Hey guys! Another newb here.

[Caseybueno]

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to say hi. My name is Casey... I'm a Leo *waits for chuckels and/or tomatoes being thrown*

Just wanted to introduce myself. I've been lurking on this forum for a couple of days now and can already appreciate the camaraderie amongst everyone as well as the information being shared with the community.

I'm currently daily driving a 2003 M5 - had it for 3.5 years. I absolutely LOVE that car, but it's no longer practical for me as a daily. Feel free to ask why if anyone cares.

Yesterday, I test drove an Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Sport and then... A GT2. The GT2 BLEW me away. Power felt comparable to my M5 and felt like it could out handle it as well - even in a total of 4 the right turns I was only able to take on a dealer test-drive.

I fell in love with the Giulia's steering and handling characteristics as well as the sharpness of the transmission, but the practicality and creature comforts you get with the GT2 are really hard to beat - ventilated seats and the HK sound system are among the top 2 qualities I adore. PS: the HK sound system destroys the HK in the Giulia.

I'm also a director/producer and shoot a lot of automotive content, so the hatch back aspect is absolutely clutch for me. I can actually fit all of my lights, camera and enjoy some action at the same time *waits for chuckels, and/or more tomatoes being thrown*

I'd love to hear about other cars you all were looking at before you bought/leased your GT2! I'm 90% sold on it, but I need to do my due diligence and test drive other cars before I pull the trigger... Well, that and sell my M5

 

[Kia Stinger]

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to say hi. My name is Casey... I'm a Leo *waits for chuckels and/or tomatoes being thrown*

Just wanted to introduce myself. I've been lurking on this forum for a couple of days now and can already appreciate the camaraderie amongst everyone as well as the information being shared with the community.

I'm currently daily driving a 2003 M5 - had it for 3.5 years. I absolutely LOVE that car, but it's no longer practical for me as a daily. Feel free to ask why if anyone cares.

Yesterday, I test drove an Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Sport and then... A GT2. The GT2 BLEW me away. Power felt comparable to my M5 and felt like it could out handle it as well - even in a total of 4 the right turns I was only able to take on a dealer test-drive.

I fell in love with the Giulia's steering and handling characteristics as well as the sharpness of the transmission, but the practicality and creature comforts you get with the GT2 are really hard to beat - ventilated seats and the HK sound system are among the top 2 qualities I adore. PS: the HK sound system destroys the HK in the Giulia.

I'm also a director/producer and shoot a lot of automotive content, so the hatch back aspect is absolutely clutch for me. I can actually fit all of my lights, camera and enjoy some action at the same time *waits for chuckels, and/or more tomatoes being thrown*

I'd love to hear about other cars you all were looking at before you bought/leased your GT2! I'm 90% sold on it, but I need to do my due diligence and test drive other cars before I pull the trigger... Well, that and sell my M5

Welcome aboard! And thank you for signing up. I'm glad you found us!

 

[MerlintheMad]

PS: the HK sound system destroys the HK in the Giulia.

Fascinating. Why would Harman Kardon muff the Alfa sound system and get a Kia right?

Welcome to the forum.

I wasn't looking at (or for) any cars. The Kia promo book for the Stinger was tossed at me by a friend as sort of a joke, because I am almost the last guy to look for a replacement (was driving a '94 Plymouth Voyager, albeit a rare five on the floor). But the winter of '18 reading that promo book over and over again resulted in a test drive; and those are nearly always "fatal"; you should appreciate that now.

The practicality of the hatchback and design of the fastback sold me as much as any other single feature.

 

[Caseybueno]

Fascinating. Why would Harman Kardon muff the Alfa sound system and get a Kia right?

Welcome to the forum.

I wasn't looking at (or for) any cars. The Kia promo book for the Stinger was tossed at me by a friend as sort of a joke, because I am almost the last guy to look for a replacement (was driving a '94 Plymouth Voyager, albeit a rare five on the floor). But the winter of '18 reading that promo book over and over again resulted in a test drive; and those are nearly always "fatal"; you should appreciate that now.

The practicality of the hatchback and design of the fastback sold me as much as any other single feature.

You know, it's interesting you say that about HK. I was on a press event for the Hyundai Palisade and 2 reps from Harmon were actually there to specifically cover what they did with the Palisade in-depth. I've been on a lot of these pressers and have never seen an audio rep join the rest of the Manufacturer to explain the sound system...

I think HK and Hyundai might have a special relationship with each other, because the HK in the Palisade was also incredible.

Btw, I'm an audio snob - been installing sound systems in my car since day 1, but at 35, that whole process is getting kinda tired for me. I would have to do absolutely zero to the Stinger.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Btw, I'm an audio snob - been installing sound systems in my car since day 1, but at 35, that whole process is getting kinda tired for me. I would have to do absolutely zero to the Stinger.

There are a few owners here who fiddle with their HK systems, even supplementing with a sub in the hatch and swapping out speakers for aftermarket. The range of opinions of the HK run from very dissatisfied to "the best sound system in any car I've heard" (me). Admittedly, exposure and an "overly-sensitive ear" (OC demands from electronics) play the biggest part. My ears are gunshot. Maybe "muffled hearing" is the key. Hah.

 

[vipeboy2000]

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to say hi. My name is Casey... I'm a Leo *waits for chuckels and/or tomatoes being thrown*

Just wanted to introduce myself. I've been lurking on this forum for a couple of days now and can already appreciate the camaraderie amongst everyone as well as the information being shared with the community.

