535 v genesis V8

[nextcar]

For the last few months I've basically decided to get a 2012 BMW 535i as my next car, which should become available this October. Then lately I've read some positive reviews about the 2012 Genesis sedans, so I decided to go for a test drive. Today, I drove the 2011 genesis v8, 2012 genesis v6, and BMW 535i in this order. Now I am not sure which car to get.

2011 V8:
Very nice ride. Comfortable yet not too soft. Effortless power. Quiet ride.

2012 V6:
Surprisingly, the suspension is too firm, so that the ride felt nervous. I could feel every little bumps on the road. There seems to be more road noise on the freeway. Very good acceleration, probably the same as the V8. When revved, engine is louder than V8, but the V6 sounds good too.

2011 BMW 535i - non sport package:
Suspension is softer than the V6 genesis. The ride seems similar to the V8 genesis - both are very comfortable and quiet. Acceleration feels faster than either genesis. Engine sounds good at high RPM, probably better than either genesis.

Can the experts on this forum help me understand this: Does the 2012 genesis come with firmer suspension, or am I just detecting the difference between the V8 and V6? Does the V8 feel softer because the V8 is heavier?

Also, how do you explain that the cabin noise seems to be louder in the V6? Is it the tires? I noticed that the V6 had Michelin tires, whereas the V8 had Dunlops.

I have ruled out the V6 genesis because of the nervous ride quality, so it's between the 535 and V8 genesis now. With the huge price difference, I'm leaning toward the genesis. How can the genesis be so good and so cheap? Why aren't there more people cross shopping the 5 series and genesis? Do most people who spend $40k on a car demand that the badge be a status symbol?

 

[Mark_888]

2012 V6:
Surprisingly, the suspension is too firm, so that the ride felt nervous. I could feel every little bumps on the road. There seems to be more road noise on the freeway.

I would bet money (at least a little bit) that the tires were way overinflated on that model that probably just recently came off the boat (they deliberately ship them that way and are supposed to be checked during dealer prep).

Every single reviewer in the auto pubs and members on this website have said the 2012 V6 is much smoother and more comfortable ride than the 2011. You need to take a tire gauge to all test drives, because Hyundai dealers are not the most competent on the planet.

 

[imaphaetonguy]

I'm a 17 yr. BMWCCA member - and love the 5 series. I drive a Genny V8, because of the VALUE for the $ the Genesis represents.

If money was no object, I'd be driving a BMW.

I know many club members who are on their 3rd or 4th HPFP (high pressure fuel pump) in less than 25k miles on the 3 and 5 series turbo BMWs. Major design flaw, so much that BMW now warrants them to 100k.

Save the $20k, and get the V8 Genesis. Its a fine automobile.

The economy won't be getting any better anytime soon. I'd rather have the money in the bank, than in a car.

 

[YEH]

TJPark would be your guy.

He has both a 4.6 Genesis and an F10.

 

[izhd]

For the last few months I've basically decided to get a 2012 BMW 535i as my next car, which should become available this October. Then lately I've read some positive reviews about the 2012 Genesis sedans, so I decided to go for a test drive. Today, I drove the 2011 genesis v8, 2012 genesis v6, and BMW 535i in this order. Now I am not sure which car to get.

2011 V8:
Very nice ride. Comfortable yet not too soft. Effortless power. Quiet ride.

2012 V6:
Surprisingly, the suspension is too firm, so that the ride felt nervous. I could feel every little bumps on the road. There seems to be more road noise on the freeway. Very good acceleration, probably the same as the V8. When revved, engine is louder than V8, but the V6 sounds good too.

2011 BMW 535i - non sport package:
Suspension is softer than the V6 genesis. The ride seems similar to the V8 genesis - both are very comfortable and quiet. Acceleration feels faster than either genesis. Engine sounds good at high RPM, probably better than either genesis.

Can the experts on this forum help me understand this: Does the 2012 genesis come with firmer suspension, or am I just detecting the difference between the V8 and V6? Does the V8 feel softer because the V8 is heavier?

