I'm convinced. I'm in, but waiting for the V8 Genesis.

[Samifumi]

Hello everyone,

I recently visited my local Hyundai dealer to check out the Genesis, and like most of you, I was really impressed with the effort on Hyundai's part. My family purchased one of the first Lexus LS400s back in 1989, and our experience driving the Genesis reminded us of the upstart Lexus effort almost 20 years ago. However, I could not go through with a purchase for the V6 without first getting the opportunity to check out the V8 (which I will be doing this upcoming weekend at the Genesis Drive event). In my estimation, I would be willing to sacrifice the 1-2 mpg EPA estimated fuel efficiency for the power and relative efficiency of the Tau engine. It seems as if most of the R&D costs for the Genesis went into the development of the V8, and it would be a shame not being patient enough to check it out at least before purchasing a V6.

A few questions for the Genesis enthusiasts on the board:

- What is the earliest a dealership has informed V8 buyers that their cars would be in? My dealership said best case scenario the end of September, but most likely, October.

- Has anyone had the opportunity to check out the differences between the grades of leather in the V6 and the V8? Is it noticeable?

- I am intending to purchase a black Genesis 4.6 V8 with black leather interior and the techology package. I have seen pictures of a few Genesis interiors with black leather on the dash and some with full wood on the dash in the place of the brown leather (on Hyundai USAs website no less). Will that be an option? Or do you have the choice of brown leather on the dash only? If leather is the only option, I'd like for a black on black to have a black leather dash as opposed to brown leather (which doesn't make much sense, and looks like a cheap attempt to mimic wood trim). I've included a link to a picture on Flickr to demonstrate what I am talking about:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jalopnik/2178320190/

 

[Bman]

I have been to a couple different dealerships and they say the V8 is a couple months away. I' m not sure in terms of the intertior, but the picture with the wood steering wheel is definitely a V8. Lastly, I have included a link that will put the "icing on the cake" in terms of the V8.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwm5rWyoIPw

 

[GenesisBlog]

If its anything like the other Hyundai products, there is no differences in grades of leather. I have never seen any grade differences from any manufacturer. If you order factory leather on a base Sonata, it will be the same leather as the Limited. If you get factory leather on a base 328 BMW it's the same leather as the top of the line 335i.

The V8 is expected only to be about 5.8-5.9 seconds 0-60 as opposed to 6.3 that magazines got with the 6. That's not much when you're looking at $43,000 compared to loaded V6 at $39,000.
The only thing I would really like about the 8 is putting a catback on it and astound people when they hear the howl and growl of a V8, put a K&N on it and you're at a true 400hp. Let them talk smack about you're Hyundai then! When they hear the shriek of a V8 coming out of that Genesis, eyeballs will pop. Then when they look at their $900 a month lease payments on their V8 E Class, V8 5 Series or their $60,000 Lexus, they'll not be smiling so much, no?

Hyundai Genesis Sedan V8 0-60 5.8 seconds link: http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Hyundai-Genesis-4.6-V8/232926/

Hyundai Genesis Sedan V6 0-60 6.3 seconds link: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3968883
NOTE: The 0-60 for the Genesis V6 AUTO is the same as a STICK version of BMW's former 330i (which is now the 328i rebadged.) THE benchmark for Sports sedans.

Hyundai Genesis Sedan V8 0-60 5.9 seconds on NON-Premium fuel, Regular unleaded Link:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=126514

But the MPG will be in the 14's-15's if not worse, I don't care what the sticker says. Its physics. The V6 only gets 18 in the city. Add 90-110hp....

One of the reasons the V8 on this is lacking is no direct injection. That is the only way to get good mpg without turbos or other options like Diesel, although if you can get 16-17 city it would be damned good and quite respectable.

Hyundai Genesis Sedan not Direct injected article
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=126514

 

[GenesisBlog]

After reading some more and from my personal experience with owning many, many BMW and Mercedes (and doing mods to lots of them,) I believe the V8 will attain a real world 0-60 in 5.5 seconds with K&N and an under $400 exhaust mod, mufflers and catback. The whole thing worst case shouldn't set you back more than $600.

I think the V6 would be at 6.1 - 6.2 with same mods and sound beautiful. These performance figures are extremely good, again considering the Bench Mark of performance sedans is the BMW 328 (formerly the 330i) and that car only attains these figures with a stick shift.

I know there will be "dreamers" out there that will claim that these mods will get the V8 down to low 5.2's but it won't happen. I hate that kind of silly talk.

YES I know this is not a sports car and who cares. But people do and buyers for this car will want just a little more icing on their cake when their friends hassle them about spending $40k on a Hyundai.

