potential mirabeau 3.8GT owner - Genesis Forum: GenCoupe Hyundai Genesis Coupe Forums

WhatsDone · 03-09-2010, 06:15 PM

Hey all,

I've been reading these forums for a long time now, but I finally joined to use the search function. Heh.

Unfortunately, I don't own a GC yet. Right now I'm juggling a few prerequisites: friend is teaching me manual, I'm saving money, and I'm dodging flak from my folks about getting a sports car, etc. Most importantly, I'm intensely picky/paranoid/OCD so I tend to spend a ton of time in the research phase prior to a major purchase. I just spent a month looking at what parts to buy for upgrading my PC, and I was "this close" to parting with the $800+ before I decided to prioritize other things above having a powerful PC.

I've been following news about the GC since the crazy orange concept car. I've been drooling over cars since I was 10 (I'm in my early 20s with a real paycheck now). However, I know more about the auto industry than I do about auto parts. So I actually had to look up the acronym "CAI" and after reading about the apex seals in a Wankel engine, I'm confused as to how piston rings stay lubed without leaving some oil behind in the combustion chamber. Please pardon my noob-ness

Anyways, I'm just saying "hi" and thanks in advance for the help I get from you all as I shop for my first car. In case you're curious (and I hope you are because I could use all the help I can get), my short-list includes:
• 2006-'08 Honda S2k
• 2009 Mazda RX-8 --leaning towards R3
• 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT w/Navi (my current top choice)
...all 6spd M/T...preferably blue, would settle for black

Very different cars, I know. I like them for different reasons, but they all have different flaws that bug me. Although, I haven't test driven any of them. I've only driven an A/T 3.8 GT without Navi. I was originally going full-tilt on the GC, but then I read it has a tough manual transmission.

P.S. I tend to write really long posts & edit them multiple times. This was my attempt at a short one. Don't worry, my replies should be much shorter than my thread-starting posts. On a completely unrelated note, I haven't joined a large forum for a long time and the features of this version of vBulletin are awesome.

Rejor · 03-09-2010, 06:48 PM

OO! OOO!!! I wanna answer!!

Sorry I feel excited for some reason.

First, welcome to the sports car club.

Second, if you want to make your parents feel better, tell them you'll be getting a hyundai.

lol

Look, we all started somewhere with cars and modding and what not. I started pretty late in life (22) before I got into modifying cars, although I've always helped fix certain car parts. So feel free to ask questions and search around.

I didn't know the RX-8 was cheaper than the 3.8L Gen coupe...

well in any case... the RX-8 will give you horrible, and I mean HORRIBLE gas mileage. Those wankel engines also need proper care... they burn through oil as part of the design, and for it to last will need proper care and love. For your first sports car, I don't recommend the RX-8 unless you're willing to put plenty of time and money into caring for the car.

The Honda S2000 is a good car though. It's also a convertible, which I personally dislike, but for autocross and the track, it's a hot little car. Practicality is near-nil though, but that's pretty much true for all sports cars anyway.

As for the Gen coupe, you actually don't have to opt for the 3.8L V6 if you don't want to. the 2.0L turbo track model can be had for under MSRP... I guess some people gotthem for 24 grand, which is a couple thousand under MSRP. Also, for the money, you get a LOT. go through the hyundai website and look at the brocure.

Either way, if you go for the gen coupe or honda s2000, you can't go wrong. Both are good cars for different reasons. I personally think that the gen coupe would be a better daily driver that can still kick ass at the track or autocross.

Oh, but no, I don't own one yet.

Rejor · 03-09-2010, 07:03 PM

Oh, about the RX-8...

It's a different class of sports car in a way. It's lightweight and very nimble, and very fun to drive.

But I can't rightly recommend it to ANYONE, simply because of its outrageous fuel consumption. I've read plenty of reviews where people got as low as 12 miles per gallon in that car. My friend only gets about 15 on a day to day basis.

A better alternative, if you wanted to go Mazda, would be the Miata. Good little car, and a LOT of fun to play with. Yes, it's a girly car, but that thing is a beast around the cones.

