Baby's First Sports Car? Finally Driving The Hyundai Coupe Siii

[@saint_iri]

My ex wanted me to sell this car and get something newer... she's gone and the car is still around 😅😎

[@alfred0621]

Cars won't leave you.

[@GlossaME]

Good choice. Respect

[@MayorOfPluto]

😂😂 still regretted selling mine 😢

[@neilgent1595]

More smiles in the future and less expensive too. Win - win I would say

[@davidarter6271]

Hopefully you did get someone newer….

[@antoniokuzmanic8018]

this is exactly the reason why I like your content more over other youtubers like DDM etc. Cause you are willing to do reviews for all kind of petrolheads and not only for thoose with tons of money who are targeting 400+ hp like new 911s , Ms and so on. This is 100% more interesting video than when reviewing 2023 RS6 with 93737 hp and 8473737 Nm. This car looks amazing, great bargain and try to find some decent example of Chrysler Crossfire SRT in the future to review it. Cheers 👍

[@HumbleHonkingEnthusiast]

I had one of these as my first car, 2005 gt (mid facelift), black, v6. It's a great beginner car, cheap, easy to service, looks great and handles decently due to IRS. Also plenty practical due to the massive rear hatch.

[@matthewmorton6462]

I had a hyudia coupe siii when I was 18. I really liked it, I ended up choosing this over a Toyota Celica as the Coupe was a little nicer on the inside. It was my third car and my first 'sporty' looking car, after this I went to a GT86 which I would class as the true modern entry car to proper sports cars. I think a lot of new owners of the Coupe expect way too much from the Coupe and write it off because of that

[@ThunderChunky101]

I ended up between a Cougar and a Prelude and ended up going for both on that order. Never got the Coupe but an ex of mine did. The best of that little crop though, was definitely the Fiat Coupe. Shockingly cool to this day. I think they genuinely get cooler by the month. Another ex had one of them, and then the GTV. What a Wondeful period for cheap sports cars.

[@trcs3079]

@@ThunderChunky101 the honda prelude is very underrated car, and it's a fun and quite reliable! Hope it gave you years of enjoyment

[@neilmcguinness4422]

@@trcs3079 My black Prelude 2.2 V-TEC with 4 wheel steering that I had in the day was a brilliant very quick car that handled telepathically. My Wife confessed to me that she fell for that car before she fell for me!..🤣🤣🤣👍

[@0xcache]

Lol I'm 18 and have one rn

[@theoblixkyugh7371]

Im confused on how u picked this up over a celica, no hatred towards u at all its jus for me the celica is faster and better lookinand cheaper to get insured!! Jus wanted to get ur reasoning on the decision ✌🏽

[@mitchellbutalla6515]

It's cool to see this car still making the rounds on the internet. As an avid owner for ~10 years you hit just about every feature and issue very accurately. I will say though, that the v6 is definitely worth the "upgrade". We don't have the same tax system on cars here in the US so that increase in price does not affect it, the fuel mileage is also a lot closer than you might think, and the increase in low end torque with a close ratio 6 speed manual makes it a much more fun car overall. I believe the v6's were the only ones to every really have an aftermarket for them compared to the 2.0. There are still a few us floating around with slightly modified ones that catch people off guard even now 20 years since these cars came out.

[@mitchelltaylor518]

I've recently bought my 2nd Coupe TSiii (this was a rare run out model) it comes with 30mm lowered springs, bigger spoiler, different back box and exhaust tips and diamond quilted leather seats. Not the fastest car in the world but stunning to look at and incredible value. I really love coupes

[@ade5004]

I managed to get an immaculate 2009 Black Tsiii in December. 50000 miles. Black alloys with green callipers. It's a head turner, drivers with expensive sports cars turn their heads trying to workout what it is. Had a 2005 1.6 with a dented door before that, so definitely a step up😂

[@remstesthd6784]

i had a 2003 2.0 143 and now 2002 2.7 167 lovely car even if the hp difference is small the v6 6 speed has much more low end torque and is very smooth

[@eugenenalpin6058]

I've got a 2004 Coupe as my first car about 3 years ago, and still love it dearly. It certainly leans into the "slow cars that are fun to drive fast" category while still packing some punch, and I absolutely adore it!

