[Clutchfoot]

Depends what you plan to do with the car and what your priorities are. Where the Kia shines, the SS doesn’t and vice versa. Kia has a better looking interior and more up to date infotainment, etc and as you say, stock, it will feel more lively around town.

But, if you plan to do any real performance driving, particularly road course, the brakes don’t hold up and handling is so so. Engine mods are limited and not proven for the long term.

SS is just the opposite.

I think I agree. I've come to a point in my life where I no longer expect myself to take my daily driver to a race track. Stinger GT is more of a Grand Tourer (imagine that) while the SS is more of a Sport Sedan.

I think i'm personally getting a little tired of using a Sport Sedan to do the task of a GT. That said rear seat space in the SS is more GT than Sport Sedan.

 

[pottypants]

I think I agree. I've come to a point in my life where I no longer expect myself to take my daily driver to a race track. Stinger GT is more of a Grand Tourer (imagine that) while the SS is more of a Sport Sedan.

I think i'm personally getting a little tired of using a Sport Sedan to do the task of a GT. That said rear seat space in the SS is more GT than Sport Sedan.

thank you for translating what my brain was thinking

btw im looking at videos of the SC500.... think that works for a GT in my book....

its on the short list - i like the reliability.

 

[Clutchfoot]

thank you for translating what my brain was thinking

btw im looking at videos of the SC500.... think that works for a GT in my book....

its on the short list - i like the reliability.

SC500...? That sounds like a car but I must admit I dont know what that is.

The Lexus SC430 turned into the LC500. Is that what you are talking about?


I dont like the lexus front end but at all, but that LC500 is such an awesome GT in every other way and every other angle that k: i could certainly enjoy that. The brown interior has me swooning.

 

[pottypants]

LC500 see correcting my brain again

yeah thats the one thank you !

at 80 used for 2018 , its a few years out for me so i dont care too much about it atm.
no idea if i'd even like it in person. i suspect top notch interior so i prob would.

to me it's like what the prelude was for honda... overpriced but desired.

and i've owned a couple preludes.


ppp

 

[NativH]

thank you for translating what my brain was thinking

btw im looking at videos of the SC500.... think that works for a GT in my book....

its on the short list - i like the reliability.

Moving up to $100K for a Lexus 2 door is a big step over a Stinger or SS. Don't get me wrong, I like Lexus and bought my wife a GS400 to replace her WE4 back in '97. I remember we dropped an additional $12K just for the upgrade from a GS300 to a GS400 and other than that motor, I don't know what else we got for that $12K.


That little 245ci V8 was a screamer, almost. Like I suspect of the SC500, Lexus will get about 90% to 95% of the available performance out of the car and leave the rest on the table for civility, value, reliability, whatever. They are great cars, the dealers take phenomenal care of their customers, and I guarantee you will be very comfortable in any of their higher line vehicles. But having owned one for well over 10 years, they just aren't true performance cars because of leaving that last bit untouched, that would make them a true performance car. What I would have given for a 100% performance GS400 back then. After owning one for awhile, when you think of every aspect (handling, power, power delivery, braking, creature comforts, etc) on a Lexus, you quickly realize what the true marching order was for the designers and it wasn't peak performance. You rarely if ever see a highly tuned monster Lexus running around on the street. I guess that is the definition of a GT vs a Sports Car isn't it?

 

[Clutchfoot]

LC500 see correcting my brain again

yeah thats the one thank you !

at 80 used for 2018 , its a few years out for me so i dont care too much about it atm.
no idea if i'd even like it in person. i suspect top notch interior so i prob would.

to me it's like what the prelude was for honda... overpriced but desired.

and i've owned a couple preludes.


ppp

I've seen a few, they are so striking. The rear end and rear three quarter are amazing. The sound is magnificent. Sat in a few at auto shows, incredible place too spend time and crush the miles. I'm actually hoping it eventually gets a more pleasant face-lift at some point. There are a couple of lines on the face that with small adjustments could make it go from busy to beautiful in my eyes.

Then theirs Lexus reliability and support that make it much more compelling than the rest of the luxury brands on the used market.

 

[willy92]

I've enjoyed this exchange, but, it only backs up what I have said all the time. The SS is and old design(big car, RWD, V8, fair electronics,etc) with a great chassis, if you love a great driving car, that is fast and still practical, then this car is for you. If you just want a nice, fast, modern car...then that comes under "shouda' bought a Lexus(or something else)". The Kia Stinger is a darned nice automobile, but it is not for me, the dynamics do not seem to be there(according to most who have driven it). The SS is a nice piece, as well, and it...is not for everyone, as was brought out in this thread.

