|
2003 Hyundai Tiburon
|
| Time for Hyundai to swim with the Big Sharks? |
|
| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 21:53:55 |
| Rating |
 38 ( -6 -15.78% ) | | Author | Brian Chee, editor |
|
|
Description:
2003 Hyundai Tiburon
Time for Hyundai to swim with the big sharks
Writer's Notes
Price, as tested: $19,344
Fuel Economy: 18 city / 26 highway mpg
Power: Buy the GT with six-speed
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Best color: Red
Best place to drive one: Curvy roads
Worst place: Traffic
Strengths: Looks--very sharp in red
Weakness: Interior is plain
The '03 Tiburon comes in two versions: the 4-cylinder base, starting at around $14,500, and the all new GT V-6-a nice little screamer you can drive off the lot for around $19,000.
Comments or suggestions about this review? Send an e-mail to: editor@autobytel.com
Autobytel Inc. operates the popular automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, and Autosite.com.
x
Somewhere between California Interstate 15 and Edwards Air Force Base, there's a guy named Joe--or so the patch on his shirt claims--who spends his days watching people pass by. From the vantage point of a stool outside the only one-bay service station for miles, dirty old Joe has seen just about every single type of car spin past during the past forty years. But he's never seen anything like the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. "What the heck is that thing? Can I take it to Vegas?" Joe smirked. "It sure looks fancy, but I bet you got a little 4 banger under the hood, eh?" I had pulled up to refuel, and Joe, alerted by the red color and sharply angled snout, got off the stool for a closer look. His patronizing little grin told me what he was thinking: typical foreign car---all flash, no muscle, that Nova out back would smoke it. He didn't believe me when I told him it was a Hyundai. Or that it had a healthy V-6 that held its own. "It's a Hyundai? A Hyundai?" Joe was incredulous. "They still make those? I thought they made the Excel." Apparently, old Joe doesn't get off the stool very often. If he did, he would already know that Hyundai has come a long way since the days of old. Why, he'd know that Hyundai is poised to continue its recent run of success with the launch of a new Tiburon for 2003. Just now available, the '03 Tiburon comes in two versions: the 4-cylinder base, starting at around $14,500, and the all new GT V-6-a nice little screamer you can drive off the lot for around $19,000. Hyundai made significant changes to the base version, including a redesigned exterior and stiffer chassis. For the extra $4,000 or so, the new GT's 2.7L 181-horsepower six-cylinder is a significant power improvement. More power is a good thing, too, because this market is tough on wimps. The Tiburon will be fighting against a mish-mash of coupes, rally cars and perhaps even small wagons like the Toyota Matrix. Yea, there are plenty of sharks in this sea. And some-such as the Acura RSX---have pretty big teeth. Others like the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer OZ may look placid, but have big appetities and will likely take a healthy chunk out of market sales. Hyundai, with essentially a new car and a name not commonly thought of in terms of performance, has their work cut out for them. Teamed with a ten-year warranty, however, the Tiburon GT is an attractive and viable choice for people who want to drive something a little more daring and different. And with sharp angles that flow into the headlights and then wrap nicely into seductive curves, the difference is one people notice. Tiburon Truthteller
They really notice when the Hyundai badge fills their rear view. A Hyundai? Yeah, right, you're not passing me, no way. On and on it goes---up and down ravines, through desert towns, the driver in front not wanting to give in but knowing The Truth, My Truth, is inevitable. So I wait, patiently, hang back and stay in fifth gear until the solid yellow line perforates. Then--zipppppppeee--into sixth and swoop by the car in front. It's fun to drive a six-speed Hyundai. Seriously--perhaps the best thing (next to adding the V-6) Hyundai did for the Tiburon was to offer a six-speed manual transmission on the GT version. The shifter is uncomplicated and easy to use---no challenge for people not normally used to driving a stick-shift car. For those who appreciate the difference a manual transmission can make to the driving experience---the Tiburon shifter is perhaps a little too smooth.
xx
The Tiburon will be fighting against a mish-mash of coupes, rally cars and perhaps even small wagons like the Toyota Matrix. Yea, there are plenty of sharks in this sea. And some--such as the Acura RSX---have pretty big teeth.
Smooth shifting and more power mean nothing at all if you have trouble staying in your seat. And though the Tiburon can be pushed around, you really have to shove---under legal driving conditions, the vehicle stays nicely tucked in on corners. Disengage the traction control--there is more than enough power to smoke the tires, and the Tiburon will still maintain its poise. On steep downhill grades, the Tiburon will get a little rebellious. So if you live on a big hill with a little road---this may not be the car for you.
Brake Lights
It's every driver's nightmare: You're on the freeway, cruising along at 65 mph when it happens---brake lights, like a wall of red across five lanes. I felt the danger chill go through my body like an electric current before I thought to mash on the brakes. I watched the F-250 grew larger, and realized: no room to stop, no shoulder, no open lane...for the first time, I'd get to test the airbag. Not quite. Under heavy commuter braking, the Tiburon held itself together well and came to straight stop. I leaned back into the seat, took a deep breath and gave thanks, because ABS brakes are optional on the Tiburon---and I didn't have them on my car. Seats are standard, though, and happily they are much more comfortable than old Desert Joe's stool. For that matter, the Tiburon's seats are more comfortable than many other vehicle seats, and the key is in solid construction and firm finish-you can't get heat or lumbar in a Tiburon, but then you probably won't need it. That no frills approach echoes throughout the interior, with black on black styling and simple gauges. Everything is intuitively placed except for the front interior hatch switch, which is located on the driver's side door, way down and out of sight. The Tiburon's stereo controls---an Infinity seven speaker set with CD and cassette in the GT-is within easy reach. The premium system includes a subwoofer in the back. The hatch opens large, and shutting it can be a problem if you're short-there's not much to grab onto if you can't reach the spoiler. When you do shut the hatch, be sure there are no adults sitting in the back seat---or someone may wind up in the emergency room with a nasty knock on the melon. But don't worry---Hyundai has posted a nice little graphic on the underside of the hatch. Overall Impressions
Old Joe said it best: "That's a Hyundai?" The Tiburon surprises on several levels, but also disappoints. The V-6 engine has nice pop, the car sticks to the road, and the stereo is rich and loud. The look is what you buy this car for, though-with a nod to performance. It's simply one of the most attractive cars in its class. But the hatch is troubling, and the interior could use some pop. Minor concerns, to be sure. If you like the styling, you'll like the way the car rides, as long as you test drive the GT V-6 model with six-speed transmission. There's at least one guy out in the southern California desert who wouldn't mind a ride. |
| Similar news: | - US Economy: Retail Sales Fall by Most Since February 2003 - July 14 (Bloomberg) -- US retail sales fell 1.1 percent in June, the biggest decline since February of last year, underscoring forecasts that consumer spending slowed in the second quarter from the previous three months.
- Japanese Cars Tops Fuel Efficiency List - Japanese vehicles dominate the government's annual list of vehicles with the best fuel economy, but Ford Motor Co. can claim the most fuel efficient pickup and sport utility vehicle.
- Japanese Cars Top Fuel Efficiency List - Japanese vehicles dominate the government's annual list of vehicles with the best fuel economy, but Ford Motor Co. can claim the most fuel efficient pickup and sport utility vehicle.
| | Find all news similar on 2003 Hyundai Tiburon |
|
