Hyundai 2011 Test Drive Event

I went to the 2011 Hyundai event at Mic Mac Mall today.  A friend of mine ( merlinrpm @ twitter) was one of the test drive instructors for the course. This course was not as challenging as the VW one I went to a few months ago. The track was slower and that's ok with me. Any photo in the line up here you can click on to get a larger view. I test drove all of the vehicles. I won't describe every vehicle because each vehicle drove so similarly to the next. The only vehicles I found major differences in are the Accent, Veloster, and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.  

The Accent was at best a mediocre drive through the track. Uninspiring performance with a sedate automatic transmission, it was forgettable. The Veloster, although it had a manual 6-speed transmission, was likely the major car at the track event. It is no performance car. Period. The car needs more power. The brakes are great. I was surprised to find it riding on 18 inch wheels. There is absolutely zero rear seat visibility in this car. Climbing into the back.... unless you're 4 feet tall - forget it. The staff at Hyundai were friendly though. After driving at least 2 cars you are given 2 free movie passes, a 2GB Cruizer USB drive, and a Lanyard. So I'm a schwag whore. Another car I really didn't like was the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. I braked so hard through the ending course I swore the battery pack was going to fly through the rear trunk and through the windshield. I had to laugh when the on screen graphics showed leaves swirling around the car, meaning it was in "Eco mode". I asked my buddy at the track "Where's the Jeremy Clarkson button?". He showed me how to turn off the traction control and Eco mode. It made little difference in performance.

Another beef I have with these new cars is the ridiculous need to use stop/start buttons for the ignition key. All cars except the Hyundai Accent had these annoying things. Why do car manufacturers think this is a good thing to have? I hate them. I want a little more control on my car than a stupid push button to start it.

And that's it. Enjoy my home made photography.