2018 Kia Stinger GT - My Long-Term Ownership Updates

[Socalstinga]

That’s great! It’s probably Eibachs springs are not meant for lowering the ride but to provide owner a firmer ride and better handling. Hence, I would pick up a set of Eibachs for the ride handling while sacrificing the aesthetics. It’s a trade-off.... tough decision!

Yes the eibachs are more for slight performance upgrades rather than true performance or stance. However, on this car, the eibachs lower it just enough that performance and stance is much better than stock. Put a set of 19s or 20 in aftermarket wheels and the eibachs are just right. I’ve always had coil over setups but these eibachs have satisfied me enough. It could be that I’m getting older tho, who knows lol

 

[taichizi]

Yes the eibachs are more for slight performance upgrades rather than true performance or stance. However, on this car, the eibachs lower it just enough that performance and stance is much better than stock. Put a set of 19s or 20 in aftermarket wheels and the eibachs are just right. I’ve always had coil over setups but these eibachs have satisfied me enough. It could be that I’m getting older tho, who knows lol

Looks like Eibachs and 20 inches is the way to go for me!!!

 

[corradoMR2]

Just an update I should have including in my first post, a picture of the wear on the seats. It's small but not a good sign of the color rubbing off so soon which only means it will get worse over time.

Anyone else showing signs of color rubbing off? Red, black, or gray seats?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Just an update I should have including in my first post, a picture of the wear on the seats. It's small but not a good sign of the color rubbing off so soon which only means it will get worse over time.

Anyone else showing signs of color rubbing off? Red, black, or gray seats?

That looks more like an acute snag, not just color wearing away.

 

[Silverghost]

Great summary with which I concur.
My only "con" is the fuel tank size. I wish it were a bit larger. The 60 litres doesn't quite suit me.
It is a small price to pay for the enjoyment that I still get every time I drive this car. Still not seeing any on the roads in Toronto during my daily commute east to west and back again.
Starting to look for a winter rim/tire package now....

 

[taichizi]

Just an update I should have including in my first post, a picture of the wear on the seats. It's small but not a good sign of the color rubbing off so soon which only means it will get worse over time.

Anyone else showing signs of color rubbing off? Red, black, or gray seats?

Oh Gosh.... looks like a quality problem with the leather in Stinger...

 

[Zotto]

I currently have just under 18000 km all highway, and it is a November 2017 build as well. I use the auto seat retract on power down.. the ware does bother me though..

Great write up. Seams we both had the same issues so far besides the LED light. Mine just wasn't hooked up at the factory and was a quick fix at the dealership.

 

[westcoastGT]

I currently have just under 18000 km all highway, and it is a November 2017 build as well. I use the auto seat retract on power down.. the ware does bother me though..

Great write up. Seams we both had the same issues so far besides the LED light. Mine just wasn't hooked up at the factory and was a quick fix at the dealership.
View attachment 11482

looks exactly like mine as well !

 

[gen8888]

Thank you for the very detailed and informative review. Your point on the rear visibility continuing to be a challenge. Would that still deter you from keeping the car long term or is it just a slight nuisance?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Oh Gosh.... looks like a quality problem with the leather in Stinger...

Oh golly, looks like some drivers get in and out of their cars "weird". Since almost every car is not showing premature rubbing on the bolsters, it has to be individuals entering and exiting their cars that is causing the rapid wear. The Stinger Forum member from Oz who had his seats replaced was showing rapid wear in exactly the same place within two weeks of getting his new upholstery. What is the common factor here? Kia's "crappy leather/leatherette", or the individual driver?

 

[westcoastGT]

Oh golly, looks like some drivers get in and out of their cars "weird". Since almost every car is not showing premature rubbing on the bolsters, it has to be individuals entering and exiting their cars that is causing the rapid wear. The Stinger Forum member from Oz who had his seats replaced was showing rapid wear in exactly the same place within two weeks of getting his new upholstery. What is the common factor here? Kia's "crappy leather/leatherette", or the individual driver?

Gotto go with the leather and design being the issue(s) , been getting into cars a long time without issues ................