Personally, I believed to myself that I've arrived to this point in my life that I would appreciate a powerful car with a great chassis, especially after being blessed with the opportunity to drive in competition events earlier in life, I can put up with the little things that modern cars can do better, that's what my wifes Cadillac is for. So, if the SS is not scratching your itch(anymore), then it's just not for you. And, I am so glad that they didn't make a million of them, or even advertise them!

 

[Clutchfoot]

I've enjoyed this exchange, but, it only backs up what I have said all the time. The SS is and old design(big car, RWD, V8, fair electronics,etc) with a great chassis, if you love a great driving car, that is fast and still practical, then this car is for you. If you just want a nice, fast, modern car...then that comes under "shouda' bought a Lexus(or something else)". The Kia Stinger is a darned nice automobile, but it is not for me, the dynamics do not seem to be there(according to most who have driven it). The SS is a nice piece, as well, and it...is not for everyone, as was brought out in this thread.

Personally, I believed to myself that I've arrived to this point in my life that I would appreciate a powerful car with a great chassis, especially after being blessed with the opportunity to drive in competition events earlier in life, I can put up with the little things that modern cars can do better, that's what my wifes Cadillac is for. So, if the SS is not scratching your itch(anymore), then it's just not for you. And, I am so glad that they didn't make a million of them, or even advertise them!

:iagree:

A perfect perspective. Variety is the spice of life. I love BBQ sauce, but sometimes i like pesto. They don't demand my loyalty, neither should cars.

Now if only I could stock the garage like I can the pantry.

 

[Highfivemike]

So I have a manual. Neighbor has a stinger gt actually. Got his after I bought mine and came over to gloat about how the stinger is the Chevy as replacement lol. At the time I just had headers so intake and tune so I said let’s go around the block. And he was pretty bummed that mine felt faster then his, the headers really woke the car up. Once I installed them it felt like an entirely new car. But now I’ve got a blower on it and all bets are off it’s just stupid fast now. Good luck with your choice. I was stuck between an ats-v and the ss. And I’m sure glad I got the ss.

 

[Clutchfoot]

So I have a manual. Neighbor has a stinger gt actually. Got his after I bought mine and came over to gloat about how the stinger is the Chevy as replacement lol. At the time I just had headers so intake and tune so I said let’s go around the block. And he was pretty bummed that mine felt faster then his, the headers really woke the car up. Once I installed them it felt like an entirely new car. But now I’ve got a blower on it and all bets are off it’s just stupid fast now.

Well at least he has a warranty.

:wink

Sometimes that's pretty nice to have.

 

[Highfivemike]

Warranty was nice, I hit 90k before I did the tune and blower. My dealer honored my warranty until I tuned it and did the blower. And before I did that work it was down at the dealer with the shop guy I know and he went through it with a fine tooth comb and we sent oil out for analysis. Now if anything goes wrong before 100k then the wife gets to say I told you so but after that it would’ve been on me anyway haha. I am getting ready to do the whole top end however. Head studs lifters valve springs. But I’m staying with gm cams. It’s a daily so I don’t want to ruin drive ability.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[willy92]

Well at least he has a warranty.

:wink

Sometimes that's pretty nice to have.

Yeah, and he may need it. But, then again, if he decides to tune his, he'll lose that but gain a lot, potentially. One thing that I learned with the 2 turbo cars that I've owned, they are easy to get added performance via added boost,etc....but, easy to blow up too.

 

[slsgxpgtpman]

My wife noticed a blue Stinger GT and she said it looked like a nice sporty car. She won't drive my SS anymore, because its broken down on her.

If I buy a Stinger for my wife and as an extra car in a year or so, I would upgrade the brakes, and also add aftermarket sway bars front and rear, as I have read that helps considerably. I would have to test drive one first.

 

[TheBeaSSt]

I personally like the SS in every way, but realize on paper and probably in the real world the Kia Stinger has a slight edge in quickness, it's probably tuned more aggressively. I'm GUESSING the 'seat of your pants' feeling is somewhere between an SS and a Charger.

I'd think most would find the Stinger a sportier looking car.

Other questions are, does the Stinger handle or brake better than an SS?

What's the balancing of the SS vs. the Stinger?

How are they both holding up over time or with higher mileage?

I've done the research on the Stinger, but unfortunately have never driven one. My research says if you're a Chevy enthusiast that likes sleepers and to hold onto them for a while, there's no question which car to buy. If you are a car enthusiast that likes to buy flashy sports cars and trade them in every few years, the Stinger is probably the way to go.


