Ruissimo's Ownership "Blog" - The 5.0 R Spec

[Gambler]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Great review, thanks for that!

 

[2012blackgenny]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

DEFINITELY seek out some bad roads on your test drive. It is a rougher ride than a 3.8 or a 4.6, and you may not like it.

And no one knows what you like better than you.

As for the styling comments above... I had two work people following me on the highway today, and was in the left lane as we had to take a left exit. Some guy in an E-Class cut them off, and got behind me. I could tell he was p-o'd that I was only going 60. Funny thing is, once we got off the exit, I got in the right lane, and he stayed in the left - I fully expected him to blow by me, but instead, he got next to me. Then he slowed down. Trailed my rear quarter for a while, then sped up and looked in the rearview mirror... and then eventually went on his merry way. We're not the only ones who like the looks of this car...

Oh, and the work function we went to? My boss' boss was one of the guys trailing me... in a 550i. He couldn't stop asking me questions about my Hyundai.

Good times!

Pretty much everyone likes the look of the car that have seen it. I get compliments all the time, I doubt people would say the same about a Benz or BMW or Lexus due to the fact they've seen a million of those.

I don't think most people care about the badge as much as how good it looks.
Most of the bad press about how it looks like everything else imo is good for Hyundai, because it's kinda of a head turner in the way that it should be, kinda of confusion mixed with, "Hey that looks good, but what is it".

It's certainly better than, "Hey that's a Hyundai, what a bad brand of cars and that car is probably bad as well."

I hope they don't screw up the styling of the car and go distinctively ugly, because Mazda, Acura and Lexus are two brands that decided to take distinctive and made ugly instead(with their new grills).

Also I really like the headlights make a Genesis badge on the wall when I'm parking...

 

[ilovemygenesis]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Fair warning: This is a long post. If you are looking for specific review points on the engine, ride or features, skip to the section named “The V8”, below. Otherwise… read on!

Before Making the Jump

This is my first Hyundai. As a matter of fact, it is the first Hyundai in my entire family. Like most Europeans, I was raised to appreciate the prestigious German and other European and Japanese brands -- my father, for instance, owned seven VW’s when we lived in Brazil, opted for Renaults and Fiats when we lived in Portugal, and swore by Toyotas and Subarus here in the US. I’ve always been a car buff, and I am almost ashamed to admit it, but even less than ten years ago I would’ve been the first person to say, “Don’t buy a Hyundai; they’re terrible. Get a German car.”

A lot has changed.

Hyundai quality now matches (if not surpasses) Honda and Toyota, and their design is groundbreaking, edgy, and downright sexy! While Honda and Toyota have stagnated in design, feature content and overall value, Hyundai and the American brands have advanced in all three of those areas. Even VW is going in a different direction; their designs are now mundane, and all their cars look cheap and very similar-looking. Also, instead of improving their quality, their materials and overall “feel” has gotten cheaper in recent years. Coming from a 2002 Volkswagen Passat that was built like a tank but was as reliable as a Yugo… this is a very scary thought.

My change in preconceived notions was bound to happen. I read a Car and Driver review of the 2004 Hyundai Sonata about eight years ago, and the overall tone changed from “cheap”, “unreliable”, and “ugly” to “attractive, if somewhat derivative”, “loaded” and “value”. Years later, and after opening my eyes and letting go of old prejudices based solely on other people’s experiences, I decided it was time to give Hyundai a fair shake. When it came time to start looking for a new vehicle, I came across the Genesis, and the classy lines and features for the price were a pleasant and unexpected surprise. I have researched this car since its 2008 launch, and have actively participated in the Genesis Owners forum for a year and a half. I finally decided on purchasing a 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R Spec.

The Purchase

Three hours is all it took to part ways with my hard-earned down payment money, in exchange for some monthly installments and my first V8. Hyundai of White Plains (NY) was super-friendly and easy to deal with. I talked “price” and “financing” the day before arriving at the dealership, which saved me time, money and aggravation. The dealership itself was small, but clean and modern. It had a very professional atmosphere, though it definitely lacked the “caché” of some of its more upscale competitors. And this is fine by me; I didn’t want to spend much time there to begin with, and I am hoping not to make many trips there after my purchase. If that “dealership experience” helps keep Hyundai cars less expensive, then by all means, keep it!

