Used 2003 Hyundai Tiburon Consumer Reviews
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best car ever driven
If you haven't driven this car yet you are missing the boat. This is by far the best "sports car" that I have ever owned. I thought that it was funny that someone who has never driven the car or owned a Hyundai could have bad things to say about Hyundai in general.
Great Car!
I have had my V6 tiburon for almost 6 months and it has been such a fun car to own! The car only has a few weaknesses performancewise compared to other cars in its class, but I found adding a CAI, BBTB, and freeing up the exaust put it right where it should be! (Especially after being beat by certain 200hp 2.0L 4 cylinders with just CAI, that was definately embarrasing.)
- GT 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,800559 mi away
- GT V6MSRP: $5,995757 mi away
- GT 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $8,500766 mi away
I'm in LOVE
I love my new tib. I first saw it a year ago at the auto show when it came down to miami. My friend and I thought it was the coolest car, and were amazed when we found out the it was made by Hyundai. Just recently I bought the car and got a great deal on it. The car looks amazing from the exterior and interior, and the comments i get for it are the best. I wish it had a little more hp, and I wish that the after market performance parts weren't so hard to find. Guess thats what I get for buying a car right when it comes out.
Fun car to drive
Its a very fun car to drive. But more power would be really appreciated.
The best I ever tried
Before I bought my Tib I tried Toyota Celica, Mitsubishi Eclipse and Acura RSX. But Tib was the best! When I pushed the acceleration in the first time I realized that I will buy this car! It is driving as toy car! It is amazingly easy to drive! Yes,it is probably a little bit heavy, but overall it is pretty fast! It has more space than the Celica and more comfortable than Eclipse. It is tha best car I ever tried!
wow..fun to drive
this has been the best car i have ever owned..from nissan pathfinder to blazer to chev camaro...this is a fun car...smooth good cornering..and fantastic sound system...great mileage..and fantastic room in hatchback.
This Car Rocks!!!
i have never experienced a car so live and vibrant, yet so gentle. the body is attractive and stylish, the engine response is quick yet unnoticable, the tramnsmission response is excellent. the stereo system is totally bangin' even without the infinity system, the headlights produce immaculate clarity and focus at night, and the red-orange illumination is cool yet helpful when night-driving. drive one today, because you will enjoy every second you spend in this car. thanks!!!
Funnest car to drive
I was looking at the 2001 Tiburons then my fiance found the 2003 and I had to have it. Test drove the 6 speed and fell in love.... my other car is a 99 solara and this beats it hands down for fun driving. I think I have the only one in my area right now.
Middle Age Craziness
Thank you Hyundai! My wife had that "Oh No, he's looking at Porches and BMW's" look in her eyes. I had decided after some 25 years of driving family sedans that the next car I bought would be something sporty. I had never heard of a Tiburon before I entered the marketplace. Wow, what bang for your buck! Now, not only the teenagers in my neighborhood but their parents too are taking a second look when I drive by! Sorry BMW! But I got a lot more car for 1/2 the price!
great car
I have had the car for about 2 years and nothing has gone wrong with it... other than a deer running into the side of it. (850 bucks) I have a cold air intake, catback exhaust because I felt like the 2.7 v6 with the 6 speed tran was a lil under powered with 172 hp. I also run premium fuel and I'm at about 200 hp now, the 17 inch rims were nice but I replaced them with 18 inch black lighter weight wheels . stock the cars says it will do 0-60 in 7.2 sec, but I have it at about 200 hp and with the wheels at the track I ran it in 6.1 sec. The is a very fun car to drive stock or with some aftermarket parts. great car for the price, Take care of it and it will take care of you
The car that turned it around
I traded-in a 2001 VW Jetta for this new inovative car. The V6 engine is smooth and has plenty of extra power. The interior is better than the Jetta. Front seats are comfortable and very supportive. The handling is nice and predictable. The styling is great, car seems to turn heads every were I go. The best thing is when people ask "What kind of car is this", it's so funny to see their reaction when I tell them it's a Hyundai. If you are looking for a fun and exciting car this is it. I dare anyone to find a more impressive car for under $20,000, with this warranty at no extra cost.
My Tibby & Me
I bought my Hyundai off the show room floor. She had 4 miles on her. Now, 101,000 miles later we've come quite a ways together. Many memories in what I'd consider to be a very reliable car. While "Tibby" seems to be beginning to slowly break down...She has been very fun and reliable over the past 7 years. I'd love to trade her in for a new one but sadly they are no more. If you're looking for a comfortable seat, exciting ride, sleek design, and speed this is your vehicle.
