Dilemma: 2011 V8 or 2012 V6

[czabe]

Little help here for a newbie.

Got a 2005 Acura TL which has 189k miles on it, has killed two deer, and run over a wooden door at 85 MPH (don't ask).

Used to love this car, but well, it rides like a bucket now, and still has a freaking cassette deck in it.

Test drove a Genny a month ago, and just swooned. WOW!

For me, it's really not a $$$ thing or a HP thing. It's a "oomph" and "handling" thing.

The relative cost point of these awesome sleds so destroy the overpriced Germans it's a joke. If the damn R-Spec was available now, I'd probably just walk in and say: "Wrap it up..." and not think twice about regretting it.

Also, the 270 ponies in the old TL are plenty to tear up the Capital Beltway, so I know that even the old 290 in the V6 are plenty, not to mention 333 in the new V6, and the 385 in the V8.

THAT SAID... I seem to detect here on these boards, that the V8 has somewhat beefier suspension, and that the engine "oomph" delivers a somewhat different experience.

Sooo... while I do plan to test drive both, I'd leave it to you passionate Genny fans: just pick it for me, and I'll trust you guys!

 

[scottdk]

Little help here for a newbie.

Got a 2005 Acura TL which has 189k miles on it, has killed two deer, and run over a wooden door at 85 MPH (don't ask).

Used to love this car, but well, it rides like a bucket now, and still has a freaking cassette deck in it.

Test drove a Genny a month ago, and just swooned. WOW!

For me, it's really not a $$$ thing or a HP thing. It's a "oomph" and "handling" thing.

The relative cost point of these awesome sleds so destroy the overpriced Germans it's a joke. If the damn R-Spec was available now, I'd probably just walk in and say: "Wrap it up..." and not think twice about regretting it.

Also, the 270 ponies in the old TL are plenty to tear up the Capital Beltway, so I know that even the old 290 in the V6 are plenty, not to mention 333 in the new V6, and the 385 in the V8.

THAT SAID... I seem to detect here on these boards, that the V8 has somewhat beefier suspension, and that the engine "oomph" delivers a somewhat different experience.

Sooo... while I do plan to test drive both, I'd leave it to you passionate Genny fans: just pick it for me, and I'll trust you guys!

How do you pass up the sweet sound of a V8, right? The new V6 seems like a great engine, but I love the V8 in this car. Smooth, refined, likes to rev, and the push-back in your seat is great even at higher speed due to the V8 torque. From what i gather from this forum, is the V6 seems to be a higher maintenance engine vs. the V8. The V8 doesn't require a valve adjustment at around 60,000 miles like the V6 does. Either engine choice would be great, cause you can't go wrong with either.

 

[Mark_888]

From what i gather from this forum, is the V6 seems to be a higher maintenance engine vs. the V8. The V8 doesn't require a valve adjustment at around 60,000 miles like the V6 does.

Owner's Manaul says inspect at 60K miles:

"Inspect for excessive tappet noise and/or engine vibration and adjust if necessary."

Anyone who thinks the 4.6 is perfect, should check out this thread (and others like it). Not sure if Hyundai has fixed this problem for 2012:
http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showthread.php?t=3781

 

[scottdk]

Owner's Manaul says inspect at 60K miles:

"Inspect for excessive tappet noise and/or engine vibration and adjust if necessary."

Anyone who thinks the 4.6 is perfect, should check out this thread (and others like it). Not sure if Hyundai has fixed this problem for 2012:
http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showthread.php?t=3781

Exactly No adjustment needed on the V8. Also, stop picking apart every little statement or opinion someone has, like you usually do. It makes you look desperate for attention, and lonely like you need a shoulder.

 

[DeeVa]

There is less and less reason to get a V-8, which is why it is being phased out after 2012. I would wait until that 2012 V-8s start showing up in numbers. At that point you can decide whether a 2012 V-8 is worth an extra $1500. That used to be an easy call, but perhaps not now.

 

[Mark_888]

Exactly No adjustment needed on the V8. Also, stop picking apart every little statement or opinion someone has, like you usually do. It makes you look desperate for attention, and lonely like you need a shoulder.

Sorry, but you said "requires" valve adjustment, which I don't believe is the case since it only requires inspection for noises, and adjustment of valves if necessary. Since I have a V6, I was concerned enough about it to look it up. I don't think that is a picky distinction, but each can judge for themselves.

I don't think the problem noted in thread I provided a link for (there are many other threads discussing same problem) is exactly trivial, but again just my opinion.

 

[Gambler]

Definitely test drive both. I really liked the feel of the V8 probably because it has a lot more torque in addition to horsepower over the V6. My V8 has been running like a clock since day 1. Some say the V6 is a little more nimble due to less weight, so it is really going to come down to a feel issue for you personally.

 

[robthoke]

The 12 3.8s are on the lot now and with the 8 sp trans is supposed to run to 60 in 5.9 sec. Pretty damn quick for a 4000lb vehicle and still give you 29+ mpg on the interstate. That being said, there is some peace of mind knowing you've got one of the world's 10 best engines under your hood when you are driving the 4.6. You never run out of power and it serves up 26+mpg on the interstate. Others have stated the ZF 6 sp tranny is bulletproof and it's hard to argue with the warranty. Drive both and make up your mind. You will not regret your decision regardless of which model you choose.

