Ready for prime time?

[stars9texashockey]

First let me say that we both love the Genesis.

I drive a 2009 Infiniti G37 coupe and my wife drives a 2010 Genesis 4.6. They are very similarly equipped when it comes to electronics/convenience features: Bluetooth, navigation, back up camera, parking sonar, premium audio, etc. In the 2.5 years that I have owned the Infiniti, I haven't had one instance of electronic "gremlins" with any of these features. Approximately 5 times so far, the Genesis has had either back up camera blank screen or no audio. Both problems have fixed themselves and I've read about both on this forum.

Question: Are these small issues something we put up with given the tremendous value the Genesis is? Are they foretelling future, bigger issues? Is Korean auto manufacturing not up to Japan's level yet?

 

[dg_moore]

First let me say that we both love the Genesis.

I drive a 2009 Infiniti G37 coupe and my wife drives a 2010 Genesis 4.6. They are very similarly equipped when it comes to electronics/convenience features: Bluetooth, navigation, back up camera, parking sonar, premium audio, etc. In the 2.5 years that I have owned the Infiniti, I haven't had one instance of electronic "gremlins" with any of these features. Approximately 5 times so far, the Genesis has had either back up camera blank screen or no audio. Both problems have fixed themselves and I've read about both on this forum.

Question: Are these small issues something we put up with given the tremendous value the Genesis is? Are they foretelling future, bigger issues? Is Korean auto manufacturing not up to Japan's level yet?

I have a 2010 3.8 and have had zero electrical/electronic problems. It is my impression that most of the electrical problems reported on this board have had to do with cars with the tech package, which I did not purchase.

 

[Cut-Throat]

I've had a 2011 4.6 for over a year now and have had zero issues with the car. Had the windshield wipers replaced and that's it. No electrical 'gremlins' at all!

 

[hwks1]

Frankly, you've probably been lucky with your Infiniti. I would not even be suprised if the camera in the Genesis comes from the same place as the Infiniti. Electrical quirks are just that.

I would put any Hyundai model up against a 'Japanese'. Hyundai makes very good cars.

 

[Ernie3647]

First let me say that we both love the Genesis.

I drive a 2009 Infiniti G37 coupe and my wife drives a 2010 Genesis 4.6. They are very similarly equipped when it comes to electronics/convenience features: Bluetooth, navigation, back up camera, parking sonar, premium audio, etc. In the 2.5 years that I have owned the Infiniti, I haven't had one instance of electronic "gremlins" with any of these features. Approximately 5 times so far, the Genesis has had either back up camera blank screen or no audio. Both problems have fixed themselves and I've read about both on this forum.

Question: Are these small issues something we put up with given the tremendous value the Genesis is? Are they foretelling future, bigger issues? Is Korean auto manufacturing not up to Japan's level yet?

Its funny this topic has come up because I’ve thought about it also.
First like you let me say that I like my Genesis very much think it to be a fine car and enjoy all the pleasures the tech package very much. I own a 2007 G35x sedan with the tech options very similar since new and can say with all sincerity that the electronics while quite sophisticated have been rock solid and with a very large command vocabulary never noticed any odd behavior and have never had to have it serviced. While I like and use all the tech options on the Genesis it has had periodic hiccups. Not anything that I would really deem a problem and not frequent enough to worry me. In this age of multi processor controlled car systems Hyundai has done quite a decent job getting such complex systems as those in the Tech Package working as good as they do. Seeing as it’s quite infrequent and never the same system I’m undaunted by this. Hey…..the difference between Korean and Japanese electronics.

 

[hwks1]

I came from an '09 Audi....had several 'electronic' issues. Door sensors, Audio System fritzing out now and again. Blind Side monitor continually shut down. Back up camera turned dark all the time - finally got the dealer to replace it.

I've researched them all - they ALL have issues. My friends Lexus IS has similar 'quirks'. I don't have any experience with Infiniti but I'm sure they are generally reliable. I expect my Genesis will be reliable also.

 

[tdtguy]

If you coming from Infiniti, then you probably miss the 3D nav with buildings .
I think 2D nav is boring.

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

If you coming from Infiniti, then you probably miss the 3D nav with buildings .
I think 2D nav is boring.

