2003 Hyundai Tiburon

In this day when sticker shock has become a common malady, nothing gets my attention like a cool car under $20,000. Especially when that cool car is aimed at young buyers (i.e. shallow pockets who want nifty transportation) or young families (i.e. shallow pockets who want accommodating transportation). The Hyundai Tiburon certainly doesn’t fit the second category, but it’s right on the money for the first one. The Korean carmaker has done a complete makeover for its 2003 model sport coupe, even giving the Tiburon its very own platform for the first time. The result is a far more attractive car in every way, especially its window sticker.

The Good News
My experience with the previous Tiburon was pure disaster. There were rattles, malfunctions and, to top it all off, it was slow. Inexcusable for a sport coupe.

This 2003 model started from the ground up, thankfully. Abandoning the Elantra platform, the Tiburon now has its own chassis. It comes in two models: the base Tiburon and the GT V6, which I tested.

Outside, the soft, overstuffed lines of the previous Tiburon have been resculpted with edges and angles. With windshield and backlight both steeply raked, a fairly high beltline and the GT V6’s rear wing spoiler and 17-inch wheels, the Tiburon begs attention from those who like their sport coupes to look the part.

The new chassis and styling allow more room inside, too. A 2.2-inch increase in wheelbase, along with slight increases in overall width and height allow headroom, legroom and shoulder room to improve. The chassis also gives the Tiburon “stiffer, more refined” underpinnings, essential to sport handling and ride.

The new Tiburon GT V6 still shares its engine, but that’s a good thing. It borrows the all-aluminum twin cam 2.7-liter V6 from the Sonata and Santa Fe. Rated at 181 horses and mated to a new 6-speed transmission, any previous complaints against the Tiburon’s power have been settled.

The 6-speed is optional in the GT V6; you can also choose either a 5-speed manual and Shiftronic 4-speed automatic. But the addition of the 6-speed is significant for the Tiburon’s position in this sport coupe class. It shows Hyundai is serious about competing.

Another nod to that competition is the Tiburon’s new suspension setup. It’s fully independent with MacPherson struts up front and a strut-type multilink suspension in the rear. That’s similar to the Acura RSX, Toyota Celica and Mitsubishi Eclipse. The GT V6’s suspension is somewhat modified from the base Tiburon in that spring rates go up a tad, gas-charged shocks are stiffer and anti-roll bar increases slightly front and rear. Four-wheel disc brakes come standard.

As for its sport coupe essence -- those things beyond performance that lure the young and restless -- the Tiburon GT V6 wins a slam dunk. In addition to its racy looks, the GT V6 comes standard with leather interior, power accessories, air conditioning, rear defrost, heated mirrors, cruise control, keyless remote with alarm, carpeted flower mats and, last but high on the priority list, a killer 7-speaker Infinity audio system with CD, cassette and a thumping subwoofer. Front and side airbags are also standard, but antilock brakes are not. They should be.

All for under $20,000, including destination charge.

The Bad News
What makes this new Tiburon GT V6 a contender is what you pay for all you get. It’s a star in its class only by virtue of price.

Up against the competition, I find the sound of the doors closing clunky (a test of fit and finish), the ride rather raucous, overboosted power steering flimsy, too much road noise intrusion and the power less available after the initial rush. These aspects of the Tiburon do not fit in with my definition a world-class sports coupe.

It does fit my definition of a heckuva ride for the money, however.

Gas mileage
EPA rated at 18 mpg city/26 highway

Price
Manufacturer’s base, $17,999;
Price as tested, $18,744

Is it worth it?
Hyundai has done a masterful job of creating a really desirable sports coupe that undercuts the competition by thousands thus equipped. You can even add a power moonroof and antilock brakes and still undercut $20,000. Just barely, but it’s there.

I applaud the massive improvements in this new Tiburon GT V6 and the fact that those who can’t afford offerings from Acura, Mitsubishi and Toyota have a viable choice.

The Tiburon GT V6 may not be world class, but it’s poised to steal some thunder from those that are.

Beth Stein is a life-long car buff and free-lance journalist living in Nashville. She has reviewed new vehicles in print for 12 years as a weekly columnist for Nashville’s daily newspapers and on television for Road Test Magazine and Motor Trend Television. Currently, her reviews appear nationally on Car And Driver Television.