From The Classifieds: Hyundai Tiburon V6 Coupe

Thanks largely to its ‘N’ internal performance house, the concept of Hyundai taking it to the sports car establishment is met with excitement, rather than resignation.

With rare patience, N released its first road vehicle, the engagingly brilliant Hyundai i30 N hot hatch, long after the mid-alphabet letter first adorned the flank of Hyundai’s 2014 World Rally Car.

Swing back a further five years, and the sleek Tiburon coupe was the pinnacle of Hyundai’s sporty ambitions.

Introduced in 2002, with either four- or six-cylinder power units, the Tiburon was a logical development of the previous (and less cohesive) S Coupe.

The 2.7-litre V6 was a development of the unit seen in the Sonata sedan range, though curiously the Tiburon V6 tune quoted only 123kW at 6000rpm (against the Sonata’s 132kW), with the same 245Nm at 4000rpm.

With a kerb weight of 1338kg, this amounted to reasonable performance for the time, especially when backed by the six-speed manual transmission as this example is. It also makes a pleasant noise, further building its sporting credentials.

V6-powered Tiburons were also reasonably equipped for the outlay, with 17-inch alloy wheels, power windows, remote central locking, climate and cruise controls and leather steering wheel and gear knob which, along with the sports alloy pedals made for nicely tactile control surfaces.

What’s more fascinating here – the odometer reading or the asking price?

The former has ticked over 600km… in a decade since it was first built.

Redbook says a new 2009 Hyundai Tiburon V6 manual cost $34,990 brand-new, so $22,000 today might not seem unreasonable for something with so little use.

But Redbook also indicates a Tiburon of this vintage and this specification is worth between $6400 and $8100 as a private sale, with average kilometres between 100,000 and 180,000km.

Another comparison point is that of another 2009 sporty coupe that retailed around the $35K mark when new: the Holden Astra SRi.

With more grunt from its turbo-four, carsales currently has one for sale with a not-unreasonable 100000km on the odo for $7990 drive-away.

The seller indicates that ‘genuine offers’ will be considered and it would ‘suit collector or museum’, or indeed a ‘first car’.

While stylish and charismatic against the modern vehicles $20K could buy, the Hyundai misses out on 10 years of safety advancement, among other progressions. So it’s a case of really wanting it.

It is, however, evident this Continental Silver example is immaculate, always stored under cover. The interior is also worthy of mention, with its combination red and black trims adding colour where many cars fade to black.

Apparently the Tiburon even has that new-car smell, which if you could bottle would sell out on father’s day.

But in terms of larger father’s day statement pieces: Would you buy this time-warp coupe for $20K?

See previous carsales From the Classifieds