Getting pretty discouraged

[CrazyLikeaFox]

with the lack of inventory. There don't seem to any of the configuration I want anywhere.

GT
AWD
Driver assistance package
preferably red

I see very few GT's, fewer GT's with AWD, and the rarest of all is GT with Driver assistance.

I would have thought that the Driver assist would be one of the most desirable features. Obviously not.

Come on Kia, get in the game. I'm about ready to go to plan B.

 

[Kia Stinger]

with the lack of inventory. There don't seem to any of the configuration I want anywhere.

GT
AWD
Driver assistance package
preferably red

I see very few GT's, fewer GT's with AWD, and the rarest of all is GT with Driver assistance.

I would have thought that the Driver assist would be one of the most desirable features. Obviously not.

Come on Kia, get in the game. I'm about ready to go to plan B.

There's a rumor going around that they don't have enough 3.3TT engines. They're currently being used for the Genesis G90, Genesis G80, Stinger GT, soon for the Genesis G70, and next generation Kia K900. I'm not sure if the rumor is true - but if it is - they really didn't plan very well. I suppose they didn't expect the more expensive Stinger to be selling as much as it is...

 

[Waynerm002]

In the US I would say they probably didn't expect that based on how the K900 did. The again, it could just be the dealers not ordering enough or there bad weather is slowing the ship from getting here.

 

[Kia Stinger]

In the US I would say they probably didn't expect that based on how the K900 did. The again, it could just be the dealers not ordering enough or there bad weather is slowing the ship from getting here.

Whatever the problem is, it won't last forever. Like many have said, this has been a very bad launch. The launch won't last forever...

 

[ibmaxx]

There's a rumor going around that they don't have enough 3.3TT engines. They're currently being used for the Genesis G90, Genesis G80, Stinger GT, soon for the Genesis G70, and next generation Kia K900. I'm not sure if the rumor is true - but if it is - they really didn't plan very well. I suppose they didn't expect the more expensive Stinger to be selling as much as it is...

Yes - a superb example of the 6P rule being ignored I think.

 

[Euljiro1ga]

with the lack of inventory. There don't seem to any of the configuration I want anywhere.

GT
AWD
Driver assistance package
preferably red

I see very few GT's, fewer GT's with AWD, and the rarest of all is GT with Driver assistance.

I would have thought that the Driver assist would be one of the most desirable features. Obviously not.

Come on Kia, get in the game. I'm about ready to go to plan B.

I would personally perceive this as a positive sign and definitely not going to plan B.

People are liking the Stinger, they are buying them instead of other cars. It's so good, production can't keep up.

Kia may not be doing their best regarding the launch but that doesn't take anything away from the Stinger. It's a great car.

I know that dealer experience does contribute to your decision - still, for me, I will be living with the car, every day, for years. I will only interact with the dealer/manufacturer when I buy the car, and after taking delivery, probably just once or twice a year for service, if at all. If you aren't in desperate need to have the car asap, I would give Kia/dealers time to sort their inventory out.

 

[ralzod]

I would personally perceive this as a positive sign and definitely not going to plan B.

I feel similarly to everything you said. Although I'm dying to have new wheels in my driveway, I'm currently inclined to ride things out until the dealers either settle down (ie - supply meets demand), or until I get more reliable information about features possibly being restored on the '19s. I tend to buy long-term cars, so waiting another 6-9 months for a car I'll have for a decade could very well be worth it. Fortunately, I have a car that should make it through that wait period.

(In the mean time, I'm also continuing to research aftermarket SVM retrofit options, just in case I end up buying an '18.)

 

[Scott D.]

I was able to get a GT with the drivers assist package. Not red, but micro blue. I have not seen any more with this feature. It was what was available when I made the deal.

 

[CrazyLikeaFox]

I was able to get a GT with the drivers assist package. Not red, but micro blue. I have not seen any more with this feature. It was what was available when I made the deal.

I don't know where you are, but the driver's assist package is scarcer than hen's teeth on the GT AWD. There are only 2 within 500 mi. of Chattanooga, and both are shades of grey, and GT1 to boot.

I'm looking at TLX from Acura, and (God help me) Accord.

 

[derek0609]

There are 4 AWD GT's with the Drive Wise package near me here in Metro Detroit, and one RWD GT with the drive package. None of them are red though. Patience is a virtue. If you're that ready to jump ship to a TLX or an Accord then do you really want the car? Just saying........

 

[CrazyLikeaFox]

There are 4 AWD GT's with the Drive Wise package near me here in Metro Detroit, and one RWD GT with the drive package. None of them are red though. Patience is a virtue. If you're that ready to jump ship to a TLX or an Accord then do you really want the car? Just saying........

Well, there's waiting, then there's WAITING. Patience is a virtue is there is some finite chance that what you're waiting for will actually happen. From reading this forum, there is little chance that ordering will speed the process, and I am not committing to buy a car without seeing it and driving it. I was in the market for a new car last November when the Stinger came to my attention, and there's been nothing on the horizon since then.

