Why 2012 V6 owners made the right choice...

[OGenesis]

Having come out of a car that I helped build for driving fast on twisty roads (built 04 WRX), I was going for the "Total Package" this time with the 3.8 V6 Genesis premium and Tech packages. The car is unreal and as most Genesis owners feel...simply an awesome car for the money. With that said I love horsepower and the ability to put it down on the ground. The R-Specs 429HP is the real deal. But the car does not handle like a car that should have 429 horses. I wanted the R-spec...but realized I wanted it for reasons I would not really be able to enjoy. I decided to take the 5G's I would have spent on the R-psec and have started a fund buy something used down the road specifically for speed and those twisty roads. Its amazing what you can buy in the power/muscle car industry for 5-10 thousand. Many are builds that people just give up on. They can be had for cheap as the labor costs never get recouped! SO...basically this post was for all the V6 owners who are still wishing they bought the R-spec...the future still looks Fast!!!


"In the automotive alphabet, the letter "R" has always stood for performance. By branding the company's new top-of-the-line Genesis with the sports-oriented letter, Hyundai may have set buyers up for disappointment. While the R-Spec is an impressive vehicle in its own right, the four-door is far from a legitimate sports sedan. As a faster alternative to the 4.6-liter V8 vehicle, the 5.0 R-Spec shines as brightly as the company's engineers and designers could have hoped.

Unfortunately, with 43 more horsepower than the outgoing V6 and improved fuel economy, the base 3.8-liter Genesis is more appealing than ever. With a snappier final drive ratio than its V8 brethren, the V6 even feels pretty quick off the line, making the extra coin for the 5.0 R-Spec even more difficult to justify. If you're signing on the dotted line for a Genesis, stick with the base model and use some of the cash you saved to pick up a set of the Bridgestone rubber available on the big R for a little more grip. You'll be happier in the long run."

 

[homeofstone]

On paper the new 2012s look great. I am not yet sold on GDI engines regarding long term durability. I drive vehicles to at least 230,000 and plan on keeping my Genny to about 300,000 miles so only time will tell on the GDI engines. I am including all
GDI engines, not just Hyundai's. If I were planning on only 150,000 miles then I would buy a GDI. As for the 2012 V6 total package, you have a good point.

 

[Ruissimo]

If I didn't have a gene that FORCED ME to buy the high-end models of cars, I would tend to agree with you.

Put it to you this way: If the 5.0 didn't exist, my new car would've been the 4.6. If the 3.8 was the only model available, I would NO DOUBT have purchased it!

I don't know what it is... you slap a couple of fancy options on a car and MUST HAVE IT!

Me at dealership:

All three trims (and optionable versions) are impressive offerings. My $0.02USD

 

[OGenesis]

If I didn't have a gene that FORCED ME to buy the high-end models of cars, I would tend to agree with you.

Put it to you this way: If the 5.0 didn't exist, my new car would've been the 4.6. If the 3.8 was the only model available, I would NO DOUBT have purchased it!

I don't know what it is... you slap a couple of fancy options on a car and MUST HAVE IT!

Me at dealership:

All three trims (and optionable versions) are impressive offerings. My $0.02USD

LOL!! I agree!!

 

[sandy]

If everyone bought just what they needed vs what they wanted, it would be a much more boring world and we would have a much slower economy.

 

[SNSN]

Question...if you get Premium and Tech packages on the 3.8 is the interior and exterior the same as on the V8?

 

[CanukV6]

As far as I know, yes.
There is a significant and positive difference in the 2012 V6 in terms of acceleration and smoothness.

 

[EXBMWGUY]

Normally, I am the character in Ruissimo's hysterically funny cartoon. In fact, I have a couple of Academy awards for that kind of behavior. However, this time I get to blame my wife, who 15 years ago didn't care if we had a Ferrari or a Nash Rambler. After our test drive of the 2012 V6, she said "let's drive that one." "That one was an R-Spec. Trying to be immediately after my drive of the R-Spec, I said, "yea it's pretty good -- why don't you see if you like the way it drives?" She moved into the driver's seat, never took it over 2,000 rpm, but afterwards said, "I like it better -- it's smoother and has less road noise." Not one to question the judgment of my wonderful wife. I agreed!

The V6 is a tremendous car and a huge value, but today, I cannot imagine not having the R-Spec vs. a V6.

 

[LA Genesis]

I thought this thread was going to be about fuel economy and the price of gas. The V8s come with lighted door sills. That and a piece of chrome running along the bottom of the car the only visual differences of note.

All of the Genesis models are good choices.

 

[037]

no one complains about the puny tires out back? with a slightly damp road my V6 Genny breaks traction on 245 (upgraded) Continental DWS at 40mph.

this car needs at least 275's in the back to handle the power, I'm not even talking about the R-Spec.

Maybe that way all the computers inside won't need to limit the power at launch!

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[flyboy2]

OGenesis- be honest. You couldn't afford a V8.

 

[OGenesis]

OGenesis- be honest. You couldn't afford a V8.

Uh...Fly Boy...HAHA! No Recession Here!! I won't waste time allowing you in my wallet! But it holds 5 Grand+ more than yours right now. I want a sports car when I buy a sports car!! I love to drive but to try and tell myself that the R-spec was going to provide me a feeling of shifting through the gears and the ability to handle curves like the car I got rid of...it wasn't. I wasn't trying to insult you. Maybe you just don't know much about cars and saw a big HP #?? The Genesis is not a car you want to beat on. I want something else to beat on and drive hard...either track or auto-cross. Then when I'm done, get back into the luxury of the Genesis. Do you really think the R-spec can handle that on a daily?

 

[OGenesis]

OGenesis- be honest. You couldn't afford a V8.

