Very Disappointed with the Genesis

[Torre]

Hello all. This is my first post and I apologize in advance for coming across as so negative but I hope at least some will understand my position and disappointment. A short bit of background. I have owned 28 cars. Honda, Mazda, Jaguar, Toyota, GM, you name it. Since I have matured to the point where I know a car should be reliable and practical, I have become very loyal to Ford. Going into 2011, I planned to upgrade from my 6th Ford to a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. I am familiar with the car since a co-worker already owns one.
Well after reading an article in Motortrend which compared the Taurus with the Genesis I started looking into the Hyundai. The article raved about the Genesis and stated it was a superior car to the Ford. I have always loved the style of the Genesis but never considered a Hyundai until now. Anyway, I drove a couple of Hyundais and liked the ride and power but was confused by the tech package. I didn’t think too much about it as I knew I just had to read the manual.
Fast forward to now. I just bought an ’09 Genesis with 4.6 and technology package. I have owned the car for almost a week now and its just enough time to realize I have made a terrible mistake. I am blown away that the opinion of this car is so high. It isn’t half the car the Taurus is and I could have purchased a one year newer Taurus SHO with half the miles for just a few thousand more. Again, the car drives great but this technology package/navigation system is laughable. How a magazine editor can rant and rave about it is beyond me.
Mark

 

[bigel]

To each his own I guess...I have nothing but praise for my Genny. Though picking nits has never been my fancy. Did you say they compared the Genesis to a Taurus?! Every Taurus I've ever been in has been a piece of garbanza, so I'm not sure that it'd be comparable.

 

[mk1]

You really didn't provide much detail here other than to say the navigation system is laughable. Is that your only complaint?

 

[msitter]

I don't think any factory GPS units are very good. Certainly not as good as some of the lower priced aftermarket units. I have had several factory units and none of them are perfect with each falling down on one or two features. All of them cost more to update than just replacing an old dashtop unit with a new one. I did not purchase my Genesis to get a great GPS unit or for any one particular feature at all. I found the Genesis 4.6 Tech that I bought to overall be a superior overall vehicle to anything within $20k of the price. Sure there are cars that do one thing better but none that do everything better. I looked at the Taurus SHO as a possibility but found it to be an overweight, overpriced version of the standard Taurus. It was only a couple of thousand less than the similar Lincoln Ecoboost but looked the same as a $15k cheaper Taurus. The fuel economy while the EPA looks promising, the real world mileage is 4-5 mpg less than I get with the V8 Genesis and the SHO was no quicker. That is probably due to it having to move 10% more weight through an AWD system with a smaller engine that relies on turbos. Taurus build quality while at the top of the US manufacturers is not quite what I found with the Genesis. Pricewise, the deal I got on the Genesis was less than I could get a new SHO for. Give your Genesis some time and get acquainted with its features. I feel it is a remarkable road car for the money.

 

[Glashub]

Hello all. This is my first post and I apologize in advance for coming across as so negative but I hope at least some will understand my position and disappointment. A short bit of background. I have owned 28 cars. Honda, Mazda, Jaguar, Toyota, GM, you name it. Since I have matured to the point where I know a car should be reliable and practical, I have become very loyal to Ford. Going into 2011, I planned to upgrade from my 6th Ford to a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. I am familiar with the car since a co-worker already owns one.
Well after reading an article in Motortrend which compared the Taurus with the Genesis I started looking into the Hyundai. The article raved about the Genesis and stated it was a superior car to the Ford. I have always loved the style of the Genesis but never considered a Hyundai until now. Anyway, I drove a couple of Hyundais and liked the ride and power but was confused by the tech package. I didn’t think too much about it as I knew I just had to read the manual.
Fast forward to now. I just bought an ’09 Genesis with 4.6 and technology package. I have owned the car for almost a week now and its just enough time to realize I have made a terrible mistake. I am blown away that the opinion of this car is so high. It isn’t half the car the Taurus is and I could have purchased a one year newer Taurus SHO with half the miles for just a few thousand more. Again, the car drives great but this technology package/navigation system is laughable. How a magazine editor can rant and rave about it is beyond me.
Mark

There's always a learnign curve. Everybody hates the unfamiliar at first. You have no choice but to give it time now.

