Buy V6 or V8?

[Rich10]

I have looked around and I could buy a 2011 V6 base Genesis with approximately 20,000 miles (it was a rental vehicle) for approximately $21,500, or a 2010 V8 Genesis (also approximately 20,000 miles and was not a rental) with the leather dashboard for approximately $25,000.

Which would you choose?

 

[homeofstone]

non-rental

 

[Stoofpilot]

Anything that has the higher end Lexicon stereo system.

 

[nextcar]

i think every V8 owner will tell you to get the V8.
it's that good. everyday, i'm impressed with how smooth and effortless the power delivery is.
if you can live with 2 MPG worse fuel economy, get the V8.

 

[radicaltimes]

If the V6 was not the Base I would go with it , But the V8 has a lot moe options that would be worth the money. Even the mid line radio in my Priemiun is junk with the 14 speaker radio. My 1998 vette and 2002 Ram have better radios. I think the way some talk of their Geneses they must have upgraded from a Pinto or Chevette. It is a good car but it could be a lot better.

 

[forzza1]

Get the V8 for two reasons:
1st and most important - V8 is one of the best engines out there - perfect blend of power and smoothness
2nd - stay away from the rentals no matter how good they look in and out.
My 2 cents
Good luck with your choice.

 

[Rich10]

Thanks for the responses. I have driven Genesis's in both V8 and V6 versions and I actually thought the V6 was better balanced and the V8 was somewhat overpowered for the nature of the car. This is coming from someone who has driven race cars and has a fast car as my other car.

Also on the plus side for the V6 is that this particular V6 is silver, which I prefer to the black V8. Also, I prefer the woodgrain (simulated?) over the leather dash on the V8. Was the leather dash part of a package? While $3.5K isn't big money, it is a consideration.

On the plus side for the V8 is a nav system and the Lexicon stereo. The black looks great in the showroom, but I know how quickly black cars get dirty.

I need to see the V6 in person. I do worry about a past rental car. Still, with a very good warranty, I should be covered.

If there are any other thoughts, I welcome your help and look forward to becoming a Genesis owner.

 

[medhat]

V8 (obviously I'm biased). Never a day of regret. With all due respect, I look at the V6 and think "fancy Camry". The V8 is beefy and fast and a discount 530i. Love it.

 

[dlevitt]

both are excellent cars. I bought the v8 only because I got a great deal on it and I was having trouble finding a base v6. The nav system shouldn't sway you either way. for $150, I think that you can get a superior Garmin unit that has lifetime maps and traffic. Hyundia will charge for map updates and traffic has a monthly charge from XM. While the v8 stereo is better than the v6, I'm sure that the basic radio is OK... unless you really value superior quality surround sound. By the way, I just purchased 2 DVD audio disks (Steely Dan Gaucho and Beatles Love) and was absolutely blown away by the sound.

In addition to some of the cosmetics, the v8 has a sunroof, which may or may not be a priority for you. I would also think that the v8 will always have a higher resale value so the extra cost now for the additional features will reward you later.

One other think... make sure that the full warranty applies to the 2nd owner. I was under the impression that with some cars, the full warranty may not be transferrable with the same terms or there may be additional costs to do so.

Good luck with whichever one you choose.

 

[Mark_888]

The nav system shouldn't sway you either way. for $150, I think that you can get a superior Garmin unit that has lifetime maps and traffic.

Last November I purchased the Garmin 40LM for $90 shipped to my home, although that was a sale price and usually costs about $125 these days. My Garmin PC software recently notified me of a map update that was available, and I just installed the latest Garmin maps using a USB cable between my PC and Garmin (40LM comes with free quarterly lifetime map updates).


BTW, the OP was looking at the V6 Base Model, since it did not have leather dash (unless he was looking at a Canadian version).

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[msitter]

I never even considered the V6. The difference in fuel economy is not significant enough to have a relatively coarse engine in a luxury car. The only world class 6 cyl is the inline BMW engine. It is like an electric motor all the way to the 7000 redline. V6 engines particularly large ones get coarse and unrefined as the rpms build. That is just the nature of the animal. The VQ engine from Nissan/Infiniti is generally regarded as a great engine even to the point of getting the Wards Automotive engine of the year award back when it was first introduced. Now in tests it is considered rough and coarse.

 

[Mark_888]

I never even considered the V6. The difference in fuel economy is not significant enough to have a relatively coarse engine in a luxury car. The only world class 6 cyl is the inline BMW engine. It is like an electric motor all the way to the 7000 redline. V6 engines particularly large ones get coarse and unrefined as the rpms build. That is just the nature of the animal. The VQ engine from Nissan/Infiniti is generally regarded as a great engine even to the point of getting the Wards Automotive engine of the year award back when it was first introduced. Now in tests it is considered rough and coarse.

Maybe you drive a Genesis V6 to compare. It is not coarse or "relatively coarse" unless one is street racing.

 

[dg_moore]

Maybe you drive a Genesis V6 to compare. It is not coarse or "relatively coarse" unless one is street racing.

+1. I may be in the minority here, but I drive my Genesis mostly in moderate to heavy traffic. Under normal starts and acceleration I can't imagine a car being any smoother. If you're pedal to the metal from a dead stop maybe it's different, but that's not my style of driving. I don't think I've ever revved past about 3K or so, except maybe a couple of times while passing on a 2-lane road.

 

[hwks1]

V8 is a much nicer car........

 

[dg_moore]

V8 is a much nicer car........

I don't agree - I drove both extensively and bought the 3.8. The 4.6 is certainly a great car, but so is the 3.8. For me, the 4.6 is loaded with a lot of features I don't care about and aren't worth (to me) enough to pay extra for. To each his own...

 

[nextcar]

Maybe you drive a Genesis V6 to compare. It is not coarse or "relatively coarse" unless one is street racing.

it's all relative.
for the past 20 years, i've been driving V6s and BMW I-6.
i test drove the genny 3.8 multiple times.
when i drove the genny 4.6, it was immediately clear that it was smoother and more refined compared to all the V6s.

 

[Mark_888]

it's all relative.
for the past 20 years, i've been driving V6s and BMW I-6.
i test drove the genny 3.8 multiple times.
when i drove the genny 4.6, it was immediately clear that it was smoother and more refined compared to all the V6s.

My point is that just because the 4.6 is smoother, does not make the 3.8 "coarse".

But it also depends on driving style and where one drives. The V6 is more nimble, being 200 lbs lighter (all on front end) and V6 has better handling due to its 52/48 weight distribution (compared to 54/46 for the V8).

 

[Rich10]

I test drove both and ended up buying the V6. The additional power of the V8 just seemed like overkill. The V6 is a bit rough sounding when cold, but I think its very smooth when its warmed up. The biggest factor for me was that the V6 just seemed to handle a bit better.

I'd like to thank everyone who responded. Ultimately, it comes down to driving both cars and seeing which one works for you.

 

[Ruissimo]

I was hard-pressed to find a significant difference in power and handling on the 2011 V6 and V8 I test-drove. Then again, the guy was in the car with me, and I didn't really "push it" to the extreme.

Congrats on your new ride. I pick mine up on Friday!

 

[nextcar]

My point is that just because the 4.6 is smoother, does not make the 3.8 "coarse".

But it also depends on driving style and where one drives. The V6 is more nimble, being 200 lbs lighter (all on front end) and V6 has better handling due to its 52/48 weight distribution (compared to 54/46 for the V8).

I agree. The 3.8 is not at all coarse. When pushed hard it gave a nice growl too.