I wish to say Hello, and I have a question.

[brancky3]

Lol after the criminal lies with the diesel gate disaster guess wich company has a better image now...

Sadly, still VW.

 

[NismoDPB]

Sadly, still VW.

That's correct unfortunately. Though I would say VW has the same problem as KIA in the reliability perception department. They are often thought of to be less reliable than most despite scoring better than average in reliability ratings most years.

 

[Flameangel]

That's correct unfortunately. Though I would say VW has the same problem as KIA in the reliability perception department. They are often thought of to be less reliable than most despite scoring better than average in reliability ratings most years.

The brand of cars I see Brocken down on the side of the road with their hazards lights flashing are Holdens and BMW's, I have never seen any type of Kia.

 

[GenesisG70]

VW is still leaps and bounds ahead of Kia in terms of brand perception by the masses. Kia is still lumped in with the super cheap hot garbage economy cars that they used to make 10+ years ago no matter how nice they are now. VW's have been pretty nice and reliable for decades

So why didn't you buy a jetta instead of the Stinger? Also can u send me a link with the most current study of car brand perception?

 

[GenesisG70]

Automobile brand perception - best brands in the United States 2018 | Statistic

 

[brancky3]

So why didn't you buy a jetta instead of the Stinger? Also can u send me a link with the most current study of car brand perception?

The Jetta is a nice car but it's super boring and has like 140hp. I came from an Audi, close enough

 

[ScottM]

My wife has a 2013 VW Jetta, it's garbage and I call it that anytime we drive it. It's had problem, after problem. I wouldn't buy a VW if my life depended on it...any VW. I would have said the same thing about a KIA, until I fell in love with the Stinger and now I understand more about what the KIA love is all about.

 

[GenesisG70]

The Jetta is a nice car but it's super boring and has like 140hp. I came from an Audi, close enough

But but...where is the study showing VW has better brand reputation and perception than Kia?

 

[NismoDPB]

The brand of cars I see Brocken down on the side of the road with their hazards lights flashing are Holdens and BMW's, I have never seen any type of Kia.

I feel like I am being misunderstood. KIA biggest problem with market penetration, and a car like a stinger, is brand perception. What's the most common criticism you read or hear about the stinger? "Who would pay $50k for a kia?", "Yea it's a nice car but it will spend more time in the shop than on the road", " cheap econobox crap." Any YouTube review is loaded with comments like that. We all know better of course but people who have never owned or considered one are susceptible to this kind of opinio. Part of the fun of owning a Stinger is telling people I drive a KIA and gauging their reaction to that statement, and then seeing the car. Well fun for me anyways.

 

[turboAWD]

Lol after the criminal lies with the diesel gate disaster guess wich company has a better image now...

And for those of us who have owned VWs, many of us found that "vaunted german reliability" was really smoke and mirrors.

 

[eflyguy]

The Jetta is a nice car but it's super boring and has like 140hp. I came from an Audi, close enough

Boring and 140hp is fine for the majority of consumers. That's why the Stinger has such low numbers compared to even other Kia models, let alone competitive brands. Most people, the "average" driver, doesn't really care about luxury and performance. Obviously, if you're on this forum, you're not the average car owner.

 

[ScottM]

Boring and 140hp is fine for the majority of consumers. That's why the Stinger has such low numbers compared to even other Kia models, let alone competitive brands. Most people, the "average" driver, doesn't really care about luxury and performance. Obviously, if you're on this forum, you're not the average car owner.

I don't know that I completely agree with the "average driver" thing. I think now days it's about power and luxury. People wanna get bang for their buck and those are the two things that go along with that. They don't want to pay $32,000+ for a car that just isn't worth it in their minds. The problem, I think, is that when people see the price tag they aren't sure why. In other words they don't do the research, even though it's out there. I don't think that's an "average driver" problem, I think it's accepting what the ad says and running with it. It's laziness now days, with everything. The "average driver" would not pick a "boring and 140hp" car for the price if he or she took 2 minutes to look things up.

