Good day to you all! How’s your week been? Mine was fantastic! My family has been out of town hanging with family for the last month, and I was able to drive out to West Virginia and meet up with them on their way home over the weekend – and a weekend in the mountains with my family and dogs was just what the doctor ordered. Sidenote: If you’re ever in southern West Virginia and looking for an incredible road to drive, look up Highway 39. It’s no Tail of the Dragon, but it was well-maintained, and incredibly curvy, which was a lot of fun.
Anyway, last week we looked at Jeff’s great garage, including his custom crew cab truck and the Shahmancycle, which was really cool. Switching gears significantly today, we’re going to look at a couple of late-model cars and how they fit into Pete’s life.
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When you think of luxury car companies, most people probably do not jump right to the South Korean automakers, but since 2015, Genesis has been duking it out with the best that Germany and Japan have to offer, and they make some appealing products! Pete knew this, and went out and found an excellent example of this, and unlike any Lexus product I’ve seen recently, it is even colorful! Pete retired from the Air Force a few years ago and now gets to relax on the beach and has become a Florida Man.
How did you get into cars?
I have loved cars since I was 3. I probably got it from my dad because he always loved cars too. Dad was a Naval Aviator. Our family lived in Naples Italy from ’70-’74 so of course I love European cars from that era!
What’s currently in the garage?
- 2019 Chrysler Pacifica
- 2023 Genesis G70
How did you pick out the Pacifica?
I’ve had this for about 3 years. I bought it from Carvana back around 2022ish. It currently has just over 37k on it. Truth be told, I was reluctant to buy a Stellantis product, but none of the competitors had the stow and seats. I’m well into my sixties these days and I did not want to have to physically hump seats out of a van in order to have an open floor space. Meaning that this was the only option.
Were you specifically looking for a van, or did you look at other options as well?
Sure, crossovers were the “thing” back then (and now), but they simply cannot compete with the total versatility & practicality of this Pacifica.
What do you love about this?
It is a very comfortable car to drive. It’s the Limited trim and has all the niceties which make it a very pleasant place to be while eating up the miles. In a day in which most cars are difficult to see out of, the Pacifica has great visibility, while still being tall enough to not be visually blocked by most other cars on the road. I like to roll fast, and this van just runs under the radar.
If you were forced to replace this tomorrow, what would you be looking at?
If it were to be stolen or totaled, I would probably look at a full-zoot Carnival Hybrid.
Anything you wish you could change about it?
There’s nothing I would really change about it, but it would be cool with AWD and a lift kit (which is commercially available.) I couldn’t care less about the “Soccer Mom” stigma. It’s my go-to ride.
What was the (ahem) genesis of the G70?
It’s a 2023 Genesis G70 3.3T Sport Prestige. I bought this with 4K miles from a Ford Dealer down on the east coast of FL, and I had it delivered to me. I’ve always been a car guy ever since I was a little, little kid. I was looking for a quick (and fast) sports sedan.
What made you want this over a German or other options?
I promised myself I was not going to buy a European vehicle such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, Alfa Romeo etc. Why? Because, that’s why! They are just too expensive to buy, and then you have to maintain them! Plus, their reliability is questionable in my mind. Also, it had to be based off a RWD platform. I remembered when the Kia Stinger made its splash a few years prior, which led me to look at Genesis because I thought that was a cool ride. I guess I was looking for bang for the buck and horsepower-to-weight ratio. This thing really moves out! Seriously. 12.8s 1/4 mile times and 170mph top end? Shut up and take my money! But what really pushed me to it was the redesign. 
What do you love about your G70?
I think these are gorgeous machines. I have only put about 2k miles on it so far. It’s reading about 7.4K miles now. Being retired, I don’t drive as much as I used to.
What did the Genesis replace?
Prior to the G70, I had a ’02 LS430 with about 103K miles. It was in really nice condition. I was fortunate enough to be able to gift that to an old friend who was in a pinch (he was my friend forever – since ’75 or so.) I love Lexus, but there aren’t any Lexus dealerships within 100 miles.
How’s the Genesis dealer?
