Tell us about your "double-take" moments

[scottdk]

My moment was last Sunday when I took my car into a trusted Shop to get my subs installed. The shop installs car alarms, stereos, etc.

As soon as I pulled the car into the shop, the shop owner and all the employees surrounded my car as I opened the door and got out and the owner says, "It's a Fu***** Genesis guys!"

I was trying not to smerk and before I said anything the owner noticed that it was the 4.6 and asked, "oh this has 325hp right?" I replied, "actually 375."

Than I had to smerk.

 

[GS300rich]

don't underestimate a genesis owners horse power

 

[gipp]

Dropped by the dry cleaner and the owner came rushing out and spent about 5 minutes going over the Genesis. Yes, he was from Korea and he called his wife out also. His only complaint was the Genesis wings vs the flying H. I did not have the heart to tell him I added them myself. It was abvious he took great pride in the Genesis and kept saying to hsi wife "looks better than the German cars, looks better than the German cars". She looked worried that he might go buy one...

 

[gipp]

Dropped by the dry cleaner and the owner came rushing out and spent about 5 minutes going over the Genesis. Yes, he was from Korea and he called his wife out also. His only complaint was the Genesis wings vs the flying H. I did not have the heart to tell him I added them myself. It was obvious he took great pride in the Genesis and kept saying to his wife "looks better than the German cars, looks better than the German cars". She looked worried that he might go buy one...

 

[DanTheMan]

Dropped by the dry cleaner and the owner came rushing out and spent about 5 minutes going over the Genesis. Yes, he was from Korea and he called his wife out also. His only complaint was the Genesis wings vs the flying H. I did not have the heart to tell him I added them myself. It was obvious he took great pride in the Genesis and kept saying to his wife "looks better than the German cars, looks better than the German cars". She looked worried that he might go buy one...

That's a great "double-take"....the same message...twice!

 

[BaywayRic]

Thrice counting your quote.

 

[JPatZ]

I enjoyed another 'double take' moment the other evening here in Atlanta. I went to eat dinner at The Palm - high end steak/lobster place connected to The Westin - & I drove in to valet the car, 3 car hops all congregate around the 4.6 and, as I'm getting out, the first one says 'whooa, Sir, that's a fine looking car! What is that?' Valet number 2 pipes up and says 'that's that new Hyundai...the Genesis'. The 1st guys comes back with 'Man, some people at Mercedes have got to be pretty mad about this' and valet 3 chimes in with 'well I know some people at Lexus are pretty mad about it...the first time I saw it, I thought it was a Lexus 460'.

I told the guys that I had traded in a Lexus to acquire the 4.6 and they all took repeated turns saying what a sharp car it was and what a value package it was vs. M-B and Lexus.

 

[tjn007]

I just got my car this week and I have been stopped twice. The first time a man who was walking his dog came over and said that he has a 2006 BMW 5 series and he has nothing but praise for the Genesis and a co-worker stopped me in the hallway at work and asked if I had a Bentley. I laughed and said "oh you mean the wings on the car". It's a Hyundai are you surprised?
All that she could do was shake her head.

 

[JOwest]

Hard to believe that I have the Gen for 3 months now but until last night I have never look at its taillights at night.
Last night I pulled up to a gas station to fill up the tank. The guy behind me walked up to my window and ask “Is this the car that won the NA Car of the Year?” I said “Yes”.
“Wow!” he said, “It can easily won the award just with the taillight alone. It has the most beautiful taillights I have ever seen!”
I got out and walk to the back to take a look. That guy is right. With the LED light and the wrap around light underneath, it combine the best features of late model Benz and BMWs.

 

[wallymn]

Parked my Black Genesis as a Black ES350 pulled in the next space at work. My coworker didn't see the badge, was very interested in the car. I told him it was a Genesis (he didn't know what that was), details of the engine, tranny, suspension etc, he was very excited until he asked the brand, and I answered Hyundai. At which point he stopped smiling and said " why wouldn't you buy a real luxury car?" I bit my tongue, in my head said "nice camry" I took him for a ride at lunch , he was really impressed but couldn't get past the badge. He then took me for a ride in the ES. I hadn't been in one before, nice but tight on space and not a drivers car in my opinion, the ride was very isolating, I could see why people like it, just not for me. The only issue he seemed to have with the Genesis was the brand.

He preferred the ES , I preferred the Genesis.... cars of all makes for all types....

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[ConceptVBS]

Parked my Black Genesis as a Black ES350 pulled in the next space at work. My coworker didn't see the badge, was very interested in the car. I told him it was a Genesis (he didn't know what that was), details of the engine, tranny, suspension etc, he was very excited until he asked the brand, and I answered Hyundai. At which point he stopped smiling and said " why wouldn't you buy a real luxury car?" I bit my tongue, in my head said "nice camry" I took him for a ride at lunch , he was really impressed but couldn't get past the badge. He then took me for a ride in the ES. I hadn't been in one before, nice but tight on space and not a drivers car in my opinion, the ride was very isolating, I could see why people like it, just not for me. The only issue he seemed to have with the Genesis was the brand.

