"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
12/31/2017 at 16:30 • Filed to: Kia
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"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
12/31/2017 at 16:30 • Filed to: Kia | 4
| 19 |
If you didnt jump on a Stinger already then you may need to talk down a slight mark up on the V6 cars now that dealers are finding out they are an easy sell. Watch that price slider in these pictures, it’s for the 627 Stingers equipped with the V6 that have their prices listed on CarGurus.
From $40,000 and up we still have 575 cars listed from that original group, which makes sense because a V6 Stinger pretty much starts at $40,000. But here is where it gets a bit more interesting.
From $51,000 and up there are still 227 listings in that range. That means that 40% of the Stinger GTs being listed are over $50,000! This is for a car that tops out under $53,000. I believe Kia had planned to produce 60,000 Stingers globally which is usually around 2,000 cars a month for just the US. With only around 1,000 cars being on dealer lots for the next two months it may be a good idea to go ahead and lease one of these. More initial demand than supply keeps residual value up.
Also remember that Kia’s marketing still hasn’t hit the Super Bowl ad or all of the basketball, soccer, golf, and elevendy other sports Kia is a sponsor for. Then there are the fashion-focused magazines this car is being worked into. The Stinger also happens to be a very Instagramable vehicle considering the price. All Im saying is that the marketing campaign is barely starting. This introductory enthusiast round of ads and reviews is really only a 15% push on the car. If you are sick of hearing about the Stinger then you are about to have a very rough Spring.
Here is Times Square, and this is only a marketing warm up.
Kia is probably going to outsell Hyundai in 2018 and continue behind Subaru in terms of US sales numbers. If Kia is reaching close to 600,000 annual sales, despite the market slow down next year, then it isn’t too farfetched to believe that 2% of Kia buyers (24,000) will go for a Stinger.
Kia is underproducing by about 50%, and I think it’s on purpose to assist resale. But don’t pay the markup on these, the US Stinger is a seriously good car but it’s built to beat the Dodge Charger and anticipate where the market is heading. Porsche, Cadillac, and Dodge all have cars around this size coming in 2019. I promise you that.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Here is a quick example of what I’m talking about when I say the US Stinger is degraded. Pay attention to the center tunnel where your knees rest and the shifter are mounted.
This Euro-spec above gets soft, stitched faux-leather by the knees cupholder cover and premium material trim.
This Aus-spec Stinger gets a cupholder cover, gloss black plastic but ditches the soft material where the knees would rest.
The US-spec car gets a very hollow silver plastic console cover, no cup holder cover because it would be too flimsy to get away with, hard plastics at the knees, and absolutely no resistance or dampling behind buttons, knobs, and dials on that center tunnel. And before you say that this is a lower spec Stinger, it’s not. That shifter is only in the top trim GT2 Stinger for the US. The only Stinger with shift-by-wire. Every other Stinger uses the shifter from the first Euro-spec picture.
What I’m saying is that the US Stinger, even in top trim, isn’t even on part material wise to the lower mid-level Stingers in other markets. But that said, the Stinger does feel good inside. I’m just a lot more critical because I’m into this kind of stuff. I can sit in this car and tell you it was built to be priced from $28,000 to $47,000 but because the car was reviewed so well Kia tacked on $5,000 across the entire line.
That’s a great move for building a premium into the brand. However, I’m also able to put on my consumer hat and tell you that bites because that $5,000 will show up in depreciation once production exceeds demand in around 30 months.
If you pay a $10,000 markup on top of that built in $5,000 premium then you’re going to be out $15,000 the second you sign. If you lease a Stinger GT right now then it will probably cost you $16,000 to $22,000 over 36 months. That’s why I’m telling you that if you are in the US and want a Stinger GT then you need to lease the car before production increases in order to take the smallest financial hit.
Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
> Wobbles the Mind
12/31/2017 at 16:45 |
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I still can’t get over how ugly the front is. The rear looks nice, other than the added plastic on the lights that seem to serve no purpose, but the front... Eww.
fintail
> Wobbles the Mind
12/31/2017 at 16:57 |
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When we have verifiable records of cars selling for that money it will be meaningful. Until then, asking prices are kind of a function of freedom of expression, and I doubt many if any will sell for sticker + 20%. Dealers pull this stunt all the time, and it probably backfires more than it succeeds. I remember seeing 10-15K ADMs on Crossfire and SSR. LOL
Spanfeller is a twat
> Wobbles the Mind
12/31/2017 at 16:59 |
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Its funny because we just got a fully loaded stinger GT for 37,000 dollars.... It’s got the alcantara roof and faux carbon fibre dash inserts. I don’t know which model it is (fancy or not) but it felt as nice as a VW or perhaps an Acura...
