The Kia Stinger - A Daily Driver's perspective. Ask me questions!

[Windmill]

Nice color choice, Windmill.
How is the paint quality/finish?

Silky and shiny. No flaws with the finish. I found out that it is the same sort of silver used on Sportages and Sorentos ( HEY!)

 

[Windmill]

May I recommend that you answer the thread questions with YouTube videos, if making them isn't too much trouble? Personally, I'm curious about:

• seat comfort
• quality of materials, in terms of luxury and perceived durability. E.g. does the leather seem to be pretty thick and durable?
• how good or bad is the ride over sharper bumps

Since I have talked about seat comfort, I will answer the second and third question.

Car honestly feels more lux than a base 5 series. Leather seems very durable.

I have went over huge speed bumps ~40mph. Rather comfortable on comfort mode, not as on eco but just a slight difference. Btw car beeps every time the road is rough or there is a bump.

 

[Windmill]

Welcome! I have several questions regarding infotainment and car handling.

1. Do you have really bad traffic jams when average speed goes as low as 12-14 km/h? If so what is fuel consumption looks like? Does eco mode help a lot in terms of fuel economy? I know it's strange to expect some fuel economy from tt 3.3l engine but still
2. Can you share your expression about seats? How many degrees of freedom have lumbar support? (ie can you move it only back and forth or there is the option to lift it up and move it down as well?)
3. Do you know who the map provider is? HERE? Is it possible to get updates online or visiting a dealer is a must? I've heard KIA doesn't bother itself when it comes down to frequent maps updates. Guys from the UK have to use dated maps because KIA feeding them with bullshit http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...spite-promising-fix-problem-earlier-year.html
4. Did you test android auto? Does voice recognition work well? Does infotainment system works smooth?
5. And the last but not the least. Have you had a chance to drive German rivals? If so how is your Stinger compared to them?

1. As I have answered, 3.3TT's not exactly traffic friendly. Eco mode significantly helps, Eco with cruise will double the MPG.
2. Seats are fully electronic, moves in all directions - up and down also. It even has the feature to control the length of the seat according to the driver's thighs.
3. I will try to find out as I go back to the states.
4. I had tested both Apple Carplay & Android auto. Korean market car seems to fluently understand Korean. I use my satnav with voice.
5. I have dailied an E300 for a while & have also driven a 428is. Compared to both, the Stinger is as comfortable (if not more in some cases) as the 300 and sportier ( to my preference ) than a 428is.

 

[Windmill]

I'd really like to know what the stitching on the steering wheel is like.

Very neat, thick stitches. Wheel Has a good grip!

 

[Windmill]

Few other Q&A's, that do not overlap with my forum answers. This includes a few bloopers and a troll.

 

[Windmill]

1) what other cars have you owned previously?

In my past days I have owned & driven; A Daewoo Prince, FD RX7, Merc E300, a late 80's very odd Zagato yet in restoration (still ongoing)

Driven for a short time: Audi A8, Porsche 911 997 C4S, Chrysler 300, Chevy Cruze, Chevy Malibu, BMW 428iS, Hyundai Sonata YF, Hyundai Avante (Elantra) MD, Merc ML, Renault-Samsung SM6 (Talisman), etc and the many more old and new Korean cars I have forgotten.

 

[delirium]

1. As I have answered, 3.3TT's not exactly traffic friendly.
2. Seats are fully electronic, moves in all directions - up and down also.
3. I will try to find out as I go back to the states.

Woah thanks for the answers.
1. But can you give me estimate figures?
2. Have you had a chance to take your stinger on a long ride like 300km +? Is it comfortable enough or does it feels more like racing seats?
3. Looking forward.

 

[davebo]

Thanks for the thorough Stinger answers and the bonus info about hemorrhoids. This helps a lot. Now I need to call my dealership AND my doctor.

 

[Windmill]

Woah thanks for the answers.
1. But can you give me estimate figures?
2. Have you had a chance to take your stinger on a long ride like 300km +? Is it comfortable enough or does it feels more like racing seats?
3. Looking forward.

1. I think I have mentioned somewhere that In-city & in traffic it gets around ~15L/100km, whilst on highways it can reach up to ~7L/100km.
These figures were given to me by the car's trip calculator whilst driving in 1L/( )km form, so I have converted it into ( )L/100km. The numbers are very accurate.

2. Yes. The seats do have better hold in corners than normal Kia seats, but it's just another normal (comfy) Kia seat. This is a good road trip car.

 

[Rennokas]

How would you rate the cabin noise level lets say compared to BMW 5th series ?

 

[Rennokas]

Also is there any rattle in the cabin ?
Any noticeable wind noise during drive ?

 

[Jumpy]

Nice! Why do some photos show a flat-bottom steering wheel and others show a fully-round one?

 

[STINGER]

Have you raced the car or do you know anybody with a stinger GT that has?

I would just like to know how it is against other cars in real life.

 

[jasheppard84]

Nice! Can you take a photo of the steering wheel? I've seen some photos showing a flat-bottom wheel and others showing a fully-round one.

Hey Jumpy,

OP looks like he has the flat-bottomed wheel. My current speculation is that AWD/heated steering wheel get the round wheel, RWD/non-heated steering wheel get the flattened one.

 

[Windmill]

Also is there any rattle in the cabin ?
Any noticeable wind noise during drive ?

Less to none when it comes to noise or rattle. Performs on a similar level as a 5 series with NVH. Significantly better than a diesel BMW 5.

 

[Windmill]

Have you raced the car or do you know anybody with a stinger GT that has?

I would just like to know how it is against other cars in real life.

I have, against a stock E92 M3 and a C63, in a tunnel and on a highway.
Close tie between the C, won against the M3. Driver skill must vary results.
I am going to race it against a brand new Ghibli soon. I will keep everyone updated on the results.

 

[Terry S]

Hey Jumpy,

OP looks like he has the flat-bottomed wheel. My current speculation is that AWD/heated steering wheel get the round wheel, RWD/non-heated steering wheel get the flattened one.

Or maybe the other way around. I'd expect the higher-spec version to have the flat-bottom wheel and the lower ones to have the more pedestrian round one. Just a thought...

 

[davebo]

Yeah but we can see he has the flat bottom wheel in the photo, and he said he has the RWD version. That makes sense to me since I would expect the flat bottom to be on the sportier version, but honestly I'm surprised they don't all have the flat bottom, unless they can't make the flat version heated for some reason?

Edit: My bad, BahamaTodd said he had a rwd, so I assume he knows that from seeing him on the oppo site?

 

[Jumpy]

Yeah but we can see he has the flat bottom wheel in the photo, and he said he has the RWD version. That makes sense to me since I would expect the flat bottom to be on the sportier version, but honestly I'm surprised they don't all have the flat bottom, unless they can't make the flat version heated for some reason?

Edit: My bad, BahamaTodd said he had a rwd, so I assume he knows that from seeing him on the oppo site?

Maybe only the GT trim gets a flat-bottom wheel, regardless of drivetrain.

 

[STINGER]

I have, against a stock E92 M3 and a C63, in a tunnel and on a highway.
Close tie between the C, won against the M3. Driver skill must vary results.
I am going to race it against a brand new Ghibli soon. I will keep everyone updated on the results.

Sweet!, more details. Was the M3 a MT or DCT? roll race or from a stop? until what speed?

Keep it coming and try to get the next races on camera!