 

[Manchuz]

Noticed on your dash you have an estimated 508 km range on a full tank (probably more when filled up at the gas station). I have never peaked passed 500 km. The most I get on a fresh fill up is 496 km. I'm really curious to know people's full distance range over reported fuel economy (as I don't fully trust what the electronics tell me). I can get about 425 km with an estimated 10 km left from 20%/80% hwy/city driving, on custom mode. That's probably the best I've achieved so far.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Ye

Gotto go with the leather and design being the issue(s) , been getting into cars a long time without issues ................

Yes, but not into Stingers. No two designs are exactly alike dimensionally. So this time, this one, is kicking your trash. I do know that changing the way we get in and out of a vehicle changes the way the upholstery wears. My Voyager had a small rip on the outside of the driver's seat when I bought it (van was eleven years old when I took over). The previous owner was the original purchaser, so the wear was all his doing. After the rip got a bit bigger, I sewed it up, and became very conscious about not sliding in and out. The repair lasted another c. twelve years, and only in the last little while did another rip start above it due to simple age (24 years long enough for fabric seats? and they still looked good everywhere else). If I had thoughtlessly slid in and out like "normal" people the upholstery would have failed years ago.

If what you assert were true, we'd be seeing upholstery failure in lots of Stingers instead of the very rare random case.

 

[westcoastGT]

Ye

Yes, but not into Stingers. No two designs are exactly alike dimensionally. So this time, this one, is kicking your trash. I do know that changing the way we get in and out of a vehicle changes the way the upholstery wears. My Voyager had a small rip on the outside of the driver's seat when I bought it (van was eleven years old when I took over). The previous owner was the original purchaser, so the wear was all his doing. After the rip got a bit bigger, I sewed it up, and became very conscious about not sliding in and out. The repair lasted another c. twelve years, and only in the last little while did another rip start above it due to simple age (24 years long enough for fabric seats? and they still looked good everywhere else). If I had thoughtlessly slid in and out like "normal" people the upholstery would have failed years ago.

If what you assert were true, we'd be seeing upholstery failure in lots of Stingers instead of the very rare random case.

Form must follow function , in this case the design combined with the material selected is faulty .................full stop .

 

[MerlintheMad]

Form must follow function , in this case the design combined with the material selected is faulty .................full stop .

Most of us are not seeing a form following function issue. Kia's test dummy sure didn't. He got stuffed into and out of that seat 20K times to make sure his form and the seat's function worked together. But a very few of us do have a problem with getting into and out of this car without rubbing the bolsters the wrong way.

 

[westcoastGT]

Most of us are not seeing a form following function issue. Kia's test dummy sure didn't. He got stuffed into and out of that seat 20K times to make sure his form and the seat's function worked together. But a very few of us do have a problem with getting into and out of this car without rubbing the bolsters the wrong way.

...............a bolster must be designed for all types of entry , if this was a rare Porsche , or Lambo etc I might be allowed to believe there was a special way to enter the car .................BUT , we are talking Kia , everymans car ..................not buying it ................sorry bud .

 

[Zotto]

Noticed on your dash you have an estimated 508 km range on a full tank (probably more when filled up at the gas station). I have never peaked passed 500 km. The most I get on a fresh fill up is 496 km. I'm really curious to know people's full distance range over reported fuel economy (as I don't fully trust what the electronics tell me). I can get about 425 km with an estimated 10 km left from 20%/80% hwy/city driving, on custom mode. That's probably the best I've achieved so far.

So, I currently have just under 18000 km and I would like to say that I have found a new love with the ECO mode. 98% of my driving is highway. I fill up and the most I have put in the tank is 64L.. Yes 64L.. The neck is very long in our cars and the best mileage per tank according to my Fuelio app is 696 KM - l/100km = 8.65. My average is now around 620 to 630KM in ECO.

Before in Comfort Mode I was lucky to get around 520 KM a tank.

I have pushed the car 20 to 30 KM passed empty more than a few times with out running out of gas yet.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I have pushed the car 20 to 30 KM passed empty more than a few times with out running out of gas yet.

Don't say "yet". Say never. Because according to the manual bad things can happen if you run the car totally out of gas.

 

[Zotto]

I am not to concerned. The point is you can get more out if a tank of gas if you wish.

I have just tested it to the limit in ECO mode for others to gauge for themselves.

 

[Mike_TX]

I am not to concerned. The point is you can get more out if a tank of gas if you wish.

I have just tested it to the limit in ECO mode for others to gauge for themselves.

Wow.