Considering Stinger GT for next car

[NS_Stinger]

The one I test drove didn't have the adaptive suspension, can you change the settings to firm it up? I found the GT-Line a bit too floaty.

The GT and GT Limited have the adaptive suspension, basically you get comfort or sport. Comfort is probably similar to what the GT-line felt like and sport firms things up, its not a huge difference but its noticeably firmer with less body roll. You can also adjust the steering weight to comfort or sport, the awd to comfort (60% rear 40% front power distribution) or sport (80% rear 20% front), transmission to comfort or sport etc. Not sure if the GT-line has that or not.

 

[GRStinger]

My kids are grown now and we have a full sized pickup to cover large groups so that's why I was looking at smaller cars again. That being said I am not as young as I used to be so a larger car appealed to me from that side. The BMW M240i is a beauty but it kind of looks like every other small bmw. The Stinger does have the unique factor, I just WISH they never put those fake vents on the hood. I'm sure if I could test drive the GT Limited I would love it.

Yup, that's my biggest problem with the design. Most-everything else is top-notch and flawless. Fake hood vents on THIS car? WHY, KIA?!? But really, it's picking nits when evaluating the car as a whole. By all means - give it a good test drive. Tool around in Comfort for awhile - see how it feels fas a daily-driver. But get it on a freeway on-ramp, put 'er in Sport and giver 'er the beans. Dare you not to giggle.

 

[Audible Silence]

I think the fake vents are because real vents did more harm than good. And they wanted something more aggressive than just a plain hood. The sport hood on Rams and challengers are fake also

 

[GRStinger]

It's not that black and white. Way back there on the Paint Quality thread, it was pointed out that Kia is hardly alone in sending out cars with paint problems. Bimmers sometimes have bad paint. Every model under $100K has some that turn out having crappy paint. Second gen and even later, still show up with bad paint; but it is rare. And I think that Kia is doing the best they can. Because some paint shops are incompetent even dishonest, we are going to hear of failures. But I expect the positive results to greatly outnumber the failures. As you pointed out, the failures or at least the disappointed owners are going to come here to vent: we won't hear about all the success stories, because they are going away happy and not looking for where the failed stories hang out.

I generally agree. However, BMW, Mercedes, etc. have a lot of "brand capital" and are given the benefit-of-the-doubt when they send out cars with flaws. Not so with Kia. Critics can point out this paint problem with Kia's "halo car", and no matter how good the Stinger is in every other way, the public perception and narrative will be "yup, it's JUST a Kia". Again, we don't know how big of a problem it is, but IMHO Kia has to nip it in the bud.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The fake hood vents can be placeholders for modded vents. My salesman (this was back in March, early April) told me about a local Stinger that had been chipped to 425 HP, and the hood vents had air intakes. But I've heard no more about that car.

 

[MerlintheMad]

BMW, Mercedes, etc. have a lot of "brand capital" and are given the benefit-of-the-doubt when they send out cars with flaws.

I wonder how true this is. It seems to me that a brand with higher expectations creates disappointment proportional to those expectations. Kia's Stinger assault is in full swing, with gobs of increasing positive reviews; none of them mention paint that I have heard of. The paint is arguably the Stinger's biggest flaw. And if anyone is going to choose something else to take the place of paint as a biggest flaw, I'd be interested to know what "less important" thing that would be. In fact, the car is tremendously good at what it was designed to do: go very fast in complete comfort and even luxury; and turn heads while doing it. Paint can be addressed easily. Mechanical or technological flaws/failings, not so much. And, for a first year model, I've heard practically nothing on the level of "catastrophic engine failures" or similar disastrous failures in the Stinger. With the exception of once-off occurrences involving the LSD and a transmission fubar (heard of both on this forum quite a while ago), there hasn't been anything to approach such a level of failure. The paint is regrettable but nowhere near a deal breaker. And the rest of the car is solid with very few individual vehicles exhibiting less than stellar performance.

 

[GRStinger]

I wonder how true this is. It seems to me that a brand with higher expectations creates disappointment proportional to those expectations. Kia's Stinger assault is in full swing, with gobs of increasing positive reviews; none of them mention paint that I have heard of. The paint is arguably the Stinger's biggest flaw. And if anyone is going to choose something else to take the place of paint as a biggest flaw, I'd be interested to know what "less important" thing that would be. In fact, the car is tremendously good at what it was designed to do: go very fast in complete comfort and even luxury; and turn heads while doing it. Paint can be addressed easily. Mechanical or technological flaws/failings, not so much. And, for a first year model, I've heard practically nothing on the level of "catastrophic engine failures" or similar disastrous failures in the Stinger. With the exception of once-off occurrences involving the LSD (Limited Slip Differential) and a transmission fubar (heard of both on this forum quite a while ago), there hasn't been anything to approach such a level of failure. The paint is regrettable but nowhere near a deal breaker. And the rest of the car is solid with very few individual vehicles exhibiting less than stellar performance.

