Q's about inclement weather TSC 09' - '12

[76pinto]

Hello - I am new from Colorado. I want a Genesis badly but I am having trouble finding accurate information on inclement weather driving. I have looked over the forums online and I still cannot get a clear picture.

I am a sales rep and on the road - 30-40K miles a year. Currently I drive an 05 545i bmw(rwd) and a 96 volvo 850 wagon turbo (fwd) for work. I have a few other cars but they are not really options to drive long distances.

The BMW is rwd but actually decent in ice / snow, good in rain and wind, and excellent on dry pavement - including bumps or detiorating pavement. It's a great driving car and I would keep it forever except its hit a 100K miles and out of warranty and now its having small and medium issues which I cannot afford to have when I am out working.

The Volvo is solid and better in the snow, but its getting old and its not quite as comfortable on 1200 mile journeys, and near impossible to see in rainy nights.

I have and use snow tires for both in the winter/spring.

my questions are:

How is the Genesis sedan in the pouring rain - does it feel solid? How about at night?

How about long distances with wind and rain?

Long snow journey's (with appropriate tires) do you feel safe in the car? Would you let your wife or kids drive in the snow in this car? How does it compare with other cars you have owned - better or worse?

Mountain passes with some snow on the road - going up or down how does the car handle? How is the traction control on the car? Does anyone have or use studs on their genesis?

I drive Wyoming too and its always windy - does the car sway at all at highway speeds?

How about road noise - any complaints?

Broken or bumpy asphalt - any tire movements or suspension issues?

Both my cars get decent gas mileage (26.4 hwy) have lots of cargo room which I need, and are relatively comfortable to drive long distances. I drive slower when there is ice and I use appropriate tires for the season. But I want to know if the Genesis will hold up for my line of work.

I can test drive cars all I want but it will never be in the conditions I encounter, and I am sure it drives fine on a 70 degree day. I have driven the 09 v8 and there is one here local - but they are asking enough for me to look at the 12 V6 - but I cannot find one in CO that will meet the ZAG price.

And all the '10s and '11 s are more than the '12s.

Also how is the bluetooth - easy to use and work well?

Thanks in advance to anyone with info - if you could put year and engine size in your answer and also what other cars you have owned in comparison that would be great. I am looking at the (used) 09 TL awd, the 11 avalon, 07 Acura Rl, and other mid-size lux cars - the problem I am having is finding a car with a decent trunk and cargo area and relatively good gas mileage. Plus I like bigger luxury cars - mostly owned cadillacs in the past but I don't like many of the newer ones.

 

[Glashub]

I have never driven my 2012 4.6 in the snow and never will but, man, based on the type of driving you do and the area of the country you're in (familiar with it), personally, I'd look at an AWD. I had an Acura TL SH-AWD in Oregon and it was so solid in all types of weather including some hellacious winds. But let's hear what owners of the Genesis in the Midwest and Northeast have to say. Don't want to speak out of turn.

 

[Johnboy2k10]

I'll let you know after this winter. Whatever we see here will be 10x worse than what you get in Colorado. (Edmonton, AB)


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=53.560392,-113.879938

 

[jake the snake]

Check this out

http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showthread.php?t=1095

I love mine so much that I'm upgrading to the Equus!

CIAO

 

[waveman]

I can't comment on snow or ice, but my '11 V8 has been excellent in rain & wind (which we do have a lot of here) and in night driving. It's also been very comfortable on road trips. As for the suspension, you'll find a wide range of opinions in several threads here. Some say the '12's ride has improved, others not. It's not been a significant issue for me. I've also been very pleased with trunk space and gas mileage.

If you're concerned about driving in snow, Glashub's recommendation to look at AWD may be a good idea, though. I've read that Hyundai will introduce an AWD Genesis as soon as '13.

 

[Mark_888]

One other thing that might prevent me from driving a Genesis in the Denver area in the winter or spring is that they use a lot of sand (often with small pebbles) on the roads, instead of salt. This does havoc to windshields (and paint chipping on front end). Replacing a windshield is not uncommon in Denver, but the Genesis windshields (with sound proofing, etc) cost a lot of money to replace.