As an example, my wife is wanting a...I don't even wanna type it...a....a jeep renegade! Why...cause she likes the way it looks on the ads. I did a simple 2 minute search and told her it's even more garbage than the VW. She still wants it, she won't get it....trust me.

My point, laziness...trusting what you see without question. Even on this forum we have people who are wanting us to "talk them into the Stinger". I say, do some research and test drive the Stinger and you'll see what most of us saw. In any event, my 2 minutes are up.

 

[GenesisG70]

I don't know that I completely agree with the "average driver" thing. I think now days it's about power and luxury. People wanna get bang for their buck and those are the two things that go along with that. They don't want to pay $32,000+ for a car that just isn't worth it in their minds. The problem, I think, is that when people see the price tag they aren't sure why. In other words they don't do the research, even though it's out there. I don't think that's an "average driver" problem, I think it's accepting what the ad says and running with it. It's laziness now days, with everything. The "average driver" would not pick a "boring and 140hp" car for the price if he or she took 2 minutes to look things up.

As an example, my wife is wanting a...I don't even wanna type it...a....a jeep renegade! Why...cause she likes the way it looks on the ads. I did a simple 2 minute search and told her it's even more garbage than the VW. She still wants it, she won't get it....trust me.

My point, laziness...trusting what you see without question. Even on this forum we have people who are wanting us to "talk them into the Stinger". I say, do some research and test drive the Stinger and you'll see what most of us saw. In any event, my 2 minutes are up.

I think you should still buy your wife the Jeep , you know they say happy wife peaceful home.

 

[ScottM]

I think you should still but your wife the Jeep , you know they say happy wife peaceful home.

BS. She'll get it, it'll suck and she'll blame me. I'll then say "well, I said..." and then I'm sleeping in my Stinger. Having said all that...hmmmm, I love my Stinger and she don't talk back.

 

[Yujiza]

I'll reply to the OP in a moment, but I have to add to the conversation about the "average consumer".

What I love about the Stinger (besides great pricing per performance dollar) is it's not an average consumer car. It has such a unique look with traits you've seen before with a KIA slapped on it. I've yet to spot another Stinger personally. In my opinion, this vehicle sells to enthusiasts. When I think of the average consumer—they either go for family SUVs, low budget sedans like your Civics, Corollas, Elentras, etc, and high budget with BMW, Audi, Mercedes, etc.

It's not a bad thing that some vehicles are sold for enthusiasts like the Stinger, they expect that with what little production they have.

Hi all,

I joined the forum awhile back, but haven't had the time to dive very deep. I've quickly become a Stinger enthusiast, but at this moment I can't afford a new one.

I've been driving a VW CC for nearly 8 years and it has become a money pit and my wife is on me to replace it. However, she is definitely in the category of "brand snob" and doesn't think much of KIAs. And to add fuel to her bias, the first thing she did was go to Consumer Reports and see that their "predicted reliability" is so/so.

I had hoped to get another year out of my VW and then get a used Stinger GT some time in 2020 (more miles, a little older and therefore more in my price range), but I think I won't have that luxury because of my VW problems.

I'd like to hear what Kia owners say about their experience with reliability/repairs. Should I post this question on the general "Kia Stinger Talk" forum?

thanks,

scottiep

As someone who's become a Stinger enthusiast recently too, do yourself a huge favor and test drive it if you haven't already.

I was constantly reminding myself with anything new and shiny, it's so easy to make it seem better than what it is. You may not like it as much as you think. Catch22 is you may love it so much you'll make yourself afford it like I did lol.

Unfortunately I haven't owned my car long enough to figure out repairs. Thankfully Kia doesn't have a "stinger tax" just to look at that it. When I heard what my buddy pays to have his Audi looked at even though he personally knows the problem is appalling.