I'm about to buy a used 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT; bombard me with your comments

[RIGorous1]

Hello Everyone,

I've been in the market for a cool looking sports car and after much shopping I've got my eye on a Hyundai Tiburon GT 6 speed. Now I know what you all are thinking about Korean cars, but from alot of the articles I've read from automotive and consumer guide they are not the Hyundai's of 5-10 years ago. You probably are thinking, well why not a honda accord coupe or a scion tc. The simple answer is price. For a comparably equiped honda or scion I would have to fork over 5-7k more.

Please note that I'm not an enthusiast, so things like drive feel and engine sound don't matter to me. My main concern is reliability, so whether or not I can drive this thing to 100,000 miles with out major servicing or expensive problems. So if you own one or have friends who have one please tell me what are some of the problems that I should expect between 50,000-100,000 miles.

Here are the highlights:

Car: 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT V6, 6 speed
Title: clean, no accidents
Price: $9,000
Milage: 53,000

Is it worth it?

 

[Pepsi90919]

ok well 2 days ago i drove a 2006 hyundai sonata, loaded, and it felt too gimmicky for my tastes. then i drove a 2006 tucson and couldn't see out the back for the life of me. also rattled. also looked too gimmicky. i then got in my 2002 olds intrigue and left.

 

[I Saw OJ]

You're right, Hyunhai isnt the same car company they were 5-10 years ago, they have become a lot better.

Sounds like a good deal, you will love a 6 speed. Might wanna have it checked out by a mechanic before you sign the dotted line just in case.

 

[randomlinh]

you want a "sports" car but don't care about drive and feel?!?! not that this is a sports car, more of a "sporty-esque" car.

honestly, if you're main concern is reliability and a sporty look, find a 6th gen celica based on the 5sfe engine (2.2L 4 banger).

 

[CrackRabbit]

Sounds like the owner is dumping it before the 5/60,000 warranty runs out.
The 10/100,000 is non transferable.
Other than that I haven't looked at a Tiburon.

 

[Pepsi90919]

not the hyundai for 5-10 years ago??? back in 2000 they were saying that. the hyundai pony and excel had their reign in the late 80s and early 90s.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: RIGorous1
Hello Everyone,

I've been in the market for a cool looking sports car and after much shopping I've got my eye on a Hyundai Tiburon GT 6 speed. Now I know what you all are thinking about Korean cars, but from alot of the articles I've read from automotive and consumer guide they are not the Hyundai's of 5-10 years ago. You probably are thinking, well why not a honda accord coupe or a scion tc. The simple answer is price. For a comparably equiped honda or scion I would have to fork over 5-7k more.

Please note that I'm not an enthusiast, so things like drive feel and engine sound don't matter to me. My main concern is reliability, so whether or not I can drive this thing to 100,000 miles with out major servicing or expensive problems. So if you own one or have friends who have one please tell me what are some of the problems that I should expect between 50,000-100,000 miles.

Here are the highlights:

Car: 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT V6, 6 speed
Title: clean, no accidents
Price: $9,000
Milage: 53,000

Is it worth it?

The tiburon I looked at with that mileage etc, had a leaking ac, a dying blower motor, bad power locks etc...

Most importantly, 03 tiburons have crappy stock clutches...if the clutch hasnt already been replaced, it's probably on it's last leg.

 

[RIGorous1]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Sounds like the owner is dumping it before the 5/60,000 warranty runs out.
The 10/100,000 is non transferable.
Other than that I haven't looked at a Tiburon.

Yes you are right. According to Hyundai the warranty when transferred becomes only 5 year /60,000 miles, so I'd have only 7k miles left on the power train. This is why I want some comments on what I should expect from miles 50,000-100,000 assuming I keep it regularly serviced and I don't do something stupid like race it.

So, I know that this car is a good deal in that it its about 2-3k below blue book, but I have no warranty, so I'm taking a huge risk in buying it which is why I ask for comments.

