
TheIgnitionBlog Podcast
About This Show
Show Info: Southern California's Top Automotive Resource.
Show Info: Southern California's Top Automotive Resource.
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 3.0L 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 us