The SS was never meant to be a flashy car to begin with and it's tuned in a way to last. I think the aggressive tunings (stinger/SRT) are great cars to have fun with, but that aggressiveness is very hard on the drive train for a daily driver.

And that is why I daily drive my Hellcat mostly in ECO MODE! (sorry, had to get my hellcat plug in there)

 

[willy92]

I personally like the SS in every way, but realize on paper and probably in the real world the Kia Stinger has a slight edge in quickness, it's probably tuned more aggressively. I'm GUESSING the 'seat of your pants' feeling is somewhere between an SS and a Charger.

And that is why I daily drive my Hellcat mostly in ECO MODE! (sorry, had to get my hellcat plug in there)

Turbo cars do feel like they accelerate harder, and maybe they do, but, most often they accelerate later and have to make up for the turbo lag experienced. That would make them no quicker than a good runnin NA car, especially a V8.:nerd

 

[holler]

I personally like the SS in every way, but realize on paper and probably in the real world the Kia Stinger has a slight edge in quickness, it's probably tuned more aggressively. I'm GUESSING the 'seat of your pants' feeling is somewhere between an SS and a Charger.

I'd think most would find the Stinger a sportier looking car.

Other questions are, does the Stinger handle or brake better than an SS?

What's the balancing of the SS vs. the Stinger?

How are they both holding up over time or with higher mileage?

I've done the research on the Stinger, but unfortunately have never driven one. My research says if you're a Chevy enthusiast that likes sleepers and to hold onto them for a while, there's no question which car to buy. If you are a car enthusiast that likes to buy flashy sports cars and trade them in every few years, the Stinger is probably the way to go.


The SS was never meant to be a flashy car to begin with and it's tuned in a way to last. I think the aggressive tunings (stinger/SRT) are great cars to have fun with, but that aggressiveness is very hard on the drive train for a daily driver.

And that is why I daily drive my Hellcat mostly in ECO MODE! (sorry, had to get my hellcat plug in there)

I think the SS in stock form may look sleeper to some, but really its just some lowering springs and holden conversion away from looking pretty darn aggressive. the in person presence of the SS is not to be understated imho.

From a reliability perspective really there is no comparison. the LS series of engines are bullet proof, they may be an aging design now but the chevy small block is tried and true and the aftermarket repair is really unparalleled. The stinger while a decent engine in its own right just doesn't have the pedigree of the LS imho.

Its a relatively easy motor to fix and is relatively light on the wallet to do so. Also being naturally aspirated is a benefit vs anything forced air induced. There is just less heat to deal with vs turbos.

Handling I think the SS takes the edge as well. 50/50 weight distribution vs 52/48 makes the SS a more neutral steering car, the SS is slightly lighter as well. Also I think the brake package is superior on the SS vs Stinger. larger rotors front a rear and 4 pistion rear brembos vs smaller 2 pistion rear for Stinger. The AWD is an advantage in certain weather conditions for the Stinger though. the SS has brake based torque vectoring, you only get that with the AWD on Stinger. Also the Mag Ride on the SS is superior to the Stinger's suspension. a major complaint with the stinger is the rear suspension is too soft.

 

[etolendi]

You might want to give this a read before you make the switch to a stinger, car and driver's 30000 mile review:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a22993952/kia-stinger-gt-reliability-long-term-update/

 

[SilverSport]

a rattling hatch seemed to be the biggest issue...brakes were beat on and may prove to be a weak area if you do the same and the wiring harness fix was performed as all was under warranty...

I like the Stinger but I don't consider it a rival for our SS...but that's why we get choices isn't it???

Bill

 

[willy92]

I was driving my wife home from her radiation treatments yesterday(I drive her in the SRX, nowadays), and we saw 2 Stingers before we got home. She asked, "honey, that's a cute car, what kind of car is that?" I told her it was a Kia Stinger, and it's just as fast as the SS, though, not as rare. She says, "I guess so, I haven't seen another SS in 3 years, and here we saw 2 of those things tonight in 20 minutes!"

 

[Clutchfoot]

I was driving my wife home from her radiation treatments yesterday(I drive her in the SRX, nowadays), and we saw 2 Stingers before we got home. She asked, "honey, that's a cute car, what kind of car is that?" I told her it was a Kia Stinger, and it's just as fast as the SS, though, not as rare. She says, "I guess so, I haven't seen another SS in 3 years, and here we saw 2 of those things tonight in 20 minutes!"

I have the exact opposite. I see another SS 1-2 times a week and seen a stinger on the road about 5 times in the last year. It's bizarre, i didn't think that would be the case but it is.