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2003 Hyundai Tiburon ( GT V6 and Base Styles)
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Revka
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Revka
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The Tiburon does have a number of strong points, all of which make for good around-town transportation, but not necessarily a good sports car. The car is exceptionally quiet, especially when compared to the RSX. Although it never has a rush of power, the engine pulls strongly throughout the rev range, making it a more palatable choice for stop-and-go driving. The shifter is precise, with short throws that are not quite notchy but far from rubbery. And the clutch is also very smooth (unlike that of the RSX which, like most all Honda clutches these days, feels to me like I'm trying to balance on a ball bearing to keep things smooth as it catches). Braking on the Tiburon also felt strong, as the numbers posted by others seem to indicate. And most important, the price of the Tiburon is very appealing.
On the downside, the car is very cramped inside--this is definitely a case of form over function, yet, to put it kindly, the interior nonetheless lacks that certain "Zen" of its Japanese competitors. And the engine's quietness, aside from lacking the purely psychological appeal of the RSX and WRX's heavenly turbine whines, made it almost too easy to bump up against the redline without realizing it. There also seems to be a problem with the Tiburon's center of gravity. The seats are plenty supportive and comfortable, but even minor cornering maneuvers will cause you to be tossed around from side-to-side. This car also just doesn't feel as fast as it should for the category of vehicles it's competing with. Capable, yes, but not fast.
Lastly, there's the stereo. I notice that a lot of posts cite this as one of the best things about the car, and I just don't get it. I actually thought there was something wrong with the first stereo I listened to, so switched to another Tiburon to verify my concerns--but they both sounded the same. All I can say is that while Harman is certainly capable of making good speakers (witness the Lexus Mark Levinson systems), they didn't put them into the Tiburon. Part of my bias might be that I grew up listening to Magnepan speakers and Stax headphones, both of which favor the higher frequencies, but there simply was no high-end response on the Tiburon's Infinity system, and it had a distinct lack of clarity in the rest of the range. If it were me, the first thing I'd do with this car is switch out the OEM speakers with some Infinity Kappas. At a minimum, I'd replace the component tweeters.
In the end, I walked away from the Tiburon thinking that Hyundai had done a fine job for the price. But I also walked away from the RSX--and especially the WRX--thinking that they were worth every penny extra. As much as the Tiburon was good, they were better. Only if I absolutely couldn't afford anything more would I actively choose this car over anything but a Celica. Combine that with horrible Hyundai dealership experiences at both ends of the country, and I feel even less inclined to make the Tiburon plunge.
Revka
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heres the finalists.
1-TIBURON GT V6
2-FOCUS SVT
3-MAZDA P5
4-CELICA GTS
better bang for the money?
lets dicuss it
I personally would check out the SVT, P5, and GT-S from what you have suggested simply because they are nimble, fun cars. Make sure once you have narrowed it down to what cars you like by appearance, features, and cost that you go out and test drive all of your remaining choices extensively. I would personally add to your list the WRX.
Revka
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Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
Just about everybody would agree that Ferrari makes some of the best looking cars. What if you could drive a car with Ferrari 456GT looks for under $20K? Okay, the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon is not a Ferrari clone but there's' no denying that it has Ferrari 456GT styling cues in its sleek new design. It also has some Ford Mustang, Mercury Cougar and Toyota Celica as well, which is not all bad.
A Hyundai? Yes, the company has been working hard to produce attractive cars with performance and panache, and it looks to have succeeded with the all-new Tiburon.
More important, the quality of Hyundai cars has improved tremendously in the past few years, according to the respected quality gurus at J. D. Power and Associates.
Tiburon means shark in Spanish. This Tiburon may not look like a mean machine but the GT V6 version is surely going to stir the waters as it swims among established fish such as the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Toyota Celica GTS, Ford Mustang, and Honda Civic Si.
Driving Impressions
Great looks are important but a great driving experience is really more significant. Fortunately the Tiburon GT V6 does really well. Hyundai is convinced that most Tiburon buyers will opt for the GT V6 evasion and most of them will opt for the six-speed manual version. We couldn't agree more. That's why we tested this version with the Sprint package.
