Faults:

The check engine light started coming on a month or two after I purchased the car from someone else. At the time of the purchase, the car ran very nicely, no power problems or even any minor issues (except paint, but it's not bad).

When the check engine light came on, there was no noticeable performance problems. After reading newsgroups and the manual, it seems like the Oxygen Sensor is to blame... so I waited. After a month or two with the check engine light on, problems began to grow with the engine... specifically loss of power when climbing hills and when accelerating. It feels like a compression problem.

Right now it's in the shop, and they want to charge me $70 just to have their computer talk to the car's computer. I'll update after I find out more, but I'm curious if anyone else had similar problems?

General Comments:

Note: I know it was dumb of me not to take the car in when the check engine light came on -- so comments to that end are pointless.

Faults:

Front wheel bearings. In December 2000 replaced the right front bearing. Replaced the same in February 2001 with only 8000 km. Dealer replaced it and the left front bearing and right spindle under warrantee. June 2001 replaced left front bearing approximately 20,000 km. I am not impressed with the quality. Had a 1988 Honda Civic and put on 460,000 km and never replaced a wheel bearing.

Have replaced right rear wheel bearing in April 2001 and now need to do the left rear.

Was recently informed by the dealer that Hyundai has addressed the problem of the wheel bearings and will have a replacement out in the summer of 2001.

General Comments:

I like the performance. Another 20 horses would be great.

The ride is harsh on a long drive of several hundred km or miles, but then did you buy the car for the performance or for a soft comfortable ride?

Good gas mileage. 35 miles per gallon (imp) city and 40 - 43 miles per gallon (imp) highway (75+ MPH).

Do not like what they did to the 2000 and newer Tiburon with respect to the rear tail lights. The generic lights could be off of a Ford Taurus. The earlier fish eyed tail lights fitted the Shark image of the car.

Faults:

The car was delivered with a vibration due to unbalanced tires. It took 3 service calls to finally do it right. The car is very sensitive to wheel balance as I replace tires every year. A tire shop told me the stamped steel wheels aren't true, aluminum machined wheels are better.

Spark plugs and wires last about 25,000 miles.

Battery was getting weak at 140,000 miles.

Front brake pads replaced at 110,000 miles.

General Comments:

I faithfully change the oil every 10,000 miles, whether it needs it or not.

New timing belt at 90,000 miles. Original rear brakes. Will need oxygen sensor to shutoff check engine light, these normally should be replaced at 100,000 miles, but I'm cheap and waiting for warm weather so I can do it myself.

I drive very hard for work and the only time it wouldn't start is when the battery got low due to age and from operating a laptop with the engine off.

100% reliable, quick and fun.

I bought this because it was cheaper deal than I could get at the Saturn dealer, after reading the Saturn postings here and on Edmunds, I'm glad I was cheap and bought the Hyundai!