Looking at whether to purchase a Kia Stinger

[WRXtoStingerGT]

You're good dude.....You are pretty solid with your posts so i have no reason to question your mindset amd even if i did, it's your mindset......... My post was basically stating what worked in my case but if you have trust in your own mechanic, then that is pretty good.......ACTUALLY, based upon some of the dealer horror stories, that is actually better than "pretty good".....LOL

Awww you're being way too nice!


Yeah I mean... I am hoping and praying my car is rock-solid and bulletproof for the next decade while I own it under warranty... I plan to keep it 100% stock except for possibly getting a safe and reliable catback exhaust from a reputable company...

From a legal standpoint I just don't see how having the vehicle serviced at a certified and independent shop, or having a catback, can be used to deny any future warranty claim that potentially occurs.

With that said though, I am sure there are many horror stories out there lmfao! Feel free to share some!

 

[monusa]

From a legal standpoint I just don't see how having the vehicle serviced at a certified and independent shop, or having a catback, can be used to deny any future warranty claim that potentially occurs.

Key words......"legal standpoint".....your mechanic may run rings around Kia's but corporate "backs" the Kia service depts. because,,,,,,,,, they are Kia....even if Kia has to replace an engine and your mechanic found the issue early and corrected it before the engine went......that "cost" has already been inlcuded in the price of the vehicle.......they won't justify "your" mechanic's costs....even if he is right.

 

[MerlintheMad]

From a legal standpoint I just don't see how having the vehicle serviced at a certified and independent shop, or having a catback, can be used to deny any future warranty claim that potentially occurs.

Should be good. At no time has Kia said that documented work by others is a violation of warranty. You just need the paper trail. Document eeeverything.

 

[GPhenom]

Should be good. At no time has Kia said that documented work by others is a violation of warranty. You just need the paper trail. Document eeeverything.

Documentation is wise, but the burden of proving there were some sort of faulty repairs or neglected maintenance falls on the dealer. It's against federal law (in the US) to deny warranty claims just because work was done somewhere besides the dealer.

If I recall correctly, Kia and Hyundai were part of several companies who were warned about this a few years back. So they should be on their best behavior. But if they try to unjustly deny a warranty claim, contact your state's AG.

 

[343BlueR32]

Yeah it make have some more squeaks and creaks, but it is overall a much better car.
My very good friend has an mkvii gti with an intake, IE Stage 1 tune, turbo muffler delete, and some other things. I had intakes, racechip running map 0 (economy), and girls cat back and we did a 30 roll.
Pulled him by bus lengths and kept getting further and further the faster we got.
Performance wise you will have a smile ear to ear going from just a GTI to a Stinger with a 3.3. Plus you'll have all that extra warranty!

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

Should be good. At no time has Kia said that documented work by others is a violation of warranty. You just need the paper trail. Document eeeverything.

Solid! My previous car (WRX) was normally worked on by a family friend when he was still in the states (mechanic for over a decade) and the majority of service was done in a driveway. Never had an issue with any warranty claims on that toy during the six years of ownership...

Documentation is wise, but the burden of proving there were some sort of faulty repairs or neglected maintenance falls on the dealer. It's against federal law (in the US) to deny warranty claims just because work was done somewhere besides the dealer.

If I recall correctly, Kia and Hyundai were part of several companies who were warned about this a few years back. So they should be on their best behavior. But if they try to unjustly deny a warranty claim, contact your state's AG.

Yeah that makes sense. I remember when my WRX spun a rod bearing and the short-block had to be replaced they were questioning me left and right about proper maintenance and documentation. After providing receipts, timestamps, and proving the vehicle was stock (had an SPT catback installed at the time but was done at the dealership free of charge) they fixed the engine after about five days.

 

[9116]

Well I made the mistake of taking a Ceramic silver GT1 AWD out for a test drive here in Arizona two days ago and now it is sitting in my garage! I am blown away by this car and I've owned or leased them all at 60 years old. 911's, BMW's, Vettes you name it I've had it. This car is ever bit the equal to many luxury sedans and sport backs. The fit and finish are very good. Not quite BMW level but very good. The drive and handling are brilliant. I never thought I would get a KIA but what can I say? They made a world class sports sedan/hatchback for 50k and I paid much less than that. It's unbelievable.

I've been shopping in Arizona and the dealers don't seem overly interested in moving on prices, plus most want to charge for dealer adds. Would you mind sharing which dealer met your needs?

 

[RedCal]

I've been shopping in Arizona and the dealers don't seem overly interested in moving on prices, plus most want to charge for dealer adds. Would you mind sharing which dealer met your needs?

Many people have had good luck casting a wider net to nearby states, alternatively a broker may be the best bet.

 

[monusa]

A dealer about 45 mins away from me is advertising a 2021 GT1 for $38K (after incentives) and it is in my "blue" color.......about to pull the trigger, BUT the damn Supra is calling my name in my sleep......

 

[GenesisG70]

A dealer about 45 mins away from me is advertising a 2021 GT1 for $38K (after incentives) and it is in my "blue" color.......about to pull the trigger, BUT the damn Supra is calling my name in my sleep......

