The Other Side of “It’s a KIA”?

[YoonikornFartz]

Just picked up my new ride last Thursday — ‘19 GT2 in ceramic silver. I made a post on FB that morning featuring two pics of my WRX I had for 6 years that I was trading. Some people responded and asked what I was getting; about three people thought I should get a Tesla. When I posted pictures of my new love on the thread, one person commented that I wasn’t being paid enough!

In my line of work, I think it’s expected that I’ll buy a luxury vehicle. In fact, I wanted one for awhile. I test-drove Porsche, MB, Jag, and Volvo. But the Stinger caught my eye, as it looked similar (better!) than the Audi RS5 sportback I was also looking at. To top it off, I had a colleague who drove an A7, but was totaled in a hail storm. She went out and straight up bought a Stinger, and loves it. We were talking cars one day and she mentioned it.

So I test drove a Stinger and fell in love! I’ll admit that the KIA name gave me pause — about 25 years ago, it didn’t have a good rep. But man, they’ve come a long way. Sure, I could’ve gotten a luxury vehicle, but I wanted a nice, quick ride with a lot of the bells and whistles, and I got ALL of that with the Stinger at 1/2 - 2/3 the price of any of those luxury brands I was looking at. Plus, I can have a great ride AND save for my kids’ college AND save for retirement AND out money back for a vacation home. Those luxury cars, when it comes down to it, aren’t much better than what I have, and a heck of a lot more expensive to maintain all across the board.

 

[Waynerm002]

KIA is proud of their logo but as I mentioned in other threads below, they should use the "E" logo and add KIA at the top and Engineered for Excellence on the bottom. They did it on the Stinger in Korea but they should have also done it n the K900, then on each newly produced or redesigned version and phase out the current one. I like the look of the "E", but it doesn't bother me what is on the car, this is my fourth KIA.

 

[YoonikornFartz]

Forgot to mention that my dealer said that they’ve had several luxury car trade-ins for the Stinger, including a Oanamera and a Maserati.

 

[Never thought]

Forgot to mention that my dealer said that they’ve had several luxury car trade-ins for the Stinger, including a Oanamera and a Maserati.

That’s awesome. The Stinger is definitely better than a Ghibli IMO. Just wish it sounded like the Ghibli. Lol! In fact, some reviewers commented that the Stinger is a car that Maserati should’ve made.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Forgot to mention that my dealer said that they’ve had several luxury car trade-ins for the Stinger, including a Oanamera and a Maserati.

Howdy. I am guessing that those were people who couldn't really afford to maintain/pay for those much more expensive cars. People living above their pay grade, or coming down from a higher cost of living look for ways to keep the lifestyle to which they have grown accustomed The Stinger, for a lot less money (initial and upkeep), keeps up "appearances". And they will be pleasantly surprised at how terrific the car actually is.

 

[YoonikornFartz]

Howdy. I am guessing that those were people who couldn't really afford to maintain/pay for those much more expensive cars. People living above their pay grade, or coming down from a higher cost of living look for ways to keep the lifestyle to which they have grown accustomed The Stinger, for a lot less money (initial and upkeep), keeps up "appearances". And they will be pleasantly surprised at how terrific the car actually is.

I thought of that, and who could blame them? He said the Maz was an older one that they’d bought new, but was now worth a fraction of what they’d paid.

He mentioned that there have been a lot of Charger trade-ins. I used to want a charger, but I don’t trust Daimler.

 

[eljay]

Take a look at new Mustangs. Ford has done good. No Ford logo on Mustang. Just horsies up front and GT out back.

Kia . . . could have done exactly what Ford did with Mustang and just put big Stinger badge on car. Instead Kia makes us advertise for them . . .

True, but Ford can get away with this because no one with an ounce of awareness sees a Mustang and doesn't know what that is. Even my least car-aware friends can recognize Mustangs. Kia advertises the Stinger via their KIA logo exactly because even a lot of knowledgeable people don't know what dealership to run to when they see a Stinger and have to have one. We all know that, because we've been stopped so many times by people who, even despite the generous use of KIA logos on the car, ask us "What is this?!"

