2010 Suspension Owner Review

[Webdude]

695 miles into my ownership of the 2010 4.6 Platinum/black Interior fully loaded.
Got a great deal . . . 3 year lease with $229 monthly payments, buy-out at lease end for $21,300.

I love the car, no doubt. Have found the suspension unchanged from the 2009.

This is an observation I made while driving the 2009 loaner that had 18K+ miles on it. This was a unique in-site for me to drive a somewhat unusual loaner with such high mileage. It allowed me to judge the durability of different aspects I would not have gotten normally as a new first time Genesis owner. I was in this car for an entire month while waiting on mine to come up from the port in Georgia to North Carolina.

I find the ride a bit taunt, but I like it that way having owned a C230 Kompressor in the past. However there are different kinds of taunt rides in different cars. I will in an over simplification break it down into two versions as, well behaved/mature and a not as well behaved still searching for the sweet spot feel.

Before anyone labels me a BENZ nut, or faithful follower of Mercedes, I would like to point out that I traded in the 2003 C230 for a 2006 Azera Limited which has now been traded for the Genesis. So as a two time Hyundai owner, I feel fully vetted and justified to make neutral, honest statements regarding the Genesis. If this forum is to be of any value to anyone it needs fair and balanced reviews, with as much honesty as possible, not blinded by over joyment of a recent purchase.

I am not looking to offend any proud owner of a Genesis in this forum as I fall into this category myself. However I can say that there is some tweaking still needed on the suspension of the Genesis. I am content with what the suspension does, but feel some others may not appreciate the tautness of the Genesis ride.

The suspension transfers, especially over segmented concrete highway a lot of the roughness of bad roads to the passengers. I can remember well the difference I felt when driving the C230 over rough road of even moderately deteriorated surfaces. There was a firmness that was never harsh, this is the ride I would have preferred the Genesis had, you know that sound a well behaved suspension makes, "thump, thump".

The Genesis suspension still has room for improvement and needs time to mature as one would expect for something as subjective as how well suspension does it job. Personal taste plays a large role in how you may or may not feel about the ride of a Genesis. I do know, I do not want the BIG Buick Boat ride feel on what should clearly be a sportier riding car such as the Genesis.

All in all, I am VERY satisfied with my new Genesis as the value it represents is unprecedented in it's class.

 

[Mark_888]

Others who have driven both the 2009 and 2010 have reported noticeable differences, and Hyundai certainly advertised that they made improvements in the suspension (although those claims seem to have disappeared from press releases--presumably until the 2009 units are all sold).

One thing I have noticed on my 2009 is that some of the suspension problems (extreme jitteriness and bounciness on certain roads) seems to be less of an issue over time (but still not as good as I would like). I presume that the springs loose just a touch of tension after some use, so comparing a new 2010 and a 2009 with 18K miles on it may not be apples-to-apples comparision, and that your 2010 will soften up a tad over time. But I don't know if it will be as smooth as you have experieced on other cars.

Also, check your tire pressures. I don't know what pressure your demo car had (I assume you don't know either?), but some new cars come with over-inflated tires (they are transported that way and dealers are supposed to lower the PSI as part of prep), and some demos are running underinflated (for a reason). I have lowered mine to 31 PSI (down from the recommended 33).

 

[Mark_888]

695 miles into my ownership of the 2010 4.6 Platinum/black Interior fully loaded.
Got a great deal . . . 3 year lease with $229 monthly payments, buy-out at lease end for $21,300.

I am not an expert on leases (never have leased myself) but are you sure those numbers are correct?

 

[Webdude]

I guess I should also say I got $14K for my Azera as trade and $1000 factory incentive. When you add up all the figures it comes to $44,544. That does not seem like such a great deal at first glance, until compared to a conventional loan with higher interest rates and monthly payments.

I'm sure all suspensions, no matter the make do soften a little after break-in. I also caught in one review there is a difference in the V6 and the V8's handling and ride because of the extra weight of the V8, with the V6's handling being better with less over steer.

