Fill up compliment

295.5 miles / 17.150 gal. = 17.23 mpg

While I was filling up, I saw a middle-aged man driving a Toyota Previa take a long hard look at my Genesis. When he came back from the register, he made it a point to come around the back of my car to take a closer look and said, "that's a really good looking car, do you like it? How long have you had it?" I replied that I like it a lot and that it performs very well. BTW it's been almost exactly one year since I've had the car and I have not looked back. For the money, I truly believe it is the best all-around sedan in the market today. There have been a few minor issues, some of which are unresolved, but it has performed flawlessly and is proving to be a capable and comfortable luxury car.

mileage update 11/9/11

278.4 miles / 16.388 gal. = 17.0

Steering wheel tilt

After driving the 2012 Genesis, I found that the steering column on my Genesis did not have the same travel range as the 2012. At first I thought this might have been something they changed for the new model year and that was what I was told by one of the dealerships nearby.

I went to South Bay Hyundai for an oil change, and initially, I did not mention this issue to the service advisor. However, I quickly walked over to a 2011 Genesis I saw on the sales lot and tested out the tilt and telescope functions. It turns out, there was definitely something wrong with my car! I ran back to the service desk and informed the service advisor of this issue. A couple hours later, they remedied the problem with some sort of a computer reset, along with an oil change, a quick lube of the driver's seat, and a car wash! Needless to say, of the 3 different dealerships I've been to, this was by far the best service visit I've experienced so far. The oil change also included a multi-point inspection of the brake pads, tires, and fluid levels, and it was a mere 30 bucks plus tax w/ an online coupon. I'd say their inspection is not all that far off from what's required for the 7500 mile service, so it's a steal. I'll be sure to go back to this place for the 15K service!

mileage update 10/29/11

Another routine fill up with the good ol' "cheap stuff" 87 octane

297.6 miles / 16.914 gal = 17.6 mpg

No road trips, just commuting in traffic these days.

10K, Auto hold, 91 octane.

After 10 months and 10,000+ miles, my Genesis has been a very good one. There have been a few issues, but they've been rather minor. The more I drive this car, the more I appreciate the little details that make my everyday commute that much better. Take, for instance, the "AUTO HOLD" feature. When the auto hold button on the control panel next to the parking brake button is pressed on, the car will automatically hold the brakes for you after you've come to a complete stop and the brakes are released as soon as you press the accelerator. This is obviously useful when stopping and starting from a steep hill, but I've found use of it at the end of the day or end of a long drive when my right foot needs some rest. Those precious few minutes at the stoplight is just a little more relaxing and it allows me to stretch out my right foot and ankle.

On a separate note, if you recall from the last mileage update, I filled'er up with 91 octane instead of the usual 87 to see if it would make a difference in the mileage. It turns out that daily commute traffic had been pretty bad in the past week and I ended up getting only ~16.5 mpg. It certainly does not seem to make any difference what fuel grade I use when I'm sitting in traffic most of the time. I curse the LA traffic!! It would still be interesting if there is any difference in the mileage on longer trips.

2012 Hyundai Genesis Short Test Drive Impressions

A couple of weekends ago, I was at the OC Auto Show and took time to test drive several cars. One of those cars, of course, was the 2012 Genesis R-Spec 5.0. As most of you know, they've made some minor, but significant changes for the 2012 Genesis. New front and rear facias, Hyundai-built 8-speed automatic, standard direct-injected 3.8 V6, and the addition of direct-injected 5.0-L, 429-hp V8.

Besides these obvious changes, it's always the subtle changes that seem to stand out when owning a car, and two things stood out to me: steering wheel tilt adjustment travel and the throttle response. Until now, I've never had a complaint about the steering wheel adjustability on my 2011 Genesis. BUT, I always felt it was a bit low even at it's highest tilt level and it is hard to see the gauges from my seat setting. On the 2012, however, the steering wheel tilts maybe another 1" further up.

The throttle response is something I've written about a while back and it is very evident that there is a split second delay when starting up from a stop. At times, when slowing to a near stop and accelerating results in a delay and a sudden surge of power. This is something even the 2011 Equus and the newer BMWs apparently suffers from. It could be that Hyundai have been using the same electronic suppliers as BMW and other manufacturers, but in the 2012, this throttle delay was pretty much missing. The 8-speed automatic that was much maligned by Car and Driver's short drive review a couple months ago felt just as smooth and responsive as the ZF 6-speed unit.

So, the big question is, how does the new 5.0 compare to the 4.6? On the few, short straightaway stretches of local roads, it pretty much felt the same as the 4.6. This is not to say that the 5.0 is slow or anything, because the 4.6 feels much more than adequate. However, it is a bit disappointing that there was no noticeable difference. The ride and handling felt mostly the same and that is also a little disappointing, given that the ride hasn't improved and the steering remains somewhat numb.

