Whats up with all the people angry at the Stinger?

[ShannonC]

I bought my Stinger without even taking one for a test drive and I don't give a rat's what someone else might think.

 

[cncBilly]

I didn't buy my AWD Stinger GT Limited to please other people, and I could care less about what they think. I was attracted by its good looks, was thoroughly impressed when I test drove it, so I bought it for myself, and I'm enjoying every minute in it!

I couldn’t agree with you more!! All the CF pieces and other performance parts I have added along the way are all for me because I like them. Could give a shit what anyone else thinks or says.

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

Kia isn't allowed to move upmarket, apparently.

Meanwhile, Chrysler, purveyor of the most unreliable American cars notorious for tranny and electrical problems, is allowed to churn out overpriced crap decade after decade and have a cult following who buy whatever crap they churn out.

 

[SafetyPilotCal]

In all fairness, most of F-C-A's stuff is pretty good now and the transmission thing is definitely a trope these days considering their trucks and performance vehicles almost exclusively use the ZF 8-speed. Even the Mercedes-derived 5G-tronics weren't awful. If I were to post my "car resume", you'd find endless GM products in there, yet I truly feel F-C-A (sorry, I have to do this or the f'ng forum keeps trying to say "forward collision assist") is the only domestic manufacturer worth a damn right now. Even if the majority of their platforms are aging (looking at you LX), they're giving customers want they want and they're taking chances. Yes, they have serious misfires like the Giulia, but the domestic F-C-A cars are decent. Plus Charger R/Ts are my favorite rental car by no small margin.

On-topic, I bought the Stinger because Kia built something so close to the exact car that I wanted. In fact, it was the first car I EVER purchased new. That's also despite protests that I'd NEVER make a new car purchase. I could very well have bought a BMW or a Benz. Money was not the object. Other non-import options were a Chevy SS, second gen Cadillac CTS-V or a Charger Hellcat. However, I've wrenched on and had plenty of friends with German products over the years. S55 AMGs, E46s and E90s, B8 S5s.. and they're fantastic driving cars. But you pay the German tax big time once it comes time for out-of-warranty repairs. If I only kept a car a few years, a CPO car with a German badge on it probably wouldn't have been a bad buy, but I purchase cars for the long haul.

The Stinger just felt like the best blend of comfort and performance and I loved it from the first test drive. Whereas the German sports sedans felt sterile and precise almost to a fault, something about the Stinger's character really resonated with me. I've always owned oddball or quirky cars, and this car fits that bill perfectly while still being livable. I have comfortable seats, a decent stereo, HUD, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control for long trips and I have solid performance and turbo noises for around-town driving.

That being said, I'm fully cognizant of Kia's shortcomings. The dealer and service network is without a doubt one of the biggest drawbacks. They simply DO NOT know how to sell or work on a more upmarket vehicle. They act like they're still hawking 2006 Rios and it shows. IMHO, the Stinger should have the option of being serviced by Genesis dealers and get the same concierge service (but again, the car is built to a price point, and there's only so much of this they can do). I also think it's absolute bullshit that the US cars get neutered UVO telematics and that someone at KMA thought an acceptable facsimile was to require plugging your phone into your car (in 2019) to sync with the service. Not having remote start of any sort is also a slap in the face for a car that retails for $50,000. My girlfriend's $24,000 Jeep has it. All-in-all, that's pretty much the extent of my gripes about the car.

As for why BMW and Mercedes fanboys get angry, I'm not entirely sure. Maybe they're mad about spending $20,000 more on a car and getting something that's maybe 10% better. Maybe they hate how the automotive press has been gushing over it for 3 years. Who knows. I don't worry about what anyone else thinks and I enjoy my car for what it is.

 

[westcoastGT]

I couldn’t agree with you more!! All the CF pieces and other performance parts I have added along the way are all for me because I like them. Could give a shit what anyone else thinks or says.

.................thats an understatement from William , bawaaaaa , go get em Champ !

 

[westcoastGT]

Looking at Kias volume and share growth vs domestic and foreign brands suggest their strategy is working ............as a group of Stinger enthusisats I think we are impatient as we see the upside of their capability but find their pace too slow ...................I'm sure many other brands would love to have the "problems" we identify here ..................a slow and steady growth plan, well implemented, is a better formula for success . Ive been here for 2 1/2 years and the changes I've seen within the HKG network are pretty amazing and the profile of this forums "enthusiasts" is also quite amazing , I was a BMW fanboy for many years and spent a lot of time on their Forums ................This is a good/better place to be

 

[Lawrence Williams]

I just really can't wrap my mind around it. This car is WAYYYY cheaper (lease incentives, immediate buyout) for way more performance with a nice aftermarket too. I understand the temptation of buying a used CPO German sedan for $30K-$40K, but why the hell would you want less warranty and steep repair bills? Maybe it's because I haven't driven an M5 but the Stinger is good for 10 years 100K at the minimum. Not 3 years, 36K. Also I can see this car being an M killer if you install the tuning chip and get some upgrades, but I digress.

My intention was to grab a CPO S7, E400 coupe etc, etc......but the Stinger was released and game was over!

