Should I buy a Stinger to keep 7-10 years?

[Lloydy]

Hi guys,
I have test driven a Stinger 4 pot GT-line and loved the sophisticated cabin feel and ride quality. The engine also felt it had more than enough power for 99% of situations and the wife likes it too!
However after researching about possible problems and reading about faults concerning the paintwork failing and the leather seats wearing after a few thousand k's I'm not so sure.
Do you think it's a good car and worth the gamble and it's isolated to a small number of cars or not?
Any thoughts and advise would be welcome.

Cheers!

 

[NYLAWBIZ]

Chances are, if someone is posting on here, they have already "bought into" if not actually bought a Stinger. So don't expect objectivity. Like most new car buyers, mostly all of us got the Stinger "religion" and are ready to evangelize about our faith in the car.

If you need subjective support for buying it, you'll get plenty of it. Objectivity, errr, wrong place.

One thing I can tell you, it is the most enjoyable car I ever owned (I'm the terrible age of 60 and I have driven and owned more than a few). How the car will hold up in 7-10 years? Well, if anyone could foretell the future, I will join them on an expense paid trip to Las Vegas.

 

[mldavis2]

Yes, you'll either get evangelists (as I am) or chronic complainers with problems. If Kia warranties the powertrain for 10/100,000, they will either keep it running under warranty, or as I suspect, they know it will last through the warranty.

 

[Tobstertx3]

With one of the best warranties in the auto industry, I don’t see a reason why not. Many of us have zero issues with paint/leather seats etc. Just look for a newer build model and go over it with a fine tooth comb.

 

[mldavis2]

I was very careful and lucky to find a cooperative dealer. I ordered my car from the available incoming list. It had 4 miles on the odometer. The dealer agreed to call me when it arrived and even asked permission to clean it up prior to the PDI. I was present when the car was inspected and during the 2 hour PDI process including the check-ride with the technician. No problems. Fantastic car.

All of my Pontiacs had 150,000 miles (200,000 on the G8 which I hated to see go.) Never a problem with them so I was a bit reluctant to switch to an import. We'll see.....so far so good.

 

[Tonkabob]

With my personal experiance with the (blue) paint i would have to say no way. If you do a $7k full PPF wrap or budget for a $12 K full repaint then absolutely. Amazing car, terrible paint

 

[Paul32]

Hi guys,
I have test driven a Stinger 4 pot GT-line and loved the sophisticated cabin feel and ride quality. The engine also felt it had more than enough power for 99% of situations and the wife likes it too!
However after researching about possible problems and reading about faults concerning the paintwork failing and the leather seats wearing after a few thousand k's I'm not so sure.
Do you think it's a good car and worth the gamble and it's isolated to a small number of cars or not?
Any thoughts and advise would be welcome.

Cheers!

I would bet that in 7 to 10 years something else will hit the market that you have to have. That's what keeps the economy going. If that's not the case, the Stinger should last as long or better than any other choice, and has the best warranty. Just treat it right.

 

[Waynerm002]

I feel it will last. My buddy's first year hybrid (2012 Optima) has over 120k on it, he drives it hard and the only change on it is the suspension. Broke a spring at about 105K, then got coilovers as replacement and drives it even harder now. The Stinger is years after this car with even better engineering and a platform used on their luxury line. If you are worried about the first year issues, get a 2019.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hi guys,
I have test driven a Stinger 4 pot GT-line and loved the sophisticated cabin feel and ride quality. The engine also felt it had more than enough power for 99% of situations and the wife likes it too!
However after researching about possible problems and reading about faults concerning the paintwork failing and the leather seats wearing after a few thousand k's I'm not so sure.
Do you think it's a good car and worth the gamble and it's isolated to a small number of cars or not?
Any thoughts and advise would be welcome.

Cheers!

