Used 2003 Hyundai Tiburon Consumer Reviews
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15 Years and 285,000 Miles Later
I still love this car. I bought it brand new in 2003 and drive it every day and still enjoy driving it. Every time I drive another vehicle, I miss my car and breathe a sigh of relief when I'm back in my Tiburon. It's fun to drive, responsive, and accelerates with strength as soon as I put my foot on the gas. Plus, this thing has hauled tons of stuff for me over the years, including two mountain bikes at the same time with the rear and passenger seats folded down and the hatch fully closed! I plan to get 300,000 miles from it. Although I'd love to continue well past that, and I believe the engine and transmission would let me, the lower section of the doors are dealing with a good bit of rust that just doesn't seem quite worth repairing. Even the gas mileage is still competitive with what I'm seeing offered these days. I average about 27 mpg on my typical, suburban commute.
- Performance
A love/hate relationship... with my car!
A very fun car to drive... When it isn't in the shop! Purchased from the dealership with 56k miles on it, one owner, and had problems since I got it! Passengers side strut was busted when I bought it, around $650 to get it fixed. Ran good for a while.. I bumped into a curb and broke the strut again, also set the drivers' side airbag off when I hit the curb... Was only going around 15 MPH. Engine had began to make a strange clicking noise when a few weeks later my transmission defaulted to third gear. Transmission fluid and antifreeze began leaking into each other, paint started flaking off spoiler and passengers side mirror, stereo display went out, moonroof rattles very bad when opened.
- GT 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,800559 mi away
- GT V6MSRP: $5,995757 mi away
- GT 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $8,500766 mi away
GREAT SPORT LOOKING CAR FOR THIS MONEY!
I bought 2003 2.7 V6 Automatic transmission Tiburon in 2005 for $14,000.00. There was only 13000 miles on it. Leather, sunroof, 171 hp, Michelin Tires, "dual" exaust, "premium" sound. And it was sporty RED :) The main reason i bought it because i wanted my car to attract attention and not pay too much money :) There was no single person who didn't ask me "What car is that?" One lady even asked me: "Is it Ferrari?" it was so funny. I have 88K on it and it still doesn't have major problems. Please dont' expect Toyota or Honda quality though. I had about a dozen of small issues half of which was taken care of by the warranty.
Proud Owner in Minnesota
I literally was on my way to the Mitsubishi Dealership, when I was sidetracked by the Hyundai Dealership. I had never heard of the Tiburon, but was attracted to it the moment I saw it. Three hours later, I owned one of these beauties! I love the looks, no one in my suburb of the Twin Cities has one yet. (I like being unique and not copying everyone else) It handles wonderful with the tight steering and road hugging design. The initial take off is normal, and then the engine will all of a sudden kick in and then no one can keep up with me...I Love it!
Worst car I've ever owned
I bought this car brand new with all the options, high spoiler etc. I took extremely good care of the car and really babied it. I loved the look of this car, but had a lot of trouble with the electric windows. I tried to lemon law the car on two occasions. Even the clutch had to be replaced at 12,000 miles. I'm currently in a class action law suit over the issue. You couldn't pay me enough to own another Hyundai.
2003 Tiburon
Only had a couple of days but love it already. Traded 2001 5 speed which was 14 months old and had 24K miles. Never a problem with the 2001. Look forward to same with 2003.
Wide grins for me and wifey
The wife and I bought a 6-cyl, 5-spd Tibby and we just love it! It's got plenty of power for around town. I mean, let's face facts...where do everyday joes get to use 250 or 300hp anyway? The 170ish hp that comes outta the box is sensible yet still fun. Gotta go with the 17in wheels though. They look kewler and help to stiffen the ride a bit. Otherwise, the car is keen on standard features and the exterior is better than the RSX and not as goofy as the celica. For the money, I feel the Tib fills a niche between bland status symbols (RSX), overpiced and under powered cliches (Eclipse), and over done sillycars (celica).
Most reliable, fun, sexy car
I bought the car at 54k miles, and it got totaled at 80k miles in one year. I drove their car for 32 hours straight from Jonestown, PA, to El Paso Tx. My "Tibby" had nothing wrong with it but general maintenance. The person who owned it previously took as great of care of the car as I did. Once you own one, it is hard to replace it. My Tibby's battery was beat for 2 months, and I just pumped the gas a little, and it never once refused to start for me. The car turned heads wherever I went, and the engine is very well built. I had plans to add pink interior lights, paint the emblems pink, and add a windshield "Tiburon" decal in pink. My car had after-market rims, and a sweet sound system.