I have not been into our Hyundai dealership yet. I haven’t heard many good things about the experience. Genesis opened a dedicated Genesis dealership about 50 miles away, and I hope that I get the red-carpet treatment there rather than this local Hyundai place.
What would you replace this with?
I would buy another Genesis for sure! Next time (if there is a next time), I would like a G80. At six feet tall and roughly 200lbs, this little G70 is a bit low to the ground, and a bit difficult for me to enter and exit it comfortably with my bad left knee and neuropathy.
What’s in the dream garage?
- Peugeot 504 wagon: My Dad bought a new ’71 Peugeot 504 sedan when I was eleven. I was not too whipped on about it back then during the test drive in Naples, Italy. It had a four on the tree and was just, well, sorta weird looking. But as time went on and what with our travels all over Europe for 3+ years, I fell in love with it. Bonus – when it was delivered, it was delivered with a 4-speed on the floor! I was over the moon LOL!
- Mint Lexus LS400! I have always thought that the LS400 was the OG of the LS line. I loved the aesthetic. Simple, smooth, clean lines. A lovely-looking vehicle. I was looking for an LS400 when I bought my LS430, but couldn’t find a good example of the 400, so I just had to take what I could get. Even though the front end was a bit unattractive, I got it for a good price and loved every minute of ownership. It never gave me one bit of a problem.
- 1970 SS LS454 Chevelle, of course! What’s to even say? That has always been my number one loved muscle car. I had a ’65 Chevelle Malibu 2dr HT in high school.
- A 1971 Fiat 500. Yes, a Cinquecento! I can’t not love this after spending my formative years living in downtown Naples. They were ubiquitous! Just a cute little get about. It would be so much fun!
- A 2CV? Hell yes, a 2CV! Why? Ask Jason why!
- A Pagoda SL Mercedes. C’mon man, if that wasn’t one of the classiest GTs around, I don’t know what was (and still is)!
- A ’71 Alfa 4dr sedan. The Italian Polizia and Carabinieri used these handsome sedans, and I loved the way the stick shift came damn near out of the firewall to meet your hand, and the exhaust pipe exited the rear valance at a weird and somewhat angry angle.
- A ’83 Maxima Wagon. I’ve been a long-roof fan since forever, and my Dad had an ’83 Maxima 4dr. A really nice car! And to me the Wagon was even more-cooler LOL!
There would be others, of course, but this would be a good start.
Thanks Pete!
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Thats a good blue on that Genesis, though it could use some non black wheels for some more pop IMO.
I never realized how thin the seatbacks are on the stow n go seats in the Pacifica, looks like an economy airline seat.
Well bought garage, Pete! After having a van with stow n go and others without it, I can’t imagine not having that if I wanted another minivan. People transport to cargo hauler in just a few minutes! The Genesis is beautiful, I love a good fast sedan even though I don’t need four doors or back seats most of the time!
Stow-and-go seating seems attractive, but after having a Pacifica as a rental for a long road trip with coworkers, I found the stowable seats to be so uncomfortable for adults that I wouldn’t ever consider them in a purchase. But if the van is used primarily for hauling kids or on short trips, they become a lot more attractive.
The article title “Stealth-Missile Minivan” made me think this thing had an engine swap or something ridiculous. Disappointed.
Also, I had a G70 as a rental this summer and, while nicer than I expected, I could not get over the fact that the park shifting position is a button. As in, shift to neutral then press the button to park. Every time I pulled into a parking spot I instinctively pushed the shifter all the way forward to park…except it wasn’t park, it was reverse. It was irrationally infuriating.
So, I agree that push button shifters are dumb. I did find a workaround though, specifically for Park.
My Hyundai has a different design of a dumb push button shifter…. after being concerned that I would mistakenly not fully depress the Park button and try to get out of the car, if you just turn the car off at the ignition button it automatically shifts cars like this in to park.
It’s dumb, I hate it, but I like the rest of the car enough for this workaround to be good enough.
I think the same maneuver would work with most other push button park scenarios, anyone have experience?
yeah, why exactly is this bone stock Pacifica a stealth missile? I’m lost.
Pete could be a multiverse version of Matt, as his actual cars seem like Hardigree’s dream garage, at least judging by some of his pieces. And not a Subaru in sight.