New Member hoping to buy in next few months. Need advice !!

[LouieDog]

Hello all. I'm really enjoying reading this forum. I'm the type of person who researches the heck out of stuff before I act. I'm going to be in the market for a new vehicle soon. However, I cant make up my mind. I've been on the fence as to buying an AWD Stinger or a Golf R. Two different cars I know. I was set to buy the R until I discovered the Stinger was AWD !! Has anyone had experience with owning both and which do you prefer. I've been watching the youtube reviews and reading this forum. I keep going back and forth. The one review on the Stinger was from one gentleman that had 33k miles on it but said it felt like it had 70k on it. Does not sound well for the build quality but this was just one of the reviews. Please help !!!! All advise welcome. Thanks all....

 

[Kia Stinger]

Hello all. I'm really enjoying reading this forum. I'm the type of person who researches the heck out of stuff before I act. I'm going to be in the market for a new vehicle soon. However, I cant make up my mind. I've been on the fence as to buying an AWD Stinger or a Golf R. Two different cars I know. I was set to buy the R until I discovered the Stinger was AWD !! Has anyone had experience with owning both and which do you prefer. I've been watching the youtube reviews and reading this forum. I keep going back and forth. The one review on the Stinger was from one gentleman that had 33k miles on it but said it felt like it had 70k on it. Does not sound well for the build quality but this was just one of the reviews. Please help !!!! All advise welcome. Thanks all....

Welcome aboard! And thank you for signing up. You've come to the right place to research the Stinger! I'll let the others chime in, as I'm sure they will.

 

[Jayphil]

I do not have a stinger yet so I cannot answer your question about long term reliability, waiting the situation to stabilize but I will let this here for you in case you have not seen it.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I have over 33K miles and more than two years with my GT1. It is as perfect as a manmade machine can be expected. Still feels and runs and looks like a brand new car (don't look too closely, or you will start to see the very mild attrition that the cosmetics have been dealt with 33K miles; still, you'd not see these few blemishes until you had scrutinized my car for a while).

Performance, utility/practicality, looks, price point: all go to the Stinger. And dare I assert FUN. The Golf is uninspiring to me.

 

[Ulikefishsticks]

I'm at about 20k miles into my ownership and the thing still looks and feels new. Keep up with the maintenance and it should last you a while. Kia has come around with reliability over the past years. If you haven't taken a stinger for a drive yet I suggest you do. However, after I test drove the stinger the first time I knew I had to buy it. 8 months later and my excitement from driving the car has only gone up. I think the BEST part for me with the stinger is how rarely I see another Stinger. I can drive down the road and see a Mustang every 30 seconds, Golf every 2 minutes. Around me I see 1 stinger a week. Not to mention the stares you get in this car and the attention it attracts. Good luck with your research and hopefully we can welcome you into the hive.

 

[General_Vodka]

VW and good build quality are not two words that go together. At all. Our Jetta got totaled before it started having problems, so that was a positive since insurance paid out a lot more than we paid for it lol. Never buy a VW new, or used unless it's a beater. Our Audi A4 started having issues but it's a beater so not concerned. Would I buy a Golf over a stinger? Do I look insane to you?

 

[GenesisG70]

I have daily driven my Gt2, used and abused every day and has no cracking noise, no failures only think rotors replaced under warranty for some silly vibration at very high speed braking, solid car dude. My Porsche 981 has given me huge headaches and bought it new for 84,000 USD so don't believe the BS "its a Kia" because this ain't the 80s any more.

 

[Lawrence Williams]

I'm at 18k under a year and STILL feels new!
Had a 2011 Optima before ; gave to my daughter with 163k and doesn't not feel old either

 

[LouieDog]

Thanks everyone for the advice to far. I guess i need to test drive one of these once the "virus" is over. I've looked at them at the dealership but really need to get behind the wheel. I have driven the Golf R so its not fair to form an opinion yet. But I'm really liking the looks of the Stinger. Again, thanks all for taking the time.

 

[Lawrence Williams]

Thanks everyone for the advice to far. I guess i need to test drive one of these once the "virus" is over. I've looked at them at the dealership but really need to get behind the wheel. I have driven the Golf R so its not fair to form an opinion yet. But I'm really liking the looks of the Stinger. Again, thanks all for taking the time.

May I ask why these are your finalists?

 

[WA_STNGR]

I was cross shopping these cars as well and ended up with a Stinger. I also own a 2018 GTI SE as well as my Stinger GT1 AWD, however, so I can give you a little insight into the two chassis.

I love the GTI for the snappy steering and the go-kart size, it's the perfect car for a dense urban area. In fact, if the dealerships around here would have allowed for test drives (common for VW to not allow test drives on R's) I probably would have ended up with an R. The DSG and the AWD was/is very appealing and I think makes for a nearly perfect "do everything" car, plus I love the look of the MK7.5 Golfs. The no test drive policy was a hard stop for me, so I test drove a Stinger and rest was history as they say.

