Hyundai wins SA COTY

[HapticSimian]

http://www.vw.co.za/en/models/polo_vivo_sedan/prices_and_options.html

Use that and spec me a car with the same extras as the most expensive Picanto. In fact, spec me a Vivo 1.4 with the same features as a Hyundai Accent. You have to pretty much select ALL the Vivo features. I just did it myself and the equivalent Vivo works out to R152 483. VW doesn't offer 150 000km/5 Year warranty so I couldn't get the option, instead I opted for "Maintenance Plan “Bolt-on” (0 – 120,000km)"

http://www.hyundai.co.za/index.cfm?event=Accent

Who in their right mind would choose a Vivo over an Accent. Not even close in terms of quality forget features.

Not really relevant to what I related from my personal experience, but OK.

VW owners all claim their cars have better workmanship but if you listen to the radio (702) and read what other people on the internet say whom have moved from VW -> Korean they all say there isn't a difference.

Naturally you fall in the VW camp.

It's more than just a claim - all that's necessary is to look at and drive the two removed from your preconceptions. Not so much with the cheapies, but go drive a 2.0 Elantra and a 1.4TSI Jetta back-to-back and it'll become clear why the one is more expensive than the other. Look at the choice of materials in the interior, the visibility and quality of welds, the noise intrusion once on the road, the road manners... just about every single aspect. The Koreans still have some catching up to do.

That being said, and as I alluded to in my earlier post, it's all a matter of preference in the end. Because you change cars regularly, such overall small differences might not sway you. For others the buying motives will be different.

 

[unskinnybob]

Well deserved.

Pitty that there are still plebs who think they fall apart in a year and would buy a way more overpriced, underspecced VW.

+1

 

[Gnome]

It's more than just a claim - all that's necessary is to look at and drive the two removed from your preconceptions. Not so much with the cheapies, but go drive a 2.0 Elantra and a 1.4TSI Jetta back-to-back and it'll become clear why the one is more expensive than the other. Look at the choice of materials in the interior, the visibility and quality of welds, the noise intrusion once on the road, the road manners... just about every single aspect. The Koreans still have some catching up to do.

I'm comparing the cheaper class. I wouldn't buy VW or Hyundai at that price point. I've compared everything VW, Ford and Opel have to offer in the class of the Hyundai i10/Kia Picanto/Hyundai i20/Hyundai Accent.

If Hyundai's build quality was so bad they would have absolutely no reason to give a 5 year/150 000km warranty.

If VW start offering those kinds of warranties I might consider looking again. Warranty is an indication of a companies faith in their own product. As the product gets older, failures increase. The fact that VW cut it down recently is a clear indication of the faith in their own product.

 

[HapticSimian]

I'm comparing the cheaper class. I wouldn't buy VW or Hyundai at that price point. I've compared everything VW, Ford and Opel have to offer in the class of the Hyundai i10/Kia Picanto/Hyundai i20/Hyundai Accent.

If Hyundai's build quality was so bad they would have absolutely no reason to give a 5 year/150 000km warranty.

If VW start offering those kinds of warranties I might consider looking again. Warranty is an indication of a companies faith in their own product. As the product gets older, failures increase. The fact that VW cut it down recently is a clear indication of the faith in their own product.

From what I've heard that 150,000km warranty isn't worth the paper it's written on - I'd like to read the Ts & Cs but I haven't heard good things. It looks good on paper, and most cars will see out 150,000km without too many hassles so it's a good sales hook, but I'd like to see the number of hoops you'd jump through to claim for a gearbox on 145,000km. Regardless, you still misinterpret me; I'm not saying the Koreans produce bad cars, but merely that many European products are objectively a little better in many respects. Here's a very clear example: VW, along with a few of the Frenchies, offer a 12 year warranty against corrosion. Why? Because the entire structure of the car is galvanised - not just the exposed bits - and will last longer.

As for their warranties being cut down; if it's 3yrs/120,000km it's been that for yonks.

