So I had the chance to drive the new hyundai genesis coupe, the 2.0L Turbo model.

Right off the bat, well, the interior is pretty nice. But the moment I started to go in first gear... well I think the traction control is real sensitive. Granted, it's been a rainy day, but I shouldn't feel the rear wheels jerking like it's losing grip right off the bat, and I wasn't even trying to do a quick start or burn out.

With the traction control off, it was better. But, something about the ride... just doesn't fit. Yes the quality is fair, considering it's a sports car. The engine and exhaust note sound nice. As I was carving up some corners though, the car just seemed to be kind of dead. I wasn't having fun.

The engine isn't as torquey as you would be led to believe either. Compared between this and my Rabbit, it seemed about the same. It could be the car's weight, it is a bit of a porker.

I couldn't help but thinking back to when I test drove a v6 ford mustang 3 years ago. I had a lot more fun in the older mustang than this car.

Edit :

One other thing. I couldn't help but notice that when I was close to red-line, after going into the next gear it felt like the car was lagging, as if something was limiting fuel flow.

That lagging is prob the cars power really dropping off.
When i test drove a mazdaspeed 3, it felt the same way

The lagging you felt might have been the turbo lag? Waiting for the turbo to spool up.

Not to bash the Genesis Coupe, but part of the reason why I still can't trust Hyundai/Kia brands... click. (http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/11/first-hyundai-genesis-coupe-crash-looks.html) I know that there's probably more to the story than those pics. And I know Hyundai has recently been getting good marks on crash safety ratings all around. But I'm sorry, those pics don't help my confidence. On the plus side the cabin seems to be intact for the most part. But I'm sure the faceplant on the top of that steering wheel wasn't painless (no matter how crash optimized it was made to be).

Anyway I've been looking into RWD sporty coupes also. I think I'm just growing out of the hot hatch obsession and want something that's a little more sporty and aggressive looking. I was checking out craigslist randomly and bumped into a 350z with 30k miles for only $17k, which is actually cheaper than what I paid for my Rabbit. It definitely opened up my eyes a bit. There's also something about a 350z that just looks really sexy to me. I don't know... I might seriously buy a used one eventually.

In an angular crash like that, the airbag won't deploy.

I wouldn't trust the feeling of driving a sporty coupe in the rain. However, I do know exactly what you mean. I drove my friends G35 couple (in the rain, oddly enough) and it just felt like a big slow tank. The 2.0T isn't making a lot of power to push that big car. The 2.0T is definitely the tuner engine - I woulda driven the V6 to feel the potential of the car.

I've driven my moms hyundai elantra and have checked out several other hyundais and the quality just isnt there. I'm not saying the genesis is this way, but she's had several problems where interior pieces just fall off from regular use. After sitting in and even driving any hyundai I have in the past... it makes my rabbit feel like a luxury car. Again -I'm not speaking for the genesis, just all other hyundai's I've sat in and driven.

The lagging you felt might have been the turbo lag? Waiting for the turbo to spool up.

ahhhhh. duhhh. :)

that car really blows by the way.

the only way id buy it was if it was the genesis coupe gtr with a rotary engine with pistons and headers.

I have a 2005 Sonata 4 cyl. with 5 spd. I paid $12.500 new and to tell you the truth it's not that bad a car, I know Hyundais have had issues in the past, but for the money it was a good buy. I don't know if I would pay more for one? I plan on running the piss out of this one until it's no longer cost effective to fix because the resale value on these cars is junk.

my buddy just got a fully loaded elantra, ill tell you how it is :)

In an angular crash like that, the airbag won't deploy.

With that kind of force to do that much damage, they actually would deploy, the airbags don't deploy with impact at all, The sensors detect something called "stopping velocity", incense if you had good enough brakes you could deploy your airbags (obviously impossible). I think he stopped fairly quickly.:eek:

If it sheered across the front of his car, it's entirely possible he didn't come to much of a stop at all. It would be a much more centered impact. But because of the angle, he may have 'slid' off of whatever he hit. I got into 3 accidents in my previous car with no airbag deployments.