RE: Kia Stinger GT-S: Driven
Discussion
kambites said:
All it all it sounds like a good effort and, given the price, deserves to sell well... which it wont (at least in the UK) because it's got a Kia badge on the nose. As much as I hate to say this, it also needs either a small diesel or hybrid option.
There are small diesel and hybrid versions of the KIA Optima, on which this car is based.
Edited by r11co on Tuesday 3rd October 18:37
kambites said:
Would have been nice to have some information on how the chassis (in comfort mode by the sounds of it) compares to the German competition in terms of damping quality, balance, etc.
All it all it sounds like a good effort and, given the price, deserves to sell well... which it wont (at least in the UK) because it's got a Kia badge on the nose. As much as I hate to say this, it also needs either a small diesel or hybrid option.
A supposedly performance sport kia which is an oxymoron, why on earth would it want a small diesel/hybrid engine unless to attract the tight and make up for the fact it's a complete failure at what's it's designed to do, i.e. be better then the German equivalents.All it all it sounds like a good effort and, given the price, deserves to sell well... which it wont (at least in the UK) because it's got a Kia badge on the nose. As much as I hate to say this, it also needs either a small diesel or hybrid option.
Do you happen to own a KIA by any chance...
I dont know what discounts Kia will be offering but considering the discounts offered on the competition this car is basically a similar cost is if they dont heavily discount.....Kia are dreaming if they think they'll compete on the same playingfield at this time.
Needs to be at least 10k cheaper imo and even then its novelty value.
Needs to be at least 10k cheaper imo and even then its novelty value.
Nothing to put me off yet! I really like this car along with the Hyundai i30 N. I'm very impressed with the recent Hyundais and Kias
Norbury90 said:
MPG: 28.5mpg
I feel that this is a problem.
I wouldn't be bothered by it. Official average for my car is that (although in reality it does just under 33mpg for me normally) and it has over 100 horsepower less than the StingerI feel that this is a problem.
Aeroresh said:
I dont know what discounts Kia will be offering but considering the discounts offered on the competition this car is basically a similar cost is if they dont heavily discount.....Kia are dreaming if they think they'll compete on the same playingfield at this time.
Needs to be at least 10k cheaper imo and even then its novelty value.
It's not really purchase price that matters because almost no-one buys new cars anymore, it's monthly lease costs which will make or break it. You seem to be able to get a 440i GC for around £450 a month on a three year contract with a £3kish deposit; which amounts to about £500 a month total. So this probably needs to be, what, ~£400 a month to sell? Needs to be at least 10k cheaper imo and even then its novelty value.
Of course even the market for the BMW isn't huge; six cylinder petrols make up around 10% of the total market for the 4-series grand coupe and realistically this is going to sell a fraction of the numbers of that car in the UK.
article said:
...all were opportunities to show that Kia could produce a ritzy material finish and a classy haptic feel. And all are ultimately opportunities missed.
Yes, that was the question on everyone’s lips. Never mind the 370bhp, never mind the rear wheel drive, tell us about the classy haptic feel.
I think it looks good, but it seems a bit OTT in places. The vents on the bonnet and the "TURBO" across the (pretty naff looking) engine cover are the obvious ones. I think that the lines are not a nice or flowing as the German rivals, this and the cheesy bits above to me mean they have some decent styling people there to get the fundamentals right and then a few people somebody else gets involved and mucks it up with some chatty slap one. The interior I think needs to be judged in the metal/plastic and the driving too. I have a current model S5 sportback and think it's a nicer looking car, but the stinger is certainly a step in the right direction for Kia. I hope it drives more like an S5 than my partner's Sportage which whilst ok for 50 miles soon gets tiring to drive long distance on the motorway compaed to the Audi. The Sportage whilst a good car and ideal for what she wants is not at the level of the Germans but I hope the Stinger is another level compared to the Sportage.
kambites said:
Would have been nice to have some information on how the chassis (in comfort mode by the sounds of it) compares to the German competition in terms of damping quality, balance, etc.
All it all it sounds like a good effort and, given the price, deserves to sell well... which it wont (at least in the UK) because it's got a Kia badge on the nose. As much as I hate to say this, it also needs either a small diesel or hybrid option.
I'm baffled by this post.All it all it sounds like a good effort and, given the price, deserves to sell well... which it wont (at least in the UK) because it's got a Kia badge on the nose. As much as I hate to say this, it also needs either a small diesel or hybrid option.
Did you actually read the review?
That is as bad a review I've read for a new sports saloon in quite a while. And I get the impression the reviewer was going easy on the car.
I don't know where to start so I won't even bother
If this was a BMW or Porsche I can only imagine the comments on this forum!
D200 said:
Did you actually read the review?
Um, yes? Hence why I know it didn't really make any dynamic comparisons to the competition (and no, I don't think the M4 or Giulia Quadrifoglio are competition!). All it actually says is "... probably wouldn't be far behind an Alfa Giulia or a well-specified BMW 4-Series for genuine rear-driven handling adjustability and dynamic flair." which is hardly a detailed analysis of its comparative handling traits. 
Kia should have priced this car at 28k max not over 40k
Make it a loss leader initially then gradually increase the price to make it profitable
Them the many faults would be a lot more acceptable but at 41k they are unacceptable
it would have been the new M135i or Golf R
They mightn't make much money but they aren't gonna make much money on it (in uk anyway) as they will sell next to none
Massive opportunity sadly missed
Make it a loss leader initially then gradually increase the price to make it profitable
Them the many faults would be a lot more acceptable but at 41k they are unacceptable
it would have been the new M135i or Golf R
They mightn't make much money but they aren't gonna make much money on it (in uk anyway) as they will sell next to none
Massive opportunity sadly missed
I work at a Kia dealership here in Aus, and had a very pleasant and smokey drive day in this last week. I can't disgree with anything in this review but wonder, do Kia simply concede the UK market isn't for them? Here in Aus the price is the same, but a 440i is GBP65,000, a 25 grand difference. When taking that into consideration here, the cheaper interior for example, isn't really a problem - it was never competing with the Germans in the first place. I wonder how many other markets are in this situation where the Kia doesn't come 'just a but under' but is in an entirely different segment to what would be UK rivals?
r11co said:
Norbury90 said:
MPG: 28.5mpg
I feel that this is a problem.
I feel that this is a problem.
Go back to your four-pot diesel, m8. That is none-too-shabby a figure for a car with this level of performance (and probably nearer to the real-world figures than the lies quoted by certain German marques).
Edited by r11co on Tuesday 3rd October 18:19
It's poor when rivals like the 440i achieve over 40mpg on the same test.
Anyone looking for a cheap alternative is going to wince at a real world 22mpg figure which is what you'll get starting out from that official figure.
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