Best car every
I brought my car new in 2002. It has 20K miles on it. It has never given me problems. I drove it from coast to coast when I change duty stations. I still drive it to work. It will be my son's car in the spring. He will have fun driving it too. I would not trade it for anything. That is my Tibby.
Excellent but for headroom
Only had my new 2003 Tiburon for a couple of weeks but absolutely love it. Got the SE model but for a 4 cylinder it performs beautifully. Accelleration and cornering are great and an outstanding Clarion sound system. Wrap around seats make driving comfortable on both short and long drives. Visibility takes a bit of getting used to but not a problem once accustomed to it. Only wish a bit more headroom was available for the driver. I am 6'0" and my hair touched the headliner. A larger sun roof opening would have fixed this. Overall.....Great valye
A Big Improvement
I drove both a V6 6-speed and a 2.0 5-speed. The cyl GT is a better value, but the 2.0 is better looking. The high spoiler on the GT coupe ruins the appearance of the car, and I would not buy one with it. The saleman actually offered to have it taken off! The base car is the best looking of the lot, but the low spoiler on the 5-speed V-6 GT base model is tolerable. I have to admit that I was tempted by the good looks of the Tiburon, but the interior is not up to the exterior, and in the end I opted for a Mercedes C230 Sport Coupe. If they had a Sprint model V-6 with the low spoiler, I might just have taken it.
A real road predator..
Real Impressive coming from a family of economy class cars, amazing suspension and killer ride. Easy to handle on those really badly constructed exit ramps. Juicy sound on both enginee and stereo, but never combine, (unless you want to roll the windows down and let the world know your rooming around). Great value for what is worth.
After my first 3400 miles.....
After my test drive, all I could say was: do I want the red one or the black one? One word sums it up: FUN! This car is the most fun to drive of any I've owned in the last 20+ years. Extremely comfortable to drive, east to maneuver, goes as fast as it looks, gets lots of attention. Only bad part: all the buzzymobiles think you want to race.
In love with the shark
I know the "professionals" don't like this car. But, I've owned everything from Z cars to Porsches and I'm telling you that for the money it doesn't get any better than this.
I love it
There is only one thing wrong with this car. Its heavy as nothing else. I don't need a backseat, but I guess some people would. Other than that. It is my perfect vehicle. Nothing I have ever seen compares to the price, and every time I'm out driving someone asks me where I got it. Even with the extra weight, its still quick, even with only 134 hp. But if you really want to go for the ponies, why would you even buy any car in this class? There is a turbocharger out there that promises 250 hp with the 4 banger. Granted it costs 6 thou. But that still adds up to only about 22,000. I just can't find anything wrong with this car.
My 03 Tibby is wonderfull
I had a 2001 tiburon and it was great but this one is so much better. Very quick and great on gas. Its a fun car and i get alot of looks from others.
Best Sports car for the buck
I bought this sports car because: 1) cheapest, good looking sports car 2) allowed for lots of leg room for growing young boys 3) hatchback has been awesome with room! ,6) had the most FREE options - a lot of them 7) had the best and longest warranty 8) has only needed regular maintenance upkeep so far (tuneup - once every 7 years - i'm bad) oil changes about every 3-4 miles - 100k miles now
This car is great!!!
I recently bought me a Tiburon and I love to drive this baby. Besides the car being heavy for a sports car, I love to fix up the car. It's fun to drive, fun to work on, good looking, and it's a must buy car for everybody who dont' know much about Hyundai Tiburon!!!
Mid-life crisis over
This car looks beautiful, rides nice, and fufills my mid-life crisis need of not driving a mini-van. Only problem is I can't get my wife out of my car!
GT v6 6 speed
I bought my hyundai tiburon smashed,. It took forever to fond parts, but when i finally did, i found out that the car is the most reliable thing in the yard. I was looking for a sprots coupe to replace my firebird, and when i saw this car i had to have it. I had to replace one belt at 44000 miles, but the wrong size was on the car so it is understandable. I can get 30 miles to the gallon, yes 30, and this is town and country driving. The car is comfortable. Although the seats are not powered they still have lumbar and all the other controls. This car is definitely worth it money in gold. Not to mention it beat most other stock tuners, and i have no power adders on the car.