 

[QuantumRift]

We got our Genesis 3.8L V6 the first week of August this past month. While I cannot speak for snow (I am in SE Arizona), I can relate to you that last week, we were caught in what I would classify as the worst torrential downpour (monsoon season here) I've ever seen on Interstate 10 between Benson and Tucson AZ since 1990 (the year I relocated here). Sheets and sheets of rain, probably 6" of water in places on the road, and pea-sized hail. The car performed admirably well, and is quiet (other than the sound of rain and hail splattering the windshield). The car tracked true, and we did not get blown about by the wind. We drive to Tucson once or more a week (85 miles average one way) from elevation 4600-500' to 2300'. In the warm weather here we've averaged 32 mpg on the round trip. The car 'feels' aerodynamic and feels stable to me in the wind. However, most cars will do so in head and tail winds. Crosswinds, or large crosswind components, are what blow cars about, and again, In the Genesis, I don't feel a lot of movement caused buy wind deflection (you can position a car on a windy day so the wind is hitting it at 90', and just sit in the car and feel it. What it does then is what it will do when going down the road but probably more of it). Would I trust it in snow? I can only say "probably", but we get very little snow, that unless we are on a trip across the country or something, I can't comment on the snow. I know last year we were driving back from OH and got into Oklahoma and Texas on I-40 and NM and the winds were just horrendous, and being in an Envoy, we were nearly SEASICK, besides only getting 9 mpg....(but I digress)...

If it's possible, RENT one for a week or two so you can find out how a Genesis (or any other car for that matter, you are interested in purchasing) performs. That's a good test. My wife has traveled a lot with her job (and I have done a few week+ TDY trips as well) - this comes in handy especially if you are in the market for a car and you can actually rent one you are considering to purchase. You can get a good 'feel' for a car as to whether or not you'd buy one after driving it for 7, 10, or 14 days. Especially in the conditions you describe! But as we have found, sometimes you can't get the car you want...so at least you can 'test' a competing car.

As for rough road, we have that out here. A lot of road noise is caused by the tires and suspension, and the Genny is pretty durned quiet. For bumps, etc I can tell you my wife really notices how a car rides, and we opted for the Genny over several other high end brands because she liked the ride 'better'. I know that's not very objective, but I really don't have any other observations as I get in an drive and 'don't notice a harsh ride'...if you get my point. Cars that are marked as "sporty' or sports cars or 'sport suspensions" give you lots of road noise and bumps because of the tuning and tires/wheels. Just the way it is, I suppose.

And I'm in agreement with the other response, though, that recommended an AWD vehicle for your needs since you encounter such horrible weather.

 

[Glashub]

And having done a lot of due diligence into AWD as a result of living in OR, I can tell you that the inclement weather and pure driving attributes of the Honda torque vectoring system have yet to be really replicated by Audi and BMW. The best part is that the TL SH-AWD Advance can be had for about the same as a Genesis 4.6 if you wait until the fall for Japanese production to pick up.

Not an Acura fanboy or I wouldn't own a 4.6 but am trying to be of service by pointing out that as a result of self will around the Genesis you may miss a better solution for you and your family given your circumstances.

 

[Jimmmmbo!]

I will be finding out about winter traction with my new 2012 V6 this winter. So far, rain and wind have never phased this car.

Personally, I think that if you've had a good experience driving a BMW with snow tires in winter, the Genesis will be no different with the same setup. The only negative I can think of is that the new lower body work on the 2012 reduces ride height, so deep snow make be a little more difficult because of it.

I think it's worth noting that most police cars here in MN are still RWD and they use snow tires and never have a problem. You just need to use common sense when accelerating with RWD versus FWD or AWD, although traction control systems are pretty good these days.

 

[Mark_888]

I think it's worth noting that most police cars here in MN are still RWD and they use snow tires and never have a problem.

That's because when the snow gets really bad, they throw some prisoners in the trunk for extra tracton on the rear wheels.

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[Jimmmmbo!]

 

[Rey]

I have had two Genesis and have driven them in all weather conditions, including Wyoming snowstorms on I-80.
As a general rule, its handling weather is dependent on tires. The OEM tires claim to be all weather, but they are really almost summer tires.
Good winter tires with lots of tread make the car a goat in the snow. The car is rock solid in rain.
I routinely drive 1000 mile days, sometimes back-to-back. I have a fair amount of seat time in BMWs. They are great cars in the warranty period. I did a back-to-back comparison with a BMW 650 and my '09 Genesis on the same road. The BMW is just a little bit more composed, but the differences are marginal.

 

[76pinto]

Thanks for all the great replies, I read through them 2-3 times to get a good picture.

Unfortunately being a car loving guy I still want the Genny. And I made a mistake by buying the 545i too early - its ruined it for all other cars - it's like my trophy wife while I am still married to reliability, and this car was great while in under the cpo warranty and now I fear driving it out of town. My wife of course loves it - even though she hated it when I bought it. However I married a good woman who likes a car with power and handling, and now she drives the BMW and I am relagated to the Volvo for work. Its a conspiracy I know.

I am having a difficult time finding a car as fun to drive as my current one, but that has decent gas mileage, and a big trunk and stay around 30K range.

