Very frustrated with Kia

[JVsGT]

We average only 22 inches a year in Columbus and I spent the last 13 years driving a Chrysler 300C so I am used a RWD now. If I lived near Cleveland I would have to go AWD.

Here's a link to a Red GT AWD. I know you wanted RWD but type in your contact info on this Edmund's site and see what the pricing is. It might negate the cost of adding AWD ... 2018 Kia Stinger - VIN: KNAE35LC0J6020082

 

[mldavis2]

To be fair to Kia, I think @Waynerm002 has a point. This is a brand new platform. Customer desires, combinations and colors are a total unknown. They built a bunch of them in various configurations and sent them out - AWD's to Canada, GT2's to the U.S. They will adjust, but give them time to figure out what works and what doesn't. Kia has been stealing a lot of the U.S. market lately. They listen and will adjust.

 

[Kamauxx]

@Gearhead hold out for the combination you want. If you settle just to get behind the steering wheel you will always regret your choice, especially when you start seeing cars on the road that match your dream configuration.

 

[gilthanis1]

@Gearhead hold out for the combination you want. If you settle just to get behind the steering wheel you will always regret your choice, especially when you start seeing cars on the road that match your dream configuration.

Amen, 100000% agree with this statement!

If I wanted 'just a GT2 AWD' then I could've bought the car in black w/ red interior way back in January. My initial reaction was to maybe even step down to the 'Wet Concrete' GT1 RWD because it still had the performance and most of the options. I took me about 0.5 second to realize that I was dam sick and tired of settling for less than exactly what I wanted down to the dam last degree. I didn't do it with finding a house, job, or anything else so why would I do it with a $50k car purchase that I spend alot of time in.

I settled on Micro Blue, since the yellow wasn't announced then and was perfectly happy to wait 6+ months if I had to until one rolled in near my area. Then I found out they were releasing yellow and my 2.5 month search was on. Ended up driving 550 miles, but would've went to CA if that's what it took to get the exact car I wanted.

Bottom line is, hold out for exactly what you want with this kind of car purchase. On that same token, if someone 5 states away has what you want, don't be afraid to drive and get it. If you won't put in that kind of work, THEN you really don't want the car. Best of luck in your search and keep us updated on how it goes!

 

[KiaofMuncie]

From what we have seen KIA loaded up the Midwest with AWD vehicles. I assume they learned a lesson with the K900 when dealers had RWD snow machines they could not unload. I do get that the Stinger is a different animal and it is a true sports car. If I had to bet a paycheck I would think that the incentives will carry on. Kia has invested way too much in advertising alone not to have this car on the road and they want it in the hands of as many people as possible.

 

[CtheW0rld]

This is the worst car purchasing experience I have ever had. I spent the day trying to give my money to the dealers and Kia itself to no avail. All I want is a red RWD Stinger GT but as I have realized that car is not attainable. How could Kia not make that car available to purchase? I do want to thank the Kia dealers today who went above and beyond in helping find any RWD GT that met my specifications.

I am in Columbus, Ohio and a Dayton dealer informed me there are nine Stingers in the USA that match what I am looking for. After I told one of the dealers I would take black he called back and said the nearest one is in Kansas. The nearest red is in Maryland.

How could Kia screw this up so bad? The dealers I have asked about GT sales say they have sold two or three so I do not believe this is a case of high demand. And the fact I have not seen one in the wild yet seems to bear that out. Kia, I am glad to know you are doing so well that you do not need my money. The Toyota Camry with the 6 cylinder 301 HP is looking better right now.

Sorry, meant to post is Letters to Kia not in the news. Admin if you want to move this thread I am okay with that.

Have you tried searching on autotrader?

 

[AV8R]

Buy the car, not the color. If it's all about the color, you don't really want the car.

So if they only had a pink GT you would buy it?
I waited 5.5 months for my Snow White pearl, colour does matter especially when I’m paying all that cash! It reflects your personality I think.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

At this point is more than just color that is a problem. Try to find a GT without the drive wise package which what I am looking for. I refuse spend close to 2 grand for a package that comes on the Optima LX which list for 22,600.

I thought the same on the DriveWise package, but all GT's in my area had it, so it wasn't really a choice. However, I'm glad it had it, because the rear visibility in the Stinger is awful. I don't use lane assist or cruise control or any features like that, but the blind spot warning is helpful, because it lights up the mirror with a little warning when a car is approaching on either side (well before striking distance). If the rear visibility was better in the Stinger, then it wouldn't be useful, but, as it is, I think it's good thing to have on the car. As for it being standard equipment on all Stingers, yeah, it probably should be. In Australia, it is. Their safety review board gave Stingers without it crud marks, so, Kia made it standard on every Stinger there to get better safety ratings.

 

[Rango]

Bottom line. Find your Stinger and make a road trip to purchase! You get the Stinger you want, have a great vacation, and will have a great story and memories of when you purchased the 1st production Stinger! Hang in there!!! IMHO, you will regret buying any other car ... but I'm in love ... so grain of salt!!!

 

[mldavis2]

So if they only had a pink GT you would buy it?

Of course not, but there are about six colors I would live with to get the car which wouldn't be a first choice. Wife hates white, I don't want black in my part of the country in summer sitting in the sun and having to wash it every day, but if that's all I could get, the car is worth it.