I love my Tiburon
I bought this car with 45,000 miles on it and have driven it another 50,000 with no mechanical issues period. I have a cold air intake, headers, and exhaust, and the car has handled it like a dream! I really could not be any happier with the looks, deceiving amount of interior space and power that this little Hyundai puts out. I take it on 1,000 mile roadtrips; I throw my bike into the hatch; I enjoy carving through North Georgia mountain roads. Until I got this car I was always unsatisfied with the wheels I was in. I bought this thing for $12,000 and haven't complained since. Thank you Hyundai!!! =]
Tiburon 03
At first I had this annoying leak that would saturate the passenger back seats. 4 times, the dealership tried to fix it. Finally they fixed it and my sunroof broke and it was at the tmie I found out I had three recalls on several parts of my car. Last week, I went to close my trunk and the handle broke off that is located on the inside of the trunk. Yes it is covered under warranty thank god. Besides this, I enjoy driving the car. I have not had a mechanical error yet and I have had it for a little over one year.
Tiburon Experience
I first feature I noticed was the beautiful rear end and since I realize that's what you end up looking at the most of the car in front of you while driving, I wanted a car with a gret rear ;-D - Then after the looks of the sheik exterior comes the drive. This car handles the road great taking turns with ease even if your zoomin a bit fast for a curve it just glides along like its attached to a track. The best test so far has been the rain. I drove thru hurricane rain conditions from VA to PA with truckers splashing an added monsoon of water on me & my car only skidded once the whole 7 and half hours of driving.
Excellent Purchase!
I purchased my Tiburon new and with the exception of one factory recall for a seat belt issue, I have had no problems. I have a five-speed 6 cyl, and get great fuel mileage, both in city and long distance driving. I have the required maintenance done and with 45,155 miles on this baby I have only one complaint. The low profile tires require replacing every two years or so. This is not Hyundai's fault, its the tire manufacture that need to be more responsible in making a better "low" profile tire. The AC, clutch, transmission, etc., has never given me any problems, and I've traveled back and forth to Canada several times with no problems or complaints. Great vehicle!
This is not a Hyndai!
The car acceleration is terrific. I never spected this much from a Hyundai and the interior is better that the previous Tib. I had a 99' Tib and i can not believe how this car had change in 3 years. Although the car is not perfect, it is better than the Mitsubishi Eclipse and the Tib. quality have improved. But, the best thing is the warranty and the exterior.
greatest cheap sportscar ever!
handling is great! and pick-up is even better
'03 Std Tib
I have owned this car for over a year now. I bought it used with 42k on the odometer and since have put another 31k on it. This car has never left me stranded - always starts and just goes! I have found that using premuim gas has not only improved my mileage but also improved performance. It may NOT be the fastest coupe or the best handling one either - but from a maintenance point of view - you couldn't GIVE me a GT-V6! Just ask any long term Hyundai mechanic and they'll tell you why. Besides which - the V6's MPG is rated at 16/29 - my 4Cyl is rated at 24/32 - and i REGULARLY clock 27-28 MPG with a high of 33 MPG on one tank! By the way - it is a HOT looker in Dark Blue Clearcoat Metallic!
close to perfection
i went in to buy a 2001 tiburon and fell in love with this beauty... everywhere i go i get looks and compliments on the car... its great but a few things bother me... the back seats are horrible.. and the gas mileage from such a small car is disappointing... overall... i love the cars looks, power, ride, and comfort
I love this 2003 Tibby!!!
The moment I saw this vehicle, I knew I had to testdrive it. Although I had my initial doubts since it's a Hyundai vehicle, my research and test drive told me that the 2003 Tiburon was an excellent deal. NOw, after 4600 miles of driving, I'm still having fun driving this car and the looks and comments I get from people are awesome!! The engine is responsive and sporty, the interior is comfortable, the placement of the radio and AC features are within easy and comfortable reach, the dashboard and other inner components are well-designed and feel like good quality. And, of course, the exterior styling is just so cool!
Unreal
"Let's not go overboard here" should post "Let's not post here unless you've driven the car"... With that said. I just purchased my Blue Shark yesterday. Got the shiftronic and am blown away by the power, look, comfort, and luxury incorporated in this sports car. It is a Supra/A4/Porsche at half the price. I am very pleased. P.S. Though I don't recommend it, I just dusted my first RSX in a 300 yard sprint and he got a better jump than I did...
Performace
This vehicle is capable of putting out at least around 300 hp mark without the use of t/c or s/c just by boring out the trottle body and the manifold , with titanium piston rings , headers , ignition and ecu upgrade . Also with proper intake and cooling , straight pipe with no restrictions on it this car creates the cometition for the upcoming RX-8 and nissan Z. This is a big step for hyundai in the racing industry . Keep up the work on creating the next "supra" .
