The reason Hyundai made this vehicle was to make us aging hot hatch loving people have a little classier and easier to get into vehicle. Plus, it is awesome for city driving. Actually phenomenal.
Perfect cut on the intro🤣I love the way that it sounds and it seems hilarious in a good way. But I still can't imagine this doing big numbers for Hyundai with how stiff and focused it seems to be and it being a high riding SUV. Normie buyers probably won't like it and enthusiasts like myself may see it as funny but not something they'd buy into. I've been toying around with the idea of buying a hot hatch or sedan and the elantra n is tempting but this is still way off my radar.
I keep wanting these cars like the N triplets, the Civic Type R, Golf GTI, etc... ... And then I remember my old Focus ST... It was a fantastic handling car. It won awards. it was a journalist favorite before the Fiesta ST ousted its position. But owning it and driving it daily... The wheel hop started to annoy me after a couple months. Had to feather-foot it in the rain. Could never leave stoplights quickly without some screeching or jumping. First and second gear were almost useless, third gear got fun, and it ran out of steam past 4th. Most of these FWD cars are like that. Limited slip helps, but doesn't remove those traits enough to make them unnoticeable. The best iteration of FWD in a performance car, the Civic Type R, STILL has terminal understeer and wheel slip from a stop. It was upon getting rid of my Focus ST in exchange for a WRX that I saw the light... There was just a sense of "do whatever you want, the car will take care of you". Floor it in the rain, it goes. Pin the throttle from a turn, it goes. Stoplight launches, it goes. Fling it around corners faster than you should, it goes. It's just a car that you can hoon in while being completely composed the whole time. These days, the WRX is no longer the fastest of the bunch. The Type R is faster. The N triplets are faster. the GTI would be neck and neck with a WRX in a straight line. It seems the only car the WRX beats handily now is the Civic Si. But I can't do FWD anymore. I've been spoiled by the absolute, carefree hilarity of doing pathologically insane things only a WRX can do. It claws to whatever ground it's on like nothing else can. It really is a go anywhere, do anything sport sedan in a way that the FWD competition just can't match. Of course, other AWD options exist. But Golf R is nearly $50,000. JCW Clubman is the same, along with the M235i Gran Coupe. Every AWD sport compact these days is north of $45,000 base MSRP, whereas the WRX is STILL hovering at $30,000. For $34,000 (11K less than a BASE Golf R), you could have a WRX premium with the 18" wheels, a 12 inch screen, STI short shifter, keyless start, and heated seats.
Good write up! Yeah I feel you with a high power FWD, it can be fun, but it’s not something I’d wanna deal with long term in different weather conditions, especially if it was my only car
I have been driving a Kona N since June 2022 and I love the car. I still drive a 2016 Subaru WRX STi as a summer car. Both vehicles are fun to drive. Greetings from Switzerland
The reason Hyundai made this vehicle was to make us aging hot hatch loving people have a little classier and easier to get into vehicle. Plus, it is awesome for city driving. Actually phenomenal.
That makes sense! I did love how nimble it was.
Perfect cut on the intro🤣I love the way that it sounds and it seems hilarious in a good way. But I still can't imagine this doing big numbers for Hyundai with how stiff and focused it seems to be and it being a high riding SUV. Normie buyers probably won't like it and enthusiasts like myself may see it as funny but not something they'd buy into. I've been toying around with the idea of buying a hot hatch or sedan and the elantra n is tempting but this is still way off my radar.
Yeah! It’s super fun! Just way too stiff of a ride for me too. Its a great little thing for the money but It’s definitely not a Bern car LOL
This thing was violent on the backroads LOL
Looks speedy for sure, Bern.
make sure you get a rebate if you buy one of these. they are currently on a stop sale for transmission issues
Ohh wow I’m not surprised LOL
I keep wanting these cars like the N triplets, the Civic Type R, Golf GTI, etc...
... And then I remember my old Focus ST... It was a fantastic handling car. It won awards. it was a journalist favorite before the Fiesta ST ousted its position.
But owning it and driving it daily... The wheel hop started to annoy me after a couple months. Had to feather-foot it in the rain. Could never leave stoplights quickly without some screeching or jumping. First and second gear were almost useless, third gear got fun, and it ran out of steam past 4th.
Most of these FWD cars are like that. Limited slip helps, but doesn't remove those traits enough to make them unnoticeable. The best iteration of FWD in a performance car, the Civic Type R, STILL has terminal understeer and wheel slip from a stop.
It was upon getting rid of my Focus ST in exchange for a WRX that I saw the light... There was just a sense of "do whatever you want, the car will take care of you". Floor it in the rain, it goes. Pin the throttle from a turn, it goes. Stoplight launches, it goes. Fling it around corners faster than you should, it goes.
It's just a car that you can hoon in while being completely composed the whole time.
These days, the WRX is no longer the fastest of the bunch. The Type R is faster. The N triplets are faster. the GTI would be neck and neck with a WRX in a straight line. It seems the only car the WRX beats handily now is the Civic Si.
But I can't do FWD anymore. I've been spoiled by the absolute, carefree hilarity of doing pathologically insane things only a WRX can do. It claws to whatever ground it's on like nothing else can. It really is a go anywhere, do anything sport sedan in a way that the FWD competition just can't match.
Of course, other AWD options exist. But Golf R is nearly $50,000. JCW Clubman is the same, along with the M235i Gran Coupe. Every AWD sport compact these days is north of $45,000 base MSRP, whereas the WRX is STILL hovering at $30,000. For $34,000 (11K less than a BASE Golf R), you could have a WRX premium with the 18" wheels, a 12 inch screen, STI short shifter, keyless start, and heated seats.
Good write up! Yeah I feel you with a high power FWD, it can be fun, but it’s not something I’d wanna deal with long term in different weather conditions, especially if it was my only car
Really?!
I’m back! Been busy with baby duty. Jr is already 8 months old. I need to catch up on the new content.
Ohhh right on! Congrats on the kiddo!!
@@BernonCars Thank you Bern! Little baby boy too. 👀
@@colinjames2383 future car guy!!!
Any of you peeps own an N?
Yup I got one, drove mine a 115 mph average speed on the German Autobahn yesterday to get home 10 minutes early. She's a keeper, trust me.
@@delinois2011 NICE! Enjoy it!!!
I have been driving a Kona N since June 2022 and I love the car. I still drive a 2016 Subaru WRX STi as a summer car. Both vehicles are fun to drive. Greetings from Switzerland
Yep 23 KN love it! In NH
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