 

[Gnome]

From what I've heard that 150,000km warranty isn't worth the paper it's written on - I'd like to read the Ts & Cs but I haven't heard good things. It looks good on paper, and most cars will see out 150,000km without too many hassles so it's a good sales hook, but I'd like to see the number of hoops you'd jump through to claim for a gearbox on 145,000km

I've heard the same about other brands (chiefly BMW) from people in the office. Depends whom you ask. One notable example is a BMW that blew a head gasket @ 98 000km (100 000km motor plan). BMW told him they fixed everything when he got back @ 101 000km suddenly they need to overhaul (R60k quote)

Lot's of people I know drive BMW and almost no one I know own VW, but I'm sure there are horror stories for all brands and rumours spread by ex. customers and loyalists from other brands alike.

FYI Hyundai in Europe also offer very long corrosion warranties, I have no idea why it is so short in SA but I've seen plenty of old Hyundai's on the road and considering the improvement they've made over the years, if those old Hyundai's of clearly inferior quality are still going strong I don't think I'll worry myself about it too much.

As for their warranties being cut down; if it's 3yrs/120,000km it's been that for yonks.

Last time I bought European it was still 5 years/100 000km (IIRC), granted it was some time ago. It's still disgraceful that they can't match a smaller brand like Hyundai.

 

[HapticSimian]

Last time I bought European it was still 5 years/100 000km (IIRC), granted it was some time ago. It's still disgraceful that they can't match a smaller brand like Hyundai.

I suspect you're confusing the duration of a maintenance or service plan with that of the warranty. Regardless, we can ding-dong back and forth until sunset... which is fun and all, but not terribly productive when there's no great disagreement.

As for Hyundai being small... they hardly are any longer.

 

[Quantum Theory]

If you're on a budget and want a car with all the bells and whistles, get a Hyundai. Quality is not that great on my i20, but it will do what it says on the box.

If you however want a frugal but eager turbo engine, very comfortable ride/seats, low cabin noise and awesome interior quality... you will not find this in a Hyundai. You will have to pay the premium. In the next 5 years, I believe Hyundai/Kia will get there too.

 

[Paul_S]

I was also surprised that they didn't add cruise control for SA models.

That's odd.
The much cheaper Kia Cerato 2.0 comes with cruise control fitted standard and the companies work hand in hand.
I thought cruise control was a fad - now I use it every single time I'm on the freeways or long back roads.

 

[Paul_S]

If you however want a frugal but eager turbo engine, very comfortable ride/seats, low cabin noise and awesome interior quality... you will not find this in a Hyundai. You will have to pay the premium. In the next 5 years, I believe Hyundai/Kia will get there too.

At what cost though? Hyundai are already nibbling on the lower end of VW's price tags.
Just wish they'd bring us the better specced vehicles like the Genesis Coupe 2.0T and the Sonata 2.0T.

 

[wiinuts]

people need to change their perception of hyundai and kia

went car shopping earlier this year and was in the market for a sedan or a decent suv had a look at alot of vehicles but ultimately you just couldnt pass on the koreans! you just cant beat their value for money, ended up getting the ix35 auto with maintenance plan, have the suv for a while now and cannot complain at all! the interior is extremely good looking and comfortable.

just did about 11000km and no complaints so far, petrol is around 11\100 on average, at lowest i got 9\100
i just cannot fault them and you would have to be seriously biased to knock them off as an option when looking for a new vehicle.

i must say the second choice was the sonata and i was VERY impressed with that vehicle ! absolutely brilliant in every way.

the kia cerato is just as awesome !

i like the new ford suv forget the name now but its quite nice, the jeep compass is also very good value although someone here (mybb) warned me against Chrysler because of the lack of service\parts.

what i like most about the koreans is that they making people take notice and other brands are forced into giving us better value for money options.

a win win for us consumers in the end.

 

[geezer]

I have a first option on a new Elantra Elantra 1.8 GLS automatic. My trade in will be my excellent iX35 2.0 GLS 4x2 manual. The iX35 is just too big for me and my wife. She does most of the driving, and would like a smaller car. Any opinions?