Two Week Review from Former Accord Owner

[cwatt79]

Two weeks ago I traded in my 2018 Honda Accord Touring 2.0T for a 2019 Stinger GT1. Figured I would share some first impression thoughts for other who may be considering similar trades.

For some background, before the Accord I had a 2011 Mustang GT, which I traded because I wanted something more comfortable, spacious, and modern. The Accord played that part very well. There is lots that I loved about the Accord, but ultimately I missed some of the performance and aggressive styling (inside and out) of the Mustang. That's when I decided to give the Stinger a real chance, and I was instantly hooked. With the Stinger, I realized I could almost match the performance and aggressiveness of my Mustang GT, and almost match the comfort, space, and modernity of the Accord, with one vehicle. The Stinger comes extremely close to both vehicles on their respective fronts, and it's that combination that's hard to beat. Here are my first-impression cheers and jeers.

Cheers:

• WOW! This thing looks awesome.
• Hichroma Red is stunning.
• The "cockpit" looks awesome. It feels special and visually interesting while driving. The aluminum trim over all black looks awesome.
• WOW! This thing is fast. The power is addicting. I have so much fun on otherwise monotonous drives.
• The transmission: I like that I don't have to deal with the clunkiness of a dual clutch, and this torque-converter automatic shifts very quickly.
• The Stinger rides really, really well. The ride is even more comfortable than my Accord was. Really! It absorbs bumps and imperfections better than the Accord, and it is a lot quieter on rough pavement.
• It also handles! It is super fun in the twisties, and it encourages you to go faster!
• Driving modes: there is a lot of differentiation between the driving modes, which really change the demeanor of the car, and the custom mode is a nice touch.
• The hatch: Man, this thing is practical!
• Luxury touches: large sunroof with power shade, power folding mirrors, power steering column.
• The sound system: I'm not a huge audiophile, but I definitely appreciate a good system. My Accord's was so crappy that I replaced all the speakers, and it still left a lot to be desired. I'm completely satisfied with the Harman Kardon system in the Stinger. (More bass wouldn't hurt, but that statement is almost always true. Lol!)
• The wheels and brakes: they look AWESOME!
• The tires: these things BITE! I never invested in true high performance tires on my Mustang GT (nor did it come with them from the factory), and now I know what I was missing. I haven't broken the tires loose yet, which is impressive considering how I've driven it and how much power it's putting down. I will probably invest in the same tires when these wear out.
• The heated/ventilated seats: they are much more effective than the Accord.
• The dark chrome trim: I LOVE that Kia put used dark chrome trim instead of bright chrome. I despise bright chrome and have had it deleted (via a wrap) on two previous vehicles. I won't be deleting this dark chrome.
• Small customization: it's cool that you can adjust little things like how many times the turn signal flashes when you tap it.
• Thoughtful displays: It is so nice that the instrument cluster reads out the headlight and wiper settings as you change them, so you're not having to guess which setting you just picked.
• The Favorites (star) button on the center stack: having this customizable hardware button is so nice! I frequently use SiriusXM and CarPlay concurrently, so having one-button switching between the two is super convenient.

Jeers: (almost all of my jeers are small and nitpicky and are FAR outweighed by the cheers)

• Door handle button: having to press a button on the door handle feels old and cheap. Mainstream cars have had touch-sensitive handles for a decade now.
• No auto-lock: Honda features Walk-Away Auto Lock, which locks the doors automatically after you exit the vehicle and walk away. You never have to press any buttons or even think about locking or unlocking your vehicle. I have left my Stinger unlocked MANY times (probably more often than not) thanks to being spoiled by my Accord. This is such a neat convenience feature that I really miss.
• A gas cap? Really?!? My 2011 Mustang had a capless fuel filler! Again, this feels old and cheap.
  
