New Hyundai Genesis To Cross The $40,000 Price Point-Would YOU Pay $40G's For A Hyundai?

NO.

how much is a loaded Avalon? Pretty similar, right? That's really the closest competitor to this car, and you can't get that in a V8.

My wife is looking for a small SUV so the real question is: would I pay over $30K for a loaded KIA Borrego?

Not a chance.

Uh... last time I checked, a fully loaded anything from Lexus or any of the germans didnt come close to being as low as $41,000.00 in this class segment let alone their lower class segments.

So if the price difference from the base model to the ultra high end model with all the bells and whistles is only 10 grand...I think Hyundai will do just fine.

Besides, how many people are going to buy the fully loaded option. More likely than not most people will fall in the 35-37k category, in which case you are getting one hell of a car for the price. Heck for 39-41k your still getting one hell of a deal.

Think of it this way. You can't get premium leather and expect to pay nothing for it. Hyundai went upscale and so their prices have to reflect some increase. They aren't making cars to lose money. Also if they want to be taken seriously by the high end market, their prices can't be total bargain basement, or the would lose that air of exellence that BMW and MB have no problem charing 20grand extra for.

small flaw, nothing hyundai builds is in the same class as lexus bmw, or mercedes

quote Spectator:

<<... Also if they want to be taken seriously by the high end market, their prices can't be total bargain basement...>>

You're right. They are learning that from Toyota. Next thing for Hyundai, is to re-badge them with a different name and logo.

Cloth seating is also standard on the Lexus RX. It could also be standard on the ES and IS, not sure.

What difference does it make? Have YOU ever seen a Merc or BMW with cloth?

I can get all these options in a loaded Lexus IS350 which goes 0-60 in 5.6 seconds for the same price....SO the answer is NO!

Much smaller car.

A faster smaller car with the #1 world's rated best factory sound system, Mark Levinson, and to mention it's more reliable and more dependable, and it's a "Lexus"

Where do I even start?

Genesis vs. IS350 is totally irrelevant comparison. Sure, the IS will outperform the Genesis, but is an underachiever in it's own class. The Mark Levison sound system is nice, but there are better. It's hard to project the reliability and dependability of a car that hasn't been produced yet, but judging by Hyundai's advancements in recent years, reliability will not likely be an issue. Oh and my favorite...

...and it's a "Lexus".

Yeah the IS350 is a Lexus, but it's still just an IS350. The premium sport sedan equivalent of the kid that gets picked last for the football team.

'it's a Lexus' LOL.

Unless you're a female, then the name 'Lexus' really isn't that impressive. It's better than Hyundai, but not by much.

Women love Lexus. Some guys tolerate it because they know it will impress women.

"jpighetti"

Where do I even start?

1st
I wasn't comparing. If I had to choose to spend $40,000 I would choose a Lexus IS350 over a Hyundai. Hyundai is not a luxury brand therefor I will never spend $40,000 or over on a non-luxury brand car PERIOD. Lexus is a luxury brand.

2nd
Comman sense would tell you that if BMW, Mercedes, Audi can't beat Lexus in reliabity what makes you think a Korean car can? I suggest you read the 2008 Consumer Reports Magazine and get your brain updated. Hyundai is many years away before they can even come close to Lexus in reliabity.

3rd

Lexus Mark Levinson Sound System is World's best Period per car audio magazine

http://www.autospies.com/news/The-Ultimate-High-End-Car-Audio-Showdown-Lexus-LS460L-Mark-Levinson-vs-Audi-S8-Bang-Olufsen-vs-Acura-MDX-ELS-Surround-20229

No, I would buy an Infiniti G35, which was the "inspiration" for this car's styling, and it's also very fun to drive.

If you need a certain badge to make you feel good about the purchase, then no.

If the actual car means more than what your neighbors or people on a message board think, then maybe.

If you really love the Genesis, then yes.

Well, the difference being that a "badge" isn't necessarily only a badge. You make it seem like the only people who wouldn't do this are badge whores, but that's absolutely not true.

