Hyundai Equus anybody actually drive one yet?

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Permalink Reply by Ron Johnson on March 31, 2011 at 2:39pm

I'm going on year 3 with my Genesis and love every aspect of it. 

My Genesis has given me more and bigger smile rewards than the "Plymouth,Olds,Ford,Toyota,Nissan,Lexus,Infinity,Mitsubishi,Chevy,Pontiac,Triumph" Mercedes, BMW, and Harley-Davidson;s that I've owned.

There is no substitute for a positive experience.

Bobb N is absolutely spot-on with ChrisZ being far out is left field.

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Permalink Reply by ChrisZ on March 31, 2011 at 4:07pm

That's awesome. I am glad to hear that someone has a positive experience with the Genesis. As you can read my response to Bob. I only provide my opinion based on what I have dealt with and seen.

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Permalink Reply by ChrisZ on March 31, 2011 at 4:02pm

No, not a brand hater. Just been around every car virtually made since my time line. Opinions are from what I have seen and dealt with in my shop. My current drive cars are, 350z,370z,GTR2012,Tahoe and a F250. If I would apply brand hate to any one MFG, it would be Nissan. The forum is about expressing opinions and difference. My apology if I upset you.

 

I can write horror stories on Hyundai, Nissan, Kia and so on.

 

I do know a factory tech for Hyundai, that person doesn't have much good to say. Overall the life of the cars is just not there. When a MFG enters a new arena, in my opinion they shouldn't it sets consumers up with false pretenses of better options at a fraction of the cost. When the warranties are limited and most consumers don't understand a MFG warranty that claims bumper to bumper, when there is no such warranty in reality.

 

Magazine reviews, the opinions are biased from most perspectives, pay attention to the advertisers, they make money from the car ads, mainly the MFG. The drive results are usually true reports from the writers.

 

Consumer reports and recall complaint data is more of a realistic way to determine how good a car really is.

 

No hate for Hyundai. Just not interested in a Korean car. In retrospect of somethings, I look at the US economy, the jobs that are lost, even with American car MFG, such as Ford in Mexico and Canada so you are buying a Mexican/Canadian car, that says Ford on it, such as my very expensive junk F250.

 

And please remember the press is the press. You ask what I read. I don't pay attention to the press, I do read press releases from the MFG. I deal with people every day. That is where my information comes from.

 

I have been in the auto business well over 20 years. So seen a ton of stuff.

 

I don't believe our group here is about bashing, it is sharing opinions. It could be the same on a Ferrari for me. I only post data that is factual, not from other web sites.

 

Once I finish what I intend on writing about Nissan and the 350z, you more than likely will consider this bashing. There will always be positive and negative opinions on any site and any subject. And again sorry you have taken great offense to my statements.

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Permalink Reply by Paddy on March 31, 2011 at 2:30pm

I have a good friend in Tampa that has owned a Genesis since they first came out. He has nothing but RAVES about the car.  So far he is pushing 62,000 + miles on it.  He also reports his dealership works to make him feel like he gets treatment that is a step above their normal.  Service appointments get pushed to head of line, he gets a decent loaner. and they have generally bent over backwards to please him.

That and the recent BEST ENGINE award given to Hyundai seems to speak to a pretty solid quality rating.

Finally....JD Powers survey where ACTUAL owners rated their Sonata's higher than ANY car has ever received should be evidence.

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Permalink Reply by ChrisZ on March 31, 2011 at 4:15pm

JD Powers. Paid survey company by corporations. Kind of like Cell phone carriers having the best network ratings when the consumers complain about the network. But that is awesome. Now see here I am seeing the Genesis referred to as a great car, not about what I actually wrote about. I prefer my cars to be rear wheel drive and at least made in the USA. My GTR is made in Japan, however the other Nissan's I have owned came from the south. My Ford junk not even built here. :) But it is my opinion, and again what I have seen. One thing I can say is that Car dealers in CA, really don't have that good customer service attitude. Other places are different. Your service experience will have a lot to do with how you think about your car. I even know this. The dealer in CA that I bought my F250 from, I would never go back there again. The second dealer that touched it with all of its faults, I will never deal with them again. When it finally blew up in Arizona the dealer there was awesome, tried to make my experience with my truck better. So much plays into the happiness of your car.

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Permalink Reply by Timothy C on March 31, 2011 at 4:39pm

Hah.....great to see the discussion get started...

But back to my original post....

Do we have any real test drives/purchasers/owners upgrading whatever....that have actually driven an EQUUS?

I saw one on the street last week, but I could not corral the driver to get his opinion!

 

 

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Permalink Reply by ChrisZ on March 31, 2011 at 8:17pm

I have driven one for about 35 minutes. All I can say is simply depends on what you are use to and looking for in a car. This car for me, is not me. I didn't find the cockpit so to speak appealing. Nor did I find any position for my drivers seat to make me comfortable. I am only 5'5 and the seat pushed up against the tendon on the back of my leg, which my F250 does as well. It never runs so I never drive it. :)

 

Handling. OK I guess. But you are reading the words of a person that is into high performance and intensity when it comes to driving, if I did buy that car, I would be revamping the suspension.

It looks OK. From Korea they are trying. Not sure what the market target was for this car. I haven't seen a single one on the road in California yet.

