Jeremy Clarkson reviews the Stinger

[LaserJet]

What the hell would the neighbours think?

I never thought about what the hell the neighbours would think about my next car, or cared about their opinion. But one day my neighbour gave me his honest unsolicited opinion.

He bought the same damn car, down to the color! Who needs JC when you can just cross the road and look at the car itself.

 

[143GovernaleBobo]

I never thought about what the hell the neighbours would think about my next car, or cared about their opinion. But one day my neighbour gave me his honest unsolicited opinion.

He bought the same damn car, down to the color! Who needs JC when you can just cross the road and look at the car itself.

View attachment 42378

That's grounds for moving to a new neighborhood. That would drive me nuts. You should release a hoard of crickets in his house.

 

[MerlintheMad]

That's grounds for moving to a new neighborhood. That would drive me nuts. You should release a hoard of crickets in his house.

Another solution is to repaint his car. In the middle of the night.

 

[kjvng]

I never thought about what the hell the neighbours would think about my next car, or cared about their opinion. But one day my neighbour gave me his honest unsolicited opinion.

He bought the same damn car, down to the color! Who needs JC when you can just cross the road and look at the car itself.

View attachment 42378

LMAOOO

 

[cncBilly]

I never thought about what the hell the neighbours would think about my next car, or cared about their opinion. But one day my neighbour gave me his honest unsolicited opinion.

He bought the same damn car, down to the color! Who needs JC when you can just cross the road and look at the car itself.

View attachment 42378

Imitation is the highest form of flattery

 

[Tenterfieldsaddler]

I agree with Jeremy Clarkson when he talks about comparing the feeling to the Europeans. I seriously looked at a new AMG A35 and a near new M3. I even looked into an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, but concluded it was way overpriced for the reliability offered and a terrible interior. Alfa must have used Ray Charles to design the interior and Stevie Wonder to approve it. (Please, no offence meant to vision impaired people.) I was very, very close to purchasing the fully optioned AMG A35 when someone asked me if I’d ever considered a Stinger. I did heaps of research, as I always do (and enjoy immensely) and couldn’t find any reason not to look at one. With the circa minimum $20K to $40K AUD difference to European cars of similar ilk, after getting into a Stinger I simply couldn’t see the advantage in a Euro badged car. I’ve driven heaps and heaps of very nice and some very fast cars. I had the same thoughts as Jeremy about Euro comparisons now that I own a Stinger with one exception. The only difference I had to him, was that I’d not put any similar Audi up for consideration as I don’t think the affordable ones have a soul. They remind me of a Toyota Camry, which are driven by people who, as JC says, have lost the will to live.

 

[RedCal]

The A35/45 AMG's were on my short list to buy but couldn't justify the cost, and the cost of maintenance terrified me

 

[Dodger Blue]

This was a fun read. Does he always take half the article to start talking about the car though?

 

[G-699467]

F

This was a fun read. Does he always take half the article to start talking about the car though?

Yes. His writing style is along a familiar pattern. I’ve read five or so of his books, which are just all car reviews he’s already done put in a book format.
I don’t car too much about his actual review, I like the use of outlandish metaphors. Like the disc brakes are larger than the rings of Saturn. Haemorrhoids would be more comfortable. And my favourites are when he takes the piss out of James May or Richard Hammond. His super exaggeration is the best part of his style IMHO.

 

[RonNSoCal]

I just read this review for the first time yesterday and agree with Clarkson's review. I was a fan of Top Gear back when it was on the air regularly and agree that Jeremy is hardly generous with his reviews, for the most part. For those of us who have owned BMWs and a MB E350, I especially appreciate that the Stinger GT2 is the real deal. While my wife struggles with the lack of brand cache, whenever I am behind the wheel I am proud to be driving this truly fine car. Jeremy is right, though, some of my neighbors do not get it, neither Kia nor the Stinger. Perhaps once this pandemic is behind us, I may take some of them for a ride.

 

[P22Tyler]

Fun(ny) how threads turn up here. This one was started on the very day that I drove away with my Stinger. Never heard of the guy. (I am not a car guy; but I gather from comments that this "critic" isn't either, he just likes or hates them, and people listen(ed).)

Jeremy Clarkson is a massive car guy. He's the kinda guy that has millions in the bank but daily drove a Golf GTI because he liked it so much and thinks it's such a great car.

As for his comment on the steering, it absolutely was not a criticism, he was complimenting it.

 

[KAS]

With the circa minimum $20K to $40K AUD difference to European cars of similar ilk, after getting into a Stinger I simply couldn’t see the advantage in a Euro badged car.

I completely agree. I took a new Mercedes C300 on an extended test-drive prior to buying my Stinger and was shocked at how unrefined it was - the engine was certainly powerful but it was so loud and unrefined that my friend who was with me at the time asked me if they'd given us a diesel to drive by mistake (and the same thought had occurred to me). Plus the ride was hard and there was a lot of tyre noise.

The Stinger is more powerful, more refined, has less road noise, has a smoother ride and the nappa leather and suede headliner are better quality than the materials used in the Mercedes. I couldn't find a single area in which the Mercedes was better than the Stinger. I would have bought the Stinger even if it was priced identically to the C300 and when I see a C-Class on the road I can't help but think that the owner got ripped off.

