I like the Tiburon. It's a great car for the price. In fact, the price on the Tiburon is what started me thinking about a sporty car, which eventually led me to the RX-8.

So I'm not bashing the Tibby, just wondering if my experiences with Tiburon drivers is accurate or just a fluke.

Every Tiburon I've encountered seems to be driven like they stole it. Peeling away (a relative term) from stoplights when next to me, or driving 20 mph over the speed limit for a "kill" on me. I don't race them. I know what's under their hood.

But do they?

When I pull up next to Tibs they drive like they've been possesed by my grandmother. I get messed with VERY infrequently and my car seems to deter people from driving like morons more than encourage it. Most of the talk on car boards is about how weak the RX-8 is, whether it's misguided or not it means that cars that probably don't have a chance will want to see for themselves. I mean no offense, but with the AT RX-8 being around there are a lot of cars out there that have more than a chance

I think the relative amount of speed / flashy looks for the price attracts the kind of people that do things like "peel away" from a stoplight a la srt-4 neon.

Most of the talk on car boards is about how weak the RX-8 is, whether it's misguided or not it means that cars that probably don't have a chance will want to see for themselves. I mean no offense, but with the AT RX-8 being around there are a lot of cars out there that have more than a chance

Yes, but does the Tiburon? I've heard zero-60 times of 8 or 9 seconds for a manual. The drivers can't possibly believe it's a fast car, but they drive like it is. The way a Tiburon floored it to pass both me and a Boxster just cruising along made me think he believed it was the shizzle.

Yes, but does the Tiburon? I've heard zero-60 times of 8 or 9 seconds for a manual. The drivers can't possibly believe it's a fast car, but they drive like it is. The way a Tiburon floored it to pass both me and a Boxster just cruising along made me think he believed it was the shizzle.

High 6s low 7s 0-60 and mid 15s 1/4 mile for the MT Tiburon GT.

What's your source on that, Ike? When I was looking at them, fastest time I saw for stock was Motor Trend's 7.0, and many more much slower.

What's your source on that, Ike? When I was looking at them, fastest time I saw for stock was Motor Trend's 7.0, and many more much slower.

You want a source yet you're agreeing with what I just said :confused: Your first post you said 8-9 seconds 0-60 and now you're saying you saw a 7.0 0-60 :confused:

Just wondering what your source was because many others had it in the 8s -- and Motor Trend was the only one I saw with 7.0. Not disagreeing, just saying there seems to be a wide range of opinion and I think high 6s might be a bit optimistic, or maybe modded, or maybe just a darn good driver.

The only ones I saw in the 8s were the AT, every publication I saw I think had it anywhere from 6.9-7.3. Put some summer tires on it and a good driver will have no problem with high 6s. Either way even if it runs mid high high 7s 0-60 and high 15s that should take an RX-8 AT. Also don't forget there are more 13 second Tibs than there are RX-8s when you start getting into mods so some of these guys do know what they have under the hood when it comes to racing an RX-8.

Anyhow, it's just silly numbers and hypotheticals. I haven't had a problem with Tib drivers, I usually run in to pickup trucks with big V8s that drive like morons and are always trying to race me. They put an exhaust on their truck to make it loud as hell and think they have some sort of race car and go around thinking they're going to show "ricers" what's up.

I think the relative amount of speed / flashy looks for the price attracts the kind of people that do things like "peel away" from a stoplight a la srt-4 neon.
I didn't know if the Tiburons I've seen were an abberation or typical -- but if it's drawing that sort of mentality, I guess I'm glad I didn't go with it. Still a nice car, tho.

Anyhow, it's just silly numbers and hypotheticals. I haven't had a problem with Tib drivers, I usually run in to pickup trucks with big V8s that drive like morons and are always trying to race me. They put an exhaust on their truck to make it loud as hell and think they have some sort of race car and go around thinking they're going to show "ricers" what's up.
I've passed and been passed by Boxters, WRXs, 911s, etc., just driving normal -- the only ones so far who have put on displays are big SUVs and pickups (and Tiburons.)

I’ve found Tiburon drivers to be fairly timid, and for the most part, not your prototypical sports car driver. The car is relatively cheap, and comes with a great warranty so a lot of people who would generally buy something mundane pick it up. This translates to people not really pushing the envelope on the car. Additionally, a lot of teenagers avoid the car because it’s a Hyundai, so you don’t get the young uniformed crowd driving it.

i havn't had any problems with tiburons. the people that act big and try to pass me are the ones with accord coupes and there have also been a few celicas. but with a quick downshift i can get rid of that problem easily. :D

I've had the biggest problems with Pontiacs. Grand Ams and Grand Prixs, no GTOs because we don't have those in Canada.