[@Holdeenio]

My friend had a 2002 MkII 2.0L when we were at uni in 2010. It was a pretty cool car parked amongst the expected 1.2L Clios and Corsas. I know it's not powerful compared to our more modern cars now, but driving it back to back with what others had at the time (60bhp Clios and the like), it felt like a rocket and at least was unique. If I recall it didn't cost him that much more than his pals to insure etc.

[@marvinsamuels1237]

I’ve been tempted by a 2nd gen, pre-facelift V6 as a cheap way of getting into a V6 engined car, but the road tax alone put me off. I liked the Ferrari 456-lite styling and the value offered at the time. Incidentally, did you know, the 1st gen Coupe was voted the most beautiful car in the world by a design committee the year it was launched. High praise at the time.

[@viiviketomaki7284]

I guess try and find one of those 2liter it sub 2 liter V6s like MX6, 323f, some old Lancers or the Jaguar X-Type

[@marvinsamuels1237]

@@viiviketomaki7284 yeah, I really liked the 323F V6 when that came out but they are really rare in the UK now.

[@SirMrShanks]

@@marvinsamuels1237 Also consider a MG ZT V6... Great V6 to get into as a starter

[@barrybritcher]

Get the facelift 55 plate

[@marvinsamuels1237]

@@barrybritcher I actually prefer the look of the pre-facelift model. Either way, I was merely curious rather than being set on buying one. Thanks for the feedback though 👍🏾

[@MrCRAIGJSTEVENS]

I had a series 2, 2litre manual. It was my daily for a while and used to return 44mpg on the motorway. I felt the engine was quite zippy and it was fantastically reliable. I think for a car of its age you maybe a bit harsh. Id say if you can find a clean one, grab it.

[@Lander76]

I'm on my second 2nd gen 2 litre coupe (first one written off) and you are right regarding the jap-like build quality, the fit and finish of the body and interior and quality of the mechanicals are similar to Toyota and they are totally reliable -- the g4gc engine is pretty much bullet proof. Your review was not an accurate reflection of how these cars ride and handle however, this car was a high mileage ex write off riding on old tires and probably worn out suspension. Drive a decent tight low mileage well maintained coupe on good tires and you'll be pleasantly suprised by the sure footed tidy handling from the fully independent suspension, and the ride is pretty good too, neither harsh or crashy like some other coupes.

[@lukewatts3284]

This was my first car after my ford fiesta I learnt to drive in! loved mine was black 2 litre (136bhp i believe) because it got better mpg and handling then the V6 and I felt badass in it at 21 :)

[@jammasterquo]

I had a Gen 3.5 2l as my 2nd car after a punto. I absolutely loved it. Apart from replacing the clutch because of the high bite point, the car never missed a beat. I would have one back in an instant. White TSIII is what i would go for

[@Sabre_Wulf1]

Had one of these turn of the 2000's. Loved mine, a korean celica really. Quick enough, cheap enough and a decent amount of space in the boot. Beware...this car led me to a few porsches and a couple of supercharged jags.

[@AlexNes]

Bought a 2007 2.0L SIII in early 2020 for about 5500 EUR including taxes with 125k km in it. I have since had the timing belt replaced (about 300 EUR) and in 2023 it required a clutch replacement (about 800 EUR). Also added to that the annual checkup and oil change which is required for any car anyway. The shop said otherwise the car is tip-top. My ownership so far and the shop's opinion is that the car is extremely reliable. City fuel consumption is about 10L/100km with fairly dynamic driving. I think the Hyundai Coupe is a very underrated sports car. While not as agile as a Miata, it is much, much more practical. It has a sporty suspension, a _very_ nice feeling shifter. Its handling feels sharp to me and it corners confidently. While its 143 HP and its 10 second zero-to-100kph is nothing to write home about, it is a fairly lightweight agile car still. In city driving it accelerates from zero to legal speed limit just about as well as beefier cars. Its acceleration really only suffers from 60kph plus. So if you plan on keeping to the speed limit, it is fast enough. It is very noisy, slow and uncomfortable on the motorway. If you do a lot of motorway driving, I can't really recommend the car. I can recommend it to anyone who would use it like an MX5 but want something little less fun but more practical. Plus it is notably cheaper than a Miata of comparable age and mileage. Also in my opinion it is a beautiful car and got lots of compliments from other people. People think it is actually faster than it really is :)

[@Cloud007.]

