2012 Hyundai Veloster: This is How its Done, Honda

[eSZee]

In other words, they have a 50:50 chance of making it better or worse than VW.

I would have to disagree with the VW comment. Who else had a dsg that is anywhere as good as the vw/audi units? They are basically made by the 2-3 companies you mentioned so why do I always read about such a big gap between VW/audi and almost everything else?
My history with hyundai will always leave a skeptic about anything that comes out of their camp. That's why I'm being rather harsh about their product before there is any concrete data or long term tests.

Yes this is Hyundai's first DC.

Funny you mention the GTI, that's the other car I'm seriously considering, but the price difference and unique Veloster Styling is leaning me in that direction. BHP would be about the same. If only I could afford the new GTI R35

The price difference between the veloster "gti" and the golf gti would need to be at least a few $K for me to consider the veloster. And even then, you have the MS3 at $23k that would still be an easier choice.

We'll see if it catches on. It is sitting in a very competitive segment this fall.

Definitely.

 

[niky]

After having said all that about outside suppliers, I have to eat crow, because apparently Hyundai is building this themselves.

But... the biggest issue with dual-clutches in other cars is not the performance of the box per se, but the transmission logic that drives them. Which is why I said 50:50. I've driven some Hyundai ATs that have shifted well (recent ones) and some that haven't (less recent ones). So I'm optimistic they can get the programming right.

One thing I don't trust Hyundai to do is get the suspension and steering right.. which is why I'm not really surprised the Veloster is so dull in that department.

 

[Omnis]

Historically, Hyundai is good at engines and that's about it. Basically, anything you'd find in a cargo ship.

 

[niky]

Well... there's a big difference between a ship engine going 500 rpm and a car engine going 6,500...

They've had a few duds in the engine department, but their diesels are at or near the head of the class currently and their gasoline engines are worlds better than before.

 

[Omnis]

And their seats are the bomb too. That captain's chair has to be comfy to be installed in the bridge.

 

[niky]

Funnily enough, "nautical" was the word on my mind the last time I drove a Veracruz...

 

[Omnis]

And "Dinghy" was what I was thinking when I drove my Hyundai Accent again after a month in the Mini Cooper S.

 

[tlowr4]

If you are in a head restraint, then those pics are valid.

If you even so much as slightly lean & turn your head, those pics are invalid.

I'd argue all day long that slightly turning & leaning your head towards the mirror is safer, faster, and more convenient than turning your head/body to check your blind spot. Things like peripheral vision, your ears, and being aware of how fast said car is overtaking you are the nuances that cannot be explained well in a driver's ed book or explained well through pictures.

Anyone can pass a driver's test. Drunks, drug addicts, hyperactive teenagers, seniors with dementia, you name it. Driving tests, much like any state/federal test, just ask if you know the basic rules; stop, go, signals, etc. The actual 'driving' part, in my Motor-Voter state anyway, means very little.

If you're saying that if you point your side mirrors at your pinstripes is OK - you're wrong. 99.9% of people on the road do this and have the dreaded 'blind spot'.

When you're directly behind a car, look at the side mirror if it's in view. Can you see the driver's face? Repeat this over and over and tell me how many times you do not see the driver. My guess, it'll be ZERO.

There's your blind spot. Poorly adjusted mirrors. Rent a car, drive a friend's, borrow your parents car, or go for some test drives. I've never ever ever seen a car with properly adjusted mirrors with only 1 exception; the driver has an SCCA/NASA racing license or membership.

Adjust your mirrors and blind spots go away. Simple as that.

You've never sat in a 370 Z or Mustang, clearly.

I love the three-door thing, but I find it really impractical for us driving on the left side of the road.
I thought the Koreans drove of the LHS, too?

I'm glad to see all of the love/hate comments in this thread. It means they have succeded in not building a boring car. 👍 to Hyundai.


Or a Toyota Hi-Ace.

Or my '99 Toyota Corolla CSI. You can't see for buggery, especially those little pain in the rear scooter things they've got now (feel free to take offense to anyone that owns one, I hate the damn things )

 

[Joel]

A family near mine bought one, and their Miata is gone now. I think the wife drives a Camry, and the husband had a Miata, but now has a Veloster.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

The only problem I've had with Hyundai's was the oil dipstick tube rusting and breaking off. Oh, and whenever we went around a corner, the CD player would skip and start stuttering.

 

[eSZee]

I found the commercial for the veloster quite funny. They only show the driver side of the car for a brief moment. That is the only exterior shot of the car in the commercial if I'm not mistaken.
Saw a couple this past week and they look quite good, but only saw the rear 3/4, driver side of the car.

