin turbo I dove there felt very powerful (not quicker) but horrible lag and off my list because of that reason. I don' know if any of this makes sense but it's my experience

What drive mode were you in?

 

[CoconutRob]

What drive mode were you in?

Comfort and sport. Also can anyone answer this. Does the shift by wire transfer in the GT2 change transmission performance at all? Or should I say what is the differences?

 

[EchoesMyron]

Comfort and sport. Also can anyone answer this. Does the shift by wire transfer in the GT2 change transmission performance at all? Or should I say what is the differences?

All the shift by wire does is eliminate the cable/ linkage between the shifter and transmission that a traditional shifter would have. The advantage to this is that it simplifies the mechanical aspect of the car slightly (fewer moving parts) and simplifies packaging (don't need space for a cable or the associated parts). It also potentially allows the TCM (Transmission control module) to shift between park, neutral, drive, and reverse if it wanted to which opens up some semi-autonomous options. Essentially the shift by wire shifter is just a fancy electrical switch versus a shifter that actually moves and slides a cable linked to a spool valve in the transmission.

There is no difference in transmission performance between the two shifters.

Also, drive mode alters performance significantly. The car feels pretty sluggish in comfort mode but downright aggressive in sport mode.

The GT Stinger is deceptively fast. As others have said, the power comes on so smoothly that you don't even realize how fast it is. I'll get in my wife's turbocharged Volvo after driving my Stinger and it feels very snappy off the line but runs out of steam rather quickly. The Stinger pulls hard and keeps pulling. The flat torque curve is quite impressive. I've driven a lot of turbocharged cars and the Stinger in sport mode has virtually no turbo lag, just gobs of torque.

Also, If you were driving a RWD car and really punched it, the traction control may kick in momentarily to prevent the tires from spinning, this would momentarily decrease your acceleration making the car feel slower and could be confused with turbo lag. The AWD car stands up and goes!

 

[mldavis2]

Also, If you were driving a RWD car and really punched it, the traction control may kick in momentarily to prevent the tires from spinning, this would momentarily decrease your acceleration making the car feel slower and could be confused with turbo lag. The AWD car stands up and goes!

This sense of instant launch varies quite a bit with the weight of the car and tire grip. My GTO has traction control and LSD, but won't light up the tires if the traction control is on, and although normally aspirated, you can feel the computer limit power until the grip catches up which is well into 2nd gear. A heavier car doesn't give you the sense of how fast it is until the grip balances with available torque. Smaller cars seem quicker off the line for a few feet giving the illusion of quickness that quickly dissipates when you compare the numbers. AWD cars usually launch better, and the near 50/50 weight balance is in favor of the Stinger. I would also guess (I've never seen the specs) that the AWD with the extra weight up front might tip that balance more frontward resulting in more grip on front tires. Dunno, just guessing.

 

[Waynerm002]

Try it on a straight stretch of road, turn off traction and stability control and mash the throttle to the floor. A buddy of mine did this and the car had a nice pull off the line, it was burning rubber down the block. He didn’t realize it until we were at a light and the smoke rolled up to the front of the car. The car is quicker that you think, it’s quiet and well controlled that you don’t feel the speed. He is the type that like going fast and had modified his EVO to over 500hp, he was skeptical on the KIA Stinger GT, even though he drove the Genesis G80 Sport and liked it. He was impressed with it. These days he is interested in the Tesla.

One has to be careful though, when you really push it you will be in extra legal speed long before you know it.