Kia Stinger GTS 2019
Discussion
Have been posting in Car Buying on someone else’s thread, so I thought I’d better start afresh on here!
Took the plunge after 2 years of research!
March ‘19 GTS in Ceramic Silver with black leather. All the toys.
Will go through the details soon, but very, very happy so far.
Had a Chimaera 4.0 HC for three years from 2003 to
2006 and this is the first car since that has put that big petrol-engined smile back on my face!
3.3L Twin Turbo 365 bhp, 376 lb ft. 8 speed torque converter auto.
More soon!
Cheers
Dunc
Took the plunge after 2 years of research!
March ‘19 GTS in Ceramic Silver with black leather. All the toys.
Will go through the details soon, but very, very happy so far.
Had a Chimaera 4.0 HC for three years from 2003 to
2006 and this is the first car since that has put that big petrol-engined smile back on my face!
3.3L Twin Turbo 365 bhp, 376 lb ft. 8 speed torque converter auto.
More soon!
Cheers
Dunc
Thanks guys.
Included as standard:
8-speed auto (from 2019 with full manual override), LSD, Brembo brakes, HUD (current speed, speed limit, nav instructions), heated seats x4, cooled front seats, 720W Harmon / Kardon with 15 speakers (two subs under front seats), sunroof, Nappa leather, lane keep assist, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise, Apple car play, navigation, smart key entry, auto lights / wipers, LED headlights with adaptive full beam, driver’s memory seat, electric passenger seats, heated steering wheel.
Also gadgets I probably won’t need - lap timer, G-Force monitor (!)
Loads of room for the kids in the back. Boot as big floor-area-wise as the Octy Estate, but obviously shallower due to the sloping roofline.
There maybe more, but coming from an Octavia vRS 220, I am feeling a very lucky boy!
Good to be back on here. Been a long time since my Chimaera days!
Included as standard:
8-speed auto (from 2019 with full manual override), LSD, Brembo brakes, HUD (current speed, speed limit, nav instructions), heated seats x4, cooled front seats, 720W Harmon / Kardon with 15 speakers (two subs under front seats), sunroof, Nappa leather, lane keep assist, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise, Apple car play, navigation, smart key entry, auto lights / wipers, LED headlights with adaptive full beam, driver’s memory seat, electric passenger seats, heated steering wheel.
Also gadgets I probably won’t need - lap timer, G-Force monitor (!)
Loads of room for the kids in the back. Boot as big floor-area-wise as the Octy Estate, but obviously shallower due to the sloping roofline.
There maybe more, but coming from an Octavia vRS 220, I am feeling a very lucky boy!
Good to be back on here. Been a long time since my Chimaera days!
Edited by dunc69 on Tuesday 3rd September 08:34
samj2014 said:
You know, I really wanted to dislike it, based solely on the fact that it's a Kia, but I don't think I can... Damn you.
Haha, what’s in a badge / brand! So many people have come up to me to ask about it! An almost daily occurrence! “Is that a Kia? What is it? Is it any good? Love the looks / colour” etc.
The upgraded (from 2019) exhaust is certainly getting noticed too.
The farmer who lives opposite came over yesterday (for the 3rd time in 7 years) as I cleaned the car. Asked about the bhp etc.
Then said he could hear me start it up every morning. I asked if it bothers him, ready to apologise......
“No, it sounds fantastic mate”!
Edited by dunc69 on Tuesday 3rd September 07:43
Appreciate all the positive comments guys. It’s certainly a car that attracts positive comments out in the real world too.
Helped a lady friend buy a car today and the garage owner was more interested in discussing my Kia than selling to my friend. Well, for a while anyway. And he’s an Aston owner!
The front seats are quite low, but not so low you can’t fit feet under them. But I agree it’s tight.
Rear space wise, the distance from the seat back (where your lower back sits) to the front seat in my position is the same as in my old vRS estate. The Kia seat squab is about 1 1/2 inches longer, so the actual gap to the front seat looks less, but the space available is the same.
The boot is the same size as the Octy estate in terms of depth and width. But it is shallower. Of course taking the boot cover off helps, and the rear seats fold flat 60/40 too. Overall, practical enough 99 days out of 100. For day 100, the roofbox will go on.
Helped a lady friend buy a car today and the garage owner was more interested in discussing my Kia than selling to my friend. Well, for a while anyway. And he’s an Aston owner!
