5 things I Love About my Stinger GT

[General_Vodka]

Lol if this whole COVID thing calms down and travel is opened up, we are already planned to go to Disney World in July. Apparently I love getting shafted!

In truth, we have no kids and plan to not have any, nor do we have any logical recipients of our income when we die (at this point), so I figure I might as well spend some of that money rather than donate it to the Gov't!

I mean you can always donate that money to my NSX charity. It's a charity to get me an NSX. Nobel cause if I do say so myself.

 

[Revvdmedia]

I mean you can always donate that money to my NSX charity. It's a charity to get me an NSX. Nobel cause if I do say so myself.

You better mean the good NSX. Not the new one

 

[RonNSoCal]

There are people who buy cars to meet their transportation needs, and those of us who buy a car to fit an image we have of ourselves. Obviously Stinger buyers mostly were not shopping for an appliance but wanted something more. What were you looking for when you pulled the trigger? I know I wanted a stylish, fast car that is also practical, affordable, reliable and a good value for the money spent. So far, I believe I scored! My wife has not been as enamored with our Stinger, but she is coming around because it is such a nice driving car.

 

[General_Vodka]

There are people who buy cars to meet their transportation needs, and those of us who buy a car to fit an image we have of ourselves. Obviously Stinger buyers mostly were not shopping for an appliance but wanted something more. What were you looking for when you pulled the trigger? I know I wanted a stylish, fast car that is also practical, affordable, reliable and a good value for the money spent. So far, I believe I scored! My wife has not been as enamored with our Stinger, but she is coming around because it is such a nice driving car.

Don't tell my your wife wanted you to buy an SUV. Especially if it was a Porsche.

 

[RonNSoCal]

Don't tell my your wife wanted you to buy an SUV. Especially if it was a Porsche.

She wanted a new Mercedes to replace her totalled E350, but did not want to spend the money for it because we are retired and making less. Also, she recognized the maintenance was significantly more pricey than other cars we had owned.

 

[General_Vodka]

She wanted a new Mercedes to replace her totalled E350, but did not want to spend the money for it because we are retired and making less. Also, she recognized the maintenance was significantly more pricey than other cars we had owned.

I am glad you went with the stinger. The E350 is very meh in my opinion.

 

[GenesisG70]

She wanted a new Mercedes to replace her totalled E350, but did not want to spend the money for it because we are retired and making less. Also, she recognized the maintenance was significantly more pricey than other cars we had owned.

And if anything goes wrong the will rip you off for the second time. I don't want to sound bitter but my Porsche maintenance for the past 5 years has been around 5000 USD and for my Stinger I am estimating around 1500 USD. Numbers don't like.. and something goes wrong and you are out of warranty you should have deep pockets, I have deep pockets but I'm tired of overpaying for German car MSRP and maintenance.

 

[Nuthadey]

And if anything goes wrong the will rip you off for the second time. . . I'm tired of overpaying for German car MSRP and maintenance.

So they aren't just making you buy their cars for a price you don't want to pay, they're also making you keep the car past its warranty, and pay out of your deep pockets to keep it on the road? Damn man, they really are ripping you off.

my Porsche maintenance for the past 5 years has been around 5000 USD and for my Stinger I am estimating around 1500 USD

You've shelled out $1,500 to maintain your Stinger already? How/why??? And how do you square paying $1,500 in a year of Stinger maintenance but complain about $5,000 for 5 years of Porsche maintenance? That means the Porsche is cheaper to maintain...

Maybe I'm reading all of this wrong.

 

[RonNSoCal]

I am glad you went with the stinger. The E350 is very meh in my opinion.

Our 2010 E350 was a good car from the standpoint of reliability and the straight six engine and the trans operated flawlessly for nine years and 105K miles. We had no issues with any of the features either, everything worked as it should. But, routine maintenance was expensive and driving the car was not fun or exciting in any way. It was comfortable but not quick or agile and compared favorable with older Honda Accords we had owned only at twice the price. I could never get excited about it except when I took it in for service and got a new Mercedes to drive, which made me feel good, even if they generally only gave me a new C class loaner. My wife, on the other hand, said she always felt special owning a black Mercedes. Apparently this was a dream of hers that I never shared, like my red Corvette was a dream of mine. I find the Corvette to be a great car in most ways, but after 7 years, would shed no tears if I had to replace it. At this time in my life, I enjoy driving the Stinger as much and would love it even more if it were red. There is something more exciting about driving a red sporty car, kind of like driving a convertible with the top down always gave me a special feeling.

 

[Revvdmedia]

There is something more exciting about driving a red sporty car, kind of like driving a convertible with the top down always gave me a special feeling.

