GM fell into a junk culture in the 60s ...
u cant go wrong with a used toyota. avalon ? 4runner ? built to last.
You know how people say that every cell in your body is replaced over a period of 7 years? With the exception of neurons in your cerebral cortex which are never replaced, that's essentially true. You literally are not the same person you were 3/4 of a decade ago.
Corporations like automobile manufacturers are like that: management changes, new technologies emerge, designers are replaced, new production techniques and philosophies are put in place, etc.
I would not hold a grudge against an auto manufacturer from a problem I had with a vehicle 10 years ago; after all, if that was the case none of us would own a Hyundai due to their abysmal record from 30 years ago.
Hyundai's corporate culture changed, and they got a whole lot better at designing and making cars. And from my own experience with my local dealer, they have made great strides in improving the way their dealers treat their customers. This continuous striving for improvement is as it should be.
Dealers are, however, independently owned businesses, and it sometimes takes a while for that commitment for improvement to trickle down.
I wouldn't have bought a GM car 10 years ago if you held a gun to my head, but it is a completely different company today than it was pre-bailout. And they're making some pretty decent cars, and they have been holding their dealers' feet to the fire to insure their customers are treated right. And today I would buy a GM vehicle.
But who knows? In 10 years they could be back to making crappy cars due to poor management and corporate complacency. Car companies seem to be subject to a vicious cycle: making crappy cars and treating their customers poorly, almost going under, responding with a corporate shake-up, making good cars and treating their customers well, getting complacent, and making crappy cars again.
A friend of mine just bought a '16 Toyota Tacoma and wouldn't even consider my recommendation to look at the Chevy Colorado, because to him "Toyota is good, GM bad". But if you read the automotive press, the Colorado is clearly the better truck.
So don't be a hater and write off a car company for the bad experience you had a decade (or even 5 years) ago. Pay attention to the car mags and consumer reviews, and base your choices on what's happening now, not what happened in the past.
Of course I'm preaching to the choir for the most part, because 5, 10, or 20 years ago (pick your number) you wouldn't have dreamed of buying a Hyundai, let alone one the costs $50 grand, and now you do.
Ok. It's been a week since the OP heard from the Hyundai CEO.. To the original poster an important question:
Is your car fixed and running properly?
BTW, I'm on this forum after a few years because I'm reconsidering the '16 Genesis. Also, with Hyundai's announcement that Genesis will become a stand-alone brand (similar to Lexus) won't anyone who currently owns one be able to get their cars serviced at those dealerships? Seems like a great deal. Buy the car at a Hyundai price, then get the service at a dealership that sells at (future) higher prices due to the Genesis brand?
If it makes you guys feel any better, I took my Audi S5 in for 5,000 mile service and had to wait forever for a service advisor to even acknowledge me. I was taken into the waiting room and left there. I finally approached a service advisor and asked if someone was going to help me. She said they were really swamped but wrote up my order. I then waited another extended period for someone from the loaner department to see me. It wasn't a good experience at all for a $65k car. So, it isn't always better on the "other side", even though I have had great service on Lexuses and Infinitis.
BTW, I'm on this forum after a few years because I'm reconsidering the '16 Genesis. Also, with Hyundai's announcement that Genesis will become a stand-alone brand (similar to Lexus) won't anyone who currently owns one be able to get their cars serviced at those dealerships? Seems like a great deal. Buy the car at a Hyundai price, then get the service at a dealership that sells at (future) higher prices due to the Genesis brand?
That's why I did it, pretty solid theory assuming these earlier models were used as loss leaders. And yes I believe any second-generation car, 2015 or later, that was purchased under the Hyunfai brand, will be eligible.
...as of now the plans are still for everyone to buy and have their vehicles serviced at existing Hyundai dealers.
Not what I was told by my Hyundai dealer. They bought the old car dealer place across the street from the Hyundai operation in order to house the new Genesis sales operation. Agree that ACTUAL service (wrenching) will still be done in the Hyundai service bays, but from what I was told, the Genesis "service" entrance, waiting room, and pickup areas will all be on the Genesis side of the road.
In the thread referenced, I didn't see ANY official communication other than the initial press release which did not specifically address sales and service channels. I DID see plenty of speculation, rumor, and idle gossip.
I suspect the writing is clearly on the wall as to separate Hyundai and Genesis brand sales operations. Smart Hyundai dealers are positioning themselves NOW to be ready for the official split, whenever it comes.
Although Genesis dealers will not be required to build a separate showroom, Zuchowski believes many dealers will create a separate showroom on their own.