I instructed the salesperson to inform the prepping crew not to touch the exterior of the car prior to delivery. I even told him I’d prefer not to have the dealer-installed swirl mark package. He looked at me and assured me they wouldn’t ruin the paint. I stood up, walked over to another black R Spec which was on the showroom floor, not even 3 feet from where we sat, and showed him the top of the trunk lid. It looked like someone had taken a brillo pad to the finish! He acknowledged the condition of that car, and assured me they’d leave the exterior prep to me. Unfortunately, they didn’t prep the interior of the car either, but that was nothing a few hours of “personal-getting-to-know-you-time” couldn’t fix last weekend.

The car came with some options already installed. I asked to remove them, and was told they came like that from the shipyard. I’m not sure that was the truth, but other than the subpar sunroof wind deflector, I was not too upset in paying a little under MSRP for an iPod cable, trunk liner and wheel locks, the latter two of which I planned on picking up anyway. I asked them to remove the sunroof wind deflector and rear lazy H badge, which they did for me at no cost.

After I signed the papers, the salersperson informed me they had applied “undercoating” and “scotch guard” protection packages, but they hadn’t charged me for them. Good thing… because had he even mentioned it to me, it might have been enough for me to walk away.

The Drive Home – Well, Sort of

After leaving the dealership, I drove home to Connecticut – approximately an hour’s drive. I decided on a route that mixed highways and backroads, as I had read in the owner’s manual that one shouldn’t drive at constant speeds for a long period of time during the "break-in" period. It also mentioned to keep the revs between 2,000 and 4,000 RPM. After missing a couple of turns due to a) my unfamiliarity with the navigation system “timing” and b) being slightly in awe of my new purchase, I was cruising on the highway.

The ride home was uneventful, except for the fact that I drove the car straight to my local detailer. He was in charge of my exterior new car prep, window tinting and rebadging.

The New Car Prep and First “Mods”

My detailer kept the car overnight on Friday. You have no idea how painful it was to not be able to play with my new toy the first night, nor knowing if the car was safe!

The following is the list of what was included in my new car prep package and tint package:

• Hand Wash and Dry
• Clay bar treatment of all exterior paint and metal surfaces
• Machine polish, glaze and wax of all exterior paint
• Rims, tires and wheel wells cleaned and dressed/protected
• Headlight and tail light plastic polished
• Clean and shine door and trunk jams
• Exterior glass cleaned to a streak free shine
• Paint Sealant applied to all paint and allowed to cure over night before wax is applied
• Aquapel Hydrophobic window treatment applied to all exterior windows to make water afraid to even come near the glass
• Full window tint (35%) - sputtered metal film for better heat and UV rejection, reduced fragmentation of glass in case of accidents - lifetime warranty on film and labor
• Full KDM rebadging – hood, trunk lid and wheel center caps

At 1:00pm on Saturday, my fears subsided as I drove up to the garage and saw the car. There’s only one word to describe it: STRIKING.

Paint after the detailing described above

The V8

As I am still in the “Break-in” period, I am forced to inform you that I have not revved the R Spec past 4,000 RPM. There are two main reasons for this: the first and obvious reason is, the owner’s manual says doing so is not advised. The second reason is… I haven’t needed to! Believe me when I say this, I wanted to redline this beast numerous times. There is no need, though! There is so much power on tap, it is a bit scary to think what would happen if I really pushed it. Mind you, my last car was a V6 powered by a measly 194HP, so the comparison isn’t actually fair. However, I have test-driven the 4.6 and 3.8 versions of this car several times over the last two years, and I can tell you that, at least at highway speeds, I can feel a considerable difference in the power this thing can throw down when asked to do so. I’ve also pushed it a couple of times around town, just for fun, and I haven’t had the need to go over 4,000 RPM yet. This thing is powerful, and the power is readily available at speeds (that I’ve tried, anyway). The engine really does live up to its “R Spec” nomenclature, and I can’t wait to make it scream!