I just want to make sure a tiburon owner doesn't say things like, "Yeah, after 70,000 miles the engine needs to be replaced." If I don't get things like that then I'll buy it today.

----------------------------------------

Also randomlinh I guess you are right... I want something sporty, sporty-esque, or ninja-like (opps ) not a true "sports car" since I'm too poor and I'm a poser like that.

Thanks for your comments, so far... keep them coming!

I have yet to hear from a tiburon owner.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: RIGorous1

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Sounds like the owner is dumping it before the 5/60,000 warranty runs out.
The 10/100,000 is non transferable.
Other than that I haven't looked at a Tiburon.

Yes you are right. According to Hyundai the warranty when transferred becomes only 5 year /60,000 miles, so I'd have only 7k miles left on the power train. This is why I want some comments on what I should expect from miles 50,000-100,000 assuming I keep it regularly serviced and I don't do something stupid like race it.

So, I know that this car is a good deal in that it its about 2-3k below blue book, but I have no warranty, so I'm taking a huge risk in buying it which is why I ask for comments.

I just want to make sure a tiburon owner doesn't say things like, "Yeah, after 70,000 miles the engine needs to be replaced." If I don't get things like that then I'll buy it today.

----------------------------------------

Also randomlinh I guess you are right... I want something sporty, sporty-esque, or ninja-like (opps ) not a true "sports car" since I'm too poor and superficial like that.

Thanks for your comments, so far... keep them coming!

I have yet to hear from a tiburon owner.

Ask yourself WHY he's asking 2-3k below book, and you'll have the answer to your question.

 

[RIGorous1]

Ask yourself WHY he's asking 2-3k below book, and you'll have the answer to your question.

According to the guy, he financed it through Hyundai and over the last few years he's been paying "excessive" monthly payments especially since its been depreciating like crazy. So he wants to pay off Hyundai, get rid of the car, and get something else.

Does the story make sense?

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: RIGorous1

Ask yourself WHY he's asking 2-3k below book, and you'll have the answer to your question.

According to the guy, he financed it through Hyundai and over the last few years he's been paying "excessive" monthly payments especially since its been depreciating like crazy. So he wants to pay off Hyundai, get rid of the car, and get something else.

Does the story make sense?

Not at all. Book value is what its worth, and the depreciation is taken into account. If he can't even OFFER it for book value, let alone that he's willing to accept it, then something is definitely wrong.

It's prob been on the market for a long time with no buyers - no buyers = something wrong.

You don't sell below book value unless you don't know what it is, you need to sell in a rush, or you can't get it.


The point is...if your MAIN concern is reliability, this probably isn't the car for you.

 

[thomsbrain]

if you want reliability and you don't like to drive, take the money and buy whatever toyota floats your boat in that price range. even though it will likely be older and have more miles, it will still run forever.

 

[feelingshorter]

you want reliable? toyota or honda has always been so. The only hyundai that is reliable is one of their SUVs but i think they only have it in europe. Hell, they even got better Ford cars in Europe.

 

[RIGorous1]

any tiburon owners/drivers want to chime in?

 

[LordUnum]

Not a Tib owner, but a former Elantra owner (<--- well, it's still in the family since my father's been driving it since 2002). It was bought new off the dealer's showroom in '96. Never had any mechanical or electrical issues with the car outside of having to rebuild the trans at 90k miles, and that I think had a lot to do with me abusing my first car and treating as even no rental should be. It still runs and handles like a dream (probably helped by upgraded rims/Falken rubber), and doesn't leak a drop of oil or other fluids and I believe it has somewhere between 140k and 150k miles. My only complaints would be in the quality of materials used in the interior (have had to replace weak door handles and those tabs that hold in the sun visors on occasion) and a(n automatic) transmission that seems to take it's time deciding when/if to downshift. That last issue sent me running away from autos for good.

On a side, I've noticed through others' experiences that the Beta engine (specifically the 1.8L & 2.0L) that they started to put in the '96-on Elantra and Tiburon seem to be relatively 'bulletproof.' I tend to agree.

Good luck on the impending car purchase!