In all, I'm not so sure that the new R-spec is really worth the extra cost over a 4.6, and for 99% of the population, the new 330-hp 3.8 V6 is likely more than sufficient, but a loaded 3.8 is only $1000 cheaper than the 4.6! You'd save some gas with the V6, but the effortless power and smoother operation is well worth the money.

Mileage update 10/7/11

Starting a new experiment... filled up with 91 instead of the usual 87. We'll see if it improves the mileage at all.

324.9 miles / 18.122 gal. = 17.9 mpg

Mileage update 9/11/11

307.3 miles
17.492 gal.
17.57 mpg

Shortest blog ever!

Mileage update

The latest tank was better than usual despite having taken no long trips of note.

293.3 miles
16.339 gal.
17.95 mpg

I'm close to 9000 miles now and will hit 10K in a month during a planned road trip at the end of the month.

Suspension walkaround

Last week, I rotated my tires and took the opportunity to take some videos of the front and rear suspensions. Enjoy!

Rear suspension:
As advertised, it's a multilink design. The rear has the coil springs mounted on the big support arm, away from the shock. There is a pretty beefy looking anti-roll bar and a couple of control arms on the front side. Notice the brake calipers are painted silver here.

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Front suspension:
The front is also a multilink design. There are a couple of expensive looking aluminum lower control arms and the shocks are mounted in coil over fashion. Notice here, the brake calipers are black. It'd be nice if both the front and rear calipers were of the same colors... what's up with that?!

Review on the 2012 Hyundai Genesis

Just wanted to share this brief review and a detailed walkaround on the 2012 Genesis. Both Insideline and Car and Driver offer more insights and discuss some of the pros and cons of the revised models, so definitely check them out!

mileage update

yes yes, I've not been as consistent about updating the mileage. It's mostly because there hasn't been any exciting road trips in the Genesis lately and it's been relegated to the boring-ol' daily commute. This means the usual city mileage...

271.7 miles / 16.447 gal. = 16.5 mpg

Seems like the EPA ratings are pretty accurate (17/25 city/hwy).

Impressions after 8000 miles

It's been approximately 7.5 months since I've had the Genesis and I've put on just over 8000 miles. So far, the car has been very reliable mechanically and it hasn't disappointed in any major way. The 4.6 V8 and the ZF 6-speed tranny are very refined and smooth, the cabin is comfortable and relaxing, and all the tech toys are convenient and easy to use. The Lexicon sound system is an absolute gem – nice deep bass, high clarity in all ranges, great separation never go unnoticed.

All is not perfect, however. There have been some fit and finish issues that have come up. For instance, when the car has been parked under the baking Southern California sun for a while, the dash makes a bit of rubbing/creaking noise. It used to be even worse a several months back, but the dealer added some felt tape at the various seams. The problem now is intermittent and difficult to get the service folks to find the root cause.

The trunk lid also makes contact with the top surface of the rear bumper, and chipped some of the clear coat and paint. Apparently, this is a problem that is widespread (compared with a few other Geneses(plural form?)), but not acknowledged or perhaps even noticed by most owners. The dealer simply handed me a stick of touch up paint, but I ended up putting down a strip of 3M Clear Bra.

And of course, the ride is the one major source of complain that many people raise with this car. It simply does not rival the ride of even midsize family sedans. It's great going over small bumps/potholes and you hardly feel them, but going over larger waves or bumps seems to cause the suspension to bottom out. Granted the wheels don't feel like they're hopping around, but the car definitely feels unsettled through some of the rougher roads. The 2012 models underwent several changes (new front and rear facias, different color wood trims, available direct-injected V6 and V8 (R-Spec only), and 8-speed Hyundai-built transmission), but most notable one is the retuned suspension. Anyone in the market for a Genesis should definitely compare the '11 and '12 models closely. As a side note, some of the early reviews do point out that the 8-speed tranny is just too lazy and slow to respond. I think the 6-speed ZF transmission is very smooth and quick, if a little reluctant to downshift at highway speeds. Plus, why do torquey V6 and V8 engines even need 8 gears?!?! All in the name of 1 mpg improvement on the highway (for the 4.6)?? But I digress...

So, in conclusion, after 8000 miles, I can happily say that I am still very happy with the car. There are some shortcomings and minor issues, but I suspect I would have similarly minor gripes about the G37, TL, or any other cars in this price range. That ride is probably going to be bothersome for the life of the car, but getting that smooth V8 up past 3000 rpm and hearing the distant, but distinct roar and the subsequent locomotive-like acceleration more than makes up for it.

Here's a link to an Insideline review of the R-Spec:

Roomy rear seat

Last Thursday, I gave a ride to a couple of colleagues for lunch. They were two older gentlemen (some of the nicest people I've met) and one of them asked about the Genesis. First question was of course, what kind of car is it? When I told him it's a Hyundai, he asked about the reliability. While I have had some minor fit and finish issues with the car, everything mechanical and electrical has been flawless so far.