I was paying particular attention to the 2009's suspension while sitting in the left turning lane at a red light. And I happen to notice, a lateral swaying from cars flying by on the right while I was sitting still. This may be part of the subtle sort of things that need to be reported, to ultimately mature the suspension. I know this movement to be normal, especially with cars moving VERY briskly by. The vacuum they created just seemed to make the Genesis move more than I would have suspected. Again, I could have just been in a more heightened state of mind than normal trying to pay particular attention to many different things the car was or was not doing when scrutinizing it.

 

[Mark_888]

I was paying particular attention to the 2009's suspension while sitting in the left turning lane at a red light. And I happen to notice, a lateral swaying from cars flying by on the right while I was sitting still. This may be part of the subtle sort of things that need to be reported, to ultimately mature the suspension. I know this movement to be normal, especially with cars moving VERY briskly by. The vacuum they created just seemed to make the Genesis move more than I would have suspected. Again, I could have just been in a more heightened state of mind than normal trying to pay particular attention to many different things the car was or was not doing when scrutinizing it.

IMO, the 2009 rear springs are too tight (jittery), and are overwhelming the shocks. This is only noticeable on certain roads where the car tends to bounce around, and maybe you noticed a similar problem with the shocks not doing there job when cars drive by you at high speeds when you are sitting still.

Hyundai has said that the 2010 spring and shock rates were changed, and I assume the shocks are now taking a larger role to keep the car stable in the 2010 model. But even the 2009 is perfectly fine on roads that are relatively smooth, and even some roads that are only moderately rough. When my Genesis was new, I actually had more problems at slow speeds than at higher speeds.

The suspension on my 2009 has improved somewhat over time as the springs are not quite so tight, but I still would like the 2010 springs and shocks if I can get them (and get them installed). But I am a little more patient some others on this forum, and I understand that Hyundai does not even want to discuss the issue until all 2009 units are sold.

 

[Sayantsi]

Others who have driven both the 2009 and 2010 have reported noticeable differences

Some also have reported, like the OP, that there is no appreciable difference in suspension feel between 09s and 10s. My only thought is some people just got cars with mis-tuned suspension components and the result is a poor ride.

 

[Mark_888]

Some also have reported, like the OP, that there is no appreciable difference in suspension feel between 09s and 10s. My only thought is some people just got cars with mis-tuned suspension components and the result is a poor ride.

I suspect you are correct and that there are some differences among 2009 Genesis sedans. For example I noticed that my springs have lost just a little bit of jitteriness over time.

But I think the main difference in opinion is the difference in road quality that different owners have in their area. My 2009 rides perfectly on smooth roads, but is not so nice with rough roads. And it is not just any rough roads (and sometimes not the roughest roads that cause the problems), but only certain roads where the road problems tend to excite the springs in a frequency that matches the frequency of spring (or something weird like that).

Temperature may also make a difference, as my 2009 was purchased in the dead of winter last year and that is when I noticed the problem more than I have recently (and Hyundai tuned the Genesis suspension in the CA desert at their test facility).

From what I can tell, the rear springs on the 2009 are overpowering the shocks, and the 2010 is more in balance so the springs and shocks work together. A relatively minor change, but just enough to make a nice difference on the 2010. But like I said, it would not be noticed on the majority of roads.

 

[jailer]

695 miles into my ownership of the 2010 4.6 Platinum/black Interior fully loaded.
Got a great deal . . . 3 year lease with $229 monthly payments, buy-out at lease end for $21,300.
.

WTF??? How did you get that deal, or is that a common transaction?? Can you provide details Webdude.??

 

[ImInPA]

695 miles into my ownership of the 2010 4.6 Platinum/black Interior fully loaded.
Got a great deal . . . 3 year lease with $229 monthly payments, buy-out at lease end for $21,300.

I love the car, no doubt. Have found the suspension unchanged from the 2009.

