Stinger sales in Aust

[Tinter]

With I believe 221 dealers Nationally Kia really need to be selling more than 160-180 a month. I know sales generally in the industry are at the lowest since 2011. But the Stinger should really have taken off imo.

Commodore? Why would you.

Dreadful tv marketing because lots of people have no idea of what our car is

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Are you saying 60k, is in the reasonable margin to pay for a vehicle in Aus? In my mind its definitely in the premium category.

Well have a look at comparable vehicles for $60k, they are not premium, would you call the new Commodore VRX premium? Most Large SUV’s with a V6 are in this range, have a look at the high end Ford Everest, Holden Arcadia & Jeep Grand Cherokee see if you can get a current model for $60k....the way the market is structured now I consider anything over $80k to be classed as premium.

 

[Dreddpax]

Well have a look at comparable vehicles for $60k, they are not premium, would you call the new Commodore VRX premium? Most Large SUV’s with a V6 are in this range, have a look at the high end Ford Everest, Holden Arcadia & Jeep Grand Cherokee see if you can get a current model for $60k....the way the market is structured now I consider anything over $80k to be classed as premium.

Fair point!

 

[Flameangel]

Dreadful tv marketing because lots of people have no idea of what our car is

Yup, I've had people asking me if it's a Ford, they see " GT " and think Ford

 

[Tinter]

Rebadging externally adds to the unique mystique of the car.

 

[Coast GT]

You’d have to say the incredibly poor marketing by Kia is what’s killing the Stinger sales in Australia. Take the 2.0L version, they’ve barely sold any but yet Hyundai are moving plenty of the Sonata (from what I’ve seen on the road) they’ve got fleet deals for them (we have them at work) and the turbo Sonata is the same engine as the “baby Stinger”. Only difference mechanically is the Sonata is FWD and the Stinger RWD. Biggest difference is the price, Sonata Premium is about $50k, base model Stinger 200s comes in about that and goes up to about $60k for the 2.0L GTLine which is way overpriced. When you consider the 3.3L GT that most Aussies are buying is listed at $65k but we all know that means about $60k after haggling with the dealer why would you buy the 2.0L GTLine? If they lower the price point of the 2.0L they may actually start moving some. $60k for the top of the line 3.3L is about right considering what it is, especially when compared to the Germans they’re trying to compete with.

There was so much pre release hype in Australia about the Stinger in motoring magazines and on the interwebs, and plenty of reviews upon release which barely had a bad thing to say. So you need to ask what the hell is Kia’s marketing department doing? The only logical answer is sitting on their hands and slowly killing the best car Kia has ever made.

 

[YEH]

Think Stinger sales are fine (but still, could be better) relative to what its competitive set actually is, rather than what Kia Australia tried to market it (at least initially) - the successor to the previous gen RWD Commodore.

Taking a look at (June) sales at various entry-level/compact (midsize for Australia) sedans and fastbacks...

Q50 - 27
4 Series GC - 29
A5 Sportback - 62
A4 - 111
IS - 121
Stinger - 200
3 Series - 339
C Class - 708

Only the C Class (which includes sales of the estate) far outpaced that of the Stinger.

Sure, the Stinger had a lower price-point, but a big part of that is not being sold under a lux brand and all the lux service amenities that entails (which is the reason why the G70 costs a good bit more than the Stinger).

Pretty much all Stinger sold in Australia are for the V6 and in the upper trims - which is about where the IS starts in price (wouldn't be surprised if, like elsewhere, the majority of IS sales is for the base engine, along w/ the hybrid).

Where the Stinger could do better is in sales of its base T4 mill, but afraid that such a thing won't happen until the base engine gets upgraded to the 2.5T (a hybrid variant tied to the T4 also wouldn't hurt).

 

[Ozstung]

Think Stinger sales are fine (but still, could be better) relative to what its competitive set actually is, rather than what Kia Australia tried to market it (at least initially) - the successor to the previous gen RWD Commodore.

Taking a look at (June) sales at various entry-level/compact (midsize for Australia) sedans and fastbacks...

Q50 - 27
4 Series GC - 29
A5 Sportback - 62
A4 - 111
IS - 121
Stinger - 200
3 Series - 339
C Class - 708

Only the C Class (which includes sales of the estate) far outpaced that of the Stinger.

Sure, the Stinger had a lower price-point, but a big part of that is not being sold under a lux brand and all the lux service amenities that entails (which is the reason why the G70 costs a good bit more than the Stinger).

Pretty much all Stinger sold in Australia are for the V6 and in the upper trims - which is about where the IS starts in price (wouldn't be surprised if, like elsewhere, the majority of IS sales is for the base engine, along w/ the hybrid).

Where the Stinger could do better is in sales of its base T4 mill, but afraid that such a thing won't happen until the base engine gets upgraded to the 2.5T (a hybrid variant tied to the T4 also wouldn't hurt).

Interesting read thanks. I was in the C200 camp before changing my mind when the Stinger Gt came on the scene.

 

[Manaz]

Sure, the Stinger had a lower price-point, but a big part of that is not being sold under a lux brand and all the lux service amenities that entails (which is the reason why the G70 costs a good bit more than the Stinger).

