535 v genesis V8

[robcar]

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.

The 17-speaker Lexicon sound system is PHENOMENAL. It comes standard on the V8 and is part of the Technology Package on the V6. There is only one other car on the planet that contains this sound system: the Rolls Royce Phantom.

 

[nextcar]

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.

Thank you for your insights. Because you have spent many miles in each car, I value your opinion tremendously.
For exterior, i agree the BMW is a bit better looking. The genesis reminds me of a Klingon forehead.
For the interior, I think it's about the same, as I don't plan on getting the extra goodies in the BMW.
For drivetrain, I think it's a tie. My wife has the ZF 8 speed in her Audi, so I know how that tranny feels, a bit jerky at low speed. The 8 speed in the genesis seems smoother but shifts slower.
For suspension/ride, I don't plan to get the dynamic handling package. Would you say that the normal mode feels similar to the genesis?
For the steering, the BMW felt lighter, so I like the genesis a bit more.

if i were to get the 535, i would only get the Nav option and forego everything else to get an invoice price of around $50k. I simply don't want to spend more than that on a car. For the v8 genesis, it's about $42k invoice, but with about $10k worth of goodies that are options on the BMW.

oh well, i have at least another month or 2 to decide as the '12 genesis v8 is still not available, and i can't order the '12 bmw until august sometime.

 

[nextcar]

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

glad you're enjoying your v8.

besides the extra HP and low end torque from the V8, what else was different about the v6 from the v8?

 

[Gambler]

I looked at a BMW 5 when looking at cars. I had a budget of 40k OTD, so it was a used BMW 550 vs the Genesis V8. The BMW was nice (the new one looks awesome), but as others have stated, it just wasn't worth the cost. Plus, the Genesis has a great warranty and the BMW had only a year left on it's warranty.

Regarding the ride, what people are saying about tire pressure is correct. Upon delivery of my Genesis one tire had very low pressure (20psi) and another had very high pressure (45psi) the other two were spot on. This made for an awful ride, noticeably worse than the one I test drove. Upon correcting the tire pressure, the ride was much better. So if you are really concerned about it, take a pressure gauge with you.

PS Klingon head grille, LOL!

 

[Rambler16]

Tire pressure has to be a big part of it. We purchase a 2012 v6 and the ride home was very quiet compared to the TL we traded in, but it was harsh on bumps. Got it home and the next day checked the tire pressure. Each tire was between 40 to 42 psi. So a correct assumption is that the dealer never check them! However the same was noted on my Mercedes and the TL when I got them.

 

[nextcar]

today i went back to the same dealer, at 9am just when they were opening. this time i brought my wife for a second opinion.
the v6 Michelin tires were 35 psi, and the v8 dunlops were 33 psi. these were the same cars that i drove yesterday, so i don't think pressure differences account for the more nervous ride in the V6. i think the v8 inherently has a calmer ride.

overall, we agreed that the 535 has the edge in styling (exterior and interior) and more comfy ride (nonsport model), which is more like a Lexus quality. we prefer the 535 but not when it's $20k more.

looks like we will wait for the 2012 v8 to make sure the 8 speed doesn't mess up the awesome drive. please keep the opinions coming. thanks for all the input so far.

 

[Junkie49]

4 years ago my college friend gave me a ride since he leased a brand new bmw 335i. On the way back he tried to change lanes in stuck traffic and bumped, and I mean slight bump, a truck in front of him. Thankfully the truck had no damages. My friend's bmw had to replace front bumper, grille and hood which cost him around 2k-3k and he had to fix it since it was leased.

I really did not expect bmw to be this weak. It just seemed cheap crumbing like that on small bump. That changed my mind about bmw cars.

 

[Mark_888]

4 years ago my college friend gave me a ride since he leased a brand new bmw 335i. On the way back he tried to change lanes in stuck traffic and bumped, and I mean slight bump, a truck in front of him. Thankfully the truck had no damages. My friend's bmw had to replace front bumper, grille and hood which cost him around 2k-3k and he had to fix it since it was leased.

