If you buy a Stinger GT, will it be your first Kia?

[Larry Denen]

I'm sure many others are like me whereas they never saw themselves in a Kia before. I really only just started noticing the brand. I guess it was the Optima from a generation ago that piqued my interested. That's a nice looking car. Especially in white. I saw a K900 parked at a shopping mall once. That car is pretty impressive as well. But now the Stinger GT. That's really me.

So if all goes well the Stinger will be my first Kia. I'd like to hear from others who are considering a Kia for the first time.

 

[hej]

I've given less serious "consideration" to a Kia in the past, but this would be my first time owning one if I get one (which I am pretty interested in so far).

 

[app_master]

Yes, and as far as I can tell I'd be smitten about it too. Who'd have thought?

 

[Brian Keenan]

I never had a Kia and never considered one either. Well, like the OP (original poster) I also first noticed the Optima. They do look really nice. Then I started seeing lots of Fortes. But the Forte never did anything for me. They look nice but it just doesn't make me WANT it. The Stinger GT is an entirely different story. I think this will be the first Kia for a LOT of people. Kia stole the NAIAS with this car.

 

[Kia Stinger]

For me, it would be my first Kia. I currently have a second generation Genesis Sedan - which I love. Kia has been making some really impressive vehicles lately. I'm sure this Stinger GT is going to be a very, very popular car on the road in 2018...

 

[Jenny Wang]

The Stinger will be my second Kia. The Optima I'm driving now is my first.

 

[Blitz118]

If I get it will be my first Kia. I can't wait to see it in the flesh at the NY autoshow.

 

[Jenny Wang]

If I get it will be my first Kia. I can't wait to see it in the flesh at the NY autoshow.

You live in New York? I live on Long Island. When is the New York Auto Show?

 

[Blitz118]

If I get it will be my first Kia. I can't wait to see it in the flesh at the NY autoshow.

You live in New York? I live on Long Island. When is the New York Auto Show?

Yes, I live in New York. The NY autoshow will be at Jacob Javits Center from April 14th to 23rd this year.
http://www.autoshowny.com/

 

[ballistic]

the stinger gt will be my first kia. never in a million years did i think it's want a car from this brand. they went from never making anything i was interested in to making a car i actually really want. big difference all of the sudden. i bet people felt the same way about hyundai with the genesis coupe and sedan.

 

[MRHYDE]

Yes this will be my first Kia.

 

[Brian Keenan]

Yes this will be my first Kia.

Welcome to the first Kia club! Well, neither of us are actually there yet. But who is? It's nice to see so much attention for this car. I wonder how many sales it's going to achieve in it's first year.

 

[Expatswede]

I had an Optima, good car but underpowered. I am very interested in the Stinger, but why is there no manual transmission? If I could get it with a 6-speed I would sign an order today.

 

[hej]

I had an Optima, good car but underpowered. I am very interested in the Stinger, but why is there no manual transmission? If I could get it with a 6-speed I would sign an order today.

Because manual transmissions are DEAD!. Dead I tell you! But seriously, maybe you want one, 99% of the other potential buyers don't and the marketing execs know it.

 

[app_master]

Also by not offering a manual it means the model versions potentially on offer are now halved. I assume this helps keep the price down for us plebs, too.

 

[Jenny Wang]

I had an Optima, good car but underpowered. I am very interested in the Stinger, but why is there no manual transmission? If I could get it with a 6-speed I would sign an order today.

Welcome! It says you're a guest. Well welcome anyway! What year is your Optima? I have one as well. I've only driven automatics but I'm going to guess like hej said below. There's just not enough demand for manual transmissions. Most of us regular people who are buying a Stinger like the ease of an automatic. But I do understand that many people like shifting. It does look kind of fun but I doubt I'll ever have the need to learn.

Because manual transmissions are DEAD!. Dead I tell you! But seriously, maybe you want one, 99% of the other potential buyers don't and the marketing execs know it.

That's the thing. But why not offer it as an option? I guess it would be an expense they can't justify.

 

[hej]

It does look kind of fun but I doubt I'll ever have the need to learn.

It's novel when you want to drive aggressively, but once that novelty wears off you will probably find yourself wishing you had an automatic for your daily driver. Stop and go traffic can be annoying in particular. At one time, stick shifts were faster and more efficient than automatics mostly because they had more gear ratios, but now none of those things are true. The main benefit of a stick shift at this point is holding a low gear when you're trying to go around corners sideways, and thwarting carjackers who themselves don't know how to drive stick.

That's the thing. But why not offer it as an option? I guess it would be an expense they can't justify.

Yes, it's a economic loser for the makers. They save money by having simpler manufacturing lines with fewer options going into the cars, and the extra expense of engineering and manufacturing both transmission options isn't going to be recouped by any extra sales they might get. And that's before the dealers have to deal with unsold inventory because most people don't want or don't know how to drive a manual at this point.

 

[ballistic]

i'm all about options but i don't expect manuals for most cars anymore. there are some that should always have a manual as principle. like the corvette. but i imagine it's only a matter of time before even the vette doesn't have a manual. maybe only the top model or something.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Bumping this discussion to see what a few of our new members have to say.

 

[Theil24]

I currently drive a 2014 Cadenza. Great car and I enjoy it. But I would LOVE to get the Stinger! More sporty and practical and I love the fastback.