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Increasing tire pressure essentially increases the stiffness of the tire and consequently the spring constant of the suspension system. This, in turn, increases the roll stiffness of that particular axle.
If your increase the tire pressure in the front tires, your car will understeer more. OTOH, if you increase the tire pressure in the rear tires, your car will understeer less. In the extreme case of over pressuring the rear tires, your car may even oversteer, which is a dangerous handling trait for a street car.
While it is okay to experiment a bit with tire pressures, I would encourage you to do it gradually and bear in mind the consequences of those changes.
That being said, I am enthusiastic about the car and want it to handle just right. Good consistent tire pressures are a help.
Would not care to analyze the number of mechanical factors involved in understeer vs oversteer. I use the "smile factor" as a guide.
all had sunroofs listed as an option @$ 750.00.
Which I didn't realize at the time,sunroofs,16"
wheels,memory seats & mem.mirrors are stanard on the xg300,but extra or N/A on the 300L.Do most dealers not have the regular xg300's,or did this
dealer load up on these? One of Hyundai's recent magazine ads showed the 300,stating 16"wheels,etc.
an eight disc CD player free if you opt for the
manual A/C,otherwise $ 447.00 invoice.Is unit in trunk or dash?
Think the optional CD changer is in the trunk.
In agreement with others, I find the stock stereo system quite good.
I do not need a back seat driver reminding me to be cautious and would really rather discuss the merits of the car.
I think the best category for the XG300 is Entry-Level Luxury. The ride is smooth and quiet, the interior is nicely appointed, and the exterior design is quietly stylish. The car seems designed to carry the passengers and driver to their destination in comfortable and stress-free atmosphere.
There are certainly trade-offs to be made:
- the XG will never thrill with its acceleration. It's more than adequate, but you probably can't spin the tires with a good push on the "go" pedal. (Even if you turn off the traction control)
- The steering is surprising responsive and the turning radius is quite small for so large a car , but it doesn't handle like a sports car. (On the other hand, it doesn't get bothered by a bit of snow on the roads, either.)
To potential buyers looking for an Entry-Level Luxury Car:
Give this one a test drive. You might be as pleasantly surprised as I was. I had no knowledge of this car at all when I stumbled across it.
I will concede that in many cases he can be quite learned.
If I'm remembering right, he is a real lover of VWs and likes small motorcycles (under 750ccs). He currently drives a base Hyundai Sonata (4 cyl), which he modifies a lot (e.g., adds fog lights, etc.), and a Nissan pickup truck. An odd combination for someone who opines so much about driving. He has never owned a real overall driver's car.
0-60 in 9.3 secs
17.1 sec 1/4 mile
braking 70-0 in 198 feet
top speed 126 mph (est)
roadholding .77 g
observed fuel economy of 16 mpg.
That is poor.
I personally find the power adequate, especially during mid range and freeway passing. I have yet to race anyone at a stop light, but the pickup is fine for me. I suspect however that it would be hard to burn rubber with this vehicle.
To really test the power/torque you'd have to use the manual mode because it's possible in a test vehicle that the fuzzy logic in the transmission may have adapted to shifts at lower rpm from previous drivers.
That's a guess though. I really don't know how persistent the learning is. On the Subaru you could disconnect the battery to start from scratch. I really wish that Hyundai would publish more technical data for their customers who are interested in such things. We're the only ones being kept in the dark as I'm sure their competitors have already taken the vehicle apart. I have found that my dealer has a very competent mechanic who likes to talk about the cars but I shouldn't have to bug him to get basic data. End of rant. Maybe the "My Hyundai" part of their revamped web site will help.
Nevertheless, I've got 2300 mile now, am adapted to the vehicle, and am still very pleased.
Thanks
the US-spec. XG300.
It doesn't have a trade name, so Hyundai Motor America
christened it Shiftronic.
It had 5 miles on it when I drove it home. Well, 700 miles later it handles nice, acceleration seems a lot better then the numbers. Gas mileage
was 24 combined, and that was with three adults, and highway speeds of 70-75 on cruise.
Hyundai has 16" wheels (chrome) listed in an option book, with the note that to be announced at a later date.' One last thing, if you currently own a Hyundai, you are eligible for a 1500.00 loyalty rebate.
I should tell you that I wasn’t even considering buying a Hyundai when I walked into the dealership recently. I worked at Abt Associates back in the mid eighties and was responsible for analyzing Hyundai’s customer satisfaction surveys back in days of the Excel and the Sonata. I saw the raw results from the surveys and customers were really not happy. Given my exposure to Hyundai’s dirty laundry, there was no way I would ever buy from them.
