I test drove a Stinger GT2 RWD today...

"KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time" (kngt)
07/05/2018 at 13:16 • Filed to: Kia Stinger, kia, stinger gt, Stinger, Oppo review

I have sat in it before, test driven the 2.0T. The GT Stays true to its name as one of the best Grand Touring Cars out there for the money- has the speed, handling, comfort, tech, liftback style and space to absolutely crush freeways. The GT is good, Very good, But it’s not a great car, still missing that special something that makes the Germans much better at this sort of thing.

Thank Heavens they blacked out the chrome!

I am not going into the details of the exterior interior except for the aspects that you interface with when driving as this has been discussed ad nauseam.

Key highlights/lowlights:

· !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Love this engine! smooth torque and wakes with anger past 3K RPM and most times you don’t even have to cross 6K RPM before you are at high freeway speeds

· Wish it were louder. Even in sport mode it’s not enough. Really needs this Borla Exhaust:

· Transmission is good, smooth unobtrusive and responsive in sport mode as long as you are not too low in the powerband when it needs a second to downshift. No complaints in a 30 min test drive at least.

· Paddle shifters feel good

· Ride is excellent. Compliant but not wishy washy

· Handles very well. Body roll is controlled but it’s there. Got the rear to step out a little bit when flooring it from a stop at turns and was fun. TC didn’t cut it too much but I didn’t turn it off because test drive. The AWD system apparently doesn’t neuter the handling from what I have researched. Have to test drive one to be sure.

· I didn’t feel the weight of approx. 4000 Lb a lot. Felt controlled. I felt the weight at lot more in the G80 Sport.

· I like the mode controller knob, no fumbling around. Just turn and cycle through modes without having to think about stopping the button at a particular position

· Car is big, but doesn’t feel big when driving. But I hate looking at those cheap ass fake chrome hood vents.

· Steering wheel is high quality but steering itself is not one the better electric ones. I have experienced much better ones. Artificially weighted in sport mode and loose in comfort mode but it will do. I keep trying to compare it the hydraulic system in my G and that is a lost battle

· Comfort mode is Quiet , subdued, smooth makes it a great cruiser, really does wake up in sport mode. I’d leave it in sport mode all the time.

· Little more road noise than I hoped, the luxury brands do it better. Hell the new Mazda 6 is Phenomenal in this area- even better than an Audi A4, but I digress. Wind noise was minimal.

· Seats are excellent! But you need the GT2 with all the thigh support and side bolstering settings. Cooled seats are wonderful.

· HUD is great. No complaints. Gauges are crisp, neat easy to read.

· Visibility out back is basically a slit. You have to get adjusted to it. Worse than most modern cars save for the Camaro.

· All controls are logically laid out. Infotainment is straightforward. Some buttons are not as high quality as they look, and they make a plastiky noise. Also the suede type material across the dash looks kinda cheap. Overall I felt it could be more cohesive in mixing and matching materials. These interior and refinement touches are where it loses out against the German competition but the fact I am comparing this to them itself is high praise.

· Back seats are comfortable once you get it. Middle hump is YUGE so seating is only for kids

· Easy to get in and out of front seat because I can adjust the height. The liftback makes it harder for ingress/egress in the back seat and I did have to bend my head sideways (5’1 1”). Low ride height might also be a problem if you are putting in and taking in kids in a car seat.

I like to drive this better than the G80 sport but I love how the G80 sport looks interior and exterior and I wish they would cut 500Lb from it and make it sportier. Anyway, the G70 might be the sweet spot I am looking for.

Overall, It fulfills about 85% of the hype IMO. This car is incredible value for money, especially used. Kia badge be !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and figuratively dammed. I don’t care, I’d buy one.

Speaking of which, the sales manager said he’d sell me this $45,899 MSRP one for $40,000 out the door today. Not a bad deal if he’s not Bullshitting.

If you’re looking at an Acura TLX SH-AWD, Infiniti Q50 3.0T Red Sport,the new Regal GS you should absolutely consider this.

DISCUSSION (29)

Nibby > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 13:00

nice writeup... it has compelled me to buy this now, thanks

Kinja'd!!!

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 13:02

I’m strongly considering these for my next car...I just worry about what the resale value of these will be in 1-2 years

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
07/05/2018 at 13:06

It’ll be crap. Residual values for 3 year leases give you an idea, looks like 50% ish

https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/kia-stinger-lease-rates/29668

I wouldn’t buy new unless i get at least $ 12 k off the price. Used 2-3 year model is the way to go.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
07/05/2018 at 13:09

I’d expect resale value to be pretty atrocious. The only scenarios you should buy one used I’d say are 1) if you’re OK with taking a big depreciation hit, or 2) plan to not pay attention to resale values and keep it long term, making amends with the Kia dealership experience while being thankful for the 10 year warranty.

#2 isn’t too horrible a prospect I think given what a great car it appears to be, but us jalops usually have that itch that needs to be scratched more frequently than once a decade…

fintail > Nibby
07/05/2018 at 13:11

A facelift model, well aren’t you fancy.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 13:17

At least you fit

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 13:18

Great write up! He’s bullshitting something btw . MSRP on a RWD GT2 (including destination/handling of course) is $50,100. If he’s actually doing a GT2 RWD at the price of a normal GT (MSRP of GT RWD without drivewise package is $39,250) he must be desperate to move it or they accidentally dropped it on it’s roof at some point lol.