The engine bay is impressive, and I like all the various plastic covers spread throughout. I just wish there was a “5.0L” emblem slapped on it.

The Ride

This car is no Avalon -- the suspension is not soft AT ALL. It feels almost German; not as harsh as an M3, but it isn’t buttery-smooth, and you will feel most of the imperfections on bad roads. Unfortunately for me, most of the roads in my town are pretty atrocious, but I am used to a stiff ride so it isn’t so bad for me personally. 99% of my driving is me by myself, so in this category, I am completely satisfied. On the few occasions others have accompanied me, they have not complained of a harsh ride. Have they perhaps been distracted by the Lexicon audio system? Quite possible. More on that later.

There is some definite kickback to the steering wheel on rough surfaces, but it isn’t harsh and it is easily controlled. And the car responds well when thrown around the corners, surprisingly so for a car this size. The seats are super-smooth and cushioned, and very comfortable, though definitely not that supportive. I didn’t want a sports car; I wanted a luxurious one, so again, I am satisfied.

I will say the handling is the one area where the R Spec badge is definitely misleading – this car is not a sports sedan like the M’s or AMG’s. It is, however, a well-powered sporty sedan. If it weren’t for the fact that it sounds cheap, this sedan would best be labeled as the “Genesis SL” (for Sport and Luxury) instead of “R Spec”.

The car is really quiet. It is very well-insulated, and it complements the audio system perfectly. However, I noticed there is a little wind noise coming from my driver’s door/window. I know there is a fix for this issue, so I’ll be sure to have it addressed during my first service appointment. The issue wasn’t bad enough to warrant an immediate trip to the dealer, and I’m using the “quick fix” in the meantime – a quick tap down on the window button eliminates most of the noise.

The Features

This car is loaded. I went to the Mercedes-Benz site and priced a base E-Series the other day, and a V6 model with no leather, navigation or backup camera cost over $51,000! I bought the R Spec for a little under $10,000 LESS than that price. The Genesis truly is among the best in terms of value in the premium sedan market these days.

There is power “everything”, everywhere: seats, windows, door locks, steering wheel, and rear sunshade.

The storage space in the cabin is a little tight for my taste. The glovebox is roomy, but the center console is a little on the small side. The dual compartment is a nice touch, but I can’t fit a BlackBerry *AND* a Sansa MP3 player with all the necessary cables at the same time. The lower portion fits a good number of CD’s and cables, but I still wish it was a bit larger. The AUX and USB interface is really nice, and it’s great to have the additional power plug in there.

The safety features I have used are top-notch. Cruise control is super-smooth, and the smart cruise control is amazing. I set the distance to the “middle setting” and it works beautifully. The shifting is smooth, and when someone gets into your lane, the car either slows down or brakes accordingly – it might be a little unsettling if you’re not paying attention, but I DO pay attention, so it was fine for me. The LDWS is a nice feature, but I don’t plan on using it unless I’m driving late at night or on a long trip. To be honest, I don’t think I can hear the warning chimes when the radio is above 10, so again, this feature is usually off, for me. The backup camera is crystal-clear, and the parking assist works great. The car is a really tight fit in my garage, and I rely on the steady final “beep” as my sign to halt every time I pull in!

The absolute best feature of this car, hands-down, is the Lexicon 7.1 discreet surround sound system. No question, no argument. It just is. I will not bore you to death because there are plenty of discussions on the matter on the Genesis Owners forum, but I’ll give you a quick overview: If you want your system to shine, rip your cd’s in 320kbps and convert them to mp3 format. Then slap them on a USB flash drive. They will sound great. Put your cd’s into the 6-disc changer, and they will sound even better than the mp3’s, especially when you click the “surround” on. But if you get yourself some DVD-Audio discs, you will be blown away. There is no superior quality at this price point, folks. Trust me on this.