Well, you know what they say about never, say never. I had just test drove a Chevy Impala at a dealership next door and had some time to kill so I wandered over to the Hyundai dealership. I was going to see what the Sonata was looking like these days when the XG300 caught my eye. I quickly took a test drive and I fell in love. The XG300 has everything I wanted in the more expensive cars that I wanted (Lexus, Avalon, etc.) but couldn’t afford. I still couldn’t get over the fact that it was a Hyundai however so I continued to shop around. In the end I drove the Chrysler 300, Dodge Intrepid, Toyota Camrey, Chevy Impala, and Honda Accord.
The final decision was between the Accord ES and the XG300L. The Honda was a great car and would have lasted forever but it just didn't excite me. After driving the XG300 two more times and taking into account Hyundai’s awesome warranty (I got the 10year B to B extended w), I took the leap. With all the extras that this car offers how could I not.
I know I am breaking two cardinal rules of car buying. The first of course is don’t buy the first year model of a car and the second being don’t buy a Hyundai. With the options, the price and the warranty however, I couldn’t see how I could lose.
I just brought the car home today so I can’t offer any real feedback on performance or quality yet. I will certainly do that though as I think this forum was very helpful.
The car has been trouble-free so far and the break-in seems to be going on nicely (engine seems to rev more freely, brakes are more responsive).
Still impressed with how well this car handles snow.
We went to the VW dealer today to redrive the Passat 4cyl and came back from that drive with the typica ho-hum response. However, like another person in this discussion list, we stumbled across the GX300 as we were leaving the dealer (it was a VW and Hyundai dealer). Of course we were amazed by the fact that such a big car was, in fact, a Hyundai. In fact, when the salesman asked if we wanted to take a test drive, we kind of looked at each other like we were embarrased to be seen driving a Hyundai--but we couldn't resist. We were both extremely surprised by the looks, fit and finish, ride, performance, and especially the price of the GX300--sorry VW it was lightyears better than the Passat!
But one thing we cannot get over is the fact that it IS a Hyundai! Yes, it has a very impressive warranty but you can't drive a warranty if your car is always in the shop being fixed--for free.
So we ponder...is this a good buy or not? PLEASE HELP!
We would appreciate any feedback from Hyundai owners--especially those who already own a GX300.
1. The Camry XLE V6 (expensive);
2. Ford Taurus (are they really the best deal?)
3. The XG300 (first year in North America)
Any opinions?
Each of the cars you listed are decent. Depending upon how much you want to spend each can be equipped somewhat similarly, though the XG300L would be the most well equipped.
While at the Omaha Auto Show last week I spent hours sitting in and crawling thru a lot of cars. Spent a lot of time in the XG300. It made a good impression on me and my wife, who doesn't like Hyundai. All I wish the XG300 had are rear air bags/side curtains and the multi-link trunk hinges that don't intrude into the trunk. Other than that, the car is nicely equipped, roomy, functional, tastefully styled, competitively priced, and backed by a great warranty. (I love my current '00 Sonata GLS V-6 w/leather, sunroof, etc. It has be reliable for first 12,000 miles. I'm trying to talk wife into an XG300L.)
"Once out on a test drive, though, they will find they are driving the finest Hyundai ever sold in the U.S... this is the most un-Hyundai-like Hyundai we have ever driven... V-6 is so wonderfully smooth and quiet... interior of the car is first-rate. The standard leather seats are absolutely top-notch, both in their quality and comfort level... the well-placed controls have a high-quality look and feel... handles fairly well... can cruise effortlessly at high speed... suspension soaks up bumps capably with a minimum of road and wind noise..."
They are very worried about crash tests and I have been unable to find any info on the GL300. Does anyone know where to find that info? I have been looking on the web without any luck. I have not had a chance to go to the dealership but with a few days off will probally go shortly for a test drive. I would also like to know about the shifting on the GL300. I understand it is a automatic but the extra "manual" is getting a little confusing. My understanding is that it could be used like a manual but my parents said the salesperson stated to use it more like lower gears on a automatic (most cars have drive 1,2,3 to use for a little more power or snow but not to be used for long times).
**If you could please respond quickly.**
My Mother was in a accident with a 98 Chevy Malibu and will probally have to decide quickly if she does not want to rent a car. In case anyone was wondering the Malibu did very good in a crash. The Malibu (going about 55 mph) was T-boned by a Oldsmobile (going about 30-40 mph ?) on the front pass. tire to the end of the front pass. door and both drivers walked away with a little soreness and that is all. The damage to the Malibu is probally considered alot (broken axle, both air bags depolyed, front pass. suspension needs replacing, new tire, pass. door buckled, front fender flare,body work to rest of pass. side and probally more but that is with quick look) but considering how hard she was hit to be able to walk away with only being sore is great in my book.
Thank you for any info
Also... for those concerned about Hyundai quality: My 1992 Hyundai Sonata just passed away, but not until I had 258,500 miles on it. I drove it hard, and didn't take very good care of it, so I can honestly say I got my money's worth out of it! The XG300 looks super!
