Road Test Comparo

[Lawjo1978]

Evening all,

Well today I decided to look and test drive some of the Genny's competition. First on the list was Infiniti's M37. I have to say that the car has really nice interior, comfortable seats, pretty roomy. Driving told a whole different story. It's looks really nice indeed but this car is very noisy!!! Not quiet in the least... Engine permformance is there, but the transmission shifts quick but a little hard. And the ride was a little too firm for me. Did anyone look at the competition before buying a Genny???

 

[Aquineas]

I haven't driven a G37, but I drove a G35 (and previously owned a 3.5L Altima) and decided that in terms of NVH, the VQ engine (the current Nissan V6 family of engines introduced with the 1995 Maxima) went downhill after VQ30. I know they cleaned up some of the NVH things up a bit with the VQ37VHR, but that engine's gas mileage isn't much better (and might actually be worse) than that of my 5.0 V8.

In my opinion, frankly there aren't a lot of cars that compete well with the Genesis that are in the 40-50K price range. Again in my opinion, they all have some major shortcoming. Infiniti M class is too expensive, the Chrysler 300C has body panel gaps that you could drop a pencil through, the Acura TL for me is out because I'm a previous TL owner who hated how much my car squeaked and rattled (almost from day 1).

 

[shagnat]

I haven't driven a G37, but I drove a G35 (and previously owned a 3.5L Altima) and decided that in terms of NVH, the VQ engine (the current Nissan V6 family of engines introduced with the 1995 Maxima) went downhill after VQ30. I know they cleaned up some of the NVH things up a bit with the VQ37VHR, but that engine's gas mileage isn't much better (and might actually be worse) than that of my 5.0 V8.

In my opinion, frankly there aren't a lot of cars that compete well with the Genesis that are in the 40-50K price range. Again in my opinion, they all have some major shortcoming. Infiniti M class is too expensive, the Chrysler 300C has body panel gaps that you could drop a pencil through, the Acura TL for me is out because I'm a previous TL owner who hated how much my car squeaked and rattled (almost from day 1).

^ +1

 

[OneFunGenesis]

^ +2.

 

[427435]

The only other car that I test drove was a Taurus SHO. It was quick and quiet, but I felt cramped in the driver's seat because of the tall center console. Plus, there are a lot of pedestrian Taurus's out there that look just like the SHO.

 

[OneFunGenesis]

So was there little...SHO factor?! HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA I kill me

 

[Fast55]

The RLX was nice, but no faster than the old RL and being brand new when I was shopping, $60K with dealer mark up and they weren't dealing. Pass.

A6 (loved my old one) big $$$, nope.
Don't need another E class, and more $$$.
5 Series, same issue.
Lexus/Toyota,,,,,,,,,,,,let's just say I'll supply the sand and funnel.
Infinity and Honda have way too much wind and (especially) road noise.

The rest I didn't consider at all, they don't IMO have anything that competes at any price point.
Ford gets the award for cheapest JC Whitney interiors out there.
I own a GM SUV, but they have about the same issues and although Buick and Cadillac are much improved, the ATS is way too small, CTS not much bigger and $$$, XTS same $$$ and until they fix CUE, none of these are an option at any price.

For me, the only thing that was on par with the G was a lot more expensive and still is.

 

[scottdk]

^Nice write up^!

This reminds me of what member TJParks01 had written on the forum back in July of 2009:

Hyundai wasn't even on the radar screen before I bot it. All the cars I looked at had some issue (compromise). G37, hotrod nice car, back seat is kinda small. 328, iconic, they put the cupholders where? same as G37 kinda small? ES 350, you want how much for a Camry with lipstick? Accord V6, good car, zzzz, front wheel drive, zzzz. Anything american, clusterf&*k management, sorry no interest. Hyundai, hmmm...

 

[Cobra]

For me quiteness is very important in a car. And Genesis is a winner for me, too quite, no wind noise minimal road noice, that makes my every day drive a pleaseure, but im curious to know, does Genesis quiter than its competitors like lexus GS or infinity M, Mersedes E class or BMW 5series? Can any one tell me if experienced

 

[EXBMWGUY]

^Nice write up^!

This reminds me of what member TJParks01 had written on the forum back in July of 2009:

I miss the iconic TJParks posts. Dead-pan humorous, but totally factual, practical and free of crazed fanboy mania.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[scottdk]

I miss the iconic TJParks posts. Dead-pan humorous, but totally factual, practical and free of crazed fanboy mania.