 

[JckOfSpds]

The 12 3.8s are on the lot now and with the 8 sp trans is supposed to run to 60 in 5.9 sec. Pretty damn quick for a 4000lb vehicle and still give you 29+ mpg on the interstate. That being said, there is some peace of mind knowing you've got one of the world's 10 best engines under your hood when you are driving the 4.6. You never run out of power and it serves up 26+mpg on the interstate. Others have stated the ZF 6 sp tranny is bulletproof and it's hard to argue with the warranty. Drive both and make up your mind. You will not regret your decision regardless of which model you choose.

QFT - what he said!

 

[tonygxp]

The 12 3.8s are on the lot now and with the 8 sp trans is supposed to run to 60 in 5.9 sec. Pretty damn quick for a 4000lb vehicle and still give you 29+ mpg on the interstate. That being said, there is some peace of mind knowing you've got one of the world's 10 best engines under your hood when you are driving the 4.6. You never run out of power and it serves up 26+mpg on the interstate. Others have stated the ZF 6 sp tranny is bulletproof and it's hard to argue with the warranty. Drive both and make up your mind. You will not regret your decision regardless of which model you choose.

drive them both for more than 5 minutes in stop and go traffic. the one thing that stands out is the silent smooth power delivery from the 4.6 you just can't replace torque. i would always opt for the v8 unless the v6 had a power adder. torque makes the 4.6 a completely different car than the 3.8.

Peak HP is just that, a split second number. hopefully someone can post a graph of the V6 vs V8 so you can see the difference in torque and hp across the board. mostly between 1900-3000rpm. where we spend most of our time. only someone that's driven the 4.6 and new V6 combo can tell us if it is comparable. someone that likes quick revving high rpm powerplants would be fine with the v6, those of us coming from muscle cars and torquey V8's will never be satisfied with that lol

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[RedJet20]

This is the exact question I asked under a different thread. Well, I am in Phoenix on business and stopped by a dealership and test drove a 2012 3.8 tech package Genesis. I have also driven the 2011 4.6

Now, I am not by any means an engine enthusiast so I may be missing some things on my assessment, but overall the 12 3.8 is a great ride and it is much improved over the 2011 version. The 12 3.8 has certainly closed the gap on the 4.6.

Even the salesperson noticed the difference on my test drive. He had not driven it before he went with me. He and I both thought the suspension was improved and the 8 speed transmission was a big upgrade. The added horses are another big improvement. You can certainly tell the difference. The engine is quiet and the ride is firm.

It had Michelin tires and the car is improved on rough roads. Pushing the pedal down to accelerate didn't seem to give me that feeling of being slammed back into the seats like I experienced driving the 11 4.6. I still felt the car accelerated quickly, quietly and smoothly.

I also loved the retractable side mirrors and the new rocker panels improve the car's profile. It looks sportier. I wish the 3.6 had the wood steering wheel and lighted kick plates like the 4.6.

I can get a 2011 4.6 for less than a tech package 2012 3.8, but after driving both I like the 12 3.8 better.

Now I am torn between the 12 3.8 and the 12 4.6.

So, after test driving both, I have decided to go with a 2012, now I just need to decide if I want wait for the 4.6. Most likely, I will get the 2012 3.8.

For what it is worth, the salesperson said he didn't think the 4.6's will arrive until September. And he said the R-Spec later than that. He also said the R-Spec will be very limited, not a huge inventory available.




th

 

[drvinhle]

does anybody know if they fixed the bluetooth media streaming in the 2012's? As you know, you can't stream music via bluetooth on the 2011s. Did they improve on the iPhone integration?
thanks.

 

[tonygxp]

This is the exact question I asked under a different thread. Well, I am in Phoenix on business and stopped by a dealership and test drove a 2012 3.8 tech package Genesis. I have also driven the 2011 4.6

Now, I am not by any means an engine enthusiast so I may be missing some things on my assessment, but overall the 12 3.8 is a great ride and it is much improved over the 2011 version. The 12 3.8 has certainly closed the gap on the 4.6.

Even the salesperson noticed the difference on my test drive. He had not driven it before he went with me. He and I both thought the suspension was improved and the 8 speed transmission was a big upgrade. The added horses are another big improvement. You can certainly tell the difference. The engine is quiet and the ride is firm.

It had Michelin tires and the car is improved on rough roads. Pushing the pedal down to accelerate didn't seem to give me that feeling of being slammed back into the seats like I experienced driving the 11 4.6. I still felt the car accelerated quickly, quietly and smoothly.

I also loved the retractable side mirrors and the new rocker panels improve the car's profile. It looks sportier. I wish the 3.6 had the wood steering wheel and lighted kick plates like the 4.6.

I can get a 2011 4.6 for less than a tech package 2012 3.8, but after driving both I like the 12 3.8 better.

Now I am torn between the 12 3.8 and the 12 4.6.

So, after test driving both, I have decided to go with a 2012, now I just need to decide if I want wait for the 4.6. Most likely, I will get the 2012 3.8.

