Used 2003 Hyundai Tiburon Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Well it "Looks" really good
I owned a '94 TransAM, when it came time to lay her to rest i didn't have a lot of money but i didn't want to buy someone else's problems. So i bought a tiburon. It was a very affordable price and the big warranty gave me some piece of mind that it would be reliable...... But now it has 17k miles on it and i've had a new clutch and transmission, i've spent over 5 thousand dollars in repairs from the clutch, 1600 dollars, and then a wreck from the brakes locking on a turn. Overall it's a good car but it's not made to be driven like a sports car without some major mods.
Well What Can I Say?
I first bought the hyundai accent 9 months ago and was unhappy. I traded it in and I couldnt be happier. I bought the Tiburon GT V6 in silver and I love it. The ride is excellant, horsepower is moderate and the features are amazing. For $20,000 you cant go wrong. Not even to mention that you are covered for ten years.
- GT 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $8,500189 mi away
- GT V6MSRP: $5,995201 mi away
- GT 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,800464 mi away
Excellent car for the money
I looked at everything in this segment, drove them all, and no other car came close to the quality of this car. The others (sentra, lancer, carolla, civic) just felt cheap inside. This car has a fit and finish that the others can't touch. I have not had a single problem with my car since I bought it a year ago. I drive it every day, and have put 20,000 miles on it, and it still runs like new.
Take a good look, BUT DON'T BUY!!!!!!!
Ive had my tibby for 6200 miles and about 1/2 of those are from trips to the dealer for servicing. Watch for numerous recalls from a car that is full of defects! Spoiler light assembly, driver side window motor, sunroof, paint on door sills, gas cap leakage, window seals, tweeter blown, plastic sub cover in trunk may crack! BEWARE-THIS CAR WILL DISAPPOINT YOU IF YOU DON'T KEEP THESE ITEMS IN MIND! Ive had other problems w/ leather seat flaw @ purchase, plastic doorsill damage and grease on roof after 1 of the servicing. The HORSEPOWER was lied about by 11 horse in their ads.
Great car with small issues
I've owned this car for about 1 1/2 years, so it's a fair time to pass judgment. On the highway it's a blast, and rides like a larger car. People constantly mistake it for a more expensive sports car. My complaints are with little things. One of the rear seat belts seldomly works, and the passenger side window generally works only after you bang the side of the door with your hand. The paint job is mediocre at best. I didn't notice how bad it was when I bought the car because it was raining at the time. I would probably buy another Hyundai, because the alternative is a much higher priced Toyota or Honda, with possibly better quality, but far more arrogant dealerships.
Car is so cool
So far I love this car I am hoping they come out with a lot of body and performance parts for it, just to make it even more fun
So far, So Good!
Had my Tibby for a little over a year, and its been a great little car. Like the features for the price - lot's of fun to drive. Have no sunroof or manual tranny, so I don't foresee any problems.
Not it is not a ferrari :)
Great car took me 6 months of research to decide on the Tiburon. I looked at every model comparable model that Mitsu, Toyo, Honda, Acura make. For the price know one can touch it. To the people who want to know about the horse power it is 170 at the engine crank. They may advertise 181 but the papers you sign at purchase point states it at170. Good stereo clear treble strong deep bass (not thumping). Gas mileage is pretty good best I have seen is 29mpg and this was doing 65mph on the highway with ac on. Handling is outstanding at high speeds as well as city driving. As I feel the build and quality of my car (so far) is on par with anything Honda builds.
An Eye Catcher
Hands down, the fastest car on the road. Get the V6 version. Only I don't like is that it eats gas like no other and doesn't ride as smooth as I thought. But all the attention that I get is worth it. everyone wants to know... " What is that?" It turns so many heads. It will smoothly glide to 60 in a heartbeat and move you wisting past cars before you know it. Get it if you are trying to look good while staying under $20,000.
big bang for the buck
I love this car. my friends can't believe what i paid for it. got rid of my suv to put some fun in driving again. not the greatest headroom and trying to back out of a parking space is a "take a chance" experience what with the limited bisibility The radio/cd/cassette is amazing for the price and the warantee can't be beat.
more than i expected
I am really pleased about the performance of this car, it has 50k miles and the only problems i've had are the battery, which was under warranty and the sunroof interior lid that got stucked, i presume due to dirt because lack of use, other than that excellent! The OEM tires are noisier than aftermarket.
