Hyundai i30N Thoughts

"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
04/28/2018 at 18:08 • Filed to: hyundai, i30n

I basically found out this car existed a few weeks ago and after reading reviews, watching as many videos as I can about it, I am starting to seriously consider getting one of these.

Most opinions seem to be that it’s good value for money though the brand might not have the same status as VW with the GTI for example. But everyone seems to agree it puts a big old grin on your face.

275BHP, fun exhaust pops and crackles when you want it, good handling apparently and still very usable for daily driving. Over here, getting one fully loaded will be about €30.000 and the leasing deals seem fairly decent (€6k downpayment, estimated €360 a month, 36 months, this is with residual value after those three years set to €12k which I would think is realistic). I haven’t even driven it yet, but intend to go for a test drive sometime in the next two weeks, just interesting to know it’s financially doable.

I’m in Europe and I know the US doesn’t get this car but you should have the Veloster N which is basically the same thing.

I have zero experience with leasing deals/car financing so I’m sure I’m missing something... Oppopinions on both the car and/or input on the financing/leasing deal?

DISCUSSION (17)

Spanfeller is a twat > Jetstreamer
04/28/2018 at 18:32

I know Kia service is great here in Mexico, and the Stinger was a surprising car. I think Hyundai/kia manual gearboxes are bad (clutch basically impossible to read) but maybe they spent more money for the N

Take a test drive, you might love it!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Spanfeller is a twat
04/28/2018 at 18:50

The clutch in my Accent is very light, but I find there is plenty of feel to it...? Then again, mine is an older Hyundai, so no idea what the newer ones are like! :(

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Spanfeller is a twat
04/28/2018 at 18:51

While I hated how the car drove, I found the gearbox/clutch in the Elantra Sport to be quite good.

Spanfeller is a twat > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
04/28/2018 at 18:54

I’m talkin about a Kia Rio? I don-t remember the sub brand to be fair

Spanfeller is a twat > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/28/2018 at 18:55

It was a Kia Rio... I guess the box is livable, but the clutch is too long.

However, my standard for clutches is the 993 and the Morris Mini.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Spanfeller is a twat
04/28/2018 at 19:04

I’ve driven 6 manual transmission cars in my life...the two most by far are my current ‘09 Accent and my previous 2002 Subaru Impreza 2.5TS wagon. I learned with short 15-20 min sessions on three of my friend’s cars - a 2002 Elantra sedan and a 2006 Honda Accord sedan. The last car I drove is my friend’s dad’s 2006 Subaru Impreza STi, so my feeling on clutches is all over the place. I just get used to whatever I am driving. :)

Spanfeller is a twat > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
04/28/2018 at 19:07

The best clutch of any car I’ve driven was the 993 (granted, I’ve driven few manuals) but I learnt in a morris mini that has very little clutch travel, and it’s pretty good because you can feel the bite perfectly

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Jetstreamer
04/28/2018 at 21:19

I wish we got the i30N here in the states, the Veloster N won’t fit my whole family as comfortably as the i30N would.

Hyundai needs to go all out with their compacts, they have a chance to take a chunk of Honda. The Civics are great but the Hyundai’s are much better looking.

An Elantra N would be top of my list for my next car, instead it’s the Accord Sport.

Jetstreamer > Spanfeller is a twat
04/29/2018 at 03:24

I’ve filled in a contact form for the test drive but will probably just walk into the dealer on Tuesday and go check in person. Most reviews have nothing bad to say about the clutch, but I’ll go find out by myself, haha :).

I’ve also had some good experiences with Kia, and Hyundai is offering 5 years unlimited mileage warranty that even covers non-competitive track use. And the car fully specced out is the same price as a completely stock, base model VW GTI without any options.

It just seems like the Koreans are here to kick some butt.

Jetstreamer > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
04/29/2018 at 03:26

There have been some statements that Albert Biermann is looking at applying the “N” philosophy at the entire range of vehicles Hyundai offers. So you might still see things like an Elantra N or Tucson N.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
04/29/2018 at 08:39

The back seat, and little rear door of the Veloster are so tiny it might as well be a two seater. I’m kinda tall at 6’1” but I couldn’t fit back there at all. I was about 4 inches short on head room, and if coarse slammed my head on the door opening. Headroom in the front isn’t great either, and the one I drove didn’t even have a sunroof which would eat up even more head room.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Jetstreamer
04/29/2018 at 12:41

It’s great! A bit worse at general car things than a GTI, so a bit less liveable day-to-day, but so much better as a hot hatch. It’s my favourite of the current crop.

Jetstreamer > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
04/29/2018 at 13:00

Great to hear :) . I don’t particularly need the car for general car things, my work is super easy to reach by public transport and so are supermarkets, city center etc. So my car is mostly for fun and love of driving.

I’ve heard they possibly have a dual clutch version and AWD version in the works as well...

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Jetstreamer
04/29/2018 at 14:53

In that case, just get an MX-5, like I did. ;)

Still need to write it up, but I had the i30N, the Abarths 500 Competizione and 124, and the MX-5 on my final list. Long story short:

i30N: fun, but too serious and capable for me. Certainly the best on a track and the quickest on backroads, but the others in this company offer even more enjoyment.

Abarth 500 Competizione: a riot. Brutal to drive and brutally expensive, but laugh out loud fun. It’s like driving a jackhammer. It was a close call between this and the MX-5, but the open top experience won out.

Abarth 124: drone-y and annoying exhaust. Disappointing.

Mazda MX-5: well, I bought one.

Jetstreamer > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
04/29/2018 at 15:14

Although I’m sure the MX-5 is a great car for lots of people, it has never really had any impact on me... It’s not very good to look at and unfortunately I’m a bit of a sucker for “moar power” and that turbo push as well. But mostly it seems unpractical.

I kind of do want the practicality of four decent seats and doors for taking people along. So i30N sounds like the thing for me.

I still got to drive it and then think it through with some sensibility. I have a Mazda 6 MPS now, 12 years old, just developed the VVT rattle and has more issues. Still need to get a quote for repair but I feel putting more then €1000-1500 into it will not make sense anymore.

And you know how it goes sometimes when you get a car in your mind... If it’s on your mind for a while and it’s financially doable you are like 80-90% there already in terms of buying it :P.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Jetstreamer
04/29/2018 at 15:31

Well, I come from an MR2, so the MX-5 feels like a minivan to me practicality-wise.

It sounds like the i30N would suit you well! If you’re open to buying a newish second-hand car, you could look at a Mk7 Golf R. Allegedly, they’re more brutal than the GTI (bigger turbo, so more of an on-off behaviour), while still being the great do-it-all car every Golf is.

The Peugeot 308 GTi might be right up your alley as well; it’s the lightest and purest (no electronic set-up gizmos and the like) big hot hatch for sale right now.

Jetstreamer > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
04/30/2018 at 04:30

Yep, those have also been looked at. The Golf R I couldn’t find around here for something approaching reasonable price compared to a new i30N. The ones I found had 100k km already, had questionable taste modifications and were maybe €2000 less than a new i30N.

For the 308 GTI the interior just puts me off for some reason.