Drove Three Cars Yesterday

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
10/01/2016 at 18:31 • Filed to: None

First was !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I posted about a few days ago. It was exceptionally smooth, powerful, comfortable, and generally Mercedes-like. I enjoyed the interior quite a bit more than it seems much of you did.

Next was a 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged. The pros were that it has a 420hp supercharged V8 making a good deal of speed and lots of noise, and had an interior that looked excellent. At under !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , it was also the bargain of the group. Unfortunately, it felt like it. I wanted to love this car, and I kind of still do, but it felt cheaply put-together. I cannot believe Jeremy Clarkson could criticize the materials and build quality of American cars while Britain was charging $62,000 for the plastics in this car. I guess when it’s on a British car it’s “charming”. Oh well.

Then there was the real shocker. At !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on the odometer, this 2013 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec was by far and away the best buy of the group, in my opinion. Its 429hp 5.0 Tau naturally aspirated V8 put down numbers comparable to the blower Jag in terms of performance. It looks like a Honda Accord, which is a plus, as my dad calls on a lot of small town companies where a Mercedes or Jaguar might be just a little too showy. The interior wasn’t as pretty as that in the E-Class, but it was still a comfortable car to be in and the insides felt well put together, much more so than in the Jaguar. I dislike the fact that it’s only available in black, but it also only comes equipped one way, and that’s with pretty much all the goodies we want. Oh, and there’s still three years/20k miles left on the bumper to bumper warranty and 7 years/62k miles left on the power warranty. It would seem now that our toughest choice is going to be between this and an Equus.

DISCUSSION (23)

random001 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 18:35

You can not believe how much I wanted the saddle brown interior in my R-Spec. The black cleans up easy, though.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > random001
10/01/2016 at 18:36

How is it in terms of long-distance comfort, reliability, and running costs?

random001 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 18:40

It’s great!! We went on an 11 hour road trip, I drove the whole way and was never fatigued. I’ve had no problems in my 7k miles, it has 57 on it now.

Best part, you can throw 87 in it, Lise about 25 HP, and not know it. If it has the CoContinental contiprocontacts, make them put Michelin PSS on there. Night and day better. The Continental tires are complete garbage.

djmt1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 18:44

Full Disclosure: Clarkson has been criticising Jag interiors since the dawn of time. May of the other hand was a big fan of the XF interior but only because it wasn’t the S Type. Hammond hates Jags.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > djmt1
10/01/2016 at 18:49

I did not know this.

Wobbles the Mind > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 18:53

Get the Genesis. Get the Genesis. Get the Genesis! I own a 2012 XF, I love me a Mercedes, but I’d trade it all for a Tau! Equus is cool too if you’re buying the car for the passengers instead of the driver, but if you looked at an XF then obviously passenger comfort is bottom of the list.

Steve in Manhattan > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 19:00

For me? JAAAAG.

Just buy the Genesis.

djmt1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 19:01

They get a lot of shit here for not being biased towards British cars because if you go through Top Gear over the years it is kind of startling how much they dump on them but with good reason.

As far as they are concerned, we should be the best with no more of the plucky Brit nonsense and punching above our weight bollocks. A good sentiment and one that I agree with.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 19:19

Power train on hyundais typically isn’t transferable. It’ll only be 5 year 60 for the second owner unless it’s CPO.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
10/01/2016 at 19:30

It is CPO.

CompactLuxuryFan > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 19:30

I agree with your overall sentiment, but it looks like you gotta visit the doc to get the seat of your pants calibrated. Those twin turbo E550s were no joke, and per C&D, they’re neck and neck with even the newer 470hp XF Supercharged. The R Spec Genesis is hardly in the same league (and not in a good way).

E550 (12.8 at 112 mph): http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-mercedes-benz-e550-4matic-sedan-test-review

(newer) XF (12.7 at 112 ): http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2010-jaguar-xf-supercharged-road-test-review

Genesis (13.7 at 103 mph): http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hyundai-genesis-r-spec-50-sedan-test-review

Something something hardworking German horses...

Klaus Schmoll > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 19:41

Sorry, but that Korean S-class wannabe does look kinda cheap-ish inside. The pictures just don’t want me to drive it. Reminds me of my old Honda. 10 y/o BMWs have nicer interiours.

http://suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat/bmw-5-touring-525d-facelift-ahk-panoramadach-leder-gersthofen/233306749.html?action=parkItem

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > CompactLuxuryFan
10/01/2016 at 19:41

Whoops, I was looking at the 2010 figures. Yeah, the Benz is the quickest by far. Methinks it’s a combination of AWD, good transmission, and that 402 number being a bit...conservative. It felt damn quick, but because there was virtually no noise or drama compared to the other two it was hard to tell how quick.

The ‘09 Jag we drove with 420 horsepower is still comparable to the genesis. That newer one has a 5.0 instead of a 4.2 and 470 hp.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Klaus Schmoll
10/01/2016 at 19:45

We’ve got a 2011 BMW and have now had 5 Audis. I’m familiar with the difference.

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 20:25

Why hasn’t he looked at the BMW or Audis?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
10/01/2016 at 20:29

He wants to take a short “break” from European cars to recuperate his savings. The Jag and Benz were mostly for comparison to the Genesis.

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 21:08

Oh I see. He doesn’t want to check out a Lexus? I’d think that would be the best avenue or even a Cadillac.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
10/01/2016 at 21:47

He’s looking at those too.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > random001
10/01/2016 at 22:15

Just did a bit of research. Apparently in 2012, only, alongside the R-Spec and the 4.6, they sold the non-R-Spec models with the 429hp 5.0 Tau.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 23:22

Sweet!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/01/2016 at 23:45

But you can get a low mileage A7 for like $32,000! But yeah that would be way too showy. We have a vendor at work who leases an S5 and it sticks out like a sore thumb in the parking lot.

random001 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/02/2016 at 08:52

They did, but not many, and the R-Spec suspension and all the option packages swayed me. I continue to search for a wrecked Genesis with the saddle I can buy.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/02/2016 at 12:17

That will probably be two cars from now