With a high-end badge comes a high-end product, period. No matter what price it is, it will always be better-built, more attractive and better to drive than a lesser-badged competitor. Case in point, the Infiniti G and Lexus IS, while both having less feature content, are both reasonably equipped at this price (G is loaded?) and have far better overall quality. Materials used, engineering, technology, etc.

A badge doesn't equate to across the board quality or design.

The current Lexus ES has had a downgraded level of quality and materials compared to its predeccesor and the higher up models from Lexus. The BMW 318ti and Merc's hatchback C class were simply garbage compared to their higher brand mates.

I think MB, Infiniti, BMW, and Lexus didn't worry to begin with. Buyers of this Hyundai are not really cross-shopping the top car choices like an S-Class or 7-Series. It's Cadillac, Acura, Lincoln, Saab, and Volvo that should worry. They have more cars in that price range and size that will find it difficult to compete with this Hyundai. I don't think it has the pull of a lux brand, but it will do well.

Intriguing point, Ivanur197!

Indeed...

I don't think Cadillac needs to worry about this car. They outclass Hyundai on looks alone, not to mention that the brand has regained some of the brand credibility from it's history.

Style is as much a part of the decision to buy a Cadillac as anything else, i think. There's nothing stylish about a Hyundai. You buy a Cadillac to treat yourself. You buy a Hyundai to get a bargain.

Toyota can do that. Nissan can do that. VW can do that. Hyuandai needs to establish itself as non ecomny brand first then try and compete with cars like the maxima and avalon. They need to ease themselves into that market before trying to go straight to the top at a price like that. They should let it maybe may in the 30's. Mid 30's like 36...maybe 38 but thats pushing it.

I think they have amply established themselves as an economy player. Where are they lacking?

well if you folks would bother looking at the pricing image you'd see the car starts at $30k and a loaded 6-cyl is $36k. For a 290hp large "luxury" sedan with nav, backup camera, Lexicon audio w/ 6 DVD changer, ventilated driver seat, etc. that's pretty darn good. There's certainly nothing else in the class at that price.

Yes I would and probably will come this summer. Your are talking about a rwd vehicle with several lux features that I am looking for in a car. My wifes nearly fully loaded Ultra package ES 350 was about 47 thousand and it still had a few features like satellite radio that did not come with it at the time. This was two years ago so the packages may have changed. No I dont expect folks to cross shop an S class or a 7 series but a ES350 or Acura TL yes. As much as I love Lincoln nobody is cross shopping them with any real luxury cars anymore its more like Chrysler that they are getting compared too. Which aint what it used to be either. The Genesis is on my short list of cars to drive and maybe buy this summer so I look forward to it. Just in case any body is wondering whats on my list there are 3 cars and 3 CUV's. They are the Enclave, Varacruz, and Q7. The M35,MKS, and the Genesis. As you can see they vary much in price from about 50 for a V6 model of the Q7 and M35 to the low 40's for everything else.

I see this car competing directly with the top Buick Lucerne and Cadillac CTS models. This is unfair but Hyundai has to be lower priced than the two domestics I just mentioned.

It's interested how people get soooo angry about a car badge. (BTW... answer +1)Did the car company do somthing to you personally to make you hate everything they do?

Honestly, where does this psychosis come from. How is this deep seated hate, for somthing that has absolutly no impact on you whatsoever, born.

If you like the vehicle you drive, congratulations. I'm sure it means everything to you. Just like one's child these things have a special meaning to everyone. However you don't go around badmouthing your friends child for no reason. You congratulate them and tell them "Welcome to the club".

So to hate a Korean automotive company for producing a product with the look and amenaties that many modern consumers want at a lower price than what most of the market produces it at, is similar to saying "You are a poor lowerclass family, how dare you give birth to a beautiful child." instead of "Oh my what a beautiful child, you have truly been blessed."

IMHO Hyundai has "truly been blessed".

weird,a standard packaged 6 cylinder is only 10K cheaper. thats not that big of a difference

Sheesh....you can get a fully loaded Infiniti G37 6mt coupe for just a little more.

