VERY VERY nearly finally bought another car

[Deleted member 32480]

Actually a car drove down our road today. It stopped about 50 yards away so I couldn't see the badge and I didn't recognise it. It looked like a Maserati from the back, had quad exhausts and was a really shiny red. When it came back out I saw it from a window and saw it was a KIA, but couldn't read the model. So I looked it up. It was a KIA Stinger! 3.3L turbo 365bhp, looks absolutely stunning.
I had never heard of them.

Guy on my road has one.

From a distance they look good but you must remember you would be buying a car that was ~35k new in todays money? Which is roughly the same price as a SI back in 2008? (without taking into account any inflation).

In my opinion all those little things (touches of quality and brilliance) that add up on cars to make it better than the sum of it's parts just aren't there on a Stinger.

Jump in one, then jump in a slightly older BMW or a Merc that's the same price and you will know what I am trying to say.

365bhp straight 6 (unfortunately with a turbo) sounds great but when you think about most modern hatches will pee all over those figures these days... and that's without factoring that she weighs 2.2 tons!

Knowing how tight you are Pondrew (no offence) I think you are better off taking a gamble on something like an e93 m3 that ticks all your box's (flashy, 4 seats, v8) knowing that you aren't going to lose any (or very little) on the depreciation side or a F12 or even the e64 M6 (all weigh less that a stinger and have more power?) plus all have engines you would go to bed dreaming about.

Put aside the money you would lose in depreciation on a Stinger over two years to fix the M should anything go wrong, buy with a full service history and pray nothing goes wrong. Expect to lose a little as the market corrects it's self but be pleased you have bought a car that is excellent (if you bought the hard top version) and is at the bottom of the depreciation cycle.

 

[Z4MAD]

Dear Comrade Pondrew,

First of all, may I say how terribly sorry I am to learn that you have suffered such a wretched experience. However, thank goodness you had the foresight to arrange for an survey of the machine.

This has provided 'Fair Warning' to us all, that it is virtually essential to have a thorough inspection performed on any prospective acquisition of an motor car prior to agreeing its purchase; which reminds of an axiom that has come down throughout the annals of time: "Marry in Haste, Repent at One's Leisure'.

Another aspect of concern to me is how horrifying it is to learn that such an frightfully expensive machine should be riddled with faults so soon after its manufacture.

And just listen to this:

I have an Ford P100 Pick Up (It looks like a Ford Sierra from the front). I have owned it since August Nineteen Ninety. Yet, it has never let me down apart from three occasions when it ran out of petroleum, which of course, was entirely my own fault. This apart, it has the same engine, gearbox and clutch. The carburettor was replaced earlier this year along with the mechanical fuel pump. The shock absorbers have been replaced; brakes have been replaced but I can think of nothing else. Needless to say, the value of the machine (to me), is above price. It is also a wonderful conversation piece; people say: My dad had one of those, or My brother had one of those, or I had one of those; whencefrom hugely interesting and wonderfully pleasant conversations ensue,... such that I feel like I am the Master of The Universe,... In actual fact this most certainly would be the case, were it not for Vulcan the God of Fire to whom I send oblations each eventide.

With kind regards,

MAD .... Oh, I neglected to mention that the P100 Wonder Truck is properly serviced every year .... also, it has had a number of replacement batteries over the decades .... plus approximately three zorst pipes. WHOOPS, I have returned again to make an adjustment which is, it had the benefit of an replacement starter motor approximately one decade ago. And yes, it will still most happily exceed one hundred smiles per hour (on the clock). I always make absolutely certain that I fill the tank with ninety nine octane petroleum.

 

[BeeEmm]

Apparently, the Kia Stinger will stop production in 2022.

 

[TomK]

... and that's without factoring that she weighs 2.2 tons!

That's about 450kg out? Bit harsh on it!
https://www.evo.co.uk/kia/stinger-gt/performance

 

[Deleted member 32480]

That's about 450kg out? Bit harsh on it!
https://www.evo.co.uk/kia/stinger-gt/performance

Fair play- I stand corrected- I was looking at Gross Vehicle Weight.

TBH 80 liters of fuel (60kg) and an adult man (90kg) we are still talking over two tons.

 

[Pondy]

I now keep finding cars that I never knew about (been out of the loop for too long),
What about these? I love the way the Japs are still doing angular when the rest of the world have all gone swoopy. It's a N/A V8
too. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109067045249?sort=relevance&include-delivery-option=on&make=Lexus&model=RC%20F&radius=1501&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&postcode=pe111xn&page=1

 

[Pondy]

Knowing how tight you are Pondrew (no offence)

None taken, mate!