The first generation Mustang had the letters F O R D stretched across the front edge of the hood. By the time I bought my '73, I don't think it said Ford anywhere on it. If the Stinger ever achieves the iconic status of the Mustang, I'm guessing that the Kia logos will disappear. In the meantime, I'm willing to advertise for them. But I'll also enjoy seeing rebadged Stingers. (But as I probably said elsewhere on this forum, I won't be rebadging unless I can get something comparable to the Karma Revero badge. )

 

[westcoastGT]

Howdy. I am guessing that those were people who couldn't really afford to maintain/pay for those much more expensive cars. People living above their pay grade, or coming down from a higher cost of living look for ways to keep the lifestyle to which they have grown accustomed The Stinger, for a lot less money (initial and upkeep), keeps up "appearances". And they will be pleasantly surprised at how terrific the car actually is.

I bought the Stinger because it was a new and exciting car that was virtually equal to BMW , Audi , MB etc in its respective category , I came from many years of top tier BMW's ( most V8s ) . I was tired of sub par reliability , and seeing the brand being converted to mainstream via line extensions into every conceivable segment ( 1, 2 ,3 ,4, 5,6,7,8 plus X drive versions ) the brand lost its lustre for me ............the Stinger was refreshing , exciting and maybe a tad "exotic" when rebadged . I dont feel cheated or missing anything , in fact , I have an almost smug sense of " I know something you dont ....." when I see the herd of German car drivers , most craning their necks to see what "badge" is on my car ...........I laugh and the value proposition is the icing on the cake ......................

 

[CaliSting]

I'm sorry but to win over status motivated drivers/buyers Kia has to pull the Kia crap plaques off the Stinger. Us early adopters who look past the Kia branding aren't the GT market in general. Dwindling Stinger sales say to me broader luxury GT market is kicking Kia to the curb as they don't want to own a Kia. Yes their loss but cold hard truth is Kia is on losing path now for second half of 2018 with declining sales. And man look at European GT market they have pretty much said FU to Kia and the Stinger.

 

[westcoastGT]

I'm sorry but to win over status motivated drivers/buyers Kia has to pull the Kia crap plaques off the Stinger. Us early adopters who look past the Kia branding aren't the GT market in general. Dwindling Stinger sales say to me broader luxury GT market is kicking Kia to the curb as they don't want to own a Kia. Yes their loss but cold hard truth is Kia is on losing path now for second half of 2018 with declining sales. And man look at European GT market they have pretty much said FU to Kia and the Stinger.

 

[jmf_tracy]

i enjoy the heck out of "it's a Kia"
I get to dismiss the fact that i spent $52K MSRP ($43K really) on a new car with "oh, it's just a Kia, i didn't spend much"
and i haven't even put on mag locks on my wheels because it's a Kia.

 

[eljay]

i enjoy the heck out of "it's a Kia"
I get to dismiss the fact that i spent $52K MSRP ($43K really) on a new car with "oh, it's just a Kia, i didn't spend much"
and i haven't even put on mag locks on my wheels because it's a Kia.

YES! This is my stance exactly! (Also no locks.) Besides, since I collect a state teachers' retirement check, I have a responsibility to the taxpapers not to look like I'm bilking them. (Especially since I'm not.)

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'm sorry but to win over status motivated drivers/buyers Kia has to pull the Kia crap plaques off the Stinger. Us early adopters who look past the Kia branding aren't the GT market in general. Dwindling Stinger sales say to me broader luxury GT market is kicking Kia to the curb as they don't want to own a Kia. Yes their loss but cold hard truth is Kia is on losing path now for second half of 2018 with declining sales. And man look at European GT market they have pretty much said FU to Kia and the Stinger.

Who gives a flying piece of crap what the snobs in Europe think? Kia sells puny amount of Stingers there for the time being; concentrating on the US. They made their 2018 sales goal. The new GT owners are carrying the badge and model; not the "converts" from the badged cars. We love the stories of those smart people, but they are a small demographic of total Stinger sales. Later, there will be more of them, because there will be enough Stingers around to make ignoring them impossible. And they won't see any sense in paying thousands more to buy and repair their European toys.

