Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 First Take

After just 26,000+ miles, the OEM Dunlap Sport 5000M tires were down to their wear markers. I am always happy to take care of my ride and was diligent about rotating the tires every 7500 miles or so.

After much research, I found a good deal on the Michelin Sport A/S 3 from America's Tires for the Labor day weekend. The Michelin just came out this summer to replace their all-season Pilot line. According to Michelin, they have used several new technologies like the asymmetric read pattern and high silica compound to give summer tire performance with all-season versatility. Are Michelin's claims true or are they all just marketing jargon?

There are several online reviews out there that report 0-60 times, 60-0 braking distances, and lap times. The Pilot Sports performed amazingly well, particularly considering that the wet 60-0 braking distances were shorter than the competitors' dry braking distances. While I cannot perform these tests to confirm them myself, I can give some seat-of-the pants impressions.

As soon as I pulled out of the tire shop, I immediately noticed that the ride and steering feel were completely transformed. Even when the Dunlaps were new, the ride on the Genesis was always a bit choppy going over larger bumps. As the OEM tires wore out, expansion joints and even smaller bumps and potholes sent unpleasant shocks through the chassis. The worst part was perhaps the bad case of bump steer the car exhibited on the worn out tires. With the fresh set of Michelins, however, just about ALL the harshness disappeared over all but the largest bumps and dips. Road noise had also substantially been reduced and the bump steer is non-existant. Just with the brand new set of tires, the car felt completely different. Although I have not pushed the car hard enough around any corners, I am confident that handling is much improved as well.

I have always been a skeptic when it comes to the importance of tires, particularly on ride quality. I always felt that the ride quality sole depended on the suspension and chassis design. Although this is still true, I can humbly say that the new Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 has made a believer out of me. It combines the wet and dry traction of summer tires (traction rating = AA) with durability (wear rating = 500), ride, and noise reduction of high-end all-season grand touring tires. At roughly $200 per tire, it is certainly one of the more expensive tires in its class (compared to Pirelli P Zero Nero A/S at ~$150 and Continental ContiProContact DWS at ~$180), but the extra cost is well justifiable for the extra performance and ride improvements. I would highly recommend it to all Genesis owners out there.

2012 Mazda6 short take

http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/mazda6/2012/

Last few days, I have been on the Big Island of Hawai'i for a nice getaway. Being the savvy consumer, I went through Hotwire to reserve a "Ford Fusion or similar" rental car on the cheap. Once the reservation was placed, I was notified that it was through Hertz. Of course, my first thought was Hertz is a reputable rental company, so I should get a pretty nice car.

When I arrived, the lady at the counter saw that I went through Hotwire (probably paid about half their normal rate) and gave me the keys to an Altima. Let me tell you, this car was BEAT UP! The car was probably a couple of years old at least and had close to 50K miles. The paint was fading, scratched up everywhere, and the rear bumper was dented. Regardless, I put my stuff away and was ready to mark off all the nicks, dings, scratches, etc. and saw that couple of the tires had bulges on the side wall! I quickly pointed the tires out to a gentleman on the lot and he had someone put me in another car, 2012 Mazda6.

Like that Altima, the Mazda was black on black (great job picking a color on a HOT, sunny island!) with lots of dings and scratches. I pretty much ended up circling all the panels on the worksheet and was on my merry way. I was at least excited to drive a Mazda6 since I've rented the Altima a couple of times before. The car was the base trim "i" with no options, as far as I can tell – a humble $20K family sedan.

Back when I was shopping for a new car, I did test drive a Mazda6 with the 3.5L V6. I could have gotten a great deal on a fully loaded 2010 model, but I could not get over the cheap plastics and the lack of an iPod connection (AUX jack only). Fast forward to 2013, the 4-banger from Hertz didn't seem so bad. The touch points were covered with padded plastics, but other parts of the dash looked a bit unrefined. All that seemed much easier to take in a low-$20K car than in a low-$30K car.

Enough with the background info... how does it drive? Well, pretty predictable family sedan stuff here. The 2.5L I4 puts out 170 hp into a 5-speed auto. It's a simple transportation with ample power for island life. On the Big Island, this is especially true, since there is no major freeway. I found the steering to be decently weighted and it took corners reasonably well. The ride was comparable to any family sedan I've driven, but on the glass-smooth roads on the Big Island probably would have made an RX-8 ride liked a limo. The backseat is huge and there is plenty of head room since there is no optional sunroof. The trunk is also big enough for all the luggage.

The Mazda6 pretty much does what it is supposed to do and blends into the crowd. Perhaps that  has been the big problem for Mazda. Mazda is a company that makes the Miata, RX-8, and the clown-faced Mazdaspeed3. These cars all have unique personalities that the Mazda6 simply does not have. This is a company that prides in itself to built unique cars, and yet, this particular generation Mazda6 is buried too deep in trying to appeal to the masses. Even the fully loaded V6 version I test drove a couple years ago didn't really impress me as much as the Accord or even the Sonata Turbo. It felt unrefined and the interior looked second rate. If a lesser known company like Mazda builds forgettable cars, people will not notice. Mazda does build some awesome cars, but they certainly need to sell a lot of these family sedans to keep afloat. I truly hope that the glowing reviews on the 2013 Mazda6 are true and that more people will take notice of the new 6 as a competent Accord-beater.