For what it is worth, the salesperson said he didn't think the 4.6's will arrive until September. And he said the R-Spec later than that. He also said the R-Spec will be very limited, not a huge inventory available.




th

two completely different animals no matter what you do to a V6 short of adding a blower/turbo you're not getting the push of the V8. i stated this before in another dozen threads probably, peak numbers don't mean squat. the old V6 was adequate, the new one probably more so, just not the same, will never be the same, even if the HP numbers matched, the torque delivery will still be completely different.

only you know the answer, but given you are thinking about it all tells you what you already know. do you think you will regret the 4.6? doubt it. may you have a regret now and then with the 3.8?that's the question..... good luck, look forward to hearing what you decided to do.

 

[RedJet20]

two completely different animals no matter what you do to a V6 short of adding a blower/turbo you're not getting the push of the V8. i stated this before in another dozen threads probably, peak numbers don't mean squat. the old V6 was adequate, the new one probably more so, just not the same, will never be the same, even if the HP numbers matched, the torque delivery will still be completely different.

only you know the answer, but given you are thinking about it all tells you what you already know. do you think you will regret the 4.6? doubt it. may you have a regret now and then with the 3.8?that's the question..... good luck, look forward to hearing what you decided to do.

Great insight. I need to decide if that push of the V8 is a must have. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Mark_888]

I wish the 3.6 had the wood steering wheel and lighted kick plates like the 4.6.

You can add the lighted kick plates to the 3.8 quite easily. I don't know if the 2012 kick plates are LED or incandescent, but several people on this forum upgraded their older 4.6’s with incandescent kick plates to LED’s. The Korean import websites sell the parts. Obviously, you can also get the wooden steering wheel as an upgrade, although not sure how much that costs.

 

[Mark_888]

THAT SAID... I seem to detect here on these boards, that the V8 has somewhat beefier suspension, and that the engine "oomph" delivers a somewhat different experience.

The V8 has 200 lbs of exta weight on the front end compared to V6, so suspension is designed to compensate for that, otherwise the V8 and V6 are actually fairly similar in ride (although I have not driven the 2012). The R-Spec does have a beefier suspension (at least beefier than other 2012 models).

 

[czabe]

Awesome feedback fellas, awesome! Thanks for the input. And yeah, you've just made my decision that much harder! Ha! Serves me right!

I'd say I'm leaning with the V8 at this point, because I do like the feel of a slightly heavier sled.

I agree that the Michelin tires on the 2012's are a bonus to consider, and the rocker panels really enhance the somewhat spartan side profile of the 2011's.

As for when the 4.6's in the 2012's will be on the lot, I would certainly not believe ANY salesman on that front! The guy I spoke to back in early May, said he *thought* that none of the 2012's would arrive until "closer to fall."

Yeah, sure.

Salesman must sell. They can't be giving customers a reason to wait. I'm suprised some didn't just say: "What 2012 update?"

I think the 2012 4.8's will be here sooner than September, but what the hell do I know. I sure as hell wouldn't announce a new lineup of 2012's and then not offer two perhaps very coveted trims until many months later.

Thanks again, everyone. Looks like some test drivin' is in order.

 

[robthoke]

I've read July for the V8s and Jenkins Hyundai of Ocala said they were only producing 12,000 R Spec units per year to distribute between the 750 US dealerships. They are calling that a limited production model.

Personally I believe very few salespeople. They are looking for a paycheck and many of them don't care how they get them. I'll go for honesty all day long over deception. They'll get here when they get here. All we can do is wait.

 

[Mark_888]

I've read July for the V8s and Jenkins Hyundai of Ocala said they were only producing 12,000 R Spec units per year to distribute between the 750 US dealerships. They are calling that a limited production model.

Personally I believe very few salespeople. They are looking for a paycheck and many of them don't care how they get them. I'll go for honesty all day long over deception. They'll get here when they get here. All we can do is wait.

12,000 sounds kind of high for the R-Spec Sedan. Does that include the R-Spec coupe also? I thought that total Genesis sales are about 3000 per month, and that number includes the sedan and coupe combined. I believe the sedan is about 50% of Genesis sales, so that would be 18,000 sedans per year. Even if my numbers are way off, I can’t see them selling more than 25,000 Genesis sedans per year (3.8, 4.6, and 5.0 combined).

All models are "limited production" in the sense that they only make what they think they can sell. In some cases, it is easy to adjust production to changes in demand, but in other cases it is not so easy, and production is limited to what they planned for in advance as to what sales will be. This is especially true for a car like the Genesis which a lot of parts provided by outside suppliers (more so than most other Hyundai vehicles).

I completely agree with your assessment of what salesman say. They don't want anyone to wait to purchase a Genesis (or any other car). They want you to purchase right now based on what they currently have in stock. They have mortgage payments to make, and kids to feed.

 

[upsbroke]

Car salesman are the lowest form of life on earth. That's already been shown to me by both Hyundai dealers I've visited while looking at the Genesis. You better go in knowing more than they do about your chosen car. Know what you want to pay or they will throw you under the bus without a second thought. It's your money they're interested in-nothing else.