Owner Review: The one and only Korean Coupe! My 2008 Hyundai Coupe FL2

User Experience:

I always have a thing for Hyundai, probably the deep impression I got from a teenage game called “ the Need for Speed: The Underground”. This model being featured though, but was the pre-facelift model in the game. And way back further in high school, their 1st-gen Coupe (RD) already caught my attention in fact, and that’s year 1997 model. While my model being the last batch of Coupe by Hyundai, so the good thing is there will never be a newer replacement model to replace, it will be known as forever-the-latest model of Hyundai Coupe, sounds great right?!

Back in year 2014, when I’m looking for my 3rd car, I budget allocation was approx of RM80k-120k range, preferably unique looking with low maintenance daily ride, models that I considered too are RCZ, TT, Prius, CT200.

At the end I chose this model, it all happened so sudden where I accidentally came across this model on some car selling ads, it surprised me with the price approx RM60k+, which I never expected to be this low for my once dreamed Coupe. To my last knowledge, this model was selling about RM170k brand new in Malaysia as they are all CBU, only then I was told that the price was for the 2.7cc V6 model.

I studied & surveyed 2 months on the maintenance/repair cost, common breakdown/failures with few owners from Malaysia as well as oversea, surprisingly this car have quite a numbers of loyal fans all over the world, Korea, South Africa, Egypt, Taiwan but mostly in Western countries like the US & UK. Then I’m decided to go for it and start my search.

After I acquired this car, I drive it as my daily ride. The interior built & material of this car are pretty amazing mostly soft touch from door card to dashboard unlike what you get from most car around RM100k budget. The exterior may look like a sports car, but trust me it however don’t perform anywhere like one. Although some of you may already aware & impressed by the Hyundai technology nowadays especially with their N-performance line models, but let’s not forget that this Coupe is manufactured in year 2008 (facelift) and year 2003 pre-facelift.

Technology from Hyundai at that time weren’t that advance, thus engine output from this machine is merely 141PS & 182Nm for a 2.0 NA engine, and if you compare further to a modern powerful 2.0 turbocharged TT, the fuel consumption is terrible too, every time I refill (50L) for city drive, I ‘m only able to reach 430km range approximately. I unable to provide highway’s fuel consumption data because my driving speed is inconsistent all the time, I may drive 110km/h or lower at one time and 160km/h or higher at another time on the same trip, so the result definitely inaccurate, but definitely over 600km for sure.

I’ve been driving this car for 7 years plus now & still counting, it is kinda comfortable for me and to reach places like any sedan. My car has clocked 170k km+ mileage now, and we have a member who hit 300k+ km last year and still in a very good driving condition! Reliability wise is what this car really impressed me! I’ve driven on a hilly sloppy road, grassland, and even shallow flooded road by far without hesitation. People may say coupe are usually very low, but I hardly bang anything with my bumper or my car bottom. Speaking of sedan, the maintenance cost for this Coupe just like a normal sedan, pretty good huh! Personally I believe due they shared the same platform with Elantra, and some in-common parts from Matrix & Sonata too.

So finding spareparts won’t be that difficult. What about the body parts like bumper, headlamp, door handle and windscreen? No worry, although these parts aren’t shared with any other models, but it won’t be difficult in getting them because I’ve gone through all that before, piece of cake. And the cost I bet probably even cheaper than a Civic. So maintaining & running this Coupe definitely worthwhile, especially when you earn all those street head turners. Since it’s a Coupe, so don’t expect you can load full size adult at back seats, although it’s stated a 4 seater car on the paper. Something extra to share, in my experience I had passengers’ height 160cm & below sitting at back row travelled between Penang - KL, and they told me it was still fine for them. On cargo boot space, can you imagine I loaded my full size 29” mountain bike in this Coupe?

I' m so glad that I able to gather back & revive some of the inactive existing car owners in Malaysia & ‘recruited’ more new members to join in our community, with only 1 intention in mind, to gather & share knowledge and experience from various local owners, so to learn more about this car. I had headaches understanding this car’s DIY, repair & spareparts whereabouts all alone for the 1st 2 years, but things go smoothly after I get to know more resourceful owners back in year 2016. We had also done few gatherings, convoying to Penang, Genting Highlands, Johor, Fraser Hills, and Malacca including a member’s wedding, and the most unforgettable trip, where we brought in our cars on a ship crossing the sea onboard to Pangkor Isle, yeah you read it right. And all that happened before the pandemic…

Pros and Cons

Pros of my car

Low repair & maintenance (for a Coupe)

Nobody recognise it (if you enjoy the attraction)

Very firm at high speed & cornering

Cons

High fuel consumption (compare to modern cars)

Low engine output (for a Coupe)

Slightly stiff suspension

TOTAL SCORE: 3

PERFORMANCE: 3

QUALITY & FEATURES: 4

SPACE: 3

RIDE COMFORT: 3

FUEL ECONOMY: 2

PRICE & COST:4

Summary:

I’m driving a Coupe with the maintenance of sedan!

By the way, did I tell you that it’s front somewhat look like Aston Martin DB9, ahh maybe a little bit… Chill-out.

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