The first thing you'll find out about the GT V6 is that it's got a great engine that revs freely to 6000 rpm. Put the (aluminum) gas pedal to the metal and the front wheels scrabble for grip. Not for long though as the 215/45R17 Michelin tires get to work and the car sprints forward. The engine has a pleasant husky sound thanks to the dual exhaust. Shift into second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth and the car's cruising. If you get lazy and forget to downshift as you putter around town, it's no problem as the engine has plenty of torque at low rpm. We found it'll pull reasonably well in sixth gear from 35 mph. It's a very different driving experience from cars like the Celica GTS and Civic Si that thrive on revving over 6000 rpm.
The power rack-and-pinion steering feels fine, it's precise with just enough feedback for fast driving. Inevitably there's torque steer but it's controllable and actually kind of fun when you're driving round town. On the highway it's barely noticeable. Not unexpectedly the car tends to understeer, what with the weight of the aluminum V6 engine mounted transversely between the front wheels.
During a brief test drive among pylons laid out in the infield of Las Vegas Speedway we found the Tiburon easy to throw around. Like all front-drive cars, it tended to understeer, but it was easy to compensate by using the throttle, brakes, and steering wheel.
The four-wheel disc brakes worked well and stopped the car quickly.
Out on the highway the ride is good on smooth roads but the sports suspension and low-profile tires tend to transmit excessive harshness into the cockpit on rough road surfaces. The handling is fine with little body roll. It's nothing exceptional but more than adequate to hold its own against other like cars. It would be pretty easy to tune the suspension still further to get a really good handling car. Tuners are undoubtedly working on it as you read this.
They've got a good basis to work from: MacPherson struts up front on a subframe and a strut-type multi-link suspension in the rear. All models get anti-roll bars and gas-filled shock absorbers all round. The sport tuned suspension on the GT V6 has 10-percent stiffer spring rates, stiffer compression in the gas-charged shocks and thicker anti roll bars front (23mm vs. 20mm) and rear (19mm vs. 18mm).
We didn't get a chance to try the four-cylinder Tiburon model. It should still be a reasonably fun car to drive with a manual transmission as the engine delivers 140 horsepower, which is 23 percent less than the V6.
If you prefer an automatic transmission, go for the GT V6 and you'll not give up much in performance, especially as the automatic includes Shiftronic manual control.
Final Word
Hyundai has been on a roll for the past couple of years in the US. Its cars are remarkably better than they were a few years ago, both in quality as well as in style. Nobody needs to be embarrassed driving around in a Hyundai anymore.
Indeed, driving a 2003 Tiburon GT V6 will elicit smiles all round. For under 20 grand it is a great car. Spend the cash saved on accessories and one could have a super cool car for less money than a stock version of one of its competitors. Perhaps the Tiburon is a shark after all -- it may well eat some of the other cars it's swimming with.
ANY PROBLEMS ?
SOLUTIONS?
WHATS GOOD AND BAD ABOUT THIS CAR?
THANKS
Revka
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Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
As for the good and bad about this car, I'm completely and totally biased. I LOVE it! It's a smooth ride and a beautiful car. I've had the same car for years and I can't tell you just how great it is to watch people check out this car! I haven't found a single problem at this point with the exception of the gas mileage. I'd highly recommend it!
Kae
Thanks for the feedback on your new 03 Tiburon. It looks like I may have to make a visit to the dealer because I definitely get a different ride at 65mph and abobve, than when I'm at a lower speed.
To buster34- Hope your vibration problem is resolved soon. Just a guess, but it sounds like your tires may need balancing. You shouldn't hesitate to taking it into the dealer, especially since you just bought the vehicle. Good luck, and please keep us posted.
Revka
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Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
I think this model Tiburon has the potential to one day become a "classic" among sport coupes due to its stunning lines, and as I have SEEN during the last year with the Santa Fe...at first it seemed only "I" had one...now I see them everywhere. I expect the same will happen with the Tib...especially THIS version! All Hyundai needs to do is consider bumping HP/TQ to around 200/200 to give the car nearly unbeatable performance, solve the roof problem (if there is a large scale one), and KEEP this super-stunning body style for at least 5 or 6 years, THEN resale will hold up well as more and more people rush out to buy them! THIS "foundation" is the perfect starting point to form a lineage of superb sports cars...I hope all Tiburon owners will use the power of the pen to let Hyundai KNOW what a serious hit this car is!