Agreed. TJ was one of the top contributors to the forum in terms of actual content. Amazing knowledge.

 

[shagnat]

I didn't test drive any other vehicles other than a base Genny which I didn't want due to lack of features that are unavailable at any price. Additionally, the 17" wheels on the base model was another deal breaker.

I hate to go jerk a sales rep around, but, I am curious as to how other cars the media says are in the same class as the Genny would compare.

A friend of mine as a slightly older Lexus GS350 which I've yet to ride in, but, plan to soon. I'll never let him know how much I'll be comparing his car against mine. Will post a follow up when this is done.

 

[Mark_888]

Agreed. TJ was one of the top contributors to the forum in terms of actual content. Amazing knowledge.

I wonder if he sold his Genesis? I believe his other car was 535i.

 

[homeofstone]

For me quiteness is very important in a car. And Genesis is a winner for me, too quite, no wind noise minimal road noice, that makes my every day drive a pleaseure, but im curious to know, does Genesis quiter than its competitors like lexus GS or infinity M, Mersedes E class or BMW 5series? Can any one tell me if experienced

My Mercedes has less road noise (due to front and rear sub-frames design) and rides better. The Genny is faster and smoother running with more room and better electronics.

 

[DRS]

+2 on the SHO, ATS, CTS, G37.. Add one more, the MKS equipped like the SHO. Symmetrical AWD, twin turbo. However it's sticker was pushing 60K. Quieter than SHO and more balanced up to. 95 percent. SHO with performance seat option had the best seats.

In the end, nothing drove better, nothing had as good a build quality, nothing as quiet at any speed and acceleration, and of course no one had the TAU 5.0....

V8s are on the political correctness dung heap... And if something does not change, on the way out for good. Time to stock up on a 25 year supply of TAU, and Ford DOHC V8 powered cars. Pickle them, and drag one out at a time as another one wears out.

Serious, we will be driving in car stereo enhanced spitting rice burning engines. I HATE those fake sound enhanced cars... Pile if trash. Get the V8s while we can. And as we all know, a proper driven TAU V8 cleans the gas mileage clock of other brands V6s and twin turbo V6s... Even the ultra high strung turbo 4s do not much better.

Now, if they stuck a super torque and high HP V8 turbo diesel in a Genny... Wonder what that might be like.

 

[OneFunGenesis]

V8s are on the political correctness dung heap... And if something does not change, on the way out for good. Time to stock up on a 25 year supply of TAU, and Ford DOHC V8 powered cars. Pickle them, and drag one out at a time as another one wears out.

Serious, we will be driving in car stereo enhanced spitting rice burning engines. I HATE those fake sound enhanced cars... Pile if trash. Get the V8s while we can. And as we all know, a proper driven TAU V8 cleans the gas mileage clock of other brands V6s and twin turbo V6s... Even the ultra high strung turbo 4s do not much better.

I'd hate to say it, but this is 100% accurate. I blame GM solely and completely for the PC dung heap on V8's. The EPA looks at those cars/trucks and compares numbers.

6.3L V8 that gets 8MPG....wow, that must make a ton of HP! Oh...426? Why do we have these again?

The designers at GM have their heads so far up their asses, they can still regularly eat food. If Hyundai (a no-name compared to GM if you think about it) can out engineer you in the engine department, I think it's time for a wake up call.

Also, I feel GM should have folded in 2008 and maybe, just MAYBE, it would have been a wake up call to the american auto industry.

 

[EXBMWGUY]

I'd hate to say it, but this is 100% accurate. I blame GM solely and completely for the PC dung heap on V8's. The EPA looks at those cars/trucks and compares numbers.

6.3L V8 that gets 8MPG....wow, that must make a ton of HP! Oh...426? Why do we have these again?

The designers at GM have their heads so far up their asses, they can still regularly eat food. If Hyundai (a no-name compared to GM if you think about it) can out engineer you in the engine department, I think it's time for a wake up call.

Also, I feel GM should have folded in 2008 and maybe, just MAYBE, it would have been a wake up call to the american auto industry.

I felt the same way in 2008. But we know that when GM gets the right people involved, they can do amazing things in the design area.

