Support for suspension issues

[netmag]

Well, I can say that I'm familiar with the stretches of highway that Doug725 has talked about in other threads. Without a doubt, they're some of the worst roads that I've been on. It's not even that they're torn up or anything. It's just the way they're built. The concrete sections are uneven and it's easy to get a rhythmic thumping action going. It can get pretty loud in a normal vehicle. We have an extremely quiet vehicle with a very smooth ride and even in that these roads are still somewhat noticeable when you drive on them.

Luckily, I don't live in an area where I have to take these roads to work. However, I can certainly understand that if there was something wrong with the Genesis suspension that caused porpoising in such conditions, that these roads would certainly show it and amplify it.

Given that, you'd have to cut Doug725 some slack if it seems like he's "obsessed" with it. I mean around here you're libel to spend a lot of time in your car just driving to and from work. So if he's driving on those highways to get to work then that means he's getting the absolute worst driving experience out of the car for most likely at least an hour a day.

Although the Genesis is an incredible deal, it's not cheap. So I could see how it might grate him to have to deal with that every day in a brand new car.

 

[doug725]

Thanks Moose66

I have heard that about the M35 sport - I've never driven the M or G's but was thinking about looking at them as a possible replacement for the Genny. I do tend to like a softer ride though. Heck I'd probably be content to keep the Genny if it wasn't for the excessive bucking - practically made me seasick this morning!

I'd assume the non-sport versions of G and M's ride decently?

 

[moose66]

Thanks Moose66

I have heard that about the M35 sport - I've never driven the M or G's but was thinking about looking at them as a possible replacement for the Genny. I do tend to like a softer ride though. Heck I'd probably be content to keep the Genny if it wasn't for the excessive bucking - practically made me seasick this morning!

I'd assume the non-sport versions of G and M's ride decently?

No problem. Personally, I don't know much about the non-sport versions of the Infiniti's. I owned a '02 G Sport and the '06 M Sport I frequently compare to my Genesis. Both of those cars rode rather harsh. This was due in part to the suspension in conjunction with the low profile, summer tire packages. I have been told that non-sport versions of both the G and M have softer rides. Something I was looking for and feel I have found with the Genesis.

 

[OneShot]

I've been watching this forum, and this issue, for a long time with interest as the Genesis is/was at the top of my list for purchase. I empathize with your frustration to get the issue fixed, and now you seem resigned to move on.
Hyundai has spent many millions of dollars marketing the Genesis, comparing it to Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus. What I would do is make videos, both from inside and outside the vehicle, while the vehicle is displaying its "un-Lexus like" behaviour. I would then email the video to Hyundai's corporate office and ask them "Is it true, as your representative stated, that this is normal for a Genesis? If it is, I feel it is my duty to disclose this to the local press and to post the videos on You-tube and similar forums. I have given you fair warning of the issues, and nothing has been resolved to my or any other reasonable person's expectation. If this issue cannot be immediatly resolved to my satisfaction, by buy-back, I will assume that Hyundai does agree that this is "normal" and would not mind the attention this will get."
Negative advertising for Hyundai, especially at this juncture, would be catastrophic to its image, so they'd probably start to see it your way!

 

[doug725]

Good ideas. I did get the regional manager and a senior tech to agree to ride with me next week. I would love the hear them personally say the car should ride this way. In the meantime I'm going to rent a car.

FYI - I was driving the car all day yesterday in an attempt to make up my mind about this vehicle thinking maybe I was just crazy (no comments please LOL). Going up and coming down 355 last night after class I can tell you was the worst ride I have ever expereinced in any car ever. Way more unpleasant than my Sante Fe, Sonata - anything. The ride was so bad it's almost shocking. Unfortunately, I've found the ride is awful on about 70% of the roads in my area.

I'm really dismayed cause I so love the car in EVERY other way. Everyone who sees it says it is beautiful/stunning. I've confessed the problem to a few so far.

 

[sandy]

"Going up and coming down 355 last night after class I can tell you was the worst ride I have ever expereinced in any car ever."

