The Kia Stinger isn't selling so well and other auto news

"LJ909" (lj909) 09/19/2019 at 12:08 • Filed to: News

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Could the Stinger see a next gen? :  !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! reports that the Stinger hasn’t been selling as well as Kia would have liked. Just 16,806 were sold last year, and YTD sales through last month are down 19% from the year prior. Australian car publication CarAdvice spoke with Kia’s VP and senior designer Gregory Guillaume and he had this to say about it: At the moment I’m not sure it’s doing as good as we hoped. We never really expected to do massive volumes. It was a halo car. We did want to be successful at least in America, the market where we thought there is a chance that it works. We had very high expectations for that market and it’s very difficult to start in such segments.” Not all hope is lost however, as he seems to be wanting to wait it out. Referencing his time at Audi he added: “ I remember… it took three generations of the A8 to be seen on eye level to a BMW 7 Series or Mercedes S-Class. You have to persevere. If you’re entering these segments (whether) it’s premium or image vehicles, you have to give yourself a bit of time. ” So if you want one get one before its gone and you regret it. Its up in the air if it’ll be around in a few years.

C8 fans are working together to fight markups: The Corvette community is working together to create a list of dealer selling at MSRP and others that are having markups. Head on over to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , where a thread has been started so prospective buyers can know where to shop to get a fair price. Its ranked by C7 sales to date and the allocations the dealers are getting. They are doing a good service so use this as a guide if you’re a prospective C8 buyer.

Ford is having problems delivering Explorers/Aviators and no one knows why: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is reporting that Ford has had delivery delays with the vehicles because of “manufacturing issues” but no one seems to be able to say what those issues are. It’s even gone as far as having vehicles that have already been delivered to dealers to be recalled. They report that one dealer: has had to “pacify” frustrated customers who have spent significant dollars on preorders. No one from corporate is providing details... I’d be pissed too. Its not a good look for a vehicle to have problems before you even get it. A source involved with the repairs at the plant though spoke with Free Press and ran down the issues:

Explorer chassis issues. X-rays are being used to try to diagnose problems.

Explorer transmission-related questions that prevent the vehicle from going into park or properly sensing the vehicle is in park. Some transmissions are not going into park and the computer is automatically activating the parking brake. Also, the computer cannot determine whether the vehicle is going into park properly and then not activating the brake, which means the vehicles are rolling away.

Explorer and Aviator air-conditioning systems that blow heat only.

Aviator suspension issues. The new system has auto leveling, which drops the vehicle down slightly when it’s unlocked and approached. But they’re arriving with suspensions in failure mode.

Ford needs to get its shit together.

In a move that should surprise no one, GMC is considering a crossover that sits above the Acadia: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is reporting that sources with info on future GMC product plans are saying that GM wants a full size crossover that slots between the Acadia and below the standard wheelbase Yukon. It makes sense and it doesn’t. Where it makes sense is that the the Acadia used to be a 3 row fullsize crossover. But when it got redesigned a few years ago it moved to a smaller platform, downsizing the vehicle. So now that 3rd row is a tight fit. Where it doesn’t make sense is that the Yukon exists, and the only reason to choose this new crossover over a bigger and more capable Yukon is whatever measly fuel gains there could be had. We will see if (it likely will) pan out.

Supra’s chief engineer mules between a manual or more power for the Supra, and he wants to do a new MR2 with help from Porsche: This is a 2 parter. Reporting from both !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! have Supra Chief engineer Tetsuya Tada talking about more power or a manual and a new sports car. Regarding a new MR2, he was asked if he would pair up with another automaker after working with Subaru on the GT86 and BMW on the Supura, he immediately stated Porsche. Though they couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. This comes on the heels of rumors Toyota sparked after talking about wanting to do more sports cars. Tada-san was also asked about more power in the Supra. Carscoops asked if BMW’s twin turbo S58 could eventually be had in the car. He responded with : “ What you’re experiencing today is the first iteration of the new !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . From this point on – as with all other sports cars – every year we will have a new iteration of it that comes with new upgrades. For the 86, for instance, every year there were a few evolutions and upgrades, all the way to the GRMN model.With regard to upgrades, there is an order we can introduce things in. The only question is in what order should we go with?”

So hopefully a TRD or GRMN tuned Supra is in the works.

Spanfeller is a twat > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 12:14

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The stinger is the worst selling Kia/Hyundai product  in Mexico, last year they sold 521. For comparison, Buick sold the same number of Envision SUVs. 

LJ909 > Spanfeller is a twat 09/19/2019 at 12:17

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I think that has something to do with a market mistake It doesn’ t seem like the kind of car that would sell down there. I’m really considering getting one for my next car.

Spanfeller is a twat > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 12:20

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Its not a great performer here because the Mexican market is very brand conscious, the F30, which is more expensive and less powerful, sold 200 units more. Mercedes lead the pack with almost  a thousand C class, and the stinger did sell better than the A4 

But it did elevate Kia, now its compared to VW, and the Sorento SUV is one of the best selling large cars in the country. The sportage sold better than the Tiguan

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 12:24

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I’m shocked- shocked- that the Stinger isn’t selling hundreds of thousands of units per year. Shocked!

dogisbadob > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 12:28

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NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Toyota needs to be TOYOTA, not VW/Porsche or BMW. What they need is a TOYOTA engine

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 09/19/2019 at 12:31

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LJ909 > dogisbadob 09/19/2019 at 12:33

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Yea they have the capability to do performance . I’ m not sure why they are wanting to work with others on sports cars. I’ m sure it has something to do with costs though. IF the vehicle flops they don’ t want to be on the hook for the millions lost in engineering , testing etc. Plus, with how things have been with the GT86 and Supra, the vehicles are more of the other auto makers than Toyota. The Supura for instance, has a BMW door chime for gods sake.

jimz > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 12:46

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I can’t imagine being the poor boob responsible for Genesis:

That’s Genesis brand,  not an individual model. 

