2014 Veloster Turbo R-Spec

In reply to Secretariata:

The cruise control omission isn't for weight, it's to have a completely button-less steering wheel. The R-Spec is supposed to be for hardcore trackheads who will replace the steering wheel anyway.

In reply to Javelin:

Javelin wrote: In reply to Secretariata: The cruise control omission isn't for weight, it's to have a completely button-less steering wheel. The R-Spec is supposed to be for hardcore trackheads who will replace the steering wheel anyway.

It could be a stalk on the column instead of on the wheel a la Toyota in the 2000's. And as Mr Joshua points out, there are several buttons on the wheel of the Veloster Rspec. I don't recall if the GC Rspec had buttons on the wheel.

I can forgive the lack of a real LSD. Even in MINI's - arguably a very "driver" oriented car - the percentage of LSD cars they sold was staggeringly low - something like well under 10% of cars. Even at a $500 option, it's hard for a manufacturer to sell that profitably when so few are sold.

Regardless, I like it and definitely plan to check it out at the NY show next Spring. I will say if the car lacks cruise control, it would be a no-sale for me. That is simply a must for me for the amount of miles I drive.

I'm curious where the fuel economy claims are coming from. I saw one that put it at 24 city and 33 hwy.

I'd still pick a FiST over it, though.

They need to do something, sales are down about 30% from last year...(ending 10/31/13).

I'm surprised it hasn't sold more.

Looks hot. Still not a huge fan of the rear though. Also wish they would put 2 rear doors on it.

Obviously love/hate on the design. I berkeleying love them aesthetically. The dismal reviews have kept me from driving one.

I do not like the styling at all. After a stellar ownership experience so far with the wife's Elantra I would choose the Korean car all day long over the Ferd.

MrJoshua wrote: In reply to Javelin:

In reply to Javelin: mine was from the link in this thread. Yours makes more sense for your argument. :)

whats with all these companies making sport FWD cars without LSDs? Cars like that require them. You can get away without a lsd in a rwd car if it like ~200hp but any fwd car needs it if it wants to pretend to be fun.

bravenrace wrote: ...Still ugly.

All fun cars are ugly.

Camaro, Mustang, WRX, Evo, Genesis, 370Z, Mazdaspeed 3, Fiesta ST......

Who cares?

i just hate the dashboard of every car currently made, including this one. im a big boy at 6'2, 310, and i feel 'wrapped' in the car, like a crappy pair of jeans that are three sizes too small. my right knee invaribly smashes into either the side of the center transition down towards the radio/ac controls, or smashes into what ever stick is poking out of the 'usually-un-adjustable' steering column. i cant fathom why carmakers dont shift that whole assembly (center console and upper console/lower dash) towards the passenger WHOS LEGS DONT NEED TO MOVE WHILE DRIVING!!!!!

i tried to like it, i really did, but the good power/weight and the nice feel werent enough to overcome the feeling of driving with my legs in a plastic trashcan.

-J0N

Had a regular turbo veloster come into my buddy's shop for A/C work. I showed up before the test drive, and was super excited to ride along while he took it around the block......... Not impressed. Car doesn't accelerate turn or stop very well and the steering sucks.

I would like that engine in the Kia Rio five door. That's a great looking car.

midniteson wrote: Had a regular turbo veloster come into my buddy's shop for A/C work. I showed up before the test drive, and was super excited to ride along while he took it around the block......... Not impressed. Car doesn't accelerate turn or stop very well and the steering sucks.

Your Buddy was doing AC work on a car and took a passenger on a diagnostic drive of sufficient duration and aggression for you to form an opinion about vehicle dynamic performance?

kanaric wrote: whats with all these companies making sport FWD cars without LSDs? Cars like that require them. You can get away without a lsd in a rwd car if it like ~200hp but any fwd car needs it if it wants to pretend to be fun.

bravenrace wrote: ...Still ugly.

All fun cars are ugly. Camaro, Mustang, WRX, Evo, Genesis, 370Z, Mazdaspeed 3, Fiesta ST...... Who cares?

Fun cars are ugly? Where do you get that from? Is that a rule I didn't know about?
No, actually you can have a fast, fun car that looks good as well, so why bother with one that is ugly? If I'm going to spend $20k+ on a new car, I'm only going to do it if it is fun to drive and appeals to me aesthetically.

What does it do that a Cobalt SS didn't do 5 years ago?

nocones wrote:

midniteson wrote: Had a regular turbo veloster come into my buddy's shop for A/C work. I showed up before the test drive, and was super excited to ride along while he took it around the block......... Not impressed. Car doesn't accelerate turn or stop very well and the steering sucks.

Your Buddy was doing AC work on a car and took a passenger on a diagnostic drive of sufficient duration and aggression for you to form an opinion about vehicle dynamic performance?

And in my naive world, I thought it was really only valets that you had to worry about.

If they had an Elantra R Spec, I would already own one. My car with 200 hp would be perfect.

The lack of 4 doors kills the Veloster for my use.

I love how some how on this board every time a new performance car comes out most of the thread is people bitching about it. It is another performance car. How is that a bad thing?

nocones wrote:

midniteson wrote: Had a regular turbo veloster come into my buddy's shop for A/C work. I showed up before the test drive, and was super excited to ride along while he took it around the block......... Not impressed. Car doesn't accelerate turn or stop very well and the steering sucks.

Your Buddy was doing AC work on a car and took a passenger on a diagnostic drive of sufficient duration and aggression for you to form an opinion about vehicle dynamic performance?

and a poor opinion, my 2011 Elantra has fantastic steering with good feedback and very exact car placement ability, further the brakes are very efficient and at 144K I have yet to replace the OEM brake pads.

I have driven it in all conditions, rain, ice, snow and dry, the performance has been stellar other than the 150hp limitation.

I told Hyundai at the NAIAC that if the car had 50 more hp it would be close to perfect for use as a DD

wae wrote:

nocones wrote:

midniteson wrote: Had a regular turbo veloster come into my buddy's shop for A/C work. I showed up before the test drive, and was super excited to ride along while he took it around the block......... Not impressed. Car doesn't accelerate turn or stop very well and the steering sucks.

Your Buddy was doing AC work on a car and took a passenger on a diagnostic drive of sufficient duration and aggression for you to form an opinion about vehicle dynamic performance?

And in my naive world, I thought it was really only valets that you had to worry about.

As a former pro wrench, I have to be honest (and a little ashamed) and say that midniteson's story is plausible. Many mechanics, when given the chance, will take an extended drive in any car they are interested in but have not previous experience with.

93EXCivic wrote: I love how some how on this board every time a new performance car comes out most of the thread is people bitching about it. It is another performance car. How is that a bad thing?

Because when it comes to Hyundai's, Bobzilla can always use a dose of reality.

The Veloster will have cruise on the R-Spec, it was not listed as an omission. On the steering wheel shot, the left buttons are for the radio, the right buttons are the cruise and the lower buttons are for the bluetooth.

As for the Cobalt.... they stopped making that several years ago and we have not had one since. So... that's what it's doing that the Cobalt SS doesn't.