Yes, a small number of Stingers coupled with drivers are showing early seat wear. Kia put a 165 pound dummy in and out of the Stinger 20K times, representing in and out of the car four times per day over a period of over 13 years. The seats won't wear out fast, unless your physiognomy causes you to get in and out in a way that puts "odd" stress on the seats somewhere. The car isn't exactly the easiest to enter and exit. What sports sedan is? (compared to say a minivan or SUV)

Paint: again, a small number of cars, mostly (so the poll shows along with anecdotal evidence) from those built in November and December of last year; and mostly Yellow and Blue.

I leased with the intention of staying free to lease brand new in three years. Then I decided I wanted to save the over $4K I'd pay to complete the lease, to pay myself to sell the car at that time if Kia has a Stinger brand new that I cannot refuse. So, I am waiting and will review the situation. But if I like my current car enough in three years, I will keep it longer, even ten years: basically until upgrades to the electronic programming (aps) start to show signs of flakiness with (by then aging) hardware: this is only an apprehension on my part, based solely on observation at how fast computer stuff becomes obsolete and then incompatible with the new. Cars coupled to computers are no different The cost of swapping out old for new in an old car might be prohibitive in ten or more years. Who knows? Anyway, the car as a performer will still be great, and the interior and exterior will still look good if taken care of. Kia loves to exceed expectations.

 

[Eugene Onegin]

If you have a garage the car will hold up just fine cosmetically .

 

[Tonkabob]

If you have a garage the car will hold up just fine cosmetically .

If you get a good Stinger that is. Mine is garaged day and night and is the one way off in the parking lot when not garaged. Looks like it is 6 years old and 60K miles of hard use rather than 6 months and 6k miles of great care. But I'm the minority I think. But still a risk on a $52K purchase.

 

[mldavis2]

Getting in and out is a consideration for the driver's seat. In my cramped garage, I have to place my left hand on the left seat bolster even with the seat retracted when I get out because I can't open the door wide enough to just stand up. If you have an abrasive ring or watch on the left hand/arm, it could cause damage to the seat bolster with repeated use. Also, if you are not using the seat retraction setting, I strongly recommend setting that up. If you wear an abrasive belt or your World Wrestling World Championship belt buckle, consider leaving that at home when driving the Stinger (people want to look at the car, not your belt buckle.) I already have some scuffs on the steering wheel from the wife's ring so I've taught her to make sure the diamond is up when driving.

 

[Paul32]

Getting in and out is a consideration for the driver's seat. In my cramped garage, I have to place my left hand on the left seat bolster even with the seat retracted when I get out because I can't open the door wide enough to just stand up. If you have an abrasive ring or watch on the left hand/arm, it could cause damage to the seat bolster with repeated use. Also, if you are not using the seat retraction setting, I strongly recommend setting that up. If you wear an abrasive belt or your World Wrestling World Championship belt buckle, consider leaving that at home when driving the Stinger (people want to look at the car, not your belt buckle.) I already have some scuffs on the steering wheel from the wife's ring so I've taught her to make sure the diamond is up when driving.

That's not just good advice for a Stinger, but any car with leather seats. My daughter turned in a BMW $50+ 2 seater and the driver seat bolster look worse than any car I have ever turned or traded in.

 

[Waynerm002]

I’ll say this, if you know you are hard on vehicles and you want your to remain in good condition, you’ll have to pay closer attention to things and address them early. My wife is a driver that just gets in and drive, never reads the manual. After all most 3 years of driving her Volvo, she just figured out that she can push the window button down all the way to activate the one touch feature. 6 months in after she noticed stuff marks on the side booster, I told her that any abnormal wear and tear we are responsible for, she got the leather wipes from Volvo and cleaned the car’s seats and keep an eye on them.

Conversely, all my cars still look great when turned in, so much so I got great prices on trade and a check of the dealer listing weeks later shows the car selling at a higher price that market value. Don’t know how much someone bought it for but they are getting a car in great condition.

 

[mldavis2]

I resemble that post, @Waynerm002. I baby my cars and keep them "forever." My wife bought a '67 Mustang with she graduated from med school and we kept that car until 2003 when my daughter graduated from college. I have never owned a car with less than 125,000 miles when I traded it. Treat them like you're going to keep them. That's the only way to amortize the first year depreciation over time.