Even with the flurry of media hype and Superbowl commercials, the Genesis definitely remains a mystery car to non-car folks. The same goes for the whole reliability issue as well. Although Hyundai and Kia have made unprecedented strides in improving their reliability and image, some people still cringe and think they're unreliable. Perception can be a very difficult thing to change. If I had gone with a BMW or Mercedes, he certainly would not have had to ask what kind of car it was or how the reliability is (even though they are notoriously unreliable and expensive to fix, but maybe people know this already). Overall, I think my new passengers were pretty impressed with the rear seat room and refinement of the car. I even got to show off the automatic rear sunshade.

Speaking of reliability though, yesterday, I washed and waxed my Genesis and found the paint on the doors below the chrome strips were showing some orange peel roughness. The passenger side front door is the most noticeable, but since it's all under the chrome strip, it's hard to see unless someone gets on their knees and takes a closer look. I suppose I could try sanding/polishing, but because it is at the bottom parts of the doors, it would mean laying out on the driveway for a while. Otherwise, the rest of the car looks fantastic after a fresh coat of wax.

Mileage update

Since my last long road trip, I've been mostly commuting and taking a few short trips in town. The mileage reflects the lack of highway travels.

5/20/11: 294.9 miles / 17.713 gal. = 16.65 mpg
5/29/11: 273.3 miles / 16.446 gal. = 16.62 mpg (17.5 mpg on trip computer)

What can I say? It's hard to keep a light foot in this car because it accelerates so effortlessly. At certain times, I find myself way ahead of the traffic after starting from a red light, even though I thought I was being light on the throttle. At least gas has gone down below $4/gal. for now.

The mileage is actually a bit disappointing, but the truth is, the EPA tests based on known acceleration/deceleration rates. In the Genesis, I am probably accelerating faster than I would have in my old Solara. Plus, a big V8 is simply not as efficient in stop-and-go traffic as a 3.0-L V6. So, even though the two cars have the identical EPA ratings, real world numbers suggest otherwise (the Solara used to get ~19-22 mpg under the same use). It could also be that the Genesis is still getting broken in

Seeing that my mileages are a tick below the EPA city ratings, I've been debating whether it's worth getting a beater commuter car to drive in town. If there is a decent 4-cylinder car that can get ~24 mpg during my daily commute, and the Genesis is used only for weekend trips, the numbers break down to something like this:

commuter car: 5.4 gal. for 130 miles @24 mpg
Genesis: 6.67 gal. for 140 miles @21 mpg
12.1 gal total
4.5 gal saved (vs. latest fill-ups) = $18/week saved @ $4/gal

~270 miles/week = 14040 miles/year
~$939/year saved

There is also a matter of preserving the car's resale value and slight decrease in insurance premium for lower miles driven on the Genesis. However, these costs may also easily be offset by repair costs on a used car.

As for that commuter car, the last generation Prelude would be fantastic, but they are either salvage titled because wanna-be street racers have modified them to death and eventually crashed into stuff, or they are rather expensive and have a lot of miles. Otherwise, something more practical in the shape of a small wagon might also serve well.

Extended weekend getaway

It was about time to visit my home town last weekend for a nice getaway from the daily grind, so I hopped in the Genesis and logged in close to 1200 miles in 5 days! You can see my vast bug collection on just about the ENTIRE front section and side mirrors. Yikes... Other than the bugs, it was a flawless drive up the I-5. I got to avoid all the usual traffic by going on a weekday and had the cruise control on for most of the trip. Again, the adaptive cruise control is very helpful on such long stretches. It certainly errs on the safe side when a car ahead slows down, i.e., does its best to maintain the set distance. Regardless, keeping a constant speed and minimizing rest stops,  mileage was right in line with the EPA estimates:

LA --> Gilroy: 316.7 miles, 12.741 gal. = 24.9 mpg
Gilroy --> San Francisco --> Monterey --> San Jose --> San Francisco: 427 miles, 19.256 gal. = 22.2 mpg
San Francisco --> LA: 393.1 miles, 15.481 gal. = 25.5 mpg

Certainly, the biggest shortcoming of the Genesis is the suspension tuning. It does very well to keep the car from crashing down (like my old Solara used to) when going over large bumps (railroad tracks especially), but it becomes unsettled when there are multiple waves or when there are rough patches on a corner. I still can't quite seem to put a finger on when the car gets out of shape – sometimes it glides over bumps, other times, it doesn't know what to do. It could be that the rear suspension is too firm, and it did kind of feel a bit bumpier from the backseat. Still, the car drives with a presence and weightiness that mimics an E-class. Just wish that the suspension was better sorted. Also makes me wonder how well the new Equus rides, since it is built on the same platform.

Anyways, this post has been way overdue and I am rambling on. A week later, the bugs have been cleaned off, and life is back to normal. Much much more to come later!

