#20

"Shane Moore" (snakesm13)
09/19/2020 at 19:43 • Filed to: None

Drove to Austin and picked it up. Got $17,500 for my trade in which if you remember I was upset with the $14,000 offer from CarMax.

2020 Veloster N Performance Pack with 4,500 miles. Tried to launch it When I got home and ROASTED the tires. Whoops. The speedometer says it’s faster than it feels. Not 100% sold on the rally flaps but easily reversed.

DISCUSSION (40)

ClassicDatsunDebate > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 19:53

Great colour!

Beefchips > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 19:54

Ooooh! good color. I’m intrigued by these little guys, review it for us soon?

Shane Moore > Beefchips
09/19/2020 at 19:57

Yup I’ll do a review after the excitement and newness wears off. Color is one that is much better in person. I was on the fence but it really is a great color.

412GTI > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 19:58

Best color on them besides black! I wish my car sounded like it when it was stock. Enjoy!

Shane Moore > 412GTI
09/19/2020 at 20:00

This one has a replacement drop in filter that increases the turbo noises which was great stuck in Austin traffic but the exhaust sounds great.

Jb boin > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 20:11

It’s nice to see peoples buying those (and the i3 0N in Europe), they don’t seem to be selling that well and i hope they won’t stop making hot hatches after this generation .

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 20:11

Nice! Looking forward to the full review.

mhr555 > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 20:12

Congrats. In my vehicular A. D. D. car schemes, I was considering one to replace my WRX since I thought the DCT would be great for a daily commuter.
As of yesterday, I feel more pressure to drive a FoMoCo since they’ll be paying my mortgage in a few weeks. Sadly, besides a Bronco, there’s really nothing that really speaks to me. Probably get another Fiesta ST.

412GTI > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 20:13

Very nice! I bought a tune on my GTI today which I’m very excited about. Good day for hot hatches!

Shane Moore > mhr555
09/19/2020 at 20:21

Bronco, Raptor and GT350 would be my short list, Maybe focus RS but the ride was too harsh for me.

Shane Moore > 412GTI
09/19/2020 at 20:22

Nice! What tune did you go with?

412GTI > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 20:24

Equilibrium Tuning Stage 1 through a Cobb Accessport.

Shane Moore > 412GTI
09/19/2020 at 20:26

Man I hope adding the DCT to the 2021 model will make Cobb finally add support for Kia/Hyundai. The only real options right now are piggyback.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 21:05

Ooooooh! You even bought it in the correct color too! The light blue looks absolutely stunning in person, more so than in photos. I know some people here didn’t like the shifter; how is it?

I also wonder about the practicality of the three door setup. Do you find it to work well?

This is basically my obtainable dream car right now so I’m very excited for you. I hope you bless us with an initial impressions post soon.

ranwhenparked > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 21:14

I always forget they exist, which is a shame, because that is a damn fine car, deserves much more attention. And the color is great, I mean, it's even a real color! We don't see many of those anymore

gettingoldercarguy > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 21:19

Congrats! Gorgeous car.

What talked you or of the rs3?

zipfuel > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 21:20

I love that Hyundai have picked up the mantel of making lairy hot hatches with noisy turbos when so many have gone all such. G ood choice.

Shane Moore > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/19/2020 at 21:35

It’s amazing that the depth of the color doesn’t come across in pictures. I’ve own many different manuals from 70’s triumphs and Porsche 914’s to the greatest manual of all a S2000. So I feel it’s as good as my SS, not near as good as the Honda but light years better than the 70’s Vehicles and my buddy’s Evo X . It’s tight and the throws are close together maybe too close but I haven’t missed a shift.

No clue on practicality of the 3 doors yet but I will report back.

Textured Soy Protein > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 21:36

In looking at tuning a Stinger before I changed course with the Si , there were a few tuning companies that were at least doing bench flashes instead of piggybacks. But there were no flash-yourself tuners or apps like many other cars. Someone gotta get on that shit for HyunKia. But personally I think Cobb is no great shakes. Their OTS maps for BMW were nowhere as good as other options like MHD.

Congrats on the purchase. I know I wasn’t thrilled with the N when I tried one but that was more because it didn’t quite align with my priorities than because I thought it was a bad car. It’s definitely faster and more tuner-y than the Si, but the feel, practicality and especially ride comfort on the Si are why I went that route.

Shane Moore > ranwhenparked
09/19/2020 at 21:36

I try to get an interesting color if I can. Couldn’t pass up the hero color.

