Ready to join the family, but...

[JAMMIN MAN]

Hello all Gen owners. I'm finally ready to take the leap off the fence, but....
I'm still undecided between the 2011 3.8 tech, or the 4.6. I have read the thread mostly dealing with 2009/2010 V6 owners, & most seem happy with
there choice. From other forum info, IMO, there is little difference in price,
mileage, & power between the two engines, with the V6 having plenty enough
horses for the average driver. (which I am one of) Are there any other considerations for purchasing the V8? I do mostly city, w/ a little hwy driving, so I am not to concerned with the extra power (V8) or the slight better handling of the V6. How about the quality/bulid of the engines ?
I know the Tao 4.6 has won awards. How about the V6 ?
I'm currently driving an Infinity I30, & have never owned a V8 automobile. So,
with the small differences, I was leaning toward the V8.
How about it guys- one more time for the newbie: V6 vs V8 ??

 

[Cut-Throat]

Hello all Gen owners. I'm finally ready to take the leap off the fence, but....
I'm still undecided between the 2011 3.8 tech, or the 4.6. I have read the thread mostly dealing with 2009/2010 V6 owners, & most seem happy with
there choice. From other forum info, IMO, there is little difference in price,
mileage, & power between the two engines, with the V6 having plenty enough
horses for the average driver. (which I am one of) Are there any other considerations for purchasing the V8? I do mostly city, w/ a little hwy driving, so I am not to concerned with the extra power (V8) or the slight better handling of the V6. How about the quality/bulid of the engines ?
I know the Tao 4.6 has won awards. How about the V6 ?
I'm currently driving an Infinity I30, & have never owned a V8 automobile. So,
with the small differences, I was leaning toward the V8.
How about it guys- one more time for the newbie: V6 vs V8 ??

I don't think the V6 has better handling. I would say they're both the same. Once you add the tech to the V6 you're within a couple grand of the V8. So why wouldn't you?

 

[Ruissimo]

The way gas prices are going up, combined with the government-dictated fleet mpg requirements (2015 is a big milestone in this, from what I remember), this might be one of our last chances to get into a V8 before all manufacturers turn to hybrid engines and diesel, small-displacement gas engines, etc.

I SAY GO BIG!

 

[ckon]

If I recall correctly, the Tau V8 has been named one of Ward's "Ten Best Engines" for three years running now.

 

[NOLa]

I had a 2009 V-6 and a 2011 V-8.

Certainly the V-6 was fine. I never noticed any difference in the handling, but I'm not a guy...those things might be noticed by a guy...ya know.

You step on the gas with a V-8, and it just goes effortlessly...it's hard to explain, but I prefer the V-8.

Interstate mileage was no different but I did get less miles per gallon with the V-8 in town.

NOLa

 

[brihvac]

Hello all Gen owners. I'm finally ready to take the leap off the fence, but....
I'm still undecided between the 2011 3.8 tech, or the 4.6. I have read the thread mostly dealing with 2009/2010 V6 owners, & most seem happy with
there choice. From other forum info, IMO, there is little difference in price,
mileage, & power between the two engines, with the V6 having plenty enough
horses for the average driver. (which I am one of) Are there any other considerations for purchasing the V8? I do mostly city, w/ a little hwy driving, so I am not to concerned with the extra power (V8) or the slight better handling of the V6. How about the quality/bulid of the engines ?
I know the Tao 4.6 has won awards. How about the V6 ?
I'm currently driving an Infinity I30, & have never owned a V8 automobile. So,
with the small differences, I was leaning toward the V8.
How about it guys- one more time for the newbie: V6 vs V8 ??

The V8 was not available when I bought mine. I still would have bought the V6 because the V8 recommended premium fuel and the 1/4 mile and 0-60 were exactly the same.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/09q1/2009_hyundai_genesis_3.8-short_take_road_test
Almost 300hp is plenty for me and when you hit the gas, it goes. I dusted a new Audi A8 from a roll the other day. As far as reliability....who cares, its got a 10yr 100K warranty on the drivetrain. Im trying to trade mine now. Expect a big hit if you do what Im doing. Dealers are giving way less than book value.

 

[msitter]

No way the V6 is as quick as the V8. Even carrying an extra 200 lbs it still has 95 more hp. Now maybe the new 2012 GDI V6 with the 8 spd gearbox will be as quick as the 4.6 6 spd. C&D says 6.0 sec to 60 in the V6 and they have seen less than 5.5 sec in the V8. Real world fuel economy better with the V6. V8 with ZF gearbox very smooth and relaxed on the highway. Passing on 2 lane roads awesome with the V8. Unless you are going to be a high mileage driver the difference in fuel economy is not enough to give up the V8 and you can use regular in the V8. No valves to adjust on the V8 unlike the V6. The price difference is not enough to lose the benefits of having the V8.

 

[brihvac]

No way the V6 is as quick as the V8. Even carrying an extra 200 lbs it still has 95 more hp. Now maybe the new 2012 GDI V6 with the 8 spd gearbox will be as quick as the 4.6 6 spd. C&D says 6.0 sec to 60 in the V6 and they have seen less than 5.5 sec in the V8. Real world fuel economy better with the V6. V8 with ZF gearbox very smooth and relaxed on the highway. Passing on 2 lane roads awesome with the V8. Unless you are going to be a high mileage driver the difference in fuel economy is not enough to give up the V8 and you can use regular in the V8. No valves to adjust on the V8 unlike the V6. The price difference is not enough to lose the benefits of having the V8.

I see the Car and Driver review hit a nerve

 

[vitacura]

I test drove them back to back, and quickly decided for the V8 halfway into the test drive. Couldn't wipe the smile off my face since I hit the accelerator for the first time.

 

[ckon]

I test drove them back to back, and quickly decided for the V8 halfway into the test drive. Couldn't wipe the smile off my face since I hit the accelerator for the first time.

Same thing happened to me!

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[mikec]

The US market V8 cars have a few extra perks scattered about compared to the V6 models, such as the lighted door sills. These perks are not part of the Premium / Premium Plus / Tech package differences either. In the 2009 models, the V8s got slightly better interior materials too. If I remember correctly, that's no longer the case on the newer model years.

The V6 and V8 use different transmission manufacturers; the V8's tranny is a ZF unit similar to many high-zoot European luxury cars. Nice transmission; expensive fluid though. The V6 uses a Japanese transmission - also a darn good one. The rear axle gear ratio (differential gearing) is different between the V6 and V8; the V6 is geared at a higher ratio so it can do the 0-60 run almost as quickly as the V8 - despite the horsepower disadvantage. This makes the V6 model run higher RPMs most of the time though which is why it doesn't get substantially better MPG than the V8.

I have an early 2009 V8 Tech. I planned on buying a V8 but I did test drive a V6 since my dealer didn't have a V8 Tech on the lot... so I test drove a V6 Tech just to see the headlight differences between the Tech package and the non-Tech packages - quite substantial. On the test drives the V6 felt ample enough (and I'm a lead foot) though it wasn't as effortless as the V8. Off the line the V6 was good. Rolling acceleration (i.e. mash the gas to pass on a highway, especially while going uphill) the V6 was a tad more strained than the V8. The Tau V8 almost always seems like it has reserves to draw from whenever you ask for power. The steering was different too - the power steering setup is quite different between the V6 and V8 models.

mike c.

edit: about that V8 induced smile: are you sure you're fully flooring it when you mean to? There is a "stop" of sorts in the pedal; similar to the "kickdown switch" detent on other cars... it's fairly firm on my V8 car. Push past it though - and get about half an inch more pedal travel - HANG ON! The transmission downshifts several gears and the V8 lets fly! I've spoken to a few folks that thought that first "stop" was it - they never felt what their cars were capable of!

 

[waveman]

edit: about that V8 induced smile: are you sure you're fully flooring it when you mean to? There is a "stop" of sorts in the pedal; similar to the "kickdown switch" detent on other cars... it's fairly firm on my V8 car. Push past it though - and get about half an inch more pedal travel - HANG ON! The transmission downshifts several gears and the V8 lets fly! I've spoken to a few folks that thought that first "stop" was it - they never felt what their cars were capable of!

Hmmm. I'm going to have to try that coming out of the driveway this morning.

Seriously, though, I think I've been flooring it when I meant to but will check. Thanks.

 

[Matt Z]

Drive both before you decide!

 

[nearwater]

Drive both before you decide!

Definitely!

The minimal price and gas mileage difference was not a concern for me.
The only thing that mattered was how the car drove.
V6 felt peppy, but not as smooth or powerful as the v8.
It was a no brainer.

Dan

 

[rmorgan56]

Love the Tau.

 

[acey]

I test drove both (09) at the time. As a marketing rep, I'm stop and start, in and out of the car all day long, mostly city, some flat interstate. I chose the V8.

The power to get through a nasty intersection or to distance myself from someone who is performing whatever maneuver they want to do (besides driving!) such as not checking for oncoming, texting, or applying lipstick ...well that extra power is important to me.

Inspires confidence every day!

Have fun deciding!