WhatsDone · 03-09-2010, 07:45 PM

1st) You replied to my thread 1 minute before I finished my last edit on my first post, and you replied a 2nd time before I finished writing this post...lol

2nd) I just read your sig. I have to admit that I laughed at the magnetism joke.

On to your questions/points, one car a time...

RX-8
You insult me, sir. Haha...I really appreciate your giddiness, but I have spent countless hours reading about the RX-8. I know about the oil burning, I know about the engine flooding. Perhaps I should post the spreadsheet I created that lists all the pros/cons I noted for each car

• cost - I saw a used RX-8 R3 with 23,440mi for < $24k. The 2008 (pre-refresh) models are around $20k and that's the GT trim (upper tier). Also, pre-2009 models have the extra 6yr/100,000mi powertrain warranty. It was retroactively instated in an effort to earn some brownie points with consumers such as yourself who have a negative impression of the Wankel's reliability.
• "for it to last will need proper care and love" - I've been waiting over a decade to have my very own sports car. I have lots of pent up love in store. That's not weird, right?

Seriously though...similar to how I wanted to be able to fiddle with my PC, I don't mind learning about DIY car maintenance. In fact, I look forward to it (actually, I already started looking into how to change oil on the RX-8 and S2k).

I should note that whatever car I get will be my only car, and it will have to work as a daily driver for the months when I don't work at a subway-accessible office. The number of months could vary a LOT, but "worst" case would be all 12 months out of the year.

Anyways, this note brings me to a point: RX-8 could be a great daily driver. It has decent room, I dig the 4 door thing, and despite having amazing handling, the suspension is said to absorb potholes better than most sporty cars. Even so, I'm not about to defend the RX-8 til the end of time. It has the worst fuel economy, extra/special maintenance required is never a pro, and it's hard to find in blue, which is the worst con of them all! Hahaha. However, I had a neighbor who owns an older RX-8 and hasn't had much trouble, and the 2009 model I'm interested in is less prone to have the common pre-2009 RX-8 problems.

S2000
The pros & cons of the S2000 are very different. The only similarities with the RX-8 are technical: high revs, smooth shifting, superb handling, lack of torque. However, the S2000 is reportedly faster off the line and easier to launch. One source (CNET) says that it's VERY difficult to aggressively launch the RX-8. However, I mainly use that source for impressions of the cabin, not the performance. On a side note, I laughed when I read the thread in the Media sub-forum where everyone was hating on CNET. I love Brian Cooley, and he was actually being complimentary to the GC in his steadfast way (see the final score & editor's emmer-effing choice award!!), but everyone here was put off by his tell-it-like-it-is nature.

But back to the S2k. I like roadsters and coupes, and the S2k seemed to be the best of the roadsters for my tastes/budget. However, I am a bit worried about the upkeep on the vinyl roof. I heard it's the only part of the car that doesn't have legendary Honda quality. As for practicality, the trunk is big enough for groceries and weekend getaway, plus you can't forget about the decent fuel economy coupled with top-notch reliability, but yea...it's definitely the least practical of the 3. If I end up buying a snowboard next year, I'd never be able to take the S2k to those mountain roads

It's also my least fav in terms of looks. It's got a Japanese retro thing going on that may not grow on me. I like the driver-centric controls, but the overall style inside is dated while the style on the outside is a bit plain (and I'm not a fan of body kits so that solution is out). Plus, I'd have to invest money/time in upgrading the stereo head unit, which looks like an aftermarket unit from the 90s. Despite all this griping, I much prefer the look of the S2k over that of the Miata

The RX-8 R3 is my fav in terms of looks (and the pre-2009 models are growing on me despite their pre-refresh, Pickachu-esque fascias). I'm a sucker for the RX-8 fenders. The S2k looks plain by comparison. The GC has great lines, but I think I might have to replace the grill if I buy a GC.

