Kia Stinger - Future classic car?

[BBbusta]

I usually get a lot of comments/interest about what kind of car I have (rebadged "E" logo everywhere) and I had a guy walk up to me and mention I should hold onto it for as long as possible as it may be a sought after car in the near future.

Got me thinking about it and I was curious what your guys' thoughts on this especially since we know 2023 is the last year of production and Hyundai/Kia is pivoting to all crossover & electric, so this is pretty much the last gas performance sedan made under that brand.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

I don't see anything significant that can make stinger to become classic. Most people still don't know about this car, even after it was discontinued. It doesn't hang on the walls as a poster. Doesn't appear in any hit movies. There's no cool story behind it. And that's not why I have it. I just like driving it. The only one I can see being somewhat more valuable from all other stingers, would be gts one. Still far, far away from classic.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I actually think it has a huge likelihood of becoming a classic and sought after car. Only the twin turbo models will be potentially collectable. I think 4 big factors will play into its collectability.

KIA is becoming a major player that nobody expected and this car helped show what KIA could do.

Twin turbo V6 with easy tuning capabilities.

Classic lines that will age very very well. The car is a looker and not many are on the road so numbers are limited.

One of the last petrol performance oriented cars before everything becomes electric.

I REALLY wish I ordered a Tribute, I decided to hang onto my 2018 GT but I love the car so much I kinda wish I got the last model year before it was too late. Nothing else even remotely competes with it here in Canada for the price.

 

[BBbusta]

^^ I agree

Especially on the point that Kia is becoming a huge sought after brand in the USA at least.

We are in an era of car companies pivoting to all electric so these cars will have 2010's nostalgia written all over them.

 

[RedCal]

Ultimately it will be today's kids that will create (or not) the classic car market of the future... and sadly I don't know any "kids" save one that are interested in cars at all... Hopefully this changes, there are a ton of cars that are very desirable now that I NEVER would have guessed would be.. so I'm a terrible barometer lol

 

[ScottM]

I don't think it has future "classic car" written on it. I absolutely loved my 2018 GT2 and now my 2023 GT2, but I just don't see the masses 10+ years from now looking back at the Stinger and saying I gotta have that classic! BUT... I'll hang onto mine for a while and see if I'm wrong.

 

[ElChanclo]

The badge definitely stifles its classic/collector potential, but given how rare, practical, and striking it looks, it'll definitely have a strong niche following, especially as the rumble of a performance gas engine becomes more rare.

 

[Snicklefritz]

you guys are writing off the ice because of ev. this is not happening anytime soon. ev sales are tanking, trucks are an unmitigated failure, traveling in any ev is asking for a disaster and hugely stressful. charging stations can multiply like mushrooms and that doesn't change what I've said. fast chargers have lines waiting like as not. weather extremes make boasted cruise ranges tank. the 'green' motivation behind pushing ev is bogus they are as filthy to build and pose more recycling problems than ice vehicles. I could go on.

the stinger will be a car long sought after. whether or not that means a collectible I'd say not or only in a minor way. but we're all just guessing.

 

[7Andrei7]

The only way it can become a classic is if Kia becomes a relevant player in motorsport. At the moment, Kia means nothing to petrol heads and car lovers.

 

[Transmetal]

Kia has to be relevant or at least as relevant as say Toyota or Honda has become. Nobody.........or not many people take Kia/Hyundai seriously. Most think they're a joke and that's despite having amazing cars like the Stinger/G70, Telluride etc. The Kia boys stealing them didn't help from a PR perspective, nor do recalls for engine fires.

I'm sure Honda/Toyota was viewed as a laughing stock back in the day, now look at em. If Kia/Hyundai can rise to that level or near that level then I'm sure people will begin to appreciate our cars more. That's if gas is still relatively affordable to the masses by then. Kinda hard to appreciate a car/driving if gas is 20 bucks a gallon in the future.

 

[7Andrei7]

Well, Toyota and Mazda won LeMans (multiple times) and Honda made engines that won multiple F1 championships. To me, that is why they are regarded as serious brands.
Hyundai is doing well in the WRC, a way in which the Subaru Impreza WRX became a thing in Europe and is now a classic. They won 2 championships with the i20 but somehow did not capitalize on it like Toyota who came out with the GR Yaris, an instant classic.

 

[LordKOTL]

I don't see anything significant that can make stinger to become classic. Most people still don't know about this car, even after it was discontinued. It doesn't hang on the walls as a poster. Doesn't appear in any hit movies. There's no cool story behind it. And that's not why I have it. I just like driving it. The only one I can see being somewhat more valuable from all other stingers, would be gts one. Still far, far away from classic.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing, but I never saw a GNX poster as a kid (at least personally), nor did it seem in the media's eye at the time, but I'd consider it a classic.

