I went yesterday to test drive two Genesis sedan V6 3.8 prem/tech and R-spec.
First of all between saddle and black interior that I was so worked up with...
The V6 had saddle interior and moment I saw it, it was too dark.
Don't get fooled by the pictures from dealership. The pics are over exposed to make you seem bit bright brown but when I saw it in person, it was different than I have expected and quickly shunned away from that interior color.
I now lean heavily on black interior. The black interior really makes you feel the interior spacious and luxurious (well everyone has their own opinions about luxury). Overall black interior feels sporty, cashmere maybe for a bit older people (no offense) and saddle maybe someone who might like being classy.
When my mind was made up (Black on Black), I did the test drive 3.8 going first.
Genesis 3.8
My first impression was that I think almost everyone can go with 3.8 rather than other trims. Acceleration was quite fast. Steering was nimble for Genesis's size and it absorbed road bumps like any other luxury car. The performance of the engine was great so that I would not have known I am driving a V6 without the engine noise. Interior was quiet except for minor engine noise to let you know that the engine is running fine. Unlike what people said about the engine noise. I haven't heard the knocking due to GDI engine. In short, I was satisfied with the car.
Genesis R-spec
Now this was a different beast. Now I know why there were mixed impression with this car. The power you can feel is substantial but except for the engine noise of the typical V8, it feels too similar to V6. The acceleration was definitely quicker but not fast enough (maybe my standard was high?). The ride was harsher like the review but they might have over emphasized it a bit. For example I have went through same route on both cars and I was able to feel some road bumps on the R-spec that previously did not on V6 but there was no time where I became uneasy due to its bumpiness (I drive Cadillac Escalade and Ford Transitconnect, maybe that hardened my butt) You really have to try to feel the bumps to know it. The car did better on tight turns compared to V6 but it wasn’t significant (may be due to weight). The crazy thing is, during the test drive I went over 65mph on the freeway, I am not sure whether it was the road or the car but the steering wheel was trembling like crazy! (This didn't happen on the V6) The salesman noted on that as wheel misalignment and that will be fixed if I do buy this car. I really didn't expect that to happen on the new car's test drive.
Now given that you read everything, you guys may guess I went for V6.
No.
Even though the R-spec had those problems, the car felt sportier. Also things I have listed on R-spec are not that problematic at all. Instead I think it is a tradeoff for getting more power. And lastly the price difference factor. “If I am willing to pay for V6, why not add $3000 to get the best of the trim?”
If you value your money and don’t care about power or losing one option (auto dimming side mirror, rest is visual/minor) V6 is the way to go.
If you don’t mind putting $3000 for power, V8 5.0 Growl, little stiff suspension and zippier car. R-spec it is.
I haven’t had time to try 4.6. But it may as well be similar to 3.8 with smoother power, which might make it a sweet spot considering a price difference of $1000.
Thank you for reading my craptastic unprofessional test drive impression
P.S. My deal went sour when they did not honor the circle pricing and lowballing my trade-in values. After all that it was getting dark and bored to see the salesperson go back and forth for small price adjustment I wasn't fond of. That was it for the night.
I have a question by the way. The reason the deal went sour the first place was that they were adamant that circle pricing and $1500 rebate can't be done together and has to be either this or that kind of thing. I always thought you can get the circle pricing AND rebate. Are they just trying me out to forfeit the rebate?
First of all between saddle and black interior that I was so worked up with...
The V6 had saddle interior and moment I saw it, it was too dark.
Don't get fooled by the pictures from dealership. The pics are over exposed to make you seem bit bright brown but when I saw it in person, it was different than I have expected and quickly shunned away from that interior color.
I now lean heavily on black interior. The black interior really makes you feel the interior spacious and luxurious (well everyone has their own opinions about luxury). Overall black interior feels sporty, cashmere maybe for a bit older people (no offense) and saddle maybe someone who might like being classy.
When my mind was made up (Black on Black), I did the test drive 3.8 going first.
Genesis 3.8
My first impression was that I think almost everyone can go with 3.8 rather than other trims. Acceleration was quite fast. Steering was nimble for Genesis's size and it absorbed road bumps like any other luxury car. The performance of the engine was great so that I would not have known I am driving a V6 without the engine noise. Interior was quiet except for minor engine noise to let you know that the engine is running fine. Unlike what people said about the engine noise. I haven't heard the knocking due to GDI engine. In short, I was satisfied with the car.
Genesis R-spec
Now this was a different beast. Now I know why there were mixed impression with this car. The power you can feel is substantial but except for the engine noise of the typical V8, it feels too similar to V6. The acceleration was definitely quicker but not fast enough (maybe my standard was high?). The ride was harsher like the review but they might have over emphasized it a bit. For example I have went through same route on both cars and I was able to feel some road bumps on the R-spec that previously did not on V6 but there was no time where I became uneasy due to its bumpiness (I drive Cadillac Escalade and Ford Transitconnect, maybe that hardened my butt) You really have to try to feel the bumps to know it. The car did better on tight turns compared to V6 but it wasn’t significant (may be due to weight). The crazy thing is, during the test drive I went over 65mph on the freeway, I am not sure whether it was the road or the car but the steering wheel was trembling like crazy! (This didn't happen on the V6) The salesman noted on that as wheel misalignment and that will be fixed if I do buy this car. I really didn't expect that to happen on the new car's test drive.
Now given that you read everything, you guys may guess I went for V6.
No.
Even though the R-spec had those problems, the car felt sportier. Also things I have listed on R-spec are not that problematic at all. Instead I think it is a tradeoff for getting more power. And lastly the price difference factor. “If I am willing to pay for V6, why not add $3000 to get the best of the trim?”
If you value your money and don’t care about power or losing one option (auto dimming side mirror, rest is visual/minor) V6 is the way to go.
If you don’t mind putting $3000 for power, V8 5.0 Growl, little stiff suspension and zippier car. R-spec it is.
I haven’t had time to try 4.6. But it may as well be similar to 3.8 with smoother power, which might make it a sweet spot considering a price difference of $1000.
Thank you for reading my craptastic unprofessional test drive impression
P.S. My deal went sour when they did not honor the circle pricing and lowballing my trade-in values. After all that it was getting dark and bored to see the salesperson go back and forth for small price adjustment I wasn't fond of. That was it for the night.
I have a question by the way. The reason the deal went sour the first place was that they were adamant that circle pricing and $1500 rebate can't be done together and has to be either this or that kind of thing. I always thought you can get the circle pricing AND rebate. Are they just trying me out to forfeit the rebate?