2.0T vs 3.8GT
Here's the thing, I really love the features of the GT. The HID, heated seats, upgraded stereo, good navi & LCD screen, etc. All that awesome tech really resonates with my inner nerd...and I have an engineering degree so my inner nerd takes up quite a large percentage of me. My thinking is as follows: if I try to save money by getting the 2.0T, then I may as well save money by getting a used car that has better performance (S2000) or more amenities (RX-8) than the 2.0T.

Rejor · 03-09-2010, 08:22 PM

Ok, well then, I bow to your prior research :P

From what I understand (and keep in mind, I don't have the gen coupe) the 2.0T Track version should come with all the grand touring goodies, except for nav. I think the only major difference between the 2.0l T track and the V6 track is the optional navigation package and the different colors and full leather interior.

Well either way, if you want daily drivability, then either the gen coupe and mazda rx8 would be a good choice (the latter being if you're willing to fork over a high annual fuel bill :P) I have to admit though that I do like the looks of the RX-8, but the fuel consumption is a killer for me.

As far as performance, well, do you want to spend time and money into the aftermarket? If so, then do some research in that too. I don't know the aftermarket support for the RX-8, but last I checked (about a couple years ago) it wasn't that good.

Now, as far as used sports cars go, I 'm not much of a fan of buying a used sports car. You just never know how the prior owner banged up the car. Still, it's a good option too. You might want to look at the Nissan 350Z, you can find a used one for a really good price. Same with the Infiniti G35. Although, I'm not a fan of the G35's looks at all.

On another note, if you decide to buy new, you can't really beat Hyundai's powertrain warranty, if you decide not to modify. If you decided to go for the RX-8, it would probably be good to get a pre-09 model just for the extra warranty.

Oh, and for the manual tranny, I've also heard that it has a tougher manual than some... but I doubt it can be that bad. It certainly couldn't be as hard as the nissan 350z's tranny, that thing had a stiff clutch pedal (for me). Of course, right now I'm used to my VW's tranny, and that's easy as hell.

Don't worry, in time you'll get used to whatever manual car you buy. Before you know it, you'll be (attempting) rev matching like the rest of us ^.^

WhatsDone · 03-10-2010, 07:48 AM

2.0T Track vs. 3.8 GT
Well this is where my pickiness comes into play. While no one can object to having better brakes, I don't care for the spoiler or unforgiving suspension. Out of the 3 cars on my list, the GC is the only one where reviewers were surprised by how stiff it felt over bumpy roads...especially the Track level GC. I also like the side mirror turn signals and back up warning system. I've always wondered why back up warning systems aren't more common. They don't seem very costly, but then again the cheap obstacle avoidance system I implemented on a small robot car in college didn't work so well. Lastly, since I live in the mid-Atlantic region, I can benefit from the GT's heated seats AND heated side mirrors.

Aftermarket
For now, upgrading my future car is unlikely for a few reasons, but I know the RX-8 has plenty of support going on. From what I can tell, cold-air intake seems to be one of the more common upgrades, but it's also prone to flooding the engine with water when it rains

. This could just be an RX-8 issue and I only heard it from 1 person, so it might not be a widespread problem.

I have access to a garage in a suburban neighborhood, but it's a bit cramped so I don't know if I can do much more than maintenance work. Its driveway is also really steep so I can't use that for car work. I live in an apartment so I can't do much there either.

For now, the only aftermarket work I have in mind is window tinting. For the S2k, I'd swap the audio unit. For the GC, I'd probably change the grill (at least to the chrome version), and I might change some of the lighting (switchback turn signal, LED tail lights) depending on whether or not I think the aftermarket lighting looks cool or too obnoxious. I don't want drivers cursing at me because my turn signal blinded them.

Buying used
Initially, I had reservations too, but the common mode of thought seems to be that used cars are worth the savings so long as you do your homework. You got to put in more effort when shopping for used cars, but you end up saving a ton (or in my case, buying a $32,000+ car for $20-25k). That's not to say that the GC is a bad value. I completely agree with you on the GC's amazing feature set. It definitely seems more like a $30k car (except for some cheaper interior materials).