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 12:48

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This is the sole reason. 40k sales/yr could recoup development costs for a sports car. 20k/yr or less often does not. Worse still, if two companies make competitors then the R&D doubled for the same segment. Instead, develop the car once, and divide up the trims and engines and go from there. I could easily see Porsche saying TOyota can take a boxster chassis and put their own I-4 in there to make it an MR2 with some toyota seats. But Porsche exclusively has flat-6s and a higher spec interior.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 12:58

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Re: The C8 story, that warmed my heart. That’s what the internet should be for. W ell that, and cat vidoes, and, umm, stuff I need to clear out of my browser history... But I digress.

I l ove seeing people come together and help each other out, especially to stick it to the man. The car buying process is already way more painful than it has to be, so I’m glad people are helping one another out and stomp out greedy dealers. 

LJ909 > jimz 09/19/2019 at 12:59

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Oh yea Genesis sales are trash. Its their own fault though as I have pointed out before.

LJ909 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 09/19/2019 at 13:02

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Exactly right. But then we just end up with a cheaper badge engineered version of a vehicle that already exists. A new age MR2 riding on a Boxster platform with a flat 6 doesnt sound bad though..

LJ909 > Snuze: Needs another Swede 09/19/2019 at 13:06

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Oh yea I loved when I saw this. This is one of the best examples of a community coming together to stop bullshit. And it should be down more. This should’ ve happened with the Supra. But with social media and people being desperate for attention, I doubt this kind of thing will happen all too often because of the ones that are willing to overpay just to be able to have the first of something.

Kanaric > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 13:11

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Kia are fools if they just quit. Its like he said, this car exists to build brand reputation. 

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > jimz 09/19/2019 at 13:13

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Did they stop selling cars in October last year? WTH?

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Kanaric 09/19/2019 at 13:15

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This is how you build brand recognition, by consistently putting out good cars for years. It probably takes 10+ years to really change perception on a brand, so the Stinger is a good start as are the Telluride and K900, but they need to keep at it until the tide turns in their favor.

LJ909 > Kanaric 09/19/2019 at 13:22

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Exactly. You have to keep at it. Thats the attitude to have. Other automakers will throw in the towel and then use that as evidence as people didnt want it or it didnt help the brand. Even look at the K900. They only sold 279 last year. But they keep at it because its building the brand.

Chariotoflove > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 13:31

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“ I remember… it took three generations of the A8 to be seen on eye level to a BMW 7 Series or Mercedes S-Class. You have to persevere. If you’re entering these segments (whether) it’s premium or image vehicles, you have to give yourself a bit of time. ”

This is what Cadillac needs to remember. If you go over to the FP or other blogs, you read commenters parroting the old story of how their cars just aren’t up to par with the Germans, whether or not it’s true. It’s going to take a long time to resuscitate the Cadillac  brand.

LJ909 > Chariotoflove 09/19/2019 at 13:34

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Exactly. Hyundai/Kia are the poster child’s of turn arounds. They were a joke just 15-20 years ago. Now they make world class cars. The powers that be at Cadillac and GM need patience. 

Chariotoflove > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 13:38

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I’m not saying they don’t have problems to face either.  GM still gonna be GM. But, I honestly believe they have transformed from an accountant-led company to an engineering-led one, and that’s the big corner they needed to turn.

Sprocket Oil > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 16:19

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Man, I just got a 2.0L Stinger and I love every minute in it. My only regret is that I couldn’t afford t he GTS! I personally had no interest in Kia but a buddy talked me into test driving one after strongly considering a WRX and I feel in love instantly.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 16:32

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The problem is that they still have a perception problem, so they have depreciation like they’re garbage. Although I guess that’s good if you’re in the market for a used one, their crazy long warranties mean few people sell them before they’re pretty clapped out.

BahamaTodd > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 16:37

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Cadillac is also 20 years in to their turn-around. The difference is no one in the US cares what happens on Hyundai’s corporate side in Korea . That’s not really a problem considering Hyundai is still growing. But if the Korean government ever had to bail out Hyundai, or if Hyundai closed a plant in Korea, no one in the US would care.

GM will always be at a disadvantage because of past events, politics and employee/UAW matters.

LJ909 > Sprocket Oil 09/19/2019 at 16:52

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Is it really that good? I would love a Stinger. After driving the G70 Im convinced I would get a Stinger over it because its a lift back and looks to have more interior room, mainly in the back. Hows the turbo lag though? I drove the G70 with the same engine and the turbo lag was very apparent and one of the main downsides.

LJ909 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 09/19/2019 at 16:53

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Yea thats the downside is the depreciation. They get hit hard. But they are fantastic cars if you dont mind taking the hit and plan to keep the car long term.

404 - User No Longer Available > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 19:10

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If the Stinger came in 2.0T with a manual, I’m trading in Valka.

LJ909 > 404 - User No Longer Available 09/19/2019 at 19:18

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I dont know why they didn’ t offer it with the manual considering the G70 has one.

Ruturaj > LJ909 09/19/2019 at 21:52

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I think k900 sell better in Korea as a luxury car, that's why they keeping it. Stinger was supposed to sell low but better than current numbers.