This was my experience when riding in a 2010. I did not notice any difference in the ride between the 2009 and 2010. A co-worker of mine went to test drive a 2010 and I tagged along. The dealer also had several 2009's remaining and were willing to give him a pretty good deal on the leftover 2009's. We spent close to two hours behind the wheel of both 2009 and 2010. Neither one of us could discern a difference when driven over a variety of roads. In fact, the 2009 seemed to go over railroad tracks better. If there is a difference, neither my co-worker or myself could detect it. I know there have been some posts here that claim "big" differences, however, I notice that when I get into a new car, they almost always feel "better." To this point, I recently was given a 2009 Volvo S80 T6 as a loaner (I have a 2009 S80 T6). Mine has 16k miles the loaner had 3K miles. It felt "better" to me when I first got into it. When I later came to pick up my car, I thought mine felt really good. Maybe a bit "less stiff" and more compliant over bumps. So much of this in my honest opinion is psychological.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[genesis 45]

Then some of us just got badly tuned suspensions in our 2009's....had to replace tires so i went with the "bridgestone serenity" super quiet tire...its a touring tire and i think it handles better then the dunlops...but only a minor improvement over bad roads...............later

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[warp08]

Others who have driven both the 2009 and 2010 have reported noticeable differences, and Hyundai certainly advertised that they made improvements in the suspension (although those claims seem to have disappeared from press releases--presumably until the 2009 units are all sold).

One thing I have noticed on my 2009 is that some of the suspension problems (extreme jitteriness and bounciness on certain roads) seems to be less of an issue over time (but still not as good as I would like). I presume that the springs loose just a touch of tension after some use, so comparing a new 2010 and a 2009 with 18K miles on it may not be apples-to-apples comparision, and that your 2010 will soften up a tad over time. But I don't know if it will be as smooth as you have experieced on other cars.

Also, check your tire pressures. I don't know what pressure your demo car had (I assume you don't know either?), but some new cars come with over-inflated tires (they are transported that way and dealers are supposed to lower the PSI as part of prep), and some demos are running underinflated (for a reason). I have lowered mine to 31 PSI (down from the recommended 33).

I agree with Mark's observations. My 4.6 Genesis purchased 3/2009 behaves similarly. Although I have followed the various suspension-related discussions, never before commented on them since my personal experience up to this point was more on the "neutral" side. This has changed, however, as soon as I was assigned to a new project which required to travel on entirely different set of roads for several hours a day. Those of you who live in the Washington-Metro area, I'm specifically referring to Georgetown Pike (Rt 187). When driving that road, the Genesis simply becomes a nauseating ride. The car has now close to 10,000 miles with the original tires and no modifications except for Window tinting. This behavior was not noticeable for me on the roads previously traveled, although I would still have preferred a bit more compliant and less harsh ride.

I personally do not believe Hyundai would provide any relief to the 2009 owners. If they wanted to, they would have released some kind of statement or service bulletin. I'm a first time Hyundai owner and it's too early to state whether or not I would consider purchasing another one based on this experience. With them getting so many things right with this car, it is somewhat surprising to me screwing this one up so badly, because the rapidly deteriorating state of most of the nation's highways is not exactly a secret. I understand that part of the responsibility as the buyer falls on me to thoroughly test drive the vehicle before I commit to the purchase, however, most dealerships would probably frown on requests to take a brand new car and putting several hundreds of miles test driving in a variety of conditions and road surfaces. I have done a reasonable 45 min test drive, during which this suspension behavior didn't present itself.

If anybody from Hyundai happens to monitor this thread, I would urge them to reconsider offering an adjustable suspension option for the next Genesis model (when available), which is available on the Korean models. I would have gladly paid for it as I suspect many others as well. The adjustable suspension in my 2006 Corvette was one of the best features. Might I also add that in Touring setting, it offered a much more pleasant ride than the Genesis when driving on Rt. 187 on an identical route.

Right now I'm going to tough it out as long as I can and pay off the car in the next 6 months. Hopefully, my commute will change again for the better, so it won't be such a pain and I can keep the car for 3-4 years as originally planned before trading it in.

Suspension aside, the car has performed as expected with only a few minor issues. It is very enjoyable to drive....on a smooth road surface.

 

[Webdude]

FYI Jailer:
I guess I should also say I got $14K for my Azera as trade and $1000 factory incentive. When you add up all the figures it comes to $44,544. That does not seem like such a great deal at first glance, until compared to a conventional loan with higher interest rates and monthly payments.

 

[LLT]

Odd this topic came up. I drove by the Hyundai dealer yesterday and saw a 2010 sitting there. I stopped in and asked to test drive it, for my own curiousity.

I took it on a 20 mile test drive, over the same roads that plagued me with my 2009. There was no noticeable difference -- it still had excessive road noise over textured surfaces and was still just as uncontrolled as the 2009.