I've always liked the look of these. I was thinking of getting one for my other half as her first car.

[@adrianglowacki7650]

I Had this for my first car ! Honestly the best thing I've done was buy this car. Had it for 2 years and loved it

[@sparky4878]

Had a 2.0 ‘03 in Samba red. Two years old when I got it, 16k on the clock and three years of the warranty to run. It was practically a new car as far as I was concerned. Pretty car and good on a long drive. I remember parking it up at a services. A red V6 pulled in the bay next to me. Driver gave me a knowing nod. We must have been a small club.

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

This is the car we need today! An affordable coupé!

[@TuscaniGT]

I've owned the 2.7L version of this car with the 6 speed for almost 17 years now. Full bolts ons and a supercharger and it rips pretty good. I love it and will probably never sell.

[@jean-marcrdt1392]

If you ever get rid of that supercharger, let me know 👀

[@jonctr]

Nice, they're known as the Hyundai Tiburon downunder. My mate had the 2.7L V6 (2007 model) in that colour - I quite liked it for an early Hyundai.

[@milan-nikolic]

I bought a pre-facelift 2nd gen 2l Coupe with 160 000 km about 6 months ago, for 500 euros. I have it booked for rust repairs, since it has a lot of it, which I knew. That's going to cost me around 1000 euros, including painting the whole car to make it look like new. All in all, I think it's a great car to own. For me coming from a Citroën Xsara 1.6 it has enough power, the handling is good and I even have traction control. It's also reliable, I changed all the brakes, oil and did a service + a few smaller cheap items. And drove it 2500 km from Slovenia to Finland, it has also been reliable through the Finish winter. Next week I am driving it back the same route, with no worries at all. + in bright yellow, it looks a lot cooler than most cars on the road.

[@astronomyphilly]

I had a gen2 V6 for a few years, up and down Yorkshire to Aberdeen week after week. Never missed a beat. Comfy, cheap enough and fun. Had a clutch in all that time and usual maintenance.

[@Scape452]

I’m on my 4th Coupe now having owned a v6 auto, 2.0 manual, tsiii and now my v6 siii manual. I absolutely love these cars. I don’t care it’s not the fastest or necessarily the coolest. They are a fantastic bang for buck car and from what I’ve seen a well loved car too. Also the hcoc community should get a mention too. The friendliest and most helpful car group I’ve been a member of (and I’ve been in a lot). Funny this review went up today James, I was going to ask you if you’d want to review mine if I could get it to you. Great video!

[@PORRRIDGE_GUN]

I'm in HCOC too. Very friendly and lots of good advice.

[@Dankbeard91]

I own one of these. My profile pic is actually the dashboard lol. It's the American version. It's a 2006 Hyundai Tiburon. I love it.

[@Andy-pu2iv]

I've never driven one, but back in 2001, when I had my Golf Mk2 GTI 16v, I did encounter a "spirited" driver of one. We had a "spirited" commute to our respective places of work, and I have to say that in the hands of a talented lunatic, these things put up quite a fight. I can still picture the entry to the roundabout....

[@leewillavise7812]

Best manual gearbox, was perfect. Fond memories of my Coupe SE owned for almost 8 years

[@mike-mx7ic]

I see these in Korea all the time. I've seen them at the drag races here with home brewed turbo kits. Engines last, transmissions though seem to last a couple of runs.

[@Kb-xq2ry]

I have one the 2l has a big spoiler is sky blue lowered a couple mil and a cat back on the back and it’s de badged wish we could share pictures in KZbin comments, I love these cars they are so fun to drive no matter what anyone says I love them, and it was all £1200 and 103000 miles

[@paulgee5266]

I used to own a 2nd gen one of these and absolutely loved it. Having passengers in the back was somewhat hilarious!

[@kidblaze38]

Had an siii v6 for a couple of years, it was the slowest of all the sports car I've ever owned but it somehow had that charm certain cars have. I still think about it from time to time and I currently have an mr2 and a subaru, so it's doing something right.

