2018 Kia Stinger long-term wrap-up: It's so hard to say goodbye

Hear some interesting info in the video, fuel economy is pretty good at 24 mpg (18-24 depending on who is flogging it), the brake vibration issue on their car worked itself out after some time, AWD system works well in inclement weather, with proper tires. The car still gets lots of attention from onlookers, matter of fact, a guy came up to me yesterday to say he likes the car and plans on getting one. Mine has been so good I'm not finding much to talk about.
 
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I say superb! I've had my GT1 just over a year and am totally satisfied with it. Nothing has failed or required extra trips to the service department. Performance is everything I want or need. On A/S tires during the winter (Salt Lake City) I found AWD more than adequate to handle even brutal snowy days: just find the skid point and drive within it. AWD and the weight of this car make it a "plow": it just plows its way through snow and slush (up to the depth of the undercarriage, mind you; keep out of the deeper stuff!).

With the arrival of spring, or rather the end of winter driving conditions (which are only periodic around here anyway, other than temperatures; most of the time, 99% of the time, our roads are clear and dry), I put the summer Michelin tires back on. I did a road trip do TX and back. Wonderful way to celebrate the return of performance driving weather!

I'm tempted to look into a trade for a SEMA Orange Limited. I love the car that much, that the only thing making me reluctant to toy with the idea is pushing my luck. Not all Stingers are close to perfect as mine is. There are a few with paint adhesion issues; noises coming from the sunroof or hatch; and the various other minor bugs that can plague individual vehicles. I'd really kick myself if I got a sweet deal on an Orange Limited and got some of these issues. I'd rather keep what I have, as close to perfection as a manmade machine can be.
 
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From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
I've only got a bit over 2 months on mine, 1,500 miles. Like others, my ISG has a mind of its own. The green icon in the HUD comes and goes, completely independent of the green icon in the cluster display, which is completely independent of the green icon in the tach??? The dealer says Kia is aware of it and will likely have a software update to fix the problem - someday, but in the meantime he can't do anything other than leave the ticket open to remind them to keep checking on it.

On a slightly disappointing note - when I went to install a dash cam and radar detector, to get power from the overhead console wiring: First, remove the cover off the windshield rain sensor module to access the wiring. WTF!! There is no cover. As soon as you move the mirror out of the way, you are looking at the wires. THE COVER IS MISSING. Call the dealer and talked to the service manager. Don't have any on hand of course. Have to bring the car in (60 mi trip) to verify the missing cover? Made an appointment for 2 days in the future with the service manager.

Appeared for my appointment 30 minutes early (never want to be late to those). What appointment? No appointment for me. The service writer would try to work me in - what's wrong? ISG has a mind of its own and works around 30% of the time. The icons come and go as you are driving down the highway and the off light, HUD icon, LCD icon and tach icon have nothing to do with each other, maybe all of them on, maybe none of them and maybe in any combination. Okay, we'll take a look at it, anything else?

Yes the cover on my windshield rain sensor module is missing. Hmmm. . . . Can you show me the cover? Duh! I could if it wasn't missing. The most I can show you is the hole where it should be. Okay. He looked at the hole and agreed the cover is missing. They will order it and it will take 2 business days. Since its a 60 mile trip, he will look at the possibility of mailing it to me. That was 2 weeks ago.

On the good side, I used 91 octane for the first 500 miles and then switched to 87 and the car loves it. I spend more time in city driving, but some in heavy traffic highway, (75 mph multi-lane). The total average so far shows 28.5 mpg, which I'm really pleased with.
 
Actually the ISG is quite logical if you consider all the input parameters that must be met in order for it to work. Spend some quality time reading the owners manual for a list of requirements.
 
I wonder how that came to be? Just brake harder and burn the deposits off.
I have had my stinger for just over a year and the brakes had the same issue.
I had a good look and found Pad Mark's on the inner surface of the rotor. It is the material in the pad when being shipped and sitting on a lot ect caused a rust mark on the rotor which takes a long time to wear away.
 
Actually the ISG (Idle Stop and Go) is quite logical if you consider all the input parameters that must be met in order for it to work. Spend some quality time reading the owners manual for a list of requirements.
Already familiar with all the published requirements for the ISG to work. I went through the Owner's manual cover to cover right after I got the car. And then went through the Service Manual cover to cover as soon as I acquired a copy. From your suggestion, I assume you have also?
 
Well I have experienced that many times over the years as a Audi tech.
It was so bad we had to replace the rotors on quite a few new units.
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
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