Junk!
My Tiburon was a 2003 GT (2.7L V6) with the 6 speed manual transmission. The dual mass flywheel is a major design flaw that Hyundai refuses to acknowledge. I drove my car for four years and 40K miles and replaced the clutch and flywheel twice. Hyundai would not warranty because they consider this repair to be related to abuse. I've driven cars with manual transmissions my whole life without ever having a problem! I'm currently a part of the class action lawsuit against Hyundai for this issue. The plastic levers that let the seats fold forward were also constantly breaking. The lock actuators, outside and inside door handles, and window motors had to be replaced as well.
Woo-Hoo!
My lowrider was totalled out by the insurance company so I had to get a new car. Looked at Protege5, RSX, WRX, Mustang, Matix,& Celica for 2 weeks. Went to Hyundai, last on my list. Wanted something really neat. Saw the 2003 Tiberon and purchased on the spot. Didn't even know what the car came with until already purchased, salesman gave new keys and went thru the checklist : GT 181hp V6, leather, 7-speaker Infinity w/sub, cruise, power everything, & Shift-orama! Boy was I surprised when I drove home. This thing is quick and responsive. I always wanted a red sports car.
"Not worth it"
Bought my car brand new less tahn 40,000 miles...car alarm never worked after 4 trips to the shop they finally fixed it..painting peeling around my gas cap around 6,000..car battery dead after only 2 months... door handle broke off inside..Road side assitance stinks they will tow your car but y have to cab to your destination..was stranded at the airport at midnight..told me they will call me a "cab"...I live a hour away from airport...this will be the last time I buy a "Hyundai"...their picth..."roadside assist free cause you need it...looking for a Toyota..
Satisfied but not Excited
I have owned this car for a few months, got it fire engine red with a 5pd manual transmission. I loved the look and the fact it was a manual, though a bright red coupe was not really in my best interest(I'm a young driver, all I need is more attention on the road, right?). I had been shopping for a year and a half, and I got a great deal, so I ran with it. So far I am happy with everything except the engine power, which is adequate but does not lend itself to being a joy ride. Also, I am having a bit of trouble finding some basic performance parts to increase the HP. Basically, it meets but doesn't exceed expectations in this kind of vehicle.
Ty'sTerrificTiburon!
I still find myself in awe of the dynamics of this vehicle. I have been asked by many: "What is it?" Definately a head turner/attention getter!
Great for the $
Great price for all the included feature Nice sporti looks
Traded in Honda Civic
I just had to trade in 3 months old Honda Civic to get this baby. My Tiburon matches all of my wishes.
My new TIBBY!
Lots of great comments from other people telling me how much they love my car! Real attention getter, and great performance for the money!
Great Car
Bought the 2003 Tib GT as my first new car at age 35! Have loved it. Clutch replaced during week 1 of ownership - no problem since. A few minor hiccups - parking brake sticks, stuff like that. I am astonished by the level of service I have received from Hyundai!!! Never have I left feeling like I got screwed. Looking at another Hyundai now. Satisfied Hyundai owner!!!
GOOD STUFF
This car is the best you will get
Awesome
I've had this car for just over a week now and I can say that it's more than I hoped it would be. I'm very happy with this car. I get a lot of good looks from people and I can only be completely satisfied with the ride it gives me. I recommend this vehicle to anyone looking to have a good time for small bucks. The sound system is incredible. I set off a bunch of car alarms with my subwoofer :) I thought it was funny. The best is smoking all the souped up civics. They give it that dirty "it's a hyundai" look until I get ahead, cut them off and flash my hazards. I love doing that.
RSX owner
Test drove it. No, its not as great as the RSX, but for 18,000, its better priced than the celica, and the eclipse. Put some extra money for aftermarket goods, and you may have a better car than the RSX, celica, and eclipse... for cheaper! If they come out with a sick body kit, I just might trade cars.
TIBURON2003
The car is reliabile. A car that u would be in a confortable seatin to drive such car. The dislike of this car is that the ac isnt good because its coldness isnt enough.
Desert Tibby
Great little car that is turning alot of professionals heads here at White Sands Missle Range in New Mexico. They think it is an Audi (HEEHEE). So does the Border Patrol. For the price this car has alot of bang for the buck. Only real downside is I wish it had a spoiler.
I Love it, I love it, I love it!
I love this car! Before I was never a big foreign car fan, but after I saw the Tiburon, I started only looking at foreign cars. I got so much for the price! Everyone stares at the car when they see it. I love the attention!