RE: Kia Stinger GT-S vs. BMW 440i Coupe

[Hub]

kambites said:

Bradgate said:

However good the Stinger is, I really can't see them selling many. They will make Infinitis look commonplace.

Bit baffling that they're releasing it in the UK at all really. Still, in less badge-obsessed countries it'll hopefully sell well enough for them to keep going with the concept.

I agree the V6 will be pretty rare, but it gets publicity and has the halo effect. There are other engine options available - 2.0 turbo for example, and they don't really look much different, so they might sell a few!

I like it!

[chandrew]

Stormfly1985 said:

Willy Nilly said:

I can't imagine the BMW ever getting near the mpg figures!

40mpg is easily achievable on a run in a 440i. Average real world is around 35.

Exactly - my 340i xdrive touring is getting an average of 35mpg since we got it. No town driving but lots of alpine passes.

I also agree with pretty much everything about the lack of feel and suspension. It's easy to admire the car but hard to love it.

Adding the M-Performance power upgrade makes a big difference to these cars but at a cost.

[After_Shock]

kambites said:

It's a Korean car. It would be a odd if it wasn't available in RHD.

For normal models yes, for a halo high performance petrol version not so, it has such limited sales and production appeal it wouldn't be a surprise if they didn't make it for this market.

[Mr2Mike]

1780kg seems excessive, a touch more than a BMW 740Li. How did they pack in so much mass? Depleted uranium engine block?

[hilly10]

Like to see what its worth in three years time against The BMW

[powerstroke]

Wait until BMW's are 10% more , I think we will see more of these Kia thingamys
Oh and how long before a Millennial spins one going to fast on a wet motorway ???

[daveco]

Mr2Mike said:

1780kg seems excessive, a touch more than a BMW 740Li. How did they pack in so much mass? Depleted uranium engine block?

big iron block engine, cheaper/older/heavier materials used t/out?

You're right to question it; a 7 series is 17.5 foot long yet comes in lighter...

[nickfrog]

ambuletz said:

Ali G said:

Kia is less likely to be driven by complete nobs.

yup. someone with a brain and ability to look at it on paper will probably go for the kia.

And someone with a bigger brain might impartially test drive both and prefer one...or the other.

[moffat]

440i inconsistent suspension = Adaptive Suspension. Don't specify it and go with the newly revised stock M Sport springs and there is no confusion between driving modes i.e. too soft and floaty in Comfort and too hard in Sport / Sport+

£1800 will also get you a BMW M Performance Power and Sound Kit increasing the 440i to 360bhp through a BMW remap and an excellent full sports valved exhaust that is switchable in modes to avoid drone on motorways when in Comfort.

20% discount and 0%-2.9% APR deals makes the 440i a compelling proposition currently.

[Tony33]

kambites said:

Bit baffling that they're releasing it in the UK at all really. Still, in less badge-obsessed countries it'll hopefully sell well enough for them to keep going with the concept.

I think the key reason is that the Stinger is KIA's halo model and its success won't be measured in units sold but the impact it has to the brand image.

[Bill]

Isn't there a £40k tax boundary it just scrapes over as well? It's almost as if they don't want to sell any.

[Matt Bird]

Vantagefan said:

"we're mostly concerned with how these cars drive, so number of doors shouldn't matter too much."

Skip to later

"To that BMW, then. Crumbs is it fast. Power might officially be down on the Kia but its weight advantage is in the region of 150kg..."

BMW 440i Gran Coupe - 1723.197kg
Kia Stinger - 1780kg

Would a difference of only 60kg ish have made the BMW not seem quite so quick?

Good point - probably. I'm surprised the GC is that much heavier than the two-door!

[Cheapskate]

It will sell reasonably well here - being less than 2/3rds the 440i price won’t hurt. Plus it’s 5 Series sized.
I’ve seen a few around and the front and back are good. That extension to the taillight that extends to the profile is bizarre. Like the design team decided to ape Maserati and Infiniti, but some loose cannon threw in a reference to the Subaru SVX!

[moffat]

Cheapskate said:

It will sell reasonably well here - being less than 2/3rds the 440i price won’t hurt. Plus it’s 5 Series sized.
I’ve seen a few around and the front and back are good. That extension to the taillight that extends to the profile is bizarre. Like the design team decided to ape Maserati and Infiniti, but some loose cannon threw in a reference to the Subaru SVX!

I would bet that you can get a stock 440i cheaper than the Kia. I don't care about list price as you can get 15% off a 440i without even haggling. I got 20% off mine pretty easy with Sytner.

I wonder which car will have the better residuals too...

[CH3NO2]

This sounds like a worthy alternative to the BMW/Audi/Merc performance cars and it would make a stonking used buy when it is about 3 years old and less than half the price with 4 years warranty still to run. What's not to like?
Sadly I don't think they will sell many because of the badge so there won't be many (any?) to choose from.
"I've got a Kia Stinger "just doesn't have the bragging rights in the pub and unfortunately badge is everything in this country. It's the Lexus F cars situation all over again, excellent cars that sell in tiny quantities because the target market is more concerned with a label than engineering and reliability.

[After_Shock]

moffat said:

20% discount and 0%-2.9% APR deals makes the 440i a compelling proposition currently.

20% discount!? Goodness they are priced severely wrong to start with if that's the case.

[Hairymonster]

I'd have the Kia. Bored with BMWs. Also, couldn't care less what people think. If I like it, it's the right car for me!

Edited by Hairymonster on Monday 13th November 10:54

[GTEYE]

At the end of the day, they'll sell next to none of these in the UK

CO2 not competitive for the fleet market

Residuals likely to be iffy so the private PCP market won't stack up

And its the wrong badge for the sector

I'm sure its a decent car, but its wrong for the UK market...and will likely fade into oblivion quite quickly

[Dafuq]

Interesting looking prospect this, and cheaper over here so it seems (over here being Aus) Our $53 grand is about £32k of your earth pounds.

I could be persuaded to have a punt and test one out, you know, taking one for the team in order to report back sort of thing.

Fuel is also not a thing to worry about over here, it isn't free but we don't get hammered for CO2 BS.

If you all send a pound..............

Edited by Dafuq on Monday 13th November 11:19

[xjay1337]

Kia is a lovely thing.

I'd have one over a 440i but not as a company car buyer. As a private buyer then co2 makes no odds.