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The Hyundai knockouts continued unabated in October. Sales in October were up 47% from ’08. Year-to-date totals are up a solid 5%. Total sales for the month were 54k, which is starting to get precariously close to Chrysler’s 66k total for the month. Post to be updated as soon as details for Hyundai and Kia brands are available.
23 Comments on “Hyundai Biggest Winner in October: Up 47%!...”
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I see Hyundai has most likely joined in and is selling mostly fleet.
I wonder if Hyundai has finally reached the “tipping point” in public opinion. It takes years to overcome a bad reputation such as the Excel left behind. The other day my brother, who has owned big Mercedes and BMWs, traded his Infiniti for a Genesis V8. He wrote, “yes, I know its a Hyundai, but this is really a nice car.”
Hyundai deserves it. The quality seems to keep getting better, the designs are fresh, the prices remain low.
If they aren’t there yet, Hyundai will soon be the new Toyota – i.e. the company people flock to when they want a reliable transportation appliance at a fair price.
Once I’m in the market for a new car, the car I want is sold by the hottest company. Not going to make negotiating any easier. Any detailed sales number on the elantra touring?
Once I’m in the market for a new car, the car I want is sold by the hottest company. Not going to make negotiating any easier. Any detailed sales number on the elantra touring?
Don’t think you need to worry too much. Even though Hyundai’s now a media darling, they’re still working to attract customers. They certainly aren’t taking your traditional US/Japanese loyalists for granted!
From personal experience, as with any brand, it’s best to do some research. Figure out the high/low price points, decide on what’s the max you’re willing to pay. Call up dealers and ask them what their quote is. Just be patient and try not to get too annoyed when they call you once a day (i.e. Don’t give out your number to more than 3-4 dealers at once!).
Haggling or no haggling, you should still come out in the end with the usual $2,000-$3,000 rebates. If you ask around enough, you might find a dealer or two who’ll advise you to buy a car on specific months when Hyundai’s deciding to be more generous with rebate offers. I recall that the rebate offers at one dealer I kept in touch with offered $500 more in rebates in February $2008 as opposed to January
Lowest price I got on an Elantra (sedan, not touring) with air-conditioner, keyless entry, and automatic transmission, and a couple of other options was $12,000 after all applicable rebates and excluding the military rebate.
And remember that it’s never a bad idea to go with a pre-owned with low miles. Hyundai resale values can get you sweet deals.
Without a doubt Hyundai/Kia are on a roll. As they continue to introduce new models they will continue to gain market share. Each new model they’ve introduced was either a substantial improvement on its predecessor or is a successful entry to a new segment. Any manufacturer would like to be in their position.
Hyundai is at the right place at the right time. Conspicuous frugality has been the trend for the last year and will likely continue considering the unemployment level in the US.
People are buying value now more than ever… exactly Hyundai’s marketing message.
I would also like to see Hyundai’s fleet number. It has in previous months been extremely high.
Yes, yes Hyundai has improved quality but still models from 02-06 have serious mechanical issues at 60,000 miles.
They are the current media darling by a long shot, with no LONG TERM QUALITY data (NOT initial quality) to back up all of the fan boy ranting.
I don’t know anyone that has trouble with their Hyundai, at any mileage. OTOH there are not shortages of angry customers of GM, Ford and Chrysler.
I’ve heard of more troubles with Honda and Toyota cars, and the repair bills are astounding out of warranty.
Hyundai is offering great value and a broad product line without gas guzzling trucks. I wish they would come out with a small pickup truck, the Japanese all but abandoned that market leaving Ford and Chevy with their tired designs.
I’m half looking at one of those $9970 stripper Accent hatchbacks. I have a stereo I can install. Springs to drop the suspension and tighten up the ride are cheap and I can either get some used factory wheels or wheels and tires from Tire Rack for not alot of money to further assist the handling. I drove an automatic sedan a couple weeks ago and it wasn’t bad for the price. The question is, can I live without A/C, power windows and doorlocks?
GS650G: “I wish they would come out with a small pickup truck”.
Apart from the “chicken tax,” I can’t understand why that market is basically left to the Ranger. Anybody know?
The Tacoma, Frontier, Colorado, and Dakota would indicate the midsize PU market isn’t basically left to the Ranger. There is actually quite a large variety of manufacturers considering this segment has been losing sales for quite a while. Isn’t much incentive for another manufacturer to enter the fray.
GS650G :
It’s great that you don’t know anyone (!) with a Hyundai with no problems at all. Perhaps a miracle?
I know at least 5 individuals with Hyundai models with substandard long term quality, simple as that.
Since when is failing transmissions, premature suspension wear, and malfunctioning electronics a “good value”?
And no, I have never heard of any Honda or Toyota with “even more troubles”.
Lots of domestic cars are junky, sure. Just add Hyundai to the list.
DisturbedDriver
Thats a good idea for figuring out when the best rebates are. Finding a touring used is pretty hard sense they came out just last year. Ive done a good bit of research on the rebates and stuff but 500 seems to be what they are doing now. It was that last month also so hopefully in December it will get higher. Id rather get new because I know nothing has happened to it, no idea what a used car has gone through. The car I have now is 18 years old, so I keep cars until they are dead and Id rather have a new car with more safety features than an older car with less.
rockit
2002 was the last bad year with the elantra, sense then they have been improving greatly. You obviously drink the Honda and Toyota Kool-Aid. You say its impossible for Hyundais to not have any probelsm then 2 seconds later you say Hondas and Toyotas are perfect.
