Genesis Reference in Roundel

[Vlad92]

I got my January issue of Roundel today (BMW Car Club of America's monthly magazine) and on page 28 there is the following Genesis reference. I found it amusing. The article heading is "2009: Ten promises for BMW to keep". Here is promise #3:

"Engineer more affordable technology solutions. Each year I admire even more the technial prowess of BMW (also Audi, Mercedes, Porsche). But the cost of near-perfection is getting too dear. Drive a Hyundai Genesis ($42,000 loaded) and tell mey why a 7 Series costs twice as much - stripped. The Seven is a better car, but not twice as good."

I'd have to say I agree!

 

[ctrcbob]

Back in the days when I belonged to BMWCCA, I found that all they talked about was racing. Nothing for guys like me who only wanted to drive and enjoy their BMW in an easy manor. I stuck with BMWCCA for one year, then dropped them.

BTW, I only kept the BMW for an additional year, and got rid of it. As I used to say back then, it was the most overpriced POS around. Sold it to someone else who "had to have a BMW".

 

[musher51]

I was a paying member of the BMWCCA for about eight years (the $1000 member rebate when I bought my '02 530i more than paid for the subscriptions). I, too, found the club -- and the monthly Roundel magazine -- to be dominated by either the racing crowd or the equally inscrutable group that idolized 40-year-old 2002 models (and had nothing but scorn for the newer high-tech Bimmers), so I quickly realized I was a very different kind of BMW owner. Although I'll part ways with you, Bob, with the POS reference. BMWs are surely overpriced (witness what HMA is providing for so much less), but they are certainly well-engineered and precisely-manufactured cars in their own right.

Personally, I find it reassuring (and somewhat gratifying) to see BMW owners pointing to the Genesis as a wake-up call to corporate BMW. They and the folks that run MB, Audi, all of the high-end Japanese brands - and yes, Detroit, too - should be taking a long, sober look at their value proposition as a direct result of what HMA is putting in their showrooms with the Genesis. An optimist would assess the Genesis introduction and predict that all this bodes very well for patrons of those other brands...assuming they're honest, practical and nimble enough to digest the "lessons" of Hyundai, and start offering more car for less to their customers. Ain't free-market capitalism great (if not corrupted by too many government bailouts, that is)?!?

 

[Gwaneum]

Used to be a BMWCCA member myself. Then dropped the membership when I realized that (1) I didn't share the automotive preferences of the membership and (2) I wouldn't be back in the market for another BMW to take advantage of that rebate offer.

BMWs ARE nice cars - but only if you know what you're getting. A 3-series, or even a lower-end 5-series, is NOT a luxury car. Those cars are performance machines that happen to be pricey enough to require adding luxury items. But luxury cars, they are NOT. All those clueless SoCal snobs who just must have that roundel - most of them don't even know the difference between FWD and RWD (therefore making that whole BMW 50/50 balance thing meaningless). Basically, they pay BMW prices to get BMW capabilities they don't even understand, much less actually use.

(And they are the same morons who think I was stupid because I chose the Genesis over the Lexus ES350, which is same money but more "bragging rights.")

I can no longer justify buying a BMW, as the only thing I need a BMW for is for autocrosses/driving schools - something I never do. I, as a consumer, do test drives at manufacturer demos that feel a lot like autocrosses, but that's as close as it ever gets to "performance driving" and in any case never involves my own car.

It's only because of an extremely wobbly Toyota Corolla that I had driven as a teen that I had insisted on razor-sharp European handling in my own cars. But I now know that most Asian cars are far superior to the Corolla in that department - and while at it, far more ergonomically friendly and (usually) more reliable and cheaper than the Europeans. Even then, I had expected my first Asian car ownership to be a Nissan or a Honda - never thought it'd end up being a Hyundai!

 

[LasVegasGenesis]

I have owned a 7 series and while it is an excellent vehicle, his comment about it not being twice as good is especially insightful. Cars can only be so fast, so quiet, brake short enough, handle well enough etc. What Hyundai has done is an engineering marvel. It competes in the luxury market with successful ease.

In the world we live in now, I personally don't think there is any value in spending $90K just because you can. This purchase was a turning point for me as a bonafide car nut. As an "only premium cars in my garage" kind of guy, I never thought that there would be a car that could be so well rounded. I bought this car because it was an exceptional car...price and name didn't matter. Because I chose a Genesis, I feel like I have one of the best kept secrets in the car industry.

Enjoy!

 

[gipp]

Just wanted to jump on the "secrets in the industry theme". That was one of the draws of the Genesis to me. I have always owned cars that were just off of the mainstream while still being world class. I loved the fact that I never, ever saw another VW Quantum GL5 in over the decade that I owned it. I only ever saw 2 other 400E's in any color in over a decade and I have yet to see another Genesis on the road at all in any version or color. I also had a 5 speed Acura Vigor which was quite the rarity. I think there is a special pride in knowing that "you have a secret". Knowing that the secret was also an outstanding value is just icing on the cake. What I liked best about the Quantum was that even 10 years later people would ask what type of new car it was because it was always in mint condition and was so unmainstream. I personally hope that the Genesis remains our little secret.