Just one small suggestion: if you have a long message, it will be easier for people to read if you break it up into smaller paragraphs. Participants will be more likely to read your entire message if it's easy on the eyes. We look forward to hearing more about your Tiburon experience. Thanks for your participation at Town Hall. ;-)
Revka
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Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
hud
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I test drove the 2003 tibby the other day. I REALLY wanted to like this car. But I'm not sure if I do, now that I drove it. My overall gripe (and I know not many of you are going to like this) is that I think the car (at MSRP, despite whatever additional bogus surcharge the dealers are asking) is overpriced. Remember when Car and Driver said in the review that they think it's priced about right (i.e. not particularly a bargain?) Well mark my words, I think in a few more months the Tib will be selling at or around dealer invoice (example: Today a local RI dealer offered me a loaded Jet Black Tibby V6 at $19.9K, including delivery (versus $20.5K MSRP). I'm still waiting for them to go down). Ok, now for the test drive. The plusses: buttery smooth clutch, awesome seats, great rear view mirrors and logical, well-read controls and gauges. Back seat room is not as bad as the critics make it sound. Handling good at low speeds. Low road/outside noise. Relatively good quality inside, for the $. The minuses: Handling at high speeds. The critics were right, the nose of the car is too "floaty" at high speeds, and the suspension is more harsh than I would like it over rough payment.... I would probably be nervous driving this car above 75 mph. I think others would concur. I currently drive a 1998 Ford Contour SVT (MSRP new $23.5K; I paid $17.5K for it (used) in 1999). The Contour SVT handles like it is on rails. I am not saying I would take my car over a Tiburon GTV6, but in terms of performance it is better. Howevr the clutch and shifting action in the Tiburon is much better than any Ford, including my Contour SVT.
If I was in the market for this car (the Tiburon), I would (and will) SERIOUSLY consider the Ford Focus SVT. It is getting great reviews and at list price (again, at *MSRP*) is about $1200K less than the Tiburon. I have owned two 'specialty' Fords in my day, a 1994 Ford Taurus SHO and a 1998 Ford Contour SVT. The SHO gave me some trouble after 70K miles, the Contour is at 77K and I have had very little trouble with it. I also would seriously consider an Acura RSX-S, the list MSRP is only about $2500 more than the Tibby. A few used 2002 RSX-S are popping up at around $21K, they have about 3K miles on them.
The bottom line (my opinion) is this: Buy the Tiburon if you can get it at (the maximum) a few hundred above dealer invoice. I believe the dealer invoice for a loaded GT-V6 with 6-speed is $18,700...The car is a bargain at $19K and some change, no more. Anxious Tibby buyers, hang in there and wait, the price will come down soon enough....
This car is definitely hot... I am all about the stares and pointing. It is a pretty fast car, too, but I was wondering about performance parts and custom accessories. If anyone has info please write back.
Revka
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Hatchbacks & Wagons Boards
I went to:
<http://www.knfilters.com>
and searched their product list for 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. They came up with "no products listed". Then I changed the search to 2002 Hyundai Tiburon and they listed air and oil filters for the 2.0 liter engine. Looks like you might have to wait a bit. They came out with the Elantra GT filter about 6 months after introduction.
For the past 6 months or so I have been reading all the posts for many of the vehicles in this very hot category and decided on the '03 Tiburon. I have had it for 2 days and absolutely love it. I will write a longer user review soon.
I test drove the RSX type S and found it very appealing, but for 23K plus, it seemed a bit pricey. Also the get into it's power band(also for the Celica GT-S) you need to rev it into the 5-7K range, and for normal driving, that's a little outmoded. The 6 speeds are more mated to these four cylinder mini-racers.
I chose the 5 speed over the 6 speed because IMHO for a six cylinder(2.7L) engine, it's more of a gimmick that anything else. Again for everyday driving a 5 speed is more practical.
From jbmalik-("Handling at high speeds. The critics were right, the nose of the car is too "floaty"
at high speeds, and the suspension is more harsh than I would like it over rough
payment.... I would probably be nervous driving this car above 75 mph. I think
others would concur.")
