Another nice week with a Stinger review

[Joseph Spiegel]

He also links his full review in the article.

2018 Kia Stinger GT2 AWD V6 review update: tilting at benchmarks

 

[MerlintheMad]

"But Kia touts the Stinger GT as a track car and that's where it falls down."

It does? Where? I've read the opposite: that it is not and never was intended "for the track". You can play on the track and it was tested on the track but it is a touring high performance combo, not a "track car".

"The Stinger has four drive modes..." Five, guy, count 'em, five. How did he get this wrong?

"Opt for the 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 and the Stinger GT's fuel economy drops. Rear- and all-wheel-drive versions are rated identically: 19/25/21 mpg."

I don't remember these figures. I get better than that, usually closer to 23 around town and over 27 on the highway; my "combined" is c. 25. (But then, didn't i read that the gauges are one to two mph on the optimistic side?)

 

[Eugene Onegin]

He's not the only one that commented on squeaks and creaks so did Savagegeese in his review .

 

[MerlintheMad]

He's not the only one that commented on squeaks and creaks so did Savagegeese in his review .

I don't have squeaks and creaks in my Stinger. Must have got a good one. Heh.

 

[Joseph Spiegel]

He's not the only one that commented on squeaks and creaks so did Savagegeese in his review .

His had 5K miles if I remember. Review cars get ‘savaged.’ I don’t think any of us really tear the cars apart, we’ll at least too much, that we’ll get squeaks too early.

 

[Waynerm002]

The press cars were pre-production models, if I remember correctly. I’m sure if the production version develops this issue, they will want it diagnosed so they can come up with a fix to implement it in the next production run. The 2019s are out in Korea and should be arriving stateside soon, all of us are hoping they step up and offer items we didn’t get in the states without crazy markups.

 

[CoconutRob]

"But Kia touts the Stinger GT as a track car and that's where it falls down."

It does? Where? I've read the opposite: that it is not and never was intended "for the track". You can play on the track and it was tested on the track but it is a touring high performance combo, not a "track car".

"The Stinger has four drive modes..." Five, guy, count 'em, five. How did he get this wrong?

"Opt for the 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 and the Stinger GT's fuel economy drops. Rear- and all-wheel-drive versions are rated identically: 19/25/21 mpg."

I don't remember these figures. I get better than that, usually closer to 23 around town and over 27 on the highway; my "combined" is c. 25. (But then, didn't i read that the gauges are one to two mph on the optimistic side?)

That was something that has bothered me for a while now. All prerelease info I saw was all about a gran touring car "a true gran turismo". Then when it was released in the US all the studded its a track car.
I am still not sure if I am purchasing a stinger in a few months but I will say I don't believe it is a track car and if I was in the market for a track car I do not think it would make my top 10 under 50k. I thought Kia original advertising for Sophistication, comfort, with performance was spot on but seems like the car has went the way of the boy racer.

 

[Waynerm002]

The car didn’t go anywhere, people are comparing it due to the power and handling, plus the tuning potential. You can purchase the car knowing it is a GT car and not do anything to modify it while enjoying it for what is was designed for. Folks tend to see what they want and do what they want to their vehicles, no manufacturer can prevent that.

 

[mldavis2]

Averaged 28 mpg (27-29) on a 2,000 mile trip across Kansas, over Trail Ridge Road and back, loaded car, A/C on full time, 77 mph on interstates. I don't know where Kia is getting their mileage ratings. My car was carefully broken in and runs in Comfort mode on long trips. 9K on the car. So mileage is quite reasonable for 365 HP. I'm using it for what it was designed - as a long distance GT. I'm far too old to risk tickets racing stupid kids out of stop lights, although I can say my GT2 will go 120 mph with no effort.....when no one's around.

 

[MerlintheMad]

That was something that has bothered me for a while now. All prerelease info I saw was all about a gran touring car "a true gran turismo". Then when it was released in the US all the studded its a track car.
I am still not sure if I am purchasing a stinger in a few months but I will say I don't believe it is a track car and if I was in the market for a track car I do not think it would make my top 10 under 50k. I thought Kia original advertising for Sophistication, comfort, with performance was spot on but seems like the car has went the way of the boy racer.