I like the Acura (09 TL), but the trunk is too small - and its not that I couldn't get by with it for work - but for family trips of 4 it seems pretty tight. But its still a viable option and it was fun to drive.

The 07 RL seemed like a better choice - but I didn't love driving it, but its still an option.

I drove the 08 es 350 and it was nice and has most of the things I like but It also wasn't as fun to drive.

Again thanks for all the input, I will probably have to wait to buy anything since I can't find the Genesis I want right now and have to leave for another "tour" on Monday.

But I definately took everyone's advice into consideration and I do appreciate it. I have researched it often over the last year - but most forums start arguing about snow tires or how AWD is better or its not. Here I think people gave good opinions on the car and I will certainly take those to heart.

And if there are instances in the future - please post them up - driving conditions etc because I still will be looking for them.

 

[CanukV6]

We tend to get more than our fair share of snow here in Canada and I can honestly say that I have never had a problem driving the Genesis through the winter. A good set of winter tires is a must of course, but unless the conditions are glare ice or deep snow you shouldn't have any problem. There are plenty of BMW's and Mercedes out there in the winter months that don't have AWD and most of them stay out of the ditches. Those that don't are more often due to poor driving skills than any deficiency in the car.

 

[wamba2000]

I too drove through an Arizona "monsoon" storm in July in our '12 3.8 Genesis. No issues with traction, stability or hydroplaning at highway speeds. Really like the rain sensing wipers.

I lived in midwest previously and had many rear drive cars through Minnesota winters. I think the Genesis is configured well, feels right, especially with the very large battery positioned low (under the floor) in the trunk, right over the principal drive wheel.

With stability control and ABS, I think it should be as safe as any other large sedan.

Go for it!

 

[musher51]

I'm coming into this thread a bit late, but I'd like to reinforce the feedback from Rey and others that you have nothing to fear with a RWD Genesis in the winter (provided you install snow tires...the stock Dunlops are NOT suitable). As my forum name implies, I routinely drive in full-blown winter conditions, in MN, MT & CO. My first Genesis ('09 V6) sailed through three winters, offering me reliable traction and a stable ride, regardless of snow depth or wind.

I can only shake my head when posters on this and other forums summarily dismiss the Genesis because it doesn't offer AWD. As long as you have good snow tires (and know what you're doing), this car will take you anywhere. I still miss the manual transmission I had on previous BMWs, which gave me more direct control of engine speed, but I've adjusted (and like you, I couldn't deal with owning an out-of-warranty 5-series any more).

 

[Canuck Genesis V8]

I drive my '09 Genesis in alot of snow around the snowbelt areas N and SW of Toronto and found it to be very secure (as long as you are driving at a reasonable speed for the conditions). The worst snow I drove through was about 20cm (8 inches) and it got me home. Not sure I'd feel comfortable in much more than this though.

Snow tires are an absolute must because the one time I drove it with the Dunlops all seasons (before I bought the snow tires) in a light dusting of snow, it scared the crap out of me (no matter how slow I drove).

 

[Coug]

I drove my '09 through 3 winters here in central Virgnia (some winters we get no snow, some winters we get 2 feet at a time, and there are lots of hills). I was used to front wheel drive cars, so in a heavy snow storm that second winter, I was sliding around alot more in my RWD Genesis than I was used to. This was with the OEM tires that came with the car, however. Sometimes when sliding in the snow the ESC would kick in and fight against what I was trying to do. I suspect with good snow tires, it would have been more stable.

 

[76pinto]

I am still leaning towards one, but having trouble locating a decent priced one.

I am also looking at the RL as well and putting off the Genesis purchase for a year or so. But I am having a tough time finding one of these reasonably priced.

I am not so concerned about snow when I am driving to the grocery store or running errands, its when I leave Fort Collins and its 75 degrees and I hit a snowstorm on Vail pass or in the san juans or up in Jackson hole. Or even worse is I80 with wind and ice conditions. If I know the weather is bad I wont typically leave on a trip, but I do get caught in unbelievable situations. And I adjust my driving style accordingly - i.e. slow down.

The BMW actually did fine (with good snow tires) in all of them - but I figure the Germans have it figured out. Now I am not so sure Hyundai does - though it seems like they do from some of the posts. I have a couple of Toyotas that are great in the snow but not conducive to long travel for gas mileage/comfort reasons. If I buy the Genesis I will likely buy studs or ice tires for the winter.

 

[Gambler]

Definitely get a set of winter tires. The Genesis will then operate just fine in the winter. Don't expect miracles though. Our Tahoe (with AT tires) drives better in snow than the Genesis with winter tires. Turn on 4wd and there is no comparison. If I still lived in Michigan, I probably would have gone with an AWD car.