Over 2 Years Of Owning And Restoring A Used Sports Car Have Thought Me A Lot. Here's What To Look For When On The Market For A Used Performance Vehicle, And How To Protect Yourself From Lemons

Buying a car is an emotional purchase. As a car enthusiast and automotive journalist, I love sports cars, which is why when I got the chance to buy my budget dream car – a Hyundai Genesis Coupe – I jumped at the opportunity. Walking into this, I knew a few things straightaway. I was getting a neglected car that had been sitting for a while – it was the only example with a V-6 and a manual transmission for sale in my country. It was also a Euro-spec car, which made it much rarer – only about 2,500 were sold in Europe.  

As far as car purchases go, this wasn't necessary one that I needed, more so one that I wanted in order to scratch my itch for a 300-plus-horsepower rear-wheel-drive car. I learned a few very valuable things over a two-and-a-half-year period of owning this 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec. I decided it is a good idea to share my experience of owning, driving, restoring, and maintaining a car like this, which also happens to be rare in my part of the world. 

First, decide whether it is worth buying and fixing the car 

Let's say you have chosen your “poison” and you are ready to pull the trigger on what looks like a steel bargain. I bought my car with the initial intention of patching it up and reselling it. I bought the car in October 2022, for way under the average market value (for a good reason). Because I like my cars nice and tight, I spent more than I planned on making it the way it should be, and the price reached what was considered at the time, the market value for a pre-facelift (BK1) V-6. The point being, to make sure you know how much you will be spending after purchasing the car. A good idea would be to research parts prices before pulling the trigger on your purchase.

Look beyond the common problems, typical for the model of car you are interested in 

While the Hyundai Genesis Coupe can be a very reliable car when taken care of, there are certain problems that plague these sports cars. For me, by far the biggest problem is Genesis drivers (not all, but most). I have spent enough time on forums and Facebook groups to see that the vast majority of owners are young drivers that get this as a first car.

This also means that these cars are being "hooned” and abused. Incorrect usage and badly executed modifications can cause issues for the owner (or the next one). Luckily, the V-6 models are slightly better off than the 2.0-liter turbo variants, which are bought primarily to be modified. At the end of the day, no car is safe from this, and even a 90s JDM legend like the Toyota Celica GT-Four can become a money pit, if neglected long enough.

As for the common issues, I have experienced quite a few of those. 

The leaky taillight gaskets are by far the most annoying quirk of these cars. Your spare tire compartment will become an aquarium. The front main seal and valve cover gaskets will leak around 100,000 miles (approx. 160,000 km). If oil-change intervals are not religiously kept, this could mess with your timing, primarily the timing chain tensioner, which relies on oil pressure to work properly. The cam phasers can also fail, although mine had held up nicely.  

Despite changing the timing chain (without the cam phasers), I am still getting a chain rattle on cold starts. Apparently, it is due to a worn-out detent in the intake cam-phasers that locks it in place. My research reveals that other people experience the same issue, but the infamous “chain rattle” doesn't seem to cause reliability issues in this case. One of the many members of the Facebook group Genesis Coupe Owners mentioned that he had been driving his Genesis Coupe with this "issue" for over 70,000 miles with zero trouble. 

If maintenance has been kept up with (or not neglected too much), the engine and transmission in a sports car generally hold up, albeit this is highly situational. If a car has been abused, you can bet differential mounts would need to be replaced at some point. In my case, I turned to a reputable name – Genracer (they do ship overseas too if you send them an email) – in order to source an OEM rear differential mount. I also bought a pair of Spec D headlights as my OEM pieces were severely burnt from sun exposure, plus I wanted something more modern-looking that came with LEDs. 

Granted, Hyundai's build quality isn't the greatest, and even some 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe owners are complaining from water leaking in strange places. That said, considering the life my car has had, I am happy with how the Genesis Coupe has held up, mecahnically.

Some problems will not reveal themselves until later 

Cars that have been “hooned” are, typically less reliable. Hard driving puts more stress on mechanical parts, but some issues, often, reveal themselves after a period of time. In my case, the driveshaft splines and dual-mass flywheel were the main reasons I bought the car for cheap. In short, if you are buying a car like this, the drivetrain components will be the weak spot – bushings, mounts, transmission synchro-mesh, driveshaft, differential, and basically anything that translates power from the engine to the ground. 

Whether the car in question is rare or common in your region, I would advise using platforms like eBay or companies specializing in the respective platform (Gencoupestore, Genracer, etc.). I have mostly had good experiences, buying OEM or aftermarket parts online. The Genesis Coupe may not be the most popular platform to build upon, but there is still decent aftermarket support. These steps and others, apply when purchasing a used vehicle, regardless of which region you are in, but high-mileage sports cars are, generally, mostly likely to be a money pit.

Would I recommend the Genesis Coupe?

If you find a good example (there are still out there), this can be a great car to own for a couple of years. The interior is surprisingly spacious and the rear seats are semi-usable. The chassis is balanced and the G6DA V-6 Lambda engine has adequate power and a great soundtrack. Aftermarket is decent and finding parts is still relatively easy. After all, it is not the most underrated sports car you cna buy in 2025.

If you have any experience with a similar sports car (or any car), I would love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to drop a line or two in the comment section below.

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Image source: Dimitar Angelov