Do you make long trips to strange places? On the one 2500 mile trip I've taken the Nav worked perfectly. Which Gen do you have? Touchscreen or DIS?

 

[littlecf]

I've also had some questions regarding overall build quality versus the Japanese. I have a 2011 4.6, and I've also experienced the gremlins of no audio, steering wheel not always adjusting properly, and exterior mirrors not resetting from tilt when shifting out of reverse. So far, these issues always correct themselves, but I wonder if they are signs of more severe problems down the road. I have a Lexus LS 430 now, and owned a couple of Toyota Avalons before the Genesis, and all three were problem-free. So far, I'm still very satisfied with the Genesis, but it does concern me that with so many people reporting these types of problems on this forum, Hyundai has either been unresponsive, or incapable of fixing them.

And speaking of gremlins, has anyone ever experienced this one? I was washing the car the other day, and I got in the back seat to clean the windows. I closed the door, and I could hear the radio playing very faintly through the rear speakers. The car was not running, but I did have the key fob in my pocket. It eventually went off (I think it may have been at the same time the interior lights went off, but I can't say for certain).

 

[YEH]

Question: Are these small issues something we put up with given the tremendous value the Genesis is? Are they foretelling future, bigger issues? Is Korean auto manufacturing not up to Japan's level yet?

So... based on Car&Driver's experience w/ their long-term Infiniti M56...

Electronic Hiccups

Many, if not most, of the M56’s logbook gripes have to do with the car’s electronics, an operating area that began to draw flak in the first 20,000 miles and has drawn even more as we head down the home stretch.

Most egregious under this heading was in January when various warning lights began flashing on the dashboard—warning lights that defy interpretation without consulting the owner’s manual. This went on intermittently for about 1500 miles, and during those miles, the stability control ceased to function—always exciting during a Michigan winter. Ultimately, the electronic hysteria was curbed—although not entirely eliminated—with the installation of a new CPU, replaced at no charge under warranty.

Since then, there have been reports of random electronic weirdness. For example, on occasion, the adaptive cruise control refuses to set, flashing the intelligent brake assist warning light. This can usually be cured by shutting the car off and restarting—the basic reboot approach. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s irritating nonetheless.

Most recently, there have been reports of the right-front power window occasionally failing to respond to the switch and the power-adjustable steering column failing to return to its preset after the driver has belted up and started the car. It responds to its basic controls, but its short-term memory shows lapses. We’ve also seen some peeling and delaminating of the rubbery coating on the steering wheel and door handles.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q3/2011_infiniti_m56_sport-long-term_road_test_update

Are we supposed to conclude that Infiniti is not "ready for primetime"?

Note that the long-term reviews of the Genesis didn't have these sort of issues (but of course, this doesn't mean that there aren't Genesis sedans out there that have had such issues).

Every automaker is going to have cars which have these issues - it's just a matter of degree when it comes to all the high tech electronics.

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[sooththetruth]

I have 2010 V-6 Premium package with 28,000 miles on it, and I have had the electronic gremlins occur since brand new. Most frequent is the failure of the back up camera, though it hasn't happened in about 5,000 miles. It seems to happen most often....when I really need it.

Rainy days at night seems to be my best predictor of when it it will give the static screen, but I suppose it may happen at other times, it's just that this is when I most want it to work.

The LED lights of the interior flickered in front, and that was repaired under warranty, but now the rear lights are doing it.

My stereo has been flawless.

I do have a unique perspective in that my wife has a 2007 Infiniti G-35 S.

I personally feel the car feels cramped, and the sport-inclined ride is too rough for me, but THE QUALITY OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INFINITI FAR SURPASSES THE QUALITY OF THE GENESIS, and the electronics have been flawless through 60,000 miles. The car looks brand new at 60,000 miles, and is aging in the interior far better than the Genesis.

The plastics in the Genesis will peel from a randon fingernail scratch, but it doesn't happen with the Infiniti.

Reminder: The Genesis Tech V-8 tested 100,000 miles by Car and Driver did have the radio lock up on long trips, and had to be rebooted to work.

My 2010 Genesis has fantastic features, and I prefer driving it to the Infiniti, and some of this has to do with the basic set up of the car. Car and Driver just recently noted that the drivetrains of Infiniti's lack the smoothness of Lexus and BMW's. Accelerations off the line are often unintentionally rough, and the even acceleration while at speed is often a "jerk" instead of a smooth increase. This is my feeling of our own G, exactly.