He preferred the ES , I preferred the Genesis.... cars of all makes for all types....

It's quite obvious he puts more emphasis on the superficial (aka marketing/status image) rather than the tangible (product quality/value). It's those people who will drive a run of the mill car as long as it has the appropriate image status brand. It could have a 3 cylinder diesel engine as long as its a mercedes, its good to go. :sigh: Some people... It's their loss...

 

[genesis@genesisworld.com]

Last weekend, my bride (of 23 years) and I were in a drive through line at a local custard joint. Beautiful weather so I had the moon roof back, my window down.

From around the corner of the building I could see one head, then another, then 2-3. In 10 seconds, we had about 5 teenage boys (16-18ish) approaching in a non-threatening way.
" 'Scuse me sir.. is that REALLY a Bentley?"
We pulled up a little bit as I said- "No... it's a Genesis."
"What kind of car is that?"
"It's the 2009 car of the year" I said.
"DANG!" was a collective reply. We pulled around the corner of the building where about 10 more were hanging out. One of the original gawkers yelled to his buddies-
"I TOLD you it wasn't a Bentley. Who makes the Genesis?"
"Hyundai" I said.
"Woooooah! That's SOME car!"
"How much it cost?" said a new voice from the crowd.
"That's a rude question dude!" said one of the group, but they all got quiet to listen. Trying to think of a nice way to put it without divulging the number, I said-
"About $20k less than an equivalent Lexus, Jag or Mercedes."
"DANG!"
We collected or order and slowly rolled out of the parking lot with 20 eyeballs burning holes into our Platinum 3.8 with a fresh coat of Zaino, shining in Andy's Frozen Custard lighting.

 

[Calvin]

I had to meet with one of my clients yesterday and the only place we could meet was in a parking lot. I suggested we sit in the back seat of my Genny to sign some papers. After we were done she commented that this car felt almost as nice as her husbands Bently Arnage! She then went on to say that the seats actually feel better and that the car seemed quiter. I said I'm sure its not as luxurious as the Bently but she said the only thing missing was fold down tables from the seat backs and the mini bar. I thought to my self that with the money saved (approx. $210,000) I could probably buy a small bar with lots of booze and plenty of tables!! HA HA HA!

 

[Richard Ft. Lauderdale]

I was stopped at a traffic light yesterday whan a guy pulls up next to me and asks me if the car is a "May Back" or a Bently? When I told him it was a Hyundai Genesis he replies, "Oh, a 'Hondie'."

The last time I saw a Maybach at the Ft. Lauderdale Auto Show they wouldn't even let me touch it.

 

[genesis@genesisworld.com]

I was stopped at a traffic light yesterday whan a guy pulls up next to me and asks me if the car is a "May Back" or a Bently? When I told him it was a Hyundai Genesis he replies, "Oh, a 'Hondie'."

The last time I saw a Maybach at the Ft. Lauderdale Auto Show they wouldn't even let me touch it.

I SHOULD have mentioned in my Andy's Frozen Custard story above... one of the teenage boys DID ask if my Genny was a Maybach. I was IMPRESSED that a teenager would know to ask that! We do have one Maybach in Tyler, Tx, but it's not me.

 

[Gwaneum]

No more double-takes for me here in SoCal.

After all, keeping that Hyundai badge on the trunk keeps people thinking that I am driving yet another cheap piece of crap. (And I do like it that way.) I'll actually turn more heads and get more respect by driving a Toyota Corolla (IMO the most overrated piece of scrap metal).

Side note: Make no mistakes about it, I love Toyota products, but the Corolla (I drove an '89 back in the day) is just way overrated. It's a fine car, but Honda makes the Civic, a far superior vehicle, for less. For that matter, just about any reputable car in the segment (Nissan Sentra, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3, etc.) is better and costs less. And the Corolla, here in SoCal, is the domain of people who should have NEVER been licensed to drive in the first place, but get their licenses anyway, because California DMV seems to think driving is a right after all rather than a privilege. Seriously, the speed limit for a Corolla in the fast lane is 20 MPH below whatever's posted.

Back on topic: No BMW/Mercedes/Lexus snob will ever be caught dead drooling over my car. However, I am very sure that they are having second thoughts in their heads. Also, I recently had to run to Los Angeles Airport to pick up my father - and had to give a ride to a Korean man, interning at an IT firm in New Jersey, who had arrived on the same flight, without a rental car reservation (BIG MISTAKE in SoCal); being taken to his temporary digs near Koreatown, in my Genesis, was a HUGE pleasant surprise for him.