Cheap
At first I loved this car. It was cheap and fun to drive, but after about 3 months things started to stop working. First my doors stopped locking whether I used the remote or tried to lock it from the inside. Then my back windshield wiper stopped working, and then I could no longer open my trunk from the inside. That winter I couldn't get into my car because it was frozen shut. I tried both sides and I ended up ripping off my passenger side handle. Luckily its a hatchback so I ended up crawling through my trunk. After a while my car stopped handling the way it used to and it felt unsafe and wobbly. Although many things stopped working this car never broke down on me
2003 Tiburon
I have this car for a couple months now and just love driving it. I used to own an eclipse and like this car the same. I like the tilted console in the eclipse but as far as money goes, you cannot beat this car. Less than 20 grand fully loaded. It rides smoothly and people seem to notice, either that or it's the standard 8' sub that's installed. It doesn't pound bass, I'm not saying that, but it also doesn't make it sound like the side panels are gonna fall off. As far as the car goes I have no feelings of I wish with the car because it came with so many features for so cheap.
Love My Tib!
Bought my Tib new in early '04 to get a good deal on the '03's they were trying to unload. Researched the car for a couple of years before buying. Tib has been excellent! Definitely a head-turner. People always think it's a fancier car & can't believe it when I tell them it's a Hyundai. Forever have Porches, BMW's, etc. revving next to me - ha! My Tib is a blast to drive. Minor problems (passenger window stuck) covered under warranty & the dealer was great.
Excellent car
I can not tell you very much, because I have only had this car less than a month! This car has amazing handling, its not terrible in the rain, the manual mode can be fun, the back seat room is very limited; but I do not usually have many people in the back seat anyways. I love to drive this car on rt. 81, I can really "unleash the beast". I got so much car, for only 8,500! It only has 55,000 miles! I fell inlove with Tibby's when my b/f got one. His is an '01 and at 90k miles, it drives like it is brand new! Highly recommend this car!
Great car!
I bought this car new and have had no major problems with it so far. I had to get two new tires a year ago and that is the most money other than gas i have put into the car. Great reliable car that has never left me stranded. Fun little car to zip around in!
My Tiburon
I absolutly love this car. I'm very satisfied with Hyundai and everything they have done to make affordable cars. The warranty is outstanding, you can't beat that anywhere. I look forward to purchasing another very soon.
Tiburon-A Best Buy !
This car is great! I looked at the Mazda Miyata, Subaru WRX & RS and others. The price can't be beat with all the standard features. 10yr/100,000 mi warranty exceeds all. A/C is real cold, handles great, nice stable ride. For the $ the 4 cyl. has enough power, the gear ratio of the 5 spd manual is set up nice for all around driving. If price is no object you may want the 6 cyl for extra pep, but only if you want to race from the line. The 4 has plenty for city & hiway merging. Very comfortable and quiet for long rides. Lots of storage with the seats folded. Gas mileage is around 29 combined. Nice tight steering, good braking.
Proud Owner
I love this car!! The styling is the thing that first drew my attention. The styling is now what draws EVERYBODYS attention. Some people just plain stop in their tracks and stare at it. I have a black one. The power in the 4 cylinder is more than adequate. I have a 5 speed, so it is probably a little better for power than an automatic. . 31 mpg on the highway is awesome for this sporty of a vehicle. The 5 year bumper to bumper is also great.! I wish the Dealer would have dealt on it more. I had to pay sticker, but some are selling it for thousands more!!! This is my second Hyundai. I love this car company!!
DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!!!
It's a good looking car, performance isn't bad...when the car works and isn't in the damn shop! This car has caused me nothing but problems since I got it. A door handle came off and I barely touched it, the transmission and flywheel had to be replaced at around 75,000 miles. The car is a manual transmission, and during the winter months the parking brake DOES NOT WORK! The brake line freezes and is worthless. Dealership manages to wiggle themselves out of expensive repairs so I have to pay every dollar. I've easily spent $4,000 - $5,000 to keep this car on the road.
great car!
bought the car in 2004 with 12k miles on it. It now has 144k and with normal maintenance it has been a great daily driver. Coast to coast several times. The door bottoms and wheel wells are starting to rust, but who cares! This car owes me nothing after all this time. Went with an auto because of the manual transmission design flaw. The auto had been flawless with normal 40k mile transmission services.
- Performance
- Comfort
Love my Wht-Roc.
After driving the Honda Accord, the Mustang, I took the Tibby, for a test drive. I was very excited about the total experience. I love the new ride, Ihave named it Wht-Roc. I look forward each day to the most amazing experience.
ripped off
in point form- heater controles caught fire twice - sunroof fell out compleatly in full open - replaced engine twice and transmission shift linkage (i do drive mussel cars and tryed to drive this like a sports car not built to drive like a sports car) electrical shorts every where in the car dealerships alway said "ITS SOPOSED TO WORK LIKE THAT" to all the problems and more
nice car
i enjoy the vehicle and receive many comments on the looks.i purchased the four cylinder and it lacks some power,mainly when the air conditioning is in use.i am unhappy of the two recalls.the motor in the sunroof and the horse power was wrong with my vehicle.overall,i have fun with the car and for the price,you get quite a bit....happy driving....duane abbott
Love IT
Loved the car as soon as I saw it. Dealership let me take it for an afternoon test drive. Had to have it.
WOW !!! A mini-Ferarri !!!
