Looking at Buying a Stinger GT2

[Henry Johnson]

Just saw and test drove the Stinger GT2 AWD for the first time was impressed. I also test drove the 2017 RS7, out of Price range and a couple other vehicles. I think Im pretty set on this one. Nice power, dont think I need the AWD, do you think

1) I should wait until the 2019 start shipping to get a better price
2) Get a RWD instead of the AWD

Thats all I have so far

 

[Paul32]

Just saw and test drove the Stinger GT2 AWD for the first time was impressed. I also test drove the 2017 RS7, out of Price range and a couple other vehicles. I think Im pretty set on this one. Nice power, dont think I need the AWD, do you think

1) I should wait until the 2019 start shipping to get a better price
2) Get a RWD instead of the AWD

Thats all I have so far

Makes a big difference where you live? There's a special on AWD but it you don't live in the north, might not need it.

 

[MerlintheMad]

AWD is not* just about winter driving. It is a safer way to drive in all conditions. If you are a "must hang my tail out and light up my tires" sort of guy, the RWD is for you and you save over $2K and c. 200 lbs of weight.

I doubt that you are going to get a better price on a brand new 2019 than on an already delivered, sitting on the lot, 2018. Unless you must have the added on features (what would those be, on a GT2, other than the 360 degree camera?; which might be enough to wait all by itself!), the current leasing rebate is going to be your best deal.

*(edit: "not" added)

 

[Paul32]

AWD is just about winter driving. It is a safer way to drive in all conditions. If you are a "must hang my tail out and light up my tires" sort of guy, the RWD is for you and you save over $2K and c. 200 lbs of weight.

I doubt that you are going to get a better price on a brand new 2019 than on an already delivered, sitting on the lot, 2018. Unless you must have the added on features (what would those be, on a GT2, other than the 360 degree camera?; which might be enough to wait all by itself!), the current leasing rebate is going to be your best deal.

He may have been thinking about a better price on a 2018 after the 2019 starts shipping? The winter driving comment was to rule out RWD.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Just saw and test drove the Stinger GT2 AWD for the first time was impressed. I also test drove the 2017 RS7, out of Price range and a couple other vehicles. I think Im pretty set on this one. Nice power, dont think I need the AWD, do you think

1) I should wait until the 2019 start shipping to get a better price
2) Get a RWD instead of the AWD

Thats all I have so far

Welcome aboard, Mr. Johnson! Thank you for signing up. What might the Stinger be replacing for you?

 

[Ruturaj]

Not all AWDs are for winter only. Slip and grip type of AWD's are. Or else stringers AWD won't have brake-based torque vectoring.

I think GT makes more power than rear tires can handle and by looking at how lively the rear gets AWD can/will be used in better normal drive and will be beneficial for launch. In the end, it ill behave like RWD when pushed hard as it is rear biased (sends most power to rear wheels).

Look at

I am in the same bucket, buying now or waiting for 2019. I am going to wait till 2019 starts selling to get a better price on MY2018.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Not all AWDs are for winter only. Slip and grip type of AWD's are. Or else stringers AWD won't have brake-based torque vectoring.

I think GT makes more power than rear tires can handle and by looking at how lively the rear gets AWD can/will be used in better normal drive and will be beneficial for launch. In the end, it ill behave like RWD when pushed hard as it is rear biased (sends most power to rear wheels).

Look at

I am in the same bucket, buying now or waiting for 2019. I am going to wait till 2019 starts selling to get a better price on MY2018.

Everything I've seen since coming to this forum says that the RWD is quicker off the line. Once you use launch control the AWD is a couple of tenths slower zero to sixty. Individual drivers launching their own Stingers will vary. The 0-60 MPH in 4.7 seconds, put out by Kia, is for RWD using LC. It's the faster accelerating of the two.

 

[Ruturaj]

Everything I've seen since coming to this forum says that the RWD is quicker off the line. Once you use launch control the AWD is a couple of tenths slower zero to sixty. Individual drivers launching their own Stingers will vary. The 0-60 MPH in 4.7 seconds, put out by Kia, is for RWD using LC. It's the faster accelerating of the two.

LOL, we have been talking so much today we should exchange numbers.

First, let me add a disclaimer that I do not own a Stinger yet. The reason for this disclaimer is not as a reason as an excuse if I have said something wrong but just so that no one calls out to me that I don't own one and talk too much after finding it out later.

Everything I know comes from forums, blogs, youtube videos. And most of them especially Alex on Autos preferred AWD over RWD for the same reasons, actually he is the source for me that inspired to get Stinger GT2 AWD and install aftermarket sway bars.

Depending on the weather the 0-60 times changes a lot. Most of the 0-60 or 0-100 time are from tests done on a prepped surface and using heated tires.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I have an AWD and absolutely love how it makes traction a non-issue. If you want to press the gas and takeoff with no drama this is the car for you. I've also overcooked a couple corners in the dry and felt that the 20% traction up front in sport mode helped keep me out of trouble, this car gathers speed a little more quickly than I'm used to with my old Acura.

If you want to be a hooligan you might like the RWD more. I'm pretty sure that the AWD is the better option of the two in the real world, sure if you have a controlled environment the RWD will be the slightly quicker car, but it's not a controlled environment out on the street so IMO the AWD is the way to go. Another perspective is if you plan to tune the car at all the AWD will become even more of an asset for traction.

