Stinger GT+ Nitpicks and Rants

[ShannonC]

Bingo, you have to hold the switch down for it to open, I think its just a safety thing so you don't accidently hit thr switch and it opens.

And also to close if you are in the car.

 

[Stinger Girl]

Then they broke it (disconnected a wire most likely). Can't imagine how as there are no wires on that control panel that relate to remote start.

Who knows, whatever it is it's a warranty item.

But then again this dealer's service dept is questionable and I probably will not go back there again. Below is the paint scraped off the passenger rail when they gave it back to me. The service manager said he didn't know how that could have happened, everything was done on the driver's side to install the remote start. I asked him are you sure about that? He responded oh yes, they wouldn't have even opened the passenger side door. I told him I had only had the car a week and I never opened that door and I definitely would have seen that at delivery. He said ok we will fix it as a "courtesy". I said ok, and in the back of mind thinking you are so fired.

 

[StingMe]

• Auto Start Stop feature - Needs a permanent toggle off and on. Why does the parking sensors have this feature but not the next button over huh KIA? Maybe you can just turn this off when we are in Sport or Custom automatically and keep it on when in Comfort/Eco?

People who dislike stop/start should get very familiar with that button, because in most new vehicles with stop/start, it is likely to be a “nonlatching” feature, meaning that every time the car’s ignition is turned off, stop/start will reset to active once the vehicle is turned back on. If you never want to drive with stop/start engaged, you’ll have to hit that button every time you fire up your car or truck.

Automakers get incentives to do it this way from the Environmental Protection Agency. If the vehicle’s stop/start system is nonlatching and automatically turns on whenever you start the car, the EPA’s fuel-economy test results will be calculated only when the system is engaged. But if a vehicle’s stop/start system can be permanently turned off, then the vehicle’s fuel economy is tested both when stop/start is active and when it’s off. The EPA then averages the two tests for a resulting fuel-economy rating found on the car’s window sticker—which is certain to be lower.

The Real Reason Stop/Start Systems Won’t Stay Turned Off | News | Car and Driver

 

[Stinger Girl]

People who dislike stop/start should get very familiar with that button, because in most new vehicles with stop/start, it is likely to be a “nonlatching” feature, meaning that every time the car’s ignition is turned off, stop/start will reset to active once the vehicle is turned back on. If you never want to drive with stop/start engaged, you’ll have to hit that button every time you fire up your car or truck.

Automakers get incentives to do it this way from the Environmental Protection Agency. If the vehicle’s stop/start system is nonlatching and automatically turns on whenever you start the car, the EPA’s fuel-economy test results will be calculated only when the system is engaged. But if a vehicle’s stop/start system can be permanently turned off, then the vehicle’s fuel economy is tested both when stop/start is active and when it’s off. The EPA then averages the two tests for a resulting fuel-economy rating found on the car’s window sticker—which is certain to be lower.

The Real Reason Stop/Start Systems Won’t Stay Turned Off | News | Car and Driver

And that's just fine with me. If they didn't play these games to lower the fuel economy, we'd end up paying a gas guzzler tax when we purchase them. It didn't take me long to develop the 1/2 second habit of hitting that button when I start the car.

 

[Shrikecorp]

I think it is for safety, so a bad guy doesn't jump in the passenger side if you are
alone

Yep. It can be changed in the settings, however.

 

[Shrikecorp]

• Auto Start Stop feature - Needs a permanent toggle off and on. Why does the parking sensors have this feature but not the next button over huh KIA? Maybe you can just turn this off when we are in Sport or Custom automatically and keep it on when in Comfort/Eco?
• Door handle button - Feels like a cheap rubbery mess with a bit of lag when you press it. Why could it not have been made to match the body and be a different material?....

It's funny to me how polarizing the auto stop is. I like it, it was a selling point. Perhaps 4th worst (as of 2016, anyway) traffic in the country has something to do with it.

But those hideous buttons. Like a festering blackhead for your door. Someone puts out a clean aftermarket fix, I'll look at it. Can think of ways to get it done.

 

[KingLamoni]

I'm surprised no one has brought up this gripe...When I wash my car or try to pull the wiper blades up and off the windshield they won't go up without rubbing against the hood or bonnet! That to me is a quality issue for sure. I live in NY state where it snows frequently in the winter and you need to able to pop up the wipers to clean off the ice and snow. So in that case it also becomes a safety issue. All 3 of my other KIAs, this was not a problem, but it is on the Stinger.

 

[Kamauxx]

I'm surprised no one has brought up this gripe...When I wash my car or try to pull the wiper blades up and off the windshield they won't go up without rubbing against the hood or bonnet! That to me is a quality issue for sure. I live in NY state where it snows frequently in the winter and you need to able to pop up the wipers to clean off the ice and snow. So in that case it also becomes a safety issue. All 3 of my other KIAs, this was not a problem, but it is on the Stinger.

