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: