If you have more than 3000 miles on your 2018/2019 Stinger

[stinger541]

Yes, I would recommend it BUT there are some caveats:

MPG and cost of keeping it filled up with premium WILL take a toll on your wallet if you are not used to it. I have the Premium, not the GT, and it is okay but the GT will be much worse. I usually am on ECO mode as well. 50 to 60 bucks to fill it each time!

No foglights, but the DRLs are actually really nice. The sunroof cannot be tilted up without the sunshade being all the way open. You cannot permanently turn off the auto-off at lights, have to do it each time. Which can be annoying, say, when you pull up to drop someone off, stop to let them out, car shuts off only to have to start right back up. Same for pulling into a parking spot. You shift back into park, it has to start back up again, only to be shut off again. Makes me worry about longevity of starter, wear on engine, gears, etc.

Custom mode should allow you to adjust stuff like that, and the auto stop option.

Android Auto-you have to use the original cable your phone came with or it will do annoying things like keep disconnecting.

The car surges when first turned on when cold. So if you put it in drive, it just wants to launch. Can be a bit dangerous.

The headlights are not adaptive. Meaning, they do not turn on their own as you turn. The premium did not come with the alloy pedals. I feel that both those options, or at LEAST the alloy pedals, should have come std with the premium.

All that said, I am still happy with it every time I look at it and drive it. People cannot help but stop and stare. It is very photogenic. The stereo (H/K) is ridiculously good. Has AWD. Hatch allows for such great versatility. Has many other great options. I would recommend the Premium or the GT2 for best value for the money. Also, you can set up the lease to get the lease cash deals, then just buy it out. Get a 45k car for 30k!

 

[Crisis]

A little over 5,000 miles in just over 4 months and I'd buy another in a heartbeat if mine was to get written off somehow. Easily the most enjoyable new car that I've ever owned.

Plus, I still get a charge out of people telling me how much they like the looks of it and asking what it is. It's always fun to watch their reaction when I tell them that it's a Kia.

 

[Callum]

1,200 miles, month and half old (I know, I drive A LOT). Love the car, love the looks, love everything about it, including the fuel range.

I've owned some wild cars in my short 28 years...never have I owned a car that gets more attention.

 

[Doel]

1,200 miles, month and half old (I know, I drive A LOT). Love the car, love the looks, love everything about it, including the fuel range.

I've owned some wild cars in my short 28 years...never have I owned a car that gets more attention.

Absolutely, don't buy a Stinger if you're the antisocial type who doesn't want people to approach them at gas stations, parking lots, stop lights, etc. I've had young kids all the way up to 70+ year old men and everything in between talk to me about my car. Is this a Kia or Maserati??? Well a lot of people can't seem to tell haha

 

[Callum]

Absolutely, don't buy a Stinger if you're the antisocial type who doesn't want people to approach them at gas stations, parking lots, stop lights, etc. I've had young kids all the way up to 70+ year old men and everything in between talk to me about my car. Is this a Kia or Maserati??? Well a lot of people can't seem to tell haha

You know...installing the Korean badges on this car should not be done if you don't want people asking you questions. They will come up very interested, see "KIA" then sort of cough and walk away. Now they are committed and have to ask LOL

 

[Doel]

You know...installing the Korean badges on this car should not be done if you don't want people asking you questions. They will come up very interested, see "KIA" then sort of cough and walk away. Now they are committed and have to ask LOL

What probably surprised me the most is that about half the people that approach me about the car already know what it is and that it's a Kia, that just want to get a good look at it.

The other half have no clue, and that's fun too, I actually get a lot of joy out of telling them it's a Kia. If I'm outside the car, I just open the driver's door so they can see the steering wheel, I like seeing their reaction when they see the Kia badge.

 

[BlaydeX15]

6000 since May, I'd buy another in a heartbeat. I would have a hard time recommending it to friends and family though. All my friends would kill themselves in it, my family doesn't believe in 'fast', and I take a far more aggressive approach to my career path than most people my age, so few people in my peer group could afford one anyway. Lol.

To total strangers though? Heck yeah! Go for it. I don't see we'll see a better 'bang for your buck' luxury sport sedan for a while. I still double take when I walk past it, and I still enjoy every drive.

 

[Kamauxx]

I'm on month 9 and approaching 14k miles. Though I'm enjoying the car I don't know if I would recommend it to others.

My rotors started shitting the bed before 10k miles, and Kia is acting like they're doing me a favor by "fixing" it. (Their fix isn't really a fix)

My car is starting to rattle like a wooden rollercoaster and since Kia's chain of dealerships/service centers are so shady I don't trust any of them to repair it.

And I had a pretty major problem about 2k miles ago that led to me getting to experience their 24 hr roadside assistance and having to drive a beat up ole Nissan Altima they rented for me for a week.

Those issues haven't soured me on the Stinger to the point that I'm ready to jump ship but they have left a taste in my mouth that's bad enough that I would probably tell someone to do more homework before running to the Kia dealership.

 

[Callum]

My car is starting to rattle like a wooden rollercoaster and since Kia's chain of dealerships/service centers are so shady I don't trust any of them to repair it.

This will be the death of KIA, and their "premium car" stance if they do not do something about this. I took my car in to get a simply job completed and left with a shaking HUD, super glued dashboard and trim scratched up. Week 6 of trying to get this resolved and I'm tempted to hit them with small claims court.

 

[Kamauxx]

This will be the death of KIA, and their "premium car" stance if they do not do something about this. I took my car in to get a simply job completed and left with a shaking HUD, super glued dashboard and trim scratched up. Week 6 of trying to get this resolved and I'm tempted to hit them with small claims court.

