How do you like your Equus after a year?

[fd1000]

I am picking up my new 2011 Equus on Friday (its actually new), so I am obsessing over all information about it until then.

I read this autoblog long term review of a 2011 Equus, and they were less than excited about how the car felt after 22,000 miles and 12 months.

They complained about the steering pulling right, pulling left. They had a problem with the lumbar seat, which was fixed when replaced.

I have visions of this car being rock solid, and something i could actually drive for 5 years.

Here is what they said in one part of the review:

"Either way, the general driving quality of the Equus seemed to fade over the course of the year. The engine remained a real sweetheart through it all, but the car just didn't feel as solid and tight as it did when it first arrived. We understand that brakes degrade and suspension components wear, but in this segment, you'd be right to expect a car that still feels brand-new after under 23,000 miles of use. The Equus... didn't."

Here is a link to the actual article:

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/16/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-wrap-up-w-videos/

Do you guys feel that way about your Equus? What are your opinions on how the car feels after a year? Are the seats still comfortable? Is the steering straight? (I absolutely hate a car that wonders or pulls, nothing worse then going down a highway, and you have to hold the steering wheel to one side to keep it on the road.) Squeaks and rattles?

Thanks!

 

[equus33]

I am picking up my new 2011 Equus on Friday (its actually new), so I am obsessing over all information about it until then.

I read this autoblog long term review of a 2011 Equus, and they were less than excited about how the car felt after 22,000 miles and 12 months.

They complained about the steering pulling right, pulling left. They had a problem with the lumbar seat, which was fixed when replaced.

I have visions of this car being rock solid, and something i could actually drive for 5 years.

Here is what they said in one part of the review:

"Either way, the general driving quality of the Equus seemed to fade over the course of the year. The engine remained a real sweetheart through it all, but the car just didn't feel as solid and tight as it did when it first arrived. We understand that brakes degrade and suspension components wear, but in this segment, you'd be right to expect a car that still feels brand-new after under 23,000 miles of use. The Equus... didn't."

Here is a link to the actual article:

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/16/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-wrap-up-w-videos/

Do you guys feel that way about your Equus? What are your opinions on how the car feels after a year? Are the seats still comfortable? Is the steering straight? (I absolutely hate a car that wonders or pulls, nothing worse then going down a highway, and you have to hold the steering wheel to one side to keep it on the road.) Squeaks and rattles?

Thanks!

Congrats on your new Equus. I have owned Caddys for a long, long time and I have never had a car I liked this much. My 2012 still is fantastic and still gets lots of looks and raises questions. I removed the H from the trunk and replaced it as well as the hood ornament with the badging that is on Equus in South Korea, both readily available on eBay inexpensively. So, making a long answer even longer, I have had no car I have enjoyed this much!

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

No regrets after 2 1/4 years, still the best car I've ever had. Don't worry about that review, they have different drivers most times, most of which have never read the manual. Looking forward to my new 2014 at lease end or sooner if incented to do so.

 

[Dentish]

I have had my Equus for 30,000 mostly highway miles. It is a very peculiar machine, and one that is hard to describe. It does so much right, but has some foibles that profoundly detract from its greatness. The engine is great. Smooth, consistent, powerful and quiet. The drivetrain is smooth and trouble free. Both systems show no change over these 30k miles. Road noise seems a bit more prominent, but not greatly so. It is a good and quiet ride at 30k. It gets troublesome with other systems and details. The dashboard covering is so fragile that it scratches with even a terry cloth towel rubbing against it. This silly detail makes the car look sloppy. Not appropriate at this level. Replacing items like the glovebox door just gets old, I never saw this in any other car. The driver's seat is very uncomfortable. It has been replaced twice, and each time is the same. It is good for about 3-4,000 miles then it begins to actually hurt as the horrible cheap leather stretches and sags. I am a normal guy 200#, and this is the worst driver's seat I ever encountered. Strangely, the rear seats are the most comfortable ever.The backseat remains the location of choice for everyone who rides int he car. The driver's seat is the booby prize. It is a huge flaw in my opinion. At 30,000 miles the car developed a pull to the right. The dealer(Napleton Hyundai, Palm Beach) did an alignment, charged me $116 and said it was fine. Nope. Still pulling, and most interestingly, the alignment was not off when I brought it in. The computer printout said it was in spec. Another trip to the dealer for pulling, another alignment (never saw printout). Still pulling. Now they told me it was tires, so $1300 in new tires later, the car still pulls R. I wrote notes, made calls to the special "Equus Manager", and took the car back. Yep, you guessed it. Another alignment, and still pulling.
Calls to Hyundai USA (their special hotline) produced no calls back, no followup, no inout or help whatsoever. After speaking to the General Manager at Napleton Hyundai, Palm beach, Raul, nothing was done as promised, the car still pulls and my calls were not returned. The message is clear, Hyundai dealer and corporate management are useless and incompetent. Dealer service is pathetic and shameful and ignorant. This is a car that is clearly troublesome, idiosyncratic, and painfully frustrating. Hyundai has lied and misrepresented the level of service to be expected. The car fails to live up to its hype, and it has has tedious and agonizing flaws ignored by incompetent dealers like Napleton Hyundai, Palm Beach. The general manager there, Raul, and the service manager, Ernie, and the Equus guy, Fred have chosen not to solve the issues with this car. I think Hyundai dealers and Hyundai Corp understand that the majority of their buyers are economy and lower end buyers. Hyundai seems not to understand that anyone buying a car like an Equus expects refinement in engineering, service and performance. Hyundai failed with this machine. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR. HYUNDAI DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR FLAGSHIP. Dealers like Napleton Hyundai, Palm Beach are incompetent, unwilling or incapable of performing well enough to justify purchase of this car.
By way of reference, I have had many cars including several MB S-class cars. I am quite familiar with luxury cars. This is not one. Are you listening Hyundai?

 

[ckon]

I may not remember this quite right, but I seem to remember a story about the Toyota team who was designing the original Lexus division living at a Hyatt or a Ritz hotel for a substantial amount of time during the gestation of the Lexus division. The idea was to immerse the team in a luxury living situation where they could experience the different expectations of people who lived in those circumstances and to also be able to see the differences in performance of the people who provided the associated customer services. Judging by the success of Lexus, I have to assume that it was a successful experiment.

Whether or not this actually happened or if I even remember accurately, it still seems like a good idea.

I'm not saying I want Hyundai to separate Equus and Genesis into a separate division ala Lexus, but that doesn't mean they can't train their employees and their dealerships to achieve a higher level of customer satisfaction that would result in a higher perception of the brand. It doesn't take biscotti, croissants and marble floors to do that - it only takes some respect for your demographic.

I really want Hyundai and especially Genesis and Equus to succeed, but these premium cars won't achieve premium status until the employees and dealerships consistently deliver premium experiences to the customer.

Just my opinion.