by "Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
Published 01/14/2017 at 17:06
by "Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
Published 01/14/2017 at 17:06
Tags: Hyundai
; Choo choo
; DMU
; Trainlopnik
STARS: 3
Meet a Hyundai Tucson. It’s the best selling car here, having dethroned the Golf. Not because of dieselgate so much as everybody, but everybody, wants a crossovery kind of car plus extensive marketing, long guarantee, competitive pricing and a good reputation.
But that’s not the Hyundai I’m reviewing.
I’m reviewing the slowest selling Hyundai. Just 63 have been sold here and the last was in 2012. Nonetheless, this Hyundai has more than the Tucson. Much more.
More wheels (32 as reviewed)
More money ( a couple of million apiece)
More engines (four)
More gears (twelve, four firsts, four seconds and four thirds. I’ll get back to you about the thirds)
More seats (262 as reviewed)
More power outlets (about one per two seats)
More volts per outlet (230)
More free wifi
Here we go. It’s a Class 22000 diesel multiple unit.
I’m not in the habit of taking to the rails when at home and I haven’t done so in years so today was by way of an adventure.
The 22000 is a multinational effort, as it was supplied by Mitsu in Japan but built by Hyundai Rotem (bodies) and Tokyu (bogies), engined by MTU and transmissioned by Voith who supplied three speed hydrodynamic gearboxes. Remind me to get back to you about third gear.
Performance
The review was carried out on a single track branch line with a limit of about 110 kmh so not much opportunity for using the full potential of the unit. It goes well enough though. Even with 16 wheel drive a train doesn’t have a great deal of traction (or adhesion, as the railways call it) so acceleration is modest. There’s an impressive roar from under the floor as you get going followed by a steady but muffled whine. Sounds like a CVT as there’s no change in the engine note until you hit about 90 kmh when you hear a gradual drop in revs as second gear is engaged. Gradual, because changing gear involves draining a torque converter and filling the second gear fluid coupling. Having reached second that’s where you stay because you hit the speed limit shortly after. So to get back to you about third gear: never experienced. You only get a few minutes in second at a time anyway because branch lines have numerous level crossings which have a lower speed limit and so you’re back to a whining first gear again.
Ride comfort
This is a function of the line but generally good. A little shaking over points but not enough to dislodge the fillings.
Toys
No entertainment provided but you do get wifi so you can provide your own. Then again, you get what the Americans call “rest rooms”. None of those on your Tucson. Trolley service for refreshments too.
Roadholding
As if on rails.
Ease of driving
Very easy because you don’t have to. The guy who does gets a bit of exercise which is a bit of a surprise. How so? Because one of the intermediate stations is on a little branch off the line. The driver proceeds into the station which is a dead end so he has to decamp to the other end of the train, go out backwards (except that it’s the new forwards because trains don’t care about front and back) to the main line and then walk back through the train because it’s in the middle of nowhere and he’s not allowed walk on the track unless it’s an emergency and proceed to destination in the original direction.
Value for money
Quite good at €22 for a day return. Whether actually buying the unit would be good value depends on your needs and how long your private rail network is.
"Under_Score" (tomtheatum)
01/14/2017 at 18:18, STARS: 0
About the Tucson: Why isn’t the CR-V the top seller? Those are even better values than the Hyundai, and they’re the best selling here in America.
"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
01/14/2017 at 18:52, STARS: 0
I’ve just looked and the Tucson outsells the CRV by about 15:1.
The CRV is a Honda, people just don’t buy them on this side of the Atlantic.
The Tucson is substantially cheaper for one thing - a 1.7D Tucson is about €4,000 cheaper than a 1.6D CRV, there are more Hyundai dealers, they do more marketing, Hyundais are far more common than Hondas so they’re more visible so people are more likely to consider them.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
01/14/2017 at 19:14, STARS: 1
Well we here in US America are not going to get decent trains or, holy shit, Shinkansen, anytime soon. Our GOP overlords will make sure that money goes to the top one percent. WE. ARE. FUCKED.
"Under_Score" (tomtheatum)
01/14/2017 at 19:48, STARS: 0
That’s weird that Hondas aren’t popular. Those are the go-to car here in America.
Option packages are weird over there. Here, a CR-V with cloth seats, a sunroof, heated seats, power driver’s seat, bluetooth, backup camera, smart key access, and LaneWatch (the EX trim) can be had for under $25,000. Meanwhile, it costs over $30,000 to get a Tucson with a sunroof. Hyundais depreciate a lot, but when buyers are new-car-only (my parents), then the CR-V is the better option. The only cars my mom and I looked at were a Jeep Cherokee and the Honda CR-V.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
01/14/2017 at 19:49, STARS: 0
Those are the go-to car here in America.
Wrong.
"Under_Score" (tomtheatum)
01/14/2017 at 20:45, STARS: 0
Those are insanely expensive now. They also had like no USAA discount. We got a better deal on a CR-V EX with AWD than we would have on an LE RAV4 with FWD.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
01/14/2017 at 21:44, STARS: 0
Really? Every. other. car. at. my. school. is. a. goddamn. RAV4. (San Jose, CA) I’m not saying it’s a better deal, I’m just saying that they are the go-to car here at least. Apparently they’re just behind the CR-V in sales by one spot so despite being an awful package it’s still quite popular. My friend just got one after I told her to get anything else (CX-5, CR-V, CPO X3, CPO XC60) and she likes it, so to each their own.
"Under_Score" (tomtheatum)
01/15/2017 at 09:08, STARS: 1
I have a RAV4, but an older one. Also, my mom’s budget was higher back when she got it. RAV4's are very popular at school.
"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
01/15/2017 at 13:33, STARS: 0
Has all the old orange and black stock been replaced now?
"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
01/15/2017 at 16:09, STARS: 0
Yes, there is still however some of the old stock in storage like this loco:
