Suspension

[leonjay]

After one year of ownership and 7500 miles, I am increasingly unhappy with the rough ride of my 2012 3.8 Genesis. I started to calculate the financial loss I might take if I traded in or sold the vehicle outright. My decision point will come in the next two months, based on a lot of test drives of comparable vehicles and the money factor.

I bought the car for the long term...I usually keep a car seven to eight years, but the ride is making me unhappy. The ride/financial loss may influence my buying/trading decision. I have never been unhappy with any vehicle purchase in the past, but I finally discussed the situation with my wife, so the decision is now mine.

I will be looking forward to comments on the "suspension" system of other owners.

 

[Mark_888]

After one year of ownership and 7500 miles, I am increasingly unhappy with the rough ride of my 2012 3.8 Genesis. I started to calculate the financial loss I might take if I traded in or sold the vehicle outright. My decision point will come in the next two months, based on a lot of test drives of comparable vehicles and the money factor.

I bought the car for the long term...I usually keep a car seven to eight years, but the ride is making me unhappy. The ride/financial loss may influence my buying/trading decision. I have never been unhappy with any vehicle purchase in the past, but I finally discussed the situation with my wife, so the decision is now mine.

I will be looking forward to comments on the "suspension" system of other owners.

There were a complaints on the 2009 suspension, and Hyundai made improvements in 2010, and even more changes in 2012 to make the ride even more comfortable. If you don't like the 2012 suspension, you are in the distinct minority (not counting the somewhat stiffer R-Spec). Keep in mind that the Genesis is specifically designed to not be as soft as Lexus, Cadillac, etc.

I would make sure the tires are inflated to 33 PSI cold tire pressure (which means measure it after car has been idle for at least 4 hours). Tires are inflated much higher than that for vehicle shipping from Korea, and are supposed to be lowered by your dealer upon delivery.

If you have the Base Trim model, with Dunlop OE tires, that would explain part of the problem, and can be significantly improved with better tires (see other threads on this subject). The Michelin tires that come on the other trim models (Premium and Tech Packages) should be OK, even though there are softer tires available.

Before you totally give up, I would ask your dealer to take a look at the car next time you get it serviced to see if they can find anything wrong, or if you are just not used to a car with a sportier suspension.

 

[homeofstone]

After one year of ownership and 7500 miles, I am increasingly unhappy with the rough ride of my 2012 3.8 Genesis. I started to calculate the financial loss I might take if I traded in or sold the vehicle outright. My decision point will come in the next two months, based on a lot of test drives of comparable vehicles and the money factor.

I bought the car for the long term...I usually keep a car seven to eight years, but the ride is making me unhappy. The ride/financial loss may influence my buying/trading decision. I have never been unhappy with any vehicle purchase in the past, but I finally discussed the situation with my wife, so the decision is now mine.

I will be looking forward to comments on the "suspension" system of other owners.

The ride qualities of the Genesis have been known for at least 3 years. We put about 36,000 to 40,000 miles a year on a car so the ride and seats are very important, however my wife and I like performance cars with stiff suspension and researched several cars for months before getting the Genesis. I keep cars to over 200,000 miles. Is it that you did very little research and test drives? Maybe the new Azera will be more like what you are looking for.

 

[Aquineas]

Well I'd say if you're unhappy with it, the sooner you decide to cut your losses and move on, the better for you financially.

 

[TEF]

Unless one is flushed with money (and willing to take the loss on a four-year old car), a first resort might be to replace the OE Dunlop tires with softer ones like Conti DWS's. I've replaced tires over the years on numerous cars, but the affect of these on my '09 Genesis was significant. Even my spouse, who cares little about this stuff, noticed the imporved ride. One explanation for the change could be the extreme contrast of replacing, proabably, the worst tire ever made with one of the best. One may get similar results with Michelin or Bridgestone, but for my money, the Conti's seemed the best deal.

 

[Aquineas]

Unless one is flushed with money (and willing to take the loss on a four-year old car), a first resort might be to replace the OE Dunlop tires with softer ones like Conti DWS's.

If I'm not mistaken, the Dunflops have been replaced with Michelins on most of the 2012s. I know it to be the case with my 5.0. I'm not sure about the 3.8, however.