• The touchscreen is too far way. I'm 6'2" and sit pretty far back. My long arms don't make up for it enough, and it's still quite a reach to the screen.
• No SiriusXM TuneStart: Honda also features TuneStart, so when you switch to a preset SiriusXM station, it automatically rewinds to start at the beginning of the current song or segment. The Stinger is halfway there since it records your first 10 presets, and you can reach up and rewind to the start of the current song, but it's nice to have the system do it automatically for you.
• NO REMOTE START?!? This one truly baffles me. Remote start is standard on almost all Hondas (EX trim and up, i.e. a $24k Civic), but my $47k Kia doesn't have it? I miss remote start. And no, a $500+ dealer accessory which uses a second fob and requires you to restart it when you get in doesn't make up for this.
• The trunk rattle: I've ordered a couple parts and plan to attempt the DIY fix this weekend, but it's disappointing that even after two years of production and a TSB, the factory hasn't fixed the issue.

That's all I can think of for now (long winded, I know). Feel free to add your own thoughts. Overall, I absolutely love my new Stinger! I can't stop looking at it, and I'm looking for any excuse I can find to drive it. It's what I should have replaced my Mustang with instead of the Accord. The combination of sporty look and feel, comfort, luxury, and uniqueness makes this a truly special car, and I hope Kia keeps making them for generations! Maybe Gen2 will address my jeers Long live the Stinger!

 

[Buzzrush]

Great write up!! This car definitely has a few quirks but easily makes up for them in soooooo many ways. 10 months in and still love it like it was the first day. And your right.... the HCR looks FANTASTIC

 

[Frenchy_418]

Here in canada we have remote start included with uvo for free. It also serve as a lock reminder, sending a notification to your cell and telling you that you did not lock the doors, which you can click to remote lock them.

 

[TwiceStung]

Very nice and comprehensive write-up. While I could use ventilated seats more so than heated ones, at least I have remote start on the premium 2.0. Fixed my hatch bump, not rattle, (only when hitting larger bumps) with a thin layer of neoprene rubber under the side hatch contact points (not the bump stops). Been completely silent ever since. Have heard the sunroof make some noise but I honestly rarely use it. It's been quiet recently. Still want a pedal tuner but have been watching expenses lately.

 

[CKeeler]

Glad to see you’re still enjoying your Stinger.

Be careful with the tires. They are very sticky, but only when warm. They don’t warm up very quickly either.

 

[87and66]

Just a comment about remote start. It would definitely be nice if it were standard. And having the car shut off when you open a door is really annoying. No argument there. But you don’t have to use a second fob to remote start it. It DOES come with a second fob. However, you don’t have to use it (not even sure why they bother with it). I remote start mine by pressing lock, then the trunk button on the normal key fob. Ive never actually used the designated remote start fobs they gave me

 

[cwatt79]

Here in canada we have remote start included with uvo for free. It also serve as a lock reminder, sending a notification to your cell and telling you that you did not lock the doors, which you can click to remote lock them.

That’s better than we get, but still not nearly as good as remote start built in to the fob (I don’t want to have to pull out my phone, unlock, open an app, authenticate, and click), and walk-away auto lock, which requires no interaction at all.

 

[cwatt79]

Just a comment about remote start. It would definitely be nice if it were standard. And having the car shut off when you open a door is really annoying. No argument there. But you don’t have to use a second fob to remote start it. It DOES come with a second fob. However, you don’t have to use it (not even sure why they bother with it). I remote start mine by pressing lock, then the trunk button on the normal key fob. Ive never actually used the designated remote start fobs they gave me

Thanks for that important clarification. That does make it more appealing... I HATE bulky things in my pockets so having to have a second fob on the ring with the already bulky fob was basically a dealbreaker for me! The engine turning off is still annoying, but maybe now I’ll get a quote from my dealer for installation. What do dealers typically charge? Im assuming the ~$500 price you see in the configurator doesn’t include dealer markup or installation.
What about climate control and seats? Do they turn on when remote started?

 

[spacedawg]

I could be wrong, but it seems in my experience the smaller dedicated fob has a farther effective range than using the standard remote. It starts my car reliably from my building at work when the normal remote wouldn’t.

