The cost of used sports cars is crazy in these current times, but if you’re on a strict budget, then the Hyundai Genesis Coupe could be an answer. Of course, there are other options like the Infiniti G37 and the E90 BMW 3 Series. However, if you’re looking for rock-bottom pricing, then the Genesis Coupe is a good way to go. But is it really worth it to buy the Korean automaker’s defunct coupe?

Is buying a Hyundai Genesis Coupe worth it in the current market?

If you’re looking for something that looks sporty and don’t mind that it’s not as refined as an Infiniti or BMW, then a Hyundai Genesis Coupe is worth it in today’s market. We say that because you can currently find decent examples selling for less than $10,000 nationwide, according to a search on Autotrader. Although, it’s worth it to note that some of them come with a lot of miles on the odometer.

On the plus side, if you can find a later model (2015-2016) with fewer than 100,000 miles on the clock, then you could still benefit from the car’s 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. Also, a Genesis Coupe is typically cheaper to maintain as Your Mechanic estimates that it should cost around $340 a year on average. In contrast, the same site estimates that it can cost an average of $632 to maintain an equivalent Infiniti G37.

Common Genesis Coupe problems

Maintaining a Hyundai Genesis Coupe is one thing, but dealing with any problems that arise is another. As such, the most common Genesis Coupe issues that owners may face, according to Carparts.com mainly have to do with exterior and interior problems. Some minor issues that owners have reported include the interior speakers not playing music, chipping and flaking paint, and a rattling noise while driving.

One major issue is that the timing chain in some 2011 models can potentially skip a tooth, or gear, on the crankshaft. According to Carparts.com, “This disrupts the timing of the shafts and causes problems like misfiring or the engine turning without firing.” This problem can eventually lead to severe engine damage.

What’s so great about the Hyundai Genesis Coupe?

The Genesis Coupe is affordable and provides plenty of fun for the dollar. If you don’t mind the hard plastics in the interior and the car’s semi-stiff ride, then there’s plenty to like about the Genesis Coupe. Under the hood, you’ll find either a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that pumps out 274 hp or a 3.8-liter V6 engine that produces 348 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. We recommend finding one with the bigger engine and an automatic transmission.

Yes, both engine choices are available with a manual transmission, but it wasn’t very smooth and had a heavy clutch. The Genesis Coupe in V6 was still able to get to 60 mph from a standstill in less than 5 seconds, which is impressive for a car in its price range.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a sporty coupe that will give you a good amount of performance, looks aggressive, and won’t break a $10,000 budget, then the Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a solid choice. But if more refinement and an upscale badge are what you seek, then check out a used Infiniti or BMW. Just be prepared for possible higher maintenance costs.