 

[C-ZETA]

I think the Veloster is rather odd. I mean, it has one door on one side but is missing one on the other? How odd. Still, I find it to be only in the middle of the class. The Scirocco is a very good allrounder and the Megane Coupe has slightly better looks and an amazing hot hatch variant.

 

[Dan_]

After my initial impressions on the car settled down, I must say it doesn't look that cool anymore to me. It's a little bit striking at first, but the Veloster looks like something that will look dated in a few years. There are some of these in the parking lot at my office building and if I'm honest, It looks much better in the pictures than in real life.

But again, I have a known preference for clean designs. The new Astra GTC scores better when it comes to looks IMO. Now I'm waiting to see how a sporty version, packing the 200hp mill will look like.

 

[Zenith]

Agreed ^^

It conforms greatly to the new standard of "copy what BMW does" and tends to blend in with simple town cars.

 

[Horde_R35]

Dont like it much. Looks like a mix of the CRZ (doors, mirrors and window), 370Z (rear) and the Citroen DS3 (front bumper). A bit ugly.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Has anyone else besides me thinks car design is getting funkier and funkier?

I like how it looks, but I can't picture myself behind the wheel of it...

 

[sems4arsenal]

Really don't think these shots do it a Favor ,One close to me is black (looks alot lower too)is really Stunning.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

I think that even my sisters '95 Opel Astra wagon will beat that thing..

 

[AMCNUT]

Has anyone else besides me thinks car design is getting funkier and funkier?

Yes, and the trend must be stopped! The Veloster is horribly out of proportion - the taillights and rear haunches should never be the same height as the rear window in my opinion. (Wait a minute - what rear window? That's another strike against it, both stylistically and functionally)

The overall design just reeks of 'trying too hard', especially all of the bulbous curves and the asymmetrical door count. The original CRX (and even the new CRZ, although less so) were much cleaner designs. The Veloster is just so juvenile even compared to most of its competitors.

 

[Darla Starch]

This car is so bizzare in specs (3 passenger doors?) and styling, I totally can't wait to own one.

 

[Zenith]

I think that even my sisters '95 Opel Astra wagon will beat that thing..

Don't call your car the "Veloster" if it can be out-dragged by mom's minivan.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> I'm surprised that no one posted this yet...

The Veloster Turbo

^ I'm hoping that this Veloster will not just beat the CR-Z, but will HUMILIATE that Fail Civic Si. 👍

 

[Prince.M5]

HUMILIATE that Fail Civic Si. 👍

I'll actually talk about design here. Both, to me are - well not my kind of taste but the design going on the Civic Si is such a fail! This one, to me is no better but definitely better than the Civic Si. I'm interested to know how any better this Veloster Turbo will do...

The CR-Z on the other hand, is actually quite a good looking car. But no...

 

[hawkeye122]

The commercial for this car made me laugh.

"The Hyundai Veloster, gets XX miles to the gallon. Thats nearly 500 Miles per tank. My butt is numb just thinking about that"

They obviously don't think their seats are that special.

 

[CodeRedR51]

-> I'm surprised that no one posted this yet...

It's been posted, just not here.

 

[niky]

Designwise, maybe, it would beat the Civic, but I still don't know about driving-wise. The big question is whether or not they've finally got the suspension tuning right... suspension tuning being an area where Hyundai, strangely, falters.

 

[TorqueHappenS08]

201 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 194 FTQ @ 1,750 rpm And a curb weight less then a mini cooper S

Yep, Hyundai definitely got this right. when it comes to performance figures, As for handling, I test drove a standard model and it was fun and spirited on tight twisty roads(but pretty gutless).But now it seems like they have yet another winner.

This is what the crz should have been.

And i'm pretty sure when they release the R-spec turbo veloster it will be even lighter with probably some brembo brakes to through in and other go fast parts like other R-spec models excluding the genesis 5.0

 

[homeforsummer]

Meh. Normal one is ugly, Turbo is an Audi A1's nose crossed with a Renault Megane's rump. The door arrangement is stupid, and every UK review I've read says it handles crap.

I'd still prefer a CR-Z, slow or not. Mugen do a supercharger for the CR-Z, that instantly solves that problem and you'd at least have a good-looking car afterwards.

 

[eSZee]

The commercial for this car made me laugh.

"The Hyundai Veloster, gets XX miles to the gallon. Thats nearly 500 Miles per tank. My butt is numb just thinking about that"

They obviously don't think their seats are that special.

Other than the quirky looks, nothing about this car is special.

 

[Keef]

The only problem with the Veloster's design is that the wheel/tire package is tiny compared to the seemingly massive body. Though the car is light, let's be honest, it looks tremendously heavy.

In my opinion, the wheel-to-car proportion won't be quite right until it has bigger wheels and tires, but when you install those there will be little room left to lower the car without tucking rim.

As for the grille, well, I'm speechless.