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New Car Time!

Eric Perry

Eric Perry

Jun 16, 2002
12,630
689
the depths of fiery hell, I mean Phoenix
www.facebook.com
#1
I decided a few months ago that it was time to upgrade my Stinger GT2 (very highly underrated cars, btw). I narrowed my search down to an SM TLX, Type S, or a '23 M440i Gran Coupe... which is what I decided on. Fully loaded with (I think?) every available upgrade, CPO, under 20k miles, and literally in brand new condition. I've had it now for about a month, and it's been great! Very fun to drive, definitely quicker than the Stinger... which was very quick in its own right (in Sport+ mode this thing is an absolute BLAST!), rides great, better MPG than the Stinger, averaging about 25 combined, loaded with tech, and has the hatchback that the Stinger also had that I've grown to totally love!

I know the M440/430/340 front grill gets a bad rap, but I really do like it, and much prefer it over the regular BMW one.

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#11
hbarcat said:
That's a gorgeous car.

I've driven a few BMWs and they've been the best handling cars I've ever been in. They stick to the road and corner like race cars, but somehow manage to be smooth and comfortable.
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Thanks! I was anti-BMW for the longest time (just ask atoz... he'll tell ya). When I decided to replace my Stinger and test drove one of these (not the one I bought, but still an M440i), I was damn impressed.
 
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#12
Fantastic! Great car, and one of BMW's best finishes. Congrats. We must have similar tastes, because I almost bought a Stinger about five years ago (they are indeed underrated), and earlier this year I leased the electric version of the 440i, an i4 e40 xDrive. I also love the hatch, and the car overall is phenomenal. AWD with 396hp and monstrous torque? Works for me.

With the weight of the batteries it doesn't have the dynamic sharpness of the best classic BMWs, but considering all that weight, the ride/handling balance is amazing. It's still a capable handler, especially in sport mode, and with the 18" wheels it has a comfortable ride, even in downtown Philly.

Surprisingly, my wife loves it too. She doesn't care much for cars, but she loves this one and actually wants to drive it.
 
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#13
It's amazing how so many people (myopic people, but people nonetheless) shun the Stinger simply because of the Kia badge. The GT2 is one hell of a car. Few know that Hyundai/Kia poached an Audi and a BMW engineer to assist in designing the Stinger The performance and tech were top notch in this segment. Additionally, Kia has the best warranty in the business by far. With mine, I had ZERO issues to ever need the warranty. I don't beat on my cars, but I def. drive them in a very spirited way. The turbos certainly had their workouts in that Stinger. 😋
 
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#14
Eric Perry said:
It's amazing how so many people (myopic people, but people nonetheless) shun the Stinger simply because of the Kia badge. The GT2 is one hell of a car. Few know that Hyundai/Kia poached an Audi and a BMW engineer to assist in designing the Stinger The performance and tech were top notch in this segment. Additionally, Kia has the best warranty in the business by far. With mine, I had ZERO issues to ever need the warranty. I don't beat on my cars, but I def. drive them in a very spirited way. The turbos certainly had their workouts in that Stinger. 😋
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Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Myself I'm not a fan of European cars... 39 years in the automotive repair industry and they're all over engineered to me.

I'll stick with my GM trucks for my work horse and a Subaru for my DD.
 
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#15
Eric Perry said:
It's amazing how so many people (myopic people, but people nonetheless) shun the Stinger simply because of the Kia badge. The GT2 is one hell of a car. Few know that Hyundai/Kia poached an Audi and a BMW engineer to assist in designing the Stinger The performance and tech were top notch in this segment. Additionally, Kia has the best warranty in the business by far. With mine, I had ZERO issues to ever need the warranty. I don't beat on my cars, but I def. drive them in a very spirited way. The turbos certainly had their workouts in that Stinger. 😋
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My issue with owning a Kia or any other bigger brand is the customer service experience. My previous car was a Hyundai, and when I needed a minor warranty repair, the appointments had to be scheduled a month out, and they refused to give me a loaner while they kept my car for 2 weeks. Oh, and the issue wasn’t fixed when I got the car back.

In contrast, my wife’s BMW needed a warranty fix, and they scheduled her the day after she called and provided a free loaner.
 
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#16
friskinator said:
My issue with owning a Kia or any other bigger brand is the customer service experience. My previous car was a Hyundai, and when I needed a minor warranty repair, the appointments had to be scheduled a month out, and they refused to give me a loaner while they kept my car for 2 weeks. Oh, and the issue wasn’t fixed when I got the car back.

In contrast, my wife’s BMW needed a warranty fix, and they scheduled her the day after she called and provided a free loaner.
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No surprise that a BMW dealer would be right there with a loaner and quick service vs a Kia/Hyundai dealer...... the price point between the two manufacturers tells the obvious story there.
 
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#17
Mike N said:
No surprise that a BMW dealer would be right there with a loaner and quick service vs a Kia/Hyundai dealer...... the price point between the two manufacturers tells the obvious story there.
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While you're not wrong, the price difference between a Stinger GT2 and say an M430 is very minimal, even for a loaded M430. All models considered though, you're right. Averaging out the overall costs of each manufacturer's vehicles would yield a pretty significant discrepancy!
 

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