Doug 725 - This is such a sweeping statement that it sounds like you have a car with a suspension problem unique to your vehicle. Could you arrange to test drive another Genesis over the same roads? Maybe get a friend to go to the dealer and take a test drive over your route.

 

[ttsig]

Believe it or not, my Genesis has also delivered the "worst ride I have ever experienced in any car ever." Now admittedly, unlike Doug725, mine has only shown this symptom a handful of times, for a few short stretches of highway, but when it does, it kind of reminds me of a go-kart, like it has virtually no suspension at all.

I wonder if Doug725's car is somehow showing this symptom 70% of the time, rather than 1% like mine? In my case, it's the inconsistency of the suspension that I don't particularly like, but it sounds like Doug725 sees this problem virtually all the time.

The video camera is a great idea.

 

[doug725]

Well it is sweeping but, it is that bad. I think in part my experience is so much worse because the type of roads the Genny does not seem to handle as well (undualting concrete pavement, ridges, etc.) is predominant around my area. Even on the best of surfaces however, every bump or strip causes 'nervous" bouncing. It's bizarre. The demo rode OK around here - not plush by any means, but nothing that made me think not to buy the car obviously.

 

[sandy]

"Even on the best of surfaces however, every bump or strip causes 'nervous" bouncing. It's bizarre. The demo rode OK around here - not plush by any means, but nothing that made me think not to buy the car obviously."


While some also report problems on rough surfaces, none (that I can recall) complain about the suspension on smooth surfaces. Point I'm trying to make is that (1) if the demo in your test drive rode ok and (2) your car is nervous on even the best of surfaces, it sounds like there is something wrong with YOUR car. And something the dealer should remedy. If the dealer doesn't give satisfaction, you should be able to elevate this problem (without the threats mentioned elsewhere) to the District level and have a Hyundai rep ride with you. (I haven't re-read all the posts in this thread so if you have already covered this, sorry.)

 

[Mark_888]

While some also report problems on rough surfaces, none (that I can recall) complain about the suspension on smooth surfaces. Point I'm trying to make is that (1) if the demo in your test drive rode ok and (2) your car is nervous on even the best of surfaces, it sounds like there is something wrong with YOUR car. And something the dealer should remedy. If the dealer doesn't give satisfaction, you should be able to elevate this problem (without the threats mentioned elsewhere) to the District level and have a Hyundai rep ride with you. (I haven't re-read all the posts in this thread so if you have already covered this, sorry.)

Sandy, a lot of this is confusion is caused by misunderstandings. A road surface can be smooth (no cracks, no holes, no expansion joints, etc), but if the road is undulating (has dips and rises, sometimes hard to see from a car) that are close enough together in just the right frequency, then the vehicle is sometimes apt to become bouncy, jittery, or exhibit porpoising (the description depends on the person). All of this is a matter of personal interpretation, and is subject to limitations of words to express what is happening, and not every road is exactly the same. Some people might just say the ride is a little stiff (but I don't think a ride can be stiff on a perfect road surface).

Maybe it is the case that not every vehicle does this, I don't know. Based in my experience with my Genesis, the comments on this forum, and the reviews that have published, I think it happens on most Genesis sedans, but the description can vary depending on the factors mentioned above. Also, some people are clearly more tolerant than others.

PS, next time try the quote button and edit out the part you don't want to quote.

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[doug725]

Hi Sandy - yes I've been dealing with it all for two weeks - through various levels. So far its all described as normal for the vehicle. However, two regionals are riding with me next week. In the meantime I'm driving a rental.

 

[Mark_888]

Hi Sandy - yes I've been dealing with it all for two weeks - through various levels. So far its all described as normal for the vehicle. However, two regionals are riding with me next week. In the meantime I'm driving a rental.

Just because it is normal, does not make it good.

 

[sandy]

However, two regionals are riding with me next w

That should be some ride. Can't wait to learn the outcome. Good luck.