For some reason all these 40-something men in their high HP, heavy, ugly Pontiacs try to race me and ride my ass all the time. I never entertain them, I just think it's amusing.

No problems with Tibs...but EVERY guy in a Dodge Pick-up or SUV feels that he has to race me. I don't bite because I don't need to see what could happen when one of these heavy monsters has to turn or brake at speed.

This Hemi marketing thing Dodge has going is melting their brains.

I still think the Tibbies look nothing like decent sports cars. Obviously, looks play a big role in my decision-making process :)

I think they look like sharks, but I guess that's by design. ;)

I think they look like sharks, but I guess that's by design. ;)

Tiburon is "shark" in spanish. ;) Note the 'gills' but are they functional?

I see the Tiburon as the poor man's RX8 although it came out before it.

I know the translation, czr, that's what I was hinting at... ;)

I personally like the Tibby. I test drove it saturday and its smooth and fun to drive. Dont have my 8 anymore :o( With getting divorced the tibby seems to be right in my price range and is still fun to be in. that or a 02 WRX

I can't say I agree with you about enjoying the way the Tibby drives, but if it makes you happy then that's all that matters. However, if you're talking about a brand new one, I heard they made a bunch of changes for this model year, so they could have improved the handling from the 03 that I've driven on several occasions. Good luck with the new car!

Had a Corvette C6 do the whole rev the engine/burnout thing to me just to be pulled over by a cop 2 miles down the road after he took off as fast as he could like a complete jackass. Either way I was laughing all the way home.

Also had a Tiburon pull up next to me when my window was down and yell nice car, and wave. Just like anything else in life there are assholes, but I find assholes to be in the minority.

*Edit* for double post, sorry. I was talking about the 05

Had a Corvette C6 do the whole rev the engine/burnout thing to me just to be pulled over by a cop 2 miles down the road after he took off as fast as he could like a complete jackass. Either way I was laughing all the way home.

Also had a Tiburon pull up next to me when my window was down and yell nice car, and wave. Just like anything else in life there are assholes, but I find assholes to be in the minority.
I've been in traffic next to a Tiburon exactly four times and all four times they did a launch or flyby. The last one was the funniest, almost like your C6 story. I'm at a stoplight on a three-lane road. A car pulls up on my left -- it's the police. Light turns green and like a lot of cops, he takes off at a good rate of speed. I'm barely through the intersection when - BAM - a Tiburon flies by on my right already going faster than the speed limit. If the light hadn't changed when expected, he surely would have run a red light.

So he registers his "kill" on me -- and then it registers on him that there is a cop in the left lane.

The brake check was priceless!

I say I rarely get cars messing with me and this weekend I had 3 people try to get a race with me. They were a bit more impressive than a Tiburon and one of them I'm certain would have handed me my ass. I wasn't about to race people on the highway on easter sunday with a fair amount of traffic though. Two of them were driving like complete and total morons, especially some douche in a modded E46 M3.

Ike,
What do you think/know about the '02-'03 Automatic WRX's ?

Ike,
What do you think/know about the '02-'03 Automatic WRX's ?

It prettymuch takes a lot of fun out of the car, with some basic mods they can be pretty impressive but the MT will always be a lot more fun. As far as everything else the AT seems pretty solid and problem free, and I prefer the 02/03 Bugeye look because of the more unique look. You should be able to find a used one in the mid to high teens, but I don't see many used WRXs in my area and the ATs are pretty uncommon. Let me know if there is anything else you want to know.

Had a guy in one of the new V6 Mustangs reving his engine at me last week. Can't comment how fast they are, didn't find out.

Had a guy in one of the new V6 Mustangs reving his engine at me last week. Can't comment how fast they are, didn't find out.

Those are the races I have a hard time resisting. Some of the guys in non V8 american muscle cars need some serious reality checks. I had a Camaro RS pull up next to me at a light and asked me if my car was a "4 banger" I said yes and he just laughed and then started revving. Lets just say it wasn't pretty and I even slowed down to about 15MPH below the speedlimit after I let off and he would not pass me or pull up next to me.

i had this guy riding my a$$ in a new caddy sts. so naturally i had to go a bit faster so he then followed, i guess he wanted to play. im guessing it was the v6 because after dropping down to 3rd and punching it through most of 4th he became rather small in the rearview.