Kia Stinger Declining Sales

[OnTheRoad]

I dealt with multiple dealerships when I was trying to purchase the vehicle and it wasn't very pleasant.
Also, when I dealt with Kia corporate to deal with my warranty issues, it wasn't very pleasant neither.

In my opinion, Kia isn't ready to sell luxury vehicles. this may be true for all non-luxury OEMs trying to sell their luxury vehicles.
I never thought about this until I drove in for my first warranty repair; same technicians that will work on Kia Rio will work on my Kia Stinger.
and of course, my 2 recent trips to dealership for service left scratches on my trims each time.

However, I still love my Stinger, I think this is the best looking car at this price range and you get the most out of it with the money you spend on it.

That about sums it up for me too. I was terrified before my first oil change and repair at the dealer. Free WIFI signs with no working internet, $120 quote for an oil change, TONS of misinformation about the car. I could go on. Really not a single point of contact inspired confidence that I can think of. On the other hand, my real life experience has been pretty good. I qualified for new rotors and brakes, a TCU reset fixed my jerky downshifting, and oil changes were $20 or $30 with my own oil. All in all a great value proposition.

 

[Moses]

While the average person may know little about these specialty cars, if you read the car magazines you will be very familiar with virtually all of them.

But that's my point, the enthusiast market is such a tiny percentage it's unreal. I think I read somewhere a long time ago that the enthusiast market is less than 1% of the actual buying market. And let's be honest, most enthusiasts aren't looking at Kia.

 

[eflyguy]

my RL experience has been pretty good

What's an RL? An accura?

 

[OnTheRoad]

What's an RL? An accura?

Sorry no, just meant Real Life. Like the difference between how I perceived the experience might go, versus how things have actually gone so far. Maybe a lot of the polish you see with some brands in the US is mostly fluff. Just a theory.

 

[stasek]

Kia updated the Cadenza for 2020, and it's been a really poor seller (1577 in entire 2019). I guess time will tell...

 

[RonNSoCal]

But that's my point, the enthusiast market is such a tiny percentage it's unreal. I think I read somewhere a long time ago that the enthusiast market is less than 1% of the actual buying market. And let's be honest, most enthusiasts aren't looking at Kia.

Well, maybe not, but you and I were. Most car makers use their performance cars as halo vehicles to sell their line vehicles. Like the old adage, "win the race on Sunday and fill the showroom with customers on Monday." It is psychological, the buyers do not buy the halo cars but bask in the glory generated by them. Kia would benefit from using some of this in their ad campaigns.

 

[NismoDPB]

Auto sales as an industry underperformed in Q4. Add to that the state of sedan sales in general and I dont think the stinger is any worse off. Than most cars. That said it doesnt bode well for a long life so hopefully something miraculous happens.

 

[Flameangel]

Maybe they should do another hamster commercial but throw a Stinger in there, that would at least make people ask some questions.

What is the Hamster Commercial ? we didn't have that commercial over here but neither do we have Hamsters.
And what do Hamsters and Kia have in common ? I don't understand the connection ?

 

[NismoDPB]

What is the Hamster Commercial ? we didn't have that commercial over here but neither do we have Hamsters.
And what do Hamsters and Kia have in common ? I don't understand the connection ?

It was the add campaign for the kia soul. You cant see the connection with your eyes.....you just have to feel it.

 

[Moses]

What is the Hamster Commercial ? we didn't have that commercial over here but neither do we have Hamsters.
And what do Hamsters and Kia have in common ? I don't understand the connection ?

 

[Dodger Blue]

People hate on the hamsters but the ads worked.

I'd be happy to see any commercials at all about the Stinger. People wonder why it isn't selling, well here it is like 3 years after it hit the market and people still don't know what the hell it even is. The only time I've seen it in an ad was for Christmas sales and it was in the shot for like 3 seconds.