The front seats are quite low, but not so low you can’t fit feet under them. But I agree it’s tight.
Rear space wise, the distance from the seat back (where your lower back sits) to the front seat in my position is the same as in my old vRS estate. The Kia seat squab is about 1 1/2 inches longer, so the actual gap to the front seat looks less, but the space available is the same.
The boot is the same size as the Octy estate in terms of depth and width. But it is shallower. Of course taking the boot cover off helps, and the rear seats fold flat 60/40 too. Overall, practical enough 99 days out of 100. For day 100, the roofbox will go on.
Seanseansean said:
I really like the stinger, it’s a nice alternative to most of the cars on the road. I see one around by me quite often, it always catches my eye.
The colour really suits it and the interior looks really premium.
What are the seats like? I rented a Kia in Canada (can’t remember the model) the seats where so horrible. Probably the worst seats I have sat in.
The seats are great. 8-way electrically adjustable. The colour really suits it and the interior looks really premium.
What are the seats like? I rented a Kia in Canada (can’t remember the model) the seats where so horrible. Probably the worst seats I have sat in.
Includes lumbar and bolsters which can be tightened.
The squab can be extended too. The steering wheel is electrically adjustable as well.
It took me a while to find the perfect position but, now that I have, very happy.
The seats are quite firm, but you’d expect that with 365bhp!
Yep, that’s me!!
I originally wanted ceramic grey on red leather, but Mrs Dunc and my teenage daughter veto’d it. I think my daughter said she didn’t want to look like a porn star! (My son, who’s 11, thought the red leather was ‘epic’, but he was outgunned!)
With hindsight, they were right. The black leather with grey stitching is perfect. The interior isn’t too dark as the huge sunroof lets lots of light in.
It does feel a classy combo now. The ceramic grey gets a lot of positive comments - more than I would have thought if I’m honest.
Every drive feels like an experience, with people everywhere showing a genuine interest, whether they end up approaching me and asking questions, or not.
It’s not as cheap to run as my last car (Octavia vRS petrol) but the experience and wow factor makes it sooooooo worth it! If Carlsberg made a family car.....
I appreciate I’m still in the honeymoon period, so will try hard to be objective, faults and all, in the coming weeks and months.
I originally wanted ceramic grey on red leather, but Mrs Dunc and my teenage daughter veto’d it. I think my daughter said she didn’t want to look like a porn star! (My son, who’s 11, thought the red leather was ‘epic’, but he was outgunned!)
With hindsight, they were right. The black leather with grey stitching is perfect. The interior isn’t too dark as the huge sunroof lets lots of light in.
It does feel a classy combo now. The ceramic grey gets a lot of positive comments - more than I would have thought if I’m honest.
Every drive feels like an experience, with people everywhere showing a genuine interest, whether they end up approaching me and asking questions, or not.
It’s not as cheap to run as my last car (Octavia vRS petrol) but the experience and wow factor makes it sooooooo worth it! If Carlsberg made a family car.....
I appreciate I’m still in the honeymoon period, so will try hard to be objective, faults and all, in the coming weeks and months.
Edited by dunc69 on Tuesday 3rd September 21:57
Nuclear Biscuit said:
dunc69 said:
Brilliant!! What have you gone for?
I'm getting a GT S 
I didn't want to wait a huge amount of time so I'm getting Hichroma red with black leather, which i like anyway. I was quoted anything up to 20 weeks lead time for some other colour combos!
I currently have a BMW M140i but I need to cart my 90yo parents about on a regular basis now and needed something less compact and firm. This fitted the bill perfectly and drives brilliantly from the test drive I had, old school RWD handling with a proper LSD should be fun.
I'll be taking it on a long trip to Ireland via Holyhead within a week of getting it. If it behaves, with the 7 year warranty I'll be keeping it some time.
Pics when you get it please!
Nuclear Biscuit said:
dunc69 said:
The Hi-Chroma is gorgeous! Good shout. You are going to be very happy when it comes.
Pics when you get it please!
Will do.Pics when you get it please!
These two guys seemed to have some fun in one
https://youtu.be/0bQRjcRrJPs
“Yeah, whack it straight in Sport, mate, we’re on a track, mate!”
Yep, the new screen is great. Really clear graphics and it looks better IMO.
Yes, 2019 cars still need 6 month / 6,000 mile servicing!
It’s Kia ensuring that there are no issues with their halo car. I’ve always though new oil every 10k miles minimum is important in any car, so happy to do it every 6k miles.