The only thing I'm actually worried about when it comes to buying a used car is the negotiation process. For a new Gen Coupe, I can shop around and I have a lot more leverage. For a used car, no 2 cars are the same so I can't directly compare their prices in a bid to gain leverage at the negotiation. Rarity is an issue. For example, there's only one RX-8 R3 for sale near me, and most S2ks are in silver, which isn't one of my 2 picks for color.

Nissan Z, Infiniti G
I really dislike the look of the 350z (and that's putting it lightly). Among a multitude of gripes, those headlights are not working for me. The G35 is pretty bad too, IMO. I can't believe so many people compare the GC to the G35 and G37. Yes, they have similar bodies, but they have completely different front fascias. If the body were all that mattered, there would be no need for the term "butterface."

Furthermore, the interiors of the z-cars and G-coupes aren't my style. The G-coupes have a very busy-looking cluster of buttons for the non-touch LCD screen + a very boring layout of buttons for climate & audio. I've never been in a 350z, but I've sat in a showroom 370z. The interior lacked a solid sense of identity. There is no cohesive theme. I'm being very critical here because while I lack true artistic talent, I've developed a critical eye from dabbling in web design, photoshop, sketching, and painting...so I like a car to please the eye with a sexy exterior and a cohesive (aka not an after-thought) interior. The GC isn't perfect in my eyes either, but it's a lot better than the Z or G.

The 370z has very posh interior materials coupled with out-of-place elements such as ridiculously cheap-feeling door handles. I thought they were going to break under the force of my scrawny hand. The super serious gauges are joined by a "you can't be serious" LED fuel/temp gauge...imagine a kid on his 10spd mountain bike showing up for a Harley Davidson meet up. The LCD screen controls get the same dash of overkill as its Infiniti cousin. Without the LCD screen, the empty space is turned into a random cubby. Double you. Tea. Eff. I realize they designed the interior with the LCD screen in mind, but the trade off is that the interior w/o the screen looks rather sad.

All of this might lead you to wonder why I don't bash the dated look of the S2k, but at least that car has cohesion. The theme is alive and well, not convoluted and indiscriminate. Although like I said before, the S2k audio head unit is a joke...maybe that's part of why they have a cover that flips up/down over it.

Manual trans
My concern mostly stems from the fact that I'm still new to M/T. Another concern is that I do experience heavy traffic on my commute at least once a week. By that, I mean approximately 40 minutes of stop-and-go plus 20 minutes of steady traffic. However, I am not too concerned about traffic because my friends who do drive manual say it's worth it in the end despite also experiencing heavy traffic at times.

Rejor · 03-10-2010, 08:23 AM

Yeah, some people have a problem with manual tranny in stop and go traffic. Me, I've never had a problem. I guess it's different for several people.

Well, as far as modding goes... it looks like you might catch the bug sooner or later :P Make sure you're happy with whatever you decide to buy. No car is perfect. Once you drive it for a few months, you'll find what you want to modify or change out, and that's where it all begins. ^.^

Cold air intakes CAN run the risk of hydro-lock, but you would have to submerge the intake to run the risk of it. Of course, you could also buy a water shield or a filter as well. Just don't go over any large puddles and you'll be fine.

Of course you could also opt for a SRI, a short ram intake. It's basically a tube with an air filter on the end of it. The cons of this is that it's closer to the engine, so it'll take in warmer air. But, if you can fix it up so that it's near the grill where there's good airflow, then that will alleviate that problem. A heat shield can be placed near it too.

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I have no use for back up signals or self-parallel parking :P lol.

Anyways, good luck with your decision!

WhatsDone · 03-29-2010, 12:23 PM

Instead of making a new thread, I'll just re-use my original one...

I recently found out that I will be commuting to a different location for work. The news is good and bad because it means 20 minute subway rides instead of 30-50 minute drives. However, now I feel like buying a car "sooner rather than later" might not be so smart. Without a daily drive, it'll take longer to break-in the car. On the weekends, I either do a lot of driving (100+ miles to visit home town) or no driving (stay in the city). I'm not sure what to do. My brain says to wait, but my feet say buy >.<

I'll probably go test drive anyways. I don't wanna waste the 3-4 hours I've spent practicing stick shifting.