I love my Tiburon
I absolutly love my little shark! Infact it seems like everyone who sees it does. A week after buying mine, a friend of mine bought one in a different colour, and now my best friend is looking to buy one. This car is wonderful. I love it. I would enourage anyone who is looking for a sports coupe to buy a tiburon (just not in mystic teal K? just playing). Mine is teal.
Used to HATE Hyundai
I took the car for a test drive and i was very sceptical. First i love the exterior styling, one of the hottest looking cars out there. Second i was impressed with the interior material quality. Not overly busy with chinsey crap. Material feels sturdy and stable. I drive alot and hate being in traffic with a manual transmission so i opted for the Sportronic automatic transmission. This option is so much fun. It gives me the ability to shift manually when i choose to do so. I think the single factor that caused me to purchase this car is the price.
Tiburon ROCKS!
Had the car for only two days and I think it is awesome. The Tiburon drives very well and with its stylish appearance, it's definately a keeper! When I went out looking for a new used vehicle, I narrowed the field down to a 2004 Honda Civic Coupe and a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT. The Tiburons driving and its looks won me over. Not knocking the Honda, it drove very well, but it just didn't have the appearance or the peppiness of the Tiburon. I'm sold on Hyundai.
I love it, i get a lot turning heads!!
The car is great. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a car under 20,000 and is really sporty.
Great little car
Love it. handles like a race car. and looks very sporty
Tiburon Or Bust
I put this car through it's paces a couple weeks ago. Took a drive over the Cajon pass into California's High Desert. I was in 6th gear all the way, and the car was hardly working. Stearing was precise and effortless. Go ahead and spend 5 or 7k more for a Toyota, or Mitubishi.
Shiny on the outside, Junk on the inside
Hyundai, a company that hasn't built anything to last. Yeah, the car has warrenty beyond belief, it needs it so that the buyer doesn't go postal on the dealership. under powered, poor power- trains, HEAVEY and sluggish. when my SUV takes my bud's Tibby, you know somethings wrong. it does have styling, the dash looks tacky. i rated this car for its worth after the warrenty is over. NOTHING!
Best Car
I have ever driven for under 20K
sweet
It's an awesome car. I love the exterior design, hyundai did a great job. Build quality is extremely high, no more crappy hyundais. Only complaint, a little bland inside.
Swimming with sharks
I compared this car to the Acura RSX, the Chevy Camaro, Toyota Solara, and Honda Accord Coupe. The shark has better handling than any of the above. Better 0-60, 20-60, and 0-40 times than all but the Camaro. The ride is rough, and the interior is a joke. The dash is obnoxious, and the stereo system is average. This car is the prettiest of the bunch, but looks aren't everything. It's real hard to see out of the right side window when making turns. The mirror acts like a wall. The headlamps restrict night vision. Finally, it has NO crash test ratings. The NHSTA hasn't tested it. So technically, you could be purchasing a 20,000 coffin. It's a risk.
To Many Problems
Since I have purchased this vehicle brand new two years ago, I have had many problems that are not covered by the warranty. It is on it's third clutch and flywheel in only 37,000 miles and the first two were factory. I had a racing clutch and flywheel put in because it was cheaper and better quality than hyundai engineering. Now my starter is out and they are blaming it on my flywheel so they won't cover it by the warranty. I like how the care looks, and drives when it works. I hate how much maintenance i have had to it just to keep it running. IT is not worth it, the car looks nice but unless you want to waste a lot of money don't get the 6 speed version.
Fun to drive and a great ride for the px
I've read the other reviews and I must have a different take on some folks. I bought mine after comparing it to the Miata, Eclipse and Elantra and I actually liked the ride better. In my opinion it shifts better than the Eclipses around the same year and has a lot better torque in the low range. I found road noise or hard riding does seem to be dependant a lot on your tires. At higher presser it was a rougher ride (but better stability) but when I went down a lb in each tire, wow. The clutch can be a little picky, but once you get used to it's nuances you can work with it... it seems like it wants a lot of RPM in each range. Nicely smooth turning and hard to beat the looks you get!
Tiburon attacks! Yes!