 

[Argyll Andy]

I now keep finding cars that I never knew about (been out of the loop for too long),
What about these? I love the way the Japs are still doing angular when the rest of the world have all gone swoopy. It's a N/A V8
too. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109067045249?sort=relevance&include-delivery-option=on&make=Lexus&model=RC%20F&radius=1501&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&postcode=pe111xn&page=1

I think they’re lovely, if I was in the market for a Coupe that’d be close to the top, the Kia, meh………………

 

[BeeEmm]

I now keep finding cars that I never knew about (been out of the loop for too long),
What about these? I love the way the Japs are still doing angular when the rest of the world have all gone swoopy. It's a N/A V8
too. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 1xn&page=1

These don't sell in high numbers. The 5.0 litre engine is normally aspirated but not blisteringly fast. I test drove one of these a few years ago and the road holding was superb. I ended up buying it's bigger brother the GSF (photo) with the same engine. The exhaust note is deep and throaty. As you have not considered buying cars for a while, do you have the time to test drive a few? If you are unsure what 'is out there' have a look at the list of cars for sale on Pistonheads just to see what looks good to you, then look a bit closer. https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars#all

 

[Pondy]

I ended up buying it's bigger brother the GSF (photo) with the same engine.

Sorry but that looks like an inside out Jaffa Cake. No offence.
I actually just put coupes into autotrader search today (gone off the idea of another cab as it isn't really needed, we have the zed), with a minimum year and max mileage and looked to see what came up. That's how I found the RCF. I have a sneaky feeling it's gonna be something like this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108286739239?sort=relevance&include-delivery-option=on&aggregatedTrim=E400&make=MERCEDES-BENZ&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&model=E%20CLASS&radius=1500&advertising-location=at_cars

 

[Pondy]

As you have not considered buying cars for a while,

I've bought two since January. The Z4 and a Focus ST. Only one left now, though.

 

[mr.tourette]

Hard to beat an e class as a regular/ daily driver, love mine

 

[Ole gits rule]

I now keep finding cars that I never knew about (been out of the loop for too long),
What about these? I love the way the Japs are still doing angular when the rest of the world have all gone swoopy. It's a N/A V8
too. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109067045249?sort=relevance&include-delivery-option=on&make=Lexus&model=RC%20F&radius=1501&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&postcode=pe111xn&page=1

I think they’re lovely, if I was in the market for a Coupe that’d be close to the top, the Kia, meh………………

100% agree, there is a red one by me and it looks stunning, agree on the kia as well

 

[Mr Tidy]

Sorry but that looks like an inside out Jaffa Cake. No offence.

They do come in other colours though!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?model=IS%20F&make=LEXUS&advertising-location=at_cars&price-from=500&onesearchad=Used

But if you are set on a Coupe the RCF would fit the billl better.

Although as a serial BMW fan I couldn't look past an E92 M3. :worshipbmw:

Plus I could have manual gearbox to go with the V8.

I think someone already put forward a pretty good case for these, but prices seem to be staying strong - possibly because they are getting towards the end of the N/A V8 era. We'll never see the like again sadly.

 

[tiglon]

The Stinger engine is used I other cars in America and is a favourite with tuners, so could be an option if you want to go that route.

E400 is a very good choice if you're going coupe. Worth searching for one with a highly specced interior if you want something that feels special.

 

[Deleted member 32480]

I now keep finding cars that I never knew about (been out of the loop for too long),
What about these? I love the way the Japs are still doing angular when the rest of the world have all gone swoopy. It's a N/A V8
too. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109067045249?sort=relevance&include-delivery-option=on&make=Lexus&model=RC%20F&radius=1501&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&postcode=pe111xn&page=1

They came on my radar for 5 minutes before I talked my self out of the e92 to a C63.

They look cool but I don't think they do anything better in any of the areas you want over what a BMW or Merc do..

 

[Pondy]

I was never looking at the Kia TBH, just thought it looked quite funky.
The E400 ticks a lot of boxes, not least the M276 engine is supposedly strong with no known issues, It is also actually quite good VFM (compared to others) at the moment, Only problem is I've had an E class of the same vintage before and didn't like the 7G-tronic box (lazy and slow) and the stupid gear selector on the steering column got on my buns. I like to hold onto a knob when I'm driving!

E90 M3 would be great, but they are stupid expensive at the minute. Also worries me with any M car, that they have been ragged to death by all of their 57 owners.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I like to be a knob when I'm driving!

There - fixed that for you! :lol:

 

[Pondy]

I like to be a knob when I'm driving!

There - fixed that for you! :lol:

Actually, Ian, It's about the only time I'm not one

 

[PerryGunn]

E90 M3 would be great, but they are stupid expensive at the minute. Also worries me with any M car, that they have been ragged to death by all of their 57 owners.

If you get a chance, have a look at the E90 version of the Alpina B3 BiTurbo - unless you're a driving god, they're as fast as the M3 but much easier to live with and won't have been abused by '57 owners'