How much will you spend?

[Skyguy]

It will be $5 under $50k. Global corporate policy.

 

[CoconutRob]

I've actually never seen an advertisement anywhere for the K900. Never heard one (radio) either. I don't think they pushed it at all. It's kind of just there if you want one. A second generation is on it's way so apparently they don't have a problem with only selling a few.

Maybe it was a limited release just like the rumor of the stinger being a limited release.

 

[Gilgamesh]

don't forget that people are paying over 100,000 for a chevy and a nissan. i think the stinger gt is at least half as good as those cars that come from brands with no luxury appeal.

Oh I haven't forgotten, but those are proven performance cars. I definitely want a sedan this time around, but if I was given a choice between a GTR and the Stinger and they were similarly priced... GTR all the way.

As for he Chevy are you referring to the Stingray? I was unaware they got to $100k.. I know they start around $55k though. Anyways it's essentially comparing apples to oranges as those are high level performance cars and this is a sport sedan.

If KIA was an established luxury brand meaning that's what they're known for then $50k would be an acceptable price. IMO it might still be a bit too high based on the overall quality of materials used to build the Stinger based of what I've seen. The thing is that I can get the high end Infiniti Q50 Redsport edition in the low $50k range or an IS350 F sport in the high $40k range. I know you can get the BMW 340i for about the same price as the Lexus starting out but it would be a bit past the Infiniti if you get it fully loaded.

If you're KIA how do you expect to beat that kind of competition if you're not undercutting it by a fair margin price wise? You know you have to have really good quality, you know you need good options, etc. The only way they can compete is if they beat the prices of the competition handily which would be the low 40s for the high end version fully loaded.

These luxury cars I listed along with others I didnt are great cars with really good quality and features, but the reason they're so expensive is due to the name that's attached to them. There's prestige that comes with buying these vehicles and the average person is more impressed by these luxury brands than a car that has similar or better performance and options if it's from a brand that primarily just sells normal cars and isn't known as a luxury brand.

 

[ballistic]

don't forget that the nissan gtr started at $70k its first year before it was ever proven as anything. a nissan. 10 years ago when $70k bought you more than it does today. and of course i'd take a gtr over the stinger if they were similarly priced. but that doesn't make the stinger any less of a bargain at $49k in 2017.

a toyota land cruiser STARTS at $84k. and i just built a toyota sequoia for $70k for my father. cars aren't cheap anymore. these are not established luxury brands.

i do see your point about the q50 red sport and the is350 f sport. they're both really great cars and are established luxury brands. lexus wasn't always an established luxury brand either. but they started somewhere. kia isn't an established luxury brand but they've been pretty much building luxury cars for awhile now. have you ever sat in a cadenza? even a fully loaded optima is pretty impressive. and as mentioned the k900 is a luxury car without the badge.

same way hyundai did with genesis. the hyundai genesis sedan is every bit a luxury car as a bmw or lexus. every bit. all that's missing is the badge.

low 40s for a fully loaded twin turbo stinger. i'd surely be happy about a price like that but it probably wouldn't do much for kia. they're in the business to make money. let's revisit this discussion at the end of 2018 and see how the stinger did because that's the only way we'll know for sure whether kia was crazy to price the stinger at just under $50k which they have been saying for a year.

 

[Gilgamesh]

don't forget that the nissan gtr started at $70k its first year before it was ever proven as anything. a nissan. 10 years ago when $70k bought you more than it does today. and of course i'd take a gtr over the stinger if they were similarly priced. but that doesn't make the stinger any less of a bargain at $49k in 2017.

a toyota land cruiser STARTS at $84k. and i just built a toyota sequoia for $70k for my father. cars aren't cheap anymore. these are not established luxury brands.

i do see your point about the q50 red sport and the is350 f sport. they're both really great cars and are established luxury brands. lexus wasn't always an established luxury brand either. but they started somewhere. kia isn't an established luxury brand but they've been pretty much building luxury cars for awhile now. have you ever sat in a cadenza? even a fully loaded optima is pretty impressive. and as mentioned the k900 is a luxury car without the badge.

same way hyundai did with genesis. the hyundai genesis sedan is every bit a luxury car as a bmw or lexus. every bit. all that's missing is the badge.

low 40s for a fully loaded twin turbo stinger. i'd surely be happy about a price like that but it probably wouldn't do much for kia. they're in the business to make money. let's revisit this discussion at the end of 2018 and see how the stinger did because that's the only way we'll know for sure whether kia was crazy to price the stinger at just under $50k which they have been saying for a year.

