Car and Driver: 22 cars track tested

willyolio · #1 01-11-2010, 02:09 PM

The Lightning Lap, 2009 - Feature - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver

the genesis coupe was second place in their "under $30,000" category. first place was the mustang GT, by 1.5 seconds. always surprised me how well that car performs with a solid rear axle. however, they were using an automatic transmission... it quite possibly could have matched or beaten the mustang if hyundai had provided the manual.

Quote:

For reasons that defy the most routine logic, Hyundai lent us a six-speed-automatic version of its 306-hp rear-drive pony car instead of one equipped with a six-speed manual. And that automatic was this car’s greatest weakness.

When too much heat builds up in the transmission during hard lapping, electronic safeguards cause it to short-shift. It then takes a lap to recover. Also, there are two places where the car needs to be in second gear—Oak Tree and the Spiral—and the transmission, no matter now many times the manumatic paddle shifter was tapped and prodded, would not select it. The ZF six-speed is one of the finest automatics on the market, but a transmission is no good on a track if it won’t follow commands.

The optional track-tuned suspension, part of the Track package, is too taut for daily-driver duty but felt right at home at VIR: It delivered lots of feel without abrupt oversteer. With Brembo-supplied brake hardware, also part of the optional Track equipment, there was none of the brake fade plaguing most of the LL1 competitors. If Hyundai can supply us with a manual gearbox next time, we think the Genesis has a shot at grabbing the LL1 crown from the reigning 2006 Nissan 350Z Track (3:12.5)

other surprising results: the 370z NISMO crashed when the brakes failed. apparently nissan felt it was appropriate to stick street pads on a NISMO vehicle.

dic51 · #2 01-11-2010, 06:36 PM

With all the manual tranny issues to date, maybe they were afraid of subjecting one to this harsh a test. Still not too bad, 2nd under 30K

Great in depth article. Thanks for the post

Tufast · #3 01-11-2010, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dic51

With all the manual tranny issues to date, maybe they were afraid of subjecting one to this harsh a test. Still not too bad, 2nd under 30K

Great in depth article. Thanks for the post

+1....thanks for the post, great find & read.

Sabbasaun · #4 01-11-2010, 09:28 PM

Nice read and good showing for Hyundai. Too bad Hyundai didn't supply a manual, it probably would have beat the Mustang time wise, especially if they couldn't get the car in the right gears for part of the track.

Also too bad they didn't compare more things like features. To get leather seats on the Mustang GT you have to get their GT Premium which MSRPs at $32,245, $2,745 more than the Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track at $29,500 MSRP. According to Ford's site you have to add another $1530 to the Mustang for the "Track Pack" which includes the 19" Pirelli tires that improved the Mustang by 5 seconds. Oh yeah, you don't get HID lights on the Mustang unless you pay another $525 for the HID Lights and then another $325 for the "Security Package" (you have to get both options). Then you still don't get heated seats in the Mustang, another $595 for their "Comfort Package". That's a total of $5,790 more than the Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track. That's a lot of mods you can do for that money. But that's MSRP pricing of course. Actual difference will prob be lower. A visit to Edmunds.com to reflect what you might actually pay but it still reveals a nice gap: Edmunds Pricing for a Genesis Coupe 3.8 Manual Track is showing up at $29,361 and for the Mustang GT Premium (w/ 19" wheels, HID lamps, 3.73 LSD, Security Package, Comfort Package) is at $31,854, a $2493 spread.

Hmm now that I think about it the Genesis Coupe wins the LL1.

ryke12 · #5 01-11-2010, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabbasaun

Nice read and good showing for Hyundai. Too bad Hyundai didn't supply a manual, it probably would have beat the Mustang time wise, especially if they couldn't get the car in the right gears for part of the track.