 

[sandy]

Sandy, a lot of this is confusion is caused by misunderstandings. A road surface can be smooth (no cracks, no holes, no expansion joints, etc), but if the road is undulating (has dips and rises, sometimes hard to see from a car) that are close enough together in just the right frequency, then the vehicle is sometimes apt to become bouncy, jittery, or exhibit porpoising (the description depends on the person). All of this is a matter of personal interpretation, and is subject to limitations of words to express what is happening, and not every road is exactly the same. Some people might just say the ride is a little stiff (but I don't think a ride can be stiff on a perfect road surface).

Maybe it is the case that not every vehicle does this, I don't know. Based in my experience with my Genesis, the comments on this forum, and the reviews that have published, I think it happens on most Genesis sedans, but the description can vary depending on the factors mentioned above. Also, some people are clearly more tolerant than others.

PS, next time try the quote button and edit out the part you don't want to quote.

Mark, I know what you mean. And I think we disagree about the number of reviews that praised the suspension vs panned it. But I am not disagreeing with your point of view that some find the suspension not to their liking. I just don't think it would be possible for Hyundai to come up with a suspension that EVERYONE will like. But I am not against their trying.

 

[doug725]

I'll let you know Sandy -the ride is on Wednesday. I'm very curious as they are bumping up and down on 88 to see if they say this is the ride they intended. I may ask one of them to drive - the rear veiw mirror really gives away the amount of motion.

 

[Mark_888]

Mark, I know what you mean. And I think we disagree about the number of reviews that praised the suspension vs panned it. But I am not disagreeing with your point of view that some find the suspension not to their liking. I just don't think it would be possible for Hyundai to come up with a suspension that EVERYONE will like. But I am not against their trying.

Maybe we have to agree to disagree about that. As Car and Driver said to the Genesis Product Manger (now Acting President of Hyundai Motor America), "I think you can do better." There are plenty of cars that have a suspension that is as firm (or firmer) than the Genesis that have a better ride and are not jittery (or whatever other 10 adjectives people are using to describe it). BMW, and Infiniti M come to mind immediately.

The Genesis that was originally designed for the Korean market (and is sold everywhere except North America) has a much softer ride, and Hyundai made some changes to stiffen it up for the vehicles sent to North America. I think that was a good idea, since I don't like a soft ride (and many car enthusiast in the US don't like a soft ride either). But I do think they just over did it a bit, or something was not carefully tested in choosing the new components they used for the North America version.

It should be easy to fix, assuming that they admit they made a mistake. The basic design of the Genesis multi-link suspension is quite sophisticated and it just needs some tweaking in the spring/shock assembly IMO.

 

[doug725]

I can tell you the Accord and Maxima I drove today were much better in terms of ride than the Genny and that makes me depressed cause I love so mnay things about the Genesis.

 

[t_finan]

doug - what trim level/engine did you drive in those two cars?

Is there a chance that there is a shipping block still in one or more of your springs?

 

[Mark_888]

doug - what trim level/engine did you drive in those two cars?

Is there a chance that there is a shipping block still in one or more of your springs?

Obviously, I am not Doug, but I was thinking the same thing at one point. I have heard of Toyota's that came from Japan that way and dealer prep did not remove all of them.

But it would hard to explain the reviews from Car and Driver, Consumer Reports, Bloomberg, and those on this forum that have had issues with the suspension (or at least commented that it was a little too harsh). Surely in the cases of the reviews by the automotive press, Hyundai would have rectified the situation of shipping block on the springs, but it would be great if it turned out to be that simple.

I have the V6. The sophisticated 5-way multi-link suspension on the Genesis should not be as jittery and "unsettled" as it is on my car. Firm is fine (and desirable), but a jittery ride is not up to par with other cars in its class.

 

[Bear]

I moved from a 2004 Max to the V8. I think my test drives were with low air in the tires. Now with 33 psi it rides like the Max most of the time. Sometime when the pavement joints are just right in rides harsher. I'm disappointed in the ride.