 

[Stinger812]

Children should be seen not heard. When people hate on something or someone 99% of the time its because they are jealous they can't have it or be like that person. I love it when someone is hating on me because they are thinking about me 24/7. My opinion Kia has come a long way. I bought My 2016 optima when it first came out, then I bought the stinger 3 years later and my son just bought the 2020 soul last month. My wif is currently looking at the different kia mid size suv's as a Christmas present. HATE ON HATERS

 

[Lawrence Williams]

The looks of the Stinger are hard to beat. But even the non-performance variants of the German sedans have engine options that can keep up with or surpass Stinger performance.

At the same price and warranty?

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Looking at Kia s volume and share growth vs domestic and foreign makes their strategy seems to be working , I think as enthusiasts we are impatient and are too aware of their potential but get caught up in the issues like missing features and poor dealer interations and a few QC issues ..............they ae are a slow and steady upwards plan that many brands envy ...........A LOT .

Kia Australia sales up 21% nationally while most other brands have flatlined or tanked, so they must be doing something right.

 

[Kiksbut]

A Stinger pulled up beside me, rolled down our windows. He loves his Stinger that he traded his Panamera for!!

 

[Snatchell]

I had a couple ask me what kind of car I was driving last night in the Costco parking lot. I said it was a Kia Stinger and she shrieked "A KIA?!" I said yep - and I love it. She said her sister had owned a Kia that was crap. I said yes - back around 2011 they had a turnaround in reliability. She and her hubby loved the looks and said they were about to trade in their 10 year old Dodge Avenger or something like that... and that they were going to go check out the Stinger. She also said $50K for a Kia was hard to swallow.... I said once you drive it you'll know plus with the warranty it's a great package!

 

[Lawrence Williams]

I had a couple ask me what kind of car I was driving last night in the Costco parking lot. I said it was a Kia Stinger and she shrieked "A KIA?!" I said yep - and I love it. She said her sister had owned a Kia that was crap. I said yes - back around 2011 they had a turnaround in reliability. She and her hubby loved the looks and said they were about to trade in their 10 year old Dodge Avenger or something like that... and that they were going to go check out the Stinger. She also said $50K for a Kia was hard to swallow.... I said once you drive it you'll know plus with the warranty it's a great package!

I still don't get the stunned response and pricing factor.....go drive before making a rash decision based on past practice ....like you said, nearly 10yrs ago the turnaround began!

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

She and her hubby loved the looks and said they were about to trade in their 10 year old Dodge Avenger or something like that... and that they were going to go check out the Stinger. She also said $50K for a Kia was hard to swallow.... I said once you drive it you'll know plus with the warranty it's a great package!

LOL.
A Dodge Avenger owner shouldn't be throwing stones at Kia quality and reliability, even pre-2011 Kia reliability.

 

[CeramicGT001]

LOL.
A Dodge Avenger owner shouldn't be throwing stones at Kia quality and reliability, even pre-2011 Kia reliability.

That’s also the first thing that popped into my head haha. Just goes to show how uninformed the average car owner is when it comes to brand reliability and performance.

 

[StumpZ22]

Kia's up in this neck of the woods in Upstate NY have a better rep than elsewhere but man they don't put many Stingers on the lot. AWD with the features and engine I don't care, what is the equivalent? I am a finance guy that compares data all day and I can't find something that is equal for the money.

 

[westcoastGT]

Children should be seen not heard. When people hate on something or someone 99% of the time its because they are jealous they can't have it or be like that person. I love it when someone is hating on me because they are thinking about me 24/7. My opinion Kia has come a long way. I bought My 2016 optima when it first came out, then I bought the stinger 3 years later and my son just bought the 2020 soul last month. My wif is currently looking at the different kia mid size suv's as a Christmas present. HATE ON HATERS

we just bought an SXL Turbo Sportage , cuz Telly's are impossible to get right now ( SXP's anyways ) I'm blown away with the Sportage ( after 2 BMW X5s and 1 X6 ) .......go get one , they are fun to drive and very practical

 

[Stinger812]

Thanks definitely will check one out when I get back home this weekend.

 

[Stinger812]

I had a couple ask me what kind of car I was driving last night in the Costco parking lot. I said it was a Kia Stinger and she shrieked "A KIA?!" I said yep - and I love it. She said her sister had owned a Kia that was crap. I said yes - back around 2011 they had a turnaround in reliability. She and her hubby loved the looks and said they were about to trade in their 10 year old Dodge Avenger or something like that... and that they were going to go check out the Stinger. She also said $50K for a Kia was hard to swallow.... I said once you drive it you'll know plus with the warranty it's a great package!

F

From the first day I had it to now I get the same questions because my stinger has the E badge kit. It's still amazing to see there reaction when I tell them its a Kia Stinger. They all say that it's a really nice, sexy, gorgeous, hot car. When they ask how much I simply reply worth every penny and so much fun to drive.
Kia Stingers definitely get lot of attention because it's not a car that you see very much of in orlando and also it just has a very stance. Normally when you buy a any car after buying it you notice other ones like it. With the Stinger you don't see as many so it attracts more attention. Hopefully they will have another stingerfest this coming year so I can meet other fellow stinger owners and trade some ideas, stories, and get some great do's and don'ts. Let's keep Stinging the haters and educate the public on how great the Stinger's are and grow our Stinger family.