[@JP-cu2gm]

My house mate had the FTO MIVEC in the late 90s. Great handling quite fast and the auto box surprisingly good.

[@pb6198]

@@user-gq5dh5gd6m likely because of poor maintenance

[@anniecleminson5352]

I loved my Silver S111. She gave me back most of the confidence that I had lost after an RTA, 4 years earlier. Sadly she was stolen after 35 days. I still like driving my husband’s S111 that we’ve had for the past 7 years. Comfortable ride and very reliable.

[@KDMFrost]

I own a 03 model with 280k miles on and still runs around the streets. this is the best car I ever had

[@leahpearson9761]

This was my first car ever!! I bought it when i was 17 in 2018 - so great to see it getting the appreciation it deserves! It was the same cost to buy/tax/insure as a VW Polo I was eyeing up but my dad pushed me to get something more exciting & i’m so glad i did, it was indeed ‘the business’ :) - sparked my love for cars.

[@PORRRIDGE_GUN]

VW Polo sux bawlz. You made a good choice.

[@7starsfear]

This was the first car i have ever bought. Served me well for many years without issues. So many good memories.

[@smortg]

I joke that I bought one as a mid life crisis buy (27 years old btw), but honestly it had a bigger boot than my hatchback and it's 'sporty' enough without going for raw power. I don't think you can get a nicer looking car for under £2,000. I got my 2007 1.6 (for the 16A insurance group) sky blue Coupe with about 108,000 miles for £1250. With fresh tyres and a full service before purchasing, it feels like a real bargain. I smile at it most times as I walk past it to enter my house - and I'm even getting a quote to address the minor rust with a paint job.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

That's how these should make you feel!

[@mrb3184]

I had a lovely 2.7 V6, gen 3.5 auto on a 2005 plate in black. Absolutely awesome looking and great cruiser. A great car overall but a really bad handling car when throwing it around. I've now got 2 proper handling weekend cars, a Westfield and a perfect example TVR Chimaera with 23k on the clock, both of which would run circles around the Hyundai.

[@erichahn1153]

In 2003 this car with a v6 and 6 speed was the fastest car through Motor Trend magazine's slalom course. I have a 07 v6 5 speed. Here in California it's comfortable with the flow of traffic at 80 mph and still was pulling strong at 130 when I ran out of nerve. It replaced an 05 Mustang and definitely is a better driver but not as good looking. Only issues have been wonky electronics. Love the channel. Thanks for all the videos

[@jamiejack764]

Bought mine in 2010 when I was 20 for 11k still have it and love it

[@MrAdtheking]

I bought a 120,000 se version and I love it! Though i would say timing belt, clutch and alternator needed to be changed, they run well and do good in the corners!

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

It's interesting; we often get a different spec in the US than in Europe, typically worse. I drove one of these with the V6 brand new in 2005 and pushed it pretty hard through the twisties. My daily drive at the time was a well-sorted 1976 Datsun 280Z with suspension mods, dual carbs and a few other goodies. I seem to recall the V6 was quoted with more than 170 hp., and it was decently responsive and made a bit of alright noise. I think the main place our experiences differ is that it handled genuinely well and rode decently on rougher surfaces, and the steering was well-weighted and not noticeably slow. I have to wonder if the example you drove has suffered from age and mileage? Or perhaps it was a rare instance of the US getting a better spec? No way to know, really. As always a good video.

[@EsterTechSter]

i love my 2007 Huyundai Coupe V6 - 6 speed manual ❣

[@nick140i2]

Someone a few roads down from me owned one of these a couple of years back. It always caught my eye when I drove past it. It was a V6, in white, and was always in tip top condition. It might’ve been some kind of limited/special edition as it had what appeared to be a factory fitted body kit on it (subtle but smart) and some yellow badges on the rear. They maybe more show than go, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing - especially these days. They’re nice looking cars.

[@PORRRIDGE_GUN]

Possibly a TSiii

[@thrillhouse8787]

This is called the Tiburon in Canada. I drove a friend of a friend’s sister’s while visiting Victoria BC way back in 2008. There’s a classic, winding beachfront road there-Dallas Road. Vivid memories of driving that road late at night, solo, for the first time in this car. I’ll never forget that drive. I pushed it pretty hard, and it made me fall in love with that city and sporty cars in general. After my 95 5 speed Corolla, it felt truly special! As a gateway car, these are fantastic!

