Need input on a Tiburon

[kwijybow]

Ok, so I'm in the market for a car and I want something sporty. I just recently noticed a 2001 Hyundia Tiburon at a local dealership for a good price (compared to the blue book values). Does anyone know anything bad about these cars that I should be aware of? Any good notes? It runs a 2.0L 4CL DOHC engine with a 4 speed automatic tranny (which I prefer), which sounds good to me, but I'm not a car guy yet, (wanting to learn). Do these cars have good aftermarket support? Thanks in advance.

[Labcoatguy]

This generation? If you can stand the (IMO hideous) looks, they're apparently not bad, but not exceptional for their age.

[Polly]

Originally Posted by kwijybow

Does anyone know anything bad about these cars that I should be aware of?

It's a Hyundai, it's fuck-ugly, it has an automatic.

Originally Posted by kwijybow

Any good notes?

Umm.. price?

[Whappeh]

My girlfriend has a newer model Tiburon, and I must say, they're a bit fun to drive. The FWD lets it down a bit, and the engine isn't amazing, but you still get a sense of driving fun in my opinion.

[LeVeL]

+1 on the looks... it just got voted one of the ugliest cars by FG members lol. Never liked Tiburons... cant see a single good thing about them.
If you "want to learn" / become a "car guy" then DO NOT GET AN AUTOMATIC. I did (circumstances > preference at the time) and I hate it. I cant wait to ditch it and row my own.
If you want something cheap, reliable, fun, and with good aftermarket, get a Civic. And if you're thinking "hell no, thats a rice mobile" then consider that properly modified Civics are fantastic autocross cars. Suspension and tires will make one really handle and it will be truly fun.

just my 2 cents

[public]

It's the kind of car with which you have to think hard to come up with any pros or cons, which is a negative thing itself. The looks are an obvious flaw, but I guess they can grow on you. I think CAR Magazine ran a green example, dubbed the Frog, and still they managed to like it.

[Twerp128]

One of my girlfriends ex's had a Tiburon, with chrome hubcaps, leaky aftermarket sunroof, fart can, and a, "Big O Tires," sticker. . . he was a whiny, spineless douche bag, with low self-esteem. Save yourself the hassle and buy a Civic like everyone else, it'll run forever, be better quality, and you wont want to vomit every time you get in it.

[Vette Boss]

What's the matter with an Integra? Same sort of car, but much, much better.

[MadCat360]

Originally Posted by kwijybow

2001 Hyundia Tiburon 4 speed automatic

No. Just no dude. It not sporty if it's an auto. Shifting is not hard and manuals are much cheaper to replace and they last longer. If you bring up hills I've got one word for you; parking brake (if you really can't heel-toe).

Also Tiburon period is just blargh.

If you want something small, cheap, and fun, maybe a Toyota MR-2 is for you? That's what I'd do.

[Wizegui]

Sorry mate, I wouldn't recommend it. If your going for a front drive coupe with back seats, I'd recommend a late model Integra or an RSX. They're probably more reliable, have more street cred, and they'll probably be more fun to drive.

[Steve Levin]

I'm not a fan of the previous-generation Tibby, but the current one is quite nice.

And don't let anyone convince you "automatics aren't sporty." It's how you drive a car that's sporty, not how it is equipped. Give me someone who drives their automatic econobox on the track or in the canyons (sanely!!!) over someone who commutes in a Mazdaspeed 3 or a Civic Si, for example.

Steve

[MadCat360]

Originally Posted by Steve Levin

I'm not a fan of the previous-generation Tibby, but the current one is quite nice.

And don't let anyone convince you "automatics aren't sporty." It's how you drive a car that's sporty, not how it is equipped. Give me someone who drives their automatic econobox on the track or in the canyons (sanely!!!) over someone who commutes in a Mazdaspeed 3 or a Civic Si, for example.

Steve

Sorry dude but if really race spec Fords then you know as well as I do that it's unbelievably annoying when your car can't decide what gear it's in when you're used to racing in full control. With an auto if you want high revs you HAVE to go full throttle. Well maybe I want high revs and half throttle? And how can you feel like you're part of the proceedings if you don't reach down into the gearbox and move the cogs around yourself? Add to that the fact that most automatics are very rough.

I'm not saying you won't have fun with an auto. I take my parent's Accord to the limit and get a little smile out of it. But a manual just makes the smile so much bigger.