I've had this car for a couple months and I'm overall very pleased with it. It's a head turner, thanks to its unsual sleek, yet angular, exterior design. The double spoke, 17" aluminum wheels, the high rise spoiler, the large sunroof, the projector headlights and fog lights, its all leather, "racey" interior, and its high level audio system, give this car a unique personality and sporty look, in sync with today's popular, "tuner" style trend. Performance is more than adequate and fun for it's rather small displacement V6 engine (2.7L). Hyundai has definitely come a long way! I think Tib would've reached perfection if Hyundai engineers had bumped its engine output to 200HP, though (vs ~170HP)
Would not buy another
Bought this car used with 72,000 miles on it. Totally unreliable! I am always scared to take it on trips because something is always going wrong. Right after I bought it the engine light came on. Spent $2,000 trying to find out what was wrong with it. Clutch went out another 2,000 miles later. $1,200. A/C went out just barley with 79,000 miles. $150. Tires blew out also on my way to catch a flight $900 (expensive tires with NO warranty!) Awful car I do love the outside of it though I am always getting head turned. Don't really care that the back seat is small because no one rides with me. I realize I bought this used but not worth the money I've put back into it
LOVE!
I LOVE IT! it's so solid! Buy it! U wont regret it!
Best two door available in 2003
I LOVED the car I had before this one. I would never have believed that I would buy a Hyundai, but after road testing all the 2 door coupes - this was the best for road holding, responsiveness and feeling of safety! My only real gripe is that it could have a little faster pick up, and a LOT more room for storage. Other than that I am very happy and would not consider trading it out for another make/model any time soon. Hyundai has come a long way!
Sports Cars @ subcompact price
This has all the promise of the best sports car for the price since the 1979 Honda Prelude. No extras needed, all the performance and handling necessary for under 20K. Warranty can’t be beaten and dealers are making great deals to promote sales.
Drisgruntled Owner
Had to replace the clutch 3 times already and only have 45k miles on it. Warrenty did not cover the second two after a year or 15 thousand miles because hyundai knows how terrible the clutch is in their vehicle. Their great warrenty covers everything but the clutch after a year. Already a major lawsuit being raised up against hyundai in the United States for the clutch in thousands of owners cars.
soggodsofar
I had a 1999 tiburon that stayed in the shop more than on the road. I traded for the 2003. I already can tell a hude difference. Barely any noise... can hardly tell when it is cranked. The car gets tons of looks... TONS. People stop dead in their tracks and look at the car, trying to decide what it is. It looks like a mix between all the best selling sports cars. It is great and a lot of fun to drive.
What a GREAT car!
I got a great deal on this car, "previously enjoyed". This car is affordable, and sporty as hell! The speakers (though not the Infinity) bump, and the sound is great. It's about as fast as I figured.... slower than most sport coupes, but if you aren't looking for extreme pickup and speed, is more than adequate. It's definitely cute, but not for the large driver! I'm 5'2", small frame, and it's perfect for me. I love this car!
Autocross Wolf In Sheeps Clothing
I purchased this car last August and have been very pleased. I was trying to find a 'different' sports car that was in my price range. The Tiburon is just that. First off, this car isn't really a drag car and really shoudln't be compared as one. Where this car wins is on the road course track or AutoX. I have been AutoXing this car for the last year and have won serveral times with people in amazement that it is a Hyundai. If you like to AutoX this is a great car to have.
Big Pimpin in the 2003 tiburon
THIS CAR WAS A GREAT BUY. I BOUGHT THE 6SPEED GT WITH THE ULTRA SPORTS PACKAGE 2.IT WAS VERY HARD TO LOCATE THE ONE I WANTED BUT IM GLAD I FINALLY GOT IT.IT HAS GREAT SPEED. CIVICS,RSX,ECLIPSE, WATCH OUT...AND EVERYONE LOVES IT..INCLUDING THE LADIES
surprised at how good
I bought it because of the styling and needed to get from here to there in a fun vehicle. Very powerful torque and the strength of the vehicle feels really solid. I feel safe in it and it takes corners at a very smooth and fast rate. Feeling the raod a bit but well worth the money.
Stylish Departutre for an Econo-Car Co.
I am really enjoying my new Tiburon. It has solid performance and all the options to keep me happy in the years of dependable service I expect to get from it. I love the looks I get while cruising campus, and the jaw-dropping that occurs when I tell people it is a Hyundai. The Tiburon realy sets itself apart from the ubiquitous, less well- equipped, and boring Accords that plague parking lots across America. I drove and shopped Mitsubishi's Eclipse, Toyota's Celica, and even Acura's RSX before I decided on the spritly and stylish Tiburon. Hyundai is an up and coming star in the import scene, and the Tiburon is that company's Magnum Opus.
