Hyundai Coupe (new shape 2003-) any good?
Discussion
I brought a v6 a couple of months ago as a plaything/track car to tide me over while I buy a house.
They are great value for money right now. If you go for the v6, don’t worry about “only” having 160 bhp. On the track day I went on a few weeks ago, it was keeping track prepped Bmw 325’s honest in a straight line.
Overall they are a bargain but don’t hop in expecting modern technology. My impression of the car was that it’s a 2003 car built with mid-nineties technology.
Everything from the fact I had to tighten the throttle cable when I got it (what’s one of those I hear you ask), the infrared central locking, the relatively poor hp to mpg ratio (it has over 100hp less than my Z4C yet does less MPG) and the popup electric aerial all point to it being built by a car maker who is a little behind the curve.
Only issue I had with it was when I came to replace the brakes for track, the rear sliding pins had seized and the Hyundai garage wanted some fairly strong money for a new set.
Don’t let that put you off, for the money they are excellent if you can take the fuel economy. Handling wise they are pretty good for a fwd. The steering rack is quick enough and the car is easy to place. It’s doesn’t sit on its toes like a clio 172 but you won’t find a good clio for the same money (I know, I tried)
On track the traction control had to be turned off as you get a little bit of slip from the inside wheel but nothing that impacts driving. As long as you have the tyre pressures set correctly, no real torque steer to mention.
It does tend to push into understeer on the track (not had a problem on the road) but it’s manageable. If you mess about with the brakes when cornering you can get the back to step out but that’s about the closest you will get to tail led action.
A worthy contender at the price point though. (However for track work I intend to go back for RWD when funds allow)
Oh yes……it terms of everyday use, it make a lovely cruiser. I had to drive to Newcastle and back to London after my track day for an emergency work meeting and it ate the miles up. Very pleasant place to spend time.
They are great value for money right now. If you go for the v6, don’t worry about “only” having 160 bhp. On the track day I went on a few weeks ago, it was keeping track prepped Bmw 325’s honest in a straight line.
Overall they are a bargain but don’t hop in expecting modern technology. My impression of the car was that it’s a 2003 car built with mid-nineties technology.
Everything from the fact I had to tighten the throttle cable when I got it (what’s one of those I hear you ask), the infrared central locking, the relatively poor hp to mpg ratio (it has over 100hp less than my Z4C yet does less MPG) and the popup electric aerial all point to it being built by a car maker who is a little behind the curve.
Only issue I had with it was when I came to replace the brakes for track, the rear sliding pins had seized and the Hyundai garage wanted some fairly strong money for a new set.
Don’t let that put you off, for the money they are excellent if you can take the fuel economy. Handling wise they are pretty good for a fwd. The steering rack is quick enough and the car is easy to place. It’s doesn’t sit on its toes like a clio 172 but you won’t find a good clio for the same money (I know, I tried)
On track the traction control had to be turned off as you get a little bit of slip from the inside wheel but nothing that impacts driving. As long as you have the tyre pressures set correctly, no real torque steer to mention.
It does tend to push into understeer on the track (not had a problem on the road) but it’s manageable. If you mess about with the brakes when cornering you can get the back to step out but that’s about the closest you will get to tail led action.
A worthy contender at the price point though. (However for track work I intend to go back for RWD when funds allow)
Oh yes……it terms of everyday use, it make a lovely cruiser. I had to drive to Newcastle and back to London after my track day for an emergency work meeting and it ate the miles up. Very pleasant place to spend time.
[quote=(steven)]I brought a v6 a couple of months ago as a plaything/track car to tide me over while I buy a house.
Oh yes……it terms of everyday use, it make a lovely cruiser. I had to drive to Newcastle and back to London after my track day for an emergency work meeting and it ate the miles up. Very pleasant place to spend time.
[/quote]
Thanks for this. I have settled for the 2.0l as I felt it was a decent compromise fuelwise. Even though they do seem to like a drink considering engine cc, they're such a bargain that I didn't feel it mattered.
It does seem to sound very healthy and rather meaty (and I am talking 2.0L here not the V6) and according to all bills and service history very little has gone wrong with it bar consumables.