Also, how do you explain that the cabin noise seems to be louder in the V6? Is it the tires? I noticed that the V6 had Michelin tires, whereas the V8 had Dunlops.

I have ruled out the V6 genesis because of the nervous ride quality, so it's between the 535 and V8 genesis now. With the huge price difference, I'm leaning toward the genesis. How can the genesis be so good and so cheap? Why aren't there more people cross shopping the 5 series and genesis? Do most people who spend $40k on a car demand that the badge be a status symbol?

Good comparison!
Did you notice any other major differences in handling of V8 and 535, like cornering?
I'm used to sound of V8 in MB CLK AMG, and like it more (it's lower and meaner ). Surprisingly Genny V8 sounds more Ferrari-like (IMHO). First time I made it scream I was freaked out My wife dislikes it, saying MB has more torque for amount of sound it makes, and I would probably agree - it gives more G

 

[acoga]

Why aren't there more people cross shopping the 5 series and genesis? Do most people who spend $40k on a car demand that the badge be a status symbol?

I think status is indeed a big factor. I have a few well-off friends who wouldn't dream of setting foot in a Hyundai showroom. They don't just want an excellent car, they want a car that signals other people about how successful they are.

I also have to agree with Mark_888's comments about tire pressure. The early press reports have universally praised the '12 models for their improved ride due to revised suspensions.

There is a high horsepower variant called the Genesis R-Spec coming and the jury is out on that suspension; it's definitely firmer and I've read a couple of early reports that praised it, and a couple that panned it as overly jittery/stiff. It hasn't hit showrooms yet so there's no consensus on it.

 

[Stoofpilot]

I came out of a Lexus LS430. I test drove the 535 and did not find the 20k difference in price provided any added value for the money. Actually, my 2010 4.6 V8 rocks in every way. The sound system blew away the sound system in the BMW. The Nav system seemed easier to use also. Regarding sound systems. The Genesis has two. make sure you get the 17 speaker Lexicon system. World of difference compared to the 14 speaker system.

iMHO, the 5 series is over rated for the money.

 

[nextcar]

Good comparison!
Did you notice any other major differences in handling of V8 and 535, like cornering?
I'm used to sound of V8 in MB CLK AMG, and like it more (it's lower and meaner ). Surprisingly Genny V8 sounds more Ferrari-like (IMHO). First time I made it scream I was freaked out My wife dislikes it, saying MB has more torque for amount of sound it makes, and I would probably agree - it gives more G

During the test drives, I made some fast turns but nothing too aggressive. Both the bimmer and gen handled similarly without much body lean.

I thought the v8 was too quiet even with high revs but that's ok as I usually keep the revs under 6k rpm in normal driving.

 

[nextcar]

I would bet money (at least a little bit) that the tires were way overinflated on that model that probably just recently came off the boat (they deliberately ship them that way and are supposed to be checked during dealer prep).

Every single reviewer in the auto pubs and members on this website have said the 2012 V6 is much smoother and more comfortable ride than the 2011. You need to take a tire gauge to all test drives, because Hyundai dealers are not the most competent on the planet.

Good point , however, I drove 3 different v6 cars at 2 different dealerships and they all felt the same. I will go back to check the pressures though.

Another issue with these dealers is that none of the genesis was washed. They looked dirty. Of course all the bimmers were sparkling clean. I just hope this isn't an indication of poor dealership experience if I do become a Hyundai customer.

Regarding the magazine reviews, I've read them too but they seem to focus on the high speed handling prowess rather than a comfy ride. So I'm not sure if the new suspension tuning is for a smoother ride. In any case I will take my tire pressure gauge with me.

 

[waveman]

Another issue with these dealers is that none of the genesis was washed. They looked dirty. Of course all the bimmers were sparkling clean. I just hope this isn't an indication of poor dealership experience if I do become a Hyundai customer.

There are good and bad Hyundai dealerships. But overall, don't expect the same experience as you'd get from a BMW, MB, or Lexus dealer. Personally, though, I'm happy if I'm treated fairly during the sales experience and if the dealer's repair people are competent and efficient. Depending on where you live, you may have more or fewer choices.