Plus setting this into S550 performance territory has got to be awesome when you saved $60,000 more for your kids college fund!

 

[Par Avion]

But people do and buyers for this car will want just a little more icing on their cake when their friends hassle them about spending $40k on a Hyundai.

I'm fortunate in that I don't have friends who are conceded enough to question the kind of car I decide to buy for myself. I'm a grown man.

However, for those who aren't as fortunate, once they see, feel and drive your Genesis they WILL understand why you spent 40k on a Hyundai. And if they don't, perhaps they aren't your "friends" after all.

Just a thought.

 

[GenesisBlog]

1. I don't know of any Hyundai owner who has not been questioned about their choice of brand by friends or family. It is because of the years by-gone of Hyundai. You read this scenario on every Hyundai forum and you read it all over the net. There is a long lasting bad impression of Hyundai that many people have because they do not have enough information to know things have changed, or are still skeptical. Its human nature.
2. I doubt you work in a business where image is important or even where it may be everything. There ARE business's like that. One can whine and complain about how shallow people are, conceited, whatever. The fact is, you can't change the world. If you want to play in the big leagues and do business with the people in those leagues, it is a fact of life, you play their game whether you like it or not. If you do not know this, it's because you're not in those business arenas.
Example One: High end real estate sales, like what I am in. We sell between $7,000,000 to $80,000,000 residential homes on our team. Our average client owns at least three Bentley's and 5 luxury high end homes. If they don't feel you relate to them, on their level, and know about their lifestyle, quite simply you do not do business with them. Period. End of discussion.

If one wants to stand on a soap box and denounce this behavior, you'll do it with a small bank account because you will not do business with those people.

Example Two: Corporate CEO's. These guys wheel and deal, shmooz and talk for a living with other powerful CEO's and often Foreign big wigs. All of the same applies that I just stated from my line of business.

Most of the people that have that money, did NOT come from money. They made it through hard work and sacrifice.

Again, one doesn't have to agree with it. You can say it sucks. You can call them names. But you still won't be making business contacts, sales or connections with the people you need to do business with.

By the way, people like Brat Pitt who drive Prius's? They also live in $45,000,000 homes and people know it. They can get away with it.

If you're in certain business's, you can't.

Personally, I would drive a Corolla. I want to make that clear. I prefer surfing and boating over driving now days. But I simply do not have the option of doing what ever I want. Your image is what people judge you on..... in certain circles.

Sucks, but that's life.

I believe I will get this car and that with wheels and tint, no one will say anything negative, primarily because in the long run, it will not garner enough attention to get them to ask what it is. Its too much like so many other luxury cars that I think they will say to themselves, "nice car" and that will be as far as it goes. I would have no problem driving this to a $30,000,000 home. 99% of the time the clients drive their own cars anyway.

 

[Sonata2009]

If its anything like the other Hyundai products, there is no differences in grades of leather. I have never seen any grade differences from any manufacturer.

Others have said that there IS a difference in the leather. We'll see when the production V8s get here.

But the MPG will be in the 14's-15's if not worse, I don't care what the sticker says. Its physics. The V6 only gets 18 in the city. Add 90-110hp....

One of the reasons the V8 on this is lacking is no direct injection. That is the only way to get good mpg without turbos or other options like Diesel, although if you can get 16-17 city it would be damned good and quite respectable.

The "details" some of you seem to be missing can be found is the vehicle specs. Some have said that somehow the V6 seems to feel quicker off the line, and others argue the V8's ability to almost match the V6 in mileage (whatever it actually turns out to be).

Both of these are as a result of the different final drive ratios in the two cars - the V6 at 3.909:1 and the V8 at 3.133:1 - The V6 is "quicker" at first with the lower ratio, and the V8 has the torque and HP to turn lower rev's at speed, to give better mileage than you would otherwise expect.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Just an FYI - there IS a difference in the leather between the Genesis V6 and V8. Apparently, the leather in the V8 has a "suede" feel to it.

The Genesis has already been to 60 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds.. This was on all-season tires. Summer tires alone should make a difference. With K&N, Intake and Exhaust, it'll be even faster...

 

[GenesisBlog]

"Others have said that there IS a difference in the leather. We'll see when the production V8s get here."

I have felt the leather in the loaded V6. It felt like suede.

" and others argue the V8's ability to almost match the V6 in mileage (whatever it actually turns out to be).

Both of these are as a result of the different final drive ratios in the two cars - the V6 at 3.909:1 and the V8 at 3.133:1 - The V6 is "quicker" at first with the lower ratio, and the V8 has the torque and HP to turn lower rev's at speed, to give better mileage than you would otherwise expect."

