In this Episode:
Matt Dace and Nolan Browning give advice on what to look for when buying a used car. We also talk about the brands and models you may want to consider when trying to find a car under $5,000 and $10,000. Finally, help a friend decide between an Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti, Jaguar XE 35t, and a Kia Stinger GT.
2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti
We have talked about the impressive driving dynamics of the Alfa Romeo Giulia in the past, but recently we were able to spend an entire week with a Giulia Ti AWD. This showed some of the flaws in the interior, namely the poor quality of the main control dial and the terrible user interface of the infotainment system. The addition of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is very welcome, but can’t completely fix the flaws in an interface that is worse than our least-favorite audio system in the latest Mazda products.
The overall comfort and driving experience, even with the base 2.0L engine and AWD, was still far superior to most luxury sedans on the market. With 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft or torque, the Giulia Ti pulls hard from a stoplight and will be plenty of fun around town. The Q4 all-wheel-drive system kept the tires firmly planted while driving through a rare Los Angeles rainstorm that passed through.
Overall, the current deals on the Giulia Ti make it a refreshing contender in the market. However, this car, or any Alfa Romeo, is definitely something you want to lease and not buy. We hope for improvement to the overall mechanical and interior quality in the future to keep this Italian brand alive in the States.
2018 Kia Stinger GT
Kia Stinger GT photos by Jim Donnelly Photo
To start, the Kia Stinger GT is one of the best performance sedans I have driven in years and easily the best Kia product ever made. That second statement isn’t saying much as the Kia brand has always been known for sensible consumer cars, avoiding any vehicle that you could truly get excited about. The Stinger GT features an incredible twin-turbo 3.3L V6 engine that produces 365 horsepower and 376 lb.-ft. of torque. The chassis of the Kia Stinger platform feels light, yet rigid thanks to its use of advanced high-strength steel. At around 3,600 pounds, the Kia Stinger is nearly 1,000 pounds lighter than the already fast Genesis G80 Sport that utilizes the same engine. The results are stunning as our RWD Stinger GT throws you back in your seat and even lets you kick the tail end of the car out for a controlled drift through turns.
The interior is laden with black leather and plastics but feels solid enough and is on par with something like a modern Dodge Charger. All of this performance comes at a price of just over $45,000, enough to make most potential buyers turn and run. Buyers looking to purchase or lease the Kia Stinger will need to decide if they want to pay a premium to be part of the movement to make Kia “cool” and change the brand perception. Listen to the podcast episode for our full thoughts on how the Stinger GT stacks up against the Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti and Jaguar XE 35t.
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Show Notes:
(02:00) Info on our early personal vehicles
(05:20) To help with research, use this Back to Episodes