2021 Kia Stinger - Anyone going to trade up?

[Ulikefishsticks]

So there is only a few months until Kia finally unveils the 2021 Stinger for the Korean Market and then a couple months after for EU and US market. Has anyone thought about trading up once it arrives? What will it take to push you to do so? It already appears as though they might be putting a 3.5 in there pushing the stock numbers closer to 400. Possibly a variable exhaust system which might allow for a more aggressive stock sound. I believe I saw they want to connect the rear lights in the back of the car which could give it a slight charger look. I like the unique look of this thing already and I hope they aren't trying to make it look like other cars to possibly get sales. I think the outside of the car is amazing already so I hope they don't change much. I would like to see those hood vents become real. I hate fake vents in any capacity.
One thing I would be excited for is better tech. I have the GT2 and it is pretty decent so far but a bigger screen that looks more modern and digital gauge cluster would look nice. Apart from this I hope they don't change anything else.

What would it take for you to trade up? Has anyone thought about it yet? I love my stinger and I bought it used. Maybe the 2021 Stinger will be my first brand new car.

 

[TimT]

I dont think I would think about trading, EU does not have too good deals on this in general. But my first idea will definetly be about the digital cluster, if it is retrofitable to the current generation then I am definetly doing that. It is the only thing keeping me from saying that the Stinger is an ideal car in my eyes in the price bracket. If the bigger screen is in some way retrofitable then again, would definetly consider that.

 

[Luminary]

Personally, I wanted and still want the first model year Stinger. I was waiting for production ever since I saw the concept back in 2013, and followed it every year until it was finally announced they were going to Production. I still have the centerfold pictures of the GT4 Stinger (and the 2013 Stinger concept) from the KIA Magazine they use to send out plastered on my cube farm walls.



To me there is just something special about a first model year and I plan to keep her as long as I can.

 

[cwatt79]

I don't think the minor exterior changes or ~15hp would be enough to get me thinking of trading. As a techy guy the interior tech has my attention... of course I would love a bigger touch screen. Honestly though, as I see more and more digital gauge clusters it kind of makes me appreciate "old-fashioned" gauges. There's just something about watching a physical needle spin.. So I'm torn on the digital cluster. I'm not sure how much it offers in terms of increased functionality. As I like a simple cluster, I think it would usually have it set to mimic a traditional cluster anyway. Therefore, why not have the real thing? My previous car ('18 Accord) had a 70% digital cluster and I almost always had it set to an analog-style tach and fuel economy. I now switch between fuel economy and speed in the Stinger. Don't really desire anything else, but I won't deny the cool factor.

Overall, I don't think it will be enough for me to take the financial hit of trading up. Especially since I've only had mine for two months!

 

[Weareblondi]

same here, not looking to trade up. love my first year, limited color or not. might trade in the challenger when I get sick of it. depends on what is new on the stinger and if it is worth just that extra bit of anything. at the moment, with the race chip black, ive got the power that I want. figure the couple of thousand that I have earmarked for aftermarket items, suspension bits, the driving lights incorporated into the air ducts, maybe the sequentials for the rear, there isn't anything else that I really want, and, add that money to what I paid for it, I think I would still come out ahead of what the new ones are going for. now, if they offered another 100 horse stock on the new stinger, I might think about it. but as is, it is fast enough for me.

 

[Silvermanor]

Thought about a second Stinger but would rather buy a G70 to join.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The 2021 would be the available model when my lease ended (had I continued with it instead of doing the buyout). One of the reasons I leased in the first place was imagining the 2021 having enough upgrades to make me want to lease new after three years. Well, nothing I've seen in the spy peeks of the "facelift" intrigue me in the least. A horsepower up grade doesn't do it either. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my car; She's as perfect as a manmade machine can be. When I bought out the lease, the main reason was to escape the lease rent for the next 33 months; and the second reason was that, after three months into ownership, I decided that I want to keep THIS car. I feel just as happy with that decision as I did almost two years ago.

So, it's difficult trying to imagine what a new Stinger would need to get me to abandon NAV for a different temptress.

Vis-à-vis what some others have expressed about "upgrades": The original concept was fully realized with the first year model, in my humble opinion: that concept includes all retro flourishes, like the round air vents in the dash and the analogue gauges. The very design of the whole body harks back to the Italian Gran Turismo concept of the 60s and 70s. This was very deliberate. And messing around with any of that to make changes endangers the retro GT concept. Nothing that the Stinger becomes can alter the ideal first year model, and I'm glad that my first (and so far only) brand new car was the first model year Stinger.

 

[BlueByYouGT]

I don't think the minor exterior changes or ~15hp would be enough to get me thinking of trading. As a techy guy the interior tech has my attention... of course I would love a bigger touch screen. Honestly though, as I see more and more digital gauge clusters it kind of makes me appreciate "old-fashioned" gauges. There's just something about watching a physical needle spin.. So I'm torn on the digital cluster. I'm not sure how much it offers in terms of increased functionality. As I like a simple cluster, I think it would usually have it set to mimic a traditional cluster anyway. Therefore, why not have the real thing? My previous car ('18 Accord) had a 70% digital cluster and I almost always had it set to an analog-style tach and fuel economy. I now switch between fuel economy and speed in the Stinger. Don't really desire anything else, but I won't deny the cool factor.