I'd choose this any day over the Acura RL

Should have come up with a different name plate at this price point.

An equally equipped 300C(probably its closest competitor) is about the same price so I see no problems with its pricing. Judging from the Genesis I sat in at the Chicago auto show, $41,000 is OK. Its got all the power and technology of a car costing $10-15k more than that. You just have to get past the stigma of it being a Hyundai which, for a lot people, seems quite hard.

The 300C, Charger, Impala V8, upcoming G8. Yes these are the competitors for the Genesis. There are plenty of high powered, near-lux cars on the market, at reasonble prices (compared to the Japanese and German luxury cars). But these cars have not dented the sales of the lux brands one bit. There are very few people ditching their Lexuses and Mercedes for a 300C. There may have been a few conquests the first year, but only for the novelty of it. So now Korea throws one more car into the mix. The results are not going to be any different. People trading up their Camcords, Sonatas and Malibus now have one more alternative. But these folks were not likley to ever step into a luxury showroom to begin with.

It's not even about stigma. The fact is this will be a decent powerful midsizeds sedan that competes well with the others in its class. It just is not a luxury car, now matter how much anyone wants to believe it.

You're absolutely right. This thing can't compete with real luxury brands. And there's no way in hell i would choose it over the 300C, G8, or (my) Impala SS.

you would be wrong there alot of people left luxury marques to get into the 300c when it was first introduced do some research on that. not everyone buys cars because of the brand name, if that were the case no one would buy acura, infiniti, lexus, or audi at all. they would simply buy mercedes and bmw. those other brands became relevant because of what they give the consumer value wise, and in features that the benz and bimmer cant at their prices. Or cars like the avalon and maxima and 300 have the same appeal

Hyundai is taking the Lexus approach to breaking into the Premium market. Lexus started with a flagship, and the original LS400 could be bought new for less than 40K but its inital quality was top notch, you got everything offered in a premium German model for thousands less. Soon after, I remember used LS400s were selling for above the original MSRP and the price of a new LS400 shot up. Buyers in this segment want quality materials, top notch fit and finish, and extremely low NVH. If the Genesis falls short in any one of these categories, a premium buyer will pay the extra 20-30K and get the Benz/Bimmer/Audi/Lexus (it saddens me to leave out the Q45 but they are a prime example of a premium brand that didn't go all out and lost all credibility in the premium full size segment). Resale value is also key, Poor fit and finish = poor resale and certain death in the premium market. I agree that Volvo, Acura and to a lesser extent Cadillac since they are definitely getting better every time out should be very afraid, you can get a 2005-2006 version of their flagship sedans for a fraction of original MSRP.



Stone

I agree with this; it seems like they are trying to follow the Lexus approach to breaking into the luxury market, and it certainly has worked before. It will largely depend on if people can "get past" the budget badge, how reliable the car is, and how good their dealership sales/support experience is (which might be difficult to do well without a new division/identity for dealerships).

Do people realize that a VW Passat (with 6 cylinders and 100HP less than the Genesis), AWD and optional NAV/6 CD changer is just over $40k?

Or that a BASE Volvo S80 with 3.2 V6 (with 235HP) is $40k (down almost 150HP)? Or that a BASE V8 with 311HP is $50k and with a few options is over $55k?

The car that will suffer the most IMO is going to be the vastly uglier V6 Acura RL that is $10k more than the Genesis comparably equipped (and almost 100hp down).


Of course power and gadgets are not all that is needed to make a decent car or brand. However if I was in the market for one of the Tier 2 brands and cars I just listed I might look hard at the fully loaded Hyundai V8 Genesis in order to save $10k-$15k.

Great point!

HELL NO. Even $25k is too much for a Hyundai. I would buy a real car used before i would even think about setting foot on a stinking Hyundai dealership lot for a new car. That's at every price point.

For $25k i would much rather have a used Maxima than any Hyundai.

For $30k i would rather have a used 5-series or E-class (or even a Lexus GS or Infiniti M) instead of a Hyundai.