[LeVeL]

Listen carefully to MadCat360 lol
Integras are nice cars but they get stolen a lot. My friend's GSR got stolen and stripped to the bare metal (they took the suspension, interior, motor, everything). Another one chased thieves away with a bat. I still vote Civic.

[Spectre]

Integras are also more expensive. The Tib is remarkably good value.

However, if you want one and can wait, put it off a few more months until the Genesis Coupe comes out and the Tib is discontinued. Prices on used ones should drop and leftover new ones will be cheap.

[Ottobon]

Originally Posted by MadCat360

Sorry dude but if really race spec Fords then you know as well as I do that it's unbelievably annoying when your car can't decide what gear it's in when you're used to racing in full control. With an auto if you want high revs you HAVE to go full throttle. Well maybe I want high revs and half throttle? And how can you feel like you're part of the proceedings if you don't reach down into the gearbox and move the cogs around yourself? Add to that the fact that most automatics are very rough.

I'm not saying you won't have fun with an auto. I take my parent's Accord to the limit and get a little smile out of it. But a manual just makes the smile so much bigger.

You know those little numbers next to the gear level, usually 1,2,3, and sometimes 4, well use those and you have control! ZOMG!!

My tempo V6 technically had selectable gearing seeing as it had 1, 2 and D yet only 3 gears . I loved downshifting into 2nd at 75mph and lusting in the glory of a rich fuel overrun. I heavily doubt i will find another POS fwd car that i will love that much.

[Ilpav]

Depends on your budget. If you really want a Tiburon, don't get the 2001. Get the next gen after that. It's so much nicer and better.



Even Top Gear likes it.

Here's a review of a Hyundai Tiburon (Coupe in Europe) and a Lexus SC430 from 02x03.

+ YouTube Video

[The Chad]

There's a whole league of people who love the car. I'm not one of them. But residuals make the car extremely well priced. That being said, I wouldn't buy one, but besides the looks of the car, I can't tell you why I wouldn't.

The only negative about a 4 speed automatic is that there are only 4 gears. Having 5 or six to choose from, whether or not the computer shifts or you, but having more to choose from is always better.

I've driven a Kia with a manual transmission, and the clutch was rubbish. I'd almost consider an automatic over them. Almost.

[Cold Fussion]

Originally Posted by MadCat360

Sorry dude but if really race spec Fords then you know as well as I do that it's unbelievably annoying when your car can't decide what gear it's in when you're used to racing in full control. With an auto if you want high revs you HAVE to go full throttle. Well maybe I want high revs and half throttle? And how can you feel like you're part of the proceedings if you don't reach down into the gearbox and move the cogs around yourself? Add to that the fact that most automatics are very rough.

I'm not saying you won't have fun with an auto. I take my parent's Accord to the limit and get a little smile out of it. But a manual just makes the smile so much bigger.

There was nothing more disappointing driving my dads v8 than stepping on the gas and watching nothing happen for over a second while the gearbox decides what to do. Even putting the stick into 2nd (which is a choice between second and first so it should be instant into 2nd) still took agers for it to shift down.

Originally Posted by Ottobon

You know those little numbers next to the gear level, usually 1,2,3, and sometimes 4, well use those and you have control! ZOMG!!

My tempo V6 technically had selectable gearing seeing as it had 1, 2 and D yet only 3 gears . I loved downshifting into 2nd at 75mph and lusting in the glory of a rich fuel overrun. I heavily doubt i will find another POS fwd car that i will love that much.

Thats not the same at all. In the fords I've driven, 2nd donates a choice between gears 1st and 2nd, 3rd denotes a choice between 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and even selecting one of these it takes forever for the car to decide to shift down. The torque converter auto's I've been in aren't even that smooth.

[starfox07]

A friend of mine had a tiburon like in the OP and it threw a rod clean through the block for no apparent reason. I would get the 3rd gen model. DC2 Integra's are good cars too. Mine has 140k miles on it (original, un-rebuilt engine/trans) and I just got back from a 1800 mile trip in it, never missed a beat and I averaged 33-35mpg at around 80mph the whole way. Handles and brakes well, just low on power (LS model)

[Cobol74]

2001+ Tibby (we call them Coupé) FTW. Lady at work had one and loved it - she wished she had the bigger engine though. I think what Hammond said was correct.