By the way, any one think 3-4 hours of practice isn't enough? I'm worried I might stall during the test drive, resulting in the sales guy thinking I'm a joke (I've already had 1 sales guy not take me seriously because I'm in my low-20s).

Wullu5 · 03-29-2010, 01:47 PM

Don't worry about the whole shifting thing. Every MT has a clutch that engages at a slightly different point, with a slightly different feel. If you can drive a stick, then you can drive a stick.

I have been driving and riding manual trans for over 30 years (yeah I'm OLD...LOL). I almost dumped the first shift when I took both the 2.0 and 3.8 out for test drives. If the sales rep has any brains at all, they know that, and not taking a customer seriously is the best way I can think of to burn a sale.

Remember, you are the one there to write the check. That puts you in charge. If you are not getting the service you feel you deserve, let them know. I do the jeans and t-shirt thing all the time, and many the sales rep for various high priced items have felt the sting of their boss's boot after I explain that me and my coin are leaving because of lousy service.

happytheman · 03-30-2010, 09:47 AM

1st post here! Just joined yesterday after forum stalking for a week or so.

1)I thought I'd just 2nd Wullu5's comment about each M/T being different. I've been driving 'em for ~20yrs now and recently test drove the 3.8 base w/ M/T. Lemme tell ya: my Matrix XRS's clutch doesn't grab until the top of it's travel so I was REALLY surprised when the GC grabbed just shortly off the floor. I jumped and bounced my way through the first couple of take offs, and the rest was butter.

2)Any salesperson with any experience taking folks for test drives in an M/T is going to expect to be at the Rodeo for a few lights, so don't sweat it!

GrayGen38 · 03-30-2010, 10:14 AM

Having traded in a '08 S2K for a 3.8 Track A/T, I might be able to help a little bit with the differences between the 2. For a DD, the S2K was just to small. If you are driving it in city traffic, not much fun, since in order to enjoy this car, you really need to it rev out. Nothing like the sound and feeling when you hit 6K and that car really comes alive. The S2K is also not a quite ride. Not the easiest car to get in and out of on a daily basis either, the drivers seat takes a lot of abuse as far as wear goes in this regard. As for the top, I was always amazed that they bothered to ad the extra wieght and make it electric. It would literaly take like 5 seconds to drop it manually. As for mpg, I actually am getting worse milage in my gen than I did in the S2k. Peformance wise, the S2k really felt tight. When I first drove the Gen, I was a little dissappionted in its handling, compared to the S. Ride quality on a daily basis, well in the S, your practicaly sitting on the ground, despite this, it rode fairly nice. The Gen feels faster, just gets up to speed quicker than the S seemed to.

If you have any other question about the S2K, please feel free to PM me. I had the S for 18 months, got it new, traded it in with 12k on the odometer.

WhatsDone · 03-30-2010, 11:45 AM

Thanks for the encouraging words, fellas.

GrayGen - Your impressions are pretty much in-line with what I've read (S2k has better gas mileage, handling, etc...but the GC is a better daily driver and pulls faster in a straight line). The only question I have for you isn't exactly 100% about the S2k: why'd you decide to trade for the GC? Was it because the GC is just easier to live with on a daily basis?

GrayGen38 · 03-30-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhatsDone

Thanks for the encouraging words, fellas.

GrayGen - Your impressions are pretty much in-line with what I've read (S2k has better gas mileage, handling, etc...but the GC is a better daily driver and pulls faster in a straight line). The only question I have for you isn't exactly 100% about the S2k: why'd you decide to trade for the GC? Was it because the GC is just easier to live with on a daily basis?

Actually I had just finished a test drive on a new STI, when I spotted the Gen in the lot. To answer your question, that is the exact reason. For me, the S2K was just getting too hard to live with as a DD. Just the lack of storage for me was really the biggest issue I had. I play alot of golf, and even though i was able to fit my clubs in the trunk, barely, it then left me with no room for anything else in the car.