 

[nhcowboy28]

For me, I rebadged not because of Kia shame, but I want others to judge the car on its merits, not the badge. Then through the education (quality, engineering, handling, performance, warranty, etc), to see their opinion evolve.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Who gives a flying piece of crap what the snobs in Europe think? Kia sells puny amount of Stingers there for the time being; concentrating on the US. They made their 2018 sales goal. The new GT owners are carrying the badge and model; not the "converts" from the badged cars. We love the stories of those smart people, but they are a small demographic of total Stinger sales. Later, there will be more of them, because there will be enough Stingers around to make ignoring them impossible. And they won't see any sense in paying thousands more to buy and repair their European toys.

Hey Merlin, this blokes cheese has slipped off his cracker, responding to this fool just inflates his tiny, tiny mind, don’t give him the satisfaction, let his comments go through to the keeper as we say in OZ.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hey Merlin, this blokes cheese has slipped off his cracker, responding to this fool just inflates his tiny, tiny mind, don’t give him the satisfaction, let his comments go through to the keeper as we say in OZ.

Maybe I have too much time on my hands. But Cali isn't wrong about this: the snobs really will hate the KIA badges and won't "convert". The point he's making is wrong: Kia isn't trying to win over Bimmer owners, they are trying to attract drivers who like those kinds of cars but can't/won't afford them. Kia's foray into the luxury, high performing GT class isn't about the owners of cars already of this type; it is about attracting buyers who don't have this type of car already. Cali is in a rare group: he likes the car while owning expensive ones too; because the Stinger is a blast. And possibly he has too much time on his hands too.

 

[CaliSting]

I’m going to predict new bigger 2019 G20 BMW 3 series is going to kill Stinger sales in US. It’s about same size as Stinger now but uses more modern materials and is much lighter. New plug in hybrid goes 37 miles on electric and it makes well over 300 ft lbs of torque. Kia needs to offer a 4 banger with electric motor. Guess they could throw aluminum doors, hood and hatch on car to off set electric weight.

Review by snobby European. Lol.

I think many things are lining up against Stinger being a hit in US. New 3 series will take its toll too.

Kia could do some last ditch efforts like throwing V8 in Stinger or making Stinger coupe but if they offer same old 3.3 TT 4 door combo it’s going to fail with what is entering competitive landscape.

LETS BE HONEST . WE ALL WOULD RATHER HAVE A NEW BMW IN Our DRIVEWAYs WHEN THE JONES ARE OVER FOR DINNER. KIA IS FOR KIDS.

 

[Kazz]

I don't need a pretentious BMW in my driveway, let alone it's owner in my home.

 

[MerlintheMad]

LETS BE HONEST . WE ALL WOULD RATHER HAVE A NEW BMW IN Our DRIVEWAYs WHEN THE JONES ARE OVER FOR DINNER. KIA IS FOR KIDS.

Ah, no. You'll have a lot more to discuss with a Stinger in your driveway.

 

[YoonikornFartz]

LETS BE HONEST . WE ALL WOULD RATHER HAVE A NEW BMW IN Our DRIVEWAYs WHEN THE JONES ARE OVER FOR DINNER. KIA IS FOR KIDS.

Nope. Don’t want one, don’t need one, and the people who come to my house don’t give a damn what I drive and I don’t care what they drive. We are friends based on much more meaningful criteria than cars.

 

[eljay]

Oh, my, a couple of people don't have enough to do. I'm going out for the evening, and when I come back I'm going to finish the novel I've been reading, since that's all the speculative fiction I need for right now.

This doesn't mean I don't love reading you both—generally I enjoy the debate—but it's getting old, so I'll catch up with you later on the next debatable topic. (And just one more thing: I don't invite anyone to my house for dinner—nor should any of us—who would feel we were somehow infantilized by our choice of car, but I'm guessing he said that to incite responses, so I'll shut up and we'll pretend I didn't say this.)