Coming from a Focus RS, 2018 GT AWD

[RLam]

Hey all!

I've been lurking for a while, but decided to join just a few days ago. Traded in my 2017 Focus RS back in February for my Micro Blue GT AWD. Loving the car so far, and have reached my limit as far a modifying it. Tinted/Lowered/Wheels. Hope to learn a lot more about the car and interact with everyone!

 

[DiabloStinger]

Nice choice of wheels!

 

[robz32]

Welcome aboard and congratulations!
Excellent choice on both, the mods and the car

 

[RLam]

Thanks Diablo & rob. My buddy is a Senior manager at Discount and he bent over backwards for me to grab these and the tires at a good price.

 

[Kamauxx]

Looking good. Congrats!

 

[bumble bee]

Your ride looks pretty sweet. Welcome!

 

[mfox]

Nice!

 

[jrhodes87]

What are those wheels, they look like they match the black chrome trim pretty well

 

[RLam]

What are those wheels, they look like they match the black chrome trim pretty well

Verde V99 Axis 20x9 +38 in gloss bronze all around

 

[StingerGT68]

Congrats! Love the RS, never drove one but I just really like the styling and the whole "tiny car with a ton of horsepower" concept!

 

[Kia Stinger]

Hey all!

I've been lurking for a while, but decided to join just a few days ago. Traded in my 2017 Focus RS back in February for my Micro Blue GT AWD. Loving the car so far, and have reached my limit as far a modifying it. Tinted/Lowered/Wheels. Hope to learn a lot more about the car and interact with everyone!

View attachment 9571

Welcome aboard! And thank you for signing up. Congratulations on your brand new Stinger GT! Nice upgrade!

 

[Kazz]

Great looking ride! And you've made quite a change. As someone who's used to smaller, handles-like-a-knife, fast cars myself, I'm interested in hearing your comparisons and impressions.

Enjoy and congrats!

 

[RLam]

Great looking ride! And you've made quite a change. As someone who's used to smaller, handles-like-a-knife, fast cars myself, I'm interested in hearing your comparisons and impressions.

Enjoy and congrats!

I loved the RS. I wanted to love it more, but I had so many headaches with my two RSes. Yep. two. The first was a 2016 That had the infamous trans/PTU leak. It eventually ended up in the shop for 49 days the first six months I owned it, having received new PTU, Transmission and an axle. Ford accepted my Lemon Law claim and gave me a brand new 2017 for a minor mileage fee. Fast forward a few miles and the headgasket recall gets released. The car spent another week in the shop. After reading the horror stories of people's issues even after replacement of head gasket, I said f*** it and went to the Kia dealer to see what the Stinger was about.

BUT...

The car the RS was when it wasn't in the shop was AMAZING. Fun, practical, optioned decently, and a monster on the track out of the box. The only thing it needed was more suspension adjustabillity from the factory and a better exhaust note.

 

[Kazz]

I loved the RS. I wanted to love it more, but I had so many headaches with my two RSes. Yep. two. The first was a 2016 That had the infamous trans/PTU leak. It eventually ended up in the shop for 49 days the first six months I owned it, having received new PTU, Transmission and an axle. Ford accepted my Lemon Law claim and gave me a brand new 2017 for a minor mileage fee. Fast forward a few miles and the headgasket recall gets released. The car spent another week in the shop. After reading the horror stories of people's issues even after replacement of head gasket, I said f*** it and went to the Kia dealer to see what the Stinger was about.

BUT...

The car the RS was when it wasn't in the shop was AMAZING. Fun, practical, optioned decently, and a monster on the track out of the box. The only thing it needed was more suspension adjustabillity from the factory and a better exhaust note.

What a horror story. And I'm so sorry you had to give that kind of a ride up. I certainly hope you don't have any regrets after owning your Stinger for a couple of years. Will you still be tracking a car? the Stinger?

 

[Waynerm002]

Congrats on the Stinger! The more I see that Micro Blue, the more it’s growing on me. Nice mods too!

 

[RLam]

What a horror story. And I'm so sorry you had to give that kind of a ride up. I certainly hope you don't have any regrets after owning your Stinger for a couple of years. Will you still be tracking a car? the Stinger?

I gave up a great car for a great car in my opinion. Life goes on! As far as regrets with the stinger, I doubt I will have regrets. It's so nice having such a comfortable car that can travel well and still be fun/attractive/fast.

I was going to pick up a hail damaged 06' GTi from a friend to make a track car, but I couldn't swing it in time before he had to sell for financial reasons. Otherwise he has an SRT4 that I will be splitting seat time with him in, for half of the track day expenses and some free labor from me of course haha.

I see you have some track worthy cars. Do you get out there much?

 

[Stinger GT SS]

G’day & welcome to the forum & owners club @RLam, it’s a great ride, had mine 7 months trouble free motoring.
As stated above I also love the wheels you fitted matches & works with this car & your colour choice, well done.

 

[Weareblondi]

welcome to the forum and congrats on your stinger. mrs was eyeballing an rs, being that she is a ford fan, but she couldn't get over the fact that the interior was a little on the boy racer side. she is tiny, and the seats weren't her fave. she was either in the seat or out of the car, had trouble getting over the bolsters.

 

[Kazz]

I gave up a great car for a great car in my opinion. Life goes on! As far as regrets with the stinger, I doubt I will have regrets. It's so nice having such a comfortable car that can travel well and still be fun/attractive/fast.

I was going to pick up a hail damaged 06' GTi from a friend to make a track car, but I couldn't swing it in time before he had to sell for financial reasons. Otherwise he has an SRT4 that I will be splitting seat time with him in, for half of the track day expenses and some free labor from me of course haha.

I see you have some track worthy cars. Do you get out there much?

I used to autocross quite a bit. I didn't trailer the Evo and the 4hr round trip finally got to my excitement level about going in the first place. LOL

I've yet to hit a track apart from instruction (Bondurant, ST Octane Academy), but have talked about it for years. The Evo's getting taken out of storage tomorrow and prepped for sale, unfortunately, or it'd likely be the candidate. I'm on the 18" all-seasons on the Stinger, so nothing's happening until I get summer wheels and tires. I should have these all-seasons eaten up by this time next year, I think. That's when I'll start getting serious about performance/handling.

I'm hoping to finalize a plan on exhaust after the Chicago Stingerfest, where I should be able to compare a number of exhausts.

Oh! And one car that's no longer on my list is the one I traded in for the Stinger, a 2016 Fiesta ST. Took it out to the ST Octane Academy I mentioned above and everything. Fun car! I just heard the person who bought it wrecked it, unfortunately.

Anyway, enjoy and keep us posted on your experiences!

 

[ballistic]

I loved the RS. I wanted to love it more, but I had so many headaches with my two RSes. Yep. two. The first was a 2016 That had the infamous trans/PTU leak. It eventually ended up in the shop for 49 days the first six months I owned it, having received new PTU, Transmission and an axle. Ford accepted my Lemon Law claim and gave me a brand new 2017 for a minor mileage fee. Fast forward a few miles and the headgasket recall gets released. The car spent another week in the shop. After reading the horror stories of people's issues even after replacement of head gasket, I said f*** it and went to the Kia dealer to see what the Stinger was about.

BUT...

The car the RS was when it wasn't in the shop was AMAZING. Fun, practical, optioned decently, and a monster on the track out of the box. The only thing it needed was more suspension adjustabillity from the factory and a better exhaust note.

that sounds like a love/hate relationship. I know all about those. so far so good with the stinger?