 

[87and66]

Thanks for that important clarification. That does make it more appealing... I HATE bulky things in my pockets so having to have a second fob on the ring with the already bulky fob was basically a dealbreaker for me! The engine turning off is still annoying, but maybe now I’ll get a quote from my dealer for installation. What do dealers typically charge? Im assuming the ~$500 price you see in the configurator doesn’t include dealer markup or installation.
What about climate control and seats? Do they turn on when remote started?

I’m not sure exactly what they’d charge to install it. Mine was in the car when I bought it new and was a $495 option. You may be able to install it yourself if you’re up to the task. I believe there is a thread on here about it and maybe a YouTube video. The climate controls will turn on to whatever setting you had it on when you last turned the car off. Heated seats will not com won, it they get hit so fast, it’s not an issue

 

[Hoonin]

Thanks for that important clarification. That does make it more appealing... I HATE bulky things in my pockets so having to have a second fob on the ring with the already bulky fob was basically a dealbreaker for me! The engine turning off is still annoying, but maybe now I’ll get a quote from my dealer for installation. What do dealers typically charge? Im assuming the ~$500 price you see in the configurator doesn’t include dealer markup or installation.
What about climate control and seats? Do they turn on when remote started?

The first mod I did to my car was install the factory remote start. I bought it new off of EBay for like $350 if I remember correctly. Its somewhat simple with the only pain in the ass being that you have to cram it in a really tight area and tie it in using two nylon zip ties. I’m more of an OEM kinda guy when it comes to remote start, but the design is truly horrible for a couple reasons. Being that I live in Michigan, the horrible design makes the remote start experience 10 x worse.

1. You have to remember to turn Defrost on and the heat to high when you park the car for the night.

2. If you leave your headlights on Auto, it turns them on. If you are like me and you back your car in your driveway, it’s a good way to piss your neighbors off across the street.

3. After 10 minutes of running it shuts off. When this happens, it honks the horn. This is another way to piss your neighbors off, if you don’t make it in your car before the 10 minutes is up.

4. The fact that it shuts off as soon as you open any of the 5 doors. If you have memory seats and have the entry assist turned on for the seats and steering wheel, when the remote start is activated the seats and steering wheel slide into driving position. When you open the door and the car shuts off, the seat slides back and the steering wheel moves upwards. I would have to imagine this putting unnecessary wear and tear on the starter, the seat track motors, and the steering wheel adjust motors.

5. There is no way to activate the rear/mirror defrost with the auto start. What a freaking piss poor design.

It is a horrible design, I can see why remote start wasn’t a factory option on U.S. cars. Reviewers would have tore this system to shreds.

Other than the remote start, I love this car more then any other car I have ever owned. It’s the only issue I can really seem to find with it imo.

 

[Maddog2873]

I personally enjoy locking my car while walking away with the key fob. Every time I do I think of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie True Lies.

~"Sure, here's my invitation"
-Harry Tasker

 

[ElChanclo]

Here in canada we have remote start included with uvo for free.

*Free for the first 5 years.

NO ONE can tell me WTF happens after that. I'm pretty sure kia just hasn't decided yet.

 

[87and66]

Hoonin hit the nail on the head with his points. I park in a garage, so I don't really feel the effects of the poor design too often, but when I think about it, it does kinda suck. Still, its better than not having remote start at all. There aren't really any aftermarket options that I'm aware of other than the K8 CANbus control module. And 5/7 of the features are useless to me. The complicated install isn't worth me switching them out. And it still doesn't solve most of the mentioned problems

 

[RonNSoCal]

Thanks for your write up. The Accord was on my short list when we were looking and decided on the Stinger, largely because my wife said she did not want another Honda. We have owned two Accords in the past and she wanted something different. We are coming from a 2010 MB E350. It was a very good car, but hardly inspirational to drive, imho. The Stinger GT is so much nicer and fun to drive. We are in Palm Springs on a little mini vacation and the drive was so much easier thanks to the smart cruise control and blind spot monitoring features. And you have to love the acceleration. Last weekend I took it to Big Sur on the central coast, and drove up and down the spectacular Hwy 1. I also drive a C6 Corvette, but was not disappointed with the handling of the Stinger through the curves. After about a month, I am very happy with our first ever Korean car.

