Driving a Stinger in Colorado / Mountains

[Cnb5189]

Hey All -

Apologies if this is the wrong sub-forum; first-time poster.

I'm moving to Denver, Colorado soon from the northeast and will need a new car. I am really interested in getting an AWD Stinger GT. I've test driven it twice; definitely my top choice car. However, I am worried that even with an AWD drive train that the Stinger won't be well suited to CO/mountain driving. Although I'll be using it mostly as a fun daily for commuting to & from work, I'll definitely be using it for the occasional weekend trip into the mountains/trailheads as well. I don't plan on doing any serious off-roading that would require, for example, a Jeep, but perhaps some light off-roading. For what it's worth, this would be my only car (i.e. no other choices for driving into the mountains and using this as only a DD).

Broadly, would the Stinger be okay to own in the mountains? Would it be fine driving up mountain roads, altitude changes, light off-roading? Will it have enough ground clearance? Or should I not take the risk on sedans at all and instead get an SUV? Anyone from this forum who drives a Stinger in CO who could offer any insight?

Thanks and much appreciated!

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hi there. CO and UT are practically identical as far as using mountain roads in all their varieties are concerned. The Stinger only has c. 6.5" of clearance. I would never take it on a dirt road that has rocks sticking up at unpredictable heights, with accompanying potholes, etc. In the manual it says to use extra caution when on unsurfaced roads like "improved" or gravel roads. The clearance implies that any roads used should be flat. I've driven on "washboard" surfaces of gravel, e.g. heading to a camping ground at the end of Little Cottonwood canyon. No issues at all. Just go slow.

Winter: AWD rules. If you are staying out of the mountains A/S tires should be adequate. If you are heading higher, then A/S are probably illegal. They are here. You have to have winter/snow tires, and even chains on some days. Altitude changes will work out fine. This model was thoroughly tested under adverse weather extremes.

 

[westcoastGT]

with proper tires I think you will be fine , I have UHPAS tires and drive to Whistler etc all good BUT if you were doing serious climbs I would suggest doing a winter set up on 18" rims with good "winter tires" and save the OEM 19 set up for the rest of the year ( all on paved roads of course )

 

[Mike_TX]

I can't really speak from experience, but I can't imagine taking a Stinger even "light" off-roading. Keep in mind that even two-tracks have humps in the center, and if nothing else the front lower fascia panel will be in your rearview mirror before long. Then there's lots of vulnerable underbody and engine/trans stuff lurking down there just waiting to be scraped or punctured.

I'd stay on pavement or smooth gravel roads if it were me.

 

[Jacques]

A number of auto journalists took Stingers out on a closed winter driving course in Colorado last year, and looked pretty fun by all involved. Mind you, these GT2 AWD Stingers were outfitted with Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 winter tires, but looked like provided the surface is fairly flat, drove just fine in the white stuff.