I really did not expect bmw to be this weak. It just seemed cheap crumbing like that on small bump. That changed my mind about bmw cars.

Hitting a truck is sometimes a problem because they are usually higher up than passenger cars. However, you are correct that the BMW 3 series does not perform well in bumper damage tests, but they are not alone that regard:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/bumpers...ame=Midsize luxury&IncludeEarlierModels=False
Both Lexus ES and Infiniti G35/37 faired even worse.

 

[TJPark01]

Would you say that the normal mode feels similar to the genesis?

No not at all. The car you're looking at the 535 with the base suspension and the all season tires ride is still firm but not stiff. What the BMW doesn't do is bounce around in low speed poor road conditions. Once you get the Genesis past 40 or so it seems to smooth out.

looks like we will wait for the 2012 v8 to make sure the 8 speed doesn't mess up the awesome drive. please keep the opinions coming. thanks for all the input so far.

I think you are making the right call to go with the V8 Genesis. It has heated and cooled seats (driver not sure about cooled for passenger) and full leather. A 535i you have to pay extra for all of these amenities. The 2012 V8 has 95% of what you could want in a luxury car and for around 40k, that's a lot of car.

 

[tonygxp]

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.

I am not debating that fact but these are all subjective, not objective opinions. as for the '11 V6 vs V8 ride i can only speak about my experience, it would be great if any other V8 owners had an opinion if they drove the V6 (again for any length of time longer than a quick test drive).

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[acoga]

Since 2008, the amount spent on medical mal has pretty much stayed the same while overall healthcare spending has increased by quite a bit.

I know this is an important issue that affects us all, but let's please keep this thread focused on the BMW vs Genesis discussion. It's really fascinating and I'd like to not have to wade through off-topic additions.

 

[drvinhle]

agree. Let's focus on the bmw vs V8.
I was curious myself so I went to my local carmax. they had one 2008 535xi and 3 2008 750Li. The pricing for a used 2008 750Li with 30K miles on it was comparable to a 2011 V8, so I test drove the 750Li instead.
I have been driving boring Accords all my life so I am new to the world of brand name sedans. I have to tell you I was underwhelmed by the 750Li.
1. Controls were complicated. I remember getting in the genny for the first time and everything made sense.
2. This shifter thingy they had on the steering wheel was just strange.
3. Driving: this car had power, comparable to the V8. But there was that little lag just like the Genesis when you first stepped on the gas at low speed. This was what bothered me about Genesis, but I feel better now that the BMW had similar lag. I guess it was the computer nanny effect.
4. I was prepared to be awed by the revered BMW handling, but you know what? It stuck to the road a little better than the V8. But over all, I didn't think it was worth the price difference. It bounces around too, on the same road I drive every day.
and get ready for the this ...:
I was curious so I asked them to appraise my 2011 V8 genesis with 8K miles on it. I paid 32K dollars two months ago (dealer demo)
They offerred me 33K even. I guest either I had a great deal or our genesis really do hold their values.

I love my V8. and now that I test drove a BMW, I don't feel like I am missing anything much. I never really cared for fancy brand names. I can afford a BMW if I want to, but I have this grin every time I drive my Genny, knowing how much I paid for it.
(I am in the same line of work as "NextCAR", but let's stay out of the healthcare discussion)

 

[msitter]

The lag in throttle everyone seems to feel is a product of the drive by wire technology. My wifes BMW has it, my 2006 GTO had it and my Genesis 4.6 has it as well. Foot sends signal to computer by moving gas pedal, computer sends signal to stepper motor, stepper motor starts to open the throttle at a rate determined by the software. That is the new reality. It is just not as direct as the old cable to throttle body connection.