If i ever have to drive a Hyundai or wear Payless shoes, then I'll know that something has gone horribly wrong in my life.

there are people who need over priced cars to prove themselves (like people who own BMW base 325,328 and claim their BMW to be 'sporty')
on the other hand, there are people who don't need over priced cloth nor over priced cars to show their success.

this 40k hyundai is an expensive car for a hyundai, but it is far from over priced consider what you got.

gotta wake up dude

Would YOU Pay $40G's For A Hyundai?

Not no, but hell no!!!

I'll bet Liberal New York Governor Eliot Spitzer would ;-)

Surprise surprise...

I wonder what Senator Larry Craig (the Republican arrested for bathroom sex) drives.

Craig drives a Lexus.

Well, if that's the case, I guess that he enjoys finely crafted automobiles, among other things.

I think Silver1 is a little off here.

A base IS350 RWD runs you $36,770 after destination and handling. The cheapest available package for the car is $7,121 and tops at $8,149. So you are looking at a price of $43,891 to $44,919. In the base Lexus you do not get HID headlamps, leather, adaptive headlight, navigation, heated seats, and all those others.

I would say for 31-40k is not a bad price for the car. Let's not forget it's their new flagship and for 40k you could not get an Avalon or a Maxima with all of those options.

I also see this as a new venture since Hyundai is possibly contemplating creating their own luxury brand. Genesis is a great name for a car as well.

Personally I think it will do very well, especially given today's market with the ever shrinking dollar. People who want some nice appointments but don't want or can't spend 50k plus, may think twice about this car.

Hyundai has come a long way in their history and I feel they don't get enough credit. I have yet to own one, but heck, even my sister in laws last car, her 99 Hyundai Accent drove perfectly and issue free for well over 100,000 miles. The transmission on the 5 speed was still good too. It gave them less problems than their current 03 Accord LE does, thats for sure.

They still have some time before they are direct competitors with Toyota, Honda, Nissan. But just like Mazda, they are making those gaps smaller in large jumps instead of tiny steps.

It all depends if it is a GOOD VALUE! If Hyundai comes out with a car that has more standard features and basically the same performance as a car that costs thousands more then it will sell.

If Hyundai is hoping to charge just becuase the car looks descent then it will be a DUD.

I was about to say no way.. but then i cheked their site..
CHECK OUT THE INTERIOR. ITS AMAZING..
so i mean i guess id spend at most 35 grand.. but thats it
also.. the exteriros pretty cool.. and the front doesnt have the hyundai badge

I sat in the car at the auto show. LOTS of fake wood trim. It's far from "amazing," but definitely a good effort.

I would have originally said no but how long will the current luxury or near luxury price segment stay at 40 grand? Until Audi and VW build a factory in the US they will be hard pressed to keep prices at 40 grand for a fully loaded Passat or and Audi A4. Right now the Euro is about 1.55 to the dollar and rising.So 40 grand for a V8 and fairly large car and well constructed interior is not so far fetched anymore.In fact I would call it a good value.

Why would a loaded A4 be $40K in the first place? There's NOTHING in that class that's completely topped out at this price.

And I was de-boosted, because? Whoever did that is just stupid.

If you would buy a Hyundai, then you would probably also buy:

Payless shoes
Taurus handguns
Vizio TVs
Murry's meats
Wal-Mart tires made in China
Banker's Club vodka (in a plastic bottle!)
Any food or beverage product, larger than a single serving that is sold in a dollar store.
Fake Ipods (Or a Zune, just as pathetic)

I'm sure there are more offensive products, but i am a very discriminating consumer, so i'm not familiar with many.

There is nothing wrong with sticking to a name that you trust, even if it costs a little more.

lol!

You goof, does it make you feel good to mock what others purchase...

Let me guess, this is you:

Shops at Macy's
Wears Kenneth Cole shoes
Wears Calvin Klein clothes
Has a Movado watch
Bought a Sony LCD (with a panel made by Samsung)
Drinks Grey Goose Vodka
Parties it up in Vegas

Welcome to middle class buddy. A lifetime of boredom and paycheck to paycheck living awaits you.

