Disappointing July Stinger sales

[Travis Wills]

Sales of the Stinger in the US in July were a disappointing 1092 as compared to 1506 last year for the same month.

You should definitely be able to use this data to negotiate a much better price in August and then even more so when the 2020 Stingers arrive on dealer’s lots.

The August rebates are not on the website yet but they should be updated tomorrow or next week.

KIA MOTORS AMERICA ANNOUNCES JULY SALES

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[xot1]

It's all part of the master plan.

 

[Travis Wills]

The incentives are up now and surprisingly they did away with the zero percent interest for the V6 GT models. At one point this summer you could get an extra $2,000 plus the zero % interest for up to 66 months. That appears to be gone now.

It really looks like the finance incentives have totally dried up. I wonder if the lease incentives have increased even more?

 

[Doel]

fewer cars sold, the better ours retain value

 

[Travis Wills]

fewer cars sold, the better ours retain value

I disagree. The fewer that are sold the bigger the discounts will be. The bigger the discounts the lower the resell value will eventually be.

The thing that keeps resell value the highest is when very few of the cars hit the used market. If people keep their cars a long time the resell value will stay higher as long as they don’t start selling them as fleet sales.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Aren't car sales down compared to last year generally across all models? Hasn't it been this way all year long? Over a thousand Stingers sold isn't bad.

 

[Travis Wills]

Aren't car sales down compared to last year generally across all models? Hasn't it been this way all year long? Over a thousand Stingers sold isn't bad.

Some car sales are down. Others aren’t. The Genesis G70 has had steady sales but they don’t sell as many as some other car brands.

BMW, Mercedes, and especially INFINITI car sales have been really bad. However, SUV sales have been through the roof.

The Telluride has sold extremely well. That will help Kia dealers be more willing to move Stingers with much less profit.

1092 Stingers sold isn’t terrible but they are producing a lot of them still and they aren’t selling as well as they did last year. That is causing inventory to pileup at some dealerships.

My local dealership had 16 New Stingers on the lot at one point last month. They currently have 4 Stinger GT2 cars spec’d the exact same way. Those aren’t going to sell quickly but they sell Tellurides before they even hit the lots.

 

[Logic717]

I’m utterly confused as to what this will mean for the used market. Right now used 18 GT2s are still holding on to the high 30s. That’s pretty good for depreciation. Still hoping it’ll hit my price point by next summer.

 

[YEH]

Kia USA likely wants to see that # closer to 1,300/month, if not 1,500 - but pretty much all sedans/fastbacks in the entry-level segment have seen hits to sales (keep in mind that 4-door sedans here still sell better than their 4-door fastback counterparts).

Still, in context w/ certain competition - not bad...

A5 (all body-styles) - roughly 2k
Q70 - 1,900
4 Series (all body-styles) - 1,500
IS - 1,300
Stinger - 1,100

5 things that can improve Stinger sales:

1. 2.5T replacing the 2.0T as the base engine; should increase take rate of the turbo-4 (one thing about Stinger sales is that it has a higher take rate of the upmarket engine).

2. Larger infotainment/nav screen - even the higher trims of the Kia Seltos and Soul get the large 10.25" screen; replacing the current 8" w/ the larger screen will make the interior look/feel more upmarket.

3. Adding the digital gauge cluster for the higher trims; while some prefer the tried and true analogs - these days, bling like this attracts the younger/tech-enthused buyers. A major draw for Audi is their virtual cockpit.

4. Update to the latest lane keep assist/adaptive cruise control system - that can be found on the K900 and Telluride.

5. Make as standard (like for other markets) the large scripted Stinger in lieu of the Kia badge at the rear. Makes an already stylish vehicle that much better. Sure, buyers/owners can do it themselves or pay a shop to do it, but that's an extra hassle and expense and first impressions are important.

In addition, would replace the Kia emblem on the steering wheel w/ a (small) Stinger script - makes the steering wheel (something that you looks at constantly) that much classier (at the same time, would also replace the steering wheel/airbag cover w/ something a little nicer) - and if Kia did this across all markets, they wouldn't have to manufacture different badges.

Another thing is to have more attractive lease rates/lease cash, but suppose that's up to Kia's financing arm.

W/ regard to the fastback vs. sedan sales - the Stinger is still outselling the G70.

While some of that may still be due to lingering effects of the Genesis dealership issue, think a major component is the rather cramped rear passenger leg/foot space in the G70 relative to the Stinger and other sedan competitors.

Cadillac had made the same mistake w/ the ATS.

 

[hughanis]

Kia USA likely wants to see that # closer to 1,300/month, if not 1,500 - but pretty much all sedans/fastbacks in the entry-level segment have seen hits to sales (keep in mind that 4-door sedans here still sell better than their 4-door fastback counterparts).

Still, in context w/ certain competition - not bad...

