Are used V6 Tech packages absurdly rare in Canada?

[VivienM]

Hi everyone,

My dad had a 2009 V6 tech package that he returned at the end of the lease (RWD + Ottawa winters + his driving skills was... not pretty), but I liked the car (and he still has his winter rims), so I've occasionally kept an eye out to see what used ones cost. Ideally 2010+s with the fixed suspension, the leather dash (which was shockingly omitted from all 2009 Canadian V6 cars), adaptive cruise, etc.

And what I've been finding is that almost every used Genesis sedan listed for sale is either a base model or a premium with the touchscreen navigation. I even saw one listed by a Hyundai dealership as 'technology package' but the photos clearly show a non-tech car. And I admit that puzzles me - at least when my dad got his 2009, the tech package was affordable enough that I would have thought it was a no-brainer choice... then again, it also seems like the Genesis sedan became a rental fleet vehicle in its last couple of years?

Any thoughts?

 

[Mark_888]

Due to large volumes of cars sold to rental fleets, there are a disproportionate number of Base Trim models on resale market. Back in 2009 and maybe 2010, there were not as many V6 Tech Package models imported compared to later years, due to underestimation of demand for that trim level. But not sure what model years you are looking at now.

 

[VivienM]

Due to large volumes of cars sold to rental fleets, there are a disproportionate number of Base Trim models on resale market. Back in 2009 and maybe 2010, there were not as many V6 Tech Package models imported compared to later years, due to underestimation of demand for that trim level. But not sure what model years you are looking at now.

I was looking at 2010s and newer. The 2010s-2011s, there are lots of premiums with the touchscreen nav (that got added in 2010, no?). 2012-2013, it's mostly base models with the occasional premium... at what seems like quite a reasonable price (23-25K CAD, IIRC)...

 

[Mark_888]

I was looking at 2010s and newer. The 2010s-2011s, there are lots of premiums with the touchscreen nav (that got added in 2010, no?). 2012-2013, it's mostly base models with the occasional premium... at what seems like quite a reasonable price (23-25K CAD, IIRC)...

23-25K CAD seems a little too close to a brand new FWD Honda Accord, which looks just like the 2009-2011 Genesis from the rear. I just cannot imagine someone in CA buying a RWD car unless they have another one to drive when there is snow.

 

[CLASSYRSPEC]

I am in Canada, and just got my new Genny RWD RSPEC a few weeks ago. This is the first RWD since 1986. I survived back then with RWD and no snow tires, and I suppose I will survive again, but this time, with snow tires. If it is that bad outside, I just won't go to work (I can do that), and if I must, can always use the wife's Tucson, and she can take mine. She does not work far from home, and she starts early, so traffic is not a problem. Never know, some winters are not so terrible as the last couple have been. And Ottawa is like one of the coldest and snowiest capital cities in the world, however, our snow removal is pretty good. Anyways, RWD in winter can be fun, if you know what you are doing!

 

[VivienM]

23-25K CAD seems a little too close to a brand new FWD Honda Accord, which looks just like the 2009-2011 Genesis from the rear. I just cannot imagine someone in CA buying a RWD car unless they have another one to drive when there is snow.

$23-25K CAD seems cheap to me... but maybe that's because the lease buyout on my dad's 2009, after 4 years, was $22K, which I thought was on the high side (otherwise I might have bought it)...

.. but in any event, I don't think a tech package Genesis is comparable to a base Honda Accord with cloth seats and 4 cylinder and manual AC and whatnot.

As for RWD and Canada, I think it depends where. My dad in Ottawa had a ton of trouble with his, which is why he's much happier with his AWD Acura TL. But for Toronto, where it barely snows, and especially if you don't drive to work? I'm not convinced RWD is unworkable.

