AWD or RWD

[itguy61]

Huh? I thought "Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control" was part of the AWD package?

Otherwise I totally agree on the cornering. Even in Sport mode when cornering I feel like the car is...I can't find the right word - loose, sloppy, boat like? Like it's not sticking to the ground as a whole. To be clear my expectations are compared to my former Mustang Bullitt which was RWD and a different, what felt like, much tighter suspension.

It's a disappointment for me considering one of my favorite things about owning a performance vehicle is driving Western NC and Tennessee twisties. My gut level feeling is the Tail of the Dragon is going to go from thrill to teeth clenching because I don't trust the car :/

Eichbach rear sway bar will fix this for not that much money,

 

[MerlintheMad]

Huh? I thought "Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control" was part of the AWD package?

Otherwise I totally agree on the cornering. Even in Sport mode when cornering I feel like the car is...I can't find the right word - loose, sloppy, boat like? Like it's not sticking to the ground as a whole. To be clear my expectations are compared to my former Mustang Bullitt which was RWD and a different, what felt like, much tighter suspension.

It's a disappointment for me considering one of my favorite things about owning a performance vehicle is driving Western NC and Tennessee twisties. My gut level feeling is the Tail of the Dragon is going to go from thrill to teeth clenching because I don't trust the car :/

I wouldn't worry about the "boaty" feeling translating into bad handling. It's a "playful" feeling rear end, according to Albert Biermann. The Eibach rear sway bar knocks that feeling in the head, even on "soft" setting (for open, not that good, road surfaces). The faster the Stinger goes, the more "hunkered down" it feels, actually. If the rear steps out because of rises and falls in the pavement, it doesn't follow that the car is losing grip or that you are going to lose control. Last summer, Randy Pobst had nothing but praise for the Stinger's "balance"; but then he's a top competition driver and knows how to get the most out of any car. https://www.motortrend.com/news/kia-stinger-gt-2018-best-drivers-car-contender/

 

[Helo58]

Huh? I thought "Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control" was part of the AWD package?

My gut level feeling is the Tail of the Dragon is going to go from thrill to teeth clenching because I don't trust the car :/

As I understand it, any torque vectoring in the Stinger is front to rear and vice versa. There is no side to side torque vectoring on the Stinger that would aid in cornering. As far as "The Dragon," I live about 3 hours away and it has been my experience that as the size of the car grows, the fun shrinks. Haha.

 

[Stinger Girl]

Eichbach rear sway bar will fix this for not that much money,

Knee deep in those threads right now. I've done plenty of aftermarket upgrades to my cars but never anything involving the suspension. I would be happy if the sway bars (I would do both) would solve the problem, as I would not lower this car - it's already lower than I prefer. Next: Finding someone local who knows anything about this car to install them. Wish me luck

 

[Stinger Girl]

As I understand it, any torque vectoring in the Stinger is front to rear and vice versa. There is no side to side torque vectoring on the Stinger that would aid in cornering. As far as "The Dragon," I live about 3 hours away and it has been my experience that as the size of the car grows, the fun shrinks. Haha.

Haha that's true! It doesn't help I've already developed a level of insecurity called SEMI. The last time I was there I came face to face in a hair pin with one "headed" down hill. If it wasn't for a spotter causing me to slam it in reverse I guarantee you I would not be here right now. Anyway, this makes me realize I knew that car like the back of my hand and maybe I just don't know this car yet.

 

[NismoDPB]

As I understand it, any torque vectoring in the Stinger is front to rear and vice versa. There is no side to side torque vectoring on the Stinger that would aid in cornering. As far as "The Dragon," I live about 3 hours away and it has been my experience that as the size of the car grows, the fun shrinks. Haha.

That doesnt sound right, I dont think they can call it torque vectoring if that was the case. The whole point of torque vectoring is to be able to vary the power delivered to each wheel independently. Considering the stingers system is brake based, if the car was hitting both front brakes at the same time or rear brakes at the same time, that would make for a very undesirable handling effect mid corner.

 

[Manaz]

As I understand it, any torque vectoring in the Stinger is front to rear and vice versa. There is no side to side torque vectoring on the Stinger that would aid in cornering.

Torque vectoring normally does left to right by braking the wheel that starts to spin. That's the reasoning behind the AWD not having an LSD as I understand it, not the AWD system itself (the hardware to detect slip and respond to it is already part of the AWD system, so they figured an LSD was extraneous to requirements).

 

[itguy61]

With all this talk about torque vectoring and such I am now confused as to what Kia is doing on the GTS coming out. Isn't it an AWD model with LSD and ability to make it rear drive only (drift mode)?

 

[MerlintheMad]

With all this talk about torque vectoring and such I am now confused as to what Kia is doing on the GTS coming out. Isn't it an AWD model with LSD (Limited Slip Differential) and ability to make it rear drive only (drift mode)?