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Permalink Reply by Bobb N on April 1, 2011 at 7:00am

I wasn't offended by your criticism of Hyundai, Chris, your opinion just flew in the face of everything I have experienced with the brand.  You no doubt saw in one of my early posts that I do have a loyalty to the brand as my wife has been employed by the manufacturer since 1987, the year they entered the US market.  In those 24 years we have driven every model that they have offered, rarely experiencing an unscheduled visit to the service department.  We have observed steady improvement in quality across the entire line in that time, with the last 10 by leaps.  From what you say is in your garage, clearly this wouldn't be a brand you would shop.    I came to this site simply to share my knowledge of the brand from the unique perspective that I'm afforded.  Hope I can help those who are considering the brand.

My thought on the Equus targeted demographic is that it is the same segment that Lexus was chasing when they offered the first LS400 all those years ago.  It's a lofty goal and of course I'm hoping the gamble works.  Are we ready for a $50K+ Hyundai?  We'll know this year I guess but I'm happy the company is dreaming big.

 

 

Bobb

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Permalink Reply by ChrisZ on April 3, 2011 at 4:12pm

I agree they have improved. I can't say that I am brand loyal to anyone. At one point in my life it was Nissan, but I raced and they paid the bills.

At my age I was just kind of going through the list of cars I have owned. To give you an idea of opinions.

 

#1 Datsun 240z, funny dad bought the car, I wasn't very old, he kept it garaged. It is serial number 3, and he made me make payments on the car. Where I grew up you could drive when you were 13. I still have that car. And for the time, I can say it was an awesome car. And in my opinion was one of the coolest cars ever made, and Datsun kicked but.

#2 TR7 Triumph that is a well really well OK, and WOW all it did was blow up, I think it is buried somewhere in the 400 acre farm brush as that was the last place I drove it to and just left it. That was a very long time ago.

#3 MGB midget, hehheeee. What a night mare with the carbs. But I had a blast with it.

67 Hemi Cuda, Love it still have it keep it garaged and recently did a gas mileage note on it, but it has been super modified. It gets about 5mpg when your in it, but thats a car you drive to be in it

67 Plymouth Road Runner. Still have it was my dads long story behind that Orange monster, drives here and there but rare as it catches attention

67 Mustang. Gave up on it- Got this as a present when a family member passed on, not impressed. But ok

88 old cutlas, garbage car.

83 Potianc Transam Firebird limited edition, loved that car, its was black and the firebird was silver and red on the hood, someone stole it

70's something Datusn 510, have owned  a few of them, they get stolen, that was a good race car, had many options with engine swaps ect., common was an acura engine.

Ford Maverick inherited don't know what the year was, never drove it. gave it away

A few Datsun 260z's

A few Datsun 280z's

(2) Nissan Datsun 280zx turbo. Had a ton of fun with that car

(1) Anniversary series 300zx turbo. Still have it

(2) 1990 Twin Turbo 300zx's ( also my primary race car) still have these. A rude awakening with the all wheel steering, brings back memories of a few WTF's hahhaaa. But I can say Nissan kicked it good with that car. And funny thing I am seeing these things all over the road now, people are bringing them back to life.

1990 Nissan Pathfinder 4X4 great off roader, but the dealer was an ass it had diff problems and they would say stuff like well you off road, duhh thats why I bought it

trany didn't last long, was horrible on brakes, but may it rest in peace after 500,000 miles plus it is retired some where.

1982 Toyota SR5 pick up truck, good truck a truck is a truck

Nissan Maxima 1992 or 1993 I think, hated that car with a passion, major issues

Nissan Altima 1994, hated it as well,

1992 SC 400 Lexus I loved that car, got hit by floods and it was a total loss

Mitsubishi 3000 GT Twin Turbo, I weighed the 300zx against this, and took the 3000 back, it was ok but heavy and didn't match my Z's performance

Toyota Rav4 1999. It was ok for what it was

2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara.   loved it for off road as it went every where narroew roads.

And the list goes on. This is just to give you an idea. That I m not really brand loyal. Oh had the Toyota Supra twin turbo that was fun while it lasted.

 

I buy for performance handling. However I know me, I won't buy a Korean car. That's just a choice.

 

I am glad you have had luck with the cars. But you should expect other opinions. Your brand loyal due to your wifes job. I would be as well, even if I hated the car.

 

But I wish you the best of luck with the cars. And hope they have continued success with the new market they are trying to hit, if the consumers will jump on them.

Well Wishes happy driving

Chris

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Permalink Reply by Theo on April 1, 2011 at 8:36am

I share your skepticism for some of hte car magazines "reviews" but JD Powers is kind of opposite.
They are an independent research company that performs their research and THEN the manufacturers' PAY to see the full results. So unlike the magazines that depend on the ad dollars to continue. JDP depends on getting a wide range of input and then providing real information from real users as something of value that manufacturers will pay to have access to.
Similar companies exist in all industries....and the reports are big time $$. What is released to the public is just to whet the appetites of the players who will pay for full results.
All this is just to say I believe the results for Hyundai (and in the latest study for overall reliability Cadillac STS and a Lincoln were two American Manufacturers that won top spots...but note only 2 out of 20) are fairly believable.
But the old saw about statistics lie also holds true. The study above (front page of http://www.jdpower.com/autos/car-photos/VDS/Most%20Dependable/2011/) shows the reported "problems per 100" vehicles. This is just a measure of repairs...doesn't appear to take into account the severity of repair. They have a different study that asks something more "touchy feely" like brand loyalty, or just how much you like the car.
Shave any stat down to a fine-enough point and you can usually find some way your brand is the "winner".

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