My wife have an ongoing "Pseudo" fight about our cars. The Infiniti has SO MUCH BETTER in quality of it's materials, the heft of the materials, the alignment of it's seams, that I will not agree the Genesis is a better value.

Instead, the Genesis sedan offers a different value: More space, more comfortable ride, much better fuel economy for the relative power, and in my opinion an exterior elegance that I enjoy much more than the boy racer-ish G35/G37.

My wife loves her car, and would not give it up. I would much rather drive my daughter's Passat than the G35, though the interior quality of the Passat is....well....not quality. The Passat is another "different" value.

There have been electronic gremlins in the most recent Infiniti, but for years they have been known to be rock solid cars, and our personal experience has been that, too. NO PROBLEMS AT ALL, to the point I am just flat impressed. WE HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPAIR OUR INFINITI G AT ALL IN 60,000 miles. Nothing! Oil and Gas, and paid for the service check ups. It's a car that I will be hating a long time.

I suspect I will be giving up my Hyundai at around 80-100,000 miles because I can't stand to have a car with a torn up interior. I do leather care every 6 weeks, and keep the car clean, but the plastics are tearing up, as does the leather of the steering wheel. I suspect that my wife's infiniti will be rock solid to 200,000 miles. At least that's how it feels to me. Unfortunately, most of the miles occur when I am not in it, because I can't stand the roughness of the G set up.

 

[Ernie3647]

So... based on Car&Driver's experience w/ their long-term Infiniti M56...



http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q3/2011_infiniti_m56_sport-long-term_road_test_update

Are we supposed to conclude that Infiniti is not "ready for primetime"?

Note that the long-term reviews of the Genesis didn't have these sort of issues (but of course, this doesn't mean that there aren't Genesis sedans out there that have had such issues).

Every automaker is going to have cars which have these issues - it's just a matter of degree when it comes to all the high tech electronics.

Excluding the obvious example stated here where final execution of finish is questionable. I agree totally. An environment such as a car is a difficult place to engineer totally reliable complex systems. Heck even in ideal environments it’s a formidable task. That said I don’t think any manufacturer is totally immune to such “Gremlins”. The fact that stars9exashockeys and my experience with our Infiniti’s were good is just let’s say …“The luck of the draw”. It in no way is meant to mean that Infiniti is totally immune to the “Gremlin” symptom. I am saying that they’re very well engineered cars. I remember being quite impressed by a note that came with my new car stating that the car had been personally road tested and all systems were found to be functional. It was signed in ink by a Japanese factory driver. That was cool. Still have it.

 

[dg_moore]

...My wife loves her car, and would not give it up.

My wife also drives an Infiniti (2005 G35 coupe) and she also loves it. I can't stand it myself - I find it very uncomfortable, very noisy, very rough, and extremely difficult to get out of due to a leg problem (I probably would have loved it when I was 20, but that was almost 50 years ago ). I always offer to drive when we go anyplace together - in 6+ years of ownership of the G35, I have never once driven it, even to back it out of the garage. I can't speak to the G35's build quality because I haven't paid any attention to it.

One huge difference between it and the Genesis is maintenance frequency and cost. My wife's car is in for scheduled maintenance much more frequently than the Genesis, and she never gets away for less than five or six hundred dollars.

 

[Pahaska]

My 2009 had some initial gremlins, but as mileage (now 26,500) increased, the gremlins became more rare. In the last 6000 miles, I had one instance of no audio and no gremlins at all recently.

One thing I do now is start the engine, then belt up before touching anything else. I believe that interrupting the CPU during the initial sequence caused a lot of my early problems such as no audio or the steering wheel stopping before reaching the final position..

 

[hwks1]

...but THE QUALITY OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INFINITI FAR SURPASSES THE QUALITY OF THE GENESIS, ......The Infiniti has SO MUCH BETTER in quality of it's materials, the heft of the materials, the alignment of it's seams, that I will not agree the Genesis is a better value....

I haven't owned my 2012 Genesis very long but I have been looking at this vehicle since it debuted in 2009 and have 'test drive' both new and used Genesis so, when I read your comments I'm dumb founded - we cant be even talking about the same cars.