[@imnotamechanic3491]

My multipla has 'AIRBAG' stiched into the airbag cover on the dash, and the SRS on the seat means that it has an airbag in it, my Avantime has a little plastic plaque to denote the presence and my Suzuki has a small tag - I think they have to put it on so you don't accidentally blow your face off taking the seat out with the ignition on (not that its very likely, they don't go off when the cables fail, the light just comes on, but if you read any manual it acts as if its a bomb where daring to undo the cable is a serious risk to your life!). And, when this car was launched - side airbags were something to shout about (especially in a Hyundai!).

[@CoolTI-Daniel]

As someone who owned a 2002 Elantra "GT" a 2006 Tucson 2.0 5 speed and a Tucson V6 4x4... I have to say your review is spot on. The Tiburon is on the same platform as both the Elantra and the Tucson. The engine is also shared between all makes and models. In NA, we don't have the smaller 1.6 which is only reserved for the Accent. The 2.0 is the king of mediocre engines, not exciting, half decent fuel consumption but it's a bullet proof engine that rivals Honda's 1990 to early 2000's strictly in terms of reliability. The 2.7 is just as reliable for for a V6 the power gains are pretty small and the fuel consumption is atrocious... specially on a Tucson 4x4 with a 4speed auto. All in all, you are right on the money with the Suspension feel, high friction point, soft clutch and pedals... Hyundai feels kind of like in between an American car and a Japanese car. Fantastic A to B cars at a great price. Also find the Hyundais between 2000 and 2009 to be ultra reliable like a Honda or Toyota of those days. The newer ones with direct injection... not so much anymore. Also good that the car doesn't have traction control... Hyundai Traction Control is trash. It just removes removes all power in a horrible way the second a wheel commits an infraction against traction... it's terrible.

[@Afdhelknight]

I've owned both the FTO and a 2002 coupe, the fto wad the v6 and the coupe was a 2 liter 4 cylinder, both tiptronic transmission. the fto was more thrilling to drive and was faster, but coupe was much more reliable and with the sunroof was a better all rounder. miss both those cars. great honest cars that still look great today.

[@jo05dk]

I've considered one of these, in the V6 version as the only option of course, several times. Haven't found one in decent condition, for decent money (for one of these), when i have been looking. ..but: They are still on the radar. I feel the need to pay homage to the affordable coupe before they're all gone. A Peugeot 406, also a V6, is also on the list. How could such a beautiful car not be, when shopping in this segment.

[@aivarusk218]

Had the 2.7 V6 in my early 20s, was very reliable and looked good.. but the tax, mpg and insurance was horrendous for the quite frankly woeful performance. It couldn’t even shake off a friends mk5 Fiesta Zetec S or another friends Panda 100hp in a drag race.

[@josefgordon7712]

If anything it’s an excellent design and has help up really well I think. One of those cars worth preserving 👍

[@JasinMac]

I paid $500 for mine and got in running like a too in 15 mins. It's the happiest litter car I've ever driven. 2.0 stick that drives like a go-cart.

[@bencole6927]

I bought a SIII in 2010. Three years old with 30k on the clock. 8 years later and with 115k on the clock traded in for £1300. Not bad when the car cost be £7500. Had a few expects maintenance bills but felt it was bulletproof. Hence why I stuck with Hyundai and got an I30N. Great car. This example in the video does not do it justice.

[@jonf2009]

Horsepower sells cars with torque Windows races the V6 actually had a very low torque curve. RPMs and stay flat through most of the RPMs so you had a consistent output the entire time making it very fun and very Torquay to drive. It would accelerate very quickly for its size and category from 0 to 30 but then fall on its face once you hit third gear.

[@mikehipperson]

I had a silver 1st gen and it was a capable little car but it was getting a little long in the tooth and as I fixed something it developed another problem. So I took advantage of the scrappage scheme and got an Alfa MiTo.

[@ez33kiel6]

I've always liked the 2nd gen Coupe. Loved using it in NFS-games as a kid, but it's just a little too slow for my liking irl. Would definitely own one as a backup car.

