Hard Drives | First look at the Kia Stinger GT

[HardDrives]

Hey guys! My name is Chris and I've started a new car channel on YouTube called Hard Drives. It's going to features car reviews, first looks, mods, car collections, events (regional Cars and Coffee meetups), and some fun stuff along the way.

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I'm just getting started and my first video was something I've been wanting to do for a long time now: Check out the new Kia Stinger GT!

I've been a Kia owner since 2011, and recently we bought a 2017 Kia Optima SX Turbo (my wife's car). It's a fantastic, great looking ride! But I believe the Kia Stinger GT is more my style (a true performance sedan).

A buddy of mine, Scott, is a salesman with Kia of Greenville in Greenville, SC. He was able to let me get some video of the demo model they had in the showroom, as a lead-up to when they get their first five Stingers in (two 4 cylinder, three GT's, I believe).

The demo may/may not be a KDM model (someone has pointed out the red paint-on-red leather combo as not a U.S. option). I do know that Scott said this one was priced out around $62,000...

While my video skills are a little rusty (learning more and more as I go), I can promise that I'll have some professional video guys that work for my consulting group that will be accompanying me for bigger shoots (possibly even the full review for the Stinger GT). This first look video is just intended to give folks a closer look at the car, with more of my personal opinions and car info/specs to come later in a review of one of the actual production models that come in soon. (hint: I kind of want one!)

I wanted to reach out to you guys in the meantime, at the very least to see what you want to see in the review (perhaps things not covered in other car channel's reviews so far).

Also, please feel free to send me any constructive feedback, or maybe what other things you'd like to see on the channel. My email is: info@harddrives.tv

Web: www.harddrives.tv
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMi...NICanGzw80Qpg?
Instagram: www.instagram.com/harddrives.tv
Twitter: www.twitter.com/HardDrives_TV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hard-Drives-2046372835631674/

Thanks!

 

[Kia Stinger]

Welcome aboard, Chris! And thank you for signing up. Oh, and thank you for the video! Congratulations on your new YouTube channel. I'm going to have to check out the video in the morning as I need a new pair of headphones and my wife is sleeping about 10 feet away.

$62,000, huh? I have a feeling there are going to be some interesting comments about that tomorrow. Stay tuned...

 

[HardDrives]

I think the Stinger GT is a fantastic buy <$45k. At $62k (even though fully dressed, it's still a sweet ride) I'd be looking at other cars, to be honest.

Then again, my 2017 Optima SX Turbo was $35k sticker and we got it for $27K back in July. Maybe there's room to negotiate!

 

[ballistic]

welcome harddrives. i tried to watch the video but i'm on a cell phone and my connection won't let it load (no wifi). i can comment though. the stinger fully loaded costs $52k. $62k means your friend's dealership is adding $10k in dealer fees. they may sell a few for that much in the very beginning but it won't be long before that luck runs out, if it even comes at all.

 

[HardDrives]

^ Interesting. Not surprised though! Haha

 

[Larry Denen]

Kia of Greenville looks like a nice, clean place. Thank you for the video. Have you been able to drive a Stinger yet?

 

[STNGRNV]

When I went to look at the Korean demo models when they first arrived, the dealer told me that it was a 62k car (I knew more about the car than he did). I told him good luck finding the sucker to buy a 62k Kia.

 

[HardDrives]

Kia of Greenville looks like a nice, clean place. Thank you for the video. Have you been able to drive a Stinger yet?

Not yet. Kia of Greenville should be getting their allotment in any day now.

 

[HardDrives]

Hey folks,

Sal checked in with me via email this past week and I wanted to extend an apology to everyone here. I never did get around to reviewing the Stinger GT (but plan to, albeit late).

To explain...

1. My wife's grandmother passed away (on Christmas day of all days) and we had A LOT of estate issues to take care of.

2. We are moving next month as a result of me getting a new position. That means we have since bought a new house while getting our current one ready to sell/listed. A lot to do with that right now.

3. Work has been super busy. Been on the road a lot.

4. The least of it all, my buddy who was my "in" at the Kia dealer here left for another dealership. This happened right after the first video I shot. (ugh) However, he has since got recruited back to the Kia dealer and a Stinger GT test drive will be in the works!

Something else that's a factor is that YouTube changed its monetization policy a couple months ago and now only creators with 10k subscribers will be getting paid. The prior threshold was 10k VIEWS. Obviously, I'm not in this for the money, but it does kind of screw with your head when you're talking about finding time to shoot and edit videos.

Sorry again for the delays in new content, just a lot of "life stuff" going on and had some delays securing shoots. I haven't had the time to dedicate more shoots and edits since then but will try to do so starting in June when we get settled in.

Thanks, y'all!