This pretty much echoes the reason I felt justified to pay "extra" to get the car I did. For me, the Stinger looked good, but didn't really feel special. What it did (well), it did well. For me, it lacked that tautness and true nimbleness that a car more on the sporty end of the spectrum has, but compounded with quality complaints, it didn't do enough for me to keep it. Another weird way to justify it is that I always have purchased the "bang for buck" cars, like the Cobalt SS, Mustang GT, Stinger GT, and have always been disappointed with overall quality on every single one. If nothing else, this experience will determine (with my wallet unfortunately) if paying "extra" for German yields and better long term quality regarding little niggles. If not, I'll probably just quit driving, lol.

 

[Uzurk]

You've shelled out $1,500 to maintain your Stinger already? How/why??? And how do you square paying $1,500 in a year of Stinger maintenance but complain about $5,000 for 5 years of Porsche maintenance? That means the Porsche is cheaper to maintain...

Maybe I'm reading all of this wrong.

I don't want to speak for him, but the way I read it was he paid $5k over the past 5 years for his Porsche, and ESTIMATES paying around $1500 for the Stinger in that same 5 year time period. Not that he has already spent $1500 a year in maintenance on the Stinger.

Could be wrong though.

 

[Socalstinga]

The stinger really wasn't on my radar to buy, although I always loved the concept when it rolled out years ago at the LA car show. I never really thought a company like Kia would actually put it in production. I was shopping a gs350, bmw 4GC, jag xj, c63 (both the NA V8 and the newer one), S5 sportback/S7.

I was always a big BMW guy because they were always built well and performed well as a wkd track/twisties car. Had a 325i and went to a 335i when they first came out and the thing was in the shop at least 4 times in the first year of ownership before I lemoned the car. Had a porsche Cayenne, loved it but maintenance was unreal and made the bmw maintenance look like a drop in the bucket. From there I said I quit with german cars. Except I found a deal for e92 M3 and made that my wkd/fun car while I had the G37 sedan.

Loved the G37. Rock solid powertrain and build, but was a bit outdated on tech. Then a toddler and a newborn changed what I needed in a vehicle but we already had a MB suv, but I still needed something fun fast and practical for a DD/Dad Mobile. The only choices (from the ones above) that fit were the S5/S7, but memories of the wads of cash that I dropped on my previous German choices made me think twice. In came the stinger, and after test driving all of these vehicles, the stinger was the only one I went back to test drive more than once (with the exception of the S7; stinger 3xs, S7 2xs).

The stinger fit the parameters and just felt good. Honestly, the cost of the cars tested weren't an issue, but I just kept coming back to the maintenance costs. A lot of people talk about the interior quality, but I think it's on par with non M beemers (the amount of plastic in non Ms surprised me having come from owning 90's beemers). Certainly doesn't come close to our Benz.

The stinger isn't perfect, but it checks the boxes. 2 years in and I'm actually impressed with the car, the only hangup I have is that creaky sunroof but I may have found the fix. About $3500 in mods and I'm just as fast as an F80 M3 while still being able to go to Home Depot and haul a 30 gallon water heater or 135 gallon storage box. Fun Fast and Practical....

(sorry for the long ass post, 4 days into quarantine and I'm going nuts trying to help reduce the curve)

 

[ScottM]

This pretty much echoes the reason I felt justified to pay "extra" to get the car I did. For me, the Stinger looked good, but didn't really feel special.

Exactly, to each there own. I appreciate you justifying your shafting. < I make what I call jokes.

 

[GenesisG70]

So they aren't just making you buy their cars for a price you don't want to pay, they're also making you keep the car past its warranty, and pay out of your deep pockets to keep it on the road? Damn man, they really are ripping you off.



You've shelled out $1,500 to maintain your Stinger already? How/why??? And how do you square paying $1,500 in a year of Stinger maintenance but complain about $5,000 for 5 years of Porsche maintenance? That means the Porsche is cheaper to maintain...

Maybe I'm reading all of this wrong.

I said I guesstimate it will be 1,500 USD for 5 years of maintenance. LOL read carefully.

 

[RonNSoCal]

The stinger really wasn't on my radar to buy, although I always loved the concept when it rolled out years ago at the LA car show. I never really thought a company like Kia would actually put it in production. I was shopping a gs350, bmw 4GC, jag xj, c63 (both the NA V8 and the newer one), S5 sportback/S7.

I was always a big BMW guy because they were always built well and performed well as a wkd track/twisties car. Had a 325i and went to a 335i when they first came out and the thing was in the shop at least 4 times in the first year of ownership before I lemoned the car. Had a porsche Cayenne, loved it but maintenance was unreal and made the bmw maintenance look like a drop in the bucket. From there I said I quit with german cars. Except I found a deal for e92 M3 and made that my wkd/fun car while I had the G37 sedan.