People can crap on VW all they want, but if you haven't owned one in recent years (2015+) just keep your outdated opinions to yourself (gee, what other car brand do we know where people like to talk shit due to preconceived notions?). The GTI is one of the most functional cars (you can fit a lot in the hatch) I have owned and has a factory B2B warranty (6-years/72K). The fit and finish is on par with my Stinger and I've had zero issues with it in the 2 years I have owned it. I also have a JB1 installed (~270 WHP) with aftermarket wheels and tires and it makes for a great car to rip around the city or go to your local auto-x/track day, the Stinger is just a little too big and overweight for a track car (unless you're drag racing).

The Stinger is different...it's roomy (both can haul 4 people, but the Stinger is A LOT more comfortable), somewhat luxurious and goes like crazy when asked. The quality of materials is slightly above the VW, but not by much (both interiors have soft touch materials above the belt line and hard plastics below). Infotainment and "options" available are about equal as well (both have CarPlay and everything has worked flawlessly). Panel gaps and paint seems to be about equal as well (I have PPF on both cars and would highly recommend if you don't like paint chips). That all being said, I much prefer to take the Stinger on long drives. The GTI is more engaging from a driving dynamics standpoint, but most of the time I just want to go hit some twisty roads, take in the surroundings and relax with my GF, and this is where the Stinger shines IMO. It makes for an absolute hoot punching it on the freeway or hitting a good curvy country back road (and it turns heads everywhere I go, the GTI just blends in). Road trips? The Stinger excels here as well, the seats are far more comfortable than the GTI which are more akin to racing buckets with the high side bolsters and lack of adjustments. The Stinger loses out on fuel economy, if that matters to you. Also, if you have to commute in traffic everyday I'd get the Stinger, the MT6 or the DSG in the VW are a bear in stop and go traffic.

Both are great cars and I think you'll be happy with either one, honestly. I think it'll just come down to what's important to you and what you want from a car: a German go-kart to rip around the city/track unassumingly or a Korean sled that'll get you around comfortably (with very little anonymity) and surprise the hell out of you (and other people) when you mash the skinny pedal.

 

[LouieDog]

I was cross shopping these cars as well and ended up with a Stinger. I also own a 2018 GTI SE as well as my Stinger GT1 AWD, however, so I can give you a little insight into the two chassis.

I love the GTI for the snappy steering and the go-kart size, it's the perfect car for a dense urban area. In fact, if the dealerships around here would have allowed for test drives (common for VW to not allow test drives on R's) I probably would have ended up with an R. The DSG and the AWD was/is very appealing and I think makes for a nearly perfect "do everything" car, plus I love the look of the MK7.5 Golfs. The no test drive policy was a hard stop for me, so I test drove a Stinger and rest was history as they say.

People can crap on VW all they want, but if you haven't owned one in recent years (2015+) just keep your outdated opinions to yourself (gee, what other car brand do we know where people like to talk shit due to preconceived notions?). The GTI is one of the most functional cars (you can fit a lot in the hatch) I have owned and has a factory B2B warranty (6-years/72K). The fit and finish is on par with my Stinger and I've had zero issues with it in the 2 years I have owned it. I also have a JB1 installed (~270 WHP) with aftermarket wheels and tires and it makes for a great car to rip around the city or go to your local auto-x/track day, the Stinger is just a little too big and overweight for a track car (unless you're drag racing).

The Stinger is different...it's roomy (both can haul 4 people, but the Stinger is A LOT more comfortable), somewhat luxurious and goes like crazy when asked. The quality of materials is slightly above the VW, but not by much (both interiors have soft touch materials above the belt line and hard plastics below). Infotainment and "options" available are about equal as well (both have CarPlay and everything has worked flawlessly). Panel gaps and paint seems to be about equal as well (I have PPF on both cars and would highly recommend if you don't like paint chips). That all being said, I much prefer to take the Stinger on long drives. The GTI is more engaging from a driving dynamics standpoint, but most of the time I just want to go hit some twisty roads, take in the surroundings and relax with my GF, and this is where the Stinger shines IMO. It makes for an absolute hoot punching it on the freeway or hitting a good curvy country back road (and it turns heads everywhere I go, the GTI just blends in). Road trips? The Stinger excels here as well, the seats are far more comfortable than the GTI which are more akin to racing buckets with the high side bolsters and lack of adjustments. The Stinger loses out on fuel economy, if that matters to you. Also, if you have to commute in traffic everyday I'd get the Stinger, the MT6 or the DSG in the VW are a bear in stop and go traffic.

Both are great cars and I think you'll be happy with either one, honestly. I think it'll just come down to what's important to you and what you want from a car: a German go-kart to rip around the city/track unassumingly or a Korean sled that'll get you around comfortably (with very little anonymity) and surprise the hell out of you (and other people) when you mash the skinny pedal.