Record MPG

In the recent months, gas prices here in California have steadily gone up. Locally, I've filled up with prices as high as $4.25/gal. Naturally, that means keeping a closer eye on my mileage. Well, a couple weeks ago on a 30+ mile drive to Irvine, I've recorded the best MPG I've ever gotten with my Genesis. Check it out! Unfortunately, since then, it's been all commuting with very little driving on the open road. My mileage have been in the dumps around 15-17 mpg.

2 year summary

I've now had the Genesis for 2 years + a few weeks and driven it around 21K miles. It continues to be a great car and perhaps the bargain of the decade. As I've stated before, yes, the Genesis is by no means a perfect car, but it does a lot of things very well. My favorite aspects are the high-quality interior and the powertrain performance. My recent service experiences with the local Hyundai dealership has also been excellent and I have seen far worse treatment from the so-called luxury brand shops.

As far as performance, the powertrain is just about perfect for a $40K car. The 4.6L V8 is smooth as ever and the 6-speed automatic shifts nicely with no drama. Maybe it doesn't get as high an MPG as some of its V6 competitors, but there is just no substitute for displacement. The car is always quiet, but when you get into the throttle, there is a sweet, but subtle rumble that only a V8 can make. The midrange punch is almost brutal and passing acceleration is almost instantaneous even with modest throttle. That quiet, but distinct soundtrack and effortless cruising really makes the 4.6 feel much much more special than the V6 version. In comparison, the Acura TL or Lexus ES just don't have that added dimension, even if they put up similar 0-60 times.

Of course the biggest gripe that remains to this day is the ride quality. Hyundai had supposedly tuned the American version to have a slightly stiffer ride than the Korean version, but the car is sprung too soft with not enough suspension travel. As a result, the car has a very comfortable ride when going over small road imperfections (e.g., patches, freeway expansion joints, small potholes), but becomes unsettled when hitting a mid-corner bump or going over larger dips and bumps. I believe the suspension basically bottoms out when it encounters larger bumps. The car would likely benefit from stiffer progressive rate springs and/or stiffer shocks. The 2012 update supposedly fixed this issue, but when I test drove the R-spec a while back, the ride did not feel all that much different. This issue is something I can live with, but I can't help but wonder what Hyundai engineers were thinking when they gave the Sonata a much more forgiving ride than the Genesis.

All in all, I'm still very happy with my Genesis. It has decent features, excellent V8 power, and RWD dynamics. The materials inside are of very good quality, especially compared to anything Toyota or Honda puts out these days, and the cabin is roomy and comfortable.

By the fall of this year, Hyundai will likely introduce the 2nd generation car with more advanced features and some subdued version of Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" design language. With the new design, I also suspect the prices will creep up slightly to the $37-55K range. If Hyundai manages to improve the chassis tuning, they should have another hit in their lineup. Maybe in about 8-10 years when my powertrain warranty finally runs out, I will think about upgrading to the 3rd generation Genesis or Equus. By then, we might all be driving hybrid versions and our kids will never know the sweet V8 soundtrack.

Rental car review... 2012 Nissan Versa

http://www.insideline.com/nissan/versa/2013/2013-nissan-versa-sedan-clings-to-cheapest-car-in-america-title.html

Talk about almost a complete opposite driving experience! I was on vacation in Honolulu this past week and was stuck with in a 2012 Nissan Versa. Granted it got over 30 mpg during my mostly city driving, and it did get me from point A to B, but it was probably the second worst car I've ever driven, the worst being a previous gen Versa. The interior was covered with the cheapest grade plastics this side of GM cars from the 90s and the powertrain was so anemic that I had a hard time keeping up with even the laid back Hawaiian driving style. The CVT had a rubber band-like effect, where the power was very soft at tip-in and then it was followed by a non-linear power input, although with just 100-some odd horsepower, the non-linearity was not all THAT obvious.

Despite all that, it seemed to be a very good fit for the application. Most days were spent on the beach, complete with sand everywhere and wet swimming trunks and towels. If it was my Genesis, I would've locked all doors and would not have let anyone or anything inside! For island living, a cheap, simple car is certainly good enough and there's less guilt over getting it dirty!

Oh BTW, it was still pretty awesome to return home to the quiet V8 burble and instantaneous acceleration.

Holiday travels

With what is quickly becoming an end of the year tradition for me, I made the long, 400-mile drive from sunny Southern California to the Bay Area. As usual, the drive was as effortless as it can be and the Genesis handled the high speed cruising without a sweat. The trip computer read ~25-26 mpg on the way up, which is right on with the EPA numbers, but on the trip back to LA, I got it to read 28+ mpg! I calculated 26.8 mpg on the return trip. There may have been some hypermiling mixed in there, but I was definitely going faster than 50 mph and a couple of hours with the A/C running (in early January!) when I got to the valley.

Back in the real world and commuting in typical LA traffic, I find the quiet and effortless driving as relaxing as it can be under the conditions. Sure, the ride could be better, which by the way, I realized, the suspension is very soft and it becomes harsh when the car encounters big bumps and the suspension crashes. If they had used progressive rate springs and dampeners, and/or longer suspension travel, I'd expect ride to be significantly improved. The interior looks as good as the first day and all the bits and pieces show minimal wear and tear. In the coming months, I'll go over some of the distinct features that come with the car, which will hopefully win over prospective buyers and also help current owners rediscover their Genesis.

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.