Stinger vs public opinion

I took my OEM Stinger emblem off to paint it to better match the black chrome trim. So I've rebadged, then re-rebadged, AND changed color. Triple ban for me! lol..
 
The problem I have is some of the excuses people are using. Deflection at it's finest ...



Agreed, but the point remains that was not the badge delivered on many people's cars and the reasons they're trying to sell you for why they removed/exchanged it.



And there is we go our separate ways.

It's not just about "personal taste", it clearly goes deeper than that and many people just won't admit it. Regarding "not worth arguing over/none of it is wrong", I don't buy into our world's increasingly wishy washy attitude. Debate is fine and expected when something needs to be called out.

Man up people, take a stand!
OMFG....what made you the stinger forum Nazi ?( this is not a dictatorship )...Auf Wiedersehen !
 
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"Broken K", lol. It's the K-Lexus "K". And it's intentional. I use it to enjoy mystifying people who ask about the car. Happens quite a lot. Twice on this trip so far.
Yes, that's why Iv'e been asked if it was a Lexus :laugh:
 
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I beg to differ.

Don't beg, it's unbecoming.

I dislike badges in general - previous cars have had all possible badging removed. I would remove all front and rear badging if I could, but as Kia saw fit to include the locating pins front and rear, I need to put something there. At that stage, I can either put something that aesthetically appeals to me, or I can advertise for Kia when I already paid them $60k for the privilege of driving the Stinger.

I like the "Vintage K" logo. I think it looks cool, and it pays homage to Kia's KDM heritage. They don't use the "KIA" logo in their domestic market, are you suggesting that's because they're ashamed of their own brand?

Behind the Badge: Kia’s Korean Logo Is So Much Cooler!

Given I have to have at least two badges on the car, this is the way I will likely go. Wheel badges will stay until I replace the wheels, I am unsure what I will do with the airbag logo just yet, as interplay between it and airbag deployment isn't something I am keen to mess with.
 
There is another reason for de/re-badging that could potentially come into play, but few of us do that with our Stingers since we leave the GT: Downgrading the perceived specification level of the car. Some of us are after the "sleeper" effect to give a bit of a shock when we blast off and others thing we're rocking the 2.0. I left the GT on my car because cosmetically I like how it played out - K badge for Kia, GT for GT...like the Kia GT concept this car is based on.

I mention sleeper because the whole time I owned my Mustang GT I wanted to remove the 5.0 badge and replace the GT on the rear with the Pony badge to make the car appear to be a V6 or EB 4 cylinder, purely for sleeper effect. Unfortunately, holes behind the badges meant I couldn't completely remove the 5.0, so it remained. I did enjoy my debadged Cobalt SS and supercharged Grand Prix since they could be confused as lower spec to the uninitiated, a few times I wasn't sure if people were surprised either car was quick because of what it was, or what trim they thought it was when they got smoked.

Some of us also just can't leave a car completely stock, we want something unique (I am one of those people). Rebadging on the Stinger is an inexpensive way to make it different than an off-the-lot vehicle.

If we really want to judge badging, let's talk about those generous owners that leave dealer stickers on the car, generously advertising for the dealership for free. I demanded my car be delivered without any dealer junk, and guess what I found on the back when I got it home (I somehow looked right past that fact when I looked the car over in the dealer lot). I was pissed and immediately removed it lol.
 
I beg to differ.
You can beg to differ, that's fine. I owned an Optima for 6.5 years which I traded in for my Stinger, was totally stock.We also own a little Cerato hatch, totally stock, drive around in it quite happily complete with " KIA " badges. Just because I rebadged my Stinger due to the fact I preferred a different Kia badge and wanted it to look unique you are accusing me of being " ashamed of driving a kia ". My Stinger still has the Kia stock badge on the steering wheel if people wanted to peer in. If my family were ashamed of driving Kia's we wouldn't own one. (2 actually )
Pity you are not around when I'm praising the Kia brand to people, and advising what great cars they are.
Bottom line is my car, my choice so I really don't give a fat Rat's arse what other's think about my rebadging.
 