Personally, I couldn't agree more. But here's where I'm coming from. When I researched the car, I watched virtually every video review out there. Although the Stinger got tons of love, there were well-respected and much-watched reviewers who seemed gleeful to point out any flaw they could find: the guy who droned on about the hard plastic on lower non-touch areas - even though every other luxury car in this class does the same thing; the snotty English bloke who twisted the center console - even though he never does the same thing on his beloved Audi's. Although they grudgingly admit the Stinger performs well, they will be quick to hammer away at any perceived flaws. They establishment luxury car snobs don't like this new-comer upstart showing them up. Think of the Stinger as the Donald Trump of the luxury sport sedan!

 

[MerlintheMad]

Think of the Stinger as the Donald Trump of the luxury sport sedan!

Lol. Oh, I do, I do. Interesting how individual minds come up with similar analogies.

 

[GRStinger]

Lol. Oh, I do, I do. Interesting how individual minds come up with similar analogies.

It moves fast; it performs well; it's a bit brash (OK, Donald is more than a 'bit' brash);the buyers "get it"'; it's secretly admired in polite establishment circles and... a lot of good looking women dig it!

 

[Paul32]

Yup, that's my biggest problem with the design. Most-everything else is top-notch and flawless. Fake hood vents on THIS car? WHY, KIA?!? But really, it's picking nits when evaluating the car as a whole. By all means - give it a good test drive. Tool around in Comfort for awhile - see how it feels fas a daily-driver. But get it on a freeway on-ramp, put 'er in Sport and giver 'er the beans. Dare you not to giggle.

Lots of cars have fake vents, I think the Stinger looks better with the vents than no vents. Don't care if they are not functional.

 

[Paul32]

Think of the Stinger as the Donald Trump of the luxury sport sedan

That makes me sick. My Stinger does not lie, exaggerate or make stuff up.

 

[MerlintheMad]

That makes me sick. My Stinger does not lie, exaggerate or make stuff up.

His base doesn't think he does either: they see his bombast and blather and rejoinders as playing a verbal game, not serious lying. Exaggeration is allowed when you are in the arena with folks who don't play fair. Same with cars. If a brand is holding a serious segment of the luxury sedan class, and along comes an upstart with a poor reputation, and that upstart brand throws lookalikes on the table and says "See! Almost everything YOU guys have, only for a lot less money", the established brand is going to take more than a dim view of the effrontery. But the buyers of the upstart brand are going to take a perverse delight in having what they would not (could not) afford before; and defend it with tenacity. Words fly. And words change meaning in the ensuing battle. Pots calling the other kettles black always results.

In the end, Paul, it literally is when the rubber hits the road: and in politics it is results, rather than blather, that get support. The analogy between The Donald (flawed as he is) and the KIA Stinger (flawed thought they both are) is apt: the Stinger's street cred cannot be denied; and if ignored by the "badged brands" it will be to their own peril.

 

[GRStinger]

That makes me sick. My Stinger does not lie, exaggerate or make stuff up.

Get well soon. My Stinger doesn't lie, exaggerate, or make stuff up either. Name a politician who doesn't.

 

[Paul32]

Get well soon. My Stinger doesn't lie, exaggerate, or make stuff up either. Name a politician who doesn't.

Not 90% of the time. Can't believe anything. Oh, and thank you Michigan for the Mid-term.

 

[forzanerazzurri]

That makes me sick. My Stinger does not lie, exaggerate or make stuff up.

Snowflake

 

[Paul32]

Snowflake

Sorry, you will have to explain that one to me.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Sorry, you will have to explain that one to me.

He's being @forzanerazzurri i.e. enjoying being rude and funny at the same time. He's referring to the epithet "melting snowflake", hurled by Trump fans at leftists who lost in 2016 and can't get over it.

 

[forzanerazzurri]

He's being @forzanerazzurri i.e. enjoying being rude and funny at the same time. He's referring to the epithet "melting snowflake", hurled by Trump fans at leftists who lost in 2016 and can't get over it.

We have to have fun in here too. It can't all be serious paint and hatch rattle posts.

 

[Paul32]

We have to have fun in here too. It can't all be serious paint and hatch rattle posts.

Yea, well how would you like to trade, your Prime Minister for our President. Have to warn you though, he's not to fond of Canadians. The joke would be on you.....

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yea, well how would you like to trade, your Prime Minister for our President. Have to warn you though, he's not to fond of Canadians. The joke would be on you.....

If offered a choice, I'd keep The Donald ... for now. His influence in the wider world is, interesting. So far, I am not complaining about how things generally are going. I don't listen to how he says things, I am only interested in the outcome of what he does.