Often times a car with more power/ bigger motor will get better or at least same mpg because it doesn't take as much pedal to get it to move. The bigger motor takes less effort to get it up and going.

I am eagerly waiting for someone to have one as a rental. Hopefully Enterprise or Beverly Hills Rental a Car. I have always rented the car for a day and put it through a full tank before making a descision to buy. I did this last between the E350 and 335i, getting the 335i in the end.

 

[GenesisBlog]

Just an FYI - there IS a difference in the leather between the Genesis V6 and V8. Apparently, the leather in the V8 has a "suede" feel to it.

The Genesis has already been to 60 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds.. This was on all-season tires. Summer tires alone should make a difference. With K&N, Intake and Exhaust, it'll be even faster...

Please post the link where the test result came to 5.5 seconds. I am unable to find anywhere better than 5.8

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[RichieRichLancair]

I have always rented the car for a day and put it through a full tank before making a descision to buy. I did this last between the E350 and 335i, getting the 335i in the end.

Now that's a test drive that would tell ya something, Fellas

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Welcome aboard, SamiFumi! Thank you for signing up! Keep us posted on your Genesis journey!

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Please post the link where the test result came to 5.5 seconds. I am unable to find anywhere better than 5.8

Motor Trend:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0810_2009_hyundai_genesis_first_test/index.html

 

[Samifumi]

Welcome aboard, SamiFumi! Thank you for signing up! Keep us posted on your Genesis journey!

Thanks for the welcome. Today I woke up with a different thought in mind: that I would go ahead and get the V6. Subsequently, I went through the Hyundai brochure and came up with the differences.

From what I gleam, these following are the only differences between the fully-loaded V6 and the V8 Genesis:

- Engine and Transmission (I'm Capt. Obvious)
- Ultra premium leather in the V8
- Wood-grain trimmed steering wheel
- Electrochromatic auto-dimming side mirrors
- Lower bodyside chrome trim
- Illuminated scuff plate

Please correct me if I missed something. I think I am going to go ahead and find a V6 because of the need my family has for a new car more immediately. I imagine I might be able to negotiate a better deal on a V6 on the lot vs. the brand new V8 that might demand more initial interest despite the gas price crunch.

Also, with regards to the wood grain trim on the dash, apparently the base model V6 comes standard with that, and the premium packages add leather dash as an upgrade. So that clarifies it somewhat. Now to figure out when you get black leather dash trim vs. brown leather dash trim.....

 

[Sal Collaziano]

As far as the leather is concerned, I have a feeling there's not as big a difference as we may think.. You can likely get a wood-grain steering wheel later if you want to.. The lower bodyside chrome is nice - and you can buy that aftermarket fairly inexpensively as well. I think you'll be fine with the V6 Genesis.

 

[Simonwpb]

Thanks for the welcome. Today I woke up with a different thought in mind: that I would go ahead and get the V6.

From what I gleam, these following are the only differences between the fully-loaded V6 and the V8 Genesis:

- Engine and Transmission (I'm Capt. Obvious)
- Ultra premium leather in the V8
- Wood-grain trimmed steering wheel
- Electrochromatic auto-dimming side mirrors
- Lower bodyside chrome trim
- Illuminated scuff plate

Welcome Samifumi! I believe you also get different brakes on the V8. The V8 model being somewhat heavier than the V6 trims. The rims are also going to be a different pattern.

 

[GenesisBlog]

Motor Trend:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0810_2009_hyundai_genesis_first_test/index.html

Cool! Thanks that is a great find! I looked and looked and even on MT's and RD sites didn't see that article.

Wow, run better meat on the wheels and 100 octane fuel with catback and K&N, easily 5.2-5.3

Pretty damned impressive....

 

[GenesisBlog]

As far as the leather is concerned, I have a feeling there's not as big a difference as we may think.. You can likely get a wood-grain steering wheel later if you want to.. The lower bodyside chrome is nice - and you can buy that aftermarket fairly inexpensively as well. I think you'll be fine with the V6 Genesis.

VEE EIGHT!!

 

[Sonata2009]

Don't discount the dimming side mirrors, and the V8 also has the electric (not belt driven) power steering - another way it catches up a bit on MPG!

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Cool! Thanks that is a great find! I looked and looked and even on MT's and RD sites didn't see that article.

Wow, run better meat on the wheels and 100 octane fuel with catback and K&N, easily 5.2-5.3

Pretty damned impressive....

Quite amazing indeed!!