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[TJPark01]

I see you...

 

[nextcar]

TJ,
How would you describe the difference in ride quality and handling between the 2?
Thanks in advance.

 

[nextcar]

I came out of a Lexus LS430. I test drove the 535 and did not find the 20k difference in price provided any added value for the money. Actually, my 2010 4.6 V8 rocks in every way. The sound system blew away the sound system in the BMW. The Nav system seemed easier to use also. Regarding sound systems. The Genesis has two. make sure you get the 17 speaker Lexicon system. World of difference compared to the 14 speaker system.

iMHO, the 5 series is over rated for the money.

thanks for the advice about the audio system.
i guess the v8 comes with the 17 speaker, right?
i listened to the 14 speaker lexicon and thought it was better than the 535 standard audio.

 

[nextcar]

I think status is indeed a big factor. I have a few well-off friends who wouldn't dream of setting foot in a Hyundai showroom. They don't just want an excellent car, they want a car that signals other people about how successful they are.

True. Most my Asian friends drive BMW, Lexus or MB. My Korean friends say most Koreans wouldn't consider a Hyundai.

Being a doctor, I sometimes run into patients in the parking lot of the hospital. I'm sure some of them are thinking to themselves: "Here's another doctor in his BMW. Their high salary is a major reason healthcare costs are soaring." This of course is not true. Healthcare costs are mostly driven by technology and drug costs.
But it's probably a good thing for doctors to be seen in more modest cars. Many years ago, the doctor's car was the Buick.

 

[corkdsp]

I had the same situation as you. I previously drove a 2004 BMW 530 with all the sport options for the past 7 years and test drove the new 2012 BMW 535 and liked it but did not love it enough to stay with BMW. Also my old BMW had some issues mostly with the electronics. I ended up buying a 2011 Genesis 4.6 last month with considerable discounts. BMW is not very aggressive on price in my town so the cost difference between the two was almost 30k and I can not justify staying with BMW. 1,000 miles on my Genesis so far and very happy.

As far as driving dynamics the Genesis is a bit soft with more body lean than I am used too. However, since I rencently turned 40 with young child I do not need to be sliding around turns anymore anyway)

Looking forward to 7-8 years with Genesis

 

[TJPark01]

TJ,
How would you describe the difference in ride quality and handling between the 2?
Thanks in advance.

Exterior Styling:
Genesis is a bit of a Voltron car. It looks like nothing else, but resembles everything else. The new BMW 5 is back to a more conservative profile for BMW, which in my mind is a good thing. The last product cycle was very polarizing. BMW Wins

Interior:
Both cars are very well laid out and easy to use. Obviously there's no cost cutting on the BMW, where the Hyundai has some plastic wood, etc. BMW, Both Driver and Passenger get cooled and heated seating, and 18 way adjustable, especially nice are the thigh bolsters that extend out for long trips. Heated steering wheel is a nice luxury. Additionally there is a massage feature, which simply adjusts the height of the buttock portion back and forth to keep you muscles from getting atrophy on those long drives. (however, these are options on the BMW that I paid for). The trunk in the Genesis is much bigger, but it doesn't fold down like in the Bimmer (option again)BMW

Drivetrain:
The V8 in the Hyundai is about as sweet as a V8 can get without being overbearing and thrashy. The Inline 6 is BMW's hallmark engine. The new single turbo version gets good gas mileage. The ZF built 8 speed is a little jerky around town, and you have to be super light on the throttle or else the car will jump on you. When punching the engine, the shifts are precise and immediate. There's some lag on the 6 speed in the Genesis, but over all the car is creamy. Genesis V8

Suspension:
This is where the biggest gap lies with the two cars. The 5 you can manually adjust almost every aspect of the car. Steering,throttle,dampers,roll bars. There are 4 settings, Comfort,Normal,Sport and Sport+. Also you can fully disable the traction control, if you feel like drifitng the car. The car has very distinct personalities. It can be floaty and soft on the highway, on comfort, or aggressive and dangerous on Sport+. The Genesis also has multiple personalities but doesn't seem to go full bore on any of them. (again this is extra on the BMW, dynamic handling package). BMW

