Faults:

Engine warning sensor came on at 15000km - faulty knock sensor - covered by warranty.

Small suspension part broke at 16000km - covered by warranty.

Switch to pop trunk broke at 18000km - covered by warranty.

General Comments:

Overall, it is a very nice car. I am very pleased with the purchase and would have considered buying a new one in the future if they were still made. I would not however consider the Genesis unless they came out with an all wheel drive version, as we get a lot of snow.

I purchased the car for a lot less than list, as they were clearing them out to bring in the Genesis.

The ride quality is good, considering it has a somewhat sporty suspension.

Acceleration is decent for a regular 4cyl.

Pros:

Great look, good price for the performance, factory stereo is quite good, no major issues in first 20,000km, handles better than my Acura did.

Cons:

Paint quality is not great. There are scratches in the clear coat in places where I never touch the car. Arm rests are uncomfortable on long rides. No key-less trunk latch.

Faults:

Outdoor temperature sensor defective-replaced under warranty.

General Comments:

Uptil now. very satisfied. I did prefer my 1999 model due to lower fuel consumption, smaller and loved the outdoor styling of the car but got tires of repair bills

I am quite happy with this one.

Faults:

Outdoor temperature censor defective - replaced under warranty.

When temperature dropped below 0 celsius, the car would take about 30 second to start - something with one valve needed adjustment.

That's all.

General Comments:

I still prefer my 1999 model, as it felt more comfortable and was smaller too. But I don't mind not having any more repair bills, peace of mind for 5 years.

The car handles very well and is comfortable, even though the armrest could be a bit lower as I am tall.

Fuel consumption is a bit high for a 4 cyl.

I am a very happy driver.

Faults:

Nothing whatsoever.

General Comments:

When I first saw a Tiburon, I thought it was an exotic sports car, and was completely surprised to see the Hyundai emblem. It is a beautiful car, inside and out, and looks much more expensive than it really is.

Some car magazine reviewers have ripped the Tiburon because they claim it has a "dated" style, but even though I disagree with this statement, the design is what I like the most. I have driven a variety of 80's and 90's sports cars, and you just don't see a sleek looking 2-door hatchback anymore. Everything is either a sedan, or uses ridiculous looking "modern" designs.

There are two engines for the Tiburon, with different option packages. One is the 138hp 4 cyl, which I have, and the 6cyl which is 172hp. Again, car magazine reviewers have ripped the power of the Tiburons, and frequently recommend competing cars such as the Mitsubishi Eclipse (I test drove one and hated it).

I strongly recommend getting the 4cyl GS because the V6 doesn't offer enough extra power to justify the drop in fuel economy. And if headroom seems to be an issue, getting a sun-roofless model will make a big difference.

But after actually owning a Tiburon, I can say with full confidence that this is not a "slow" car as some people might say. Sure, it's not a turbo or supercharged, but for a normally aspirated 4cyl, it gets up and goes when you need it to. Better than I expected.

Yes, there are some cars out there with more overall power than the Tiburon, but realistically where are you going to use it? With photo radar, cops getting increasingly intolerant of speeders, and rising gas prices, there is just no need to have a daily driver that turns a 14 second quarter.

Despite what some reviewers might say (are you starting to see a pattern here?), the handling is quite good. There is a sharp turn near my house that I test cars on, and the Tiburon took it better than my Porsche 944, a car with near 50/50 weight distribution.

Simply put, the Tiburon is one of the best looking, if not THE best looking affordable sports car on the market, it has more than enough power, great handling, and Hyundai's 100,000k mile warranty that is transferable to 60,000 miles.