Let me start this off by saying I never thought I'd be here on a Kia forum. I've often recommended Kia/Hyundai to those who want plenty of features for less money. But I'm a car guy. Not in the traditional sense of an enthusiast, but more super picky on what I want in a car. I purchased my last car two years ago as an in between car til I paid my house off...a 10 year goal that I achieved on Friday. It is a 2014 Lincoln mkz 2.0t that I picked up to get out of a 2010 Audi A5 with oil issues. I was burning a quart a week. It's been an alright car but certain things don't work correctly and there has been no resolution to these issues. Still, it's livable.
Knowing the payoff was coming, I started searching for a new car. I told myself that I would have everything I wanted in my next car with no compromise, like I've always done. Seat comfort and ride comfort as first and foremost my main concerns. It also must have a remote starter from factory, black headliner, and folding mirrors. Not the normal demands I know but this is what I want. I was convinced I would be getting a crossover so I started driving. Mkx, XT5, Rdx, Xc60 were all tested and all failed. The Xt5 was loaded with features but was so boring to drive and the features weren't implemented that well. The mkx 2.7t is a great ride but it has basically the same interior as my mkz and it's getting old. Plus finding one of those used with the features I want is next to impossible. The rdx was really impressive but the a spec is the only one offered with the black headliner. It doesn't offer adaptive suspension and the ride is much too jarring. The xc60 with the air suspension is actually very harsh in the r design. I was very surprised by this. Also their infotainment system is clunky and overall a horrendous design, regardless of what the reviews say. Plus no ventilated seats.
So being turned off by so many crossovers, I start thinking about cars again. I won't go over the ones I drove since they were all unremarkable. As with most of you, I heard about the stinger. Not sure where but probably through youtube while just browsing, but never gave it a second thought. So I stop by my local Kia dealership and take a look. I think it's nicely designed but still give it a cold shoulder. Then I sit in it and think, this is nice but I'll find something wrong with it. The seats are comfy and the layout is nice and clean but this is my first time inside and I'm not really giving it an eagle eye inspection since I'm not even close to interested in purchasing it. So I leave and continue my search for a vehicle.
Nothing. I find nothing out there that fits my needs. So just for fun I start watching reviews of the stinger. To my surprise, people are praising the sh*t out of this thing. I think, this can't be true. It's a Kia. I watch more reviews...Doug, Alex, Redline, Motoman, Straightpipes. Surely these guys are being paid heavily to convince me specifically that this is my next car. This is the one that has everything. With half of them saying that they would buy it themselves, I figured I better go test drive one and prove that it's all a gimmick. So off I go to knock it off my list.
Boy was I wrong. Taking it up a street I drive all the time, the suspension is very comfortable and handles bumps very well. The seats are already cooling me much better than the Lincoln. On the highway is where I start really smiling. I've owned heavily tuned Audi's for years but this is smashing those in the fun category. The power is effortless. The ride is still smooth and quiet. At this point I'm really impressed and think to myself that my search is over.
Back at the dealership I'm getting the typical sales technique that tests my patience. Just give me your price and I'll tell you what the deal is. Needless to say I walked out to my car and drove away. This is lucky for me as I do more research and see that in other areas of the world, the car gets more features. Features that I would really want. Mainly the surround view camera. So now thanks to this forum, I see that the 19's are coming with those missing features to the US market. Now hopefully there will be some incentives but I'm fully excited to get into one. Ceramic silver on red. I didn't intend for this to be such a long post but thanks for making it this far. My only concern is the mpg but I'm reading more that people are getting closer to the 30's in the gt2 with mild driving.
Knowing the payoff was coming, I started searching for a new car. I told myself that I would have everything I wanted in my next car with no compromise, like I've always done. Seat comfort and ride comfort as first and foremost my main concerns. It also must have a remote starter from factory, black headliner, and folding mirrors. Not the normal demands I know but this is what I want. I was convinced I would be getting a crossover so I started driving. Mkx, XT5, Rdx, Xc60 were all tested and all failed. The Xt5 was loaded with features but was so boring to drive and the features weren't implemented that well. The mkx 2.7t is a great ride but it has basically the same interior as my mkz and it's getting old. Plus finding one of those used with the features I want is next to impossible. The rdx was really impressive but the a spec is the only one offered with the black headliner. It doesn't offer adaptive suspension and the ride is much too jarring. The xc60 with the air suspension is actually very harsh in the r design. I was very surprised by this. Also their infotainment system is clunky and overall a horrendous design, regardless of what the reviews say. Plus no ventilated seats.
So being turned off by so many crossovers, I start thinking about cars again. I won't go over the ones I drove since they were all unremarkable. As with most of you, I heard about the stinger. Not sure where but probably through youtube while just browsing, but never gave it a second thought. So I stop by my local Kia dealership and take a look. I think it's nicely designed but still give it a cold shoulder. Then I sit in it and think, this is nice but I'll find something wrong with it. The seats are comfy and the layout is nice and clean but this is my first time inside and I'm not really giving it an eagle eye inspection since I'm not even close to interested in purchasing it. So I leave and continue my search for a vehicle.
Nothing. I find nothing out there that fits my needs. So just for fun I start watching reviews of the stinger. To my surprise, people are praising the sh*t out of this thing. I think, this can't be true. It's a Kia. I watch more reviews...Doug, Alex, Redline, Motoman, Straightpipes. Surely these guys are being paid heavily to convince me specifically that this is my next car. This is the one that has everything. With half of them saying that they would buy it themselves, I figured I better go test drive one and prove that it's all a gimmick. So off I go to knock it off my list.
Boy was I wrong. Taking it up a street I drive all the time, the suspension is very comfortable and handles bumps very well. The seats are already cooling me much better than the Lincoln. On the highway is where I start really smiling. I've owned heavily tuned Audi's for years but this is smashing those in the fun category. The power is effortless. The ride is still smooth and quiet. At this point I'm really impressed and think to myself that my search is over.
Back at the dealership I'm getting the typical sales technique that tests my patience. Just give me your price and I'll tell you what the deal is. Needless to say I walked out to my car and drove away. This is lucky for me as I do more research and see that in other areas of the world, the car gets more features. Features that I would really want. Mainly the surround view camera. So now thanks to this forum, I see that the 19's are coming with those missing features to the US market. Now hopefully there will be some incentives but I'm fully excited to get into one. Ceramic silver on red. I didn't intend for this to be such a long post but thanks for making it this far. My only concern is the mpg but I'm reading more that people are getting closer to the 30's in the gt2 with mild driving.
) a great deal. It resonated. I'm not a "car guy" by any stretch. But the Stinger promo book was in the bathroom all winter (this is an opportunity for our Aussie friends to toss in a sexual innuendo quip), and that siren call repeated itself many times as I read through it over and over. I was not in the market for a new car, at, all. I have never bought a new car in my life. Nearly six months in, still on the "honeymoon", totally satisfied and still grinning every time I drive and step on it. The fun has not faded a jot. I completely understand why you would want to wait for the MY19. At my age, I don't wait for anything.