 

[Mark_888]

If I'm not mistaken, the Dunflops have been replaced with Michelins on most of the 2012s. I know it to be the case with my 5.0. I'm not sure about the 3.8, however.

3.8 Base model still has 17" Dunlops. Premium and Tech Packages have 18" Michelins.

 

[nextcar]

if the ride/suspension bothers you this much, you should just get another car.
new tires might help a little but cannot overcome what is basically a function of the suspension system.

i would recommend the new Lexus ES, Toyota Avalon, or Azera.

 

[427435]

Have you checked tire pressures and adjusted them to whatever psi is recommended?

A recent Car and Driver article tested a number of different tires on the same car (BMW) for a number of things. The Conti DW was the best for ride and quietness.

The ride and noise levels in my 03 Vette also improved dramatically when I got rid of the OEM tires and put on a set of Conti DW tires. The DWS would probably be even better. Check out the CAr and Driver article and spend some time on Tire Rack and check the various tires for ratings on ride.

A set of tires would be a lot smaller hit than trading off an almost new car.

 

[jake the snake]

if the ride/suspension bothers you this much, you should just get another car.
new tires might help a little but cannot overcome what is basically a function of the suspension system.

i would recommend the new Lexus ES, Toyota Avalon, or Azera.

Or try the Equus

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[HughH]

I just took a short test drive of the new Cadillac XTS. It has "magnetic" ride control. Driven around the same roads we usually drive our Lexus, we were amazed at the quality of ride and comfort as well as of the front seats. Both seats, BTW, are cooled and here in Texas, this is not a luxury item, it's a necessity! It was also quieter than our Lexus.

It also comes with the latest iPad and all the car manual instructions are in the iPad.

I didn't like the exterior as well as I like the Genesis and some other cars. However, the interior is a knockout!!!
We were impressed by the quality of materials as well as fit and finsh. If you like gadgets and electronic gizmos, this car's interior is amazing!

Big minus about the Cady is the price. The one I would get would cost around $53,000. Of course, they should have some generous deals, as usual, later on in the year.

 

[osprey]

Funny, I find the ride super comfortable, to each his own.

 

[SmoovC]

Funny, I find the ride super comfortable, to each his own.

Further funny, coming out of a Infiniti M45 outfitted with Tein H-Tech springs and KYB struts and shocks, I find the Genesis 5.0 too soft!

 

[kc045]

I guess I'm with the minority on this as well. My wife had a 2011, 3.8 Sedan with 18" wheels and we agreed the car was the best riding vehicle we had ever owned. Unfortunately the car was totaled last month. Since we were so happy with the previous one, we are now in a 2012 sedan, 3.8 with the 18" package and have noticed the ride is not quite the same. Although the difference isn't enough to make us complain, we were a little happier with the previous ride. I thought we were just imagining this until I read this thread. Thanks for making me feel somewhat observant.

 

[Stoofpilot]

He probably needs to check the tire pressure to make sure it is around 33 all tires. Secondly, the Dunlops and Conti's are ultra high performance all season. The Bridgestone Serenity series are not ultra high performance. Bottom line, they are softer. More like he would get on an Lexus ES.

 

[homeofstone]

He probably needs to check the tire pressure to make sure it is around 33 all tires. Secondly, the Dunlops and Conti's are ultra high performance all season. The Bridgestone Serenity series are not ultra high performance. Bottom line, they are softer. More like he would get on an Lexus ES.

Its a bit more accurate to go by speed rating ie. "H", "V", "W", "Y", tread design, wet/dry testing, and road test like from tire rack. There is no industry standard for what tire companies call their tires regarding performance from Grand Touring to High Perfromance or whatever. Some Grand Touring W rated tires will out perform ultra high performance tires with the same speed rating. A Grand Touring tire will not always be softer than a high performance tire. Bottom line is that it makes it difficult for consumers. I personally check the performance test and the surveys and compare across the perfomance categories.

 

[ShadowScoobySTi]

Well I'd say if you're unhappy with it, the sooner you decide to cut your losses and move on, the better for you financially.

This^