Hyundai Coupe (2002 - 2009) 2.0 SE 3d (2006/55) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Not a brand/badge snob but still enjoy driving a good looking car.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Family always comment on how good it looks and parents enjoy driving it when I'm feeling generous. Friends are very jealous (was able to get the car when I was 20 thanks to 3 years no claims :D) and were stunned when they found out I had one. Beats anything my friends have hands down in terms of performance but even more so in terms of styling.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I was a little dissapointed at first no thanks to the garage screwing me over in my opinion as mentioned previously. The car has grown on me hugely and 1 year later I still grin like a child every time I put my foot down. I would definitely buy the same car again if time repeated itself but I don't want to buy any car twice- that's not my car's fault at all I just want a change each time, progress and all that.

What are you likely to buy next?

If Hyundai bring the Genesis coupe over here in the next few years I wouldn't hesitate to buy one (assuming I leave uni and go straight into a well paid job!). Other than that a cheap Elise maybe?!! I don't want to sell my coupe for a long time though!

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£3,500

When did you buy the car?

May 2012

Did you get a good deal and why?

Car had only done 37K when I bought it and came with the usual 3 months warranty. The cambelt work, usually done at 50K/5years hadn't been so this was done and the car was taxed/motd and serviced for me.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Waited around for a 05 facelift example in red. The facelifted examples look much better than the 02-04 cars and 05-06 2.0L SE come with the far more attractive 17-inch wheels that were previously only standard on the V6. Saw a few tatty examples before finding this one. Important to make sure the cambelt was changed at 50k/5 yrs and so got it done on mine before I bought it.

What was the dealer like?

The guy I bought the car off was brilliant. Issues with the clutch a month later revealed the manager of that dealership to be most uncooperative and rude in my opinion and the guy that dealt with me when I bought the car had since left....

What's it like to drive?

For an insurance group 10 (20 in the new groups) car you will not do better than this!! My first car was a fiesta zetec and this thing is quite different!! Not as fast as it looks but will keep up with hot hatches and base TTs and Celicas (probably the car it is most similar to). Sticks very well in the dry, can get a little fidgety when accelerating away from roundabouts in the damp. No traction control can catch you out occasionally and the coupe will torquesteer (but hey that adds to the fun!!). Understeers when pushed hard. 0-60 is actually a little faster than the 9.3 seconds quoted on most sites- this is the time for the older models. Straight-line speed very similar to base spec Celicas but the twin exhausts make it sound much nicer. Engine is torquey and pulls well in every gear.

What's it like to park?

Scary at first especially when moving up from a hatchback. You're desperate not to scratch that sexy front end! The car is actually nowhere near as big as it can feel and isn't all that much wider than a hatchback. Once you become accustomed to the hopeless turning circle parking it is very easy and it can be squeezed into spots I wouldn't have tried when I first got it. Some examples have parking sensors but not really needed.

Have you had any problems with the car?

As described clutch started slipping just 1 month after buying it. Despite it not technically being covered by the dealership's warranty they EVENTUALLY agreed to pay ~£120 to getting it replaced (apparently they could have done it for that!!). Wheel bearing also replaced under warranty, both of which are known weaknesses of the coupe, done at a local Hyundai main dealership to get it done well and they were excellent and fair. All four tyres have been resealed due to alloy wheel corrosion- standard thing on alloys as they age.

What's most practical about your car?

Very long and wide boot area but sloping hatchback means luggage must be low. Will easily take my two bodyboards or even a few surfboards with the seats folded down! Plenty of space in the front but rear seats are quite cramped due to not being bucket seats as some coupes have (e.g ford cougar), remind moaning rear seat passengers about the beautiful car they're getting a lift in and that they should be grateful.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Cruise control makes motorways and dual carriageways relaxing. Multiguage showing torque, battery voltage and MPG is very cool although mpg guage can become a little distracting/depressing!! Sun roof always nice! Twin exhausts sound brilliant with the windows down in the summer and the 17 inch alloys the 05/06 2.0 SE comes with as standard are very pretty.