 

[nextcar]

The lag in throttle everyone seems to feel is a product of the drive by wire technology. My wifes BMW has it, my 2006 GTO had it and my Genesis 4.6 has it as well. Foot sends signal to computer by moving gas pedal, computer sends signal to stepper motor, stepper motor starts to open the throttle at a rate determined by the software. That is the new reality. It is just not as direct as the old cable to throttle body connection.

i actually do not feel any lag from the v8.
there is so much torque off the line that it feels great. this is another reason i prefer the v8 over the v6.

 

[nextcar]

agree. Let's focus on the bmw vs V8.
I was curious myself so I went to my local carmax. they had one 2008 535xi and 3 2008 750Li. The pricing for a used 2008 750Li with 30K miles on it was comparable to a 2011 V8, so I test drove the 750Li instead.
I have been driving boring Accords all my life so I am new to the world of brand name sedans. I have to tell you I was underwhelmed by the 750Li.
1. Controls were complicated. I remember getting in the genny for the first time and everything made sense.
2. This shifter thingy they had on the steering wheel was just strange.
3. Driving: this car had power, comparable to the V8. But there was that little lag just like the Genesis when you first stepped on the gas at low speed. This was what bothered me about Genesis, but I feel better now that the BMW had similar lag. I guess it was the computer nanny effect.
4. I was prepared to be awed by the revered BMW handling, but you know what? It stuck to the road a little better than the V8. But over all, I didn't think it was worth the price difference. It bounces around too, on the same road I drive every day.
and get ready for the this ...:
I was curious so I asked them to appraise my 2011 V8 genesis with 8K miles on it. I paid 32K dollars two months ago (dealer demo)
They offerred me 33K even. I guest either I had a great deal or our genesis really do hold their values.

I love my V8. and now that I test drove a BMW, I don't feel like I am missing anything much. I never really cared for fancy brand names. I can afford a BMW if I want to, but I have this grin every time I drive my Genny, knowing how much I paid for it.
(I am in the same line of work as "NextCAR", but let's stay out of the healthcare discussion)

i never drove a 7 series, but i hear that the new 5 series feels very similar to the 7. so i agree that you're not missing much in choosing the genesis.

 

[tonygxp]

The lag in throttle everyone seems to feel is a product of the drive by wire technology. My wifes BMW has it, my 2006 GTO had it and my Genesis 4.6 has it as well. Foot sends signal to computer by moving gas pedal, computer sends signal to stepper motor, stepper motor starts to open the throttle at a rate determined by the software. That is the new reality. It is just not as direct as the old cable to throttle body connection.

has to be a programming issue. i have had this on only this car and a GMC terrain 4cyl (not defective, just poor design by engineer/programmer) i was given as a loaner car for my work truck which was in for repair. i have had a bunch of newer vehicles with "drive by wire" but they weren't this lazy (time delayed, tip in, choose your synonym lol).

 

[Cut-Throat]

No not at all. The car you're looking at the 535 with the base suspension and the all season tires ride is still firm but not stiff. What the BMW doesn't do is bounce around in low speed poor road conditions. Once you get the Genesis past 40 or so it seems to smooth out.

What I'd really like to hear your opinion on is Reliability Genesis vs. BMW

 

[Glashub]

What I'd really like to hear your opinion on is Reliability Genesis vs. BMW

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[JckOfSpds]

To add another voice to the chorus: I test drove a new BMW 535 iX model and then the Genesis, as these are the two cars I was deciding between before I got my Genesis. While I do think the BMW handled slightly better, and I did like the AWD on the BMW, the sheer difference in price for a car that was otherwise not really any better was my deciding factor. I mean, you are talking over $20k more for the BMW (more once you start putting in some options), and there just is not $20k+ more car in the BMW than the Genesis. It was just that simple for me.

 

[izhd]

Btw, the 535i has 300hp, should it be compared to Genny 3.8?
Judging by power, the 4.6 should be compared to 550i. Did anyone test drove it?
(I guess 750 has the same engine, so drvinhle's post might address it)
What about interior space? How Genny looks vs. 5 series vs. 7 series?