Honestly, I thought I was done with kids and immaturity on forum message boards when I left the Subaru WRX community. Thanks for keeping it alive Fly Boy!!

...and you have the 4.6 Liter...That engine is on its way out player! The performance #'s are really not much different on the 4.6 and the 2012 V6 are they?

 

[427435]

To each his own. I already have a couple of "sports" cars to drive. What I'm looking for is a comfortable, highway car that can show it's bumper to most any car it wants to on the highway. That means the 5.0 non-R spec Genesis.

It looks like I have to wait for the 2013 to get a red one 5.0.

 

[Ruissimo]

I would have seriously considered a non-r spec if they had it in red...

I would have had to throw the R Spec 19's on it though.



Honestly... I thought the wheels looked a little "kiddish" in photos, but in real-life, they are IMPRESSIVE. They look great.

 

[flyboy2]

Honestly, I thought I was done with kids and immaturity on forum message boards when I left the Subaru WRX community. Thanks for keeping it alive Fly Boy!!

...and you have the 4.6 Liter...That engine is on its way out player! The performance #'s are really not much different on the 4.6 and the 2012 V6 are they?

"The Subaru community"? That explains your posts and love for the V6.

 

[Aquineas]

To each his/her own I suppose. I love my V8, and would have loved the 5.0 in NON-R Spec form, which is now available, but it just doesn't make economic sense (for me, anyway) to trade in my beloved "Clarice", which has no rattles and still looks like new (when clean ), not with a child on the way. Let's talk again in about three years; hopefully the V8 will still be available then. The trend seems to be turbocharged V6's over V8s, turbocharged V8s over V10s/V12s, etc.

 

[acoga]

To each his/her own I suppose. I love my V8, and would have loved the 5.0 in NON-R Spec form, which is now available, but it just doesn't make economic sense (for me, anyway) to trade in my beloved "Clarice", which has no rattles and still looks like new (when clean ), not with a child on the way. Let's talk again in about three years; hopefully the V8 will still be available then. The trend seems to be turbocharged V6's over V8s, turbocharged V8s over V10s/V12s, etc.

I agree with the "to each his own" sentiment. The V6 is a terrific choice. Given the small price difference between the 3.8 and the R-Spec, I went with the R-Spec because I love all that effortless power on tap.

But OGenesis is absolutely right that the R-Spec isn't a sport sedan. I've said before on this forum they should've just badged it as "5.0" or maybe add an "S" and leave the R-Spec label for a more sporty version. No sport seats, no paddle shift, a transmission that is a bit ADD, no sport mode adjustable suspension, no sport exhaust, etc. It's more like an old school Buick musclecar than anything. And that's just fine! I love that it's a sleeper. I have no urge to carve corners in this car.

I think OGenesis' plan of having his Genny plus a suped up beater is a very sensible approach, frankly. No reason to give him grief over it.

Edit: also, I'm not going to mourn the passing of V8s. The trend towards smaller displacement turbos + gearboxes with zillions of gears = good economy when you're just tooling around but great performance when you step on it. The main problem is that usually turbos are so hushed they don't sound sporty. BMW resorted to piping in fake engine sounds into the cabin through the stereo! But it's not like the Genny V8 sounds like much of anything to start with, so nothing lost there.

 

[OGenesis]

I agree with the "to each his own" sentiment. The V6 is a terrific choice. Given the small price difference between the 3.8 and the R-Spec, I went with the R-Spec because I love all that effortless power on tap.

But OGenesis is absolutely right that the R-Spec isn't a sport sedan. I've said before on this forum they should've just badged it as "5.0" or maybe add an "S" and leave the R-Spec label for a more sporty version. No sport seats, no paddle shift, a transmission that is a bit ADD, no sport mode adjustable suspension, no sport exhaust, etc. It's more like an old school Buick musclecar than anything. And that's just fine! I love that it's a sleeper. I have no urge to carve corners in this car.

I think OGenesis' plan of having his Genny plus a suped up beater is a very sensible approach, frankly. No reason to give him grief over it.

Edit: also, I'm not going to mourn the passing of V8s. The trend towards smaller displacement turbos + gearboxes with zillions of gears = good economy when you're just tooling around but great performance when you step on it. The main problem is that usually turbos are so hushed they don't sound sporty. BMW resorted to piping in fake engine sounds into the cabin through the stereo! But it's not like the Genny V8 sounds like much of anything to start with, so nothing lost there.

Acoga...Thank you! You understood my point exactly. I wasn't bashing the R-spec but rather trying to start a little conversation about the V6 and why I felt like it was the right choice for my needs. Not sure why one guy feels the need to insult. The R-spec is a blast to push, I test drove it as well. I was leaning for a while, but then I decided on my future plan for a little toy and save the difference. As a matter of fact for my birthday my wife got me an hour drive in Vintage Shelby Cobra 427. Needless to say...I can't wait!!

Be well!!

 

[Rey]

I have a bit of experience with Genesis: had an '09 4.6, an '11 4.6 and now have a 12 R-Spec. My R-Spec is at the dealer for warranty work (new transmission) and was issued a 12 Genesis V-6 with Sept. 21, 2012 build date.

I mention build date as Hyundai makes running changes, as all mfg. do. Here are some of the changes to the V-6 which are immediately apparent:
1. 18 inch tires and 18" 4.6 wheels.
2. OEM tires are Michelin MX "green" tires with low rolling resistance.
3. 8 speed transmission. Gearing may be same as R-Spec.
4. This model has premium and tech packages; and steering wheel is all leather covered like the R-Spec.

The V-6 has nice starting jump that is not much slower than the R-Spec, which is hampered by low gear torque management. The V-6 is just as smooth and quiet as any V-8. I still prefer the R-Spec just because I love the power, especially when passing on two lane roads. Nevertheless, the V-6 is a very good choice, in my opinion.