Doug DeMuro's Kia Stinger GT review

[Chris]

Hi Chris, Looks like it's getting a bit chippy here. I've alway found it interesting, if not sad, online people (myself included) say things to people we would never say to people in person at a grocery store or a car dealer, etc... That said, I'd like to ask if you've test driven the Stinger? I've test driven both the 2.0L Premium, and the GT2 AWD. They are both, well, solid cars, at any price. They are just impressive rigs no matter what the badge on them. And yes, they do drive different due to engines and weight, but they are both amazingly fun in their own ways - you can test drive and judge for yourself.

I've never paid over $25,000 for a car. I was thinking I could stay to that rule with the base Stinger (I could) but then I had to go test drive the GT. Sheesh. Now I'm trying to figure out how to get into that, which means waiting more and saving more, no other way about it.

So go drive them yourself and see what you think. It's just a well balanced car, with focus and passion behind it. You can sense that in every aspect of the vehicle, and yet it checks all those crazy lame functional aspects also (roomy back seat, truck size, roomy hatch, etc... Thanks Chris.

I have test driven the gt2 AWD. It is a nice car. I have never driven an Audi r8 but I can guarantee it is a lot more car than the stinger. That was the point I was trying to make...

 

[AV8R]

Well I thought is was a good review especially the inside cabin stuff

 

[Jayce]

I'd take the R8. Could always sell it and buy something else lol.

All that aside, I really enjoyed this review. He seemed to touch on a lot of the features that no one else discussed in theirs. Pretty cool how there's an option for almost everything.

 

[Never thought]

Honestly, not a fan if this guy’s reviews. Way too subjective, i.e. cool factor, importance, etc. i am a big fan of Alex on Autos and consumer reports as well.

 

[Jayce]

Honestly, not a fan if this guy’s reviews. Way too subjective, i.e. cool factor, importance, etc. i am a big fan of Alex on Autos and consumer reports as well.

For the drive and everything, I definitely prefer Alex on Autos. I just like all the features he went over.

 

[Euljiro1ga]

I hate how he speaks. I don't know exactly what I don't like about him and his reviews. But watched one or two a while back and I never clicked on his other reviews since... until now.

 

[voon]

I quite like his reviews ... sure, they're not ENTIRELY dry spec comparisons, but they're fun to watch usually.

 

[MarkyMark]

I have test driven the gt2 AWD. It is a nice car. I have never driven an Audi r8 but I can guarantee it is a lot more car than the stinger. That was the point I was trying to make...

Indeed. The R8 is more like a vehicle touching on the bottom edge of SuperCar world... The AMG GT is in that realm also. They are in an absolutely different class.

 

[Ecsta]

I quite like his reviews ... sure, they're not ENTIRELY dry spec comparisons, but they're fun to watch usually.

I like how he shows the car quarks and what makes it unique. It's stuff like that you have to live with every day, and one of his points about being able to change what the "mode" button cycles through is HUGE in terms of daily liveability. I'm one of those people who cycles between Bluetooth and USB, and having to cycle past 4 empty results to get to where i want is annoying. Not annoying enough to make a purchase decision over, but makes you enjoy the car daily.

As to his voice being annoying, i didn't like it at first, but after watching a bunch of different youtube videos it's fine. Better than the actual kids making video reviews.

 

[MarkyMark]

I like how he shows the car quarks and what makes it unique. It's stuff like that you have to live with every day, and one of his points about being able to change what the "mode" button cycles through is HUGE in terms of daily liveability. I'm one of those people who cycles between Bluetooth and USB, and having to cycle past 4 empty results to get to where i want is annoying. Not annoying enough to make a purchase decision over, but makes you enjoy the car daily.

As to his voice being annoying, i didn't like it at first, but after watching a bunch of different youtube videos it's fine. Better than the actual kids making video reviews.

I've never watched him before, until the Stinger review. Indeed, he DOES go into areas that he finds unique. He calls them "quirky" which isn't truly the right term. Quirky "could fit" but it is more or less for things that do not fit in. What he's really pointing out are unique characteristics, such as all the deep-level custom settings that can be found in the instrument and infotainment clusters. But hey, he himself is quirky so go figure. Good review however. He even taught me things I did not know about the car, so his review added value vs "It's good but it's no BMW or Audi" and then the guy never explains exactly how that is, just that it doesn't have the right badge so it's not nearly as good. Okay, whatever. Quit wasting my time. ; )

 

[Merkur720]

his review added value vs "It's good but it's no BMW or Audi" and then the guy never explains exactly how that is, just that it doesn't have the right badge so it's not nearly as good. Okay, whatever. Quit wasting my time. ; )

Every reviewer, more or less, keeps saying that....and then after further exam those cars cost $15K - 20K more similarly equipped. So it becomes confusing to review. No the Kia doesn't have a dual clutch, but it likely will be more reliable and less jerky around town, you know -- the way most of us will have to drive it.