Here’s a little insight into just how good this system sounds: A friend of mine is not a music person, at all. Music to this individual is limited to 98Q on FM. They took a ride in my car, and I had the Beatles “Love” album playing while we drove – it wasn’t even all that loud, by the way. When asked by someone else afterwards what they thought of my car, this person’s answer was, “the sound system is incredible. I usually don’t notice, but this car sounded amazing.”

The Overall Ownership Experience So Far

Ever since I graduated college, my dream car was the Audi S8, knowing full well that I would likely never own anything more expensive than a used A8. My car ownership goal, realistically, was the A8, and I hoped that someday I’d be in a financial situation that allowed me this guilty pleasure. After my last German ownership experience, I don’t think I have a dream car anymore, at least not one outside the “dream sports car” class.

The Genesis is not only big and comfortable like the A8, but it arguably looks better! The interior is clearly not as refined as the A8, but it also costs half of what an optioned A8 would go for these days. I’m not made of money, and the fact that it just won “Most Reliable Premium Sedan” J.D. Power and Associates only reinforces the feeling I’ve made a great car-buying decision.

The best description of the Genesis I’ve read online mentioned that “it was as a spacious as a 7-Series, with the features of a 5-Series, for the price of a 3-Series”. I tend to agree.

The icing on the cake, however, is that I currently drive one of the very few (if not the only) 2012 Genesis sedans in my town of approximately 150,000 people. There are BMW’s, MB’s, Lexus and Audi’s everywhere I look. And by the way, I will say this: pictures do this car NO JUSTICE WHATSOEVER. See one of these in person. It looks EASILY $10,000 - $20,000 more expensive than it really is. I'm being completely honest.

You can’t put a price on exclusivity. Well… you can, and those other "premium" carmakers have. However, the way they define the term is very different than the way I define it.

Congrats on the new ride, welcome to driving nirvana,lol i live in ct as well and i have a couple of questions

1. Why did you go to the dealership in white plains and not one in CT?
2. I am going to lease another genesis next month, where did you get your detailing done?

 

[Ruissimo]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Congrats on the new ride, welcome to driving nirvana,lol i live in ct as well and i have a couple of questions

1. Why did you go to the dealership in white plains and not one in CT?
2. I am going to lease another genesis next month, where did you get your detailing done?

My local dealer STILL doesn't have any 2012's on the lot. I found six black R Specs within 75 miles: White Plains was closest, there were 2 in NJ, 2 in Long Island, and one on the CT/MA border.

If I'm not working on the car myself, I highly recommend Gotham Auto Works. Tell Kevin that Rui sent you. Maybe he'll hook me up with a free handwash!

...wishful thinking, since it's 29 degrees today and the car needs love

 

[LA Genesis]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Also I really like the headlights make a Genesis badge on the wall when I'm parking...

I never noticed the badge on the wall before. I'll check that out tonight.

Ruissimo: I've always appreciated your posts on this forum. This one is obviously one of the best ever I've ever read here. Your car looks great. You've even got me thinking about adding the hood badge which I purposely left off when I added all of the other badges. Funny thing, I had an easier time choosing between a V6 and V8 than I did deciding whether or not to add that darn hood badge.

 

[Ruissimo]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Ruissimo: I've always appreciated your posts on this forum. This one is obviously one of the best ever I've ever read here. Your car looks great. You've even got me thinking about adding the hood badge which I purposely left off when I added all of the other badges. Funny thing, I had an easier time choosing between a V6 and V8 than I did deciding whether or not to add that darn hood badge.

Thanks bud!

I can see how folks may not like the hood badge... but the front NEEDS something. It's just too plain without something either on the grill or the hood. IMO, of course.

 

[ilovemygenesis]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

My local dealer STILL doesn't have any 2012's on the lot. I found six black R Specs within 75 miles: White Plains was closest, there were 2 in NJ, 2 in Long Island, and one on the CT/MA border.

If I'm not working on the car myself, I highly recommend Gotham Auto Works. Tell Kevin that Rui sent you. Maybe he'll hook me up with a free handwash!

