Getting Cold feet on Genesis purchase

[MrWesson]

I'm looking at a 2011 4.6 with what I believe to be all options. 26k miles, CPO for 22,900.

A couple areas that have got me concerned.

AC.. I live in FL and this one is HUGE. A car with weak HVAC would be a big problem.

Suspension.. I have only test drove a 2012 and understand that suspension to be softer. No 2011's are around for me to test drive(nor do I have the time). I own a 328I(wifes) and would expect it to not be firmer than that. I don't expect to feel like a cloud over the road either.

I have gone through all financing and a dealership is holding a specific car for me FWIW.

I don't expect it to be an A+ in all categories but those are 2 important categories to me.

Kind of looking for 2009-11 owner feedback here.

 

[Mark_888]

If you get a good quality ceramic tint job with 35% VLT, you will OK (unless there is something wrong the AC on your unit). If you park your car outdoors a lot, I would recommend using a foldable windshield reflector. The biggest problem seems to be that it takes longer to cool down than some cars, but once cool it can maintain that level.

Suspension is going to be firmer than 2012, and, more importantly, less complaint over bad roads than most other cars around. If the roads are relatively smooth (asphalt) then you may not even notice any issues at all. However, the OEM Dunlop tires are crap, and need to be upgraded to something with a more comfortable ride such as Bridgestone Serenity Plus, or similar. Even if the OEM Dunlop tires are gone, used cars typically come with cheap tires that the dealer put on, so don't rely on the amount of tread left as to whether you will need to replace them.

BTW, you have all options if the car has the DIS controller knob behind the shifter. That would be Technology Package.

 

[GenesisCaptain]

I live in FL and this one is HUGE. A car with weak HVAC would be a big problem.

Here is my observed A/C performance on a hot Georgia day. The A/C is plenty good enough for a nasty day. It is better than most other cars I have been in.

http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showpost.php?p=124070&postcount=21

 

[MrWesson]

Here is my observed A/C performance on a hot Georgia day. The A/C is plenty good enough for a nasty day. It is better than most other cars I have been in.

http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showpost.php?p=124070&postcount=21

I guess my concern is comparing to my newer Bmw 328i.

Same experience = 99 degree day with humidity near the same. Roll windows down to vent for 15 seconds, ac full blast, have to turn ac down after 2-4 minutes.

Lexus IS250 is freezing cold from the vent almost at car startup (I tested 37 degrees at vents when 85 degrees). This car will make your ears so cold in 5 min on a hot day they will hurt.

I don't expect better performance but I expect to be comfortable in my car in a few minutes no matter how hot the car was(once vented via windows down). I understand you didn't roll the windows down and let the car cool itself and that obviously will take longer.

 

[GenesisCaptain]

Same experience = 99 degree day with humidity near the same. Roll windows down to vent for 15 seconds, ac full blast, have to turn ac down after 2-4 minutes.

That is truly impressive. I have never been in a car that would freeze me out that fast on a hot GA day. My interior was probably close to 140°. I intentionally did not open the windows to vent, but even if I had, it probably would not have shaved that much time.

 

[MrWesson]

That is truly impressive. I have never been in a car that would freeze me out that fast on a hot GA day. My interior was probably close to 140°. I intentionally did not open the windows to vent, but even if I had, it probably would not have shaved that much time.

Outside air of 90 degrees would bring the inside air temp to that level very quickly with rolling the windows down.

I've never tried to just sit in a hot car and cool it off but I don't think I would make much headway in any car that way. I guess its a good test though.

The Lexus did even better. My grand cherokee by comparison is awful but its also 15 years old.

Something in particular I just remembered about the BMW was that when we got it I was unimpressed with the AC coming from the Lexus. I actually recharged it a bit (have the equipment) and the temp dropped dramatically. This car had very low miles and a CPO.

I think"spec" isn't necessarily "optimum" for most cars. Either way I will be buying the car on monday. If it has weaker than desired AC then I will do a system test myself to find out if it is just inferior or as I suspect.. Undercharged(from an optimum stand point vs spec).

 

[Mark_888]

Either way I will be buying the car on monday. If it has weaker than desired AC then I will do a system test myself to find out if it is just inferior or as I suspect.. Undercharged(from an optimum stand point vs spec).

My theory is that some cars don't have adequate insulation of the air ducts, and that is why it takes longer to cool down. German cars have had those problems for years because it just doesn't get that hot in Germany. To some degree, same for Korea (despite what YEH will claim). If this is show stopper, don't buy it.

 

[Soldier76]

I guess my concern is comparing to my newer Bmw 328i.

Same experience = 99 degree day with humidity near the same. Roll windows down to vent for 15 seconds, ac full blast, have to turn ac down after 2-4 minutes.

Lexus IS250 is freezing cold from the vent almost at car startup (I tested 37 degrees at vents when 85 degrees). This car will make your ears so cold in 5 min on a hot day they will hurt.

