New Owner

[R. Walsh]

I just purchased a new Stinger GT2(white w/black interior) from Hendrick Kia in Cary Tuesday evening. My salesman was Jay and the finance person that I worked with was Jon. Everything with the transaction went well and so far I would recommend them to others looking for a Kia. I found the price that I wanted and they matched it for me.
I have lived in Johnston County all of my life and don't think that I have seen another Stinger around home. I have taught school for the past 25 years. I did however see at least 1 review online before I bought mine that was done in the Raleigh area. That is what gave me the idea to look for others in the area that had a Stinger too. I don't know what I expected to find, but I am glad that I found some others.
I am excited about owning a car like the Stinger, but a little intimidated too. This seems to be a car that owners take pride in getting out and modifying to speed up or just change the looks of, but I am woefully lacking in the skills to do either of those myself. I am hoping to be able to do some research either online or by talking to other owners to figure out the best modifications to make. Once I figure out the most sensible things to do I can figure out the best place to get them done.
I am looking forward to the opportunity to meet and learn from you.

Robert

 

[namja]

Congrats on your Stinger!

Don't feel peer-pressured to modify your Stinger. But, just know that the community here is willing to help you out if you do seek that.

 

[Nasscar]

Welcome R.Walsh. Don't feel like you have to mod your Stinger. It is a great car out of the box. I have just the bi-modal exhaust, no other modifications at all. Each to their own though.

 

[G-945068]

I appreciate that. I have read some things where people have to remove their modifications before they take their cars in to a dealer to have any work done. It would be great to be able to do that, but I don’t have that level of mechanical expertise. If I did something, I would want it to be something that wouldn’t be permanent.
I am thinking about adding the remote start to the car. I would love to have one that would work through the phone, but I haven’t found one yet. I may also change out some of the badges once I decide on the ones I like the best and the easiest way to do them.

 

[Legendsk]

I understand how you feel. The first week or two that I had my brand new 1966 Corvette 427 convertible, I was sick with fear that I had made a terrible mistake. I had spent all the money I had for a car on it and it would have to be my daily driver. But it was so powerful and responsive, it just didn't seem safe to drive on the street. On day 2, I was in the outside of 3 lanes, eastbound and came up behind someone doing 20 mph less than I wanted to go. I floored it and THEN turned the wheel to the left to pull out to pass. Although it had a traction control rear end, it turned 360º counterclockwise and I was still going east, but in the center lane, in the blink of an eye.

But in a couple of weeks of getting used to it and learning the car, I decided it was the safest car I had ever owned. I could accelerate out of nearly any situation and stop faster than any regular car on the road. The biggest problem was breaking as hard as I needed to, but not harder than the person behind me could. It was a great car and I loved it. But not nearly the car my GT2 is. And it gets better every day.

 

[CKeeler]

Congratulations and welcome! Take your time with enjoying the car first before you figure out what to modify on it. It’s a great car out of the box. For me, I wanted tighter handling so I did sway bars. But if you don’t run a lot of twisty roads, you won’t need it. Enjoy it, it’s a great car!

 

[MerlintheMad]

@Legendsk I love reading your reminiscences. Having a "race car" (my wife's terminology) on public roads definitely requires an adjustment: and that, for me, is exactly what you just described: using the car's capabilities to be even safer amidst morons rolling along cluelessly as if inside directionless "missiles". "Get out of Dodge!" is now possible, either accelerating or braking "spiritedly", i.e. judiciously applied throttle, steering and brakes to meet the current (developing) situation. I've never had a car before that would allow me to do this and I love it.

OP, welcome to the forum, a very fine group of self-governing people who love the info shared here and the personalities behind the posts!

 

[Kia Stinger]

I just purchased a new Stinger GT2(white w/black interior) from Hendrick Kia in Cary Tuesday evening. My salesman was Jay and the finance person that I worked with was Jon. Everything with the transaction went well and so far I would recommend them to others looking for a Kia. I found the price that I wanted and they matched it for me.
I have lived in Johnston County all of my life and don't think that I have seen another Stinger around home. I have taught school for the past 25 years. I did however see at least 1 review online before I bought mine that was done in the Raleigh area. That is what gave me the idea to look for others in the area that had a Stinger too. I don't know what I expected to find, but I am glad that I found some others.
I am excited about owning a car like the Stinger, but a little intimidated too. This seems to be a car that owners take pride in getting out and modifying to speed up or just change the looks of, but I am woefully lacking in the skills to do either of those myself. I am hoping to be able to do some research either online or by talking to other owners to figure out the best modifications to make. Once I figure out the most sensible things to do I can figure out the best place to get them done.
I am looking forward to the opportunity to meet and learn from you.

Robert

Welcome aboard! And thank you for signing up. Congratulations on your brand new Stinger GT! What did the Stinger replace for you?

 

[R. Walsh]

Dodge Durango

 

[Nac]

Congrats same color combo as mine, (i think its the best looking one)!

 

[Moses]

@Legendsk I love reading your reminiscences. Having a "race car" (my wife's terminology) on public roads definitely requires an adjustment: and that, for me, is exactly what you just described: using the car's capabilities to be even safer amidst morons rolling along cluelessly as if inside directionless "missiles". "Get out of Dodge!" is now possible, either accelerating or braking "spiritedly", i.e. judiciously applied throttle, steering and brakes to meet the current (developing) situation. I've never had a car before that would allow me to do this and I love it.

OP, welcome to the forum, a very fine group of self-governing people who love the info shared here and the personalities behind the posts!

It's funny to see that your wife considers the Stinger your race car and my wife considers the Stinger my new practical car and getting me out of driving a race car everyday.

 

[Duh Ham]

I too, am the new owner of a Stinger GT2, red w/ black interior. It's good to see such helpful and friendly people out there. Hello to you R. Walsh, still enjoying your Stinger? I am in the San Antonio, Texas, state of mind. Only had the Stinger for 2 weeks and loving it as much as I did my first car, (1969 Mustang Mach 1, 390 V8). I've wanted a Stinger every since I read about them 2 years ago. So far, I only have one question...what is this "E" that I keep seeing on emblems for the Stinger?

 

[CKeeler]

I too, am the new owner of a Stinger GT2, red w/ black interior. It's good to see such helpful and friendly people out there. Hello to you R. Walsh, still enjoying your Stinger? I am in the San Antonio, Texas, state of mind. Only had the Stinger for 2 weeks and loving it as much as I did my first car, (1969 Mustang Mach 1, 390 V8). I've wanted a Stinger every since I read about them 2 years ago. So far, I only have one question...what is this "E" that I keep seeing on emblems for the Stinger?

Welcome and congratulations! The E is from the Korean market. It’s what Kia places on the Stinger in South Korea.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I too, am the new owner of a Stinger GT2, red w/ black interior.

Howdy. "E", for excellence, so I am to understand. Well, cool, then. I like the "KIA" just fine. The OE badges are under my "K" skins, to be revealed at some future day when the novelty of the Stinger wears off and enough people know what it is and who makes it.

 

[Daniel @ K8 Stinger Store]

Hey R.Walsh,

Welcome to the Stinger Forum and congrats on purchasing your new Snow Pearl White Stinger GT2. I hope you are loving the car so far and all the performance and amenities Kia has incorporated into its design. It's always great to have the most unique and rare car in the neighborhood. If you ever have questions about your vehicle please reach out and I would be glad to help you better understand your Kia. I work with the K8 Stinger Store www.k8stingerstore.com and we specialize in aftermarket parts for the stinger platform. If you have questions it does not have to be specifically aftermarket related either but if you are looking to customize your car definitely check that out and reach out to me for a discount.

- Daniel