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
That is a seriously good looking car!
I was very taken with the Stinger from the initial pictures I'd seen and that colour has certainly sold the exterior looks to me in a big way.
Interior looks tidy and fairly simple but in a good way. Little bit of Merc about the vents and the screen but again no bad thing.
Kia have done a good job with this. First Kia I've ever wanted to own and it's got a cool name!! haha
I was very taken with the Stinger from the initial pictures I'd seen and that colour has certainly sold the exterior looks to me in a big way.
Interior looks tidy and fairly simple but in a good way. Little bit of Merc about the vents and the screen but again no bad thing.
Kia have done a good job with this. First Kia I've ever wanted to own and it's got a cool name!! haha
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 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.
gazzarose said:
Congrats. I'm patiently waiting for the early cars to drop before 20k so I can buy one but they're holding their value really well.
Queue is just behind me 
Really taken with these, spec is excellent, on a par with the used A7 Ive just got thats had well over 10k of options thrown at it. The Stinger really does look good. I’d expect complete bulletproofness from Kia too, we have a Soul which seems very solid.
OP - good choice - enjoy!
mooseracer said:
p4cks said:
I love leftfield choices like this. Kudos to you OP and all the best with it
+1I had a good look around one of these about 18 months or so ago, when Kia were sponsoring a local sporting event. Both me and my mate, who’s a serial BMW purchaser, were taken aback by the GTS. I think they look great. Interested to know more, especially the boot’s useful space, as we have an Octy vRS wagon ATM....
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.
dunc69 said:
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.
Re the space under the seat when i tested it i couldnt.get them under but seat was right downHelped 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!
I'd be really interested in your day to day type running costs as time goes on and you settle into 'normal' life again once the excited passes a bit. I've been thinking a boy what is going to be our next family car and whilst the GTS is the top of the list, but I have looked at the alternatives, which strangely enough are both kias, one is also a stinger. Ive looked at the optima tourer, but the 1.7d is just too slow and the 6k service intervals are just too much for a car that isn't very special. I do about 15k a year which would mean services every 4-5 months. The same went for the lowlier Stingers, I dont see the point of the diesel and the service thing is still a problem with the 2.0t. The GTS on the other hand is special enough that I could justify letting the wife use it as her daily, she only does 5k a year, and I get to enjoy it one family trips, weekends and the occaisional commute. I sort of just feel I need to have at least one 'proper' car before they're legislated and priced away from. My dad's generation could have looked forward to something like that as a retirement present, but I'm 34 with a likeyhood that my retirement car will be electric!
Are you the same new owner that posted on the stinger forum? I forget what the username was, but I'm sure he had a ceramic grey car coming. If you are one and the same, then your wife shares the same view of the red leather as mine. Personally I think the red is stunning, bit I'll happily have any colour if it means I'm allowed to buy the rest of the car!
Are you the same new owner that posted on the stinger forum? I forget what the username was, but I'm sure he had a ceramic grey car coming. If you are one and the same, then your wife shares the same view of the red leather as mine. Personally I think the red is stunning, bit I'll happily have any colour if it means I'm allowed to buy the rest of the car!
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
Whilst this looks great in the photos, from what I've seen, they look even better in real life - absolutely brilliant looking cars.
I looked at one as a potential replacement for my last car (440i), and was very impressed with the one outside my (not very) local dealer. However a totally s
t dealer experience (almost treated with derision) upon enquiry meant that didn't happen, and I ended up with an M4 CP instead.
I'm sure you'll enjoy it, and I look forward to updates - I'm really fascinated with these, despite that poor experience.
I looked at one as a potential replacement for my last car (440i), and was very impressed with the one outside my (not very) local dealer. However a totally s
t dealer experience (almost treated with derision) upon enquiry meant that didn't happen, and I ended up with an M4 CP instead.I'm sure you'll enjoy it, and I look forward to updates - I'm really fascinated with these, despite that poor experience.
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