DRIVEN: Kia's New Stinger Brings BMW Like Power And Finesse To The Masses - Will The Hardcore Enthusiast Care About The Badge?

Snobs will sneer. I really want a long-term test drive in one.

"Performance" is measured in a number of ways:
- 0-60 mph times
- 1/4 mile time and speed
- 60 mph to zero stopping distance
- Skip-pad Gs
- Track times
(etc.)

And that's just performance. And then there are subjective things that draw people to a car, such as the feel, fit and finish, interior and exterior styling, and more.

A Kia is a not a BMW. It might match it or better it someday, but not today. I don't envision any BMW owners, or prospective BMW shoppers turning to Kia any time soon. That doesn't mean a Kia isn't a good car, or possibly even a great car considering the relatively modest price tag. It just means it does not compete with BMW.

You're right. A Kia is not a BMW. The Kia is more reliable and costs a lot less to maintain. If anything BMW should strive to be as reliable and low cost to own.

For the record (in case anyone cares), I've owned four BMWs in my life. All were very reliable (few defects or repairs needed), handled well, were a pleasure to own and drive, and were frickin' expensive to keep. I didn't get any of my BMWs with the intention to save money. I don't regret a single one. Today, my sole vehicle is an Audi SUV.

@TheSteve So you're saying that because you didn't get cash raped while owning 4 BMWs that their reliability is stellar? And yet, you're the first person to flame out on someone when you think their reasoning isn't logocal. #hypocrite

MDarringer wrote “…So you're saying that because you didn't get cash raped while owning 4 BMWs that their reliability is stellar?…”

Dude, your comprehension skills and/or your ability to paraphrase suck.

When I wrote “…All were very reliable (few defects or repairs needed)…” that meant (in simpler English, so you might more easily comprehend), my vehicles arrived with no defects, and they required repairs very infrequently during their lifetime. In other words, *my* four BMWs rarely experienced mechanical failures. This is consistent with published defect numbers that show BMW is better than the industry average. Nowhere do I assert, “[BMW’s] reliability is stellar.” That assertion came from *your* mind, and it was incorrectly attributed to me.



MDarringer also wrote “…you're the first person to flame out on someone when you think their reasoning isn't logical…”

The record of your AutoSpies posts amply shows that you routinely get unhinged and go on a hateful tirade when you don’t agree with someone or if they challenge you. Once again, you exhibit a textbook example of externalization, attributing the worst of your characteristics to others. I don’t know if that makes you a hypocrite, or if you’re just extremely self-unaware.

I think this is going to go about as well as the VW Phaeton.

If Kia wants to compete with BMW, they'd be better served to start over, come up with a new company name and not haul that econo-car reputation along with them.

You speak with the ignorance of people who do not understand marketing. Kia is going to promote that this is a better BMW, but then is going to be dogged in going after the ES, TLX, MKZ, Q50, Avalon, Maxima, Regal, Lacrosse, IS, A3, and CLA price band of cars. They are selling an image to people who cannot afford to buy it so they settle for something less expensive.

MATT - it really does not matter if Kia advertises this car as better than a Porsche or Lamborghini - much less a BMW - people who care about the prestige of a true premium ride - do not want a car that shouts - "He took the cheap way out".

A person who favors the TVR - knows that back then - it was not a Triumph was it?

IF performance was all that mattered - there would be no way to Justify the Rolls Phantom - but it is in that egotism that people buy the car they want to be seen in. Frankly - I could think of LOTS of high performance cheap cars - bt they don't fill the bill.

Based on this review and almost all others I've read/watched, the Stinger GT is certainly a good car, but still falls short of its intended targets. Heavy, body roll, dead steering all seem to be the main culprits.
But, for me, the fact that there's no way to maintain manual mode when using the paddles seems like an odd (i.e., stupid) decision. When I'm using the paddles and keeping the car in 3rd gear flying around a twisty road, I do not want the car switching back into full auto mode. Maybe a lot of buyers won't notice, but that just wouldn't make sense based on the buyer they are targeting. And, yes, that would be a dealbreaker for me.

Hardcore enthusiasts will not care about the badge...but there are not that many enthusiasts out there. The average 3 series/C Class/A4 Leasee is very brand conscious and will definitely care.

The average 3 series/C Class/A4 buyer is NOT very brand conscious and will definitely care only about the great lease price they can get.

That group of buyers is looking for the trendy thing and they are not even remotely brand loyal. They will jump to the next, latest shiny object. If marketed right, the Stinger has the potential to be very trendy.

They don’t care about the brand...as long as it is a prestige brand. A large portion of the group that buys those care are very interested in projecting a certain image.

"They don’t care about the brand...as long as it is a prestige brand. A large portion of the group that buys those care are very interested in projecting a certain image."

Of course. It's like buying a watch. No one cares how well it tells time since all of them do that. It's a visible symbol of status and wealth.

Bigotry and racism alert.

"Bigotry and racism alert."

Look out everyone. This is where Matt starts calling people fascists even though he has no idea what that word means.

Get back to me when you finish your GED and we can talk about you catching up to my education.

I finally found a way to log in here. I been gone a long long time. The Stinger looks like it is going to be great. But what I don't understand is why have the K900 and Stinger going on sell together?

"Get back to me when you finish your GED and we can talk about you catching up to my education."

So you're a highly educated individual who has chosen to flog Hyundais for a living? I'm sorry, but that sounds very unlikely - I think that's a vocation a college dropout falls into when he's trying to make his rent.

@carlosasshatter I'm a highly educated individual that has chosen to be exceptionally entrepreneurial for a living.

"I'm a highly educated individual that has chosen to be exceptionally entrepreneurial for a living."

Me too. I guess we actually have a lot in common, which explains why we both have so much free time to post here.

The comments seem to always go the same way when an article is posted about the KIA Stinger GT... downhill fast ..