Savage Review of the 2022 2.5T

[Maljey]

I'm actually really surprised at the torque vectoring kicking in when all the nannies are (presumably) turned off. I've been following the 2022 GT Line reviews pretty closely, and this is the first time I've seen someone mention the car cutting power when trying to get sideways with the nannies off.

With that being said, how many other RWD sedans in this price range (mid 30K to 40K) actually have an LSD? Does a Dodge Charger RT (not Scat Pack) even have a LSD? What about a base model BMW 3 series?

 

[JSolo]

Is the LSD on the 3.3 electronic or mechanical? If that latter, wonder how difficult it would be to retrofit a gtline with a 3.3 rear end?

 

[General_Vodka]

Is the LSD (Limited Slip Differential) on the 3.3 electronic or mechanical? If that latter, wonder how difficult it would be to retrofit a gtline with a 3.3 rear end?

It's a mechanical. However the tuning for the stability system is probably different

 

[GennyGuy]

The guy is a dick.......but I also thought he was fair. It's hard to find such objective material.

 

[DoctorStiches]

He is not a stinger fan to begin with. Not my favorite car review..... my stinger does all the things i would have had to spend 30k more for the same thing..... the top of my budget car that tops my list. Period.

 

[Snowwhite]

While savage does have a point, i don’t think you can get a RWD 4 cyl with a mechanical LSD in the US from any brand. I’d still take it over a Camry or Accord.

 

[andyecon]

While savage does have a point, i don’t think you can get a RWD 4 cyl with a mechanical LSD (Limited Slip Differential) in the US from any brand. I’d still take it over a Camry or Accord.

Yeah, I think the Stinger GT-line would be my choice under $35k (if you could get one for that price now). I think the GT2 is a no brained over Audi or BMW if you can get it under $50k (and was an absolute steal when you could get one around $40k a few years ago). But if I was going to pay $56k for one, I would start to consider an S5 at $65k just because the dealer/service experience is so much better, the suspension is somewhat better, and it gets better fuel economy with similar performance.

I think the problem for the GT-line is that many people could care less about RWD and so the K5 is cannibalizing it.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I think the problem for the GT-line is that many people could care less about RWD and so the K5 is cannibalizing it.

If somebody doesn't care about RWD (bias) they weren't looking at the Stinger to begin with. Any number of Kia FWD offerings, including the K5: which only offers AWD with the weaker engine (and that definitely is to keep the K5 from stealing Stinger sales).

 

[General_Vodka]

Besides the k5 is put to shame with the new GR Corolla. Actual real AWD with not a weak engine? The only reason to consider the k5 is that it has an auto trans and.... Um.. you can get a hybrid? Oh and (Father forgive me) a CVT. Honestly Toyota just raised the bar with compact 4 door cars. Well it's a 5 door but you get what I mean. I just hope the dealers don't bend everyone over.....

 

[JSolo]

Isn't the K5 a much larger vehicle than the gr crayola?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Besides the k5 is put to shame with the new GR Corolla.

What a car! Hatchback performance track car with six speed manual. 300 HP from a 1.6L 3-cylinder engine, that's just nuts. The K5 loses to a hatchback, in my humble opinion. (And fake hood vents .)

 

[General_Vodka]

Isn't the K5 a much larger vehicle than the gr crayola?

It is longer yes. Wheelbase is 8 in longer.

 

[JSolo]

I think if I was buying again I'd still go with the stinger for the practicality in a single vehicle. Unlike the the guy in my sig, I can't just print money nonstop.

 

[Floridaman]

I hate to say this but... I want a comfortable highway cruiser that has some get up and go. I owned a 2002 cadillac sts because it was exactly that. Then the car reviewers started in with "it doesn't feel sporty... the suspension is too soft... it doesn't compete with x... " and then the "V" series followed and all car (non SUV) models followed that.
Cadillac became undriveable for long distances because all of them started getting tested on the Nurburg ring. The same thing happened to every manufacturer. They bowed to the reviewers. Then the Stinger came out and it talked about the testing the body panels and electronics went through in death valley... how it travels in the desert and doesn't lose ac cooling, not the speed on intense tracks. I bought one because of this. It's called a Grand Tourer, not a "sports car". If I wanted a Miata I would have bought a miata. I live in Florida. It's all highways. This car does the job. I would consider the current lincoln continental though. The seats are amazing.

