If the Stinger didn't exist, what would you have bought?

[CKeeler]

2018 Mustang GT

 

[LegacyGTv2.0]

BMW 3series GT or a Model S.

 

[jazzdabb]

I like how there are so many different vehicles people list as their second choice. It shows how versatile the Stinger is that people can go in so many different directions. I'd probably have held out for the new Acrua TLX Type S as someone else mentioned earlier. My 2005 TL was one of my favorites.

 

[NismoDPB]

Most likely an S5 sportback. Or a golf R

 

[MisterMac]

I was shopping for a hellcat Charger when the Stinger GT2 stole my heart

 

[NIU_Huskies]

I wanted a fast car with power and acceleration. I was set on getting a new Honda Civic Type R. I was waiting on the 2020 to come out but October, November, and December rolled around and Honda still hadn't released yet alone announced it. So I started looking at a 2019 Genesis G70. Test drove one at the nearest Genesis dealer but they would barely play ball during negotiations. The 2020s were already on their lot with a bunch of 2019s still remaining. I thought they would have worked harder to make a sale. So I started looking at the 2019 Stinger after reading on here about all the great lease to buyout deals and then test drove a GT2.

 

[Sam Ian]

Cross shopped the A5 Sportback and 430Xdrive.

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

Charger Scat Pack Widebody

 

[stingerbeagle]

BMW X3 with the 6 cylinder engine, which is what I had before. I gambled on the Stinger to see if I could cheat luxury pricing. The jury's still out to be honest.

 

[2020KGT2]

So many cars that I checked out before this.
2019 - 2020 Audi A6/A7
2019-2020 Q50 Red sport.
BMW M340i
BMW 440I GC
Lexus GS350 F Sport.

I was leaning towards the A7 and M340i. Maybe the next refresh for one of those models ill buy once im done with this car.

 

[Mesmorino]

I like how there are so many different vehicles people list as their second choice. It shows how versatile the Stinger is that people can go in so many different directions. I'd probably have held out for the new Acrua TLX Type S as someone else mentioned earlier. My 2005 TL was one of my favorites.

I didn't know about the Acura TLX until way after I had already decided on the Stinger, but after checking it out it definitely isn't for me. The interior just isn't me at all, and that is a good point about the range of interests the Stinger captures, from the daily driver people like me, to the sports saloon people to the luxury people.

It's not the fastest, and it's not most luxurious, and it's not the most practical, but it does everything brilliantly enough that it's not (too much of) a compromise in any particular area. It's just great.

 

[Mesmorino]

BMW X3 with the 6 cylinder engine, which is what I had before. I gambled on the Stinger to see if I could cheat luxury pricing. The jury's still out to be honest.

In which particular area, on luxury?

 

[stingerbeagle]

In which particular area, on luxury?

I don't really know how to describe it, but there are a bunch of little things that make the BMW feel more refined. This includes the behavior over bumps at low speed, fewer squeaks/rattles, better infotainment and stereo (subjective, just imho), the sturdier feel of the leather, and so forth. I wouldn't use the word "luxury" as the bucket for my dissatisfaction. The F25 generation of X3 that I had was not very luxurious. I'd probably just say that the Stinger doesn't feel as "solid" and "refined".

 

[Mesmorino]

I don't really know how to describe it, but there are a bunch of little things that make the BMW feel more refined. This includes the behavior over bumps at low speed, fewer squeaks/rattles, better infotainment and stereo (subjective, just imho), the sturdier feel of the leather, and so forth. I wouldn't use the word "luxury" as the bucket for my dissatisfaction. The F25 generation of X3 that I had was not very luxurious. I'd probably just say that the Stinger doesn't feel as "solid" and "refined".

I know exactly what you mean about refinement, and it's in a whole bunch of little things.

• The way the cruise control surges forward way past the set point, eases off and then does it again, yoyoing until I h.
• The way the heated seats don't come on with remote start, but the heated steering wheel does.
• The way when you floor it (especially in eco mode) the car takes just a second too long to think about it before responding (although this may not be unique to Kia).
• The way the interior rattles when I turn the music up on a bassy audio track.
• The way the auto climate control never quite gets it right unless the external temperature is at an extreme.
• The way the 3 zone climate control isn't really 3 zone, if you have rear the rear temp set to heat, it will divert all the heat from the front to the rear, even in winter, unless I massively turn up the heat. It took me a while to figure this out, until I randomly put my hand back there and was surprised.

So yeah, while I do think the German manufacturers overcharge for what you get, they do have quality on their side. I feel like the Stinger blew everyone away specifically because it came from Kia, if it had been an effort by BMW (especially at their prices), it would have been a C- effort. But for Kia, It's more of an A-.

 

[5tinger]

I know exactly what you mean about refinement, and it's in a whole bunch of little things.

• The way the cruise control surges forward way past the set point, eases off and then does it again, yoyoing until I h.
• The way the heated seats don't come on with remote start, but the heated steering wheel does.
• The way when you floor it (especially in eco mode) the car takes just a second too long to think about it before responding (although this may not be unique to Kia).
• The way the interior rattles when I turn the music up on a bassy audio track.
• The way the auto climate control never quite gets it right unless the external temperature is at an extreme.
• The way the 3 zone climate control isn't really 3 zone, if you have rear the rear temp set to heat, it will divert all the heat from the front to the rear, even in winter, unless I massively turn up the heat. It took me a while to figure this out, until I randomly put my hand back there and was surprised.

So yeah, while I do think the German manufacturers overcharge for what you get, they do have quality on their side. I feel like the Stinger blew everyone away specifically because it came from Kia, if it had been an effort by BMW (especially at their prices), it would have been a C- effort. But for Kia, It's more of an A-.

I've driven the C250 Mercedes and i couldn't believe how unrefined and tinny that entire drivetrain felt.
The German 3 are way overrated.
Besides, why would you floor it in eco mode? Isn't the whole point of eco mode to save fuel?

Despite the C250 being more expensive than the Stinger GT and vastly inferior in performance, dynamics & spec - I struggled to find anything about it in which the quality was better than Stinger? In fact if anything, the Stinger had an overall a more solid and substantial feel to it in almost every aspect.

 

[P22Tyler]

I know exactly what you mean about refinement, and it's in a whole bunch of little things.

• The way the cruise control surges forward way past the set point, eases off and then does it again, yoyoing until I h.
• The way the heated seats don't come on with remote start, but the heated steering wheel does.
• The way when you floor it (especially in eco mode) the car takes just a second too long to think about it before responding (although this may not be unique to Kia).
• The way the interior rattles when I turn the music up on a bassy audio track.
• The way the auto climate control never quite gets it right unless the external temperature is at an extreme.
• The way the 3 zone climate control isn't really 3 zone, if you have rear the rear temp set to heat, it will divert all the heat from the front to the rear, even in winter, unless I massively turn up the heat. It took me a while to figure this out, until I randomly put my hand back there and was surprised.

So yeah, while I do think the German manufacturers overcharge for what you get, they do have quality on their side. I feel like the Stinger blew everyone away specifically because it came from Kia, if it had been an effort by BMW (especially at their prices), it would have been a C- effort. But for Kia, It's more of an A-.

You're going to get a delay in any vehicle in eco mode, that's the point, it's not supposed to be sharp and quick. I don't really notice a bad delay in the modes I usually drive in besides ECO.

I also don't have the issue you have with your cruise control, so I don't think that's necessarily an issue with the Stinger overall, maybe just yours. I would ask the dealer about that.

They definitely need to improve on their features regarding remote start. In the US we don't even get it through the mobile app.

As far as luxury goes I'm sure it doesn't match the Germans, but that's fine because it's not as expensive and it is still a very nice car imo.

 

[Mesmorino]

You're going to get delay in any vehicle in eco mode, that's the point, it's not supposed to be sharp and quick. I don't really notice a bad delay in the modes I usually drive in.

I also don't have the issue you have with your cruise control, so I don't think that's necessarily an issue with the Stinger overall, maybe just yours.

They definitely need to improve on their features regarding remote start. In the US we don't even get it through the mobile app.

As far as luxury goes I'm sure it doesn't match the Germans, but that's fine because it's not as expensive and it is still a very nice car imo.

There are multiple threads in this forum about it the cruise control, maybe it's just your Stinger that's fine.

And I know about turbo lag, the point was that it is especially laggy in anything but sport mode.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not ragging on the Stinger at all, I am 100% happy with it even with all its flaws. No car is perfect after all, but some are better than others at certain things.

 

[P22Tyler]

There are multiple threads in this forum about it the cruise control, maybe it's just your Stinger that's fine.

And I know about turbo lag, the point was that it is especially laggy in anything but sport mode.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not ragging on the Stinger at all, I am 100% happy with it even with all its flaws. No car is perfect after all, but some are better than others at certain things.

Well I still don't think other people having the same issue as you means it's a Stinger issue. There are other people like me that don't have this issue. It appears to just be inconsistencies across the production which is a shame and mark against them for sure.

I don't think any issue you experience with lag is going to be turbo related, more throttle mapping than anything. But in eco mode you're not going to get around it, it's mapped that way purposely and would feel that way in pretty much any car in eco mode. I can only go off my personal experience, I've never had an issue with turbo lag in the Stinger. The throttle response can be a little slow if you're used to something lightning quick, but coming from other turbo charged, throttle by wire cars it certainly doesn't feel noticeable to me. In sport mode I don't have any issues at all. Do you have an AWD or RWD model?

I didn't mean for my post to come across as hostile so I apologize if it did. I was just trying to mention some of my experiences as compared to yours.

 

[Nasscar]

I've driven the C250 Mercedes and i couldn't believe how unrefined and tinny that entire drivetrain felt.
The German 3 are way overrated.
Besides, why would you floor it in eco mode? Isn't the whole point of eco mode to save fuel?

Despite the C250 being more expensive than the Stinger GT and vastly inferior in performance, dynamics & spec - I struggled to find anything about it in which the quality was better than Stinger? In fact if anything, the Stinger had an overall a more solid and substantial feel to it in almost every aspect.

And the Stinger would have the Merc beat hands down for reliability as well.

 

[Nasscar]

I don't seem to have the problem with the cruise control either. I always use the active cruise. Also, if you wanted instant throttle response, wouldn't you be in sport mode anyway. Mine is always in custom with the drive train set on sport. I find comfort mode a lot slower in response but that is the idea of different driver settings, surely. I never use eco mode so wouldn't be able to comment on that. Sounds like some of these posts should be in the thread '5 things I hate about the Stinger.'