 

[CLASSYRSPEC]

I grew up in Montreal, and as you know, the weather is exactly the same. All the cars back in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and many cars in the 80s, had RWD, and everyone survived. And at that time, there as no traction control and other goodies to assist in the driving and stopping aspects of the cars. The technology with tires has changed as well, making a reasonable improvement nowadays over years ago. Will I get stuck without AWD, and the answer is probably yes. IS AWD a better solution to RWD in winter, and the answer is yes again. However, if you know how to drive in the snow, and there are many Canadians who don't (Vancouver/Victoria) and immigrants living here, there will be trouble. But if you know what you are doing, along with the city's clean up procedures, I am hoping for a minor inconvenience at the most. Don't forget, that a day or 2 later when it turns bloody cold, and the sun is shining, the roads, for the most part, are dry, and possibly a lil black icy, which does no one any good, AWD or not, when it comes to stopping.

And as mentioned, fortunately for me, if the weather is that bad, I don't have to go to work, and if I do, I can always swap out cars with da wife

 

[VivienM]

I grew up in Montreal, and as you know, the weather is exactly the same. All the cars back in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and many cars in the 80s, had RWD, and everyone survived.

One thing I did notice is that old-school domestic RWD vehicles tend to have slower throttle response than the Genesis does, which would help quite a bit when starting from a stop. The Genesis throttle (and my experience is with a 2009 3.8) is fairly touchy - if you want to drive it ridiculously gently on snow/ice, it's quite difficult... and if you push the gas pedal 1mm too much, boom, the stability control is kicking in. Compare that to a Ford truck or Town Car which requires a lot more pushing of the gas pedal to get moving...

Honestly though, I drove that Genesis across Ottawa in a snow storm, and I had essentially no experience with that car (or anything RWD) in winter before and it was... manageable. If it's not your primary commuter car, and you have good winter tires (which is required in Quebec anyways), it should be fine...

 

[CLASSYRSPEC]

I suppose that shifting into manual mode, and starting in second gear, should slow down the throttle response a tad, and make spin outs less likely

 

[nfetterly]

I also learned to drive in Montreal on a rear wheel drive (70s Impala). The rwd Genny with winter tires & ESC is pretty damn good. I actually prefer rwd myself. AWD gives too much feeling of confidence - but only works when your foot is on the gas. When your foot is on the brake we are all pretty much equal - that is where the good winter tires come in.

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[PMCErnie]

Don't forget to put 100 lbs of sand in the trunk for the winter. Preferably in bags.

 

[rmwweb]

I've been driving a Genesis in Ottawa for the past six years with zero trouble in the winter. I admit to being surprised the first time I took my 2009 (Tech Package) Genesis out in the snow with its original Dunlop "all season" tires. That was not a fun experience. However, as soon as I put on winter tires, it was a non issue. I've driven in all kinds of conditions and as long as you engage your brain before you engage the transmission, things are good with this car. Yes, you have to take it easy with the throttle, yes you have to leave a little extra distance between you and the car ahead, no you shouldn't try to prove how much power you have under the hood when there's three inches of fresh snow on the road. Pay attention to the conditions and drive accordingly and the Genesis (with good winter tires) is fine in the winter. Sorry, don't mean to be preachy but there's an endless supply of really bad drivers using everything from RWD sports cars to AWD trucks to the guys who drive the snow plow's. It isn't the vehicle that's the problem it's the human/machine interface. Ok, the next sound you'll hear is me jumping off my soapbox.

On another note more related to the original post, I've been wondering why the heck Hyundai isn't offering the 2015 V6 model in the loaded (Ultimate) package. I've always assumed that most of the Genesis's sold in Canada were V6 tech pac cars, it just seems like the one to buy. Maybe this explains it.

Personally, I'm really only interested in the fully loaded version, but with a V6. For me, it has all the power I need and, with the price of gas these days, who needs the lower fuel consumption? Especially now that all we can get is AWD here in Canada. I'd be quite happy to buy another RWD V6 if they would sell them here. Hopefully Hyundai Canada will come to its senses and bring in the loaded V6 for the 2016 model year.

 

[VivienM]

On another note more related to the original post, I've been wondering why the heck Hyundai isn't offering the 2015 V6 model in the loaded (Ultimate) package. I've always assumed that most of the Genesis's sold in Canada were V6 tech pac cars, it just seems like the one to buy. Maybe this explains it.