The manual explains how to properly lift the wipers. You can also find the directions on either of the Stinger forums or YouTube.

 

[Revvdmedia]

• 
  

But those hideous buttons. Like a festering blackhead for your door. Someone puts out a clean aftermarket fix, I'll look at it. Can think of ways to get it done.

I feel like a tiny rectangle of vinyl overlay/wrap is the most simple fix.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'm surprised no one has brought up this gripe...When I wash my car or try to pull the wiper blades up and off the windshield they won't go up without rubbing against the hood or bonnet! That to me is a quality issue for sure. I live in NY state where it snows frequently in the winter and you need to able to pop up the wipers to clean off the ice and snow. So in that case it also becomes a safety issue. All 3 of my other KIAs, this was not a problem, but it is on the Stinger.

As @Kamauxx said, this has been brought up a lot, actually. I experienced this last summer in Oregon at a gas stop when the "attendant" (moron) hauled up on my driver's wiper before I could warn him off. Fortunately, I had just installed PPF so no damage was done to the paint (the PPF mostly healed over time).

The reason why the Stinger has recessed wiper arms is the concept and design of clean airflow. This car is smooth, so the wiper arms are down, out of the wind. Roll with it.

 

[westcoastGT]

I feel like a tiny rectangle of vinyl overlay/wrap is the most simple fix.

I've done this on the edge of the hood in the potential contact points AND on the wiper arm ...............I would never do the damage but somebody else that may clean your windshield or put some flyer under your wiper easily could ...............or more likely a Kia service person ~!

 

[Revvdmedia]

I've done this on the edge of the hood in the potential contact points AND on the wiper arm ...............I would never do the damage but somebody else that may clean your windshield or put some flyer under your wiper easily could ...............or more likely a Kia service person ~!

I was talking about the "ugly" black button on the door handles, just cover it up with color-matched vinyl

 

[westcoastGT]

I was talking about the "ugly" black button on the door handles, just cover it up with color-matched vinyl

ahhhh ! missed that , either way , they both are helpful solutions !

 

[Revvdmedia]

ahhhh ! missed that , either way , they both are helpful solutions !

Speaking of vinyl (clear bra), I've been wondering about putting some on the driver side rocker panel. It seems I'm too damn lazy to lift my foot all the way up when getting in the car, I bump my shoes against it and it leaves little scratches sometimes that I have to polish out. I just haven't installed it yet because I don't want "the line" and I don't think I have enough material (or the skill) to do the whole rocker on both sides.

I did add some small strips to the front edge of each door though, I found the drivers side had two rock chips on the front leading edge of each door. That should fix that.

 

[KingLamoni]

The manual explains how to properly lift the wipers. You can also find the directions on either of the Stinger forums or YouTube.

Really? Proper lifting of the wipers in the manual. I would have never thought of looking there.
PPF sounds like a good investment for the gas attendant who doesn't know.

 

[Shrikecorp]

I feel like a tiny rectangle of vinyl overlay/wrap is the most simple fix.

Say...I happen to have a bit of that.

 

[ShannonC]

Say...I happen to have a bit of that.

Tried it. You have to dismantle the handle to get proper coverage of the button otherwise black recessed edges are visible. Don't want to go to that extent.

 

[AdamNZ]

I would prefer a flush unlock mechanism for the door handles. My 2017 WRX had this, and my wife's 2010 Legacy has it, and I was a little disappointed that the Stinger just has a cheap little plastic nub. Another nit-pick (not having any type of stop-start down here) is that a single USB port isn't enough. I would also like to be able to manually select max RPM for launch control.

 

[KingLamoni]

The manual explains how to properly lift the wipers. You can also find the directions on either of the Stinger forums or YouTube.

Thanks! I read the manual. That's something I'll try and do everytime I stop for gas.

 

[Stinger Girl]

I'm surprised no one has brought up this gripe...When I wash my car or try to pull the wiper blades up and off the windshield they won't go up without rubbing against the hood or bonnet! That to me is a quality issue for sure. I live in NY state where it snows frequently in the winter and you need to able to pop up the wipers to clean off the ice and snow. So in that case it also becomes a safety issue. All 3 of my other KIAs, this was not a problem, but it is on the Stinger.

I'm wondering about that too. I lifted them without putting them in service mode and it looks like there might be just enough room to clean the windshield but will have to be careful....at 5 a.m. in pitch dark snowing like h*ll :/ What would be nice is if I could put them in service mode from the remote. Or maybe I'll leave them in service mode over night.

This will be my first winter with this car and we'll see. We get more ice than snow. Others have said the fuel door freezes shut (oh THAT would pee me off for sure, especially considering the small tank and what feels like constant need to fill up) and someone is also saying here the door button can freeze :/

But my biggest nit pick of all is the darned horn sounding when the car shuts off after using the remote start. It's LOUD. Way to wake the neighborhood up at 5 am!