Motor Trend Ignition Review - Stinger GT RWD

[BahamaTodd]

The US car was always going to be on the softer side as far as ride comfort and it wasn't really designed to cut laps of the Nurburgring but was a great marketing excercise nonetheless.

I'm glad the Australian version of the GtV6 has had a full revision of the factory suspension setup that Korea has. Kia was advised that the soft setup wouldn't be appropriate for our mix of roads. Reading our first Australian media review in Wheels magazine today it explains the extensive suspension tuning that was carried out on the adaptive suspension with different valving, spring rates and sway bars. The new bi-model exhaust sounds ok in the accompanying video posted. Better than the original exhaust anyway. Btw the gtv6 ran a 13.2@176kph and a 5.1 0-100kph.

If that's the case, the same thing is happening with the Commodore VXR and Regal GS. The VXR gets larger 20" wheels and a 10mm lowered suspension that is most likely stiffer. The GS has 19s and maintains the stock ride height. The VXR also gets paddle shifters, and a larger rear spoiler.

 

[Bamm1]

The US car was always going to be on the softer side as far as ride comfort and it wasn't really designed to cut laps of the Nurburgring but was a great marketing excercise nonetheless.

I'm glad the Australian version of the GtV6 has had a full revision of the factory suspension setup that Korea has. Kia was advised that the soft setup wouldn't be appropriate for our mix of roads. Reading our first Australian media review in Wheels magazine today it explains the extensive suspension tuning that was carried out on the adaptive suspension with different valving, spring rates and sway bars. The new bi-model exhaust sounds ok in the accompanying video posted. Better than the original exhaust anyway. Btw the gtv6 ran a 13.2@176kph and a 5.1 0-100kph.

There are a lot of US roads that are just plain terrible. It makes sense for Kia to err on the side of caution with suspension tuning over here.

Interesting. Two tenths slower to 100kph than the factory estimate (so much for a BMW-like trouncing of factory "estimates" where the mags run half a second faster). But a 109 mph trap speed in the 1/4 mile is very impressive. It is trapping higher than the BMW 340i. Right up there with the Mercedes C43 AMG and the Infiniti Q50 RS400.

 

[BahamaTodd]

Motor Trend got 4.8 seconds 0-60 in their testing.

 

[Bamm1]

Motor Trend got 4.8 seconds 0-60 in their testing.

Kia has released both 4.7 and 4.9 estimates to 60. So that splits the difference.

Still curious if the AWD version will show any additional improvement. The AWD versions of the 340i and Q50 RS400 are both faster in a straight line vs. their RWD counterparts.

 

[Ecobust]

Also, the car Wheels tested was having electronic issues and they couldn't disable any of the nannies; that 5.1 is basically a stomp-and-go, since they couldn't do a rollout.

 

[Noddy347]

Also, the car Wheels tested was having electronic issues and they couldn't disable any of the nannies; that 5.1 is basically a stomp-and-go, since they couldn't do a rollout.

Yeah correct. As soon as the car looked like stepping sideways the throttle would just die due to a pre-production ecu tune. If they tried to build boost past 2000rpm it just died. The production car tune with launch control will remedy the 0-100kph times. They got 80-120 kph(50-75 mph) times of 2.8secs which is quick.

 

[AJL13]

https://www.motortrendondemand.com/...gt-rear-wheel-drive-korean-style-/0_7o87wm24/

The Motor Trend Ignition review is up for the Stinger GT RWD on their On Demand service. I assume they still offer a free trial. If not, the video will be on youtube in about a month.

It was more of a quick introduction review, so not too much detail on the interior.

It has quick acceleration and pretty good brakes that didn't fade on track. However at 4005 lbs and with a soft suspension setup for a comfortable highway cruising, its not that great on the track.

0-60: 4.8 sec
Braking 60-0: 113 feet

Boy, slower than a $24K Ford Focus and a 4-cylinder Camaro. For a car approaching $50K that's being marketed largely for its performance upside, that's a bad look. At this point it almost makes more sense to pony up the extra few grand for the Q50 Red Sport.

 

[Ecobust]

Boy, slower than a $24K Ford Focus and a 4-cylinder Camaro. For a car approaching $50K that's being marketed largely for its performance upside, that's a bad look. At this point it almost makes more sense to pony up the extra few grand for the Q50 Red Sport.

Let me help you:
Camaro RS curb weight: 3392
Focus ST curb weight: 3223
Stinger GT curb weight: 4005

 

[AJL13]

Let me help you:
Camaro RS curb weight: 3392
Focus ST curb weight: 3223
Stinger GT curb weight: 4005

Doing a quick bit of simple math would reveal that the Stinger GT has a better power/weight ratio than both of those cars. Either the GT is sprung and laden like a 70s buick, or the track in question is a bullring.

 

[ralzod]

almost makes more sense to pony up the extra few grand for the Q50 Red Sport.

A loaded Q50RS is probably at least $8K (USD) more than a loaded 3.3GT is expected to be. That said, I love the Q50...almost bought one...until I saw the Stinger was a hatchback.