You can beg to differ, that's fine. I owned an Optima for 6.5 years which I traded in for my Stinger, was totally stock.We also own a little Cerato hatch, totally stock, drive around in it quite happily complete with " KIA " badges. Just because I rebadged my Stinger due to the fact I preferred a different Kia badge and wanted it to look unique you are accusing me of being " ashamed of driving a kia ". My Stinger still has the Kia stock badge on the steering wheel if people wanted to peer in. If my family were ashamed of driving Kia's we wouldn't own one. (2 actually )
Pity you are not around when I'm praising the Kia brand to people, and advising what great cars they are.
Bottom line is my car, my choice so I really don't give a fat Rat's arse what other's think about my rebadging.

Well said. Not all of us are new to Kia. And how does this "shame" argument figure into those of us that rebadged with other Kia OEM emblems that have "KIA" written on them?

I have so much "shame" in Kia being written on my car that I removed the badge and replaced it with a badge that also says "Kia"? :thumbdown:

"Shame" makes perfect sense. :confused:

kia-motors-badge-3.webp
 
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From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
My badges are stock and my badge box has all the possible badges I could put on but I can tell you now it’s not because I’m a badge snob cause I’m not. I like the original korean badging (script on back, round on front) and that’s what I will eventually put on it when i get round to it. When someone mods a car i dont think they are worrying too much about who makes the car just that the mod looks good and believe me I have seen some wacko mods on this forum. Its the individuals taste for their car not what everyone else thinks.
If anyone asks I tell them it’s a Kia. No hiding behind a mask here.
So in order to promote civility in this thread I would suggest we get back on topic or I will lock the thread.
 
The only thing I would like to say is, I actually like the factory Kia badges on my Stinger front and back, compared to even the large Stinger script badge, that many owners are fitting to the rear hatch, and I have no intention to change them, i think the shape and look of the factory badges actually compliment the car, weird I know, I also look at it like, other drivers know it's a Kia from seeing the badges, there is the factory small Stinger badge on the rear hatch, letting others know the car's name, which I'm happy with.
So in conclusion, what I decide to do with my Stinger, is my choice and my own business, as it is for those owners whom decide to re-badge, nothing to do with being ashamed of the car being a Kia.
I can't believe this thread is 7 pages long, arguing about who's right or wrong, there is NO WRONG.
 
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The only thing I would like to say is, I actually like the factory Kia badges on my Stinger front and back, compared to even the Stinger script badge, that many owners are fitting to the rear hatch, and I have no intention to change them, i think the shape and look of the factory badges actually compliment the car, weird I know, I also look at it like, other drivers know it's a Kia from seeing the badges, but there is no Stinger on the exterior, so they might say " what is the name of your beautiful Kia ", the opposite effect of re-badging.
Don't you have the small Stinger script on the left rear side ? that's normally stock badge :confused:
 
I can't believe this thread is 7 pages long, arguing about who's right or wrong, there is NO WRONG.
Ironically the whole thing started when someone said there is no right or wrong as it’s personal preference and someone’s knickers got all knotted about that statement. So, now it will probably start all over again....it’s the circle of life or something.
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
A68AB2B7-3620-47B7-8DE5-2481AACC5C04.webp Got a car wash 2 weeks ago had an older gentleman ask me what kind of car was this. He didn’t know who made stinger. Told him it was a Kia he said no way lol
 
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View attachment 30598 Got a car wash 2 weeks ago had an older gentleman ask me what kind of car was this. He didn’t know who made stinger. Told him it was a Kia he said no way lol
Gorgeous and clean. But, can't you do something about that "crooked" plate frame? From this angle, anyway, it looks awkward as all get out.o_O
 
Gorgeous and clean. But, can't you do something about that "crooked" plate frame? From this angle, anyway, it looks awkward as all get out.o_O
It’s the license plate relocator getting another one or may just go no front plate and try my luck
 
It’s the license plate relocator getting another one or may just go no front plate and try my luck
Is not having a front plate where you live a first or secondary offense? Because in UT we have the law that two plates are required: but not having a second plate isn't a first offense, i.e. you can't be cited for only that: the cop can tack "no second plate" onto a first offense if s/he chooses to. So, if you don't get cited, you won't risk getting in trouble not having a front plate. :)
 
Gorgeous and clean. But, can't you do something about that "crooked" plate frame? From this angle, anyway, it looks awkward as all get out.o_O
Yep, I'm a bit OCD about things like that, balanced in the middle looks less awkward but I'm not trying to be picky because we don't want to start another kia war this time based on " the position of one's plate " :whistle:;)
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
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