I completely reject your EMPHASIS that the Infiniti is so vastly superior. Ive rented a couple Infiniti and they have been fine drivers....more road noise and very harsh rides but otherwise decent cars at the low end of the luxury segment. However, you lose all credibility in a forum like this we you make such exaggerated and fallacious comments.

I just traded in an Audi - widely acknowledged as the standard bearer in automotive interiors. When I sit in my Genesis I can only really identify one small thing that I expect Audi would not allow. In the Genesis I get more equipment than an A6 at aprox $17k less - now that's what I call a 'better value'.

Maybe the 2012 Genesis have been upgraded because I don't find misaligned seams or inferior feeling materials. I really don't find big gripes with the Genesis. Could some things been designed different, yes. Could some things have been implemented different, yes. Is it perfect, no.

Bottom line, dollar for dollar - there is not a superior car on the market in this segment.

 

[YEH]

I agree that Hyundai will have to up the quality of the materials used in the next gen Genesis and Equus sedans (if for the sole reason of not being totally outclassed by the interior of the Kia K9).

As for the G35, it's interior isn't that great and the 1st couple of years had that cheapy-looking center stack until Infiniti rectified the problem somewhat w/ its refresh.

Infiniti has come a long way w/ its interiors since the days of "Le Cost Cutter" saving pennies; the interior of the current M is simply exquisite.

 

[Glashub]

^^^^^
The price will go up for upraded electronics, matrials, etc. I think right now is the sweet spot.

 

[newman]

^^^^^
The price will go up for upraded electronics, matrials, etc. I think right now is the sweet spot.

I second this opinion. Hyundai is 'breaking out' right now and we are getting tremendous value. These cars will start commanding more money as demand picks up and the dealer network improves. Oh, and also as Honda continues to lose their way and Toyota continues to produce cars without soul ( or should I say 'Seoul').

Cheers
Newman

 

[sooththetruth]

I completely reject your EMPHASIS that the Infiniti is so vastly superior. Ive rented a couple Infiniti and they have been fine drivers....more road noise and very harsh rides but otherwise decent cars at the low end of the luxury segment. However, you lose all credibility in a forum like this we you make such exaggerated and fallacious comments.




My list of problems with my Genesis compared to Infiniti.

1. Shortly after purchase, I noted that the hood was not aligned well with the right front fender. I took it to dealer, and it was "within tolerances", though the service manager laughed that it was noticeable. I have never found such a misalignment in my Lexus' or previous Infiniti's

2. The leather in the Genesis is soft and beautiful, but is already stretching out of shape, giving the appearance of an older car.

3. The steering wheel leather is now rough, and covered with small tears in the leather that I consider evidence of "non-durability"

4. The plastics of the interior peel under my apparently razor sharp fingernails, leaving defects in the plastic

5. The design of the center console holds crumbs in the seams, and it is really hard to clean the interior seams compared to ANY OTHER CAR I'VE HAD

6. The left foot rest pedal is disproportionately TOO FAR AWAY TO BE COMFORTABLE. (Of course this is an opinon)

7. When I wash my car ( which I do often) I note the water that runs into the trunk when I open it to dry, and there is no car that holds more water in the door seams. The car DOESN'T LEAK to the interior, but I have to open the doors to dry, else there is lots of water spots left on the rocker panels, and especially on the rear bumper that doesn't drain well.

Of course, this is just off the top of my head, but my point was that I LIKED the GENESIS, consider it a value, if a "different" one, and also recognize some of it's strengths, but I do not perceive the durability of it's interior beauty, nor the fit and finish to match that of the Infiniti, or Lexus. Maybe the Japanese quality is starting to suffer now, as they try to compete some on price, but their quality for the past two decades before that was unassailable.

You almost seem angry at my opinion, but I just want Hyundai to hear all this and fix it, for my next Genesis.

 

[Glashub]

As a past owner of 2 Acura's, I can tell you that your list is small compared to the problems I had with Acura. Most recently rattles developing in the dash and doors of a 2010 TL at 4,000 mis. Paid the same for the Acura as the Genesis My 2005 went to the dealer 11 times in the 1st year for rattles. I thought it an anomoly but the 2010 proved it wasn't.