People stare at this car

[Fred Pahlke]

I was sitting near my car smoking. When a couple walks by and he goes "it's just a kia" "they rebadged it but it's a kia". Looks like people are starting to recognize stingers. Whatever ads they are running must be working. But I still can't understand the stigma against the brand. I personally rebadged to keep it OEM like in their domestic market.

I will not rebadge as I am as happy with my KIA Stinger.

 

[Yellow Stinger]

I will not rebadge as I am as happy with my KIA Stinger as much as my other "high-end Luxury cars, as I the KIA makes it's mark in that category of automobile.

I agree. I’m proud of Kia and want people to know it’s a Kia.

 

[Mhol]

I had a guy in an Audi Rs4 give me the thumbs up.

 

[mldavis2]

Real car people know what it is. People who disparage the brand either don't have a clue, or they are jealous and want to protect their choice of an alternate brand.

I compromised on mine -- KIA badge left on hood and steering wheel, OEM large "Stinger" on the deck lid center (small Stinger on left removed) and I have an extra set of "E" wheel caps in place of the KIA caps.

 

[Ucinn]

I was at the bar outside smoking Friday and heard 3 guys talking and one said "I didn't know Kia made cars that nice" I think the stigma from the early 90's with the Sephia and always breaking down gave them a bad rep and it takes a while to dig out from under that. I would never own a pre 2004 Kia myself. But for those auto enthusiasts like us who keep up on the auto industry know of their quality now. I have had 4 of them now and on my recommendations our family have bought a total of 9 of them since 2012 and none of them have ever had any problems.

 

[Yellow Stinger]

I was at the bar outside smoking Friday and heard 3 guys talking and one said "I didn't know Kia made cars that nice" I think the stigma from the early 90's with the Sephia and always breaking down gave them a bad rep and it takes a while to dig out from under that. I would never own a pre 2004 Kia myself. But for those auto enthusiasts like us who keep up on the auto industry know of their quality now. I have had 4 of them now and on my recommendations our family have bought a total of 9 of them since 2012 and none of them have ever had any problems.

Same here. Just take a look at all the awards Kia is accumulating. Some people will never admit how far they come in a short time but that’s fine. I’ll be in front of them anyway. Haha.

 

[StingerGT68]

Real car people know what it is. People who disparage the brand either don't have a clue, or they are jealous and want to protect their choice of an alternate brand.

I compromised on mine -- KIA badge left on hood and steering wheel, OEM large "Stinger" on the deck lid center (small Stinger on left removed) and I have an extra set of "E" wheel caps in place of the KIA caps.

Exactly. People who actually know cars know what the Stinger can do. I was at a Cars and Coffee yesterday and amongst the Ferraris and Lambos was my Stinger. People were circling it, pointing at things, taking photos. When I was near the car they'd say "it's beautiful" or have their eyes pop out when they heard the HP.

And when I told others what I now drive, one guy summed it up: "You got a Stinger? Now that's a driver's car".

 

[Kia Stinger]

I was sitting near my car smoking. When a couple walks by and he goes "it's just a kia" "they rebadged it but it's a kia". Looks like people are starting to recognize stingers. Whatever ads they are running must be working. But I still can't understand the stigma against the brand. I personally rebadged to keep it OEM like in their domestic market.

That's one jealous man who said that. Your car hurt his little manhood. Years ago I leased a Lexus LS430. It was brand new and I had just picked up an acquaintance and his girlfriend. His girlfriend was drooling all over the car when he said, "It's a Toyota". Of course, that ruined the experience for her - and he felt much better.

 

[jdogonroad]

In the last 96 hours or so, I’ve had 4 parking lot encounters with people asking about it; 4 drive by look overs/thumbs up; 1 Vette at traffic light talking and saying he thinks his wife would rather he had the Stinger; and the UPS guy delivering a package and seeing it in the garage, asks if he could do a walk around while drooling.

 

[xot1]

I have never seen a 50K car doing that effect on people. Had you bought a 440 or an S5, I doubt people would have been staring that much.

 

[Tylor Pike]

Had a WRX STI driver in the lane ahead of me roll his window down and give a thumbs up the other day. People like the look of this car, and most enthusiasts recognize the stinger and respect it for what it is.

 

[Devang Patel]

My husband was driving the car home today (we just got the GT2 last night) and a guy asked him to roll down his window at a stop light to ask what kind of car it was!

I got the same last weekend. A family was driving and the father had me roll my window down. He gave a thumbs up and asked what it was. I told it was a Kia and his son in the back seat got all excited bc he bet his dad it was a Kia. His dad thought it was a Jag. He lost $100

 

[xot1]

I got the same last weekend. A family was driving and the father had me roll my window down. He gave a thumbs up and asked what it was. I told it was a Kia and his son in the back seat got all excited bc he bet his dad it was a Kia. His dad thought it was a Jag. He lost $100

That is the way to become rich

 

[mldavis2]

Yeah, I dropped by Superior Kia (Fayetteville, AR) for my first oil change and they had a doctor and his wife looking at a HiChroma Red GT2 twin to mine. He saw mine and came over and asked a lot of questions about it, loved the big Korean "Stinger" on the back of mine. The sales manager walked over and joined us and the doc wanted his wife to drive the car (he drove up in an S550 MB) but he was afraid the power would put her off. We suggested setting the drive mode to Eco and then letting her drive it. I'll bet he bought it -- don't know yet. Very nice couple.

Then on the way home, I stopped by for a bit of refreshment and ended up talking to a retired engineer in the bar (er...establishment) who was looking for something big enough to slide his bicycle into. When I was ready to leave, we walked out and looked at my GT2. He was amazed and asked where I bought it and wrote the sales manager's name down. Serious guy who was ready to switch. Had been looking at Subaru Outbacks...

 

[Bobr]

S550 MB to Stinger? Woow.. Here in Russia most people are such badge snobs so that kind of switch is impossible to imagine Almost any German car to Stinger. Pretty ok as for me, that means Stinger will be rare enough

 

[LeoDragon]

Sitting at the stop light today, I looked in my side mirror and saw the guy in the car behind me taking pictures of my rear end.. I mean the Stinger's rear end. I'll admit the rear end does look awesome. The Stinger that is. lol

 

[NYLAWBIZ]

Try re-badging and see the reaction one gets

 

[LeoDragon]

Try re-badging and see the reaction one gets

Mine is totally rebadged. It doesn't say Kia anywhere externally. The steering wheel only.

 

[Dark_Knight GT]

Every. Single. Day. It’s very cool to be part of a movement Enjoy!

 

[SteveCo]

I was going to rebadge as I found the simple 3 letter KIA 'logo' very plain. I even ordered the necessary parts - but have since changed my mind about applying them. I still think the logo used in NA is graphically uninspired, but the simplicity is growing on me - I love the effect it has on people who see the car for the first time ...