I take the GTS to be a combing of both approaches, RWD w/LSD; and AWD dynamics, i.e. electronically controlled suspension; you choose.

 

[NismoDPB]

With all this talk about torque vectoring and such I am now confused as to what Kia is doing on the GTS coming out. Isn't it an AWD model with LSD (Limited Slip Differential) and ability to make it rear drive only (drift mode)?

The current AWD system uses a brake based torque vectoring system, which means that it will apply the brakes to the wheel with the least amount of traction. Going around a corner this would be the inside wheels, so the outside wheels have more power and speed causing the car to rotate around the turn. An LSD will do this by diverting more power to the wheel with the most traction rather than braking the one with the least. This method is superior for performance. It will also allow the GTS to hold a drift as the power will drive the outside tire during oversteer. If you have ever turned your traction control off in the AWD stinger and tried to do a donut you will have noticed you are lighting up the inside tire but finding it hard to induce oversteer. The GTS will not behave this way.

 

[itguy61]

I take the GTS to be a combing of both approaches, RWD w/LSD (Limited Slip Differential); and AWD dynamics, i.e. electronically controlled suspension; you choose.

Never thought of that, makes sense. Not gonna be very many of these available and probably markups.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Never thought of that, makes sense. Not gonna be very many of these available and probably markups.

Only 800 GTS coming, all SEMA Orange. But I bet the drive train of the GTS is included in the 2020 GT trims.

 

[itguy61]

Only 800 GTS coming, all SEMA Orange. But I bet the drive train of the GTS is included in the 2020 GT trims.

I bet it will be more expensive then. No way that that setup doesn't cost more than just the normal AWD system. Might be the best of both worlds and those lucky enough to get one don't have to argue with anyone about which one is better as they have both !

I lived in Toledo Ohio for two winters and drove a Nissan 240sx RWD car. I lived 25 miles from work and remember many very scary rides to and from work when it was winter and the roads had ice and snow on them.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I bet it will be more expensive then. No way that that setup doesn't cost more than just the normal AWD system. Might be the best of both worlds and those lucky enough to get one don't have to argue with anyone about which one is better as they have both !

MSRP on the GTS is very reasonable. The fancy "drift" capable drive train doesn't seem to increase the price much if at all above AWD cost.

 

[NismoDPB]

MSRP on the GTS is very reasonable. The fancy "drift" capable drive train doesn't seem to increase the price much if at all above AWD cost.

The GTS will have less luxury and technology features I believe.

 

[itguy61]

MSRP on the GTS is very reasonable. The fancy "drift" capable drive train doesn't seem to increase the price much if at all above AWD cost.

But you can't get it in GT2 Trim. I do like that color but wonder how it will look a few years from now. You know trendy colors sometimes do not age that well.

 

[eflyguy]

It's a disappointment for me considering one of my favorite things about owning a performance vehicle is driving Western NC and Tennessee twisties. My gut level feeling is the Tail of the Dragon is going to go from thrill to teeth clenching because I don't trust the car :/

My daughter and I were up there a few weeks ago (in my AWD GT2) and absolutely loved driving it on the Dragon and other great roads in the area. Also took her up for a day of "tuition" on similar roads in North GA a few weeks before.

Absolutely better/more enjoyable for those roads than her '14 Challenger and '98 Corvette, primarily because you can use more throttle mid corner, and the way it pulls itself around.

The primary reason I bought mine was to enjoy those roads, and I've told many people that I could give up motorcycles as long as I had a car like this.

 

[Stinger Girl]

My daughter and I were up there a few weeks ago (in my AWD GT2) and absolutely loved driving it on the Dragon and other great roads in the area. Also took her up for a day of "tuition" on similar roads in North GA a few weeks before.

Absolutely better/more enjoyable for those roads than her '14 Challenger and '98 Corvette, primarily because you can use more throttle mid corner, and the way it pulls itself around.

The primary reason I bought mine was to enjoy those roads, and I've told many people that I could give up motorcycles as long as I had a car like this.

I am so happy to hear that!

 

[itguy61]

I always wanted to ride it on a motorcycle. Never got to, I quite riding a few years ago after a friend had a bad accident, too risky anymore.

My daughter and I were up there a few weeks ago (in my AWD GT2) and absolutely loved driving it on the Dragon and other great roads in the area. Also took her up for a day of "tuition" on similar roads in North GA a few weeks before.

Absolutely better/more enjoyable for those roads than her '14 Challenger and '98 Corvette, primarily because you can use more throttle mid corner, and the way it pulls itself around.

The primary reason I bought mine was to enjoy those roads, and I've told many people that I could give up motorcycles as long as I had a car like this.

Do you have Eibach sway bars?

 

[eflyguy]

Nope. Driven it enough on those roads and also an autocross event to know I don't need to modify the suspension.