Unless you are this guy, you have to right to even dream about mocking others:

Drives a $150k+ car
Wears $4k Brioni suits and $2k handmade shoes
Has a $20k Vacheron Constantine watch
Bought a Neapolitan Keymat television
Drinks Louis XIII Cognac
Vacations in the Hamptons and Monaco

Many seem to forget that Lexus is not its own manufacturer like BMW and Mercedes. Lexus exists in the United States due to the fact that the market is saturated with Toyotas and in order to bring more product to market, a new brand needed to be created. Ever notice that the Lexus brand does not exist in its home country of Japan...Many weathly Japanese seem to prefer to spend their money on BMW, Mercedes and Land Rover...MMM, makes you wonder...

Hyundais need to be 25% less than the competition at least because they are not as good. I got talked into the big Hyudnai Azera at Hertz because I usually get an Avalon and WOW the Azera is a piece of junk. Hyundais and Kias are so mediocre even if the reliability has improved.

Well I think that I will be able to get the genesis without the technology package or any other optional extra for it's basic price of about 30 grand. Really I'll just order my car and will have to wait two month for delivery, but fine with me if i can buy the genesis at 30 grand.

Breaking the $40k price barrier with a Hyundai would be just like VW entering $65k territory with the Phaeton!
No one will care if Hyundai knocks it out of the park with quality and refinement -- to the consumer, it will just be a Hyundai.

I still love the car and what Hyundai is doing, but unfortunately for them, there is a limit right now.

Can somebody let me know where I can get a FULLY loaded IS350 for $42k. I'll be there to sign the papers. Last time I looked it was going to be in the low $50's.

i don't

i would pay $40,000 for a hyundai if the year was 2080.

but 2008 i think $15,000 is right price for hyundai

i wouldnt want a car like this but by no means is that a bad price, hell a Maxima, or Avalon is priced in this same league, and i wouldnt think twice about either. the Lucerne is also priced the same. so 40,000 for a Maxima im sorry is just as rediculous, people were saying who would buy a luxury toyota 10 years ago now look at Lexus, the same for Infiniti they were on the brink of irrelevance in the market so a 40,000 car of these specs sounds about right

Any idiot that compares a Hyundai and a Lexus or even some high-end Toyota needs to be shot.

There are huge difference between a Lexus and a Hyundai. Lexus is one of the most respected company in the world if not most envied, period.

Some of you are facing a serious dillima, being brainwashed with Yugos, bmw, Mercedes, Trabant etc...

wow how arrogant, thats the exact same thing German car buyers were saying of toyotas "Deluxe" brand lexus went it first came out, a toyota that can compete with a Mercedes or Bmw yeah right. Hell people say that now. So to say a Hyundai couldnt do what Lexus did when it started with the Garbage ES250 which had to be one of the worst rebadge attempts at a luxury sedan, or the than at the time bargain basement LS by comparison to its rivals is FOOLISH. It took Lexus over a decade to even have the nerve price the LS close the price of the S and 7. These Lexus fans are always so illogical, lmao a Hyundai that couldnt be compared to a lexus, these are the same people that would say it is an ignorrant to bias to say that Lexus will never be what Mercedes BMW, and Audi are TRUE Global luxury car brands. Or that they are simply deluxe toyotas with extra wood, leather, and garish chrome.....

You get a big, powerful, decent looking (inside and out) Hyundai for 40,000 in the Genesis. Not bad at all. It's stupid to say that you shouldn't buy a brand X car because it costs XX,000. You are buying a car and not the badge that it came from.

The silliest (but it will probably happen) is some writer saying that the Genesis is pretty good, BUT that you can buy a BMW 3 series for this price instead.

make that: not the badge that it came with

Well Hyundai is becoming a more luxurious brand as they build. I would rather buy a Beemer for this much though( Like a 325xi). This car is similar to other luxury cars in some ways. Like Toyota has Lexus, Honda has Acura., Nissan has Infiniti and Hyundai is Hyundai. Hyundai isn't two brands. They are making themselves like the other luxury competition. It's smart because they can say the luxury is just in one brand. Instead of having two. I see many people adjusting to Hyundai's "newer look" because they didn't get a lot of attention before and now when Im at auto shows I see a lot of people coming to heck out their vehicles and I hear them say they like them. I think the Genesis will be a great car.