I do, however, enjoy telling people, especially online, that I gave up a BMW for a Hyundai, and couldn't have felt any better. The only way to feel better would've been to get a hybrid, but that would've been a me-too thing for me. I also get to tell people about all the good things I had seen in my three months in South Korea while at it - the very things one can't imagine if his/her exposure to Korean culture and people comes solely from the Korean-American community.

If I wanted more bragging rights, the Lexus ES would've done it for less. But the ES, in the end, is a glorified Camry, and drives like one. If I wanted that, I could just live off of my other car - an aging Honda Accord that drives better and still has a lot of life left in it. I do love the fact that my Genesis gives me bragging rights in its own, different way!

One suggestion for Hyundai, however: Hyundai must consider launching a Korean delivery program, similar to the European delivery programs of Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, and the like. The Koreans drive on the right, so it's workable, and contrary to urban legends, it's no worse driving in Korea than in southern Europe. Of course, anti-congestion regulations (places like Seoul and Busan have too many cars, after all) could get in the way, as they do in Japan, so I don't know if it's actually possible or not to launch such a program. I'm saying this because when it's time to retire my Accord, I may consider the overseas delivery option for its replacement, but my options at Mercedes and Audi are quite expensive and not all that great. (I have zero interest in Swedish cars, don't have a Porsche budget, and will NEVER buy a BMW again, so that leaves me with only Audi and Mercedes.)

 

[Mark_888]

One suggestion for Hyundai, however: Hyundai must consider launching a Korean delivery program, similar to the European delivery programs of Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, and the like. The Koreans drive on the right, so it's workable, and contrary to urban legends, it's no worse driving in Korea than in southern Europe.

Would that involve taking delivery of a US model in Korea, or a Korean model? We know there are some differences (such as the suspension) but not sure how many other differences there are and whether some of them are for US regulations.

 

[Gwaneum]

Would that involve taking delivery of a US model in Korea, or a Korean model? We know there are some differences (such as the suspension) but not sure how many other differences there are and whether some of them are for US regulations.

It'd have to be a US market model - same story as the Europeans.

Even today, registering a US market vehicle in South Korea, temporarily or permanently, is not that big of a deal. In addition to the ones used by the US military (though those are registered to the US DOD itself), US-market vehicles usually can get registered in South Korea without much of a fuss. You can even get away with red blinkers (which I HATE) and all.

A common occurrence is for a Korean returning from US or Canada (on work or academic assignment) to bring in a vehicle that cannot readily be acquired in the South Korean market. Some examples are the Honda Odyssey minivan, the Acura TL, the Ford Focus (the smallest Ford in South Korea is the Mondeo, formerly known as the Contour), and a few more I can't think of right away. Sure, there will be duties levied, but even then, it's a bit cheaper to buy a US-market Toyota Camry and bring it in than to buy a Korean-market Camry from a Toyota showroom in Seoul.

Actually, the most popular picks for such importation are now US-market Korean cars, due to their bigger engines and higher feature content. (Plus, you pay no duties when you bring a Korean car back home - even if it's assembled overseas.) The first car that popularized that trend was the original Hyundai Sonata, built in Quebec with the North America-only V6. In my 3 months in South Korea last year, I saw a few examples of US-market Hyundai Veracruz, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Azera, and Kia Amanti. The trim levels are different on the US models, so a careful observer can easily identify them. (Plus, the names Azera and Amanti are not used in Korea - they are Grandeur and Opirus respectively.)

Well I completely changed the subject, but I think the problem with registration would be with the congestion thing. US market vehicles are NOT illegal in South Korea, that's my point.

 

[klg]

I have a funny story... This actually happened to me yesterday! I was having breakfast at a nice place in Downtown LA. In front of the restaurant were various high end luxury vehicles including a Bentley and a Lamborghini. I still have the dealer advertisement on the license plate that says “Commerce Hyundai” in big bold letters. I mention this, because I think without it, my car would have just blended in with the other cars.

There were about twenty cars in the valet circle and maybe 10 parking attendants. As they pulled my car around, a (sapphire blue/cashmere 4.6 with tech) All the parking attendants starting pointing at my car and walking over to it. (seriously!) I have never had that happen before... They were actually pointing at my car!!! While different attendants were running over to look at it and I overheard them talking about it to each other. These are some of the things I heard. (“wow... look at that car... can you believe it is a Hyundai? It is so nice... it’s as nice as a Benz... drives like one too”) Then, the head attendant asked me... “How do you like your Hyundai?" I told him, “I loved it”. He then went on for about 5 minuets explaining to me that my car was as nice as the 100K Benz it was parked next to. He was blown away by the car... (how it looked and how it drove) I thought I had just stepped into a television commercial! (I don't want to imagine the "test drive" they must have had while I was at breakfast)

Anyway... I thought everyone would enjoy my double-take moment.

 

[bobad]

In the dealer parking lot, a fellow walked up to a black/black genesis with wide eyes, and started fondling and drooling all over the car. Wait, that was me.