I don't think the Genesis experience is $25k better on a $60k base price. The Genesis Experience Centre I visited in Pitt St reeked of faked exclusivity.

 

[dddd]

I don't think the Genesis experience is $25k better on a $60k base price. The Genesis Experience Centre I visited in Pitt St reeked of faked exclusivity.

When you consider the G70 is very little to no dearer than the equivalent stinger in any other country (except AU), I believe we could safely say your comment is an understatement

 

[Tinter]

You could say I’m on the edge of the retail motoring market supplying window tinting and catering to the private market only and the amount of people who come in and look puzzled as to what my Stinger is in the corner of my factory is surely unbelievable.

The age demographics are from low 30s to mid 70s and an equal match of both sexes.

Naturally the car comes up in conversation and what film is on it and I’d go as far as saying 85% have no idea who makes it, what model is it, haven’t seen one and the balance remaining know it is suppose to be fast and that’s all.

I’m absolutely certain if a BMW 3 series buyer (or something else in the price bracket) was about to purchase now, and then drive the Stinger, they’d have one in their garage but they have never considered it.

It all comes down to p15s poor marketing by Kia Oz.

The idea of manufacturing a halo car is terrific like what the WRX did for Subaru years ago, but it has to be built on and to date there has been nothing other than the tv hit with the Enforcer and the Dude test drive who have probably given the car a big leg up recently.

Rob
Car Tint
Melbourne

 

[Manaz]

The idea of manufacturing a halo car is terrific like what the WRX did for Subaru years ago, but it has to be built on and to date there has been nothing other than the tv hit with the Enforcer and the Dude test drive who have probably given the car a big leg up recently.

The WRX (and WRX STI) are the hero cars these days, but they were built initially as part of Subaru's motorsport program (and the RS Legacy before the GC8 WRX).

The problem with relying on things like Enforcer and the Dude for marketing penetration is that it doesn't have a mainstream audience, and won't dramatically improve overall market awareness.

 

[Sime]

And the fact that a lot of owners are de-badging also won’t help.

 

[Flameangel]

And the fact that a lot of owners are de-badging also won’t help.

True to a degree,I have rebadged but with the K badge on the front and left the stock Kia badge on steering wheel. The unique look of the car and badges helps draw those interested to ask about the car. So far some people initially thinks it's a Ford and once they know it's a Kia, they are blown away. Trouble with the stock badges are that badge snobs see them and go " just another Kia " without giving the car a chance because they have the old mentality that Kia are cheap cars and grocery getters that are not worthy of a second look. Those of us in the know, know that Kia are a rising brand, breaking the gap between them and the Japanese brands with Styling, quality and reliability.Matching, even exceeding some of the top end European cars, on price point they can't be beaten.

 

[Flameangel]

Rising Kia.....

 

[MerlintheMad]

What's that worst badge? I don't recognize it.

 

[Flameangel]

What's that worst badge? I don't recognize it.

Holden lol, think they are Chevy's over in your neck of the woods

 

[Coast GT]

What's that worst badge? I don't recognize it.

The badge belongs to Holden, a once proud home grown Aussie car manufacturer that became a subsidiary of General Motors and has been on the downward spiral since they announced they were stopping production in Australia.

They haven’t built a car or engine in Australia since October 2017, and their sales are reflecting it. They replaced the home grown Commodore (which you would know as Chevy SS in the US) with a model from Opel but made the mistake of still naming it Commodore which has blown up in their face as Australian buyers have begun looking to other manufacturers, predominantly Kia & Hyundai as an alternative.

The bulk of their sales now comes from the Colorado which is built in Thailand. They sell some Chevy products, namely the Silverado and Camaro 2SS & ZL1, both of which are massively over priced for the Australian market mainly as they are factory built LHD and converted to RHD by HSV (Holden Special Vehicles).

Sad as it is to say this once great Australian company is on its last legs, and eventually I think GM will cut them loose which will ultimately see them shut down all together.

 

[Tinter]

True to a degree,I have rebadged but with the K badge on the front and left the stock Kia badge on steering wheel. The unique look of the car and badges helps draw those interested to ask about the car. So far some people initially thinks it's a Ford and once they know it's a Kia, they are blown away. Trouble with the stock badges are that badge snobs see them and go " just another Kia " without giving the car a chance because they have the old mentality that Kia are cheap cars and grocery getters that are not worthy of a second look. Those of us in the know, know that Kia are a rising brand, breaking the gap between them and the Japanese brands with Styling, quality and reliability.Matching, even exceeding some of the top end European cars, on price point they can't be beaten.

Done the same as I prefer the Korean domestic badging anyway and at this point in time left the steering wheel as is.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I have rebadged but with the K badge on the front and left the stock Kia badge on steering wheel.

Done the same as I prefer the Korean domestic badging anyway and at this point in time left the steering wheel as is.

Several times I have asked those asking me about the car, "Who do you think makes it?" And they look it over and shake their heads, and I direct them to the steering wheel for the answer. Fun(ny) every time. One day, I'll remove the "K" skins. But until that day comes, they provide a degree of amusement while the Stinger remains largely unknown.