There is a world-wide New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The US participates as do the Europeans, Australians, and Japanese. I don't know about the Koreans. Surf the web and you'll find the Euro-NCAP, Aus-NCAP, and Japan-NCAP. At least one of these sites likely has already tested the XG300, which goes under a different name overseas (e.g., Grandeur). It was on sale in Australia before the US and may also have been on sale in Europe and Japan earlier as well.
DLR Discount -3,312
Rebate -500
TOTAL $21,995
As per my earlier posts, there have been even larger discounts in recent weeks.
Be aware that some advertised prices include this price break - my advice is to read carefully and when in doubt, phone and ask.
This is a fine car, and getting a nice break off of MSRP is icing on the cake. With what I've seen about how the car is put together, a good price, and a strong warranty, I took my chances with the unknown long term reliability (resale wasn't a concern though crash test data would have been nice).
Oh, and one other thing... I do have a few contacts in Korea that gave the car a thumbs up. The Grandeur (aka XG300) is extremely well respected in Korea as possibly the finest domestically made car and cars bearing that name have been around for some time. This doesn't put it automatically at the top of the world's best car lists, but my thought is that if the people designing and building the car have genuine respect for it, they are far likely to do a better job on it.
Hyundai motor comapny doesn't have any financial problem. Last year Hyundai Motor comapny's net profit was almost $1,000,000,000 and Kia's net profit was almost $200,000,000. Hyundai&Kia motor group which is independent from other Hyundai companies is financilally stable. Although the other Hyundai group's subsidaries have serious financial problem, Hyundai&Kia Motors are stable.
Hyundai motor company's name was changed to Hyundai&Kia motor group after this company went to independent business.
Mitsubishi? Now They have less than 4% of Hyundai stock. Well, DC has now 9% of Hyundai stock. Also, the deal between Hyundai and DC is based on commercial vehicle. Mercedes Benz want to use Hyundai's commerical vehicle plant which is one of the biggest one in Asia to attack Chinese market.
Well, American customer has a negative idea about Hyundai products. However Hyundai exports at least 3times more cars to the another world than does to America. In addition it has a good reputation in another world.
Korean auto market is world's 7 or 8th largest market. Hyundai & Kia have more than 70% of market shares in Korea and 60% of their products are exported. Even Korea is the nearst country with China. As you know North Korean products are not charged to pay tax in China and Hyundai going to go to build new plant in North Korea exclusively. Now Hyundai is the top selling auto company in India too. If Hyundai's head quarters are not stupid, I think its business will not be bad.
Forget whether only DC or both DC & Mitsu have members on the Hyundai Motor Group board of directors due to the % of shares they own. It is that, rather than the small overall %, that lets them more actively get involved. I think it is great that both DC & Mitsu have an interest. Helps keep Hyundai focused internationally and forces them to build more competitive products.
S. Korean government has done a good jop to de-link Hyundai Motor from the rest of the empire and to reduce the control exercised by the founder and his sons.
salesman I wanted to downsize but didn't want to lose any luxury. Not only did I not lose any
luxury, I gained some!
Was also impressed with my salesman's lack of pressure to purchase. I had several bad experiences the past few months trying to deal with other dealers (none were Hyundai) As it turned out, there was a reason for the prior hassle - the XG300L and I were destined to meet.
Tony
I live in upstate NY, with only two small dealers within 50 miles, and all cars outside in the snow. They have not had the "L" model as yet. Have heard this is because there is a problem with the heated seats.
I hope that the doors automatically lock when beginning a drive and have been unable to learn this from Hyundai. Would appreciate it if drbrighton or another buyer could help me on this. I am also interested in how much discount is being offered.
1. XG300 and XG300L come standard with leather. At least in USA. Can't get cloth here.
2. Rides on P205/65VR-15 Michelins. Yes, many of the Hyundai print ads claim it rides on "16" aluminum alloy wheels". It really should. But the V rating, if true, indicates a speed rated tire that, I believe, is good up to 149 mph. H indicates 130 mph. The car won't go that fast but a V indicates a more than usual capable tire.
What was the MSRP? Did you get cut-rate financing? Did you buy an extended warranty? Did you have to dicker a lot? Was there a decent selection on the lot?
Saw a small article yesterday wherein Hyundai reporting that demand was exceeding supply for both XG300 and Santa Fe. Around midwest both seem to be plentiful at dealers.
I drive my cars until they drop and have strongly considered the new Avalon. However, (just my opinion) Toyota has just about priced themselves out of my market. I can afford one, I just think paying upwards of thirty grand for something that I will likely put 20,000 miles per year on is not a particularly prudent thing to do. Like so many others though, I am suspect of Hyundai's less than stellar reliability in past years. My brain says Avalon but my heart says XG300. While I ponder my decision, those of you have already taken that leap of faith and bought the new XG300, please continue to let me know of your decision, good and bad. THANKS!