Short Impression of an Infiniti G37

One of the main competitor cars I've looked at while shopping was the 2010 Infiniti G37 sedan. In terms of pricing, it is very much in line with the Genesis. I was offered ~$34K for one with premium + navi packages, and ~$36K for one with premium + navi + sport packages. The G really does handle very well and still rides better than the Genesis. It's steering also has a more natural feel and the 7-speed slushbox felt more decisive. But obviously, there were a few issues that ended up being deal breakers for me. 

My biggest gripe was that the interior felt absolutely cramped compared to the Genesis and the Acura TL. Up front, I barely had any head room with the seat set as low as possible, especially when equipped with the moonroof. The front seats in the sport package car felt a bit too narrow for my derrier, but the seats in the standard car felt roomier. The front seat (dis-)comfort factor alone was enough to dissuade me from the G. The backseat was even more cramped. With the driver's seat set to my best setting, I barely fit behind it. My head was pressing into the headliner, the knees were scraping the seat back, and my feet had nowhere to go! It's really amazing how little room these FM-platform Infiniti products offer (EX, FX, and M included).

Anyway, a few coworkers and I were chauffeured to lunch in a 2010 G37 sedan because one of my colleagues got a loaner vehicle from the dealer (he has a 2004 G35 sedan). Aside from the overpowering scent of air freshener, I noticed that the interior just wasn't as nice as I remembered it to be. All the trim pieces fit pretty well, but things really didn't feel or look a whole lot better than what you might find in an Altima or a Maxima. Finer details such as how the aluminum dash trim meets the aluminum trim on the door panel, or the look of the plastic buttons left a bit to be desired. If you compare the Genesis and the Sonata or Azera, on the other hand, you will find a pretty substantial difference in the quality. The engine note was as coarse sounding as these big VQ V6's are notorious for (far from the muted V8 intake rumble of the Genesis!). The ride was a bit softer than in the Genesis, but not by much, and the car didn't quite have that substantial feel that the Genesis offers. 

Yes, I'm a biased source here, but I certainly do believe that for most people, Genesis does offer more bang for the buck than the G37. It may not have the sporting credentials, but the Genesis is really intended to be a bargain Infiniti M or Mercedes E-class. While it may fall short of those vehicles, it certainly does well to define a class between the entry level luxury models and the mid sizers. 

First oil change

After about 4 months, I've hit the 5000 mile mark. I know the manual calls for oil changes every 7500 miles, but also says every 5000 miles under "severe" driving conditions. I do make a fair bit of short trips and when I checked the oil, it was starting to look a little brown, so it was time. One thing to note is that the Genesis requires a cartridge type oil filter (I think I've seen something similar with Mercedes), which, apparently, is not common enough for typical oil change places to keep in stock. I did eventually find a Firestone Auto Care center that said they could have one within an hour on Saturday morning. All told, with an online coupon, it was about 22 bucks with tax. What a deal!

I've also had a couple of minor issues that the dealer more or less took take of, but I'll get to that in another post.

mileage update

It's been a while since the last post! After a very nice and long weekend, I filled up this morning:

327.3 miles
17.721 gal.
=18.5 mpg

It looks like the mileage is slowly, but surely improving as the engine breaks in (I just passed 4200 miles). Good thing, it's getting juts about impossible to find gas below $4/gal.

BTW, my XM trial subscription ended a couple weeks ago, but I can't say I miss it much. The radio is mediocre and getting the best of Sirius package to get Howard Stern and other more noteworthy shows requires a ~$16.99/mo. package. With available HD radio w/ simulcast, as well as the iPod integration and MP3 CD/DVD 6-disc changer, it's really hard to justify a paid XM subscription.  I've also found XM traffic too slow to respond to changes. It's a nice idea, but given the costs, to me, XM seems like a waste. More cars need to adopt the free FM-radio based traffic info like the ones on the Garmin portable nav units, but I digress.

Trip to Indian Wells

This weekend, I made my way out to the Indian Wells Tennis Center to watch some the world's best play. That meant clocking in ~280 miles roundtrip on the Genesis. As usual, the trip was comfortable and pleasant. Because the whole daylight savings, we were running a bit late. Let's just say I'm glad the CHP officers must have also felt the effects of the lost hour and decided not to show up on their sunday morning shifts.  Yes, the ride is firm, but the car just seems to settle in as speeds increase and the trip was quick, quiet, and comfortable. The XM/iPod combo kept us entertained and my recently acquired tinted windows (30%) and power rear window shade kept things cool even with the desert sun beating down. Despite the somewhat hilly terrain and the... um... motivated driving, the trip computer was also showing 25 mpg average. All in all, the drive was pretty enjoyable and well worth it to watch some of the favorite players all day long.