I'm not sure if the stinger will be one or not. Maybe one of those that, in retrospect, it gets some classic cred for what it was in spite of being overlooked now, but who knows.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

I'm not necessarily disagreeing, but I never saw a GNX poster as a kid (at least personally), nor did it seem in the media's eye at the time, but I'd consider it a classic.

I'm not sure if the stinger will be one or not. Maybe one of those that, in retrospect, it gets some classic cred for what it was in spite of being overlooked now, but who knows.

Who knows. Poster thing is just one of the many possible signs. I just dont see it. But I also didn't see anything special in 97 land cruiser when I sold it for $4k. And, since I don't plan on selling stinger any time soon, I will gladly be wrong on this one as well, and trade old classic stinger for boring brand new car.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

The only way it can become a classic is if Kia becomes a relevant player in motorsport. At the moment, Kia means nothing to petrol heads and car lovers.

Kia is not, but Hyundai is making a name for itself in the TCR class of endurance racing with the N cars!

 

[Guzman]

As much as we love our cars and know they are great, I think it might be with rose coloured glasses that we see it as a future classic.
In some ways I wonder if it becomes remembered in the same way as something like the Dodge Stealth. That car had impressive stats (320 hp and all wheel drive in the early to mid 90s) but never really caught on and was also a one and done. It is far less of a classic than the equivalent era Supra, 300ZX, or RX-7.

 

[BBbusta]

As much as we love our cars and know they are great, I think it might be with rose coloured glasses that we see it as a future classic.
In some ways I wonder if it becomes remembered in the same way as something like the Dodge Stealth. That car had impressive stats (320 hp and all wheel drive in the early to mid 90s) but never really caught on and was also a one and done. It is far less of a classic than the equivalent era Supra, 300ZX, or RX-7.

Hindsight is always 2020 and as another poster put it the car isn't in pop culture (well besides there superbowl debut commercial lol) so as we currently stand its not really in the popular zeitgeist.

My personal theory is if Kia/Hyundai position themselves masterfully with the EV wave and emerge a major force in both performance and aesthetics I would expect major interest in what "led" them to that point, with the stinger being the unsung hero.

 

[LordKOTL]

As much as we love our cars and know they are great, I think it might be with rose coloured glasses that we see it as a future classic.
In some ways I wonder if it becomes remembered in the same way as something like the Dodge Stealth. That car had impressive stats (320 hp and all wheel drive in the early to mid 90s) but never really caught on and was also a one and done. It is far less of a classic than the equivalent era Supra, 300ZX, or RX-7.

To be fair, I would have much rather owned a Dodge Stealth/Mitsu 3000GT (or whatever it was known as in your market) than a Supra or an RX-7. In fact, it was those two cars (Stealth/3000GT) that made me really appreciate the twin-turbo V6's in my adolescence...hence taking a serious look at, and eventually buying, my Stinger over something like the Charger.

Come to think of it...the Stinger might end up as less of a traditional classic and more of a car that has a dedicated cult following to it.

Again, just spitballing. Not like I'm planning on selling her anytime soon, she just turned 9000.

 

[ElChanclo]

There are no collectible KIAs... Yet.

 

[Buzzman12]

There are no collectible KIAs... Yet.

I'm old enough to remember people saying that about Honda's and Toyotas back in the 70's.
I bought a brand new Toyota Celica ST back in 1973. Loved that car.
Sold it when I started having kids. It's one of my biggest regrets. I still search now and then to see if there's one for sale.
Who knew that some of these little Japanese boxes would become collector items.
Point is, unless it's some kind of limited production super car, you just never know what will become a classic and what won't.
I'll be keeping my 2023 Stinger until I pass on. Then my kids can decide if it's worth keeping or not.

 

[Guzman]

To be fair, I would have much rather owned a Dodge Stealth/Mitsu 3000GT (or whatever it was known as in your market) than a Supra or an RX-7. In fact, it was those two cars (Stealth/3000GT) that made me really appreciate the twin-turbo V6's in my adolescence...hence taking a serious look at, and eventually buying, my Stinger over something like the Charger.

Come to think of it...the Stinger might end up as less of a traditional classic and more of a car that has a dedicated cult following to it.

Again, just spitballing. Not like I'm planning on selling her anytime soon, she just turned 9000.

I loved the Dodge Stealth when it came out. I too was not a huge MK4 Supra fan (unlike so many). Loved the 300ZX twin turbo, but always had a soft spot for the Stealth. Great looking and great performance.