How many serious buyers do we have

[STNGRNV]

I'm looking at the 2.0. So it's as bare bones as you can get. So now I'm doing style vs. options calculus. 32k buys so much more car (sans performance) elsewhere.

 

[davebo]

I'm looking at the 2.0. So it's as bare bones as you can get. So now I'm doing style vs. options calculus. 32k buys so much more car (sans performance) elsewhere.

But a fair chunk of what we're paying for is the performance? Even the 2.0t model is pretty quick and people have said handles great due to the lower weight.

 

[Kia Stinger]

32k buys so much more car

...perhaps in some ways... But cars like the Accord and Camry aren't going to feel ANYTHING like the Stinger. Different planet.

 

[zoop]

I'm undecided, most likely waiting until next year but I am considering leasing. I've never leased before so that might be a learning curve... planning on making a post about it.

 

[STNGRNV]

But a fair chunk of what we're paying for is the performance? Even the 2.0t model is pretty quick and people have said handles great due to the lower weight.

Yeah, I'm one of the folks who doesn't care much about performance and is looking for style.

 

[Gentracker]

I was 50/50 but after today, I'm done; Kia dealers are either purposely shady or just incompetent. I wish them luck, and based on what I'm seeing just so far this week since the stinger hit the lots, they're going to need it.

 

[NujinDesign]

I am unsure of purchasing it since I'm reading that Kia dealerships are horrible. I'm currently working with an elderly lady, and I will test her to see how she treats me. I can spot inconsistency and liars pretty well.

Other cars that are within the Kia Stinger's price range are (in no order):

1). VW Arteon - love the exterior/interior design, but it is slow (mid 5 second to 60mph).
2). Buick Regal GS - love the front sport seats and interior design.
3). Dodge Charger R/T 392 - very comfortable seats, it is the quickest in my list, but feels like a land yacht.

 

[STNGRNV]

I am unsure of purchasing it since I'm reading that Kia dealerships are horrible. I'm currently working with an elderly lady, and I will test her to see how she treats me. I can spot inconsistency and liars pretty well.

Other cars that are within the Kia Stinger's price range are (in no order):

1). VW Arteon - love the exterior/interior design, but it is slow (mid 5 second to 60mph).
2). Buick Regal GS - love the front sport seats and interior design.
3). Dodge Charger R/T 392 - very comfortable seats, it is the quickest in my list, but feels like a land yacht.

The people I have dealt with have not been impressive. They have been the stereotypical used car salesmen. I emailed a guy about the Stinger when I first became interested. They kept emailing me about other cars. I told them I didn't want any info unless it was Stinger related. Then they get a showroom model and I learn about on this forum. I went to see it, but no one spoke with me. They still have not contacted me to this day. Went with my mom to a Toyota dealership recently. Night and day.

OAN: That VW looks nice.. I hadn't heard of it.

 

[Merkur720]

I just can’t get past this shifter on all models outside of the GT2. It looks so bad IMO. Maybe it won’t be so bad in person.

 

[ballistic]

I just can’t get past this shifter on all models outside of the GT2. It looks so bad IMO. Maybe it won’t be so bad in person.

so you're 'out' because of the shifter.

 

[westcoastGT]

Its in my garage and it's fantastic ! ...................go get one now !

 

[CHC]

I just can’t get past this shifter on all models outside of the GT2. It looks so bad IMO. Maybe it won’t be so bad in person.

I'm with you on this, kind of one of the reasons why I was solely interested the GT2. I really don't get why there has to be such a difference for this, because at least in Europe and Australia, the 2.0T Stingers get shift by wire according to their published brochures. Hell, even the Korean spec 2.0T has shift by wire from the demo that I saw. I really liked the ergonomics of the shift-by-wire when I demoed it. I would think that it would be easier to standardize this across all trims, instead of cost cutting measures.

 

[voon]

Extremely serious myself. I only laugh in cellars, behind protected walls.

 

[Merkur720]

so you're 'out' because of the shifter.

Well, between the 80’s style shifter and lack of ventilated seats — it makes only the GT2 the trim I’m interested in. Which is annoying because I really feel the 2.0t (and MPG) make better sense for my needs. But there are just too many compromises (even the wheels). I don’t know if I should wait for a “special edition” 2.0T with GT LINE trim....you know, just like they’ve displayed at dealerships across the the country!

 

[davebo]

Well, between the 80’s style shifter and lack of ventilated seats — it makes only the GT2 the trim I’m interested in. Which is annoying because I really feel the 2.0t (and MPG) make better sense for my needs. But there are just too many compromises (even the wheels). I don’t know if I should wait for a “special edition” 2.0T with GT LINE trim....you know, just like they’ve displayed at dealerships across the the country!

