Cars We Own: 2017 Kia Stinger 330Si diary

[YEH]

Cars We Own: 2017 Kia Stinger 330Si diary | CarAdvice

The Kia Stinger ignites passionate debate like few other cars we’ve driven at CarAdvice. With a big engine up front, loads of space in the middle and power going to the rear, there was no shortage of hype.

As soon as it arrived in Australia, we knew we wanted to buy one. Here it is, resplendent in Hichroma Red.

Think of this as a rolling logbook, a little window into life with the cars in the CarAdvice stable. You’ll find the most recent entries at the top, and the older instalments at the bottom.

Expect to see monthly updates from here on out. They might be longer, more in-depth breakdowns of specific trips, or sentence-long snapshots of foibles that have popped up.

Also, a private owner's review.

2018 Kia Stinger GT review | CarAdvice

Before you start, this is the first of numerous reviews I plan to write regarding a 2018 Kia Stinger GT. This review includes my thoughts on numerous vehicles, why we bought the Kia and our first 5000km.

For context, the cars I previously owned include a 2.4L Mitsubishi Lancer, an 0.9L T Alfa Mito, a 1.6L Hyundai Elantra SR and a 2017 Subaru Forester.

After owning the Hyundai Elantra SR for 18 months (owner review also left on car advice), there was a strong desire to step into a car with greater performance. With a budget of <$70k, I shortlisted the 2018 Mustang (coming soon), BMW 140i (new) and 240i (demo), 2018 Renault Megane RS (coming soon), VW Arteon, Genesis G70 (coming soon) and a Stinger GT. My partner was set on a Mustang, I liked the BMW and Renault (having driven the 275 Trophy) but could settle with any of the listed cars as they’re all exceptional in their own way.

We researched, had a look around and our thoughts were (highly subjective):

• BMW 140i – Ugly outside, ugly inside
• BMW 240i – “New” price a little too high (demos within price range but non-existent in the lovely blue/orange colours)
• Megane RS – Wasn’t out. Too long to wait. No LSD on auto and flagship Trophy variant an even longer wait
• Arteon – Beautiful outside, bit boring inside, lower outputs compared to the other cars
• Mustang 2018 – Wasn’t out. Interior lacking. Impatient. V8 probably out of price range (especially including running costs).
• Genesis G70 – Love it. No AU price yet – likely 5-10k more than Stinger. Constantly delayed – Impatient
• Stinger GT – Nice exterior and interior, good warranty, good performance and features – arguably the most all-round package

After visiting a few brands, having a test drive and negotiating the price (EOFY are always a good time to purchase), we put a deposit down on a Red, 2018 Stinger GT.

 

[hummus]

Thanks for posting.

In the CarAdvice article, it's interesting to see those headlights (resembling base 2.0T halogen units in the U.S.) with thew GT wheels. Does anyone know if they are LED bulbs in those enclosures?