[@schottky2990]

I have a black one with the 2.0 and I love it. Has a full exhaust with sport cat and 4-2-1 manifold, complete Bilstein b16 setup and CTF brakes (an Italian manufacturer). I also got ESP for some reason. The sound improves a ton with a proper exhaust, like really night and day. And with the setup I have it sticks to the road like it has glue on the wheels. 🤣 Your takes on the V6 are spot on: it might be "cooler" but if you have to daily it it will be much more expensive than the I4 (I have to do 80km a day to work and back, so fuel economy was very important when I was searching for my first car). As for the height: I'm 1.95m and the only issue I have are my legs staying sort of at the sides of the wheel (cause it is too low).

[@ibrarmohammed1679]

Have you tried adjusting the steering wheel height? I also found the position awkward at first but with some seat height/wheel height adjustment it was ok then

[@schottky2990]

@@ibrarmohammed1679 It's already on max tilt up. To have it perfect I would need to get it nearer to me but it seems the "in-out" regolation is not present (I wasn't able to find it at least ':) ). It's decent tho, I'm dailying it without much troubles.

[@ibrarmohammed1679]

@@schottky2990 Fair enough bro!

[@RiazJ86]

First sentence of this video 100% summed up exactly how I've felt about it.

[@cooliodiablo4571]

I’ve got a 2014 Hyundai Genesis coupe 2.0T with the luxury trim. I love it to be honest. I know a lot of people hate on Hyundai, but it’s been a way more reliable vehicle than the old jeep, and Lincoln I had before. That says a lot about Hyundai imo. Also the new Hyundai’s, and Kia’s the Koreans are making now are some great looking cars. The Stinger seems to be very popular.

[@madmatt5661]

Engines might be flat but those old 2.0 are bulletproof

[@jean-marcrdt1392]

Dude, you already deserve my thumb's up just for being an English speaking man saying properly "CoupÉ" and not "coup' " like most others do 😄

[@jean-marcrdt1392]

Good review, now I made it till the end, you definitely deserve my thumb's up😁😉

[@lohostege]

Currently I'm looking for a Celica, or the V6 Tibby as my first car. I love the looks of both of them, and I want to eventually autocross. I kinda want the V6 Tibby because it sounds good, and has a supercharger mod I would like to have, and looks kinda cooler than the Celica. But the Celica probably has better handling, and I think higher base performance.

[@NoBion]

Celica (assuming its 7th gen) is a lot more low and sporty to drive, and it sits perfect on the road. If you can find a 2zz version with the 192 HP engine its a no brainer, much faster and better handling. The Coupe has a lovely design, but the quality of the seats are bad, and they like to rust. Still a good buy at the low prices they go for

[@lohostege]

@@NoBion Rust is not much of a problem in my area, I believe, since I live in the south, and not by any ocean. I want the 6th or 7th gen celica. Obviously the 2nd gen Tiburon. Though face-lift or not is mabye, but though I do prefure the face-lift looks. I don't know to focus a little more on looks (Tib) or performance (Celica). Since I'll still have to convince my mother to let me auto-cross.

[@skippy710]

I have a 1999 Hyundai Tiburon 5speed manual 2.0l 4 cylinder 240,000 miles. I drove it from 180,000 miles to now 240,400 miles. Put new clutch in at 180,000 miles and it's been driving since. It's slow but it's fun. it has a exhaust leak and clogged cats. I only paid 1600$ for it.🥂👍⚡🤙 Great first car. It's got 250 amp alternator and my subs and amp and electric mods. I should post a video of it.

[@majesticjavelin9393]

I used to walk pass this car to school for many years. Always fascinated me!