 

[davebo]

Well the Streets of Willow Springs track configuration is very very twisty and the straightaway isn't that long so it's not like you're getting up to top speed with all that horsepower.

http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2013/05/Streets-of-Willow-Springs-map-track.jpg

 

[AJL13]

Well the Streets of Willow Springs track configuration is very very twisty and the straightaway isn't that long so it's not like you're getting up to top speed with all that horsepower.

http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2013/05/Streets-of-Willow-Springs-map-track.jpg

Yeah, I see a lot of hard braking sections on that track, which would not suit a 2 ton sedan well. Makes sense.

 

[AJL13]

A loaded Q50RS is probably at least $8K (USD) more than a loaded 3.3GT is expected to be. That said, I love the Q50...almost bought one...until I saw the Stinger was a hatchback.

That's close to being in the neighborhood for cross-shopping the two; if we are talking financing, that's less than a couple hundred bucks a month. If you're able to get a base RWD GT for closer to $40k than $50k, then it's a different conversation for me at least.

 

[davebo]

Well now that they dropped the price $2k in Canada and New Zealand from what people were expecting, I am hoping to be able to get a base GT model in the USA for somewhere around 43k.

 

[AJL13]

Well now that they dropped the price $2k in Canada and New Zealand from what people were expecting, I am hoping to be able to get a base GT model in the USA for somewhere around 43k.

Do you think there will be markup involved? That's my biggest concern. I live in a small-ish community with an equally small-ish Kia dealer, so I would guess it would be prone to markup gouging. I'd probably have to check out dealer inventory in one of the larger metropolitan areas, which unfortunately for me is 3 hours away....

 

[davebo]

Are you sure your dealer will even be allowed to sell the Stinger? I'm in one of the top 15 wealthiest counties in the nation, right outside D.C., but not in a super wealthy PART of that county, and my dealership as of last week still hadn't gotten confirmation that they'd even be allowed to sell the Stinger due to Kia not having confidence it's a rich enough area to sell in. Fortunately there are plenty of Kia dealerships nearby that are in wealthier areas, and those are the people around D.C. who probably care about the badge on the car and aren't going to pay a premium for a Kia, so I'm not too concerned about dealer markup just yet.

 

[Bamm1]

Boy, slower than a $24K Ford Focus and a 4-cylinder Camaro. For a car approaching $50K that's being marketed largely for its performance upside, that's a bad look. At this point it almost makes more sense to pony up the extra few grand for the Q50 Red Sport.

That's close to being in the neighborhood for cross-shopping the two; if we are talking financing, that's less than a couple hundred bucks a month. If you're able to get a base RWD GT for closer to $40k than $50k, then it's a different conversation for me at least.

The Stinger GT is not a track car. It was never meant to be. The Q50 also doesn't "ride like a Buick" on your daily commute or road trip.

RS400 vs. Stinger GT:

• 133 lbs. lighter
• +35 hp
• - 28 tq
• wheelbase is 2 inches less
• width is 2 inches less

Performance Increase:

• 3 tenths faster to 60
• 2 tenths and 2 mph faster in the ¼ mile
• one more speaker in the audio system

It also losses you some options:

• HUD
• Ventilated Seats
• Android Auto
• Apple Carplay
• Heated Rear Seats
• Wireless phone charging

Not feeling the "bang for the buck" with 8 grand* (or a couple hundred a month) extra resulting in a net gain of a few tenths.......

* if the Stinger GT RWD ends up being 50K

 

[CoconutRob]

Are you sure your dealer will even be allowed to sell the Stinger? I'm in one of the top 15 wealthiest counties in the nation, right outside D.C., but not in a super wealthy PART of that county, and my dealership as of last week still hadn't gotten confirmation that they'd even be allowed to sell the Stinger due to Kia not having confidence it's a rich enough area to sell in. Fortunately there are plenty of Kia dealerships nearby that are in wealthier areas, and those are the people around D.C. who probably care about the badge on the car and aren't going to pay a premium for a Kia, so I'm not too concerned about dealer markup just yet.

I spoke with my dealer on Tuesday. They said they are the only dealer on the demarva peninsula to sell the stinger. They will have a demo in beginning of october.

 

[eljay]

I spoke with my dealer on Tuesday. They said they are the only dealer on the demarva peninsula to sell the stinger. They will have a demo in beginning of october.

Great news about the date your dealer is getting the demo. This confirms the info I got earlier today from a SoCal dealer saying that they expect Stingers to be on their lot--not just demos--in late October/early November. It sounds like they're being introduced differently here than in Australia and Canada, as I was also told no pre-orders. But maybe that's just this dealer.

 

[AJL13]

Are you sure your dealer will even be allowed to sell the Stinger? I'm in one of the top 15 wealthiest counties in the nation, right outside D.C., but not in a super wealthy PART of that county, and my dealership as of last week still hadn't gotten confirmation that they'd even be allowed to sell the Stinger due to Kia not having confidence it's a rich enough area to sell in. Fortunately there are plenty of Kia dealerships nearby that are in wealthier areas, and those are the people around D.C. who probably care about the badge on the car and aren't going to pay a premium for a Kia, so I'm not too concerned about dealer markup just yet.

Good question, that hadn't really occurred to me.....darn. Looks like I'll have to be on Dealer Watch 2017 Q4 in the Bay Area, then!