US pricing?

[Bamm1]

I'm sure there will be plenty of buyers for the base 2.0T...

I think they might be able to talk an Optima buyer or two into a base Stinger.

 

[STNGRNV]

I think they might be able to talk an Optima buyer or two into a base Stinger.

It depends on what the features are. It seems that you will lose a lot of features going from an Optima to a base Stinger. I'm looking at a base 2.0, but if they go MSRP or above with the same features I might have to wait and see if the price drops. Buying a KIA is already a huge psychological hurdle for me to overcome. Buying an expensive KIA is not an option. I'd settle for a boring Accord.

 

[Kia Stinger]

I think they might be able to talk an Optima buyer or two into a base Stinger.

Sure. Why not? What's next on the Kia totem pole? A Cadenza? Not if you want something sporty. A K900? Same thing. Kia will have plenty of buyers coming from other Kia vehicles as well as other brands...

 

[westcoastGT]

when I was TRYING to negotiate a better than MSRP the GM finally showed me his cost on the computer , at full price he was making 2700 , with no factory rebates or Kia incentives . He said they are making less than half margin on Stingers vs the rest of the portfolio and there will strict production limits to highten "demand" . I guess it really is a halo strategy . I also saw and article today saying Kia was breaking even on the car with the intent to demonstrate Value / Quality , obviously in hopes of driving demand into the rest of their other cars ................

I think a base Stinger will still be a major performance upgrade from a loaded Optima . if you can live without some features but want a drivers car the base Stinger will be a great car .

 

[BarryLI]

I'm sure there will be plenty of buyers for the base 2.0T...

The previous poster was setting up a scenario whereby your friendly neighborhood Kia salesman is magically transformed into a snob-appeal foreign car salesman in a $1500 suit who looks at you as if you were hanging off the back of a garbage truck covered by flies when you suggest that maybe just maybe you might be able to purchase the car he's selling at $1 under the MSRP. Remember, there are plenty of people who have no interest in a Japanese car and some who dismiss the Korean cars as wannabe Japanese with poor quality, no matter what you're offering their interest comes to a dead halt when they hear the name "Kia." That isn't me, I went from an Acura TL AWD to an Optima to my current Cadenza and have an active ongoing interest in a Stinger, I have nothing but good things to say about my Kia experiences and would recommend them to anyone who will listen. However we have seen what a $50,000 price tag for a Kia has wrought so far, the K900 that apparently can't be given away so thinking everyone and their mother is currently lining up at a Kia dealer for a Stinger as though it was Black Friday (wait, it is!) is IMO silly, and as the admin has said the more Stingers out there the more interest they will garner, asking $10,000 over MSRP for one doesn't accomplish that goal. When the Jaguar S-Class came out a number of years ago my 3-year lease had a $300 finance charge, I paid depreciation + $300 for the reason being discussed, they wanted them in the street to garner interest, a good business decision I think.

 

[Bamm1]

It depends on what the features are. It seems that you will lose a lot of features going from an Optima to a base Stinger. I'm looking at a base 2.0, but if they go MSRP or above with the same features I might have to wait and see if the price drops. Buying a KIA is already a huge psychological hurdle for me to overcome. Buying an expensive KIA is not an option. I'd settle for a boring Accord.

I would agree it will not work broadly in every case. If the buyer comes in looking specifically for the SXL trim Optima, you will likely be out of luck. But if they are just looking at the Optima in "general" you might be able to swing the more room, liftback practicality and the AWD option (only Kia "sedan" to offer it) into an upsell.

 

[Jumpy]

I think the Stinger Premium compares favorably with the Optima SXL. Slightly more expensive, slightly better performance, similar features.

 

[westcoastGT]

Completely disagree ! The Stinger ia is true performance car , you need to get past features and consider driving dynamics and engineering . dollar for dollar in their respective categories the Stinger is a far better value vs the Optima , when you see and drive one it becomes VERY clear .............

 

[Bamm1]

when I was TRYING to negotiate a better than MSRP the GM finally showed me his cost on the computer , at full price he was making 2700 , with no factory rebates or Kia incentives . He said they are making less than half margin on Stingers vs the rest of the portfolio and there will strict production limits to highten "demand" . I guess it really is a halo strategy . I also saw and article today saying Kia was breaking even on the car with the intent to demonstrate Value / Quality , obviously in hopes of driving demand into the rest of their other cars ................

Is that 2700 CAD? And in reference to the AWD Limited trim? Because that would put the profit margin on the GT2 AWD in the US at ~$14,250. The additional savings from removing the 360 camera, wireless charging, rear heated seats and pseudo-suede headliner can cover what they lose out on when they sell it to the dealer at invoice. So no worries about Kia just "breaking even."

Completely disagree ! The Stinger ia is true performance car , you need to get past features and consider driving dynamics and engineering . dollar for dollar in their respective categories the Stinger is a far better value vs the Optima , when you see and drive one it becomes VERY clear .............