 

[MichaelOne]

A whole week, really? So lemme get this straight... you bought the car "confused" about the tech package and are now condemning it on that basis? You didn't do your homework, my friend, some of which would have been reading forums like this one.

Apparently the tech package wasn't important enough to you to inform yourself about it, and that's OK. But somehow this reminds me of reviewing a computer system on the basis of the included software.

Specifically how does the Genesis fall short of the Taurus?

 

[dg_moore]

To each his own. I have owned about the same number of cars as the OP, including Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Toyota, GM and Ford - including a Taurus. My Genesis is far superior to any of them, and is the best and most enjoyable car I have ever owned. I didn't buy the tech package because it doesn't include anything I would be willing to pay extra for. I have nav, but don't use it, so if it has shortcomings they don't cause me any agita.

 

[Cut-Throat]

You don't sound like you own the car at all? In fact your post sounds like an internet troll from the Ford Forum.

If you have owned the car for 1 week, what was it about the test drive that made you buy it? You give no specifics of why you are disappointed.

I have driven plenty of Taurus. To compare it to the Genesis is laughable.

 

[STREETS]

I drove the Taurus. The plastic interior, road noise, low roof height, smallish trunk, build quality was sub par to Genesis. Hey I WAS a Ford man way back (still own a F-150) but I am a Hyundai believer now. Everyone has their opinion & tastes- why there are many different vehicles sold out there.

 

[|2idicu|ous]

i have to second several other posters. You have given us very little info to work with. you have essentially said "I don't like it b/c i find the tech package confusing and the Taurus SHO is better". the genesis multimedia interface is consistently lauded as one of the easiest to use when compared to Audi MMI, BMW idrive, etc.

Hello all. This is my first post and I apologize in advance for coming across as so negative but I hope at least some will understand my position and disappointment. A short bit of background. I have owned 28 cars. Honda, Mazda, Jaguar, Toyota, GM, you name it. Since I have matured to the point where I know a car should be reliable and practical, I have become very loyal to Ford. Going into 2011, I planned to upgrade from my 6th Ford to a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. I am familiar with the car since a co-worker already owns one.
Well after reading an article in Motortrend which compared the Taurus with the Genesis I started looking into the Hyundai. The article raved about the Genesis and stated it was a superior car to the Ford. I have always loved the style of the Genesis but never considered a Hyundai until now. Anyway, I drove a couple of Hyundais and liked the ride and power but was confused by the tech package. I didn’t think too much about it as I knew I just had to read the manual.
Fast forward to now. I just bought an ’09 Genesis with 4.6 and technology package. I have owned the car for almost a week now and its just enough time to realize I have made a terrible mistake. I am blown away that the opinion of this car is so high. It isn’t half the car the Taurus is and I could have purchased a one year newer Taurus SHO with half the miles for just a few thousand more. Again, the car drives great but this technology package/navigation system is laughable. How a magazine editor can rant and rave about it is beyond me.
Mark

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[homeofstone]

Hello all. This is my first post and I apologize in advance for coming across as so negative but I hope at least some will understand my position and disappointment. A short bit of background. I have owned 28 cars. Honda, Mazda, Jaguar, Toyota, GM, you name it. Since I have matured to the point where I know a car should be reliable and practical, I have become very loyal to Ford. Going into 2011, I planned to upgrade from my 6th Ford to a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. I am familiar with the car since a co-worker already owns one.
Well after reading an article in Motortrend which compared the Taurus with the Genesis I started looking into the Hyundai. The article raved about the Genesis and stated it was a superior car to the Ford. I have always loved the style of the Genesis but never considered a Hyundai until now. Anyway, I drove a couple of Hyundais and liked the ride and power but was confused by the tech package. I didn’t think too much about it as I knew I just had to read the manual.
Fast forward to now. I just bought an ’09 Genesis with 4.6 and technology package. I have owned the car for almost a week now and its just enough time to realize I have made a terrible mistake. I am blown away that the opinion of this car is so high. It isn’t half the car the Taurus is and I could have purchased a one year newer Taurus SHO with half the miles for just a few thousand more. Again, the car drives great but this technology package/navigation system is laughable. How a magazine editor can rant and rave about it is beyond me.
Mark

Unless you are a much quicker learner than most, there is no way you can know how to operate all the tech in your Genesis in one week. It took my wife and I a month to master all the tech in the car. The Nav is way better that what we had in our Acura. The voice commands work perfect for us and the POI categories are great when you are not familiar with an area. DIS is much better than in BMW's.