So you and I thought the same thing...

Maybe the fact that so many 2012/2013s were rentals skewed things somewhat, but even with 2010s, it seems most of the used ones (which I presume are primarily 4-year-lease returns) are premiums. Not techs.

Personally, I'm really only interested in the fully loaded version, but with a V6. For me, it has all the power I need and, with the price of gas these days, who needs the lower fuel consumption? Especially now that all we can get is AWD here in Canada. I'd be quite happy to buy another RWD V6 if they would sell them here. Hopefully Hyundai Canada will come to its senses and bring in the loaded V6 for the 2016 model year.

I agree! Plus the V8 adds something like $10K nowadays, not $4K like in 2009.

Funny thing is, now that the Genesis has AWD, I suspect my dad (and me, if I had the money) would consider the new model when his Acura lease is up in 2016, but I have difficulty recommending it when the $53K variant is missing things (though... in all fairness, he probably wouldn't actually care about the missing features, it's the principle of the matter though).

His 2009 was $45K and had all the gizmos of the V8 except for the stolen leather dash. The 2015 fully-loaded V6 is $53K and is missing the 17-speaker sound system, the bigger nav screen and the smart key card.

And at $62K for the Ultimate, why not get a turbo-4 in a German car for that kind of money? Or what kind of equipment will Lexus give you in a GS350 AWD for that price?

 

[VivienM]

And I go and check my tab on autotrader.ca and what do I see at the top of my (sorted-by-newest-listings-on-top) list?

A 2013 "Hyundai Genesis Sedan w/ Technology Package" for $25.9K... and you look at the photo, and you see the touchscreen nav, no adaptive cruise button, etc.

*sigh*

 

[rmwweb]

I'm sure there are V6 Tech pac's out there. Without going back and verifying this, my recollection is that most (certainly not all) of the Canadians on this site have the Tech package on their cars. Maybe not indicative of anything but... If worse comes to worst, I hope to be getting rid of my 2012 V6 Tech model next year. I'll give you a good deal on it then. LOL

 

[Mark_888]

$23-25K CAD seems cheap to me... but maybe that's because the lease buyout on my dad's 2009, after 4 years, was $22K, which I thought was on the high side (otherwise I might have bought it)...

.. but in any event, I don't think a tech package Genesis is comparable to a base Honda Accord with cloth seats and 4 cylinder and manual AC and whatnot.

As for RWD and Canada, I think it depends where. My dad in Ottawa had a ton of trouble with his, which is why he's much happier with his AWD Acura TL. But for Toronto, where it barely snows, and especially if you don't drive to work? I'm not convinced RWD is unworkable.

I certainly was not suggesting a base Honda Accord with 4 cylinder. Maybe prices are higher in CA, but in USA you can easily get a fully loaded Accord V6 demo for $23-25K USD, or maybe a car that only one year old. Personally, I am just not a used car kind of person, as there are too many hassles with it. I would rather get a less expensive car that is brand new. The few times I had to drive my Genesis in very light snow, I did not like it at all.

 

[CLASSYRSPEC]

As long as it has not been winter driven

I don't even take my month old Rspec out in the rain. Don't know what I am going to do this winter. Maybe win the maxmillions and get anAWD beater for the winter, and store my Rspec at a Dymon storage facility

 

[FirstGen]

And I go and check my tab on autotrader.ca and what do I see at the top of my (sorted-by-newest-listings-on-top) list?

A 2013 "Hyundai Genesis Sedan w/ Technology Package" for $25.9K... and you look at the photo, and you see the touchscreen nav, no adaptive cruise button, etc.

*sigh*

Often they don't know the difference. They see navi and they think it's tech.
I did see a 2012 and 2010 tech on Auto trader today.

 

[CLASSYRSPEC]

Don't forget to put 100 lbs of sand in the trunk for the winter. Preferably in bags.

Thanx. I almost forgot the bags!