The Tiburon is probably the coolest car in the Hyundai lineup right now, but it is definitely long in the tooth. Although the ride is a little brittle, the Tib at least is more fun to drive when you start pushing it, which is one reason it remains popular with street tuners. That said, at normal speeds, the Tiburon doesn't feel as special as a small hatchback coupe with sporting intentions should.
The driving experience is mediocre and the Tiburon feels only slightly more like a sports car than Hyundai's more pedestrian Sonata sedan. The steering is uncommunicative but direct and although the gearshifter is notchy, the clutch take-up is linear. Low-end grunt is minimal but there is enough midrange power to manage highway merging and passing without too much drama.
What you've got here is a car that still appeals to people based on its styling, even though we find it ersatz; its economy; and its ability to be gussied up with all manner of aftermarket street tuning equipment. For my money, I'd much rather have a Scion tC, a cheeky little coupe that's newer, better looking, and better built than the Tib.