I don't expect better performance but I expect to be comfortable in my car in a few minutes no matter how hot the car was(once vented via windows down). I understand you didn't roll the windows down and let the car cool itself and that obviously will take longer.

I must say that is definitely one of the downsides of owning a Genny (I owned a 2009 4.6 and 2011 4.6 to be exact). On a hot Georgia day (about 90degrees and up) the AC really never gets cold the way you want it, and on my wife's old 2012 Prius V and her new 2014 Highlander it gets really cold. On my 2007 Lexus LS460 its almost immediately cold at start up and don't ever turn it down to the lowest because you'll prolly get frost bites. I don't know if Hyundai fixed this issue in the 2012 models and up, but in a hot state like Georgia AC is extremely important.

 

[Gunkk]

My 09 cooled fine and my 2012 works better.

 

[geops]

A comment from Louisiana:
If the car has stayed in the sun all day then it takes a good 15mins to get as cold as I like it. I try to always park under a shade. I also subscribe to the bluelink remote so 10mins of cooling started remotely when in the sun does the trick so it's bearable inside. You all talk about the hot air inside coming out quick but you forget that every single part of the car inside is also heated up to 140F and that takes a long time to cool down.

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[Soldier76]

A comment from Louisiana:
If the car has stayed in the sun all day then it takes a good 15mins to get as cold as I like it. I try to always park under a shade. I also subscribe to the bluelink remote so 10mins of cooling started remotely when in the sun does the trick so it's bearable inside. You all talk about the hot air inside coming out quick but you forget that every single part of the car inside is also heated up to 140F and that takes a long time to cool down.

That's what I don't understand. Why in my Lexus (with no tints yet) after staying out in the blazing sun all day gets cold in less then a minute, and my other cars i had generally take a while to get cold. Does it has to do with the windows UV protectant on this particular car??? I don't know for sure but gonna test how hot this car gets in the inside before I get in, because I don't even roll down the windows like I used to do in my other cars to let some of the heat out, because in my Lexus it just gets immediately cold.

 

[landtuna]

I am in my car (2012 R-spec) and my cousin's 2012 3.8 all summer and both A/C's work just fine. Interior temps here in the AZ desert get to 140+. Trick is to vent A/C outside for the first couple of minutes then turn it to recirculate and shut the windows. That holds true for any vehicle.

 

[Mark_888]

That's what I don't understand. Why in my Lexus (with no tints yet) after staying out in the blazing sun all day gets cold in less then a minute, and my other cars i had generally take a while to get cold. Does it has to do with the windows UV protectant on this particular car??? I don't know for sure but gonna test how hot this car gets in the inside before I get in, because I don't even roll down the windows like I used to do in my other cars to let some of the heat out, because in my Lexus it just gets immediately cold.

Toyota/Lexus just made it a priority to design the car for USA consumer preferences, and that often means powerful A/C. There are lots of factors, including the insulation of the internal A/C ducts that weave from the engine to behind the dash (and which can heat up when car is left in the sun). Other manufacturers, especially those based in climates where it does not get so hot, and where most people don't have A/C in their homes, have less robust A/C in the their cars.

 

[Soldier76]

Toyota/Lexus just made it a priority to design the car for USA consumer preferences, and that often means powerful A/C. There are lots of factors, including the insulation of the internal A/C ducts that weave from the engine to behind the dash (and which can heat up when car is left in the sun). Other manufacturers, especially those based in climates where it does not get so hot, and where most people don't have A/C in their homes, have less robust A/C in the their cars.

That makes sense. So I'm guessing in places where it gets real cold the heat would work better in cars based on how manufacturers design them for those particular areas/regions. I wonder how the heat would work in my car when it starts getting cold. I know it doesn't get below zero where I'm at but, 20 & 30 degrees(we get this once I awhile) is freezing when your use to temperatures being 80degrees and up most of the time.

 

[CLASSYRSPEC]

Was woking about an hour or so from home yesterday. When I left my client's office, the temp was 49F. Chilly for this time of year, but not as cold as it'll be in a couple of months. -10 is not out of the question for months on end.

Anyhow, since it was to be 60F, I did not bring a sweater or jacket, but never got that high. Rainy, windy and chilly. About a couple of minutes after I left my client, the car warmed up nicely, and was very surprised to feel that the heated seats do not only warm your buns, but your entire back as well. With the chill and no jacket, it was a welcome surprise, especially with just an ordinary shirt on. Actually, had to turn down the seat to one yellow light, from three.

 

[Mark_888]

Almost all cars have good heating once the car warms up, since the heating system uses the heat from the engine. A V8 might take a little longer to heat up than a V6, for a given situation. That's why there are heated seats, and sometimes heated steering wheels (both of which operated off the car electrical system, and not the engine temperature).