 

[MarkyMark]

his review added value vs "It's good but it's no BMW or Audi" and then the guy never explains exactly how that is, just that it doesn't have the right badge so it's not nearly as good. Okay, whatever. Quit wasting my time. ; )

Every reviewer, more or less, keeps saying that....and then after further exam those cars cost $15K - 20K more similarly equipped. So it becomes confusing to review. No the Kia doesn't have a dual clutch, but it likely will be more reliable and less jerky around town, you know -- the way most of us will have to drive it.

Kia figured this out really well. They don't have the internal costs like the Germans do of their country. But they are at the top in mathematics - that translates into people that can do engineering and a host of things very well. They figured out what this car needed to be. Stayed laser focus to not dumb it down for the masses (basic 3-series BMW's anyone?...), and can still make good coin while charing $10k less than the Germans.

NOTE: Yes, most BMW's sold state-side are built here, but that USD must be converted back to the mother land Euro, and that doesn't work well for them. And the German's tax structure, employee and energy costs - it does NOT stack up well against S. Korea. People that think it can't be good because it's $10k - $15k of the rivals are very programmed to brand labels, and don't get econ 101 so well. Yes, if you want a stiffer ride get an M series or a S-series Audi, and get truly irritated on road trips or in and out of traffic. Again, Kia nailed this like I can't believe... Never owned a Kia, cared less about the brand until this car came along. Amazing...

 

[bluecatsup]

Alex on Autos has had THREE reviews on the Stinger to date I believe: a lengthy first drive video that's basically the same format as his other videos, a comparison with Infiniti, and a "full" review. He's really been raving about it.

 

[stinger1168]

Great review! I really enjoyed learning about some of the "quirky" features on the car

 

[RVance]

Dellusional fanboys...

Not a fanboy- I wasn't even shopping Stingers when I set out to buy- I was looking at a new Audi S5 Sportback or Genesis G80 Sport. The insurance and service on an R8 would be prohibitive. The nearest Audi dealer (for service) is 5 hours away from me. I need a car I can load up for long trips and the occasional Costco binge. The Stinger is arguably better looking, if that matters. And...I am not about to agree with the most disagreeable and acrimonious poster I have encountered in these forums. Your assumptions about a car's value based strictly on price is immature and inaccurate.

 

[Ecsta]

If you wanna see delusional fanboys you guys should check out the VW or Subaru forums haha. Trust me.

Anyhow i agree seeing the quarks of the car is an important factor because it's stuff you have to live with every day and can make/break the car owning experience.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I have never driven an Audi r8 but I can guarantee it is a lot more car than the stinger. That was the point I was trying to make...

Seriously more money. Of course it better be "a lot more car". But I bet it isn't that much more. MSRP $52K vs $138K: does the R8 outperform, out-comfort, out-quality the Stinger by over two and a half times?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Anyhow i agree seeing the quarks of the car is an important factor because it's stuff you have to live with every day and can make/break the car owning experience.

Well dog my cats! The Stinger's secret ingredient has just slipped out. Who knew that Kia had arrived at car development on the subatomic particle plain!?

 

[MerlintheMad]

This is the comment I posted on the review:

I pulled the trigger on a Silky Silver GT1 just over three months ago. Couldn't be more satisfied. Quality and value at 8? Okay, if Doug says so it must be true, to him.

To me, having "KIA" on it makes no difference to either Quality or Value. And I would argue that the Stinger has verily stung the competition for this kind of car. I hesitate to say 10 out of 10, but I am tempted. Since I got mine for nearly $3K under MSRP, with a terrific Kia rebate (bringing it closer to $7K below MSRP, once I bought out the lease), I'd say that Value is a solid 10, at least for me.

Love this car. Road trips, here I come. And I have never been a fan of long road trips before. Now I am looking forward to them. Passing slower traffic is like possessing "super powers" (for the 3.3tt anyway).

What this review does not mention, but needs emphasis, is that the acceleration is so strong that you are easily well above 100 mph before you know it: and if you don't check your speed you will not feel like you are going as fast as you really are. The car is that stable, smooth and quiet.

Maybe Doug is just jaded from driving "too many" fast and faster cars? I am not. And I bet most people are not either. The price of this excellent car will bring more people into the fraternity of high performance, gran turismo owners. The Stinger is not marketed to convert the owners of BMW or Audi. It is intended to grab a bunch of buyers who want this kind of car but never could see themselves paying the kind of money those "badged" brands charge.

 

[RVance]

Well dog my cats! The Stinger's secret ingredient has just slipped out. Who knew that Kia had arrived at car development on the subatomic particle plain!?