Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.

[KiaofMuncie]

My team and myself have been working diligently the last few days to secure a few Stingers for forum members. As they say, if it was easy everyone would be doing it. It's really come to my attention that some of our KIA dealers are just plain terrible. I feel your frustration and I hear you! I've called multiple stores and have heard.... Don't know the inventory, let me check, we can't trade because the guy who trades is not here, oh he's off today, we will call you back, we promise to text you. The list goes on. No follow up, nothing. It's pretty unreal. It's also very embarrassing as a dealer. We have the car but we can't sell it. We can't connect with our customers. We love selling Rio's! That could be very true and the reason why a Rio salesman can't talk about a high performance machine. I've herad multiple times that a Stinger customer walks onto the lot and its "What can you afford?" or "What do you want your payment to be?" Really? How disrespectful can we be? Lets face it, we are enthusiasts. You wouldn't be on this forum if you were not. You guys deserve more. I apologize for the overall experience I know we have some great dealers as well. Hopefully more good than bad. I'll do whatever i can for this group. The priority is more Stingers on the road and an overall kick ass experience top to bottom. Hopefully someone hears us and takes note. We can't continue down this unknown yellow brick road.

 

[MicroBlue]

Great to see a dealer being proactive. I hope you are able to deliver to the members and can help folks find the cars they want.

 

[mldavis2]

As with most news, the bad dealers get the publicity. I was fortunate because my dealer's General Manager (which whom I worked on my car) came from their Mercedes Benz "roof" and had a different attitude and knowledge of up-scale buyers than the Soul people looking for the cheapest car on earth. It will take time, but it will change.

I also wonder if some of the unethical scams reported here (nitrogen in the tires for $140) are an attempt to hide some extra profit lost to those buyers who buy the bottom of the line cars with little or no profit margin for the dealer. Clearly Rio and Soul buyers are not "performance oriented" car people, they are bargain transportation buyers, and most of them can be pretty clueless.

 

[Leftlane]

My team and myself have been working diligently the last few days to secure a few Stingers for forum members. As they say, if it was easy everyone would be doing it. It's really come to my attention that some of our KIA dealers are just plain terrible. I feel your frustration and I hear you! I've called multiple stores and have heard.... Don't know the inventory, let me check, we can't trade because the guy who trades is not here, oh he's off today, we will call you back, we promise to text you. The list goes on. No follow up, nothing. It's pretty unreal. It's also very embarrassing as a dealer. We have the car but we can't sell it. We can't connect with our customers. We love selling Rio's! That could be very true and the reason why a Rio salesman can't talk about a high performance machine. I've herad multiple times that a Stinger customer walks onto the lot and its "What can you afford?" or "What do you want your payment to be?" Really? How disrespectful can we be? Lets face it, we are enthusiasts. You wouldn't be on this forum if you were not. You guys deserve more. I apologize for the overall experience I know we have some great dealers as well. Hopefully more good than bad. I'll do whatever i can for this group. The priority is more Stingers on the road and an overall kick ass experience top to bottom. Hopefully someone hears us and takes note. We can't continue down this unknown yellow brick road.

Wish I was closer to your location to stop by (in Florida), not real impressed with Kia dealers in Orlando area.
Maybe you could address a couple of my concerns:
What is your take on some of the common issues experienced by the current Stinger Owners.... like:
* Paint issues and chips
* Nappa Leather wearing and scuffs
* Warped brake rotors

Also wondering if it may be better to wait for a 2019 (GT2) to see if they will work out these problems?
Do you know when the 2019 will hit the US east coast?
Not interested in the Atlantica unless it comes in a ceramic Gray or Snow White. Thanks in advance!

 

[KiaofMuncie]

I have not heard about availability for 2019. The above issues are certainly a concern. We are essentially testing lab rats. However it does not necessarily mean what we find are issues per kia. The bolsters stick out. You have to be careful entering and exiting the vehicle. They are supportive though and in my opinion that is what matters. Kia even says... Cocoon like interior. They didnt lie. Zymol makes some awesome leather conditioners and cleaners. When applied it always felt like moving on glass upon entry or exit. Might help.

 

[Waynerm002]

I've hear folks say KIA's paint is thin and I haven't experienced it until this 3rd Optima hybrid. That being said, I got pelted with rocks from a truck and got some chips. I haven't warped the brakes on my Optima and I have driven that car quite hard and had some hard stops from high speed. I've had my Volvo rotors warped from lower speed stops, I would think the Stinger have better rotors but if you drive hard, that would be one thing to replace first.

KIA might bring the brown interior to the other cars as well as the options of we bug them enough.

 

[ajmitchell77]

I am also at a loss for words with the terrible customer service I have experienced. KIA of Muncie has been top notch and I will gladly give them my business if and when the time comes for me to purchase the right stinger, I will do everything thing I can to give them my business.

After a week of searching and hours spent by KiaofMuncie calling about the Stinger I want, no calls were being returned. I also attempted to call about the availability of the vehicle myself and was promised a call back with in minutes. After no response I called the internet sales number where I was greeted by a barrage of shady sales tactics and meaningless conversations about monthly payments and the like. The representative on the phone was not able to discuss price and suggested I needed to come in. I would get a better price if I was in person. I was rather confused as I called an internet sales representative... I guess my idea of internet sales is different than this Kia dealers.

After way too many games I was able to confirm the car was available and finally got a sales manager to call me back after I said I was willing to drive if we could work out a deal. Way too many hours later that night we had a negotiated price. I asked for the offer to be presented in a couple different ways, .9 finance and 36 mo lease. I was sent screenshots of numbers that to me did not reflect what I fad in mind. This was at 830 at night and I was done for the day.

It is possible I just don't understand the screenshots so I asked for an email with the details the following morning. If everything made sense, I was driving three hours to get my Stinger. I was promised the details would be sent soon. By 330 in the afternoon, with no details despite multiple requests, I gave up. I informed the dealer that it was now almost too late in the day for me to make the drive. Magically the details arrived in email... Still didn't make sense to me and something is being hidden for a 38000 MSRP car with 6500 lease cash, excellent credit, to be quoted at well over 500 per month. Perhaps I have unreal expectations, and my calculator is broken... Could be...

Needless to say I am letting my perfect Stinger go due to a bad experience with a dealer.

Sorry to KiaofMuncie. I know that you worked hard for me and at the end of the day a Stinger is still on a lot and not on the road. Although it is one of only a few stingers with the color combos I want, I am letting it go. I will not let terrible customer service win.

Thanks for letting me vent!!

 

[Leftlane]

I am also at a loss for words with the terrible customer service I have experienced. KIA of Muncie has been top notch and I will gladly give them my business if and when the time comes for me to purchase the right stinger, I will do everything thing I can to give them my business.

After a week of searching and hours spent by KiaofMuncie calling about the Stinger I want, no calls were being returned. I also attempted to call about the availability of the vehicle myself and was promised a call back with in minutes. After no response I called the internet sales number where I was greeted by a barrage of shady sales tactics and meaningless conversations about monthly payments and the like. The representative on the phone was not able to discuss price and suggested I needed to come in. I would get a better price if I was in person. I was rather confused as I called an internet sales representative... I guess my idea of internet sales is different than this Kia dealers.

After way too many games I was able to confirm the car was available and finally got a sales manager to call me back after I said I was willing to drive if we could work out a deal. Way too many hours later that night we had a negotiated price. I asked for the offer to be presented in a couple different ways, .9 finance and 36 mo lease. I was sent screenshots of numbers that to me did not reflect what I fad in mind. This was at 830 at night and I was done for the day.

It is possible I just don't understand the screenshots so I asked for an email with the details the following morning. If everything made sense, I was driving three hours to get my Stinger. I was promised the details would be sent soon. By 330 in the afternoon, with no details despite multiple requests, I gave up. I informed the dealer that it was now almost too late in the day for me to make the drive. Magically the details arrived in email... Still didn't make sense to me and something is being hidden for a 38000 MSRP car with 6500 lease cash, excellent credit, to be quoted at well over 500 per month. Perhaps I have unreal expectations, and my calculator is broken... Could be...

Needless to say I am letting my perfect Stinger go due to a bad experience with a dealer.

Sorry to KiaofMuncie. I know that you worked hard for me and at the end of the day a Stinger is still on a lot and not on the road. Although it is one of only a few stingers with the color combos I want, I am letting it go. I will not let terrible customer service win.

Thanks for letting me vent!!

That is why I left that business years ago. It doesn’t have to be that way!
Buying a car should be an exciting experience (2nd biggest investment for most people), and most dealers ruin it with a shady process.
I know a lot of people are buying Stingers on a Lease, either because of the current lease cash incentives or just to keep payments affordable.
But from a negotiation standpoint, your best bet is to get your own financing in advance. Know your trade value before going in (better yet, sell your trade before). Then all your negotiations with a shady dealership will be for a straight cash price only and you have the upper hand. Dealers love when you lease or finance with them and discuss desired payments. This allows them to use voodoo math and hide fees and other charges.

 

[KiaofMuncie]

@ajmitchell77 The search continues! Not giving up on our end.

 

[ajmitchell77]

Leftlane you are very right. In this case I have no trade in and the deal was going to be simple. I only asked to see the lease option (which I have never done due to it not being a wise financial decision for me) because there is a large rebate and might make better financial sense in this case. I would plan to buy the lease out. Either way your point is well taken. Talking leases opens the door for some not so desirable negotiations.