Who could possibly knock this weel engineered new Hyundai Tiburon GT V6 w/ Ultra Sports Pkg 3?? Maybe Toyota and Mitsu execs? This thing is great ... and priced where the others should be!!
silver shark
I purchased a silver ultra 2 for under 18000 and I am very happy about my purchase. I almost bought an acura RSX but decided I wanted a car that wouldn't get lost in the parking lot. This car is already finished and can be tweaked for way more power if you wish. I can't stop looking at it!
DRIVING IS BELIEVING
Love this car. I had a 2001 Tibby. The second I seen the 2003 I was jumping in the parking lot. WOW thats all I could think. Security probably thought I was on drugs or maybe not they have probably seen this before. The next day I went to test drive one and totally fell head over heels in love with it. Went home put my 01 tibby for sale. Sold it Quickly.Bought a black one. I would tell anyone who asks why hyundai? Yea hyundai! then take them for a ride and watch their faces whit a look ofsurprise turning to a look of joy. If you just thinking aboutit test it and you will find out driving is believing.
Extremely Satisifed
Well let me just say this car rocks. Well coming from a Ford, how cant it??? The dealers were awesome, the overall experience so far has been great. Ive owned this baby for a week now and I love it. Comparing to the previous tiburons, and the other autos i have looked at(eclipse, celica, RSX), this one takes the cake. My only misfortune was the defect on the sunroof...but hey mistakes happen and its all done and working fine.
The last hyundai
Purchased the car new and after 6 years have 28,000 miles. During this time the moon roof broke, driver window was inoperative, both plastic door handles broke, paint in a number of areas has faded, inside and out. Now you cannot put gas into the tank without 17-22 tries due to the charcoal canister, close valve and filter canister needing replacement at a cost of $600.00 plus. They were not sure of the price at the dealership. Contacting the home office was to no avail. This will be the last Hyundai I will ever purchase. They are cheaply built.
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.
WoW!
This car blew me away. I occasionally drive my girlfriend's mercedes SLK 230 and the way the Tiburon drives is so similar. It has the solid feel of a european sports car. I was also looking at the Celica, but for thousands less I stopped looking. Hyundai has changed, for the better!!!
better than people say
I bought my 03 tib in late 05 with 64,000 miles. The only problem I had was the drivers side window motor went ( which also happened the following year) and the passenger side wouldn't unlock. But that was cheaply fixed. The following summer my ac was leaking somewhere, but if you fill it it lasts you through the summer. Now at 108,000 miles I have replaced the belts and such that goes with that, and have had no issues. I feel the transmission is going slowly but that's it.
Great Car
This car is a great value for under 20k I got a fully loaded automatic, this is a sweet ride that comes with 10 year warranty. What can I say, I love it!
Mid Life Toy
I test drove all the sports coupes I could find under $30,000.00. I came back to the Tiburon for two reasons. First, the styling, nothing on the market comes close except the Z 350 for ten grand more and if you wanted to spend the money you will have to wait for several months to get hosed by a dealer. Second, the car is just more fun to drive. My 6 speed GT handles like the car it look like.
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.
Automatic Tibby 03
Love this car, turn a lot of heads. Great all around car, back seat is a little tight but what do i care, im not sitting in it =)
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
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.
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!!! =]
greatest cheap sportscar ever!
handling is great! and pick-up is even better
What kids...
I am proud to own the vehicle and would not have changed my choice. I think Hyundai has done a wonderful job showing that they can make good cars. It is up to the consumer to get over their "It's a Hyundai" fear. I actually find the interior well thought out. Everything is within easy reach. Yes it is a bit bland, but that'll leave the aftermarket open for flashy stuff if you want it. Although I find the suspension a bit harsh, it's not the cars fault, I like it the way it is. It's the blasted roads that need to be fixed...grin.
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" .
You will see the people looking!!
There is always someone looking at my car. No one can believe that it is a Hyundai. Most people have not even heard of a Tiburon. That was one of the main reasons I wanted this car over any of its competion. You should make sure this one tops your test drive list. I drove them all. For the money the Tiburon is the winner. Besides it looks the best of the competion. I bought the first one in my market area.
love it
I have mine for over 5 years and still love driving it. I'm constantly getting compliments on it. The car is so much fun to drive. The interior is very well laid out and comfortable. The materials are good. Trunk/hatch is huge. No reliability issues even with it being supercharged for over 4 years. The service at Quality Hyundai is great. I had the clutch replaced and no problems since. A few other problems like the locks and window motor going that was fixed under warranty. I still enjoy it very much and would buy one again.
Awesome car for price
I paid only $6700 for the car and was well worth it. The 6spd is awesome! Although they should have forgone the metering valve (I took it out) used with the transmission to make it "slip" so that it can be a "friendly" vehicle for everyone to drive along with less slop in the shifter linkage. Should have beefed up the suspension a little bit also to get the tires to stick to the road better and make for a more aggressive feel. Lighter wheels would help too (17" stock are 18 lbs!). With a little bit of money and time it can be built a little to change these "problems". I do love the car though. Very fun to drive and turns heads all the time. Decently powerful v6 and not bad gas mileage for v6
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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
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.