I just checked out (online) the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe and was quite worried that I might have pulled the trigger too quickly in buying my Clubbie S.

The Hyundai has a 2.0L Turbocharged motor - 210 Hp (whoa!), 223 Ft. Lbs. torque (Double-whoa!!), and the torque is in by 2,000 rpm. Excellent suspension WITH strut tower brace standard. Excellent interior with Bluetooth/iPod, heated seats, great Hi-Fi, the whole 9 yards! Price? Only $22-23K. Wow, that's a LOT of car for the money!!

And then I went and checked what is, to me, THE critical spec. for overall performance of ANY vehicle: How much does it weigh? The Hyundai is a porky 3,300+ lbs. - about 450 lbs. heavier than my Clubbie!! What is the fuel mileage? 21/30 - Bummer!! Keep in mind, 8 lbs. = 1 hp. For every 8 lbs. you can shave off a vehicle, it provides the same acceleration improvement as adding 1 hp. 450 lbs./8 = 56 hp. So now the Hyundai doesn't look so powerful anymore. And hauling that extra weight exacts other penalties, of course.

Deal breaker!! Imagine hauling 3 averaged-size folks in your Clubbie S all the time. What would that do to your perfomance, handling, responsiveness, fuel mileage, braking distances, etc.?? It would KILL them, that's what.

As Colin Chapman of Lotus fame once proclaimed "Add lightness..." Weight is the ENEMY of high-performance and efficiency. If you take 450 lbs. off of ANY car out there, it is the same as adding 56 hp and fitting Brembo brakes. It will also result in huge savings in gas usage.

Man, those Koreans had me sweating bullets for a coupla minutes. If they ever figure out how to shave 300-400 lbs. off that paltform, I'd buy one in a heartbeat...

 

Really good points -- I use 10lbs to 1hp cause the math is easier

Don't forget warranty/scheduled mnx, and back seat legroom.

 

Not to mention that the Hyundai is ugly as sin!

 

Hyundais and Kias are pretty respectable cars nowdays but their resale value continues to be the worst in the industry.

 

I'll have to argue that this version is kind of good looking.

 

parents have a 2004 kia optima...less than 20k on the car...pretty much never drive it...it's worth 2k.....horrible resale.

 

Yeah, there's a reason I shunned a new Hyundai Tiburon GT. I've known two Tib owners that got practically nothing on trade-in.

One of them traded in for $300, it was comparable to my R50 in age and mileage. I got $5500 on my R50 WITH a dying Midlands tranny AND bald tires AND having been in a bad wreck.

What would it have been on the R50 WITHOUT all that, you ask? It would have been around $10k (give or take), I say!

PS - the $300 Tib, was "good" shape (by KBB standards).

 

But....you would still own a Hyundai! Thats the deal breaker for me.

 

Do the have the death rattle, cold start issue that the S has? That is the deal breaker for me ever owning an BMW product again.

 

But it's a F*ing Hyundai. Not sure why you were worried. It could have 8,000 hp and cost $10 and I wouldn't cross the street for it.

 

I got upgraded to a rental V-8 Genesis on my last biz trip, and it was one of the nicest rentals ever. Of course it only had 800 miles, but that V-8 was smooth and powerful. IMO the most improved car brand in the last decade.

 

A lot different car than the one in the MINI comparo. A lot more expensive as well.

 

You make an excellent point!

 

last months motor Trend made a comment that the Genisis Coupe was something Ford needed to worry about as a competitor against the v6 Mustang. I just assumed the Genesis Coupe had a V6 as well. The Genesis sedan looked pretty darn good at the Philly auto show. They offer a lot of car for the buck and I don't think the high end ones are going to resell for dirt. Of course I have no intention of buying one although I do want to see the coupe in person. Dan

 

GeorgeM3768 wondered:
>> Do the have the death rattle, cold start issue that the S has? That is the deal breaker for me ever owning an BMW product again. <<

No, I don't. My Clubbie S sat outside all February and March thru some bitterly cold weather. It started flawlessly and ran perfectly every single day. It now has almost 6,000 trouble-free miles on it and I'm expecting many more...

 

KBB says $4700 for a 2.4L LX 2.4L w/ no options (base base) and they're selling for more than that around here.

I also got offered practicially nothing when I went to trade in my car (not a Hyundai or Kia - good old GM). That's how dealers work.

I have no problem with anyone disliking a car because of how it looks, drives, or is priced. But general brand bias - come on. Luckily, more and more people realize quality and value when they see it which is why I still have a job and so many of my neighbors don't.

 

I had the same "pulled the trigger too quickly" when I heard that the Fiat 500 was coming to north america. At the end though, I can't see myself driving one because of the look. I think its too cutesy. (Yes, I know, I'm getting a MINI). I've always liked small cars and I'm always curious when new small cars come on the market but I think it will be a while before another car captures my interest the way that the MINI has.

 

Are you sure the Fiat's coming? I thought it was just Alpha.

 

The 500 is coming. Probably the 165HP turbo Abarth SS model. It will run circles around the heavier (500 pounds) R56 MCS.

 

+1. It was below freezing this morning and my MCS started just fine. I haven't had any cold start issues since I bought it in December.

 

I want one.

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-...30-700030.html

I think I read that part of the benefit that Fiat expects to receive is to sell its cars out of the Chrysler showrooms. No real estate hassles to worry about.

 

Any idea of when they're coming and what the price point will be?

 

Chrysler Agrees to Alliance Framework with Fiat
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29958788

does it mean we will get the 500?

 

If Chrysler doesn't dump useless Cerberus and get onboard with Fiat, they'll be history in a matter of weeks.

Fiat has signaled intentions to bring the 500 stateside and I am sure they want a piece of the MINI's success story pie in this country...