 

[Nasscar]

I agree with Jeremy Clarkson when he talks about comparing the feeling to the Europeans. I seriously looked at a new AMG A35 and a near new M3. I even looked into an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, but concluded it was way overpriced for the reliability offered and a terrible interior. Alfa must have used Ray Charles to design the interior and Stevie Wonder to approve it. (Please, no offence meant to vision impaired people.) I was very, very close to purchasing the fully optioned AMG A35 when someone asked me if I’d ever considered a Stinger. I did heaps of research, as I always do (and enjoy immensely) and couldn’t find any reason not to look at one. With the circa minimum $20K to $40K AUD difference to European cars of similar ilk, after getting into a Stinger I simply couldn’t see the advantage in a Euro badged car. I’ve driven heaps and heaps of very nice and some very fast cars. I had the same thoughts as Jeremy about Euro comparisons now that I own a Stinger with one exception. The only difference I had to him, was that I’d not put any similar Audi up for consideration as I don’t think the affordable ones have a soul. They remind me of a Toyota Camry, which are driven by people who, as JC says, have lost the will to live.

The AMG A45 is a very expensive hot hatch, close to 100 grand with on roads. You could almost buy a Stinger and an i30N for that money. I know what I would rather have if it was my money and it wouldn’t have a 3 pointed star.

 

[Nasscar]

I completely agree. I took a new Mercedes C300 on an extended test-drive prior to buying my Stinger and was shocked at how unrefined it was - the engine was certainly powerful but it was so loud and unrefined that my friend who was with me at the time asked me if they'd given us a diesel to drive by mistake (and the same thought had occurred to me). Plus the ride was hard and there was a lot of tyre noise.

The Stinger is more powerful, more refined, has less road noise, has a smoother ride and the nappa leather and suede headliner are better quality than the materials used in the Mercedes. I couldn't find a single area in which the Mercedes was better than the Stinger. I would have bought the Stinger even if it was priced identically to the C300 and when I see a C-Class on the road I can't help but think that the owner got ripped off.

My boss recently bought a second hand C180. I feel sorry for him as he only bought it because of a perception that Mercedes are better cars than equivalent Japanese or Korean cars. This is just not the case anymore. When I got my a Stinger I got shit from workmates as to why I would spend that much on a Kia or why I would buy a Kia at all. The general public really know nothing about cars and this is why they buy these ‘premium’ European cars on this deluded existing perception of quality. The only premium they are getting is in the price.

 

[westcoastGT]

My boss recently bought a second hand C180. I feel sorry for him as he only bought it because of a perception that Mercedes are better cars than equivalent Japanese or Korean cars. This is just not the case anymore. When I got my a Stinger I got shit from workmates as to why I would spend that much on a Kia or why I would buy a Kia at all. The general public really know nothing about cars and this is why they buy these ‘premium’ European cars on this deluded existing perception of quality. The only premium they are getting is in the price.

As a recovered BMW brandaholic I can attest to the feeling of satisfaction knowing we have such a great car for the $$ and I honestly feel smarter than all the German drivers with mid and low level models with 4 bangers that are only getting their jollies from the badge on the hood ...........................if they only knew , take them for a test drive and the smart ones will get it , the rest are just sheep .......................

 

[KAS]

The general public really know nothing about cars and this is why they buy these ‘premium’ European cars on this deluded existing perception of quality. The only premium they are getting is in the price.

I agree with you - the general public know nothing about cars. Example - sometimes on the TV a news presenter will say "a luxury vehicle was stolen and taken for a joyride" and then they show a photo of the car and it's a 13 year old base model BMW 318i. You gotta laugh!

As a recovered BMW brandaholic I can attest to the feeling of satisfaction knowing we have such a great car for the $$ and I honestly feel smarter than all the German drivers with mid and low level models with 4 bangers

No *real* car enthusiast would ever choose a 2.0-litre BMW, Audi or M-B over a V6 Stinger.

 

[MerlintheMad]

No *real* car enthusiast would ever choose a 2.0-litre BMW, Audi or M-B over a V6 Stinger.

I can't give you a "Winner" trophy icon. Sal's upgrade did away with those.

 

[westcoastGT]

I agree with you - the general public know nothing about cars. Example - sometimes on the TV a news presenter will say "a luxury vehicle was stolen and taken for a joyride" and then they show a photo of the car and it's a 13 year old base model BMW 318i. You gotta laugh!



No *real* car enthusiast would ever choose a 2.0-litre BMW, Audi or M-B over a V6 Stinger.

the numbers would suggest not .............................the seduction runs deep , until it doesn't , you either get frustrated with quality / reliability issues or you grow up , or both,like me !

 

[Revvdmedia]

the numbers would suggest not .............................the seduction runs deep , until it doesn't , you either get frustrated with quality / reliability issues or you grow up , or both,like me !

I looked at a S3 and a Golf R while getting out of the Stinger and just couldn't handle downgrading to 4 banger and retaining the 4 doors (plus losing a sunroof on the Golf R).

A 2 liter V6 or I6 with good power could be interesting though, especially if the engine had a real high rpm and a screaming tone.

 

[RedCal]

New 4 series... That is one hideous front grill (that's the base trim)


M440