 

[eljay]

Always an extra, never a star:

 

[scar_007]

It seems like there are so many things that they could do with only a little engineering investment: (speaking from owning a GT 3.3 Canadian spec)

1. Add a security system similar to the Tesla. Since the car already has 360 cameras, Lane Keeper assistant, and some form of digital storage (the radio buffers SirusXM stations). It would seem that with a little software coding they could use those resources to make a kick-butt security system. Even upsell higher definition cameras for those that want them. Like any other software, they only have to spend the development costs once and then sit back and let the money roll in with each upsell. I for one would be willing to pay $500 for it.
2. Anyone who watched the Superbowl probably saw the Hyundai Sonata "Smart Park" commercial. Again, that might be able to capitalize on the 360 cameras, Lane Keeper assistant and the adaptive cruise control. (Just not sure on reverse), but with those three things it knows it surroundings, steers, regulates speed, so it should primarily be software related. As before, I'd be willing to spend $500 for it, though I do like to park my car away from others and hug the wall, so it would be very cool if you could set the distance from the passenger side mirror to whatever is on that side (like set it to 6 inches, so that when you put it in the garage your car is strategically placed).
3. As mentioned by others, make the remote start app etc available in the U.S. I love it on my Canadian spec.

I'm sure the list could go on, but what would make this even better. Think of the marketing and free publicity they could get if they did all this for free!! Yes I understand they would have to bear the burden of development costs. But what if they put on the Hyundai "Smart Park" commercial and at the end said.. "and for you loyal existing Hyundai or Kia owners. For eligible models we will upgrade yours for free!!" That shows they care even after the sale driving brand loyalty.

Just my $0.02

 

[MerlintheMad]

People hate on the hamsters but the ads worked.

I'd be happy to see any commercials at all about the Stinger. People wonder why it isn't selling, well here it is like 3 years after it hit the market and people still don't know what the hell it even is. The only time I've seen it in an ad was for Christmas sales and it was in the shot for like 3 seconds.

This is true. Both of the Lyft drivers I rode with two days ago had never heard of a "Kia Stinger" before I told them.

 

[Mike_TX]

I gotta admit I'm a little uneasy about the resale/trade-in value. Sometimes a car with low numbers gains in value due to scarcity, but usually - at least in the short run - it takes a hit.

Makes me think I should maybe bail out of my lease early ...

 

[stasek]

I gotta admit I'm a little uneasy about the resale/trade-in value. Sometimes a car with low numbers gains in value due to scarcity, but usually - at least in the short run - it takes a hit.

Makes me think I should maybe bail out of my lease early ...

The RVs are pretty mediocre (~50% at 24 months). Depending on how far into the lease you are (and what kind of price you got when you started the lease), you might take an even bigger beating. I would probably stick it out...

 

[clemson85]

I recently sold my 2009 Pontiac G8GT and it was a 2 year run vehicle 2008 through 2009. It held its value well and Hagerty even gave it a Good Buy for future collectors. I drove my car for 10.5 years and sold it for 50% of what I bought it for. The Stinger could be similar if they discontinue it which I hope they do not do. I have only owned my Stinger for one week but it is exceeding my expectations at this point.

 

[TwiceStung]

People hate on the hamsters but the ads worked.

I'd be happy to see any commercials at all about the Stinger. People wonder why it isn't selling, well here it is like 3 years after it hit the market and people still don't know what the hell it even is. The only time I've seen it in an ad was for Christmas sales and it was in the shot for like 3 seconds.

Could not agree more. I think at this point they could even use the hamsters again to get SOME message across, versus a VACUUM. Maybe a bigger beast that fits the car, like a grizzly bear and family. Seen plenty of dogs driving Subaru’s and similar. Least on TV. Can’t seem to teach my Dobie to do that.

Does Kia/Hyundai/Genesis not have a marketing and sales group at the corporate level?? If they do, and any are reading this, y’all ought to be Fired!

 

[westcoastGT]

The automotive landscape has changed so much in 3 years , the surge in consumer demand for crossovers/SUVs is massive , and the decline in sedans is just as dramatic , Hyundai and Kia did not have strong positions in this exploding segment , thus the recent intros' of the Telly and Seltos and more coming . They would be wasting their $$ investing against the Stinger , enjoy it for what is as long as you own it ..................

 

[TwiceStung]

The automotive landscape has changed so much in 3 years , the surge in consumer demand for crossovers/SUVs is massive , and the decline in sedans is just as dramatic , Hyundai and Kia did not have strong positions in this exploding segment , thus the recent intros' of the Telly and Seltos and more coming . They would be wasting their $$ investing against the Stinger , enjoy it for what is as long as you own it ..................

I cannot disagree. But I think all (most) on this forum would agree that the stinger platform is generations ahead of what most people still think of when they hear “Kia”. Just a shame that Kia doesn’t want more people to know this.