Loved the G37. Rock solid powertrain and build, but was a bit outdated on tech. Then a toddler and a newborn changed what I needed in a vehicle but we already had a MB suv, but I still needed something fun fast and practical for a DD/Dad Mobile. The only choices (from the ones above) that fit were the S5/S7, but memories of the wads of cash that I dropped on my previous German choices made me think twice. In came the stinger, and after test driving all of these vehicles, the stinger was the only one I went back to test drive more than once (with the exception of the S7; stinger 3xs, S7 2xs).

The stinger fit the parameters and just felt good. Honestly, the cost of the cars tested weren't an issue, but I just kept coming back to the maintenance costs. A lot of people talk about the interior quality, but I think it's on par with non M beemers (the amount of plastic in non Ms surprised me having come from owning 90's beemers). Certainly doesn't come close to our Benz.

The stinger isn't perfect, but it checks the boxes. 2 years in and I'm actually impressed with the car, the only hangup I have is that creaky sunroof but I may have found the fix. About $3500 in mods and I'm just as fast as an F80 M3 while still being able to go to Home Depot and haul a 30 gallon water heater or 135 gallon storage box. Fun Fast and Practical....

(sorry for the long ass post, 4 days into quarantine and I'm going nuts trying to help reduce the curve)

I hope my new Stinger works out as well for me as yours has for you. I bought mine for the same reasons and because so many reviews were positive.

 

[Socalstinga]

I hope my new Stinger works out as well for me as yours has for you. I bought mine for the same reasons and because so many reviews were positive.

Well you had a Benz so I'm sure you've already seen some differences. But if you're looking for fun fast and practical, it should suit you well.

 

[RonNSoCal]

Well you had a Benz so I'm sure you've already seen some differences. But if you're looking for fun fast and practical, it should suit you well.

So far I love it!

 

[Lawrence Williams]

This pretty much echoes the reason I felt justified to pay "extra" to get the car I did. For me, the Stinger looked good, but didn't really feel special. What it did (well), it did well. For me, it lacked that tautness and true nimbleness that a car more on the sporty end of the spectrum has, but compounded with quality complaints, it didn't do enough for me to keep it. Another weird way to justify it is that I always have purchased the "bang for buck" cars, like the Cobalt SS, Mustang GT, Stinger GT, and have always been disappointed with overall quality on every single one. If nothing else, this experience will determine (with my wallet unfortunately) if paying "extra" for German yields and better long term quality regarding little niggles. If not, I'll probably just quit driving, lol.

You've stated that you'll pay extra to avoid little niggles but isn't that exactly the issues with the super sensitive, high precision and high to maintain German vehicles? I'm not being critical of your thoughts but one of the primary reasons NOT to get German is the out of warranty expense. I plan on keeping my Stinger for 7-10yrs depending on life . I understand the possible feeling of being underwhelmed if you're coming from someone with a ton of access to higher end cars but for some like myself , yes I could afford more car ; anything gained other than status ? Name recognition aside, this machine accomplishes more than expected despite the reluctance to accept what we are getting!

 

[GenesisG70]

My experience with the Germans goes like this:

Porsche 981 Cayman S 84,000 USD
total maintenance cost in 5 years more than 5,000 USD not counting batteries, alignment, tires etc...
Multiple problems including door panel warping and headliner sagging due to Florida hot weather, cost me 3 thousand dollars because I was 1 month after warranty expired.
Oil changes 350 dollars a piece
Tried to sell it the other day no one will give me more than 35,000 USD and is accident and damage free kept pristine and absolutely all maintenance are up to date including new brake discs, pads and tires.

So to who says Germans are far superior in quality and they hold their value blah blah blah... This is my 2 cents.

So The R8, Audi A6 and Porsche 981 my only German and last German cars, will never go German again, from now on will stick with Korean mainly and maybe the Corvette C8.

 

[Revvdmedia]

I'm not being critical of your thoughts but one of the primary reasons NOT to get German is the out of warranty expense.

Expense of this car is the reason I went with a 4 year lease - warranty and maintenance is not out of my pocket. Canada includes free scheduled maintenance for 4 years, so the only expenses I should incur is consumables like tires, brake pads, etc. I don't plan on keeping the car beyond 4 years, and after this car, not sure what the plan is for the next one anyway.

If I wanted something "guaranteed" reliable, I would have gotten something Japanese, but funny enough the only Japanese sports car that interests me right now within the same price range is pretty much what I bought anyways...the Toyota Supra lol. My car has the same engine and transmission, it's just on a different chassis, and most of the parts inside the Supra are clearly from BMW anyway lol. Maybe it was just meant to be.