[@SirMrShanks]

Kia stinger does that for me too... Lovely looking cars in a budget brand 🙌🏼 fiat spyder too

[@wojciechkopec9728]

I and my kids love our red 2004 tiburon with custom loud exhaust 😊 recently I was flying from London to Glasgow leaving far behind loads of modern cars especially Teslas 😜

[@benashcroft7758]

I've had 4 Hyundai Coupe's now, a 2.0 auto gen 1, 2.0 manual gen 1, 2.0 manual gen 3 and now a 2.0 F2 Evo manual gen 1. The gen 3 really wasn't a nice car to drive compared to the earlier gen 1's - they had issues with immobiliser/ECU, suspension was a lot stiffer and it was just a lot more 'grown-up' (read heavier) in both weight and driving position. Gen 1's are a hoot to drive and you can really throw them around as they actually drive like the sports car they were meant to be and have some pep about them (Evo is 0-60 in 8.1s from factory). They're also pretty rare now due to the mentioned corrosion issue in the video which affects all models and era's, along with faded plastics on wing mirrors/spoiler but then they were built cheap so build quality shows, overall really nice cars though.

[@jannekiljunen6784]

Definitely excellent value for money budget sports if you find one with decent history. They are fun, reliable and especially 3rd gen imo is pretty as a gem. The car honestly looks and feels more expensive than it is, and most people won't know Hyundai ever made something like these. Totally agree the engines are the worst thing about it, the car isn't fast by any modern standard but imo it's fast enough. I have the 2.0 liter 2007 version though been looking at the similar age v6 versions, while it does give a pretty lackluster improvement in horsepower it does bring a lot more torque and better sounds. Don't know if that particular one had some issues with the suspension or tires, I never found any complaints with how mine handles though the ride can be rough on awful surfaces.

[@jarrodpelrine7229]

I have a 2007 hyundai tiburon gt you pretty much hit the nail on the head with just about everything you said it looks good it handles ok and it definitely really could use more pickup it's a 2.7 v6 that's about as fast as a four cylinder

[@cafe405]

Drove the version before this that my parents had, an absolutely brilliant car, and not just "for the price", far better than many more expensive cars.

[@noonehere1793]

I just found your channel when searching for Bristol Fighter information. Well done indeed….i have lots to catch up on (except for pedestrian Hyundai reviews any way) is some ways you remind me of the early top gear! Keep up the great work, especially with the less pedestrian cars and one offs!👍👍

[@happysnapperman]

Had 4 of them. Great looking and reliable cars..

[@gelgoorx]

I have a 2nd gen 2006 v6 but it has a heavy weight tower struts make sharp turns a breeze

[@jungillestt02]

I have the 08 2.7 with a exhaust, cold air intake and 24 way adjustable coilovers, Car sounds fantastic and throaty as hell. But I'd much rather go the 2.7 for the torque. It's not the fast thing but has great styling ques and is a great city car and fun to drive. But mine just sits mostly because I'd much rather drive my 02 Audi TT quattro 😅

[@hyper8545]

The tiburon in usa had a very cool version with different badges. N in the redish color looked great 👍

[@peterjohnson9438]

I own a V6 model, and I honestly wish the traction control wasn't there. It'll sometimes kick in while accelerating, just essentially killing the acceleration and causing the car to steer in an unexpected fashion if the acceleration was done while turning, and during the winter it'll straight up throw you into a ditch if, again, you're taking a turn and lose traction slightly, the car will fight tooth and nail to (apparently) keep you going straight. This will result in you finding yourself in a ditch unless you initiate ABS lockup and steer away. If you have a V6, always, ALWAYS turn off traction control right after you start the engine.

[@TehSpury]

I had the v6 and the sound was fantastic. I miss it a lot

[@jameshunterford4099]

I nearly bought one of these years ago. It’s going to be super interesting to watch this!

[@carlbar890]

As an proud owner of a Genesis Coupe 3.8 I would love to have this as my winter car.

[@JessieTheBeagle]

Great car, just be sure to treat it for rust. That's a killer for these cars. I had mine 2006 new until 2024. Rust got it in the end.

[@danc1692]

Great review thank you. I'm happy with an EV for straightline pace and family driving, but am interested in one of these for a cool looking weekend car that doesn't need high performance.

[@paulanderson7796]

The original F2 Hyundai Coupé from the late 1990's was a turning point for the Korean motor industry. The model that replaced it was available with a sublime 2.7 litre 90 degree V6. Not stupendously powerful, nor especially fast, but it was the perfect engine in this particular car. Rather unjustly the UK road tax is over £600 per annum. Thus killing off a potentially very interesting classic.

