Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Base
Earlier last week I did an inventory search and located a silver 3.8 Base 6-speed coupe at one of my local dealers, and went to drive it on Friday. I got the Mazdaspeed 6 all shined up with full hair and makeup to see what they'd offer me for it.
I guess my research skills are slipping, as I wasn't aware until I arrived that ALL 3.8 coupes come with leather. I vowed a long time ago that I don't want leather, so....strike 1.
It's a sharp handling little coupe, and I really like the interior, minus a complete lack of headroom in the back seat for someone my height. This 3.8 had none of the 'wandering' tendencies that I noticed in the 2.0 from last weekend. The 6-speed has shorter throws than pretty much anything I've driven in years and it had a very positive feel to it. I came away slightly disappointed with the power. It lacked the frenzied urgency I've experienced in the G35 and G37 coupe when you prod the pedal. That 3.8 is no VQ. It felt as though Hyundai may gave gone a little too far in their attempts to give it a totally linear powerband. There were no surprises as the tach swept the scale. At over 300hp, this car is obviously heavier than the handling lets on. Overall, I was not blown away as I expected to be. Strike 2.
The final decision maker happened when the salesman had me park the coupe directly behind my car. When we had gone back inside to let the bean counters work their calculators, I looked out the dealership window and had a clear view of the cars parked together...perfect for helping me decide which one I like better visually. A feeling washed over me that forced me to ask myself why I was even considering trading my car on something that in no way looked any better. It didn't help matters that I had just come from getting the MS6 inspected and every tech in the shop stopped by to make a fuss over my car and ask me questions about it...and inquire how I'd managed to only have 9300 miles on it.
Then, the unexpected. The dealership's General Manager did my appraisal. He didn't know I was watching, and as he drove my car away, I got so sick to my stomach I thought I might lose my lunch. The phrase "what the f*ck am I doing?" kept repeating in my head as it disappeared down the street.
So, by the time they were ready to talk numbers, I had taken a fine-toothed comb to the white 2.0 Premium coupe on the showroom floor, and done a little mental math of my own. I came to the conclusion that a Genesis Coupe wouldn't be replacing my car and that an automaker will have to cough up something better than this to get me to trade. I like the Genesis, but not enough.
Their initial offer: Genesis 3.8 base $23,999 + TTL. MS6: $14,000. I was left with the impression that there was a LOT of wiggle room in both these numbers. They even offered to transplant cloth seats into the 3.8. This dealer was ready to make a sale. Unfortunately for them, I wasn't.
Earlier last week I did an inventory search and located a silver 3.8 Base 6-speed coupe at one of my local dealers, and went to drive it on Friday. I got the Mazdaspeed 6 all shined up with full hair and makeup to see what they'd offer me for it.
I guess my research skills are slipping, as I wasn't aware until I arrived that ALL 3.8 coupes come with leather. I vowed a long time ago that I don't want leather, so....strike 1.
It's a sharp handling little coupe, and I really like the interior, minus a complete lack of headroom in the back seat for someone my height. This 3.8 had none of the 'wandering' tendencies that I noticed in the 2.0 from last weekend. The 6-speed has shorter throws than pretty much anything I've driven in years and it had a very positive feel to it. I came away slightly disappointed with the power. It lacked the frenzied urgency I've experienced in the G35 and G37 coupe when you prod the pedal. That 3.8 is no VQ. It felt as though Hyundai may gave gone a little too far in their attempts to give it a totally linear powerband. There were no surprises as the tach swept the scale. At over 300hp, this car is obviously heavier than the handling lets on. Overall, I was not blown away as I expected to be. Strike 2.
The final decision maker happened when the salesman had me park the coupe directly behind my car. When we had gone back inside to let the bean counters work their calculators, I looked out the dealership window and had a clear view of the cars parked together...perfect for helping me decide which one I like better visually. A feeling washed over me that forced me to ask myself why I was even considering trading my car on something that in no way looked any better. It didn't help matters that I had just come from getting the MS6 inspected and every tech in the shop stopped by to make a fuss over my car and ask me questions about it...and inquire how I'd managed to only have 9300 miles on it.
Then, the unexpected. The dealership's General Manager did my appraisal. He didn't know I was watching, and as he drove my car away, I got so sick to my stomach I thought I might lose my lunch. The phrase "what the f*ck am I doing?" kept repeating in my head as it disappeared down the street.
So, by the time they were ready to talk numbers, I had taken a fine-toothed comb to the white 2.0 Premium coupe on the showroom floor, and done a little mental math of my own. I came to the conclusion that a Genesis Coupe wouldn't be replacing my car and that an automaker will have to cough up something better than this to get me to trade. I like the Genesis, but not enough.
Their initial offer: Genesis 3.8 base $23,999 + TTL. MS6: $14,000. I was left with the impression that there was a LOT of wiggle room in both these numbers. They even offered to transplant cloth seats into the 3.8. This dealer was ready to make a sale. Unfortunately for them, I wasn't.