 

[Gearhead]

I have an update. I placed an order in April and the estimated delivery date is June 17th. The documentation I received from the dealer has the VIN number and states the current location is at sea. I ordered exactly what I wanted. Red, RWD, and a GT because the color is important as is the engine as is the warranty as is the design and so on. For me it was a case of the whole is not greater than the sum of the parts.

There are half a dozen cars in this price range I would have fun driving but I choose the Stinger because I want to have a car that after 10 plus years of owning I still look for an excuse to drive and I cannot settle for a car in order to have a few earlier months of ownership. Thanks for all comments.

 

[Photogbill]

At this point is more than just color that is a problem. Try to find a GT without the drive wise package which what I am looking for. I refuse spend close to 2 grand for a package that comes on the Optima LX which list for 22,600.

KIA needs to re-think it's "Drive Wise Package" and do what it's competitors (Toyota or Honda ...can't remember which or if both) are smart enough to do ....that being add those extra safety/convience features at no additional cost and they might just see their sales numbers grow faster! I'd sure be closer to pulling the trigger on a Stinger Premium!

 

[Photogbill]

Of course not, but there are about six colors I would live with to get the car which wouldn't be a first choice. Wife hates white, I don't want black in my part of the country in summer sitting in the sun and having to wash it every day, but if that's all I could get, the car is worth it.

Actually the KIA "Snow White Pearl" paint is an awesome color & practically sparkles when clean! Surprisingly it doesn't show the road dirt badly ...or like what you might expect! After owning the Optima in "Snow White Pearl" it's become my #1 color preverence! MY ideal Stinger would be White with Red (two-tone) interior ...or white leather two-tone interior if KIA decides to offer it!

 

[Photogbill]

I thought the same on the DriveWise package, but all GT's in my area had it, so it wasn't really a choice. However, I'm glad it had it, because the rear visibility in the Stinger is awful. I don't use lane assist or cruise control or any features like that, but the blind spot warning is helpful, because it lights up the mirror with a little warning when a car is approaching on either side (well before striking distance). If the rear visibility was better in the Stinger, then it wouldn't be useful, but, as it is, I think it's good thing to have on the car. As for it being standard equipment on all Stingers, yeah, it probably should be. In Australia, it is. Their safety review board gave Stingers without it crud marks, so, Kia made it standard on every Stinger there to get better safety ratings.

You should give the 'Advanced Smart Cruise Control' a try. It's much better than traditional cruise control on a trip. I have it in my Optima SXL and love it!

 

[Joseph Spiegel]

My 2¢. Color is EXTREMELY important when you’re spending a good bundle on a car. It’s the first thing you see everyday with your car. It either makes you feel good or you regret it every time you see it. Get the color you want as your first and maybe second choice if you get such a deal on #2 that that makes you feel even better. As for all the safety equipment. I wanted the GT2 because of all the advanced safety equipment. If I lived in snow country AWD would have been a must. I haven’t had a RWD car since the early 90’s. Good to be home again.

 

[CoconutRob]

With all due respect, @Gearhead, buy the car, not the paint. If the car is worth your money, then color is secondary. It would be a shame to pass up a better car because you can't get one specific color or color combination. There are no "bad" colors on a Stinger -- except maybe black if you don't have the ability to wash it every day or two at home to keep is shiny.

When I ordered my GT2, I would have accepted any color if the car met my specs. I was lucky to get my first choice. But today I see a lot of cars in my area, mainly black or white, that do not sell because it is not a popular color in my area. In other areas the color choices are vastly different. Kia doesn't know that the first year out of the box when they introduce a new car. It's a game of guesswork. There were far more GT2's initially delivered than GTs or GT1's or Premiums. All Canadian cars were AWD. This is marketing guesswork and they missed you -- or you missed them. It's far too good a car to pass over because you won't accept available colors, or wait on an order. JMHO.

What? I don' think that buying a car and not caring about the color is not very popular. Why don' they just sell 1 color then?

 

[mldavis2]

Drive what you like and like what you drive. All I'm saying is that I would never refuse a car based only because I couldn't get the exact color I wanted. Your opinion may vary. Hell, it's only paint. Wrap it.

 

[DeviantDevil]

I live around Canton ohio and headed over to Boardman to get my car. I originally wanted a white awd gt2. The closest was several states away Long story short I left with the blue gt2 off the showroom floor Very happy I did.

 

[StingEm]

KIA needs to re-think it's "Drive Wise Package" and do what it's competitors (Toyota or Honda ...can't remember which or if both) are smart enough to do ....that being add those extra safety/convience features at no additional cost and they might just see their sales numbers grow faster! I'd sure be closer to pulling the trigger on a Stinger Premium!

Including them in the base model would just increase the base price of the car. It’s not like the dozen or more sensors and additional processors being used in that package are free of any cost. I’d actually bet they’re pretty expensive and that the $2k package cost is a pretty fair deal. Blind spot monitoring in particular isn’t included on any entry level base model cars that I’m aware of.

 

[stingermang]

I have an update. I placed an order in April and the estimated delivery date is June 17th. The documentation I received from the dealer has the VIN number and states the current location is at sea. I ordered exactly what I wanted. Red, RWD, and a GT because the color is important as is the engine as is the warranty as is the design and so on. For me it was a case of the whole is not greater than the sum of the parts.

There are half a dozen cars in this price range I would have fun driving but I choose the Stinger because I want to have a car that after 10 plus years of owning I still look for an excuse to drive and I cannot settle for a car in order to have a few earlier months of ownership. Thanks for all comments.

Heya. Have an update? Would love to see this post have a happy ending.