I'll also throw in the couple downsides to AWD so this isn't a totally biased post:
- It costs more
- I think the AWD models have a slightly higher ride height
- You can't create a smokeshow if you happen to be in the mood
- It makes the car slightly heavier (although I've heard a rumor that KIA runs a bit more boost to help make up for that on the AWD models)

 

[bumble bee]

Hi, well hopefully you find a stinger and purchase it. Welcome to the forum my friend.

 

[MisterMac]

Tomorrow isn't guaranteed, buy what is available and you like right now and start enjoying this magnificent piece of machinery. That's my .02 cents.

 

[Waynerm002]

The deals are pretty good right now so as you look around you will find something that you'll want to take home. I was initially set to go RWD but as I started thinking about it, the wife will drive that car sometimes and while I know the electronic nannies will do their part but it will be better in the snow with snow tires. The lease deal is a few dollars better but if I can't find the color combo in AWD, I'll get a RWD. Maybe it's me but when I drove a AWD the other day, it seemed like the turning radios was larger. I'll have to look that up.

Just check, it is larger. That was one of the reasons I ended up with the RWD 535 as the AWD system made the car feel weird when doing u-turns, it was just too wide.

 

[Ruturaj]

The deals are pretty good right now so as you look around you will find something that you'll want to take home. I was initially set to go RWD but as I started thinking about it, the wife will drive that car sometimes and while I know the electronic nannies will do their part but it will be better in the snow with snow tires. The lease deal is a few dollars better but if I can't find the color combo in AWD, I'll get a RWD. Maybe it's me but when I drove a AWD the other day, it seemed like the turning radios was larger. I'll have to look that up.

Just check, it is larger. That was one of the reasons I ended up with the RWD 535 as the AWD system made the car feel weird when doing u-turns, it was just too wide.

I am really having an itch to pull the trigger soon. But I am about to move to NC this weekend so I will be holding off for a few more days.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Maybe it's me but when I drove a AWD the other day, it seemed like the turning radios was larger. I'll have to look that up.

Iirc, the AWD has c. three feet wider turning radius than the RWD. And the AWD is a very handy turner as it is.

 

[Waynerm002]

Yeah, it makes parking a pain though. I remember that because I noticed it when I test drove it a couple of weeks back.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yeah, it makes parking a pain though. I remember that because I noticed it when I test drove it a couple of weeks back.

Ah! That might be part of my problem getting straight into end parking spots. Hadn't thought that if I had a three foot tighter turning radius that would never have happened. However, the Stinger turns way tighter than my Voyager, which I was used to, so the main reason for my difficulties parking the Stinger has to be the much lower perspective, not the turning radius.

 

[KiaofMuncie]

Just saw and test drove the Stinger GT2 AWD for the first time was impressed. I also test drove the 2017 RS7, out of Price range and a couple other vehicles. I think Im pretty set on this one. Nice power, dont think I need the AWD, do you think

1) I should wait until the 2019 start shipping to get a better price
2) Get a RWD instead of the AWD

Thats all I have so far

We would be happy to help you with a Stinger. Please let us know if we can be of assistance.

 

[MisterMac]

Ah! That might be part of my problem getting straight into end parking spots. Hadn't thought that if I had a three foot tighter turning radius that would never have happened. However, the Stinger turns way tighter than my Voyager, which I was used to, so the main reason for my difficulties parking the Stinger has to be the much lower perspective, not the turning radius.

I find in my AWD that if I punch it as I enter my parking spot turn, I can swing my rear end out and pull straight in with ease.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Get thee hence, Satan!

 

[GRStinger]

Just saw and test drove the Stinger GT2 AWD for the first time was impressed. I also test drove the 2017 RS7, out of Price range and a couple other vehicles. I think Im pretty set on this one. Nice power, dont think I need the AWD, do you think

1) I should wait until the 2019 start shipping to get a better price
2) Get a RWD instead of the AWD

Thats all I have so far

My 2 cents as a GT2 AWD owner:

1. Might be a good idea to wait, but might not be as much to choose from if inventories are low.
2. AWD or RWD? I debated that myself. IMO, it depends on how and where you drive the car. If you are a ‘purist’ and want the constant/total RW driving characteristics plus a couple of tenths more speed for the track, then RWD. I bought a GT2 AWD in May. I live in MI, so I wanted AWD. I use the car for my daily 50-mile round-trip commute and I will be driving the car – periodically – in the snow. The AWD also gives you a choice between standard 19” wheels with the performance/summer Michelins or the 18” wheels with grand-touring/all-season Bridgestones. I test-drove both. Again, I chose the 18” because it gives me a smoother commute on our notoriously bad roads. Plus, the wife and I take a lot of weekend getaway trips and I really love the Stinger for its true grand-touring characteristics (I see it more as a true GT than a sports sedan). I really don’t feel that I’m missing much in the way of overall performance - albeit a bit of a downgrade on handling due to the wheels & tires. I like the broad application of power with AWD. In Sport mode, you get max 20% power to the front so you still can enjoy RW-like dynamics. The AWD is still a blast to drive! Now, with all that said, IF I lived in an area with good roads and good weather year-round, I might just have the RWD… and make regular visits to the local track! Again, to me it’s all about how and where you drive, along with personal preference. Good luck!