That's the thing though the modern GTR has been around 10 years, but it's actually been around for nearly 50 years. It's not like they just released a new vehicle that had no history of being a great performance car; now if we were just talking about the price increase of the modern GTR over the last 10 years you would have a point about how much they're charging as it is ridiculous, but then again you're getting a super car that has a long proven history. Same could be said about the Acura NSX and Toyota Supra; they have all proven themselves in the past and built up a following and now that they're back of on the verge of being back they're going to be expensive for the average person. The average person doesn't have a super car though.

I can agree all current luxury brands had to start somewhere, but I doubt they priced their vehicles right along their competition or higher I would have to actually research it to be certain though. If KIA was an established luxury brand the Stinger would warrant a price tag similar to the cars I mentioned, but I also think the overall quality of the vehicle would be better as well; I've heard many people mention that certain aspects of the car appear cheap and there's a lot of plastic.

 

[eljay]

Whether I'm willing to pay the Stinger's eventual price is going to be determined by a lengthy test drive. Yes, in the Stinger price range, the Q50 and the IS are beautiful, quality cars. But they were also the first two cars I eliminated from consideration after research and test drives. I couldn't wait to get out of the IS--no number of adjustments could make it comfortable for me. The Q50 lost me by not having HUD (do they now?) and by the need to switch out the run flats and add the optional compact spare kit, which took up most of the already-limited trunk space.

I've owned a Chevy and a Pontiac during the past 30 years, so obviously badge means nothing to me. We all have different needs and different things that drive us crazy, and a luxury badge doesn't guarantee that a car will fit our needs or be worth its price.

I'm one of the people who pointed out the amount of plastic on the exterior of the Stinger pre-production model, but I've since heard, more than once, that a lot of that will be switched out for better-quality materials (albeit maybe still plastic) in regular production. Fingers crossed.

 

[CoconutRob]

I guess in the end, if I can get a buick gs for 10k less I will probably go with the Buick unless driving the stinger excites me as much as the looks. It would have to be alot to pay 10k more

 

[Alan]

I think I'm in a different boat than a lot of you. My preference is for a new, two-door, front or all wheel drive, manual transmission car with a nice set of features and creature comforts. I don't think it exists and I'm more willing to compromise on two-door and manual transmission than new and loaded. That's what gets me here. However, if it start to feel too expensive I'll need to look in another direction.

I'm not sure what too expensive is right now. That will be more clear when I've been able to see and drive a Stinger. If there's a lot of enjoyment and I get "that feeling," I'll likely be all in. If not, then who knows.

 

[Jumpy]

I think I'm in a different boat than a lot of you. My preference is for a new, two-door, front or all wheel drive, manual transmission car with a nice set of features and creature comforts. I don't think it exists and I'm more willing to compromise on two-door and manual transmission than new and loaded. That's what gets me here. However, if it start to feel too expensive I'll need to look in another direction.

I'm not sure what too expensive is right now. That will be more clear when I've been able to see and drive a Stinger. If there's a lot of enjoyment and I get "that feeling," I'll likely be all in. If not, then who knows.

Just curious, why do you prefer FWD over RWD?

 

[Alan]

Just curious, why do you prefer FWD over RWD?

I'm looking for my next "winter beater."

 

[jburns]

Believe it or not, it's been available in the U.S. since 2013. I know that makes it even crazier that you hadn't heard of it until recently. But they seriously did no marketing (that I know of). It's actually a very impressive car for what it is. It doesn't bring any luxury "cache" to the owner but it's an impressive full-size luxury sedan for a non-astronomical price. Especially when you consider everything you get for that fully loaded cost. They've only sold about 5000 in the U.S. I'm sure it only exists for the South Korean market but they certainly earn a little something by selling a few here...

There's lots of misinformation out there on the K900. The first year in the US was 2015. It was advertised for a time primarily on NBA broadcasts with LeBron James as the spokesman. It showed him leaving his noisy house and stretching out in quiet comfort in the K900. I am in the last year of my lease of a 2015 K900. I've enjoyed the car. The feeling of a big V8 with 420 horses PUSHING me down the highway brings back memories of my youth. 5.5 seconds to 60 is enough to feel fast. Cruising is whisper quiet with the big 8 turning just 2K at 80 mph.

EDIT: For clarity, the model year of the first K900 in the US was 2015. It became available in mid-2014.

 

[Bamm1]

I try not disparage anyone for the choices they make when it comes to what they drive. Everyone has unique, individual needs that must be met. I am here because the Stinger might fit mine.