Overall, I don't think it will be enough for me to take the financial hit of trading up. Especially since I've only had mine for two months!

I think the biggest reason companies are going to digiclusters is to remain relevant to younger (sub-50 yr old) buyers. The last thing Kia wants is to have a similar buyer demographics to that of GM's Olds/Buick/Cadillac. Another reason for them to update the clusters is because the ones in our cars were ripped straight out of the 2013 designed Optimas (released in 2014 in SK as the MY15 K5). They aren't a retro design, they're just from a car that was designed half a decade before ours. That alone is a good reason for an upgrade.

As far as me upgrading, Kia will need to add more than 30hp, connecting taillights, and a wider touchscreen to convince me to make a poor financial decision.

 

[Ulikefishsticks]

I think the biggest reason companies are going to digiclusters is to remain relevant to younger (sub-50 yr old) buyers. The last thing Kia wants is to have a similar buyer demographics to that of GM's Olds/Buick/Cadillac. Another reason for them to update the clusters is because the ones in our cars were ripped straight out of the 2013 designed Optimas (released in 2014 in SK as the MY15 K5). They aren't a retro design, they're just from a car that was designed half a decade before ours. That alone is a good reason for an upgrade.

As far as me upgrading, Kia will need to add more than 30hp, connecting taillights, and a wider touchscreen to convince me to make a poor financial decision.

I would gladly make another poor financial decision on a stinger again. Best worst financial decision I have made.

 

[BlueByYouGT]

I would gladly make another poor financial decision on a stinger again. Best worst financial decision I have made.

Buying my Stinger wasn't a poor financial decision. But trading it for one with a few more horsepower, Dodge Charge taillights, and a wider touchscreen would be a horrible decision (for me). Definitely not worth it.

 

[YEH]

When I bought out the lease, the main reason was to escape the lease rent for the next 33 months; and the second reason was that, after three months into ownership, I decided that I want to keep THIS car. I feel just as happy with that decision as I did almost two years ago.

Seems like a keeper.

Plus, this way, you don't have to worry about payments for a while and can wait and see what a 2G Stinger (if there is one) brings (and can even wait for the 2nd/3rd yr).

 

[Dodger Blue]

I'm very happy with what I got. I don't plan on replacing my Stinger anytime soon, especially with the economy in the uncertain place it is right now.

 

[Oryan]

I think I'm more interested in what the G80 Sport will have, or what's in store for the G70. Then again the Supra is also calling my name now that Toyota dealers aren't marking up a kidney for them.

 

[Travis Wills]

The resell values for the Stingers in the US tanked late last year and early this year. You could get out of a Stinger with little to no losses a year ago. You can’t now.

If you trade your car into a dealer you are going to be way upside down unless perhaps you did the lease buyout option for 24 months on a GT2 AWD AND were able to get an extremely low interest rate on the refinance.

Now of course if you did the lease buyout and paid cash it will be much closer to an even money swap.

However, I think everyone will be shocked at how little the dealers will be willing to give you on the trade ins.

I like my Stinger GT2 just the way it is. I got the white interior with the Panthera Grey so I don’t believe I will be able to duplicate that with a future model.

 

[Travis Wills]

I think I'm more interested in what the G80 Sport will have, or what's in store for the G70. Then again the Supra is also calling my name now that Toyota dealers aren't marking up a kidney for them.

The new Supra has almost 50 more advertised horsepower. The resell value of the cars from last year are going to tank hard once the new cars are out.

The decrease in compression ratio for the new cars is a tuners dream. That lifts the cap on boost pressures greatly. No one is going to want last year’s Supra after the new ones come out.

 

[Nasscar]

My Stinger is only a year old with just 8000kms on the clock. Can't really justify the depreciation if I sold it. Don't think the new one will have much more power. I think the current model has enough power for what I use it for anyway. Maybe if I had unlimited money but I think I will pass on the new model at this stage. Plus I love my Stinger.

 

[Weareblondi]

The new Supra has almost 50 more advertised horsepower. The resell value of the cars from last year are going to tank hard once the new cars are out.

The decrease in compression ratio for the new cars is a tuners dream. That lifts the cap on boost pressures greatly. No one is going to want last year’s Supra after the new ones come out.

the resell value were going to tank anyway, at the price you paid for a supra, with the dealer markup, you already lost 40% the minute you signed the papers. for all intents and purposes, its a bmw. its not a supra. I understand that it takes lots of money to research and develop a new engine, blah blah blah, but the supra is not a pagani(which uses the Mercedes 12 cylinder) you could drop an ls into that, you are buying a handbuilt car. the supra is just the fraternal twin to the bmw. so, buy a beemer instead. costs the same. just my two cents. if people are worried about the resale value of their cars, why do they buy new? 10 year old Oldsmobile or a 15 year old Toyota and you are gold. zero cost for maintenance.

 

[Gargamel]

I wont "trade up" to a new stinger.
The tax for a newer model is around $2000/year for the first 3 years.