[@CallummFilms]

I have the v6 and she's some punch and is quite fun. I'm 6ft2 and fit fine have the 4 speed automatic that fun fact was developed with Porsche which is actually quite a fun little gear box and the tiptronic is even more fun!

[@disturbed250]

Had a 06' 2.0SE version back when I was young and as a first 'sports' kinda car. Some people dont speak highly but with its GT like look and low seating still looked good when in clean spec and made you feel a little bit sporty back in the day (even if it only kicked out 141 ponies). They now seem confined to 'banger' status as most besides SIII models are done with high mileage but they are good little cars. Spose' if it wasnt for its low power I'd prob not be able to insure it back then. Lol moved up from this to an HR 350Z and so on, so its a good little starter. Just don't get the 1.6 as its terribly under powered and not the V6 as its just not worth it.

[@tonkinesenchill4240]

I really liked my Blue 2004 2.0, was really nice to drive and quick enough, they’re just so damn fragile. They’re very prone to corrosion, rust and just little things breaking easily (clutch, track rods, mounting points etc) I have a VR5 Bora now that runs like a clock on 160, 000 miles. My old Hyundai coupe was practically scrap worthy at 107,000.

[@byMRTNjournals]

I had a left hand drive supercharged 2.7. it was quick. Very quick.

[@MrCaglar1993]

Reliable car ever. Had 2008, for 11 years only 1 time clutch stuff changed. Other than that, oil, brakes change. Thats it

[@AFlexibleGamer]

Going to take a look at one tomorrow for my first car, exact same as this one, just more bruised.

[@fonziebulldog5786]

That one for some reason reminded me of Hyundai Tiburon Coupe from -96. Those were horrible Hyundai days. 😄

[@Stevie-disciplesOfSin]

Had 09 siii, great looking car and most reliable I've had

[@Johnzilla-LordZilla]

I’ve got an 03 GT 6speed in Rally Red. Super fun car, I just ordered coilovers for it today. I’m trying to find an 05-06 facelift front bumper

[@DjDolHaus86]

My mum had a 2nd generation one, she definitely wasn't a petrol head and it was the only fun car she ever had. It wasn't fast but it was a lot of fun to throw down a B road on the few times I "borrowed" it

[@Gorbyrev]

Public service broadcasting of the highest order, especially given recent government decisions are making budget motoring so much harder to achieve. Thank you good sir!

[@djmandrick]

Im sure the only people that thought Hyundais were crap back then haven't owned on. In the family we had a 1.5 Accent that drove til it died 16 years later. I recently sold my i30 1.6D 2009, it had 11k miles when i bought it and 12 years later sold with nothing wrong with it and pristine (detailing chanel to come!). First "sensible" car I'd bought. Best car I'd owned to that point by a LONG shot, never broke down and only consumables went on it. Commuted in it for over ten years at 50 miles a day. Oh I lied. The air con compressor broke. And had a battery die once. Thats it.

[@ca9968]

We got a 2L 4cyl and a V6 in South Africa, I got to drive both pretty much back to back at the dealership I used to work for and I could feel no real difference in power...still though, a great effort by Hyundai, who at the time were really only making generic "Rep Special" sedans that felt like they were made out of sheets of tin metal...

[@masonandmotors]

I had the previous model to this, the 2.0L SE in 2006 and really I liked it. Not the fastest or sportiest but was definitely solidly built and well put together and quite striking looking for the time.

[@JohnAdrenochrome]

I think the example you tested must have been very tired, possibly in need of a suspension refresh? My wife has an SIII and it corners really flat - it’s one of the things she remarked upon after changing from her DS3. Hers is only 25k miles so maybe more representative?

[@jean-marcrdt1392]

I couldn't agree more. I've got a 2003 V6 for 7 years now and it definitely looks and feel healthier than this one in every way

[@yournewdad1453]

I had one of these for a few years it was slow and liked oil .the ford racing puma I had before was much more fun

[@Jut1233456]

I had a Gen 2 V6. Used to track it at Losail. Catastrophic understeer and a gutless engine tbh. Fun for youngsters I guess

[@Kacpa2]

2.7 is quite fast for what it is tho. 7s flat in real life tests to 60mph. Its as good as 7th gen celica and faster than all prior celicas. And better soundtrack. Also cabke throttle.