I was in Korea last week. Had an opportunity to ride for a couple of days in the new Sonata. Black on black leather interior and nav system that allowed live video like the internet. This car is much better in person than any photos you may have seen. Let’s watch how well this new Sonata does here in the states. I’m betting it will do well.
Also, the Genesis is all over the road there. They have also launched the “Equus” model revision this past year and it is the step above the Genesis. This new Equus is pretty impressive to look at on the street.
Go ahead and snicker all you want at Hyundai. This is no different than a few decades back when folks snickered at Datsun, Toyota and Honda. My crystal ball sez Honda, Toyota and Nissan need to watch their backs now.
Let’s see how this all plays out over time……
I’m seeing rising market share in India, Britain, Brazil, and elsewhere, so I have to wonder whether all that growth is due solely to fleet sales. Some numbers would be nice.
As for long-term reliability, that is understandable when looking at older models such as the Excel. All those quality problems from the nineties and into the earlier 2000s contributed to the current poor resale value of Hyundai/Kia cars. I would be interested in learning about the transmission systems used in the current lineup of cars. I don’t know whether this can be said to be admissible evidence, but on many occasions, I took taxi rides in cars in Korea that had 300,000 or more kilometers on them. Whether or not those cars underwent major repairs, that I do not know.
fan boy ranting.
Fanboy ranting? I have to question who is the fanboy here. All I did was give an objective opinion with some helpful advice based on my own reading and analysis of news reports given in the past 8 years. Yet someone else here is accusing you of being a fanboy. You may want to reread your own comments. I get the feeling they apply more so to you.
They are the current media darling by a long shot, with no LONG TERM QUALITY data (NOT initial quality) to back up all of the fan boy ranting.
The absence of evidence in proof of a claim for long-term quality which I never made does not constitute proof of denial of a claim that I never made. In other words, I never made the claim that Hyundai cars have a long-term reputation for reliability. At the same time, now that you brought it up, the absence of evidence showing that Hyundai has long-term reliability doesn’t necessarily constitute enough evidence for proof that Hyundai cars don’t have long-term reliability. It’s like saying because there’s no proof that God doesn’t exist, therefore God must exist. Symbolic logic 101 fail.
Do yourself a favor and don’t put words in someone else’s mouth. Attack the claim made by the other person, not the claim that you think he might be making. That way you don’t have people accusing you of unreasonable biases.
Also give actual links to numbers that actually say something. Don’t post links to blogs that only present the possibility that Hyundai might be relying too much on fleet sales. Otherwise you end up ranting senselessly.
But still…if you wanna go down the fanboy flame route, I’ll add a little factual tidbit from a reputable magazine just to grease your Japanese auto fanboy wheels. I’m hearing more stories these days about attempts being made by a certain company to skimp on quality. No surprise that my mother preferred her 1999 Camry over the current 2008 Camry.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/toyota_camry_2010_quality_3
EDIT: Jesus Christ, Google has 1,000,000+ search results for the search suggestion “Toyota Quality Problems.” Guess I shouldn’t be shocked seeing how you can only fire so many workers at your 37 factories before you have to cut corners to save money…and still bleed in profits.
P.S. I’m not much of a fanboy. =) I occasionally lurk websites like marketwatch, WSJ, and various auto magazines to get a sense of the economic situation. Driving for me is more of a hassle than something to enjoy. Otherwise I would’ve shelled $50,000 for a Lexus or a BMW at my current salary. Go back and read my past comments if/when you find them. You’ll notice I’ve never made a single argument. I’ve only questioned the merits of making assumptions and weak arguments on the basis of little evidence.
Granted this is a single vehicle but I have a 2001 Elantra hatchback that I bought new and it currently has 132,500 on the odometer. Minus the 60K service (timing and a/c belts), a wheel bearing, and the normal wear-and-tear items, it is a solid car.
Subaru isn’t far behind them this year. Up 41% for Oct. 09 vs. Oct. 08 and up 13% YTD. The Forester is the volume leader and is up 33% YTD. We bought one during the clunker surge and have been very happy with it so far. Big step up from the ’03 Matrix. Actually looking forward to some snow to drive through!
EDIT: Jesus Christ, Google has 1,000,000+ search results for the search suggestion “Toyota Quality Problems.”
Google? You’re talking to Hyundai-bashers here. There is no Google in 1996.
Hyundais are cars for people who don’t give a sh*t about cars.
Yes, they work well, have all of the modern toys that people go for, and they get you to from point a) to b).
They are however, the Asian knock-off of the automotive world. Hyundais heavily ‘borrow’ design cues from whichever European or Japanese cars are popular, slap them on their cars, produce a competent drivetrain and chassis that looks good on paper but is by its very conception is devoid of soul, and then undercut their competitors.
A Hyundai is like a fake Louis Vuitton handbag. It could be made almost as well, and it is perfectly acceptable for someone who does not care about the world of fashion, but if you actually do care about the world of fashion, then owning one it is an embarrassment.
And most people see no problem with that. They want a car that works and that is exactly what these things do. The cars do not pop out at you like a Mercedes but they look current and not horrible like the camaro or pt cruiser.
Schmitty,
I made your point in my lil’ post; perfectly acceptable for people who don’t care about cars and need something to get about, which is the good majority of car buyers.
For those with any actual interest in cars beyond basic transportation (whether economy or luxury), it’s a different story…