...wishful thinking, since it's 29 degrees today and the car needs love

Will do thanks man

 

[STREETS]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Key Hyundai in Vernon has 2012

 

[Ruissimo]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Key Hyundai in Vernon has 2012

They may have 2012's... but they didn't have any black R Specs two weeks ago. Lia Hyundai did... they're about 25 miles North.

 

[Adam@Gotham]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Ruissimo, Great review and thanks for the kind words.

Adam-Gotham Auto Works

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Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[jaboyd]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Several people have commented about the Rspec's looks and would like to see some improvements. Unfortunately the Equis has not been an improvement and I hope that IS NOT THEIR FUTURE DIRECTION. The Rspec looks have been borrowed from several other cars in my opinion and blended into an acceptable but not an overly distinctive appearance. I've been to Korea many times and in Korea it is very common to see cars that are truly "knock offs" of existing Japanese and German cars...but usually poorly executed. In the case of the Rspec there are clearly angles that look BMW-ish (rear quarter and doors), MB looking in the front/grille, and of course Lexus like in the rear (trunk, bumper, exhaust tips). The interior is by far the most different looking and to me quite pleasing.

I'd like the Rspec to gain some different sheet metal (fenders, bumpers or trunk) to differentiate it from the other Genesis, but not radical (maybe like the M3 vs 335). Like many have mentioned, the last thing I want to see is a radical and clunky look...ie Acura or the M35/45. MB tried to add a rear fender upward swoopy line over the rear wheel (see Equis) that just makes it look bulbus and adds nothing to the appeal. Hyundai designers will hopefully be restrained but purposeful on their next redesign.

 

[YEH]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

The Rspec looks have been borrowed from several other cars in my opinion and blended into an acceptable but not an overly distinctive appearance. I've been to Korea many times and in Korea it is very common to see cars that are truly "knock offs" of existing Japanese and German cars...but usually poorly executed. In the case of the Rspec there are clearly angles that look BMW-ish (rear quarter and doors), MB looking in the front/grille, and of course Lexus like in the rear (trunk, bumper, exhaust tips). The interior is by far the most different looking and to me quite pleasing. .

The Genesis sedan mostly looks like BMW - utilizing a version of the Hofemeister kink in the greenhouse and having a toned down version of the Bangle butt (both of which many automakers have used - see the new Lexus GS which also uses a rendition of the Hofmeister kink, as well as the LS460 which has both the Hofmeister kink and toned down Bangle butt).

The whole Mercedes thing is a bit simplistic - being simply due to the grill on the Genesis having a center divider, which is quite diff. from the one on Mercedes, not to mention the grill slats on the Genesis being quite different as well (being the 1st to have "surfaced" grill slats which many automakers, like Chrysler, are using today.

Also, it's a common misconception that integrated exhaust tips was originated by Lexus (the Hofemeister kink also wasn't originated by BMW, they just popularized it).

There are Japanese cars which look even more like BMW or Mercedes or others.

The LS430 was called out for being an S Class clone by the head of Mercedes design.

Nissan/Infiniti was one of the 1st to utilize the Hofmeister kink and has had a wide range of grills that have been inspired by traditional European or American designs.

Jag or Buick.

Lincoln, Mercedes and Jag/Rolls.

 

[Ruissimo]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Hmm... thread got a little sidetracked, it seems. Quick update, still loving every second in my car... EXCEPT for the driver's door. Not only is the road noise still present (which is especially bad when it rains), but there's also some squeaking/creaking on the door armrest. Definitely having the dealer look at it at first oil change. Despite those two issues, I've gotten four comments already on how quiet the car is!

 

[krazyfiend]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

I appreciate your OP and follow-up Russimo! I'm about a year and half out from getting into a Genesis R-Spec(finishing off a 2010 RL lease) and your input, amongst all the helpful insight found on this forum (rather than the banter and degrading behavior seen on other model/mnftr owner forums) is invaluable.

I look forward to reading your continued reviews of the car throughout your mileage progression. Hopefully your first service visit to the dealer yields remedies for the armrest creak and window/door noise, let us know!

Cheers!

