Harmonium
New User
| Posts: 1
| Joined: 01/10
Posted: 01/13/10 09:45 PM
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I was a new and used car salesperson for a Hyundai dealership during the 1990s, and now independently do wholesales since 2002. During that stint, I sold a lot of hyundai cars when it wasn't cool to drive a Hyundai. I bought a 2008 Hyundai Azera LTD from a former employer's Lot on 12/31/09.There is a problem with the in-dash 6 CD player/radio mechanism. Car has 39K miles. A Hyundai dealer determined that the malfunctioning radio/CD system killed the battery every night.We have to jump it every morning before driving. According to Hyundai's consumer affairs phone reps, I was informed that the car by year was within warranty, but ineligible by miles. IT TURNS OUT THAT CERTAIN ITEMS, INCLUDING THE RADIO/CD SYSTEM IS NOT A 5YR/60,000 COVERAGE as most salespersons will eagerly tell you unless you specifically pin them down. IT IS A 3YR/36,000 MILES, SAME AS MOST CARS!!! I also found out that Hyundai will attempt to verify with a service dept. (even under warranty conditions) if a repair was needed due to owner's careless use, or a defect (Not so with American cars in my experience). Ultimately,you might end up fighting with Hyundai based on someone's subjective ruling in a service dept.I was told by 3 Hyundai company consumer Affairs phone intake Reps that I was the ideal candidate for their "GOODWILL Program", which is geared towards a full, or partial assistance to owners of Hyundai who were out of warranty. A local Hyundai dealer quoted me $1,600 to replace the unit w/ an OEM. Another Hyundai dealer 40 mins away quoted $1,250 on exactly the same thing (Caveat: Different Hyundai dealers are allowed to charge whatever they want. So call around!)After 1 week of back & forth with Hyundai, the Management declined any kind of assistance stating that they could legally decline my request based on milage alone. They refused to grant me their Goodwill assistance despite all I had done for that company. I have always gotten an American mfr to grant me some goodwill assistance after warranty, especially GM, on expensive repairs. Oh by the way, the much publicized 10yr/100,000 mile Hyundai warranty is on the POWERTRAIN ONLY, and for the ORIGINAL OWNER ONLY!!! I am afraid that if you need engine work or transmission work even as the original owner, Hyundai might determine that you did something out of the ordinary so they don't have to cover it. If you buy the extended warranty for after 5yr/60k miles,YOU MUST CHANGE THE TIMING BELT OR CHAIN (ABOUT $1,500)BEFORE IT CAN BE EFFECTED.THERE MAYBE OTHER LIMITATIONS YOU NEED TO FIND OUT.Also the PAINT on my 2008 AZERA is peeling off on the lower rocker panel by the door. An obvious defect on this allegedly value car. The WARRANTY ON HYUNDAI PAINT JOB IS ALSO 3YRS/36,000 MILES, and NOT 5/60K. THE RUST-THROUGH IS LONGER. But how often do you have rust-throughs these days on modern cars? On the new Hyundai Genesis,THERE ARE TWO FUEL OCTANES THAT CAN BE USED ON THE V8 OPTION. YOU MUST USE 92% PREMIUM OCTANE to experience the full horsepower. The Genesis in my opinion is simply the AZERA on steroids with some interior modifications, and costs about $10-$12,000 more. I suspect the parts & Labor prices will be attrocious as well after you get the song and dance from our korean friends. As a car man I would advice anyone to beware, and not buy into all the warranty hype with Hyundai. They can't give you all those ammenities and fix the car at will on most things even under warranty. Something has to give. As it is often stated, "If it is too good to be true, it probably is." As car sales people we are trained to commit "sins of omission", and not those of commission, i.e we can conveniently forget to mention something to a customer, without outright lying about it. Knowing what I know now, I should have bought a Buick lucerne CXL or possibly Toyota Avalon LTD. At least if something happens I can count of GM helping me out. Finally, consider any salesperson pitch on Hyundai post warranty "Goodwill program" a farce. Whenever you see "Limited" used with "warranty" on anything, always find out what ALL the LIMITING Factors or exclusions are. That may change your mind about that product after you know the whole truth, and particularly the character of the people you are dealing with. Let those who have ears hear!
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