Also too bad they didn't compare more things like features. To get leather seats on the Mustang GT you have to get their GT Premium which MSRPs at $32,245, $2,745 more than the Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track at $29,500 MSRP. According to Ford's site you have to add another $1530 to the Mustang for the "Track Pack" which includes the 19" Pirelli tires that improved the Mustang by 5 seconds. Oh yeah, you don't get HID lights on the Mustang unless you pay another $525 for the HID Lights and then another $325 for the "Security Package" (you have to get both options). Then you still don't get heated seats in the Mustang, another $595 for their "Comfort Package". That's a total of $5,790 more than the Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track. That's a lot of mods you can do for that money. But that's MSRP pricing of course. Actual difference will prob be lower. A visit to Edmunds.com to reflect what you might actually pay but it still reveals a nice gap: Edmunds Pricing for a Genesis Coupe 3.8 Manual Track is showing up at $29,361 and for the Mustang GT Premium (w/ 19" wheels, HID lamps, 3.73 LSD, Security Package, Comfort Package) is at $31,854, a $2493 spread.

Hmm now that I think about it the Genesis Coupe wins the LL1.

Honestly if you were looking at that kind of price spread between the GC 3.8 and the Mustang GT, wouldn't it make more sense to just use the 2.0T? That would widen the gap to over $5k, and that can pay for a good bit of kit. I'm also not so sure the track times between the 3.8 and 2.0T are too different stock-for-stock, but I haven't seen any comparative track times.

On the other hand, this is the now-old Mustang GT. I suspect the new 5.0 would turn a much, much quicker lap time, and the new V6 Mustang Track Pack is rumored to be extremely fast as well, thus destroying the GC anyways.

I still like my car regardless

Insane · #6 02-08-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dic51

With all the manual tranny issues to date, maybe they were afraid of subjecting one to this harsh a test. Still not too bad, 2nd under 30K

Great in depth article. Thanks for the post

Great article...

I don't agree with you on the M/T issues though. I mean, the early builds had issues with downshifting into 1st, and 2nd being hard to engage when cold, and some had a 5th gear grind, but the first two would really be a non issue in this setting (not cold), and the 5th grind seemed to be an early build issue. Other than that, I'm not sure what other manual tranny issues there have been. The RPM hang and redline shifting power cut were ECU issues that were fixed.

I think the ZF has had much worse issues for being the most high end A/T out there really. The issue they brought up with the ZF combined with the fact it can freeze up in cold weather (although this wouldn't be an issue in this setting either) would concern me if I was considering it.

"When too much heat builds up in the transmission during hard lapping, electronic safeguards cause it to short-shift. It then takes a lap to recover. Also, there are two places where the car needs to be in second gear—Oak Tree and the Spiral—and the transmission, no matter now many times the manumatic paddle shifter was tapped and prodded, would not select it. "

Just my take though...I'm M/T biased.

dic51 · #7 02-08-2010, 01:47 PM

^^I agree with you. I was mostly joking but I was afraid the M/T would have issues when I bought mine so I went with the A/T. I think that most issues will be remedied on the upcoming models and I will definately go M/T when I trade in after the lease. For daily driving the auto is great. Gives you enough control to play when you feel like it and when you don't, you can just throw it in drive and let it be. On the track is another matter though.

The only issue the ZF has had that I am aware of isn't with the transmission, it's with the shifter and/or the shift cable. Far as I'm concerned, the overheating wouldn't be a factor because I wouldn't be on the track with this car unless it was a manual...lol. I do wish the A/T shifted a little quicker but I guess you can only expect so much from a "budget" sports car.

And yes...I was a bit disappointed when my cable froze up and it got stuck in Neutral.

Tufast · #8 02-09-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dic51

^^I agree with you. I was mostly joking but I was afraid the M/T would have issues when I bought mine so I went with the A/T. I think that most issues will be remedied on the upcoming models and I will definately go M/T when I trade in after the lease. For daily driving the auto is great. Gives you enough control to play when you feel like it and when you don't, you can just throw it in drive and let it be. On the track is another matter though.

The only issue the ZF has had that I am aware of isn't with the transmission, it's with the shifter and/or the shift cable. Far as I'm concerned, the overheating wouldn't be a factor because I wouldn't be on the track with this car unless it was a manual...lol. I do wish the A/T shifted a little quicker but I guess you can only expect so much from a "budget" sports car.

And yes...I was a bit disappointed when my cable froze up and it got stuck in Neutral.

Updated cable has been ordered for your vehicle & it has been released, but on back order....LoL

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