 

[CKeeler]

The 3.3 is too much power for a daily.

You’re silly...

 

[Chark]

What a car! Hatchback performance track car with six speed manual. 300 HP from a 1.6L 3-cylinder engine, that's just nuts. The K5 loses to a hatchback, in my humble opinion. (And fake hood vents .)

I think the Kona N is a better comparison to the GR Corolla, although it isn't available with AWD. I'd consider a Kona N, but the interior has a lot of features missing compared to the Stinger.

 

[MerlintheMad]

all of them started getting tested on the Nurburg ring

Lol, you say that like it's a negative thing. Kia has/had their test facility on the main straight of the Ring: the chapter in the promo book about driving and testing the Stinger at the Ring was a selling point with me. It's very cool that the Stinger was wrung out on the Green Hell.

The Stinger is a close to perfect match for me. I'm sure that Corolla would be too small, even with five doors. Fun for gadding about (I love a manual) and showing off. But road trips would not be fun anymore.

 

[Maljey]

Yeah, I think the Stinger GT-line would be my choice under $35k (if you could get one for that price now). I think the GT2 is a no brained over Audi or BMW if you can get it under $50k (and was an absolute steal when you could get one around $40k a few years ago). But if I was going to pay $56k for one, I would start to consider an S5 at $65k just because the dealer/service experience is so much better, the suspension is somewhat better, and it gets better fuel economy with similar performance.

I think the problem for the GT-line is that many people could care less about RWD and so the K5 is cannibalizing it.

I see this line of reasoning a lot and I don't get it. Paying almost 10K more for a different car is a lot. I feel like people brush off an additional 10k like its nothing. Throw that shit my way lol.

What cracks me up is the people who say 'if I'm spending 50K on a car its not gonna be a Kia. It will be an Audi/BMW.' Uuuuhhh people are paying 50K on Charger/Challenger Scat Packs, American pickup trucks, Mustang/Camaro convertibles, Hellcats, etc. I dunno when 50K became the line where you have to buy a German car. Most of the Audis/BMWs at 50K are still the 4 cylinder models, or stripper 6 cylinder models.

 

[andyecon]

I see this line of reasoning a lot and I don't get it. Paying almost 10K more for a different car is a lot. I feel like people brush off an additional 10k like its nothing. Throw that shit my way lol.

What cracks me up is the people who say 'if I'm spending 50K on a car its not gonna be a Kia. It will be an Audi/BMW.' Uuuuhhh people are paying 50K on Charger/Challenger Scat Packs, American pickup trucks, Mustang/Camaro convertibles, Hellcats, etc. I dunno when 50K became the line where you have to buy a German car. Most of the Audis/BMWs at 50K are still the 4 cylinder models, or stripper 6 cylinder models.

I mean, I never buy a car at the top of what is affordable to me. I could afford an S5 and objectively I think it is a better car than the Stinger in many ways (not all, but many). So there is some price differential for which I would take the S5 over the Stinger… but my Stingers have been more than $20k less than a comparable S5 and at that savings I’d take the Stinger every time!

 

[Floridaman]

It happened to small pickups as well. The reviewers came in making fun of the tire size, towing capacity, interior space, etc. Now, after all the complaints of how bloated and expensive pickups have become Ford gas the new "compact affordable Maverick" which is still bigger than anything made 20 years ago with $10k dealer markups and less towing capacity than my left calf. Even as a psycho Florida resident this seems like a stretch. I'll just buy an old Crown Vic, remove the back seats, weld some metal, and ghetto rig me a useful pickup. God bless welding.