Kia offer a package - 3 years servicing (6 services) for £1000. Not bad considering the large bi-turbo engine.
Also, it helps support the 7-year warranty, so I’m happy to pay that.
The 2019 exhaust has been updated to sound rather better and liberate the V6. The previous UK cars had an (artificially muted?) exhaust.
Mine is sufficiently loud that I have turned off the sound enhancement completely. But, it’s a cultured loud and sounds fabulous!
Yes, 2019 cars still need 6 month / 6,000 mile servicing!
It’s Kia ensuring that there are no issues with their halo car. I’ve always though new oil every 10k miles minimum is important in any car, so happy to do it every 6k miles.
Kia offer a package - 3 years servicing (6 services) for £1000. Not bad considering the large bi-turbo engine.
Also, it helps support the 7-year warranty, so I’m happy to pay that.
The 2019 exhaust has been updated to sound rather better and liberate the V6. The previous UK cars had an (artificially muted?) exhaust.
Mine is sufficiently loud that I have turned off the sound enhancement completely. But, it’s a cultured loud and sounds fabulous!
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
dunc69 said:
Go for it! You won’t be disappointed!
One small problem, the lack of £30k + kicking about! I do need a car shaped toy mind. Aiming at a V8 Vantage, but I may aim for another, much more affordable, Focus ST3 in the not too distant. In the mean time I admire you for having the balls to go for one of these over the predictable German alternatives - I would honestly go for one over them too, if I was in the market for such a thing. I’ll report back honestly as it goes on. Positives and negatives.
Jag_NE said:
dunc69 said:
Yep, the new screen is great. Really clear graphics and it looks better IMO.
Yes, 2019 cars still need 6 month / 6,000 mile servicing!
It’s Kia ensuring that there are no issues with their halo car. I’ve always though new oil every 10k miles minimum is important in any car, so happy to do it every 6k miles.
Kia offer a package - 3 years servicing (6 services) for £1000. Not bad considering the large bi-turbo engine.
Also, it helps support the 7-year warranty, so I’m happy to pay that.
The 2019 exhaust has been updated to sound rather better and liberate the V6. The previous UK cars had an (artificially muted?) exhaust.
Mine is sufficiently loud that I have turned off the sound enhancement completely. But, it’s a cultured loud and sounds fabulous!
That servicing is good value. Bit of a pain needing to turn up every 6 months however. Yes, 2019 cars still need 6 month / 6,000 mile servicing!
It’s Kia ensuring that there are no issues with their halo car. I’ve always though new oil every 10k miles minimum is important in any car, so happy to do it every 6k miles.
Kia offer a package - 3 years servicing (6 services) for £1000. Not bad considering the large bi-turbo engine.
Also, it helps support the 7-year warranty, so I’m happy to pay that.
The 2019 exhaust has been updated to sound rather better and liberate the V6. The previous UK cars had an (artificially muted?) exhaust.
Mine is sufficiently loud that I have turned off the sound enhancement completely. But, it’s a cultured loud and sounds fabulous!
FaNtheMaN26 said:
Lovely car OP, these are so rare only seen two actually on the road and one in my local petrol station where I had a great chat with the fella. He a red one and and was really happy with it
Only thing I'd say is the wheels look a tad too small? I think an inch bigger and a concave design would really suit the lines. I am in a new 'should have gone to spec savers' civic and feel the same!
Thanks, yes the rarity factor is nice. Lots of people stare as if to say, “what’s that?”Only thing I'd say is the wheels look a tad too small? I think an inch bigger and a concave design would really suit the lines. I am in a new 'should have gone to spec savers' civic and feel the same!
The wheels are 19s. I agree 20s would look better, but buying 20” rubber is probably to be avoided ££££ ! 19s are pricey enough after years buying 18s.
Harpoon said:
kharma45 said:
Do the 2019 cars still need serviced every 6 months/6000 miles?
Glad Kia did away with the old infotainment screen and stuck in that newer one that the American's got. The old one made the cabin look... old. New one much sleeker with the flush screen. Old for reference
So are the dash pictures on the Kia UK site the old screen?Glad Kia did away with the old infotainment screen and stuck in that newer one that the American's got. The old one made the cabin look... old. New one much sleeker with the flush screen. Old for reference
https://www.kia.com/content/dam/kwcms/kme/uk/en/as...
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