 

[hh3rd]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Ditto...I just left the Atlanta International Auto Show...I was told of interior upgrades and more colors for 2013...

 

[Ruissimo]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

800 Miles In - Update!

I've had the car for a little over three weeks.

Engine

Not many things of note so far. Break-in period is over, and I've pushed the car a couple of times, really only testing acceleration, not speed. THIS THING
GOES! I love the feeling of getting pinned to the seat, good stuff. I haven't played with the "nanny" yet... but I reckon it's coming one of these days. I'll
probably do the "turn car on", "pull ESC fuse", "plug it back in", "turn ESC off switch" trick and see what this puppy can really do.

Paint

This weekend, I washed the car, and put on a coat of LIQUID GLASS. This stuff looks freaking GREAT! I'm probably going to put on a new coat
every time I wash the car - well... up to four or five coats.

I read somewhere that if you put a few coats of this stuff on, it might actually help protect the paint against small chips/scratches? Not sure
if it is true or not, but I will tell you this: this paint NEEDS protection. It is super, super-soft!

I already have a handful of scratches and chips, the worst scratch(es) being located on the driver's side b-pillar, and the worst chip being in the front
passenger wheel (on the black part of the wheel).

There's no getting around it - you're gonna scratch this paint. I've done my best to be gentle when washing it. No one will touch this car but me for a
while

Ownership

Getting asked about the car is a daily activity for me. I love telling them it's a Hyundai... and the two most common responses are "That's a Hyundai???"
and "Well, that's a great-looking car!"

Every single time I go out, I get "stares"; I've grouped them into two kinds, even though I'm not a mind-reader:

- The "What in the Devilry is That?" Stare: this one usually comes from people driving entry-level or common cars, like the Camry's, Civics, etc. Most
likely of the two types to give you a "thumbs up" as you drive on.

- The "Whoa, That Car Looks Great" Stare: this one usually comes from the premium/luxury drivers. I've noticed at first it starts out like the first kind
of stare, but then turns into a realization that I'm driving a Hyundai Genesis. Often followed by "car stalking".​

I love this car. I spend way too much time keeping this car clean, but when it's clean, this thing turns more heads than Olivia Wilde.







(at a eunuch convention)

===

PS - thanks for posting the GIGANTIC PICTURES that make this thread unreadable...

 

[dg_moore]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

...I love this car. I spend way too much time keeping this car clean, but when it's clean, this thing turns more heads than Olivia Wilde.

I was obsessive about keeping mine spotless for the first year, but my zeal has slipped a bit. I still do my best, but I got sick of dragging out the hose and bucket every week or so. I started taking it to a local car wash (perish the thought!) and then going over it with microfiber and spray detailer when I get back home. It's not the same thing as doing it yourself, and I get some micro-scratching and spider webs but I can live with it. For me, life has become too short for constant car cleaning.

 

[newman]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

I was obsessive about keeping mine spotless for the first year, but my zeal has slipped a bit. I still do my best, but I got sick of dragging out the hose and bucket every week or so. I started taking it to a local car wash (perish the thought!) and then going over it with microfiber and spray detailer when I get back home. It's not the same thing as doing it yourself, and I get some micro-scratching and spider webs but I can live with it. For me, life has become too short for constant car cleaning.

Lets all share a moment of silence for dg_moore, who has clearly gone over to the dark side.

 

[dg_moore]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

Lets all share a moment of silence for dg_moore, who has clearly gone over to the dark side.

I appreciate your concern. But there are life events that tend to focus the mind wonderfully, as Samuel Johnson famously said. Having a spotless (not to say clean) car has slipped down my priority list.

 

[Vince2]

Re: 400 Miles In – My Initial Review of the 5.0 R Spec

A very easy way to keep you car shiny everyday and with little effort can be found in the coupe division under the "wheels, appearance and modification" section. The string is titled (oddly enough) How to keep your Genesis shiny everyday. Stylus-r-us was the OP. The initial post describes a simple, quick way to keep the vehicle clean, without the headache of traditional hose and suds...I use the technique and my car is showroom clean daily for the cost of about ten minutes of effort every other day.