- coupe 113,525
- 9,995 overpriced
- Albuquerque, NM
- 5 years
- autoshopper.com
- coupe 113,525 red automatic
2008 hyundai tiburon review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Affordable sport coupe. introductionhyundai tiburon competes from a price standpoint with low-cost sport coupes honda civic si and scion tc, but it also stacks up favorably against the more expensive mitsubishi eclipse. The eclipse is more powerful, but the tiburon rivals its handling and is in some ways sportier. the tiburon se suspension is firm, but not uncomfortable. The payoff comes in the corners, as the front-wheel-drive tiburon se grips the road better than the eclipse. The tiburon se also stops well, having 12-inch cross-drilled front brake rotors. from the side, tiburon looks rakish; and the 12-spoke se wheels look great. inside, the seats are comfortable and well bolstered, and the instruments are backlit in a cool blue, with sharp gunmetal accents on the instrument panel. The engine's torque comes early in the revs, making it easy and pleasant to drive around town. The se's six-speed gearbox is good, and the clutch is smooth, but the shift lever has too long a throw to feel tight. Standard equipment includes power windows, doors and heated mirrors, air conditioning, keyless entry, tilt steering, a 220-watt kenwood mp3 sound system, xm satellite radio (with three months free service), fog lamps, and 16-inch alloy wheels. Cruise control isn't standard, but it comes in a premium package 1150) with a power tilt-and-slide glass sunroof. the tiburon gt 19,925) uses a dohc 2. 7-liter v6 with the same transmission options as the gs, and rides on 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, there are black leather seat bolsters with cloth inserts, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, driver's-side adjustable lumbar support, automatic climate control, trip computer, and metallic trim. Cruise control is also standard, although the sunroof is optional 900). the gt limited 22,525) adds a red leather interior and makes the sunroof and automatic transmission standard. the se 22,375) is the 'track-tuned' model, with a suspension set up for hard cornering. It comes with the same the 2. 7-liter v6 as the gt and gt limited, but the only available transmission is a six-speed manual. Other special equipment includes electronic stability control (esc) with brake assist and traction control, red front brake calipers on big vented rotors, a high rear spoiler, aluminum pedals, and the red leather seats with black cloth inserts. Climate control reverts to manual, and the sunroof is optional 900). options for all models: bluetooth hands-free phone system 325), cargo net 45), carpeted floor mats 90), mud guards 85), sunroof wind deflector 85), and wheel locks 40). safety equipment that comes standard includes front airbags, front side-impact airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and force limiters, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, and a tire pressure monitor. walkaroundthe hyundai tiburon has nice, rakish lines. From the side or three-quarter-rear profile, it looks like it should start rolling off downhill. A crease on each side extends precipitously, from above the rear tire and slightly higher than the door handle, to a point on the front fascia below the headlamp. A crevice down by the rocker panel accentuates the slope of the crease. It's a lot of sheetmetal shaping to make the car look forward-leaning, but in the end it works. the 17-inch alloy wheels on the se are handsome, a sort of starburst 12-spoke pattern; imagine six headless and armless gingerbread men, joined in a circle at the neck. hyundai freshened the tiburon's appearance for 2007, with new front and rear fascia, headlights, taillights, hood, front fenders and twin exhaust tips. No additional changes have been made for 2008. We're not sure we like the latest nose and tail, which are more rounded and nubile than sleek. The tiburon's rear isn't as big and bulbous as that of the mitsubishi eclipse, and the rounded trapezoidal tail lamps are graceful. The spoiler on the se is a nice touch, high but not too high. But take away the spoiler on the other three models, and there isn't much left to draw the eyes. from head-on, the tiburon misses the opportunity for something dramatic. Above the bumper there's one thin slit that might add mystery but doesn't demand a second glance. The horizontal slats in the wide air intake under the front bumper are reminiscent of a 2001 chrysler concorde, which itself copies the look of some ferrari grilles. A lot has been lost in the double translation to the tiburon. interiorthe seats are comfortable and well bolstered, with lumbar and seat bottom support. We like the available leather with its nice cloth inserts. The instruments are backlit in cool blue. The speedometer is on the left and tach on the right, with temperature and fuel gauges between them, plus a digital display for the odometer and average speed. The gunmetal accents on the panel add brightness. the center stack is squarish, with two big round climate vents over smaller ones on top of the dash. We found the air conditioning performance strong. The usual accessories run down the center, with reasonable controls without bran-teasing challenges to figure out. There are two cupholders, a small glovebox, door pockets and a small single-chamber console between the seats. It's really fun to run up through the six-speed gearbox and enjoy the sounds. It makes 181 pound-feet of torque, which isn't a ton, but it's all there at a low 3800 rpm, and that means a lot. Just don't expect neck-snapping acceleration from the 172 horsepower, which has to pull the tiburon's 2986 pounds. Torque steer from the front-wheel drive is noticeable, a tug on the steering wheel when cornering and accelerating at the same time. the gearbox, from german manufacturer zf, is good, but the shifts aren't so sharp because the lever has a long throw and the linkage isn't as tight as it might be. However, the clutch action is smooth, especially on the upshifts, and that compensates a bit for the long throw. So overall, the upshifts work. we can't say the same for the downshifts, at least not with heel-and-toe downshifting, because the gas pedal is quite a bit lower than the brake pedal. As serious as hyundai was about the track-tuned suspension, it's surprising they missed something simple like the pedal position for sporty downshifting. the ratios are fine; sixth gear is a tall overdrive designed to deliver better fuel mileage. It's basically an extra gear on top, because the ratio of fifth gear (0. 86:1) is almost the same as the fifth gear (0. 84:1) in the five-speed gearbox on the gs model. epa estimated highway mileage is the same as for other tiburons, at 24 mpg, but city mileage with the six-speed drops for 17 mpg to 16. (the more frugal. Climate Control✔ Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Cruise Control✔ Air Conditioning✔ Bluetooth✔ Leather Seats✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Alloy Wheels
9,995 Albuquerque, NMAlbuquerque, NM 5 years at autoshopper.com