 

[Ruissimo]

Honestly, if you're complaining about the Genny now... wait until you get yourself into a Ford. Sync is complicated enough, but I heard MyFord Touch (which is slowly being introduced into all their models) has amongst the HIGHEST learning curves out there.

I know - I researched an Edge (as alternate to the Genny) for several months - several test drives - lots of time sitting in the car and playing with the toys.

This ain't the 90's anymore - if you don't adapt to all the tech that's coming, you're not gonna be real happy with any car in a few years.

Regardless... hope you work it all out, and good luck. Sincerely, a guy who's been torn between a Hyundai and a Ford for six months+, and was finally swayed by the R Spec.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

I think the Hyundai Genesis and Ford Taurus SHO are two entirely different cars. The Genesis provides a more luxurious experience - but I do believe Ford's new Sync system is superior to Hyundai's whatever-ya-call-it.. But Ford's Sync is better than most.. If this is your only complaint, I think you purchased the right car.

 

[CapoCriminali]

Unless you are a much quicker learner than most, there is no way you can know how to operate all the tech in your Genesis in one week. It took my wife and I a month to master all the tech in the car. The Nav is way better that what we had in our Acura. The voice commands work perfect for us and the POI categories are great when you are not familiar with an area. DIS is much better than in BMW's.

How's that? I'm confused as to what there is to "learn" about the tech package + nav + sound system. You need to learn that rotating to the right scrolls one way, to the left another. You need to learn that you can push down on the knob. You need to learn that you can push the knob up/down/left/right for certain menus. After that, it's just a matter of following the on screen prompting.... What is there really to learn?

I'm quoting you, homeofstone, because you mentioned it, but don't take this as an attack please, because it definitely wasn't meant that way. I'm genuinely curious as to why many people get all flustered when it comes to technology. Computers are awesome because directions generally aren't required - they're built right into the way you interact with them. A good UI(Hyundai's DIS in the Tech Packages being a type of ui, and imo a good one) requires little to no understanding. You merely have to know how to operate the UI Controller(in this case a knob, but in other systems it might be a touchscreen or a keyboard/mouse) and from there the UI should lead you on. I felt that the Hyundai DIS did a great job with this. It's intuitive, simple, and well laid out. Does anyone have any input here?

 ^
<o>
 v

Pardon the terrible rendition, but this symbol on the DIS is awesome. Whenever one of the segments is lit, you can push the knob in that direction to initiate some action. The circle is key for 'push down the knob'. It's a very useful feature to determine what you can/can't do.

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

How's that? I'm confused as to what there is to "learn" about the tech package + nav + sound system. You need to learn that rotating to the right scrolls one way, to the left another. You need to learn that you can push down on the knob. You need to learn that you can push the knob up/down/left/right for certain menus. After that, it's just a matter of following the on screen prompting.... What is there really to learn?

I'm quoting you, homeofstone, because you mentioned it, but don't take this as an attack please, because it definitely wasn't meant that way. I'm genuinely curious as to why many people get all flustered when it comes to technology. Computers are awesome because directions generally aren't required - they're built right into the way you interact with them. A good UI(Hyundai's DIS in the Tech Packages being a type of ui, and imo a good one) requires little to no understanding. You merely have to know how to operate the UI Controller(in this case a knob, but in other systems it might be a touchscreen or a keyboard/mouse) and from there the UI should lead you on. I felt that the Hyundai DIS did a great job with this. It's intuitive, simple, and well laid out. Does anyone have any input here?