I really don't understand why companies always have to marry huge power engines with their most luxurious trims. I see people driving around (or being chauffeured around) in Mercedes with 500+ ft/lbs of torque who'll probably never use that power but end up with it because they want the nice interior with all the amenities. I'm sure there are plenty of rich people out there who'd actually prefer getting better mpg as long as they have the interior they want. Likewise there are plenty of people in the Stinger's price range who want every bell and whistle inside but are perfectly happy going 0-60 in 5.9 seconds instead of 4.7. I mean... I'm not one of them, but they exist!

I love Corvettes because they give you all the power and performance but without the super expensive interior, but where are the manufacturers offering the reverse?

 

[voon]

That's where you go german cars etc with their huge option list. You can take the lowest model and gear up your comforts. of course you pay premium for that.

 

[davebo]

That's where you go german cars etc with their huge option list. You can take the lowest model and gear up your comforts. of course you pay premium for that.

Well in my example I was specifically thinking of something like an S-Class sedan. Even if you could make a C-300 interior as nice as an S-Class you'd still be short on size for people who want that room. Room aside though, can you actually make a C-300 interior as nice as an S-Class? Or a 3-series as nice as a 7-series? I'm not super familiar with their options lists so maybe that's the case.

Edit: I just went to MB's website and had a pickle of a time. Was trying to add brown nappa leather with heated/ventilated front seats to a C-300 but every time I tried to add the heated steering wheel it bumped me back to regular black leather.

 

[netmag]

That's where you go german cars etc with their huge option list. You can take the lowest model and gear up your comforts. of course you pay premium for that.

I'm not sure this situation even requires going all out with options. They just needed to offer the same thing they're offering every where else. Plain and simple. They went out of their way to cut features on the US version that are offered in Canada and Mexico.

As for the colors, ok so it seems (miraculously) that one of the two colors they don't want to offer at all here is the one they demoed across most of America. However, if it's money, then they already showed that they can offer it with an up charge. I think they do this for Australia. It looks like it's $500-600 extra for the Deep Chroma Blue.

However, there's no reason not to offer the 360, rear heat, and Qi. It appears they simply singled the US out for those deletions. Those features do make a difference in terms of perceived value especially when plenty of cars that they claim to be competing have such features. By the time the Stinger gets them here, they'll be even more mainstream.

It would be different if you simply didn't have those features to offer. Then you could say that Kia's just putting up the best fight that they can to compete on some level with the other guys. However, that is not the case here. They have the features. They offer them every where for the Stinger and also for other Kias. Just not the Stinger here. It's just purely self limiting on purpose. Supposedly claiming that you want to compete with these higher end cars, but purposely cutting yourself off at the knees, shrugging and saying "Well, maybe this is good enough to get it done here. We don't need to actually offer the absolute best that we have for this one. The engine numbers and other features is enough to win most of em over"

Kia must be doing very well in the US. They don't feel like they need to be clearly better than everything else to get $50K out of people. Again, they actually took features that were there out. They must expect to make up some of their global losses for this vehicle based on US sales.

 

[voon]

Well, I'm not sure why there are these differences in European or American amrkets etc. In Switzerland we don't have any options on the Stinger. We can buy exactly one Stinger: fully loaded, be it heated steering wheels, Qi charging, automatic trunk with sensor, AWD, 3.3 V6, Automatic gears, heated and cooled leather, the open roof, HUD, navi, 360 cams .. you name it. We have every option a Stinger can have and we get only that. I'm not complaining though

That's usually to Switzerland being an Eldorado for sellers of strong cars. My dealership does not even know if they ever offer a lower level Stinger here, ever.

Room aside though, can you actually make a C-300 interior as nice as an S-Class? Or a 3-series as nice as a 7-series? .

They won't allow ALL options. I also couldn't get heated steering wheel in my 1-Series. Technically an absolute nonissue, this option is reserved for 3 and up. Obviously they a) want you to maybe consider the more expensive car base or b) give buyers of a 3-Series and up a feel of higher class by having spent more money. Those are things that come natural to brands, that are all about status.

 

[Kia Stinger]

As for the colors, ok so it seems (miraculously) that one of the two colors they don't want to offer at all here is the one they demoed across most of America. However, if it's money, then they already showed that they can offer it with an up charge. I think they do this for Australia. It looks like it's $500-600 extra for the Deep Chroma Blue.

https://stingerforum.org/threads/the-united-states-is-getting-all-the-colors.1092/