I'm currently daily driving a 2003 M5 - had it for 3.5 years. I absolutely LOVE that car, but it's no longer practical for me as a daily. Feel free to ask why if anyone cares.

Yesterday, I test drove an Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Sport and then... A GT2. The GT2 BLEW me away. Power felt comparable to my M5 and felt like it could out handle it as well - even in a total of 4 the right turns I was only able to take on a dealer test-drive.

I fell in love with the Giulia's steering and handling characteristics as well as the sharpness of the transmission, but the practicality and creature comforts you get with the GT2 are really hard to beat - ventilated seats and the HK sound system are among the top 2 qualities I adore. PS: the HK sound system destroys the HK in the Giulia.

I'm also a director/producer and shoot a lot of automotive content, so the hatch back aspect is absolutely clutch for me. I can actually fit all of my lights, camera and enjoy some action at the same time *waits for chuckels, and/or more tomatoes being thrown*

I'd love to hear about other cars you all were looking at before you bought/leased your GT2! I'm 90% sold on it, but I need to do my due diligence and test drive other cars before I pull the trigger... Well, that and sell my M5

hi !
We only recently joined as well, since end of June 2020.
I love the e39 m5... we have a 540iT and a 525iT ... looking at 3.0 swap into the 525 + supercharger for some funs.
We looked at 440i gc's, 340i, m240i, used 2017 740i's, s5 sportback, mini cooper se, charger scat pack.. a few other odd ones thrown in but nothing as serious.. we were pretty deadset on another bmw, between the 4 and the 2.. the 2 would obviously be the faster more tossable car but we really wanted 4 doors... but haven't yet owned an actual "sedan" and didn't really want to break the trend of only hatchbacks/fastback/wagons .. really came down to the 440 and the stinger but the stinger actually feels better put together than the bmw.. both the 440 we tested and my friends 2019 330i msport doors and trim feels less premium and solid. The HK also is better in the Kia over the bmw's HK, my friend even commented and asked what system ours had and she wished hers sounded as good.

was really looking for a rwd gt/gt1 but there were none in our area at the time.. stumbled on the indigo edition that has the d-awd with lsd (which was what i really wanted out of the rwd) so that sealed the deal!

we have yet to experience any issues with our car but if you peruse the forum you will see some common stuff some people have had to deal with, some paint, interior noise, too soft sway bar(not really an issue) etc.

 

[RedCal]

Welcome to the hive! The Giulia's steering and handling are probably it's best features, so the first mod I recommend is replacing the front are rear sway bars with the eibachs, it is a massive difference in the handling of the car.

On the HK / Hyundai / Kia love - I think it's got a lot to do with the fact they are all Korean companies (Samsung, bought ALL of the Harmon group a few years ago - and Harmon has a ton of very well known brands in the stable... Lexicon, Arcam, JBL, AKG, and more) Glad to have another audio snob in the hive!!

 

[GenesisG70]

Welcome Leo good to have you in the forum. For me I will be sold 100% on the Stinger vs the Alfa, when Alfas brake down they brake down good, its a Fiat product their reliability is abysmal compared to Korean cars. Also BMWs are known for their plastic water pump failure nightmares not even mentioning the cost of repair if something goes wrong. I really hope you buy the Stinger it gives you everything at a very very reasonable price.

 

[Caseybueno]

hi !
We only recently joined as well, since end of June 2020.
I love the e39 m5... we have a 540iT and a 525iT ... looking at 3.0 swap into the 525 + supercharger for some funs.
We looked at 440i gc's, 340i, m240i, used 2017 740i's, s5 sportback, mini cooper se, charger scat pack.. a few other odd ones thrown in but nothing as serious.. we were pretty deadset on another bmw, between the 4 and the 2.. the 2 would obviously be the faster more tossable car but we really wanted 4 doors... but haven't yet owned an actual "sedan" and didn't really want to break the trend of only hatchbacks/fastback/wagons .. really came down to the 440 and the stinger but the stinger actually feels better put together than the bmw.. both the 440 we tested and my friends 2019 330i msport doors and trim feels less premium and solid. The HK also is better in the Kia over the bmw's HK, my friend even commented and asked what system ours had and she wished hers sounded as good.

was really looking for a rwd gt/gt1 but there were none in our area at the time.. stumbled on the indigo edition that has the d-awd with LSD (Limited Slip Differential) (which was what i really wanted out of the rwd) so that sealed the deal!

we have yet to experience any issues with our car but if you peruse the forum you will see some common stuff some people have had to deal with, some paint, interior noise, too soft sway bar(not really an issue) etc.

Dude, I test drove a 430i GC - was excited about the SULEV warranty aspect (in CA, it's 15yr/150k miles for anything emissions related) but honestly, it was a dog. I felt literally nothing driving it.

I just test drove another Stinger today and got to experience it in bumper-to-bumper traffic with the adaptive cruise and HOLY. SHIT! I'm so sold on it. I can't wait!!

 

[Caseybueno]

Welcome Leo good to have you in the forum. For me I will be sold 100% on the Stinger vs the Alfa, when Alfas brake down they brake down good, its a Fiat product their reliability is abysmal compared to Korean cars. Also BMWs are known for their plastic water pump failure nightmares not even mentioning the cost of repair if something goes wrong. I really hope you buy the Stinger it gives you everything at a very very reasonable price.

Thanks for the welcome!

And yup, you're right. FCA does not = longevity.

I'm sold on the stinger for sure.