GA Emissions
The Hyundai cars will not pass OBD emissions test.
cool car
Fun car to drive
I love my tiburon
I Love this car, i was in between the spec-v and this car. i test drovee both and fell in love with the tibby. the look the performance. althought he hp is kind of low you can do alot to change that. i love it
Fun, Fun, Fun
I just got my new Tiburon this week and I love it! It's fun, sporty, and drives great in the rain!!! I can't wait to drive it when the roads are dry. I bought the car because of it's sleek exterior design and comfortable interior. The infiniti system is absolutely perfect for jamming to great tunes. The only thing I wish it has is a bit more hp but it does the trick. Having the 6-speed really helps. It's definitely a head-turner and has really wowwed my friends and family.
Great car period.
I know its a great car for the money, but its a great car period. The new 350Z came out and everyone I have talked to likes the styling of my car better. I know I do. I realize the Z has more power etc. But it also costs 15,000 more too. The Tiberon is a great car for the money but its also a great car on its own merits. I cant wait to load it with a massive stereo. The stock is not bad but I am used to larger systems and this care is made for a monster.
Kick A** car!
Fabulous car! Great feeling driving it. Pick up, from stop position is excellent. Standard features are above average. It's usually in automatic, but can go into manual transmission if I want to play some road games with some of the big boys! Stereo is fantastic. The ONE BIG THING I MISS IS..... Hyundai doesn't make rain guards for the windows. I get soaked if the window is open a bit in the rain. Otherwise,I really love everything about this car. Great styling Hyundai!
You mean that car i drove was a Hyundai?
The title was exactly what I said after my boss pointed me to the Hyundai dealership after they bought one of the new XG350 luxury cars. I picked out the sharpest black tibby with the 17inch wheels, 6 spd, spoiler etc. After taking it down the road and putting it through corner after corner and running it hard light to light I kept saying to myself... Is this really a Hyundai. I told the person riding with me (not a guy from the dealership) maybe we can just rip off the H off the steering wheel. Having been a previous camaro owner looking for something a little more reliable this defintiely fit the bill. Even my muscle car friends like the styling.
V6 6spd Tibby
Awesome car. Looks sporty yet classy. Handles great. Brakes are great. No problems exept for a faulty speaker which dealer replaced. Alpine supercharger in the works to make this car even faster and fun to drive.
Best bang for the buck ever!
For twenty grand this is more car than I ever expected. It out styles all of the Japanese competition and is a blast to drive. The V-6 is the only way to go. Bought this one for my wife so went for the automatic but every time I get in I reach for the clutch. It just feels like you should be banging through the gears.
Customer
The test drive was so awesome its so nice, comfortable and kind cheap
My Tib
Well Ive got 11,000 miles on my tiburon and I have to say its a great car. No problems as of yet, and I don't see to many of them so people are always doing double takes. There is no car on the market in its price range that matches. you would have to get a G35 coupe and thats 35 grand.
Warranty Stinks!!!
I really love my Tiburon, it's so fun to drive but I've only had it a year and now the clutch went out and it broke the flywheel. $1700.00 at the dealership!! What I don't understand is why am I being penalized because I own a maual transmission if it was an automatic I would actually reap the benefits of the bumper to bumper warranty! I actually own 2 mine has 57,000 mi. my husbands only has 33,000 his did exactly the same thing. The dealership claims this is a rare problem - bull!!!! Beware if the clutch goes out your in for a big repair bill!!
GOOD CAR
THIS IS THE BEST HYUNDAI YET
you should buy one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
had it for almost a month and reall love driving the car ,sure beats driving my 2002 honda civic ex
Performance At A Steal
I test drove this car last week while I was waiting for an inspection sticker (for my 2001 Accent GS) at my Hyundai dealer. I was surprised at how fast this car really was. The car I test drove was loaded 480 watt Infinity stereo, leather Recaro seats, aluminum racing pedals, power everything, and front and side airbags. The styling of the car is also eye catching, looks almost like a Farrari from the side. All this for about $18,900. Will be purchasing this car in the spring.