When it comes to pricing, I don't see it over priced at all actually. I see much of the competition priced quite a bit higher. Kia doesn't want to be the cheapest vehicle available. They want to be a VALUE leader in each of their segments. Value is making the product worth more than the price.
When it comes to competition, sure there are going to be other cars to consider. You can buy a Mustang cheaper. A Camaro. Shoot, even a Civic Type-R is cheaper. BUT, how many of these cars are being GUSHED about by every major (and MINOR for that matter) auto publication and columnist out there? Will the G70 be a great car??? Sure it will! Will it be within $2,000 of the Stinger? No one knows. Pricing hasn't been released yet here in the States. Here's what we DO know; it's smaller than the Stinger. It's focused in a different direction than the Stinger. It will undoubtedly ride different, feel different, and clearly look different. Why? Because they're two different cars, that's why.
Now, if someone wants to go buy a car that's not a Stinger because they don't want a KIA.... Stinger? More power to them. They should buy what they love, not what every press article in the world says they should do. LOL
For BOTH of us, we're a little biased... I've owned Kia's products for a decade and a half. I'll be buying a Stinger. For you, being a 2015 Genesis owner already, I think that you've been enjoying your time here just buying time waiting for your G70 to hit the streets! Best part is... you're going to LOVE it! Congratulations in advance!
-Murlinator
As a Kia car salesman, I can see your initial statement. What the public does is enable car manufacturer's to inflate the prices of their cars. Why? Because we continue to buy cars. That's inevitable.
As for the pricing, we are only basing our pricing on exactly that; the competition. Your car comparison isn't the competition minus the Civic Type R. Even that is a stretch to say it is competition. The publicity is great. NO ONE, and I mean no one, expected the Stinger to be this good. That is why there is such praise over it and enabled Kia to jack the price up. When you shine a light on a car company that has previously been horrendous when it comes to building cars people want to buy, people are is shock when they do. Merc, BMW, all of the luxury and sport-oriented cars have a base around them. The Chevy SS; a perfect example of a car that has been produced by Chevrolet before but didn't get the praise it deserved. Why you ask? Because it's Chevrolet; they have established a basis for their cars. When I say deserved, look at how well they are holding value. Look at the columns and read what journalists have to say about the car that was discontinued. We are all heart-broken.
I only say over-priced because you can lease other $50k cars for half of what the Stinger is going for. I know a genleman that leased a GT2, he's up around $750/mo. Even on this site there are people who are paying that? HOW? People are leasing G80 Ultimates for under $400/mo. Residuals, miles, etc. affect the pricing but that's absurd for a new car from Kia.
I'm not arguing with you, I enjoy your reasoning. Kia wants to sell in decent numbers for the Stinger. Because of that, they are able to use pricing as a guideline to how well they want to sell them.
- Jack up the price equals lowering sales goals.
- Lowering the price equals higher sales expectations and heightens the volume.
In business, you either need value for money or extraordinary work. Like you said, were both biased, but the key is having objective views and that's the truth.