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Used Hyundai Tiburon review: 2002-2010

Lucy Liang's son wants to buy a used Hyundai Tiburon and she's worried about its quality and any major concerns it might have. She also asks if the servicing and parts cost any more than a regular family car.

NEW

The Tiburon sports coupe was something of a surprise when Hyundai launched it in 2002, it didn't fit with what Hyundai was making at the time. It looked attractive, its lines were smooth and sporty, and its proportions were nicely balanced.

The front-wheel drive Tiburon wasn't a hard-edged sports car; it was more a pleasant cruiser meant to appeal to the same people who reckoned the Toyota Celica was sporty. Hyundai's idea was simple. Take a competent mechanical package and wrap it in some sexy sheetmetal and you have an affordable and appealing coupe.

When first launched Tiburon buyers could choose between a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that delivered a modest punch of 102 kW and 181 Nm and a more menacing V6 that promised 127 kW and 245 Nm. The V6 was the one to go for; it was smooth and responsive and was a pleasant drive. At the same time it had enough grunt to get up and go if that's what you wanted.

There was a choice of manual and automatic transmissions. The four-banger, which dropped out of the range in 2004 leaving the V6 as the only choice, came with a five-speed manual, while the V6 had a six-speeder. Both could be had with the automatic. On the road the Tiburon handled quite well, displaying decent grip when pressed, while also riding comfortably, something not all sports car could boast.

Step inside the cabin and you found yourself in a sporty environment that nicely complemented the go-fast exterior.

NOW

Hyundai's quality was ordinary to say the least when the brand first appeared in our showrooms, but it has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years. For that reason it's best to buy the latest model that fits your budget to take advantage of the improvement.

The good news for Lucy Liang is that the Tiburon is no pricier to service, or to buy replacement parts for as any other Hyundai, and that means they're quite affordable. In terms of major issues she can rest easy there as well, as there are no major problems to be concerned about. That doesn't mean that things don't go wrong with the Tiburon. Like all cars, no matter the brand or price tag, things do fail.

It's worth keeping in mind that the Tiburon was first introduced in 2002, so the earliest examples are 12 years old, and even the last are four years old, and that means they're getting on in age and the likelihood of problems occurring is increasing with the passing of each year.

It's important then to buy the car that is in the best condition, one that has been regularly serviced, and well looked after. The body should be clean, without bumps and scrapes, the paint should not be fading, nor should the clear coat be peeling, the interior should also be clean and tidy, with little or no wear on the seats or the carpets.

Check the service record to confirm the car's servicing. Regular servicing, with regular oil changes, is crucial to ensuring a car's reliability over the long term. The cam timing belt needs to be changed at 100,000 km intervals, so check that it has on any car that's passed that milestone.

A thorough test drive is essential to make sure the car you're considering runs at its best. The engine should be smooth, it should rev without hesitation, and there should be no misfiring, rough running or surging.

The automatic transmission should engage gears smoothly and without hesitation. If it doesn't it's probably best to bypass the car. While Hyundai's build quality has improved significantly it's still worthwhile running through all of the accessory systems to make sure they work. Early Hyundais were renowned for having dodgy electrics, that shouldn't apply to the Tiburon, particularly later ones, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

There has been one recall affecting the Tiburon. That was in 2003 and affected early models. It was an important one; the brake pipes were at risk of rubbing against the front sub-frame leading to the loss of brake fluid and ultimately the loss of braking. Check that the recall has been done, talk to a dealer if you're not sure.

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Hyundai Tiburon a good used buy?

The Tiburon uses many of the same parts as other Hyundai models, and the servicing is the same, so there’s no extra cost because it is a sports model. There are no major issues to worry about; the Tiburon was a pretty reliable car. The most important thing in a car that is this old is the condition. Don’t buy a car that appears to have been neglected or knocked about, buy the best you can afford.

Used Hyundai Tiburon review: 2002-2010

Hyundai Tiburon coupe arrived in Australia in March 2002 to somewhat mixed reviews. The biggest stumbling block to sales was the unusual styling.

A minor facelift in February 2005 didn’t make a lot of difference to the overly Asian shape, but a major reshape in February 2007 was a winner. Though it retained the same overall silhouette the ’07 Tiburon looked so much better that it could have been an all-new design.

At the start but Tiburon’s price was somewhat optimistic for a South Korean company that still sat low in the image stakes. Prices were slashed and sales lifted to a reasonable level, so there are quite a few on the used-car scene.

Coupes have made a comeback in Australia in the last couple of years. Hyundai’s own Veloster with its striking shape and interesting door layout grabbed a lot of attention, but the biggest publicity came from the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 twins.

Prices of Tiburons may increase due to this renewed interest in coupes, no promises though...

The South Koreans have a similar attitude to Australians in their likes of good chassis dynamics and driving pleasure. So the Tiburon has a nicely neutral feel and gives good feedback through the steering.

It’s not going to rival the big name Europeans but is a lot better than you might expect, particularly if you invest in a good set of sporting tyres.

Interior room is pretty good in the front seats of the Tiburon coupe, chiefly because front-wheel drive through a transverse engine takes up less space.

The rear seat is about average for this class, meaning it’s much better suited to kids than adults. Access to the rear seats of the Hyundai Tiburon requires a degree of flexibility, but we have seen worse.

When launched in Australia the Tiburon came with a choice between a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing a somewhat lacklustre 102 kW, and a 2.7-litre V6 with a healthier, though still not outstanding, 127 kW. The latter output dropped marginally to 123 kW with the introduction of the 2007 model because the old-design engine had to be modified to meet new emission regulations.

The four-cylinder engine was withdrawn from the Australian lineup midway through 2004. At the same time the price of the V6 was drastically reduced, to the extent that the V6 was then cheaper than the four-cylinder had been at the time of its 2002 introduction.

Transmission is by a five-speed manual with the four-cylinder engine, and a six-speed manual beside the V6. A four-speed automatic transmission is available with both engines, its relative lack of ratios is partly counterbalanced by it having sequential-manual modes that let a keen driver make their own decision about which gear the Tiburon needs.

Build quality has improved markedly in Hyundai cars in the last few years. Tiburon is one of the older generation models but isn’t too bad in the quality stakes. Our ‘what to look for’ section will give you some advice on areas of possible concern.

A good amateur mechanic can do a fair bit of work on this car as the design is relatively simple. As always, it's sensible to leave the safety related items to the experts.

There seems to be some confusion among insurance companies as to what class the Tiburon falls into, so it's worth shopping around for a good deal. As always, make sure you’re comparing apples with apples.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Check the remote locking is working correctly on Tiburons made before 2005. Electric windows that are reluctant to work aren’t unknown in early models. Look for power steering hoses that are swollen and/or leaking oil. While bodies are generally good, interiors can be of variable build quality. Check for untidy edges between plastic panels, minor controls that don’t fit neatly and controls that are stiff or sloppy in operation.

Listen and feel for hesitation from the engine when it’s suddenly asked to work hard. Make sure the manual gearbox has reasonably slick changes and that there's no grinding or jamming during fast downshifts. Check for uneven tyre wear, especially at the front wheels. This can be an indication of harsh driving.

CAR BUYING TIP

Having finance on standby before walking into a used-car yard puts you in a stronger bargaining position.

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