The question back to you....how long should I wait?

 

[Waynerm002]

They are rolling in slowly. I don't think they expected them to sell as much as they did and I feel they deliberately did this to make sure the G70 got the bigger cut of the production run. Much like the Optima Hybrid and PHEV are made in Korea, I think they want to keep this in house for the time being. If they end up making this car for longer and need to increase production, they would need to get it built at other factories.

I think it will be summer before you see any major increase in the volume of available cars. If you can't wait until then, see what other version of the Stinger you can work a deal on.

 

[Weareblondi]

The waiting is up to you. 1st year production, unexpected/expected reaction from the general public and heaps of praise from the magazine/online journalists. Ex. Resurgence of the Camaro, mustang restyle, and the 2nd restyle, and the third. It could also be a great marketing ploy, supply low, etc etc. Either way, it is your money, but, when the Mrs and I were looking for her replacement car, she didn't even want to look at a stinger. Until she saw the limited yellow, all she wanted was that car. Her words were, if the car isn't there tomorrow, I will wait for next limited edition.

 

[ShrekSquatch]

I am looking for a unicorn too.... AWD GT, White, Drive Wise, and 19" wheels. Guessing I won't see one until the 2019s come out...

 

[Marc Collins]

Well, there's waiting, then there's WAITING. Patience is a virtue is there is some finite chance that what you're waiting for will actually happen. From reading this forum, there is little chance that ordering will speed the process, and I am not committing to buy a car without seeing it and driving it. I was in the market for a new car last November when the Stinger came to my attention, and there's been nothing on the horizon since then.

The question back to you....how long should I wait?

The normal procedure for those of us who have owned cars similar to the Stinger (enthusiast, higher-priced, limited inventory, etc.) is that you go to a dealer and order your car. If you are lucky, you won't have to put a deposit down, but you may if the combo that you want is so rare. That dealer will then work for you to get the next iteration of the car coming into the country allotted to you, assuming that someone else isn't in line in front of you.

How hard is that to do? If you are not serious enough to place an order, don't play in this space.

The only legitimate complaints are that reasonable combinations are not available at all, due to marketing decisions at either KIA USA or KIA headquarters.

 

[jrhodes87]

I found my unicorn, and watched it sit on the lot for 2 months without being moved haha. Finally time came around to strike.

Upon my searching I did notice very very few drive wise packages on GT stingers, and even fewer with GT AWD drive wise.

I wanted GT AWD 19 and panthera metal, it was the only one I could find online, so I feel pretty lucky to get it.

 

[StingerGT68]

Finding my blue GT AWD with Drivewise wasn't TOO hard in early February. And it seems like the market has more GTs now, too. OP, let us know if you have any luck.

 

[eflyguy]

The normal procedure for those of us who have owned cars similar to the Stinger (enthusiast, higher-priced, limited inventory, etc.) is that you go to a dealer and order your car. If you are lucky, you won't have to put a deposit down, but you may if the combo that you want is so rare. That dealer will then work for you to get the next iteration of the car coming into the country allotted to you, assuming that someone else isn't in line in front of you.

How hard is that to do? If you are not serious enough to place an order, don't play in this space.

The only legitimate complaints are that reasonable combinations are not available at all, due to marketing decisions at either KIA USA or KIA headquarters.

.. and that is my complaint. I have two dealers who know what I want and can not even order it. They call me up with "close" matches now and then, but none have red interior with micro blue, and I will not compromise on that combo.

 

[StingerGT68]

.. and that is my complaint. I have two dealers who know what I want and can not even order it. They call me up with "close" matches now and then, but none have red interior with micro blue, and I will not compromise on that combo.

I've had some dealers tell me they can order specific builds. Maybe keep trying, call a different dealer.

 

[Marc Collins]

.. and that is my complaint. I have two dealers who know what I want and can not even order it. They call me up with "close" matches now and then, but none have red interior with micro blue, and I will not compromise on that combo.

Did you place an order? Or just ask if they can look out for what you want? I get the same lackadaisical response from retailers when I don't order something or put money down on many products, not just a car. Each dealer gets a certain number of cars allotted to them--they already now how many. They can trade with other dealers, but it's a trade, so they are giving up something to get something. Depending on whether what you want is rare or popular, that will be more or less difficult.

They can't special order a car (at the moment, presumably because KIA has decided it isn't necessary to get rid of their 2018 inventory). They can take an order from you that you are willing to wait for. If they have your commitment and see how serious you are, they will likely expend the appropriate amount of effort trying to grab the exact vehicle you want. So far, they are doing next to nothing hoping that you will compromise on a close match. Why should they put in a lot of effort and use up "trade credit" for you at this point unless they have a solid order?

Same answer as to CrazyLikeAFox--don't play in this space unless you are willing to be serious. Wait six months to a year and all will undoubtedly be calmed down to normal availability and/or special orders will be possible. And by then, KIA may even have come to their senses with the options and packages that they have bungled in multiple ways for 2018.