Need input for Genesis's competitors

[DavidS]

Dealer Experience

I find it amusing the discussion about "how" dealerships treat you. Apart from service, I could care less about what the salesmen are like. Not to sound condescending, but to me they are basically an order taker from my perspective. I have yet to meet a salesman who actually "knew" more about a car than I did that I had researched, and apart from treating them politely and in a courteous manner, I'm not there to become buddies with anyone. All salesmen have different social skills and it's a given that some will be more polished than others, and of course, others can be real jerks. Personally, I just want someone I can present an offer to and who is courteous to me.

 

[Gambler]

I am leaning toward a new Black on Black Chrysler 300C. Will test drive it tomorrow. I love my 4.6 but this new Chrysler offers features that are not available on the Genesis. For example - heated steering wheel, cooled passenger seat, 8 way passenger seat, folding rear seats, wifi hot spot, automatic high beams, heated/cooled cup holders. It has an Alpine sourced stereo system (not Lexicon but still a good system). If the seats are as comfortable as the Genesis, I'll probably give up the Genesis. Let you know.

I drove a new 300 and my biggest complaint was the seats. Make sure you sit in one for a while to make sure you like it.

 

[SeismicGuy]

Re: Dealer Experience

I find it amusing the discussion about "how" dealerships treat you. Apart from service, I could care less about what the salesmen are like. Not to sound condescending, but to me they are basically an order taker from my perspective. I have yet to meet a salesman who actually "knew" more about a car than I did that I had researched, and apart from treating them politely and in a courteous manner, I'm not there to become buddies with anyone. All salesmen have different social skills and it's a given that some will be more polished than others, and of course, others can be real jerks. Personally, I just want someone I can present an offer to and who is courteous to me.

It's one thing if you already know what you want to buy and have the price already spec'd out and are just basically looking for a place to make the order. It is quite another thing if you are exploring and researching various possibilities (like I am) and your first experience with the product is a negative one. I can recall several instances of car shopping where my initial treatment at the dealer ended up either turning me off about the car or moving me forward into buying one.

The dealership is basically the face of the product and if Hyundai was too stupid to stress that to their dealers (or if the dealer was not smart enough to figure that out for themselves) they do not deserve my attention.

Doug

 

[robthoke]

I drove a new 300 and my biggest complaint was the seats. Make sure you sit in one for a while to make sure you like it.

I did exactly that. The interior is amazing on the 300C, however the stereo felt weak (we were playing Sirius 80s). The seat back was a lot harder than the Genesis and with the 5 speed it did not feel as quick off the mark or with acceleration as the Genesis. Mileage was way off the mark. At 73 mph the car was getting almost 22 mpg. I get 26 mpg at 78 mph. In the end, they only offered $24000 for my 4.6 with the Tech Pkg and I feel that is low. The Chrysler did not blow me away like the Genesis did when I tested it, so I told them no thanks.

 

[YEH]

Agreed! Many of the dealers are horrible. They treat everyone as if they were buying the econo-boxes of 5 years ago. Hyundai needs to turn their attention to their US dealer network.

They are - many of the smaller independent dealerships are getting bought out by the megadealers (this is one reason why Hyundai didn't launch a luxury brand/dealer network; they need to get their main house in order 1st).

Still, while there are bad Hyundai dealerships, Hyundai didn't fare too bad in the Pied Piper "secret buyer" survey of shopping experiences of auto brands scoring 104 pts - tying it with brands like BMW, Audi and Porsche, as well as Honda.

http://wot.motortrend.com/mercedes-...urvey-95867.html/pied-piper-2011-study-chart/


And in JDPower's CSI survey, Hyundai fares considerbly better than its Big 3Japanese competitors.

 

[Rambler16]

These problems with bogus service etc. happen with all brands. My son in law had a problem with his Subaru. Took it to a dealer in Santa Clarita and they diagnosed it as a blown head gasket and damaged valves. Repair price quoted $2400 - $2800 dependant on machining of the heads. I told him to get a second opinion and he took it to Glendale. Diagnosis Bad coil and needs new spark plugs. Total cost $246.00 and it now runs great. You need to know some key questions to ask when these dealerships give you quotes. They don't make money selling cars, as the big $'s are the service centers.

 

[Slider]

They are - many of the smaller independent dealerships are getting bought out by the megadealers (this is one reason why Hyundai didn't launch a luxury brand/dealer network; they need to get their main house in order 1st).

That's a real salient point. The dealership I bought from in Houston happens to have the two largest Hyundai lots in town. The third one was not owned by them and they made clear to make that distinction because its customer service scores evidently lagged behind their own.

I'd like to chalk this up to growing pains predominantly.

But the dealership itself was newer, well appointed, appeared to be well managed, and had coolers of water, a kids play area, etc, all nice amenities as far as dealers go.

My salesman and finance guy were lifetime car guys, just good people. I didn't want nor need slick salesmanship and got a nice Texas handshake kind of a deal. And the owner/GM came out to greet my wife and I and see us off at time of purchase, so that part of it was very nice.