I just don't see the bad handling at high speeds. I had my tib around 90 on the freeway and it was just fine. And coming from a camry('97 traded in on tib), the tib positively hald the road just fine. Now, if you're talking about doing over 75 on a winding road with rough pavement, I'll have to get back to you...the mtn roads in western NC could accomodate that sort of test if I get the nerve to try it out.
From lngtonge18-("Second, both cars had a very noticeable clutch shudder.")
Again, my 5 speed doen't seem to have any clutch shudder. Very smooth so far. I haven't really pushed it through the gears yet though, so we'll have to see.
My other car is my sentimental favorite, a '90 laser. I had no interest in the new eclipse, too many garish body lines. The 1-2 gen laser/talon/eclipse are my favorite by far.
So, overall I picked the Hyundai it's looks, price and testdrive. Under 20K was a nice sweetspot. More to come, thanks for reading,
John
I'd get an SVT Focus for 2 grand less.
'Motorweek reviewed the new Tib and it was all praises"
Car & Driver did a comparison and it came in second to last, the only one it beat was the Beetle, which isn't really much to brag about:
"The shape is sufficiently wowee! to draw second and third glances, although it begins to look a bit amateurish on closer study"
"the Tiburon is not excellent at any task"
"Acceleration by most measures trails the others'"
"On the skidpad its 0.82-g grip edges only the Mitsubishi. Nearly the same story in braking, too"
"This is a machine of unrefined flavors"
"The cockpit smells of unpleasant chemicals. The doors slam with a junky note. The ears and the seat of the pants report a heavy-footed ride; it clomps over the bumps."
"the steering is lifeless and lacking in the feel of precision that makes a great sporting car"
I think there are many better choices out there, and they appear to agree with me. 20+ grand for a little two door Hyundai? If it was 16 or 17 I could see it, Hyundais are supposed to be cheap, thats the main thing they usually have going for them over the competition. The Tib doesn't appear to have that going for it, and doesnt appear to have much else to take its place.
Get to know your service manager.
In case you hadn't noticed Hyundais aren't the most reliable cars in the world. Just because they've got a hefty warranty doesn't mean they are reliable, although they sure seem to have fooled a lot of people into thinking thats what that means. JD Power has some Hyundais listed as the worst for initial quality in the world. Something like 300+ problems for each 100 cars in the first 90 days.
"DSM on the limited-production SVT Focus is around 4-5K, if you can find one, putting it in the 23K+ range."
Who told you that? I've seen them in my town for MSRP and Edmunds has TMV pegged at under MSRP.
"The Focus SVT does have better handling"
And braking. And its not much slower for having a little 4 cylinder compared to the Tibs inefficient V6. The small difference in straightline speed isn't enough to keep the Focus from mopping the floor with the Tib on any sort of race track or twisty road. Or keep it from winning comparos.
good. Now it looks too simple and awkward with that Celica-similar slant-triange headlight. A tuned Tibby or a tuned Focus-what would be your poison? Or a commuter Focus left stock from the factory or a commuter 4cyl 5-speed Tiburon left stock from the factory? I'd take the South Korean offering for the brisk and lively looks anyday!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
http://www.tuscani.be/news/index.cfm/news_ID/11
FOCUS SVT-
As for the Focus. I own a ZX3, and the first year reliability was not that good. I went through many recalls. I am sure it is a better car now--3 years later. But Fords customer service is not that great. As for reliability. JD Power as wekk as consumer reports has recently given Hyundai a good rating as far as improvement in the quality of the cars. So just because Ford is a seasoned car maker, doesn't mean they are built with rock solid reliability.
http://www.tuscani.be/news/index.cfm/news_ID/11
FOCUS SVT-
As for the Focus. I own a ZX3, and the first year reliability was not that good. I went through many recalls. I am sure it is a better car now--3 years later. But Fords customer service is not that great. As for reliability. JD Power as wekk as consumer reports has recently given Hyundai a good rating as far as improvement in the quality of the cars. So just because Ford is a seasoned car maker, doesn't mean they are built with rock solid reliability.