 ^
<o>
 v

Pardon the terrible rendition, but this symbol on the DIS is awesome. Whenever one of the segments is lit, you can push the knob in that direction to initiate some action. The circle is key for 'push down the knob'. It's a very useful feature to determine what you can/can't do.

Agreed. Most intuitive interface this side of an iPhone.

 

[mcginnpm]

Agreed. Most intuitive interface this side of an iPhone.

Except when you have to enter those darned addresses....street first, and then select the city...or navigate your MP3 Player. I've gotten used to it though. As a poster said above, it takes time to learn.

 

[CapoCriminali]

Except when you have to enter those darned addresses....street first, and then select the city...or navigate your MP3 Player. I've gotten used to it though. As a poster said above, it takes time to learn.

It may not be the most efficient way to enter an address, but it's not non-intuitive. You clearly know you're going to be entering the street name, it's not like the DIS obscures that fact from you. Ditto the iPod interface - it's not the best one I've ever seen, but it's easy to use.

Like I said before, I still don't get how there's any time to learn these things. You look at the screen and react to what's on it, right? Why the need to learn what comes first? Just look at the screen and give it what it's asking for... am I missing some key point in this? I read my messages and I realize I may sound like a jerk, but I don't intend to be. I'm genuinely curious about this concept...

 

[Cut-Throat]

It may not be the most efficient way to enter an address, but it's not non-intuitive. You clearly know you're going to be entering the street name, it's not like the DIS obscures that fact from you. Ditto the iPod interface - it's not the best one I've ever seen, but it's easy to use.

Like I said before, I still don't get how there's any time to learn these things. You look at the screen and react to what's on it, right? Why the need to learn what comes first? Just look at the screen and give it what it's asking for... am I missing some key point in this? I read my messages and I realize I may sound like a jerk, but I don't intend to be. I'm genuinely curious about this concept...

I Have no problem using the gadgetry. But think about it. You want to go to a Resturant and are looking at the address in a Metro City with 50 + suburbs.

Do you look for the street first? We've got streets that traverse 5 suburbs in the City I live in.

I look at the city first. --- I don't understand entering the street first.


Or to enter a Phone Number, you have to enter Point of Interest first. --- On my other Nav system on my Lexus, It has Phone Number on the main Nav Menu. this is not Intuitive at all. --- It took me awhile on my Genesis to find Phone Number was buried under Point of Interest.

 

[CapoCriminali]

I Have no problem using the gadgetry. But think about it. You want to go to a Resturant and are looking at the address in a Metro City with 50 + suburbs.

Do you look for the street first? We've got streets that traverse 5 suburbs in the City I live in.

I look at the city first. --- I don't understand entering the street first.


Or to enter a Phone Number, you have to enter Point of Interest first. --- On my other Nav system on my Lexus, It has Phone Number on the main Nav Menu. this is not Intuitive at all. --- It took me awhile on my Genesis to find Phone Number was buried under Point of Interest.

Well that's definitely part of it - I've never used the POI search I don't see why, if you're going to a restaurant that you know the address, though, whether putting city or street first matters. In fact, I've found it pretty useful in Queens, where I know I want to be on 212 Rd, but I'm not sure if it'll be listed in this database as Corona, Queens, Woodhaven or Elmhurst. I'd rather all 4 choices be presented. Either way, these things aren't something you'd need weeks to learn. Once you found it once...

 

[Cut-Throat]

Well that's definitely part of it - I've never used the POI search I don't see why, if you're going to a restaurant that you know the address, though, whether putting city or street first matters. In fact, I've found it pretty useful in Queens, where I know I want to be on 212 Rd, but I'm not sure if it'll be listed in this database as Corona, Queens, Woodhaven or Elmhurst. I'd rather all 4 choices be presented. Either way, these things aren't something you'd need weeks to learn. Once you found it once...

If you have not used POI, you are missing one of the best features of the Nav Search. If you want to go to a restaurant or find a hotel on a road trip, use this to find the closest one. (IOW - You don't know the address). Find a hotel then with the bluetooth connection have it dial the number for you. Very Nice!