The supra was a huge let down, rather have a BMW than a Supra which is BMW with Toyota skin. The Supra looks awkward but the Stinger looks sexy from any angle

 

[MerlintheMad]

The supra was a huge let down, rather have a BMW than a Supra which is BMW with Toyota skin. The Supra looks awkward but the Stinger looks sexy from any angle

I find the Supra eye-catching. I've seen two or three of them and they are good looking cars. Bold and even rather extreme, but well-proportioned. However, they are way too small to be of any practical value as a road trip car.

 

[stoopid]

I've been shopping in Arizona and the dealers don't seem overly interested in moving on prices, plus most want to charge for dealer adds. Would you mind sharing which dealer met your needs?

There's three Kia dealers in Vegas if that helps any. 2 of them had were running deals back in December when I purchased mine, so maybe worth a roadtrip to look elsewhere as someone posted. If there is or they perceive there to be a hot market locally for a model they won't be incentivized to budge on the pricing. You may have also tipped your hand in some way, if they know you want the car badly some dealers will simply not negotiate. If you have a tradein, depending on what you're trading in can also impact their ability to make a deal (if they think the tradein is going to collect dust or have to be auctioned off).

 

[monusa]

If I bite on deal, It would be an "upgrade" since I have the 2.0. That $38K is the best deal I have seen within a couple hundred miles....the crap thing is the dealer where I purchased mine (about 5 miles from my doorstep) doesn't have any Stingers and are probably waiting on the MY '22.....so am I, to be honest even though the GT won't be that much different from the performance side.

 

[Jayelle]

Looking to purchase a new 2021 Stinger GT. I want to know if there are any inherent issues that i should be aware of. I currently have a Golf GTI mk 6 which has been great except for oil consumption issues. I understand this to be an inherent issue with VW built engines. Trying to avoid this with next purchase if possible. If it was not for oil consumption i would buy another Golf. Any good or bad experiences with the stinger woukd be appreciated so i know what i am getting into.

Hi RM65, My wife has the 2020 Stinger GT. The panoramic sunroof exploded while she was driving (100kph). The vehicle was only 3mths old. It has been covered by Kia warranty. It is a great car, I would definitely by another Stinger but only the 330S. The extra weight of the sunroof assembly also makes the vehicle top heavy. Wouldn't buy GT as the thought of the sunroof exploding again is always there. Good luck.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hi RM65, My wife has the 2020 Stinger GT. The panoramic sunroof exploded while she was driving (100kph). The vehicle was only 3mths old. It has been covered by Kia warranty. It is a great car, I would definitely by another Stinger but only the 330S. The extra weight of the sunroof assembly also makes the vehicle top heavy. Wouldn't buy GT as the thought of the sunroof exploding again is always there. Good luck.

Seriously? The glass shattered? Never heard of such a thing. The "extra weight" has to have the equivalent metal deducted from the glass and frame and motors; I bet the difference isn't significant. (Welcome to the forum.)

 

[Jayelle]

Seriously? The glass shattered? Never heard of such a thing. The "extra weight" has to have the equivalent metal deducted from the glass and frame and motors; I bet the difference isn't significant. (Welcome to the forum.)

Yes seriously! Extra weight would include one very large 5mm thick curved pane of glass, steel border around glass, steel tracks for glass and blind, motor for glass and motor for blind, wiring, etc. A 330S would have steel roof with probably two or three braces from passenger to driver side. The braces would stiffen the roof structure where as the panoramic sunroof would be the brace. Any Torsional forces would be placed on the sunroof. Just my thoughts! Thanks for the welcome.

 

[RedCal]

Sunroof "explosions" are pretty common, in many cars... the new large glass panels are commonly hit by debris and because they are not laminated they shatter... I've considered adding PPF to mine as "insurance"

 

[MerlintheMad]

Sunroof "explosions" are pretty common, in many cars... the new large glass panels are commonly hit by debris and because they are not laminated they shatter... I've considered adding PPF to mine as "insurance"

Hmm. Why have I never heard of this "pretty common" occurrence until now? This one must have "ripped" at the sunroof hole; but, it had help. Hah. I bet a GT would not have torn in half.

 

[RedCal]

Exploding Sunroofs: Danger Overhead

Consumer complaints about exploding sunroofs have spiked in recent years. Consumer Reports tells you what you need to know to stay safe on the road and how to avoid large repair bills.

www.consumerreports.org

 

[MerlintheMad]

Exploding Sunroofs: Danger Overhead

Consumer complaints about exploding sunroofs have spiked in recent years. Consumer Reports tells you what you need to know to stay safe on the road and how to avoid large repair bills.

www.consumerreports.org

"While this doesn’t happen nearly as often as, say, a tire blowout on the highway, any explosion while driving can present a real safety hazard."

That's the perspective I was looking for. Blowouts are a real thing; and super rare as a percentage chance (mainly affected by common sense precautions).

Kia, 78 occurrences over a period of 12 years: how many vehicles is that? The chances of an exploding sunroof are incredibly less than the recent flap over possible fire from the MY19 Stinger wiring fubar recall, still ongoing. The Optima had 25 failures and is the closest in configuration to the Stinger sunroof; and now the chances are even more remote.

@Jayelle, your experience was literally a freak accident. Sorry, though. I'd guess that a replacement sunroof has the same chance of exploding as the first one, whatever that remote chance is: but in the case of a single vehicle, if the roof shattered because of some strange stress point, then the actual chance of another failure would be very much increased. (leading me to wonder how many of those 25 Optima sunroof explosions were the same vehicles having subsequent failures of replacement glass?)