Chariotoflove > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
07/05/2018 at 13:18

Depreciation is killer still because Kia is just not a luxury brand here. But, the quality is there. It only makes sense if you buy it to keep it. That’s what I’m doing.

Mid Engine > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 13:19

1) hate the exterior styling, especially the hood vents

2) interior is just as bad

3) it has two pedals

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
07/05/2018 at 13:23

Thanks! Also can confirm it was a GT2 trim. OK I went back and checked. You’re right. MSRP is $ 50.2K. He has it Listed for $45.9K and said he’ll do $40K today. It’s been on the lot for months and he’s desperate.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 13:27

Y ep sounds like it. Good time to grab it if you’re really interested. Kia loves putting stuff on sale but the incentives on the Stinger have been held in check. Despite this one it’s selling pretty good in my opinion, especially for it being it’s first year . It’s within a couple thousand of sales of the R io and Sedona and it’s crushing the Cadenza with over 5,000 more sales so far this year.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

And I know I’m right lol, I opened the price sheet doc.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Mid Engine
07/05/2018 at 13:28

1) Styling has been polarising for sure. Even people who like it hate the hood vents, myself included

2) Interior is not bad,there are worse ones in more expensive cars. It’s well laid out and ergonomics are comfortable but if you compare it to a Mercedes or Audi obviously it doesn’t stack up (I’m only saying this because Kia themselves brought a 430i and A5 sportback in comparison tests)

3) Hopefully they’ll make one in the future, or a G70 3.3t version. Till then you have a 340i which is easilyy $60K comparably equipped.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Nibby
07/05/2018 at 13:32

Gib

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 13:39

The lift back is so damn cool, this car is at the top of my list for my next car.

My list is as follows:

1. New Kia Stinger

2. New subaru WRX

3. 2000 Impreza 2.5 RS 4 door

4. New 2017 focus ST

5. Nissan Frontier 4x4

Who the hell knows .

SmugAardvark > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 13:39

I have a couple of years before I start seriously shopping around for a new daily driver. I plan on running the Cube as far into the ground as I can and then donating it, since it has already pretty much bottomed out on resale value. But I definitely want to replace it with a fun GT/sports sedan.

With that said, the Stinger GT is definitely on the list of cars I’m considering at this point, alongside the A-R Giulia, Jaguar XE, or something a bit more wild like an imported R32 Skyline or Toyota Mark II.

AestheticsInMotion > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 13:39

1) love the styling, but... REAL hood vents/extractors would have been fantastic. A bit racier looking, but 100% functional.

Kinja'd!!!

2) it SHOULD stack up to them though, shouldn’t it? Isn’t that the point? Especially given the luxury brands’ aversion to having decent interiors in their entry level cars.

3) please god. Someday. I’m dreaming of a day ten years from now where stingers are one of t he cheapish enthusiast cars of choice, with a healthy aftermarket and knowledgeable people on the forums and...

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
07/05/2018 at 14:05

I posted about good deals that are out there on the GT a few weeks ago. You have to shop around nearby states though

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/well-that-didnt-take-long-1826484825

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > SmugAardvark
07/05/2018 at 14:11

I would never touch Alfa but speaking of XEs , T hey’re getting super affordable the supercharged v6 is the way to go. I posted about this:

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/nporcps-i-found-the-4-cheapest-xe-35ts-in-the-country-1827059433

DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 14:14

I sat in one at a Kia dealer not too long ago. I wasn’t impressed honestly. I don’t think it was a GT, and idk if that makes a difference in interior quality, but I don’t see how someone who wants a BMW, Merc, or Audi would be impressed enough by the Kia to buy one over it’s German competitors. The Stinger just felt like an expensive Kia.

Don’t get me wrong, the styling is cool, the lift back is very practical, the interior space was very nice, and its not a bad car by any means . But its still a KIA. And it feels like a Kia.

404 - User No Longer Available > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 14:17

I thought a 2.0T Stinger is just a Stinger, the GT moniker is reserved for the V6.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > 404 - User No Longer Available
07/05/2018 at 14:19

Yes. only V6s get the GT name added .

I drove the V6 GT2 trim RWD trim today.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 14:33

ahhh I remember that one. Yeah the dealers will play with them, but Kia Corporate isn’t going big with incentives (so far). The yellow GT’s always jump out at me (like the one in your other story) because it’s the entry GT + the limited slip rear dif. And that guy has his MSRP all wrong despite it looking like a nice price, should be 40,850 not up at 45k

E90M3 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 14:34

I drove one and it did feel like a pretty great car, but it was missing something. It was no more exciting than the 320i loaner I had the other week.

404 - User No Longer Available > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 14:36

Yeah I was a bit thrown off by the first line and the GT” 2" moniker. We don’t have that trim up here, only GT and GT Limited.

SmugAardvark > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 14:38

I know, the thought of trying to daily an Alfa should be enough to make most people weep. But it isn’t like it will be my sole mode of transportation. And they look so damn good to me.

I really like the looks of the Jag XF and XE too though. Thanks for the link.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 14:43

Eeek...maybe I’ll be able to buy one through my job at wholesale price

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/05/2018 at 22:47

Nice review. What about the car stood out the most to you in comparison to others ? Was it the engine?

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
07/05/2018 at 22:50

Thanks! I think from a performance standpoint the engine, and from a practicality standpoint I loved the lift back- both the styling and the space it offers .

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/06/2018 at 01:56

Been wanting to review one of these myself! This is good Oppo right here