My dealership's biggest problem is keeping cars on the lot!

 

[Glashub]

People often ask why MB, BMW and Audi's, etc. keep selling when the wonderful virtues of Genesis are available for so much less -

The rich are (almost) spending like it's 2006 - NYT

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44016807/ns/business-us_business/

 

[tonygxp]

People often ask why MB, BMW and Audi's, etc. keep selling when the wonderful virtues of Genesis are available for so much less -

The rich are (almost) spending like it's 2006 - NYT

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44016807/ns/business-us_business/

that's because when a "rich" person takes a 25% loss on their head, they STILL have millions more than you or I... the middle class in this country is all but gone. where i live they are now attacking cops and firemen for NOT having to pay for benefits?? Really? the only perk of those jobs are the benefits and pensions.. We are all in trouble.. Rant over lol

 

[newman]

that's because when a "rich" person takes a 25% loss on their head, they STILL have millions more than you or I... the middle class in this country is all but gone. where i live they are now attacking cops and firemen for NOT having to pay for benefits?? Really? the only perk of those jobs are the benefits and pensions.. We are all in trouble.. Rant over lol

OK - I know we are straying off topic here but permit one more item because I think it bears on the discussion of relative value between MB/BMW/Audi and Hyundai:

Demonizing the rich (which is what articles like this seem to engender by reading the comments and reactions to it) will not bring back the middle class. Most of the rich are honest hard working folks, just like most of the middle-class. And most people in this country are employed by small businesses which are owned by the rich. It is very distressing that those of us in the middle-class have it so tough but blaming it on all of the 'rich' strikes of 18th century revolutionary France.

But, the fact that the economy is so shaky does mean that the lower rich and upper middle class will be drawn to the relative value of Hyundai in order to fulfill luxury desires. The upper-rich will never need to worry about the cost differentials that we are discussing.

Cheers,
Newman

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[tonygxp]

OK - I know we are straying off topic here but permit one more item because I think it bears on the discussion of relative value between MB/BMW/Audi and Hyundai:

Demonizing the rich (which is what articles like this seem to engender by reading the comments and reactions to it) will not bring back the middle class. Most of the rich are honest hard working folks, just like most of the middle-class. And most people in this country are employed by small businesses which are owned by the rich. It is very distressing that those of us in the middle-class have it so tough but blaming it on all of the 'rich' strikes of 18th century revolutionary France.

But, the fact that the economy is so shaky does mean that the lower rich and upper middle class will be drawn to the relative value of Hyundai in order to fulfill luxury desires. The upper-rich will never need to worry about the cost differentials that we are discussing.

Cheers,
Newman

ok, so stop taking as much in taxes from me to pay for the poor and we'll be even. how about that? The rich have the politicians in their pockets and therefore they will make whatever work for the rich. the owners and CEO's of corporations on average are earning (yearly) 300-500 times more than the low level worker.. back in the 50's-60's it was only 30-50 times.. before the 50's again they made 300-500 times more.. what's interesting about the 50-60 era is that unions were full bore in this country and everyone had a new car, house, etc. the rich didn't like the change and have been fixing it their way for the better part of 40 years now.. they moved their mfr'g jobs out, and crushed this country blaming union wages... that's what did it.. the rich owner not taking in 1,000,000 more a month pissed "him" off and they screwed the middle/lower classes by taking their "BALL" and going home.. who got hurt? we did.. who allowed this to happen? the politicians in the rich people's pockets.. remember that.

edit* my first sentence was sarcastic, my point being "we" pay for their well being, the rich should pay for ours...or just keep going in this direction and by 2030 it will be millionaires vs the poor.. and then the revolution will start.. i hope our govt. recognizes that scenario and the possibility as opposed to blindly taking the handouts from the rich.. we are heading down a path that history has shown does not work.. we are in the "acceptance" stage of our nation, the final stage before collapse if you believe history repeats itself (as i do)

 

[YEH]

Demonizing the rich (which is what articles like this seem to engender by reading the comments and reactions to it) will not bring back the middle class. Most of the rich are honest hard working folks, just like most of the middle-class. And most people in this country are employed by small businesses which are owned by the rich. It is very distressing that those of us in the middle-class have it so tough but blaming it on all of the 'rich' strikes of 18th century revolutionary France.

Most of the wealthy, not rich, are CEOs of big corporations, bankers and hedge fund managers who have managed to siphon off a lot of the wealth (I know, b/c I used to work w/ them) w/o really bringing any "value" to the economy.

Other the past decade or so - we have seen the greatest transfer of wealth from the American middle class to (1) China, (2) oil-rich countries and (3) the persons mentioned above.

The disparity btwn the wealthy and middle class hasn't been this great since the time of the Robber Barons.

When the middle class shrinks, more people tend to gravitate towards extreme positions (we are already seeing this).