Ride Quality:
In terms of ride quality again this is where the two cars are totally different. The ride in the Genesis is a little busy. The rear end pitches a little more than it should. I don't mind it, but it's not a Lexus for sure and some people hate it. I would try and go back and drive the '12 V6 again. My hunch is that the different tires should make a difference on the new car. Some have said that the added weight of the V8 makes the car less prone to a nervous ride over city streets, YRMV. The highway ride on the BMW is much more smooth, but not isolated, in fact just about as perfect as can be. BMW

Steering:
Both the Genesis and BMW use electric steering. Neither are that great. The Genesis is lighter and probably easier to use in the city. The BMW's is weightier but you still don't get much road feel. When driving aggressively the BMW is definitely more quick to respond. Push

Brakes:
Both cars have massive brakes. The rotors on the BMW are huge and are a composite material, and all four are vented, instead of just the fronts in the Hyundai. The BMW also pulses the brakes when it knows it's wet out. Both have electronic brake force distribution. The BMW has the worst brake dust I have ever seen in a car. In practice both could stop the rotation of the earth. Where they differ would probably be on a track, which neither car will ever see. Push

Value for money:
The BMW cost 30 grand more. (probably 20 grand if you don't get a fully loaded one like I did) It aint 30 grand more car. Genesis by a landslide.

 

[Junkie49]

Why aren't there more people cross shopping the 5 series and genesis? Do most people who spend $40k on a car demand that the badge be a status symbol?

I would buy a car that will give me a lot more with same cost. Genesis, while it is not such a status symbol, gives me just that.
If I see in the future BMW 5 series or any other luxury brand cars in same league as Genesis gives more than Genesis offers while costs the same or less, I will buy that.
Currently Genesis is the top on Value. Its Cost/Performance or Cost/Luxury is amazing. I won't go out and say who buys BMW,Benz,Lexus a fool but rather narrowminded that they did not put Genesis into consideration.

Value for money:
The BMW cost 30 grand more. (probably 20 grand if you don't get a fully loaded one like I did) It aint 30 grand more car. Genesis by a landslide.

Like I said, this is the most important factor! (for most people)

 

[NOLa]

I'm with Mark888. The cars are shipped with the tires over-inflated and I'll just bet no one checked them before you drove the car.

NOLa

 

[tonygxp]

the extra weight of the V8 makes it ride like a different car. picture putting 500lbs in the bed of an empty pickup and you'll understand better. even though most of the weight is over the front end, it just settles that car down quite a bit over the v6. the quieter interior in the V8 is probably due to the lower inherent NVH qualities of the V8 over the V6, again the V8 is quieter accelerating (some of which i believe is the ZF trans in the V8.
my guess is that the '12 V6 is going to be outshined (ride quality) by the '12 V8 the same way the '11's do now. just hold out a month or two and drive the '12 V8.

 

[Mark_888]

the extra weight of the V8 makes it ride like a different car. picture putting 500lbs in the bed of an empty pickup and you'll understand better. even though most of the weight is over the front end, it just settles that car down quite a bit over the v6. the quieter interior in the V8 is probably due to the lower inherent NVH qualities of the V8 over the V6, again the V8 is quieter accelerating (some of which i believe is the ZF trans in the V8.
my guess is that the '12 V6 is going to be outshined (ride quality) by the '12 V8 the same way the '11's do now. just hold out a month or two and drive the '12 V8.

The only problem with that theory is that it contradicts everything the automotive press has said about the 2012 Genesis V6 after test drives, and contradicts everything members of this forum have said about the 2012 V6 after test drives (including those who compared it to a 2011 V8).

There is no evidence that 2009-2011 Genesis V8 road better than the V6. Keep in mind that the spring and shock rates and rear stabilizer bar are different (all firmer) on the V8 to account for the extra weight, so the fact the V8 has extra weight is not going to make it ride any better.