I haven't seen/heard anything from Kia changing the original approach as "gran turismo" quality and intent. The "track car" stuff is from everybody else. "Show me" where Kia says "it's a track car", heh! And yes, if "track car" is what you are after, then the Stinger is a stupid choice. Unless, as I compared already elsewhere, you are "Stirling Moss" and love a self-imposed handicap.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I don't know where Kia is getting their mileage ratings.

Neither do I. Didn't someone on this forum suggest earlier that Kia might have deliberately understated their mileage rates, so that drivers will feel better about their car by trumping said-mileage rates? I know that it works on me!

 

[Socalstinga]

I wanted a fast and fun "daddy mobile"...if I wanted a track car, I would've went M3 E92 (yes, the V8) or an older GTR. Maybe people get confused b/c the stinger experience is usually on designed track?

I got 27.5mpg with AC on over 500+ miles (75 miles in the city, the rest hwy) 2 passengers and averaging about 80 mph with some occassional bursts to 110 ish...lol.. it's my city driving that gets me, I can't seem to stop myself from accelerating hard!! oops.

 

[StingerGT68]

I thought Kia original advertising for Sophistication, comfort, with performance was spot on but seems like the car has went the way of the boy racer.

The car is what you make it. If you throw a loud exhaust on it, then guess what, it's closer to "boy racer" than sophistication. I've looked and honestly, there is no new car that rivals the speed, looks, and value of the Stinger.

 

[GRStinger]

It is not intended as a "track car". Kia made a point to tout the Stinger as a GT car when introduced. That is what I wanted, and after 2 months and 7K miles on mine, I can attest that it truly is. It can get you long distances quickly in comfort and style - all while having a great driving experience. It's great fun on twisty back roads, and at high rural freeway speeds, she hunkers down like a tick on dog. It's a true gran turismo, and I personally wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[MerlintheMad]

It is not intended as a "track car". Kia made a point to tout the Stinger as a GT car when introduced. That is what I wanted, and after 2 months and 7K miles on mine, I can attest that it truly is. It can get you long distances quickly in comfort and style - all while having a great driving experience. It's great fun on twisty back roads, and at high rural freeway speeds, she hunkers down like a tick on dog. It's a true gran turismo, and I personally wouldn't have it any other way.

We Stinger enthusiasts tend to echo each other . I totally agree with what you say. The race car fanboys are the ones injecting the competition comparisons. The Stinger invites that, which is an added bonus to the car's already intensely fun experience. But it is not a race car compared to dedicated performance designs (which sacrifice utility, luxury and comfort almost across the board; they are not designed with those features taken into consideration; not compared to the Stinger, anyway).

 

[Stinger GT2 Modified]

OMG, random but I just came across a dealership selling a Stinger GT2 with WAY less exterior upgrades that I put on my car. They added black wheels, then a front/ back lip and spoiler from M&S (the basic lips) and they are trying to selling theirs for 67k LOL!

 

[Indy499]

OMG, random but I just came across a dealership selling a Stinger GT2 with WAY less exterior upgrades that I put on my car. They added black wheels, then a front/ back lip and spoiler from M&S (the basic lips) and they are trying to selling theirs for 67k LOL!

I saw that same car looking for a ceramic GT2 around me. And they even have the gall to say "AMERICAS BEST VALUE! $4,164 off MSRP! Priced below KBB Fair Purchase Price!" I was going to screenshot it in case it gets taken down, but I highly doubt they'll be selling that car anytime soon.

 

[Rufus]

I got exit-ramp trolled by a kid in a Focus ST the other day. I was hauling 6 cu ft of bagged drain rock in the hatch from Home Depot, but not sure I would've taken his bait anyway. I get most of my fun in this car when the road curves. Then it's just me against physics and the limits of my nerve

 

[YEH]

"But Kia touts the Stinger GT as a track car and that's where it falls down."

It does? Where? I've read the opposite: that it is not and never was intended "for the track". You can play on the track and it was tested on the track but it is a touring high performance combo, not a "track car".

Yep - Biermann, himself, has stated that the Stinger is meant to be a Gran Turismo and softer than something like the G70.

That being said, think they left something on the table when it came to tuning the Stinger - could use more differentiation btwn Normal and Sport or a Sport+ mode.

 

[MerlintheMad]

@YEH "Normal", you mean "Comfort"? "Smart"? Normal is anything but Sport. And I feel a great difference myself between Sport and anything else.