Excellent review. I agree about the 2015+ VW, I had a GTI and my wife has a Golf. Both are very nice cars in their own way. I've had amazing luck with the Vw's, hence the reason i wanted the R. Plus you dont see a lot of R's , at least in my neck of the woods. Then I discovered the AWD Stinger. Amazing looking car, a little larger that the R, but at my price point as well. I really need to get behind the wheel of one and see.

 

[LouieDog]

May I ask why these are your finalists?

Sure. I was set on the Golf R, excellent German quality, AWD and at my price point. Then I found out that the Stinger could be had with the AWD so i put on the brakes until I can test drive one. As you can see, I'm looking for a nice hatch/sedan in AWD and at my price point (40K).

 

[Lawrence Williams]

Sure. I was set on the Golf R, excellent German quality, AWD and at my price point. Then I found out that the Stinger could be had with the AWD so i put on the brakes until I can test drive one. As you can see, I'm looking for a nice hatch/sedan in AWD and at my price point (40K).

Can't wait to hear your impressions after a drive.....so would you haggle down a GT2 or stick with a decently equipped GT? If you keep your cars, get the GT2 with all bells n whistles....you'll thank me later ! ;-)

 

[Weareblondi]

my father in law was a vw owner for many years. Karmen ghias, those funky station wagons, a corrado, several golfs and jettas. he was impressed by the stinger to the point that he had gone in and was in the process of trading his 16 jetta for a gt1 when he passed away. I do know that when he had gotten a rock chip in his headlights, the dealership wanted 1800 per side! found aftermarket ones for 350. I know people go on about german quality, but the stinger is german designed. plus, most dealerships offer a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty. 3 years in on my stinger and any and all problems were fixed by kia, and the list is small. 2 items on mine, the paint and the harness fix, which from what I had been told by the service manager, only affected the first year. I did not have the hatch rattling. I know his jetta had the headliner replaced twice, once by the dealership and the second time he had to pay for it. the gearbox was replaced under warranty. he went through brakes at a horrendous pace, and he was 80 so his racing days, according to him, were way in his past. either way, this is just my impression of the car. I had a chance to get a more expensive car, but depreciation, high maintenance costs and, on some cars, serious build problems. I can't say enough good things about the stinger, but in saying that, I can't compare it to a vw since I personally have never owned one, nor have I ever wanted to. kias rep, back then, is what vw's rep was during the 70's, a cheap mode of transportation. but both of them have grown up, gone to finishing school and impress people with cars double their price tags. good luck either way, please post and tell us what you decided upon.

 

[GenesisG70]

Sure. I was set on the Golf R, excellent German quality, AWD and at my price point. Then I found out that the Stinger could be had with the AWD so i put on the brakes until I can test drive one. As you can see, I'm looking for a nice hatch/sedan in AWD and at my price point (40K).

My Audi r8 tail pipes are peeling, Porsche 981 door panel warping and head liner sagging under Florida summers, don't believe in all the German quality hype, I am not saying German cars are not good but I think German cars are over hyped and over priced.

And regarding the Golf I will never buy from a liar company but thats just me, plus the Golf is a different animal its not a large sport grandtourer like the Stinger and you can frequently see a Golf parked at your neighbors garage.

If you really want a small fast car I would wait until Hyundai comes with the Veloster N dual clutch auto or the new Elantra N.If you want AWD, huge cargo capacity, haul adults comfortably, stupid fast car that looks like a full sports sedan (Golf looks like a small teenager car). I would choose the Stinger no brainer, plus with current discounts is not more expensive than the VW.

I have had Korean cars since 1991 and I have never had any f*cking door panel warping or head liner sagging on them in spite of parking them 24 outside, its a disgrace what happened to my 84,000 USD Porsche 981 now fixed out of my pocket because was 1 f*cking month out of warranty.

 

[Weareblondi]

My Audi r8 tail pipes are peeling, Porsche 981 door panel warping and head liner sagging under Florida summers, don't believe in all the German quality hype, I am not saying German cars are not good but I think German cars are over hyped and over priced.

And regarding the Golf I will never buy from a liar company but thats just me, plus the Golf is a different animal its not a large sport grandtourer like the Stinger and you can frequently see a Golf parked at your neighbors garage.

If you really want a small fast car I would wait until Hyundai comes with the Veloster N dual clutch auto or the new Elantra N.If you want AWD, huge cargo capacity, haul adults comfortably, stupid fast car that looks like a full sports sedan (Golf looks like a small teenager car). I would choose the Stinger no brainer, plus with current discounts is not more expensive than the VW.

I have had Korean cars since 1991 and I have never had any f*cking door panel warping or head liner sagging on them in spite of parking them 24 outside, its a disgrace what happened to my 84,000 USD Porsche 981 now fixed out of my pocket because was 1 f*cking month out of warranty.

damn, 1 month out of warranty! shame on them.