Looking at the GS as well (give up "some" performance for cost/fuel economy). The G70 is looking better with each "siting/leak" (quilted leather interior, faster/lighter than Stinger, etc.). But who knows where they will price it (in between the Stinger and G80? - not a lot of room there). Could even drop down a class and go for similar performance/ improved fuel economy but less amenities/room, at a lower cost.

With that said, I think there are some things Kia needs to "overcome" to get me on board:

• Poor fuel economy
• Weight
• Above average depreciation

At this point nothing is going to be re-engineered before launch to fix the first two (at least not until the second generation). The last one is heavily influenced by brand perception. Making the Stinger in the first place is a step towards fixing that. So are the JDP and CR accolades for reliability. But a change that big doesn't happen overnight. So if they want me to place the above items on the "minor" instead of "major" list Kia can rely on the two C's (like it has always done). Give me a HUD, ventilated seats, 360 degree camera, adaptive LED headlights, hands-free trunk, 15 speaker audio systems, Android Auto/Apple Carplay, etc.) AND get the loaded price (with AWD) a few grand under where your top model (K900) starts.

 

[Skyguy]

Shit you don't want much......

 

[CoconutRob]

I try not disparage anyone for the choices they make when it comes to what they drive. Everyone has unique, individual needs that must be met. I am here because the Stinger might fit mine.

Looking at the GS as well (give up "some" performance for cost/fuel economy). The G70 is looking better with each "siting/leak" (quilted leather interior, faster/lighter than Stinger, etc.). But who knows where they will price it (in between the Stinger and G80? - not a lot of room there). Could even drop down a class and go for similar performance/ improved fuel economy but less amenities/room, at a lower cost.

With that said, I think there are some things Kia needs to "overcome" to get me on board:

• Poor fuel economy
• Weight
• Above average depreciation

At this point nothing is going to be re-engineered before launch to fix the first two (at least not until the second generation). The last one is heavily influenced by brand perception. Making the Stinger in the first place is a step towards fixing that. So are the JDP and CR accolades for reliability. But a change that big doesn't happen overnight. So if they want me to place the above items on the "minor" instead of "major" list Kia can rely on the two C's (like it has always done). Give me a HUD, ventilated seats, 360 degree camera, adaptive LED headlights, hands-free trunk, 15 speaker audio systems, Android Auto/Apple Carplay, etc.) AND get the loaded price (with AWD) a few grand under where your top model (K900) starts.

I wouldn't call it poor fuel economy. I would say acceptable fuel economy. Depreciation I personally don't care about because I will probably own till it's death. Weight, ok well it could go on a diet. My only hang up is price. After reading the latest out of Australia it sells fully loaded without AWD for $45121. Hopefully it corilates to USA release.

 

[moinmoin]

After reading the latest out of Australia it sells fully loaded without AWD for $45121. Hopefully it corilates to USA release.

Funny, The Western Australian reports today, that the Stinger GT will be priced just short of AU$60K!?
@Robert Schwarzkopf where did you find the AU$45,121.? Australian $ and Can$ are virtually even, and for $60K I'd be buying a Lexus.....Thanks

https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/mo...ing-and-specifications-revealed-ng-b88581538z

 

[CoconutRob]

Funny, The Western Australian reports today, that the Stinger GT will be priced just short of AU$60K!?
@Robert Schwarzkopf where did you find the AU$45,121.? Australian $ and Can$ are virtually even, and for $60K I'd be buying a Lexus.....Thanks

https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/mo...ing-and-specifications-revealed-ng-b88581538z

 

[moinmoin]

Thanks, but can you make it a bit larger please....

 

[Kia Stinger]

Thanks, but can you make it a bit larger please....

Har, har. You can click the image to see the "full size" version. That's the high resolution cell phones have these days...

 

[Bamm1]

I wouldn't call it poor fuel economy. I would say acceptable fuel economy.

When the RWD GT is getting worse fuel economy than 4300+ lb. 3-row V6 AWD SUV's (Pilot, Highlander, etc.) I am going with poor. Even the 400 hp AWD Q50 RS400 with its antiquated 7-speed auto bests the RWD Stinger GT.

My only hang up is price. After reading the latest out of Australia it sells fully loaded without AWD for $45121. Hopefully it corilates to USA release.

That is right around the price of a loaded Kia Cadenza.

 

[eljay]

Conversion from $59,990 AUS$ to US$ today is $47,812. Since the Kia USA website is slotting the Stinger between the Cadenza and the K900, and a fully-loaded Cadenza Limited tops out at $45,750 MSRP, that sounds like a logical RWD Stinger price.