That's what I fear most. Bringing it in for something relatively simple and picking it up with more problems. That's their incompetence...

The fact that they tried to charge me $150 per rotor just to turn them and later someone on the forum found out that they only cost about $110 each, brand new...that's their shadiness.

That's why I wouldn't tell anyone I care about to just run out and buy a Stinger.

 

[BBB]

Yes, I would recommend it BUT there are some caveats:

MPG and cost of keeping it filled up with premium WILL take a toll on your wallet if you are not used to it. I have the Premium, not the GT, and it is okay but the GT will be much worse. I usually am on ECO mode as well. 50 to 60 bucks to fill it each time!

No foglights, but the DRLs are actually really nice. The sunroof cannot be tilted up without the sunshade being all the way open. You cannot permanently turn off the auto-off at lights, have to do it each time. Which can be annoying, say, when you pull up to drop someone off, stop to let them out, car shuts off only to have to start right back up. Same for pulling into a parking spot. You shift back into park, it has to start back up again, only to be shut off again. Makes me worry about longevity of starter, wear on engine, gears, etc.

Custom mode should allow you to adjust stuff like that, and the auto stop option.

Android Auto-you have to use the original cable your phone came with or it will do annoying things like keep disconnecting.

The car surges when first turned on when cold. So if you put it in drive, it just wants to launch. Can be a bit dangerous.

The headlights are not adaptive. Meaning, they do not turn on their own as you turn. The premium did not come with the alloy pedals. I feel that both those options, or at LEAST the alloy pedals, should have come std with the premium.

All that said, I am still happy with it every time I look at it and drive it. People cannot help but stop and stare. It is very photogenic. The stereo (H/K) is ridiculously good. Has AWD. Hatch allows for such great versatility. Has many other great options. I would recommend the Premium or the GT2 for best value for the money. Also, you can set up the lease to get the lease cash deals, then just buy it out. Get a 45k car for 30k!

When you're parked, you can turn off the DRLs by activating the parking brake. No need to turn off the car!

 

[BBB]

17K+ miles on my 2.0 Premium at time of Trade-in, and now 4K+ miles on my GT2 and yes, absolutely LOVE the Stinger(s)! Love KIA as well, as this is my 8th. Always and will continue to recommend KIA's cars to anyone and everyone that will listen. Got my brother to buy a 2018 Niro, and he and his wife are loving that car too for their family.

I have been surprised by the gas millage on the GT2. I was getting roughly 32ish MPG in the 2.0 Premium, and was hoping for about 25-26 MPG in the GT2 but so far my new Stinger has blown me away! I drive 50 miles on each commute, highway speeds in the mornings and some stop and go traffic in the afternoons. I filled up on my way home last night, some Sport mode but mostly Smart, and Smart mode this morning and when I pulled into work today I noticed I was at 31 MPG. Very impressive.

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Would I buy another Stinger/KIA? Yup, already did, and would do again.
Would I recommend her to others? Hell YES!

Are you sure you're getting 31MPG across a total tank of gas (fill to empty)? Looking at you're miles to empty (if on a full fill), would indicate you are getting closer to 18-20MPG. I drive in ECO all the time and I too drive the highway to and from work with a bit of stop and go traffic, and I work my hardest to get 25 MPG. If you are getting 31MPG from fill to empty, you'd be filling up every 500 miles.

 

[ScottM]

Had mine since the end of February with almost 8,000 on the clock. And yes, I'd buy another one! I talked to two people this weekend about my car. One was while she was parked and I was helping a buddy move. He had said he was looking at buying one in the near future. I told him "do it". He said that he was doing a bunch of research and that the Stinger was on his list. I once again, said "do it" and that he wouldn't be disappointed. Another guy was pulling out of a parking spot and saw me walking to my Stinger. He yelled out the passenger window, "How do you like your Stinger?!" I said "I love it!" He said as soon as his lease was up on his Optima that the Stinger was next! I said "do it!" In any event, I'd "do it" again in a heart beat!

 

[stinger541]

When you're parked, you can turn off the DRLs by activating the parking brake. No need to turn off the car!

Hi, not sure what you mean....I was talking about how the engine shuts off.

 

[BBB]

Hi, not sure what you mean....I was talking about how the engine shuts off.

Ahh - read your post as “auto off lights”. My bad. As for engine auto off, just hit the switch by the heated seats switch and turn off the engine auto off feature.

 

[Ron]

7500 miles since Feb.
Love the car.
Black GT2 AWD

 

[hugedriver66]

how likely are you to purchase another one or recommend one to family or friend?

Just coming up to first service at 6months and just under 6000 miles.
I still think it's a beautiful car and is fun to drive.
Surprisingly after 6 months I have only seen one other on the road and that's another plus. It's still turning heads, the main drawback is having to factor in time to answer questions from admirers.
I would certainly recommend it but may consider lying to maintain the rarity.

 

[Tonkabob]

GT2 AWD with 8k miles since March.
The car is amazing with the performance, looks and versatility.
Major down sides are paint durability for some (chipping or peeling, chipping in my case) and creeky rattly sun roof with no known fixes.
The car is so good, i can reluctantly recommend and hope your paint is good as that is a major issue.

 

[M'Kehyah]

I have "sold" two. One to my wife's BFF and one to a coworker who was shopping to replace his Audi

 

[Transylvan]

I have "sold" two. One to my wife's BFF and one to a coworker who was shopping to replace his Audi

Kia should come up with a Stinger referral program: free oil change for every referral that translates into a successfu buy... or something like that.