Unusual Manual Sighting: 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS

I know what you are thinking.  The guys at DT have found the Christmas rum cake storage and eaten at entire box.  Ok...that might be true...but you've got to hang on and take a second look at this tippy low budget small SUV crossover thing from a South Korean automaker.  I never thought those words would escape these fingers...but I just wrote 'em...so you've got a read 'em...and hopefully not weep.  Here is the deal...this car has a 5-speed manual gearbox in the most unlikely of places...right betwix the driver and passenger. Find this 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS offered for $3750 in Phoenix, AZ via craigslist.

Bargain Executive Express: 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-spec

If you are not a brand snob and can appreciate 13 second 1/4 mile runs from your heated and cooled seats, we have a contender worthy of your consideration today.  In 2012 Hyundai added the hot rod R-spec option package to the Genesis sedan.  The most noteworthy changes were the addition of the 5.0 429 horsepower V8 engine, special headlights, and 19" wheels.  The R-spec car was pretty close to $50k only a five years ago so I did a double take when I saw one well south of the DT price threshold.  Find this 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-spec for sale in Monroe, CT for $12,000 via craigslist.

The Other, Other Pony Car: 1988 Hyundai Pony

The average Hyundai Genesis fan may not know (unless he's Canadian and has already been scarred) that there was were two rear-wheel-drive North American market Hyundai's prior to Seoul getting all fancy in the 2000's, the Pony and the Stellar.  Find this 1988 Hyundai Pony for sale in Havelock, Ontario, Canada for $CA1,500 ($1,120 US monies today) via Kijiji.

DT Does WRC: Rally Mexico Trip Report

Early in March 2016 I had the opportunity to travel down to Léon, Guanajuato - a 440 year old Mexican city full of 1.6 million people - for the only North American round of the World Rally Championship. WRC Rally México, as it's officially known, is the first gravel round and the 3rd rally in the WRC season and has been for the past 13 years. I was there for my day job as engineering support for a spec powertrain component to all WRC teams, but wouldn't miss out on reporting the experience via DT - sit back, crack open a Negra Modelo, and enjoy - arriba!

Comfy Chair: 2011 Hyundai Equus Signature

In 2011 Hyundai launched their most ambitious offering in North America, a long wheelbase luxury barge aimed squarely at the BMW 7-series, Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.  Oddly enough, the big executive limousine wears the Hyundai badge, but Hyundai just announced this week the launch of the Genesis brand (a la Lexus, Infiniti, Acura) where the Equus will be re-released as the G90.  But before that happens, if you want to pickup a giant luxury cruiser for about the price of a well equipped Sonata, you can buy this 2011 Hyundai Equus Signature here on eBay bidding for $9,100 with 6-days to go, located in Redford, MI.

6-Speed $4k Cage Fight: 2003 Hyundai Tiburon vs 2000 Toyota Celica GTS

In the 90s if you wanted a 6-speed gearbox you had to shell out some serious coin for some kind of supercar, a Lambo, Ferrari, Acura NSX, Supra Turbo, 911, and so on and so forth. A few years later, in the early 2000s, just about every kind of lackluster econobox started sprouting extra gears like they were giving them away as a door prize.  Welcome to our showroom, here is your free 6th gear, coffee and gear lube is located by the parts counter, would you like a test drive a Kia today, sir?  That brings us to the subject of today's cage match, which 6-speed manual equipped sport compact would you rather drive: a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon or a 2000 Toyota Celica GTS?

Coffee Brake: Living on a G-String Budget: 2010 Stripper Pony(ish) Cars Market Report

This guest Coffee Brake was written by K2 Mystery Car

Evolution is a cruel mistress; it creates fearsome predators that devour every tasty morsel in their path. And then, something funny happens…the razor-toothed dinosaur that’s born with tiny legs, the lightning-quick tiger who can’t see more than two feet in front of its nose and other oxymoronic natural creations that boggle the mind.

Like those natural mistakes of yore, automakers have offered similar combinations; hot cars with feeble engines, the better to make a fast buck from a buyer who wanted the look but couldn’t afford the power. Known for their lack of features and a lackluster power plant, these are “stripper” cars, decontented to serve the almighty dollar and service the painfully poor enthusiast.

5k: Mistu Power: 1994 Hyundai Elantra 4G63 Swap

What's a Hyundai Elantra doing on this website? Good question. Let's answer it with another question: What's a sleeper? Is it a Dodge Dart wagon with a 426 Hemi in it? Or a SBC-powered Volvo 240? Consider your internal definition permanently readjusted by this unassuming gray FWD econobox... with about 321 turbocharged reasons to keep reading. Find this 4G63-swapped 1994 Hyundai Elantra for $4,200 in Seattle, WA.  Words by DT contributor slowcarSLOW-MPGlol.

15k: Seller Sub: 2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 Sedan

The Hyundai Genesis is a big luxury sedan built in South Korea starting in 2009 as a competitor to cars like the BMW 5-series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, Lexus GS and Infiniti M.  The Genesis was engineered and built by Hyundai, but they avoided putting any Hyundai badges on the car for fear of letting buyers associated the Genesis with the rest of the econobox lineup.  Regardless, the Genesis wasn't a bad take on the formula of rear-drive luxury sedan and were quite cheap.  Find this 2009 Hyundai Genesis Sedan for sale in Colorado Springs, CO for $18,500 via craigslist.  Seller submission from Michael J.

10k: Fake Z: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track Pack 6-spd

Walk around New York city enough and all sorts of enthusiastic salesmen will try to offer you a fake Rolex, fake Puma-Ferrari branded shoes, and fake purses. Ignore them - you need to head into Brooklyn to find a fake Nissan 370Z. It's not really a 370Z ripoff, but being equipped with a big V6 up front and edgy Japanese-ish 2-door styling, a Hyundai Genesis Coupe certainly does a great impersonation! Find this 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track Pack 6-spd for sale in Brooklyn, NY for $8995 via craigslist.