This is, of course, not a scientific review and still highly subjective. I just don't like the ride or road noise levels (to its credit, the cabin is so quiet, the road noise is amplified.) Still a really nice vehicle, I just feel they should have adjustable air suspension or at least, make the V8 model a sports suspension for those "gotta have it" guys and leave the V6 a touring model.

Just my .02, as always.

 

[dev]

I have now driven 350 miles in my new 4.6. I just left my LS430, 2006 at Lexus and the miles I have driven are following. My wife and I agree that the ride is more solid, we agree that we prefer it to the Lexus. The interior is more roomy, and the seats are at least a comfortable. The excelleration is so much better I have to be careful in traffic. This is the first time I have used adaptive cruise, and it is super and I like it. This car reduces my overall operating costs nearly 8000 dollars a year. Thanks for the Genesis.

 

[VaGenesis]

I agree with warp08's observations. This is my first foray into the world of Hyundai, and overall I'm very impressed with the car, which now has ~1600 miles on it. I sold a 2002 BMW 525i, and bought a 2010 Genesis 4.6, tech package, black with tan interior. Beautiful car. The ride gets a bit bumpy at times, and other times it's fine. I'd like to find a way to soften the ride somehow. I'm due for an oil change in a bit, and will ask the dealer for any suggestions.

 

[Billymax]

I got my 2010 genny about 2 months ago and had 4 Caddy DTS's and Devilles before. The ride is obviously completely different than the Caddy but I find it fun just a little bumpy on rough roads. My wife's 525BMW drives and rides very similar to the Genny. I did lower the air pressure to 31LB and it seemed to help. Mine was at 35! when I got it and you felt every bump and crack but it is much better. Some dumb things in the Tech package compared to the DTS, the GPS is not as user friendly and not downloading the cell phone address book seemed like an easy programming miss. The passenger seat not being heated and cooled was a detail that shouldn't have been passed on to save a couple of bucks.

Happy so far. Also as far as warrenties go. My son had a 2006 Senada with 92,000 miles and the engine blew up. Hyundia and the dealer were great. They only asked if he had records of oil changes and they pulled the valve covers off to take a look. They put a brand new create motor complete, dropped it in and even gave him a loner car free for two days. I was extremely impressed and gave me confidence to guy the Genny.

 

[gipp]

I hAvE gOtTeN uSeD tO tHe JiTtErRy RiDe Of tHe 2o09 gEnEsIs BuT mY WiFe SaYs ThAt My SpEaCh aNd WrITiNg HaVe BeCoMe a BiT JiTtErRy SiNcE I bOuGhT ThE GeNeSis aNd ThAt My HeAd Is CoNsTaNtlY NoW bObBiNg Up AnD DoWn. CaN't PrOvE iT bY mE.

 

[Hghwy52]

I hAvE gOtTeN uSeD tO tHe JiTtErRy RiDe Of tHe 2o09 gEnEsIs BuT mY WiFe SaYs ThAt My SpEaCh aNd WrITiNg HaVe BeCoMe a BiT JiTtErRy SiNcE I bOuGhT ThE GeNeSis aNd ThAt My HeAd Is CoNsTaNtlY NoW bObBiNg Up AnD DoWn. CaN't PrOvE iT bY mE.

Great post! My wife and I would always laugh when trying to talk while going over rough roads because we sounded like your post reads. But with 12k miles on the car and 160 lbs of water softener salt in the trunk for winter traction, our blather sounds pretty normal now. I still deliberately drive over some rough roads that I could easily avoid though, just for the amusement park ride like fun of it.

 

[Billymax]

Now That's funny I don't care who you are!!!

 

[Billymax]

I hAvE gOtTeN uSeD tO tHe JiTtErRy RiDe Of tHe 2o09 gEnEsIs BuT mY WiFe SaYs ThAt My SpEaCh aNd WrITiNg HaVe BeCoMe a BiT JiTtErRy SiNcE I bOuGhT ThE GeNeSis aNd ThAt My HeAd Is CoNsTaNtlY NoW bObBiNg Up AnD DoWn. CaN't PrOvE iT bY mE.

Now that's funny I don't care who you are!!!!
BillMax