Let's hope the trend continues, I am picking it up Monday!
Oh yes……it terms of everyday use, it make a lovely cruiser. I had to drive to Newcastle and back to London after my track day for an emergency work meeting and it ate the miles up. Very pleasant place to spend time.
[/quote]
Thanks for this. I have settled for the 2.0l as I felt it was a decent compromise fuelwise. Even though they do seem to like a drink considering engine cc, they're such a bargain that I didn't feel it mattered.
It does seem to sound very healthy and rather meaty (and I am talking 2.0L here not the V6) and according to all bills and service history very little has gone wrong with it bar consumables.
Let's hope the trend continues, I am picking it up Monday!
My wife has a 2005 2.0SE and quite honestly it's a good car, bar the performance which is merely 'adequate'. By far the best point of the car is it's handling, it's corners with virtually no roll and fairly quick steering which makes it feel fun to drive. Fuel economy on a run is pretty good, 40mpg is achievable on a steady run with cruise control though this drops significantly if you try to extract the sort of performance the looks suggest it should have 
. Reliability has been excellent during her ownership (as was the Hyundai Accent she had before). Rear seats are pretty good for a coupe, though headroom is limited. Boot space is also useful, making it a reasonably practical car even if you have a sprog or two.
One thing to watch out for is the clutch; they seem to be relatively short lived on the 2.0L and they have a very light pedal with a biting point that seems to take about half of the travel; takes a bit of getting used to. We test drove four cars and they were all simmilar, one needed a new clutch at just 50k miles and it feels like my wifes car will need a new one within the next 12 months (70k miles).
The stalks are also reversed compared to many cars; indicators on the right, wipers on the left.
I saw a supercharged V6 for sale recently and was very tempted, but I suspect economy would be a killer for my 60 miles a day.
. Reliability has been excellent during her ownership (as was the Hyundai Accent she had before). Rear seats are pretty good for a coupe, though headroom is limited. Boot space is also useful, making it a reasonably practical car even if you have a sprog or two.One thing to watch out for is the clutch; they seem to be relatively short lived on the 2.0L and they have a very light pedal with a biting point that seems to take about half of the travel; takes a bit of getting used to. We test drove four cars and they were all simmilar, one needed a new clutch at just 50k miles and it feels like my wifes car will need a new one within the next 12 months (70k miles).
The stalks are also reversed compared to many cars; indicators on the right, wipers on the left.
I saw a supercharged V6 for sale recently and was very tempted, but I suspect economy would be a killer for my 60 miles a day.
Had a 53 plate 2 ltr for the last eight years, and apart from a new clutch it`s not really needed anything apart from a new exhaust centre section and a new set of discs and pads. Need the cam belt doing every 50k so make sure it`s been done.Performance wise,no they won`t set the world alight but it`s adequate, especially if you value your licence. The 2 ltr only puts out 138 bhp and the 2.7 168 bhp but the v6 can be a thirsty little thing.Avoid the 1.6, it makes a milk float look powerful. Insurance is cheap aswell.
As with any car buy the newest and best example you can afford.
As with any car buy the newest and best example you can afford.
Depends what you're comparing them with.
Look pretty sporty, but drive fairly vanilla - Certainly not a driver's car and they're not quick either.
More like a 1.6 Astra Coupe than a cheap 350Z.
If you want something reliable and fairly cheap to run that looks a bit different, it's a good choice, but a hot hatch will probably be more fun to drive.
M.
Look pretty sporty, but drive fairly vanilla - Certainly not a driver's car and they're not quick either.
More like a 1.6 Astra Coupe than a cheap 350Z.
If you want something reliable and fairly cheap to run that looks a bit different, it's a good choice, but a hot hatch will probably be more fun to drive.
M.
Ask any Hyundai dealer how reliable they are/were as many will be outside of the dealer network now. I think you'll find they simply did not go wrong full stop.
They generally do not go wrong & especially when compared to the VAG equivelant. I'd prefer to pay a little more in fuel & worry less about one going wrong.
They generally do not go wrong & especially when compared to the VAG equivelant. I'd prefer to pay a little more in fuel & worry less about one going wrong.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff