I drove one last Friday (9/12) at Garden Grove Hyundai after Jerrad (I believe) posted Thursday night that they had some, sorry for the delay in this post.
No
wing badges, still the flying H. They had 4 V-8's, all were Titanium Gray with black interior. 2 had tech packages. They said they were number 1 in V-6 sales in the area which is why they received the first V-8's and that they got ALL the Titanium gray on black because it is the most popular color. The one I drove still had the interior wrapped in plastic, and the styrofoam wrapping still on the wood portion of the steering
wheel (so unfortunately didn't get a good feel or look at it.
One thing I was hoping for, based on pictures in the "V-8" brochure (as well as the commercial where they are touting the quiet interior with all the clocks outside the car) was to see a black leather dash in the black interior, but the dash was saddle color just like all the black V6 interiors I have seen.
The leather is definitely smoother and softer, particularly noticeable on the non-perforated portion of the seats. By itself probably not enough difference for me to choose the V8 over the V6. I mean if you are comparing them side by side you can tell, but I don't think there would be any buyers remorse sitting in the V6 interior wishing for the slightly better leather IMO.
On the titanium gray, the chrome side moldings didn't pop for me and were barely noticeable, although I imagine if the car had been showroom ready and not right off the truck, it would have been much better. I'm guessing the dark colors (black and blue) as well as white (if that one ever shows up - more on that later) will have more impact.
The engine is sweet. The uncontrollable grin that showed up on my face when pulling away from the BMW-5 series at a stop light has yet to go away.
As for the white, the dealer guy said the factory has had trouble matching the bumper to the rest of the car and they are trying to work out the kinks. He said they were told that they aren't expecting any until then end of the year or early 2009. I guess time will tell whether or not this is real info, or just another story from another salesman.
As for price, he said when the V-6's first came in they were charging 5K over MSRP (and getting it on some deals), but those markups are gone. He said they are charging 2K "market adjustment" for the V-8's, and to "wait a month" if I wasn't willing to pay that right now.
After seeing the V-8 I am still undecided, trying to weigh the pros and cons of slightly better gas mileage (and along with a slightly "greener" choice) of the V6 along with its 2,000 lesser price (tech package is a must for me) vs. Tau V8, and better leather and knowing I got the top of the line. Could care less about the illuminated step plate, and could give or take the wood trim steering
wheel. I can put on my own chrome trim for a couple hundred bucks.