 

[MerlintheMad]

That's how to introduce yourself! Welcome to the forum.

The only thing to comment on is that two years later I am as happy with my Stinger as I was the day I bought it. Your short list of "jeers" doesn't resonate with me, because all of my vehicles prior to the Stinger were effectively ancient.

 

[Crisis]

The first mod I did to my car was install the factory remote start. I bought it new off of EBay for like $350 if I remember correctly. Its somewhat simple with the only pain in the ass being that you have to cram it in a really tight area and tie it in using two nylon zip ties. I’m more of an OEM kinda guy when it comes to remote start, but the design is truly horrible for a couple reasons. Being that I live in Michigan, the horrible design makes the remote start experience 10 x worse.

1. You have to remember to turn Defrost on and the heat to high when you park the car for the night.

2. If you leave your headlights on Auto, it turns them on. If you are like me and you back your car in your driveway, it’s a good way to piss your neighbors off across the street.

3. After 10 minutes of running it shuts off. When this happens, it honks the horn. This is another way to piss your neighbors off, if you don’t make it in your car before the 10 minutes is up.

4. The fact that it shuts off as soon as you open any of the 5 doors. If you have memory seats and have the entry assist turned on for the seats and steering wheel, when the remote start is activated the seats and steering wheel slide into driving position. When you open the door and the car shuts off, the seat slides back and the steering wheel moves upwards. I would have to imagine this putting unnecessary wear and tear on the starter, the seat track motors, and the steering wheel adjust motors.

5. There is no way to activate the rear/mirror defrost with the auto start. What a freaking piss poor design.

It is a horrible design, I can see why remote start wasn’t a factory option on U.S. cars. Reviewers would have tore this system to shreds.

Other than the remote start, I love this car more then any other car I have ever owned. It’s the only issue I can really seem to find with it imo.

Interesting to know that although we Canadians get the UVO remote start and it certainly appears to be better than what you're dealing with, we still have some complaints. Here's my list of gripes with the UVO start:

1. Instead of having the headlights turn on when remote started, the parking lights flash for the entire duration that it is running under the remote start command. It gets tiring having to explain to people why your lights are flashing.
2. All winter features are controlled by how you configure your UVO settings, so it doesn't matter how you leave your HVAC controls when you park the car at night - this is a good thing. You can set your temperature, run duration, front & rear defrost, heated steering wheel... but IT WON'T TURN ON THE HEATED SEAT(S)!!! How the f*ck do they let you control all those other features, but not that???
3. When remote started, the car keeps running when you open the door to get in and will keep running so long as you get in the car and close the door behind you. However, if you open the door and just reach inside the car to grab something (such as your ice scraper) and then close the door without your key fob being in the car, it then shuts itself off and you have to get in, restart it and turn all of your winter settings back on manually. On the plus side, you can at least turn on your heated seat at the same time....

In the big picture, these are all pretty minor first world problems and the Stinger remains a great, great car. These little things are still annoying, though.

 

[Hoonin]

“Instead of having the headlights turn on when remote started, the parking lights flash for the entire duration that it is running under the remote start command. It gets tiring having to explain to people why your lights are flashing.”

Woah, that’s horribly thought out.

 

[JAI-STINGER]

I still have my 18 Accord Touring and sometimes when its cold outside it makes me remember how much I hate that my Stinger does not have remote start. I do think my Accord rides much smoother and quieter than the Stinger. They really can't be compared when it comes to performance. When I want to be thrown back in my seat, I take the Stinger and when I want a quiet relaxing ride, I take the Accord.

 

[Meckman]

Need to keep both (Mustang and Stinger) like I have.