WhatsDone · 04-02-2010, 06:51 PM

Visited dealer tonight (Fitzgerald Hyundai). I got there way too late, but nice guy named Han Su showed me the car. He was a funny guy with a funny accent, but I had trouble understanding him at times because he talked kinda fast and didn't really enunciate...haha. At one point he mentioned how the 2011 Sonata had a recall already, and I remember thinking to myself, "Why is he bringing up that subject? How random." He also said the Sonata recall isn't "public knowledge" but seeing as how I read car news, I already knew about the recall.

Sadly, they sold the cheaper of the two 3.8 GT Man w/Nav.

I didn't have much time. I wasn't originally going to drive it, but I ended up driving it a couple blocks (from their backup lot to their main lot). Obviously, I didn't get to test the car's acceleration. I told him I didn't have much experience with manual...that made him nervous, but he eventually let me drive the car a bit. I didn't really push the subject considering that it was so late (beyond their closing time), and this dude was so nice to me. Unfortunately, I managed to stall once at a stop light

...I also forgot to change gears at a stop sign and ended up moving the stationary car via 2nd gear...and it wasn't bad

Quick impressions (vs. when I test drove a 3.8 GT Auto w/o Nav last summer)
Good
• Brown leather looks way better than I remember
• Nav screen is small, but well positioned.
• I found a more comfortable seating position. Last summer, I wasn't too comfortable.
• Never saw black in person before. Looks good...especially with chrome "whiskers" in the foglight housing.
• No hood alignment issues...and this car hadn't gone through PDI yet (still had white wrap on the hood and trunk lid).

Bad
• Steering wheel leather feels way crappier than I remember

• Bluetooth connected with my phone, but it didn't transfer contact info...is there a 2nd step necessary for that process?
• Tested the Bluetooth by calling a friend. He said that my voice sounded muffled. This could be due to the fact that I had my head down (looking at my phone) while talking and the mic is in the headliner...woops

Neutral
• Suspension seemed stiffer, but it's probably just because I drove on crappier roads. Felt more bumps/jolts, but nothing too serious.
• Steering wheel is smaller than I remember
• Clutch pedal is stiff, but not as difficult as I was expecting. I think finding the right seating position really helps deal with effort needed for left foot.
• Shifter was pretty notchy, but I heard about that beforehand, and I didn't think it was that bad. Definitely something I wouldn't care about.
• I coulda sworn the one I drove last summer had aluminum pedals with gas pedal hinged at the heel, but that was not the case this time

Questions
• How do you check the Bluetooth firmware version # in a coupe that has the nav? Just go through the menus?
• Is it just me, or is blue a rare color for the GC? I want blue so badly! (unless the brown leather doesn't look good with blue)
• Salesman said that you don't have to be at a stop to change into 1st. True or false? I read here that you have to be stopped or going freakishly slowly (2-4 mph max)...and yes, I just used 2 adverbs in a row. I do that all-too-frequently.

I'm going back tomorrow morning to spend more time looking at the car. I want to play with the nav and whatnot. I'm not sure if I will get nav because I'm sure my future smartphone will have navigation built-in (especially if I get an Android phone). On the other hand, I love the look of the nav and I despise the out-dated look of the non-nav display. I still can't believe it uses a fixed-segment display instead of the pixel-based display that shows torque and instant mpg in the nav-equipped coupe.

My only qualms are the price (they sold the $26.4k 3.8GT and now the only GT they have is $27.1k...I didn't want to go over $28k OTD, but I might if it's my only option) and the super cheap-feeling steering wheel. Oh yeah, and I really want Mirableau Blue, but it seems like no dealers have a blue GT. Sales guy said the chances of them getting a blue one within the next 3 months is only 75% and it's unlikely that they can do a factory order. I also imagine they would charge more than if I buy a car that's sitting on their lot =/

xMinus81x · 04-03-2010, 06:20 AM

Good luck and "early" congrats on the car.

The Mirabeau Blue GT can be hard to find from what I understand. I had the option of 2 in the region. One with Nav and one without Nav. I wanted the one without because I like the uNavi system that PowerAxel will be carrying. Unfortunately it turned out to be a demo with ~1500 miles already on it. So we went with the one with Nav.

