And then there were two... the comparison continues!

 So after going to multiple dealerships, we narrowed our comparison to two cars.  We felt that the Honda Accord coupe and the Altima coupe were just not what we were looking for.  We wanted a RWD coupe that would provide more driving pleasure and were willing to forgo the superior interior finish of the Accord coupe for a sportier feel from the Mustang V6 and the Genesis coupe.  The dealership had quite a few 2011 Mustang GT's and I got to test drive a Mustang GT California edition.  What I loved about the GT was the great power and torque from the 5.0 liter V8 and what impressed me the most was the rumble of the V8.

 However, our comparison was of the V6 Mustang and while we did like the great power of the V6, the V8 was just that much better.  The V6 was relatively quiet under normal driving conditions and sounded pretty good once we opened up the throttle.

 The white convertible Mustang pictured was the one we test drove and aside from having more power than the Hyundai Genesis, the 'Stang also had a great interior finish and more room in the backseat for a pair of 6'1" 200 pounders.  One of the downsides to the Mustang was the snappy clutch, that would take some getting used to, but for someone new to driving stick, was less than ideal.

 Now as for the Hyundai Genesis, we decided to opt for the 2.0T instead of the 3.8L V6.  Although having the extra power would be nice, it would have bumped up the price significantly, and as for lease deals, the bigger engine would not have been worth the extra price.  The V6 is also significantly heavier, making the 2.0T a better option for handling and driving thrills.  After some negotiating, we were able to drive down the price of an available 2.0T R-Spec to around $700 over the base model.  While the R-Spec is more money, what you get for the package could be considered a steal.  With a limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes, upgraded wheels and tires, a front mounted strut brace, camber modifications, and a lighter curb weight you just can't beat this package.

As far as what we felt of the car, we really liked the 6-speed manual and the clutch was feather light and easy to get accustomed to.  Buyers will certainly want to go with the manual which gives a better feel and the automatic with paddle shifters seems a bit delayed and not as sharp as you'd expect and simply just does not provide the same feel as a manual.  The interior is a bit cheaper looking than the Mustang's and there is absolutely no room for anyone taller than 5'8".  A plus on this car is that, you wouldn't want to be driving this car with three passengers anyway as this car has a driver's car feel and one you'd want to enjoy particularly with the R-Spec package.  With a curbweight under 3,300 lbs. the 2.0T saves about 500 lbs. from the V6 and the weight difference is noticeable.  Having the RWD setup with the LSD, camber adjustment and the other upgrades from the R-Spec package make this car a fun drive.

Where the Genesis really shines is in the low-slung seating position and overall driving feel of the car.  The car sits down low and you really get the sense that you're in a sports coupe.  Finally, between the great lease deals that were at our disposal, the great feel driving the car, and the incredible upgrades available with the R-Spec package, the Genesis is the clear winner in our books.  Furthermore, with some boost tuning, I think this car can be tuned to 300+ hp.

Mustang V6
Pros:  Great power and sound when you open the throttle.  Great interior with room for 4 and Muscle Car feel.
Cons:  Not as much rumble as the V8.


Hyundai Genesis 2.0T R-Spec
Pros:  Great track ready feel and even better driving position.  Incredible upgrades from the R-Spec package.
Cons:  Small interior with little to no room in the rear.  Cheaper interior feel.

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