Shane Moore > gettingoldercarguy
09/19/2020 at 21:37

Just couldn’t justify spending the $45k while not driving much with this whole pandemic thing. Also, missing the manual.

ranwhenparked > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 21:38

Same here, I'll tolerate a boring exterior if it has an interesting interior, or vice versa, can't have both these days

Shane Moore > Textured Soy Protein
09/19/2020 at 21:43

Yeah Cobb is more ease of use than anything.

This decision was made mainly because I don’t daily my vehicles. I have a company vehicle that I drive to and from work everyday so my own vehicle needs to be fun and engaging. Comfort not so important as it’s just around town and 20 minutes “into town” but as. Mentioned we don’t go too many places do to things being shutdown currently. The Si would make a much better daily as you have found out!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 22:40

That's very good to hear then. I was a little alarmed it might ruin the experience but you can't expect an S2000 gearbox in everything.

Textured Soy Protein > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/19/2020 at 22:54

I tried a Veloster N before I bought my Civic Si. The N is quicker, louder, and more customizable in that you have different drive modes plus you can do custom mode where you can independently set the steering, engine, suspension, exhaust and rev matching. The Si only has a sport button that adjusts everything, except rev matching because it doesn’t have that.

I’m 5'11" and I just fit in the back of the N without smush ing my head or knees but it’s tight. The hatch is ok but not huge. I really don’t like the rear visibility and lack of sunroof. The Si has a nicer shifter, better steering feel, comfier adaptive shocks and in sedan form way better practicality.

If you want just straight up *fun* and are cool with the compromises more than I was, the N is certainly a good choice. It’s not by any means unusable as a DD but just didn’t line up with what I was looking for as much as the Si. They’re both solid cars and each has its pros and cons.

kleeBRZ > Shane Moore
09/19/2020 at 23:32

good for you, I was rooting for you to make the trip to austin and cash in on that trade in offer.

3point8isgreat > Shane Moore
09/20/2020 at 09:38

Kinja'd!!!

Welcome to the club! The blue is absolutely the right choice. I get compliments on it at least once a week. Such a fun car thats different enough to look and feel special, while not being obnoxious.

Shane Moore > 3point8isgreat
09/20/2020 at 10:52

Picked up dinner when I got home and already got a compliment on the color!

It really is extremely fun to be behind the wheel.

Jetstreamer > Shane Moore
09/20/2020 at 11:42

Hello foreign cousin;

Kinja'd!!!

Shane Moore > Jetstreamer
09/20/2020 at 11:44

Man, if that was available in the states, I would have probably gone that route. How do you like it?

Jetstreamer > Shane Moore
09/20/2020 at 12:01

I’ve had it for a bit over 2 years now and still love it. I don’t need it to commute, and don’t drive a lot in general (11.000km in 2 years, haha). I t really is just a fun drive for road trips, or whenever I feel like it . Enough back roads around here to be a bit sporty on and the handling is still way better than my level of driver skill. The sound is still great to me as well, with the silly pops and bangs and crackles that appeal to the inner kid. It’s not the fastest car around obviously, but it is really quick. Interior has held up well. Everything you need to touch is pretty much high quality, the rest is just regular plastics.

Not a fan of the Pirelli P-Zero tires it came with though. They’re fine but break traction easily in rain, even having some front tire hop if you accelerate a bit hard on a wet road. I run Vredestein Wintrac Pro in the winter here and still the P-Zero in summer, but will probably switch to Michelin Pilot Sports when the Pirellis are done.

Overall, still a fan, will keep this car for a pretty long time I think.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Textured Soy Protein
09/20/2020 at 12:06

Thank you. I’m 6' dead (not that inflated " 6'" that everyone claims they are haha) so I don't usually have to worry about fitting in cars but I might expect better legroom in the back. I won't be able to afford one anyways but it is one of those cars I so want to own one day. It does seem high on the drama but sometimes you want a little excitement.

Textured Soy Protein > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/20/2020 at 12:16

Well technically I’m 5'10.75" but I round up that 1/4" for brevity.

For my height I have kinda short limbs and a long torso. Climbing into the back isn’t too bad at least with the back door on the passenger side but the roof is a bit low so you have to duck under to get in.

Once situated back there it’s ok, and it passes the sit-behind-myself test, but it’s not like, “oh hey this is surprisingly roomy,” more like, “oh hey I actually fit in the back of this vehicle that you wouldn’t think I’d fit in the back of from looking at the outside of it.”