Motor Trend comparison test

Yes, they were being a little corny, but this might be the only comparison test I've seen on the Genesis 4.6. The new 300C is certainly nice and MT pretty much points out a lot of the pros and cons of the Genesis that I thought were dead on (in the written article). I still prefer the Genesis's design, but Chrysler certainly did a good job on the 300C. I expect Hyundai to make a similar leap in quality and performance with the next generation Genesis, as Chrysler did with their new 300C.

mileage update

After several jaunts on the open freeway over the weekend, I was left with the gauge pointing to less than a quarter tank left. Here are the latest mileage figures:

273.3 miles / 14.384 gal. = 19.0 mpg
As always, the trip computer was a bit optimistic at 20.3 mpg.

rainy night

All this sudden downpour in socal is really putting a damper on the long weekend plans. =( Since I was bored at home, I just wanted to take some night time shots of the Genesis.

  

been too busy for blogging!

I'll get back into making more significant updates and definitely get some videos posted!

In the mean time, here's the latest mileage figure:

272 miles/16.762 gal. = 16.23 mpg
trip computer showed 17 mpg.

That's right... back to the stop and go traffic. These numbers are estimated since I forgot to reset my trip odometer last time. Good thing the Genesis takes 87 octane. The cheapest gas station I found was $3.45/gal.! =(

BTW I stopped by the dealer bright and early Saturday and all I got for an answer on whether the car should have a bit of a lag starting from a creep was, "probably." I have gotten pretty used to not duplicating this issue, but really, why should something like the throttle response be a non-intuitive operation? It just goes to show there's just too many computer chips running cars these days.

Laggy throttle

Ever since the first couple of weeks of ownership, I've noticed that the throttle response on the Genesis is a bit laggy. After almost 2 months, I've narrowed down a common scenario of when the throttle/transmission decides to fall asleep. The most obvious moments are when slowing down to a crawl, e.g., not quite coming to a full stop, and then pressing the gas pedal results in about a half a second delay and then a pronounced kick in the back from a very sudden and unexpected surge of power. Looking at the tachometer, the engine speed increases ever so slightly when I press the gas and then jumps up to 1500 rpm or so. It almost feels like the transmission is slipping and then catching, but if the transmission was really slipping, then the engine speed would not creep and jump suddenly (at least I wouldn't think). Again, just qualitatively, it feels like the transmission is in the middle of downshifting to 1st when I apply the throttle, and once it gets into 1st, it surges forward.

As an experiment, I've tried going into manual mode and this problem seems to subside for the most part, but it's a bit unclear as to whether manual mode solves the problem fully. I tend to think this may be a transmission logic issue and a dealer reflash may be necessary. I'll find out more this Saturday when I go in.

UPDATE: So I paid extra close attention today to this issue and I could not quite duplicate this behavior for some reason. I'll still go in and ask the service tech and maybe even try to test drive the same car on the lot for comparison. Stay tuned...

2012 Genesis Unveiled

http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2011/02/2011-chicago-auto-show-2012-hyundai-genesis-photo-gallery-video-walkaround-assorted-facts.html

Interesting stuff! With the revisions, Hyundai is certainly working to improve the ride quality on the 3.8 and 4.6 models and add even more features. The R-Spec model with the 5.0 liter DI V8 and the new 8-speed tranny is sure to scoot to 60 in less than 5 sec (the 2011 4.6 Genesis is supposed to do this in 5.3 sec), but they've also put on 19" rims and most likely made the suspension even stiffer(!). If the R-Spec rides even rougher than the current 4.6, I think Hyundai may have missed the target a bit here.

What's just as exciting is the 3.8 DI V6 with 333 hp and 291 lb-ft. Many of the reviews on the lighter Genesis 3.8 always commented that the 4.6 was unnecessary for this car, and with even more power and the 8-speed transmission, the gap between the 3.8 and 4.6 has closed even more.

Exterior-wise, the revised front end looks decent, but the tail lamps resemble the Infiniti M just a bit too much. I'm also not entirely sold on the integrated exhaust ports on the rear facia. The revised car still looks very good, but at least on photos, the new details look a bit busy.

Further browsing, Acura announced the revised 2012 TL. I think I can sum it up with the quote: "You can't polish a turd." It looks like Acura decided to take all of the TL's weird edgy features and melt them down. In terms of features and performance, the TL is a great car, but the exterior styling was a deal killer for me. It doesn't look like anything has changed.

fuel economy update: Stretching out those legs...

Although it wasn't under the most ideal circumstances, I had to make a trip up to San Francisco for some family time. This meant I could finally make a long trip in the Genesis and stretch out its legs.

I unfortunately forgot to bring my camera for the scintillating shots of I-5 (i.e., middle of almost nowhere) and my camera would have completely failed to capture the god-awful cow stench along the way, but I'll try to write a quick summary tomorrow.

In the mean time, here are the fuel mileage numbers:
total: 900 miles, ~37.5 gal. = 24 mpg(!)

