Thinking about buying a used GT, pointers? What to look out for?

[Thrashmetl]

So I live in the Los Angeles area and it appears I currently have a few options as far as used Stinger GT’s go. All of the ones available are from large dealerships. We bought my wife’s new Honda Pilot a couple years ago and used the Costco program so it was relatively painless. I have never bought a used car before so I really don’t know how this is going to go. Using brokers for new cars seems to be pretty painless, but I don’t know if brokers also work with used cars too to try to negotiate a better deal. Anybody know?

So assuming I’m going to walk in there and do this myself, can anyone give me some type of idea as to how this is going to go? Preferably I’d like to pick up a Kia Certified Stinger, but there may not be any available that I want so I may have to go to a non-Kia dealership. What should I expect and what should I look out for? Any common issues to check for?

 

[Ozstung]

My 2c worth if you are choosing a yellow stinger find out if it had the respray. This colour was recalled. Some owners got a "buy back" deal others got a partial respray. If so ask the question and get the proof in writing.

You won't go wrong with a Stinger and the folks here have all the information you'll need including local knowledge.

Issues: hatch rattle - covered and fixed with your first service ( down hear it is you don't have to ask)
Squeaking door/window: yet to be properly addressed, if you identify this choose another vehicle.
Good driving.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Steering wheel
Giggly pedal
3.3TT PISSED OFF BADGER
Seats smell like

In all seriousness.

Look carefully at the paint (rock chips on facia / hood, peeling under headlights, chips to hatch edges... look near license plate frame (ideally have them take off... check for a crack). Paint issues aren’t restricted to yellow (although the yellow paint issues are epic).

But if those check out, mechanically see if you get any vibrations when braking (even lightly).

Outside of that, the stinger is a damn fine vehicle.

You love it (only buy red. There is no other color that matters).

 

[Ozstung]

Yes in all seriousness when polished up the hi chroma red has few equals. Imho.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Test drive. Listen for anything that isn't completely smooth, stable and quiet. This car shouldn't shimmy, shilly-shally squeak, rattle, pop, creak or vibrate, at, all. As mentioned, braking should be smooth with the OEM set up, factory or Brembo. Engine should idle so quietly that you have to push the gas to hear anything; it shouldn't make any vibration when idling. Make sure the paint is good; you've already been given the heads up on what to look for. But notice the difference between road debris nicks and the evidence of paint/adhesion failure (don't panic if you see a headlight assembly flake under the forward lower corner, or rarely, corners, i.e. that is a rare thing; mostly, oddly, it is the driver's side only: anyway, unless there are other evidences of paint issues, a headlight assembly paint chip or flake isn't going to get worse; you can probably touch it up and never notice it again). The tires should be good; if worn on a staggered 19" set up, the rears will wear much quicker than the fronts; and possibly in the middle before the outer tread. As long as everything is running smoothly, with no pull on the steering wheel, you won't see uneven tread wear from tire to tire. Buy low miles. And get a good discount off MSRP; at least minimum ten percent.

 

[CaliSting]

I’d go for new 19 GT. Stingers are so heavily discounted that the are still a great deal compared to used 18 Stinger. Reason I’d recommend this would be some of earlier builds in 18 appear to have typical first year quality issues. Paint issues, rattling sun roofs, other little but annoying quality bugs.

Would you be getting RWD or AWD? which GT model?

 

[Thrashmetl]

I’d go for new 19 GT. Stingers are so heavily discounted that the are still a great deal compared to used 18 Stinger. Reason I’d recommend this would be some of earlier builds in 18 appear to have typical first year quality issues. Paint issues, rattling sun roofs, other little but annoying quality bugs.

Would you be getting RWD or AWD? which GT model?

It’s looking like a GT1 RWD at this point. If I could comfortably afford a new one I would.