I guess its by market... And its a shame, had they asked 60k forthe stinger we would’ve gone elsewhere! Its a nice car but its not a 60K nice car!
We’re getting it here by January 15th
DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
> Wobbles the Mind
12/31/2017 at 17:02 |
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I’m still confused on the sabotaged interior bit (for the US). Wouldn’t they have finalized the interior before press cars started going out? I get what your saying that they’re doing it to make the brand more premium, but in that case. Why not sell a US stinger with the better interior pieces as a more expensive trim? Or are they already doing that?
David Baker
> Wobbles the Mind
12/31/2017 at 17:03 |
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I would never pay more than sticker on a car out of principal. Even if the market can command it.
boredalways
> Wobbles the Mind
12/31/2017 at 17:08 |
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Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think Kia/Hyundai wants its dealers projecting this kind of image for the brand. Price gouging when there is no need to other than greed by the dealers will backfire.
WilliamsSW
> boredalways
12/31/2017 at 17:13 |
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They don’t, but they don’t have a say in that matter, sadly.
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Spanfeller is a twat
> DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
12/31/2017 at 17:59 |
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“ Cus I’m all about that volume, all that volume, not lux-op”
-Kia
E92M3
> Wobbles the Mind
12/31/2017 at 18:23 |
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From my experience when a car is in high demand, and SHOULD have a high residual, and therefore SHOULD be cheap to lease, the manufacturers put such a high money factor on it that it no longer makes sense.
When the Macan first came out, demand was thru the roof. Based on ACTUAL residual value, you should of been able to lease one for $400 a month, but Porsche wanted almost $1000.
Arachnyd OH78
> Wobbles the Mind
01/01/2018 at 01:04 |
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I was ready to buy one. Dealer wanted $58... I scoffed and told them to call me when they are selling under MSRP.
I read they are in “high demand”, but they two dealers in my city have marked them up a buck, and both managed to sell 0. How is it high demand of they’ve done none?
JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
> Wobbles the Mind
01/01/2018 at 07:39 |
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Didn’t realize they were already getting
Marked up. My just store has already gotten 5 and sold 4; all discounted. They’ve been selling as soon as they get PDId
jimz
> Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
01/01/2018 at 09:44 |
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this thing just screams “tryhard.” the interior design is almost a straight cribbing of Mercedes.
Svend
> Wobbles the Mind
01/01/2018 at 11:55 |
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You guys really need to get your dealerships under control.
The dealer ‘mark up’, is way more like ‘price gouging’.
It’s really insane.
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Danangme
> Wobbles the Mind
01/01/2018 at 12:41 |
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Can’t be surprised by anything a KILLED IN ACTION dealer will do. Go in to trade and they can’t find your keys when you want to leave,write the figures on a piece of paper with diagonal line across it. Happen to me and two other people I know. Besides their vehicles depreciate faster than any mainstream vehicle. Too bad they have nice interiors and I’ve read their drive trains have gotten better.
Too many choices out there to put up with those sales tactics
404 - User No Longer Available
> Wobbles the Mind
01/01/2018 at 13:35 |
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I saw some dealers outside of the GTA listing the Stinger for 52k. All while a bit closer to home, a BMW dealer is listing a 2017 430i Gran Coupe for 48k. Granted it’s a dealer demo on the BMW’s end with 16k on the clock, one does have to wonder why would I go for the Stinger.
LJ909
> Wobbles the Mind
01/02/2018 at 01:55 |
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This is bad and it could hurt the car from the start. Marking up an entirely new model with no recognition and familiarity with consumers is always dumb. Its not like this is some total redesigned next gen Optima, a car customers are familiar with. Even then it would still be wrong but not as risky. How basically saying “hey check out my new product you know nothing about and have never seen before, and oh yea I want you to pay more than you should for it!” is a business model they think works is beyond me.
Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
> Wobbles the Mind
01/02/2018 at 02:38 |
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I’m not surprised—US cars are typically decontented due to the high sales volume and lower average price.
I had just ranted a few days ago about how I had to pay extra to source a cargo cover for my wife’s Jeep. Pretty sure Euro models include it with the car.
SmugAardvark
> David Baker
01/02/2018 at 03:05 |
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I’m the same way. It’s why I have outright disregarded the Focus RS and Civic Type R. They’re already pricey for what they are, but to ask thousands of dollars over retail seems absurd.
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SmugAardvark
> boredalways
01/02/2018 at 03:06 |
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Especially considering that Kia already has somewhat of a reputation for shady dealer antics...