I think all the bugs may have played into some aerodynamic drag (sounded like a distant machine gun at one point... yikes), but pretty good numbers overall and pretty much identical to what my Solara V6 used to get on the same trip.

nostalgia

Some of my most enjoyable summer weekends started with a trip to my aunt's and uncle's and heading off to the Gwan-hwak mountain/park for an afternoon of hiking and picnicking. The 6 of us would pack into a bright red Kia Pride and make the short drive over. Check out the specs and an old commercial I dug up:

Condensed specs: 
engine displacement: 1138 cc
power: 60 hp @ 6000 rpm 
torque: 74 lb-ft  @ 3500 rpm 


Dimensions:
length: 140.4 in. 
wheelbase: 90.4 in 
standard tire size: 145 SR 12 
official base curb weight: 1609 lbs. 


Performance: 
top speed: 99 mph (theor.)
acceleration: 0- 60 mph 12 s (sim.); 0- 100 km/h 12.8 s (sim.); 0- 1/4 mile 18.5 s (sim.) 


Fuel consumption: official: , a-c pred. average: 7.4 l/100km / 38 mpg (imp.) / 31.7 mpg (U.S.) / 13.5 km/l






These weekend trips became a tradition for my family and we kept it up for maybe about 3-4 years before all of us moved to the US. The measly 1.1L engine struggled mightily under all that weight and my uncle would do all he can to keep the engine from stalling when trying to engage 1st gear going uphill (!). The lack of power steering meant my dad used to have to help my uncle pull into the parking lot down the street because it was very hard to maneuver at low speeds. Navigation, 17-speaker stereo with iPod integration, and all the gizmos were literally science fiction back then (check out the manually operated radio antenna on the driver side A-pillar!). Yet, despite all that, our Sundays were filled with laughter and joy, and I'm forever grateful for those memories. Although it is no secret that our cars impose some serious environmental, economical, and political hazards, we all love our cars because they take us to new and old places, and most importantly, help us connect to friends and family. Even those of us who are not car enthusiasts will always remember their long awkward family road trips, the first time driving, or the first car they bought, however new or old it may have been.

Driving the Genesis always serves as a reminder of just how rapidly our cars and technology have advanced in the past 20 years. However, one thing that never changes is just how our beloved automobiles continue to lend us the freedom to expand our lives and to create lasting memories. I hope the next 20 years will prove to be just as enjoyable as the last...

quick fuel economy update

Here it is:
280.1 miles on 14.996 gal. = 18.68 mpg
trip computer read 19.9 mpg

Still not that great considering I made ~90 mile roundtrip on relatively open freeway (at least on the 45 mile trip back), but I've still only logged in 1200 miles and hopefully the numbers will go up with break in.

TGIX... X=Xenon headlights

Friday night, I was out with some friends in Manhattan Beach until way past my bedtime. It was yet another gorgeous sunny day, but as soon as things cooled down, the fog rolled in. And when I say fog, I mean FOG! It seemed like I could barely make out the tail lamps on cars are were only 2 or 3 car lengths in front of me. When I came up to intersections, I could not even make of the street signs and the familiar streets became completely unrecognizable (navi came in really handy!), especially when there were streetlights that made the fog glow and made things worse. Luckily, I had some help from the bright Xenon headlamps and the trusty fog lights. Getting on the freeway was not much better and things did not subside until I was 3 blocks from my house. I'd never seen the sky so clear!

On another note, during the week, I had to make a quick trip down to Irvine (~45 miles away) and I was finally able to make use of the adaptive cruise control. The gizmo really works! There were several cops along the way and it really kept me from venturing past all the cautious drivers. All that steady cruising has also bumped the avg. fuel economy to ~21 mpg, up from the usual 16-17 mpg I was getting from just commuting. I would not be surprised to get 26-27 mpg on a road long trip. Not bad for a car with 385 horses!

Another gorgeous weekend

Yes, it is yet another very gorgeous Sunday afternoon perfect for a quick jaunt out to the beach. It looks like I'm getting a pretty good flow of readers here, so I'll certainly do my best to fill you in at least once a week and try to have my camera with me more often! I was actually just out here at Torrance Beach on Friday for a nice long bike ride, but it looked so nice outside I just had to come back. I also took some friends out to dinner near downtown LA and the navi became very handy in traffic. I've now logged over 900 miles on the Genesis and it has been every bit as good as advertised. Yes, there are some issues, including some intermittent noise coming from the dash (sounds like plastic rubbing), so I'm hoping it'll work itself out (highly doubtful) or the dealer can remedy the issue when I go in for the complementary 1000 mile check up next week. Nonetheless, it is a great car to drive and I've been drowning out the noise with the awesome stereo (just wish XM had some better programming!). 