Hefley · 04-03-2010, 07:00 AM

Bring your girlfriend (or someone to pretend to be your girlfriend if you don't have one) when you go test drive. That way the sales guy won't ask to come along on the test drive (unless he's freakishly small). Whatsdone, I know you've done a lot of research, but you should seriously test drive the 3.8 track (auto), the suspension isn't that rough, the roads where I live are terrible, and It didn't bother me a bit. The ZF auto on the track is pretty quick too, I've read reviews where people tear it apart (and yes in full auto it is slow to down shift), but for pure acceleration it's quite good (especially if you're inexperienced with an M/T). It has the heated seats and everything else you mentioned, you can probably manage a trunk swap if you really hate the spoiler, and the loss of a backup sensor isn't really a big deal.

Edit: Does the GT have the same ZF gear box? I can't remember if they put a faster one in the track or not? If not, then try the GT (auto) if you haven't. =P

Quote:

Salesman said that you don't have to be at a stop to change into 1st. True or false? I read here that you have to be stopped or going freakishly slowly (2-4 mph max)...and yes, I just used 2 adverbs in a row. I do that all-too-frequently.

You don't have to be stopped to shift to first, just don't release the clutch until you're almost stopped. i.e. hold in the clutch while pressing the brake and putting the car in first. Once stopped or nearly stopped, press the gas and release the clutch.

Quote:

I'm not sure if I will get nav because I'm sure my future smartphone will have navigation built-in

I have a Droid, and that's all the more reason to get Nav. The bluetooth Pandora streaming / mp3 functionality is much easier with a touch screen...

Quote:

Oh yeah, and I really want Mirableau Blue

Hold out for what you want, don't settle and regret it later. Check other dealerships or have them transfer one from another dealer.

WhatsDone · 04-03-2010, 08:08 AM

All automatic transmissions for the 3.8 coupe have the same ZF gearbox. I'm not sure about 2.0T (I know you can't get the ZF on base or premium 2.0T).

The main reason I don't go with Track is because I think the performance features are overkill for me so I'd rather not spend extra money. My budget is closer to 28k OTD, and Track models go over that threshold.

As for color...I'll likely wait for blue unless a dealer is willing to sell me black for an extra nice price

Hefley · 04-03-2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhatsDone

All automatic transmissions for the 3.8 coupe have the same ZF gearbox. I'm not sure about 2.0T (I know you can't get the ZF on base or premium 2.0T).

The main reason I don't go with Track is because I think the performance features are overkill for me so I'd rather not spend extra money. My budget is closer to 28k OTD, and Track models go over that threshold.

That being said, you may want to try out the GT auto. Driving a stick in stop and go traffic is not fun, and the flappy paddle gear box is almost as much fun as driving a manual

P.S. Once I move up to D.C. and finally get my Mirabeau Blue 3.8 Track w/Nav we should meet up and compare our sexy new wheels

hajimah · 04-06-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhatsDone

2.0T Track vs. 3.8 GT
Well this is where my pickiness comes into play. While no one can object to having better brakes, I don't care for the spoiler or unforgiving suspension. Out of the 3 cars on my list, the GC is the only one where reviewers were surprised by how stiff it felt over bumpy roads...especially the Track level GC. I also like the side mirror turn signals and back up warning system. I've always wondered why back up warning systems aren't more common. They don't seem very costly, but then again the cheap obstacle avoidance system I implemented on a small robot car in college didn't work so well. Lastly, since I live in the mid-Atlantic region, I can benefit from the GT's heated seats AND heated side mirrors.

Aftermarket
For now, upgrading my future car is unlikely for a few reasons, but I know the RX-8 has plenty of support going on. From what I can tell, cold-air intake seems to be one of the more common upgrades, but it's also prone to flooding the engine with water when it rains

. This could just be an RX-8 issue and I only heard it from 1 person, so it might not be a widespread problem.

I have access to a garage in a suburban neighborhood, but it's a bit cramped so I don't know if I can do much more than maintenance work. Its driveway is also really steep so I can't use that for car work. I live in an apartment so I can't do much there either.