The best example is the 2014 Corvette C7 engine. They let the engineers spend hordes of hours (6 million computational hours, to be exact) testing combustion scenarios while bolting the doors to keep the accountants out of the room. They kept the best attributes of the previous engine and managed to get approximately 450 hp and equivalent torque, while still getting fuel economy better than the R-Spec (17/28 auto - 29 hwy with the 7 speed manual and 30 hwy in Eco mode). Regular octane is acceptable - premium recommended but not required. I won't even start about the rest of the car, but only say they didn't allow compromise in any design area. Z51-equipped at under $57,000 is an intoxicating proposition.

Yes, it's a first-year new generation car that's reliability and build quality is unknown. However, I'm betting the second year model riveted to my butt will not fall apart leaving the dealership.

 

[Aquineas]

I felt the same way in 2008. But we know that when GM gets the right people involved, they can do amazing things in the design area.

The best example is the 2014 Corvette C7 engine. They let the engineers spend hordes of hours (6 million computational hours, to be exact) testing combustion scenarios while bolting the doors to keep the accountants out of the room. They kept the best attributes of the previous engine and managed to get approximately 450 hp and equivalent torque, while still getting fuel economy better than the R-Spec (17/28 auto - 29 hwy with the 7 speed manual and 30 hwy in Eco mode). Regular octane is acceptable - premium recommended but not required. I won't even start about the rest of the car, but only say they didn't allow compromise in any design area. Z51-equipped at under $57,000 is an intoxicating proposition.

Yes, it's a first-year new generation car that's reliability and build quality is unknown. However, I'm betting the second year model riveted to my butt will not fall apart leaving the dealership.

lol I couldn't agree with you more. And it sounds like you are seriously considering one; I'd be lying if I said I wasn't as well. The model with the options I want is around $70K, but that's still an incredible bargain for the caliber of car you're getting. Very slim chance of me getting one (I'm more likely to get a next gen R-Spec), but still I have been thinking about it an awful lot.

 

[EXBMWGUY]

lol I couldn't agree with you more. And it sounds like you are seriously considering one; I'd be lying if I said I wasn't as well. The model with the options I want is around $70K, but that's still an incredible bargain for the caliber of car you're getting. Very slim chance of me getting one (I'm more likely to get a next gen R-Spec), but still I have been thinking about it an awful lot.

I'm at an age where I don't have to be rational all the time. That's code for kids are all grown and financial obligations are fulfilled. We're planning a move from Minnesota to a warm-weather climate in the next couple of years. I have used every tactic known to man to demonstrate healthy C7 lust to my wife while ensuring she knows she's still #1. Such tactics include: (1) Perfect sunshine car; (2) I promise to let you drive it (or not drive it); (3) I'm fearing the onset of depression -- a C7 will help minimize that possibility; (4) You -- Foxy Lady, will make the C7 look totally outstanding; (5) Honey, just look at the engineering; (6) The Z51 is the best overall value; (7) look at the gas mileage, and we/you can even fill it with regular.

She said the other day: "auto, right??"

 

[Fast55]

I'd hate to say it, but this is 100% accurate. I blame GM solely and completely for the PC dung heap on V8's. The EPA looks at those cars/trucks and compares numbers.

6.3L V8 that gets 8MPG....wow, that must make a ton of HP! Oh...426? Why do we have these again?

The designers at GM have their heads so far up their asses, they can still regularly eat food. If Hyundai (a no-name compared to GM if you think about it) can out engineer you in the engine department, I think it's time for a wake up call.

Also, I feel GM should have folded in 2008 and maybe, just MAYBE, it would have been a wake up call to the american auto industry.

My 6.2L/6 speed SUV does better than 8 MPG in town (actually about 12), will do a solid 19 MPG on the highway if you're not in too much of a hurry, and 20 MPG on a mileage run. Frankly, I don't think that's too bad for a 3+ ton truck with 400+ HP. No, it's not "cutting edge" in the tech. department, and isn't 500+ HP, but it wasn't $100K+ like a G63 or a Range Rover, and they still do no better on gas. Actually, a G550 or G63 is even worse, while only a G63 has more power. I can run circles around a Ford Expedition or Navigator and they aren't much better on gas. The new GM V8 trucks are doing as well or better than the Eco boost Ford trucks with as much or more power and torque. The fact is, big heavy trucks and SUV's are never going to do well on gas.