On the open road, the Genesis does feel a bit more balanced than some of the other cars at its price point (Buick LaCrosse, Ford Taurus, Lexus ES350, etc.). The steering is nicely weighted and actually has a decent feel, brakes work and feel great, and the engine has a muscular intake noise. The ride also doesn't feel as harsh as when I first drove the car, but I might just be getting used to it now (BTW the tire pressure was correctly set at 33 psi by the dealer). I've driven both the LaCrosse CXS and the Taurus SHO, both of which cost about the same as the Genesis 4.6. Both are actually very decent cars, but their interiors do not quite match the Genesis' cabin in quality and feel. In the case of the LaCrosse, it drives similar to the Genesis around town (almost as firm  a ride included), but on the freeway, it becomes a bit twitchy and the steering felt too light. The SHO is a better driving car than the Buick, and right up there with the big Hyundai (although I have not tried it out on the freeways), but all the interior bits and buttons just felt cheaper and less precise.

I also gave the Genesis a quick wash on Friday after getting a few detailing products from Amazon:

Meguiar's A3332 Quik Detailer Mist & Wipe Spray, The Absorber Synthetic Drying Chamois, 27, Mothers 20324 FX Tire Shine - 24 oz
The Quik Detailer spray works really well along door sills, but I remain skeptical about wiping down an entire dusty/dirty car. I'm sure it'd be fine, but I was taught better than to run a towel on a dirty body panel! The Chamois worked really well and dried everything really quickly and was very easy to wring out. Lastly, the Tire Shine worked well and my tires still has a "greasy" look even after running around over the weekend.

I also have some mileage update here:
260.6 miles on 15.46 gal. = 16.8 mpg (17 mpg total so far)

That's it for now! I'll try to make a video one of these days for all you avid readers. 

Short Sunday drive

View RPV sunday drive in a larger map

Instead of watching the Patriots hemorrhaging their season away against the Jets, I decided to enjoy the beautiful 75° day outside with a short drive to Racho Palos Verdes. RPV is truly an escape from the hustle and bustle of the greater LA area and one of the most scenic places for a quick getaway.

First stop was at a neighborhood park on the northern part of RPV. The park hugged the coast and offered a wide open view of the coast. A quick drive up the hill proved to be even more spectacular and an even better photo op with the Genesis. Had I planned this trip a little better, I could have hiked down to Bluff Cove, but I marched on to the open roads!

This was where the Genesis really shined! Smooth, open tarmac along the coast that was just perfect for windows-down cruisin' with music pumping through the Lexicon system. Life is good! To get home, I decided to take the short route up Hawthorne Blvd, which took me to a vista point that showed off a distant view of Portuguese Bend (I sure envy those who get to enjoy that view every morning!). The V8 was perfect for smooth and effortless drive up the hill, and the firm suspension I complained about earlier came in handy when tackling the wide, sweeping curves going downhill. Not a bad Sunday afternoon!

mileage update

Just filled up again today. Here are the stats:

240.1 miles
14.75 gal.
16.3 mpg
(trip computer showed 17.1 mpg)

This was strictly commuting in traffic.

break-in is over!

Sorry for the blurry picture, but it was taken with my iPod Touch at a red light. The 600-mile break-in is complete! I'll probably still stay away from long drives on the freeway and keep a light foot though.

More first month impressions

So far, I've logged only about 560 miles on the car. Hyundai recommends a break-in period of 600 miles, so I have been, for the most part, light-footed and driving in typical LA traffic. Like all cars, it's not perfect, but it has so much going for it! Although 90% of my driving is done solo, I am certain that I will make use of all the room inside for more people and stuffs. The front seats are fairly comfortable (the heated seats are a godsend these days even in LA!) and the rears are simply one of the best back seats I've ever sat it.

The infotainment system is also very easy to use thanks to the logical menu structure and the clear, crisp screen. The HVAC controls are a bit busy, but it is still fairly easy to use once you know where the buttons are. The Lexicon stereo is truly outstanding, with deep, clear, distortion-free sound from any of the sources available. While there may be some features that are not available (infrared night view, blind spot monitoring system, etc.), but I find that those "missing" features are really more gimmick and $$ than what anyone really wants or needs.

As for the driving characteristics, the Genesis really does drive very well. Although the car does ride much firmer than it should, I've also noticed how quickly it rebounds and doesn't bounce up and down when it rolls over big bumps. It also seems to ride more comfortably as speeds build. The ZF 6-speed changes gear quickly and imperceptibly, and the Tau V8 is smooth and very powerful (not to mention its got a nice throaty sound!). The steering is a bit numb on-center, but it is nicely weighted and feels very similar to a Mercedes E550 I've test driven a while back.