For now, the only aftermarket work I have in mind is window tinting. For the S2k, I'd swap the audio unit. For the GC, I'd probably change the grill (at least to the chrome version), and I might change some of the lighting (switchback turn signal, LED tail lights) depending on whether or not I think the aftermarket lighting looks cool or too obnoxious. I don't want drivers cursing at me because my turn signal blinded them.

Buying used
Initially, I had reservations too, but the common mode of thought seems to be that used cars are worth the savings so long as you do your homework. You got to put in more effort when shopping for used cars, but you end up saving a ton (or in my case, buying a $32,000+ car for $20-25k). That's not to say that the GC is a bad value. I completely agree with you on the GC's amazing feature set. It definitely seems more like a $30k car (except for some cheaper interior materials).

The only thing I'm actually worried about when it comes to buying a used car is the negotiation process. For a new Gen Coupe, I can shop around and I have a lot more leverage. For a used car, no 2 cars are the same so I can't directly compare their prices in a bid to gain leverage at the negotiation. Rarity is an issue. For example, there's only one RX-8 R3 for sale near me, and most S2ks are in silver, which isn't one of my 2 picks for color.

Nissan Z, Infiniti G
I really dislike the look of the 350z (and that's putting it lightly). Among a multitude of gripes, those headlights are not working for me. The G35 is pretty bad too, IMO. I can't believe so many people compare the GC to the G35 and G37. Yes, they have similar bodies, but they have completely different front fascias. If the body were all that mattered, there would be no need for the term "butterface."

Furthermore, the interiors of the z-cars and G-coupes aren't my style. The G-coupes have a very busy-looking cluster of buttons for the non-touch LCD screen + a very boring layout of buttons for climate & audio. I've never been in a 350z, but I've sat in a showroom 370z. The interior lacked a solid sense of identity. There is no cohesive theme. I'm being very critical here because while I lack true artistic talent, I've developed a critical eye from dabbling in web design, photoshop, sketching, and painting...so I like a car to please the eye with a sexy exterior and a cohesive (aka not an after-thought) interior. The GC isn't perfect in my eyes either, but it's a lot better than the Z or G.

The 370z has very posh interior materials coupled with out-of-place elements such as ridiculously cheap-feeling door handles. I thought they were going to break under the force of my scrawny hand. The super serious gauges are joined by a "you can't be serious" LED fuel/temp gauge...imagine a kid on his 10spd mountain bike showing up for a Harley Davidson meet up. The LCD screen controls get the same dash of overkill as its Infiniti cousin. Without the LCD screen, the empty space is turned into a random cubby. Double you. Tea. Eff. I realize they designed the interior with the LCD screen in mind, but the trade off is that the interior w/o the screen looks rather sad.

All of this might lead you to wonder why I don't bash the dated look of the S2k, but at least that car has cohesion. The theme is alive and well, not convoluted and indiscriminate. Although like I said before, the S2k audio head unit is a joke...maybe that's part of why they have a cover that flips up/down over it.

Manual trans
My concern mostly stems from the fact that I'm still new to M/T. Another concern is that I do experience heavy traffic on my commute at least once a week. By that, I mean approximately 40 minutes of stop-and-go plus 20 minutes of steady traffic. However, I am not too concerned about traffic because my friends who do drive manual say it's worth it in the end despite also experiencing heavy traffic at times.

the fact you're still new to m/t can be fixed in 1 days worth of stop & go traffic. before getting my gc.. ive only driven a m/t car in a parking lot & failed miserably at that.. after 1 days traffic of going to & back from work. and i go through 1 hour of stop & go traffic each way to work, you get used to it very fast unless you're a slow learner

but i would agree with your friends. i made the sacrifice of driving comfortably in traffic for having a little fun ( dont ask why but i find m/t fun).

WhatsDone · 04-06-2010, 02:03 PM

^I think I know what you mean. When so long as the shifter doesn't feel completely imprecise and rubbery, then there's an added sensation of satisfaction that I get when I use a manual. I can't wait to "row on my own" in a longer test drive.

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