I also think their testing to see if people will pay that much and if they do that will boost that "luxury" reputation. If it doesn't I expect a HUGE price drop.

I wouldn't pay $10k for a Hyundai so why in the world would I pay $40k+?

you wouldn't pay $10 grand for a Hyundai put you paid $40 grand for $25 grand Toyota with an L badge. Just to show you how ignorant you are. A Loaded ES350 has a measly 272 HP vs 375hp for the Genesis. On the ES if you get satellite radio you can't get the Ipod package and vice versa. Have you ever stopped to look at the outragious prices Lexus charges for some of there options. This is from the Lexus website:

Ultra-Luxury Package with Additional Options $10,947.00
Ultra-Luxury Package Includes:
- Semi-analine leather-trimmed interior
- Wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob
- Driver's seat power cushion extender
- Lexus Memory System to control power driver's and front passenger's
seats (except lumbar), outside mirrors and steering wheel
- Rear-seat side airbags (SRS)
- Remote keyless entry-linked memory
- Panorama glass roof
- Power rear sunshade
- High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps
- Dual-swivel Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)
- Electrochromic outside mirrors with tilt-down in reverse
- Rain-sensing intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle
- 17 x 7-in Graphite-polished alloy wheels
- Full-size spare tire with 17-in alloy wheel

You have to pay extra for the rear seat side airbags?
So, safety is an option that Lexus thinks you should have to pay extra for? Are you kidding me?

Now let's review.

1. The ES is smaller than the Genesis.
2. The ES has 100 fewer horespower than the Genesis.
3. The ES has a shorter and less comprehensive warranty than the Genesis.
4. Projected maintenance cost on an ES is almost double the maintenance cost of the Genesis.
5. The ES requires premium fuel to get a measly 272hp. Even the the V6 Genesis on regular unleaded has more horsepower than that. If you compare a V6 Genesis with the ES you're at about a $15,000 difference in cost. If that doesn't mean much to you, then you must be a millionare. If you are a millinare, why in the hell are you driving an IS 250?

Hey silver1 if you bother to have a serious look into that list,

Lexicon audio is the one loaded for Rolls-Royce.

I really dont know which car will come with V8 375 horse power, DIS (sort of i-drive system in BMW), adaptive HID and so on....at around 40K.

Once you free from your predeterminism, you'll find this may be a real, i mean reasonable choice..

Go and check it out with your google, lol.

yes i would over any bmw.....

Just like Toyota they used fake woods when they first started. It's more economical....

When you say Toyota, do you mean when Lexus first started? I don't recall any Lexus using fake wood.

I think Hyundai will be stealing a lot of sales from Chrysler over the 300.
And 40g might seem high, but i think people will go for it

$40k won't get you today what $4ok got you 7 years ago. In 2000, I got a reasonably loaded X5 3.0 (sans park distance and navigation) for $45k. That same trim X5 today goes for about $55-60k. Today a Camry could cost you $30k. That used to be an $18k car.

So when you ask would you pay $40k for a hyundai you have to consider what other new car could you get for that price. That doesn't really answer the question but from a price stand point it offers some perspective. The buying decision is made on what a car means to its buyer. If this is your first $40k car purchase, you'd be hard pressed to buy a Hyundai because you expect to either be looked at a certain way because you "spent" $40k on a car or you have certain expectations that might not be met by a hyuundai - much less ahyundai that cost $40k.

You have to have the mindset that you are comfortable with who you are and your position in society. You want a car that gives you creature comforts but you don't want to spend $60k for the BMW, Merc, Audi, Lexus, etc. I also think the buyer if this can afford any of those cars, has probably owned one before and now has different priorities.

Meh. Gimme a used LS at the same price point.

Or better yet, lease a new one.