Gwaneum
Getting familiar with the group...
Dan,
"bargain basement" is perception, nothing more than that.
Hyundai's reputation is much better outside the US, I know that. And even within the US, it's improving in most areas. And coming off of a 3-month Asian stint (the vast majority of which was spent in South Korea), I considered the Hyundai brand to be a plus for me.
But then, I am in SoCal, the Badge Whore Central.
Driving a Hyundai will simply never equal driving a BMW or a Lexus, period. (Not that I care anymore.) If I were a badge whore myself, the Lexus ES would've been a far better choice for the money (and that's what other people have told me). However, to me it makes no sense to spend $40K on a glorified Camry.
I like the "reverse snobbery factor" that I get to enjoy with my Genesis. The VW Phaeton might've been my kind of car too, if it weren't so d*mn expensive and complicated. And VW is another brand that most people outside the US consider to be premium, but many Americans still consider to be cheap (still based on the "People's Car" name and the original Beetle).
"bargain basement" is perception, nothing more than that.
Hyundai's reputation is much better outside the US, I know that. And even within the US, it's improving in most areas. And coming off of a 3-month Asian stint (the vast majority of which was spent in South Korea), I considered the Hyundai brand to be a plus for me.
But then, I am in SoCal, the Badge Whore Central.
Driving a Hyundai will simply never equal driving a BMW or a Lexus, period. (Not that I care anymore.) If I were a badge whore myself, the Lexus ES would've been a far better choice for the money (and that's what other people have told me). However, to me it makes no sense to spend $40K on a glorified Camry.I like the "reverse snobbery factor" that I get to enjoy with my Genesis. The VW Phaeton might've been my kind of car too, if it weren't so d*mn expensive and complicated. And VW is another brand that most people outside the US consider to be premium, but many Americans still consider to be cheap (still based on the "People's Car" name and the original Beetle).