We are not talking about the enthusaist demographic (like those on this forum). That demographic is too small to lead to a sales success. Kia will need to bring in "average" customers. Like those who just want a family sedan and come in looking at the Optima. Maybe driving dynamics are part of the upsell. But its more likely things like how much extra "stuff" will fit in the trunk of the Stinger is what moves them over.

Also, not so sure about the true performance car moniker. Its a grand tourer, not an M3 competitor.

 

[Marko]

Hahaha 60k U.S.? Are they out of their minds. Should be able to walk out in my state with a gt2 paying out the door no more then 54k with tax title.

 

[Kia Stinger]

There is also another scenario to consider and that's that Kia may primarily be looking to draw people into dealerships to buy Optimas and CUVs with the Stinger. It could be that any Stinger they DO sell is considered a great accomplishment - otherwise it's #1 intension is to bring buyers into the showroom. Maybe a Stinger sale is, for now, a bonus that may catch on later... For the rest of buyers anyway. Enthusiasts are already on board.

 

[westcoastGT]

There is also another scenario to consider and that's that Kia may primarily be looking to draw people into dealerships to buy Optimas and CUVs with the Stinger. It could be that any Stinger they DO sell is considered a great accomplishment - otherwise it's #1 intension is to bring buyers into the showroom. Maybe a Stinger sale is, for now, a bonus that may catch on later... For the rest of buyers anyway. Enthusiasts are already on board.

I completely agree , and the dealers will tell you that , limited production , excellent value , its a Halo car.

 

[westcoastGT]

Is that 2700 CAD? And in reference to the AWD Limited trim? Because that would put the profit margin on the GT2 AWD in the US at ~$14,250. The additional savings from removing the 360 camera, wireless charging, rear heated seats and pseudo-suede headliner can cover what they lose out on when they sell it to the dealer at invoice. So no worries about Kia just "breaking even."



We are not talking about the enthusaist demographic (like those on this forum). That demographic is too small to lead to a sales success. Kia will need to bring in "average" customers. Like those who just want a family sedan and come in looking at the Optima. Maybe driving dynamics are part of the upsell. But its more likely things like how much extra "stuff" will fit in the trunk of the Stinger is what moves them over.

Also, not so sure about the true performance car moniker. Its a grand tourer, not an M3 competitor.

No one is saying that this is an M car , but having owned an M5 and 650 MSport I can tell you its as good as most non M BMWs , and you can be sure the dealer margin in the US is not $14K , Kia would be invoicing them to achieve a target retail margin of around 10%. Its pretty clear Canada got a smoking deal and Australia not far behind , but looking at US and UK pricing they will make up for our smaller markets

 

[Bamm1]

No one is saying that this is an M car , but having owned an M5 and 650 MSport I can tell you its as good as most non M BMWs , and you can be sure the dealer margin in the US is not $14K , Kia would be invoicing them to achieve a target retail margin of around 10%. Its pretty clear Canada got a smoking deal and Australia not far behind , but looking at US and UK pricing they will make up for our smaller markets

Again, the non-M BMW cars would also not be described as

ia is true performance car

I was not trying to compare it to an M car. I was stating that the Stinger shouldn't really be referred to as a "true performance car".

I was not referencing the dealer margin. I was talking about Kia corporate's profit. The decontenting in the US might get the dealer their 10% and then that ~14k goes right into Kia's coffers.

Korea also gets much better pricing and I can't imagine they need US money to build their brand there. They are just trying to squeeze as much money out of the US as they can.

 

[Kia Stinger]

I guess we'll need to agree - or agree to disagree - on the definition of a "true performance car". It's probably one thing for one person and another thing for another. I don't know what the true definition really is - but I don't think anyone's opinion on it is necessarily wrong. But for poops and giggles, we could try to define it here.

 

[davebo]

A true performance car seats one or two people, has no a/c and possibly no radio.

 

[Bamm1]

I guess we'll need to agree - or agree to disagree - on the definition of a "true performance car". It's probably one thing for one person and another thing for another. I don't know what the true definition really is - but I don't think anyone's opinion on it is necessarily wrong. But for poops and giggles, we could try to define it here.

First, I like to start with the manufacturer's intentions when they designed and engineered the vehicle. If performance was not their top priority, then I tend to not call it a "true performance car". Want to call it a driver's car, I have no objections at all.

“A true gran turismo, a car for spirited long-distance driving, is not about outright power, hard-edged dynamics and brutal styling, all at the expense of luxury, comfort and grace,” notes Gregory Guillaume, chief designer, Kia Motors Europe. “The Stinger has nothing to do with being the first to arrive at the destination – this car is all about the journey. It’s about passion.”

 

[westcoastGT]

Are you going to buying one or just a semantics teacher ...............

 

[Scorpio Redux]

I'm sure there will be plenty of buyers for the base 2.0T...

Agree also. The Base Car checks all the right boxes for me.

 

[Bamm1]

Are buying one ?

If I lived in Canada the answer would likely be a resounding yes!

Since I am in the US, the decision is proving much more difficult than I anticipated.

I am also waiting on the G70.

I will drive/compare both before I commit or move on from Korea.