2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT V6

Standard shoes on the '03 Tiburon GT V6 are now 215/45HR17 Michelin Pilot Sports that are even grippier and mounted on 7-inch-wide cast-aluminum wheels.

Stopping power deserves similar moderated praise. The Tiburon's standard brakes are admittedly impressive 11.0-inch vented-disc/10.2-inch solid-disc units that halted our tester with little drama and minimal fade. But, in keeping with previous practice, ABS remains an option, and a costly one at that. As on its predecessor, Hyundai only offers anti-lock binders as part of a package. In the case of the GT V6, while that content mix also brings a power sunroof, rear spoiler, aluminum foot pedals and returns the leather upholstery, it adds an extra $1,998 to the price tag.


Revamping the Tiburon made an already impressive handler even more adept at corner carving. Although the undercarriage still bears more than a passing resemblance to the latest Elantra's, the Tiburon tweaks involved sufficient bespoke engineering to qualify for its own internal platform designation. The basic formula includes coil spring struts with gas-pressure shocks at each corner trimmed with a stabilizer bar at both ends. However the front hardware is now subframe mounted for better isolation and the anti-roll bars both are larger in diameter than on the previous car. Where the 2001 Tiburon—for the record, there was no 2002 model; the production run was simply extended until this new generation went on sale in the spring—was shod with 195/55HR15 tires, standard shoes are now 205/55HR16 Michelin Pilot Sports that are even grippier and mounted on 6.5-inch-wide cast-aluminum wheels. The GT V6 cranks that fitment up a notch, raising it to 215/45HR17 Pilot Sports wrapped around even-wider 7.0-inch alloys. Final piece in the puzzle is a fairly quick albeit a bit heavy-handed power rack-and-pinion power-steering system.

The big news is the arrival of a 2.7-liter twincam V-6 rated at 181 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of twist.

As one might rightly expect, this is a package geared to transform any suitably twisty two-lane blacktop into one's own private Nurburgring. Despite a drive layout that biases 63 percent of the mass to the front of the car, the Tiburon GT V6 tracks with a reassuringly crisp and confident feel. When the nose finally does start to push in tighter corners, the tail can be rotated progressively and predictably using trailing throttle or trailing brake as conditions dictate. This type of handling prowess does come with a price. In this case, there's a fair bit of tire noise transmitted back up into the passenger compartment and ride compliance that can occasionally cross over the fine line between pleasingly taut and just plain harsh. While exuberant Gen-Xers will likely be inclined to overlook those traits, we suspect Boomers might not be quite so forgiving.


One aspect that no one shopping in today's sport coupe market can overlook is the Tiburon's attractive cost-to-benefit ratio. Out test car rolled out the door at just $18,744. Even fitted with the UltraSports 3 package that adds everything, a Tiburon GT V6 still maxes out at just $20,492. That figure is literally thousands less than its prime competitors. Factor in Hyundai's 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and this petite point-and-shooter makes a pretty strong case for itself, regardless of your budgetary situation. (www.hyundaiusa.com)