2001 Hyundai Tiburon SE review from North America

-Bad Thermostat.

I leased this car brand new in spring 2001.

The 2001 Tiburon is a very reliable car. It has always started even in the coldest Canadian winter mornings without hesitation.

It is surprisingly fast and handles very well in summer conditions. The OEM Michelin tires handle very well on dry pavement, but are definitely not recommended in the winter.

The interior is very attractive. The leather seats create a sense of luxury that one cannot usually get out a sub-$30,000CDN car. It has held up exceptionally well through my four years of ownership. All that was needed was routine cleaning and leather treatment to keep the interior looking new.

The paint has held up well. The dealer thought the car was repainted when returned at the end of the lease. I ordered this car in black. Regular washing and waxing kept maximum shine with minimum swirls.

This car is a lot of fun to drive, has great gas mileage, and still turns heads!

My only gripe with the car is its very high insurance costs. In Canada, the Tiburon is rated as a high theft vehicle, and was not equipped with an anti-theft ingnition immobilizer. This contributed to my decision to return the Tiburon at the end of its lease.

Generally speaking, this is a reliable car, but not a refined car. It has never failed, but does have a lot of shakes and rattles. This is likely because of its stiff chassis. The suspension is well tuned for cornering, but can give you a sore back on very long trips.

Engine noise is prominent at highway speeds. The engine spins at 3000RPM at 100km/h in fifth gear. This is due to the wheel size and low gear ratios. While this improves acceleration, it raises the noise level.

I believe the pros outweigh the cons of this car, so I would recommend it as a good used car purchase. It is attractive, reliable and a lot of fun to drive. But make sure you can afford to insure it!