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.