A5 (all body-styles) - roughly 2k
Q70 - 1,900
4 Series (all body-styles) - 1,500
IS - 1,300
Stinger - 1,100

5 things that can improve Stinger sales:

1. 2.5T replacing the 2.0T as the base engine; should increase take rate of the turbo-4 (one thing about Stinger sales is that it has a higher take rate of the upmarket engine).

2. Larger infotainment/nav screen - even the higher trims of the Kia Seltos and Soul get the large 10.25" screen; replacing the current 8" w/ the larger screen will make the interior look/feel more upmarket.

3. Adding the digital gauge cluster for the higher trims; while some prefer the tried and true analogs - these days, bling like this attracts the younger/tech-enthused buyers. A major draw for Audi is their virtual cockpit.

4. Update to the latest lane keep assist/adaptive cruise control system - that can be found on the K900 and Telluride.

5. Make as standard (like for other markets) the large scripted Stinger in lieu of the Kia badge at the rear. Makes an already stylish vehicle that much better. Sure, buyers/owners can do it themselves or pay a shop to do it, but that's an extra hassle and expense and first impressions are important.

In addition, would replace the Kia emblem on the steering wheel w/ a (small) Stinger script - makes the steering wheel (something that you looks at constantly) that much classier (at the same time, would also replace the steering wheel/airbag cover w/ something a little nicer) - and if Kia did this across all markets, they wouldn't have to manufacture different badges.

Another thing is to have more attractive lease rates/lease cash, but suppose that's up to Kia's financing arm.

W/ regard to the fastback vs. sedan sales - the Stinger is still outselling the G70.

While some of that may still be due to lingering effects of the Genesis dealership issue, think a major component is the rather cramped rear passenger leg/foot space in the G70 relative to the Stinger and other sedan competitors.

Cadillac had made the same mistake w/ the ATS.

I agree with all of these, and given my bad luck, and the fact that my Stinger was one of those 1092 sold in July, I wouldn't be shocked if the 2020 Stinger has all of this.

 

[YEH]

^ No worries.

The 2020 KDM Stinger has minimal changes.

Figure most of that stuff likely won't make it until the refresh (earliest we may see any significant upgrades would be for the 2021MY).

 

[Travis Wills]

I’m utterly confused as to what this will mean for the used market. Right now used 18 GT2s are still holding on to the high 30s. That’s pretty good for depreciation. Still hoping it’ll hit my price point by next summer.

The resell value of the 2018 GT2 Stingers is actually amazing. KBB doesn’t list the 2019 Stingers yet. However, when they do it is likely that the resell value of the GT2 cars will be more than the selling price of a brand new one. Manufacturer’s rebates make this possible.

Don’t buy this car used. It is a much better value to buy it brand new.

 

[Logic717]

The resell value of the 2018 GT2 Stingers is actually amazing. KBB doesn’t list the 2019 Stingers yet. However, when they do it is likely that the resell value of the GT2 cars will be more than the selling price of a brand new one. Manufacturer’s rebates make this possible.

Don’t buy this car used. It is a much better value to buy it brand new.

What happens when new isn’t in your budget? Haha. My price point is high 20s low 30s for at least a GT1

 

[GenesisG70]

Its ok it took the Germans decades to sell Lux sports sedans, KIA will catch up don't worry

 

[Oryan]

This car doesn't need to move big numbers in North America. So long as it sells enough to get out there and generate interest in the brand and changes the perception of Kia, the car is performing as intended.

 

[Travis Wills]

The incentives are up now and surprisingly they did away with the zero percent interest for the V6 GT models. At one point this summer you could get an extra $2,000 plus the zero % interest for up to 66 months. That appears to be gone now.

It really looks like the finance incentives have totally dried up. I wonder if the lease incentives have increased even more?

It appears that the zero percent for 75 months now applies to the GT Stingers as well. That is a substantial savings over the entire term of the loan.

 

[Soca Boy]

SUVs.

 

[Travis Wills]

What happens when new isn’t in your budget? Haha. My price point is high 20s low 30s for at least a GT1

You will be waiting awhile. In some cases the cheapest GT1 or GT2 car is a brand new 2019 car because that is the only one that still gets manufacturer’s incentives.

It is crazy. All of the “New” 2018 Stingers are listed for more than the “New” 2019 Stingers since the 2018 incentives are long gone. Those 2018 cars will never sell now unless the dealers just decide to eventually dump them.

Used cars are even worse.

 

[MerlintheMad]

You will be waiting awhile. In some cases the cheapest GT1 or GT2 car is a brand new 2019 car because that is the only one that still gets manufacturer’s incentives.

It is crazy. All of the “New” 2018 Stingers are listed for more than the “New” 2019 Stingers since the 2018 incentives are long gone. Those 2018 cars will never sell now unless the dealers just decide to eventually dump them.

Used cars are even worse.

There have been quite a few used Stingers that have joined the forum.

 

[Travis Wills]

There have been quite a few used Stingers that have joined the forum.

I have seen quite a few posts where people bought used Stingers for more than I would be willing to pay for a brand new one.