Yet after all this, I do have to mention that it is not much fun driving this car, though not due to any fault of the Genesis. I had a Toyota Solara V6 and a Toyota pickup from way back. Both cars COMBINED do not equal the power that the Genesis 4.6 makes! Yet, driving around in the city and the congested freeways, there is absolutely no opportunity to wind out the 4.6 and enjoy the soundtrack! Just yesterday, I accelerated to pass YET ANOTHER Prius that was clogging up traffic and testing everyone's sanity. After just an instant of hearing the V8 come to life, I was already going way too fast and 5 car lengths ahead of the dreaded Prius! The speed is so deceptive in this car that it's amazing and alarming at the same time. Because of its quiet interior and the effortless acceleration, even a big surge of acceleration is less sensational and less visceral than in my old Solara in city driving. The funny thing is, the Solara is probably one of THE most boring cars ever made! I think the Genesis may just be much more suitable for the open roads. Can't wait 'til I take the Genesis on a summer road trip!

Hyundai Veloster unveiled

Insideline's coverage of the Veloster

Looks like a great deal for a fun little car! Not to mention the 40 mpg rating.

fuel economy update

239.5 miles on 13.35 gallons = 17.9 mpg

For the record, the trip computer computed a 19.0 mpg avg. since the last fill up. My '02 Toyota Solara V6 typically showed about 20-21 mpg typical use. Big asterisk here is the ~90 miles on the freeway (downshifted periodically to vary engine speed, per proper break-in procedures) and the light traffic during holiday week commuting. Still, not too bad considering I've barely passed 400 miles on it.

Rides firm!

One thing that really stood out for me about the Genesis is its (almost too) firm ride. I did not get a chance to drive the V6 with the 17" wheels, but the 4.6 with the 18"s makes you feel every bump on the road, especially around town. Even at higher speeds, when rolling around on the wickedly rough parts of the LA freeways, the suspension does feel quite busy, but never unsettled or floaty. Certainly, the trade offs are good high-speed stability and being very flat through the corners, despite its 2-ton curb weight.

Test driving the Sonata 2.0T SE and the Genesis 4.6 made it clear that the Sonata clearly had the more comfortable ride and still seemed to handle as well because of its significantly lower weight. Obviously, Hyundai didn't want the Genesis to be soft and floaty like a Lexus ES350 or a Cadillac DTS, but the TL and the G37 had noticeably more compliant suspension setups.

I'm still (relatively) young and willing/able to deal with a firmer ride, but because the Genesis LOOKS like a big, bulky luxury sedan, a la Lexus/Mercedes, the firm ride came as an even bigger surprise. Perhaps the V6 with the 17s ride a bit softer. Anyone in the market should certainly check it out and drive competing cars back-to-back.

Buying experience

Buying a car is always exciting, but most people find it daunting. Compared to even 10-15 years ago, cars are better than ever and the market has become very competitive. Top it off with the stereotypical pushy sales people, car buying takes a lot of work! As cliche as it sounds, the best consumers can really do is use as much resources and walk in fully armed with knowledge.

With that said, I don't have any secret recipe to making the process easier, but I would like to share my experiences.

I went out shopping earlier in the summer when the the economy was worse off than it is now and manufacturers were offering up a lot of discounts. At that time, I looked at the Acura TL w/ Tech package, Infiniti G37, and the Genesis. All are very fine cars and most people would do just fine with any one of those choices. What really opened my eyes was how different the "buying" experience was with each of the dealerships I dealt with. The Acura salesman was by far the worst at playing all the typical games and came off as very pompous. What a douche!  I walked out after being more patient than I should have been. The Infiniti salesman seemed very inexperienced and seemed to go by the books. He tried the whole how much monthly payment can you afford tactic, but in the end, the manager stepped in and offered $34,500 for a G37 with premium and nav packages... not bad. Lastly, I went over to the Hyundai dealer. I dropped in on a weekday and there was only one salesman available, which meant waiting around for a while. He took me around for a very very short test drive and gave me a quote for around $39K. Although he was the busiest, he didn't try to play any games! I've always heard about the "low-end" car dealers being worse off than those from the luxury brands, but the absolute opposite seemed to be the case.

Long story short, when I went shopping around again this winter, I started looking at the Honda Accord EX-L V6, Hyundai Sonata 2.0T, and Mazda6s GT. Again, all the salespersons were very pleasant and straight forward with their pricing. I think the key here is going to the internet sales managers. They do tend to blow up your phones after you make a few clicks, but they all want to make a quick sale and avoid as much haggling as possible.

These were all very good cars and I was biased towards the Accord, despite being the most common and oldest design in the group. In the end, I went with the Genesis 4.6 because there were some steep discounts on the 2011s and I found it to be well worth the extra money over the others. The salesperson was outstanding and the buying process was as painless as it can be. He even replaced the "flying H" with a Genesis emblem on the trunk lid.

First Blog!

Welcome to my Hyundai Genesis Blog. It's been just a couple of weeks since I've owned this all new 2011 Hyundai Genesis. I've done a lot of research ever since this car came into the U.S. market in late 2008 and there has been a TON of buzz surrounding this car for its value, performance, and features. In the next few posts, I will introduce you to some of the features of this car and offer some insights as to what it's like living with this car everyday.