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Textured Soy Protein
09/20/2020 at 12:54

I see. I’m sure I could sit behind myself too but it might not be very comfortable. I’ve got long limbs but am also very narrowly built so that helps. Still probably roomier than a couple and you get the practicality of a hatch even with the sloped roof.

Seems like it is largely personal preference between the Veloster N and Civic Si which is a good thing.

Textured Soy Protein > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/20/2020 at 13:14

I think the best way to describe the Veloster’s practicality is that its back seat and trunk are roughly equivalent to a coupe, but it’s easier than a coupe to access those areas because of the 3rd door and hatch.

At this point, pretty much all the contenders in the hot hatch/sport compact segment are excellent in one way or another.

The HyunKia 1.6T cars give you loads of features for the price but don’t have more performance-oriented hardware like an LSD or adaptive shocks.

The Si gives you all the good sporty shit like the LSD and adaptive shocks with enough equipment, and tons of practicality in sedan form, for a cheap cheap price.

The GLI/GTI offers nicer materials and tech, and a bigger more powerful motor than the Si, although having driven them both the gap is much smaller than the displacement would indicate. The GLI lacks some options available on the Si like active cruise, and the GTI can get pricey when loaded up.

The WRX is on a kinda old platform shared with the previous generation Impreza but it’s cheap for the amount of power and awd. Subaru at least sorta kinda has the tech caught up to some of its newer cars but Subaru tech is a bit crap in general.

Then the step-up models like the STI, Golf R and Civic Type-R each have something appealing about them in their own way. The Veloster N almost matches them in performance numbers but for several thousand less, and compromised practicality.

Hell throw in the Toyobaru and Miata and maybe even the turbo 4 Stinger, Camaro and Mustang in this milieu and those are all great.

The FiST/FoST/FoRS are gone but dearly remembered.

So yeah, I picked the Si because it fit me best, but anybody who buys any of these cars is making a good choice.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Textured Soy Protein
09/20/2020 at 13:43

That's an interesting comparison about the Veloster. It's whole schick is being different from the rest but as you said it seems to offer almost as much performance with possibly more on the butt dyno for less money. It's amazing how it almost seems you can't buy a bad performance car right now.

Textured Soy Protein > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/20/2020 at 13:53

We’re in a very interesting period with cars. Stuff from the luxury brands is crazy but can be a pain to own, while stuff from the mainstream brands has gotten so competent and with plenty of tech, but often less complex to deal with overall. Then the mainstream brands are putting out insane performance cars with 500-600+ hp. Even plain old regular normal mainstream brand cars, they’re really really good with refinement. At least from the good brands.

One other car I forgot to mention in this segment is the Mazda 3 2.5T. Its only performance upgrade over the regular 3 is the motor, but there’s a decent amount of sportiness baked into it already. I’d say it’s more of a quasi-luxury compact with a good amount of grunt for the money. Mazdas are plush nowadays.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Textured Soy Protein
09/20/2020 at 14:14

The difference between mainstream premium and entry luxury is more blurred than ever before. I think that’s a good thing as the mainstream brands can be so much easier to own and they almost all offer a great middle ground between fuel economy, power, and affordability. Even your 7 seaters are getting mpgs that many 4 seaters would have envied 20 years ago. Plus cars are more reliable than they’ve ever been (even if repairability goes down). It’s a great time to be a car enthusiast, though some may argue it’s really a great time to be a “car enthusiast ” (meaning status chasing 0-60 comparing hatchback hating pricks , but that’s not me).

mhr555 > Shane Moore
09/21/2020 at 08:20

I have a reservation on a Bronco but that’s obviously not going to happen in the immediate future. I don’t want a Raptor, too big. GT350 would be sweet but I need a bit more space with two wild canine beasts we call Finnegan and Maggie.

This weekend I was on a “maybe an Explorer ST or Focus RS” kick but the ST might leave me pining for a fun car I can autocross on occasion and some of the RS’s I’ve seen for sale scare me. I guess it’s good I can look up the VIN #’s and see what issues they’ve had.

I’ve also heard the harsh ride comments on the RS and not sure how I’d enjoy that every day, although I put up with a non-cushy ride in my WRX on Racecomp coilovers now.

I found a fellow autocrosser selling his Fiesta ST w/all his extra wheels for cheap. That still might be the best bet in the short term.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jetstreamer
09/21/2020 at 12:01

This is the one I want!