To andes11 Do you know for a fact that Hyundai does not charge dealers for advertising? I am picking up my Santa Fe on Monday. The invoice I was shown has a charge of $622.00 for advertising. The dealer said they have to pay it, so I do. If you are correct, how can I show the dealer I have proof?
For the nth time: Why is it so hard for some to believe that not everyone wants the ROOM in a van? I'm looking to replace my family sedan with something else. I don't have a 4wd car so why do I need a 4wd SUV? May I buy the Santa Fe just for the higher ride or the occasional vet visit with the two dogs?
Some of us housewives just want a fun ride that our husbands will enjoy. (My husband dislikes my car because after driving his truck he feels like he is sitting on the road in my car.) Personally, when I drove my van I felt like I was driving a bus.
I'm sorry to vent but the van vs. SUV argument is getting very old!
I've seen a listing in the 2001 Hyundai Accessoried catalog of a wood trim option for the dashboard on the Santa Fe. Has anyone seen this, or have an idea of the price for this feature?
Yes, I do know for a fact that Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America or any other subsidiary/affiliate of Hyundai Motor Company does not charge/bill Hyundai dealers for advertising.
On your second question, it's not possible to prove a negative. If someone claims something exists, the burden of proof is on the person making that claim.
Some things I've learned (but do not apply to everyone):
the MSRP and invoice price are readily available free information on the internet.
the MSRP on the Santa Fe amounts to (as I recall) about a $1100 to 1400 markup. A smaller markup than other comparable products, but still a markup. In my area MSRP for the Santa Fe was still less than a "deal" on a comparably equipped Tribute. (The Mazda dealer around here, by the way, hasn't had a trib on the lot for more than 2 months, and won't for several more. I think they are still taking orders for MSRP! Why not? If you can sell a car you haven't bought yet, might as well ask for top dollar. but my guess is that demand is falling.)
I have seen no standard "advertising fee." Some dealers apply it for negotiating purposes, some don't. Mine didn't. But for all I know, they might with somebody else.
dealers receive holdback dollars on quick sales.
what is "a fair" price depends upon perception. What's fair for me, may not be for another.
you can only negotiate with someone if you are prepared to leave the table. If you gotta have it, you will pay what the seller wants you to.
these new SUV's are selling quickly right now, so it will be hard to negotiate a price (whatever that price is) that is less than the seller knows he can get from somebody else. Some dealers seem to be capitalizing on that market.
things may change as inventory builds, or if demand slips. I think the price will fall later in the year, but nobody really knows.
If you can wait, and a price is more than you want to pay, you might as well keep looking. Why argue?
there is always someone who gets a better deal than you.
khj good day to you no i did not pay that fee.i have the sante fe today .... its my turn to drive it lol...im thinking of getting installed as part of factory little black box and addition that starts the santa fe and the defroster as well that will be helpful in the morning or whenever you need it even during summer time. have a nice day
I have a 2wd santa fe and love it!! I get a little concerned with all the talk about the additional safety of 4wd!!
Why is 4wd so much safer?? Except for taking off, or driving thru deep snow, 4wd does little. After snow snorms, a majority of vehicles in the ditch are 4 wd. Why?? - overconfidence! If you do no spin when taking off, you often do not realize how slick it is. Back wheels having power to them do not eliminate slidng, or help at all when stopping. I recently was driving on ice when a 4wd Suburban passed me going way to fast. 10 minutes later, his vehicle was 100 yds off the road, rolled several times, and he was dead. 4wd was the cause of this. He had no clue how slick it was and his vehicle slid just as easy as any fwd vehicle on the road. Once he started sliding, he could not stop any easier either!
I am not knocking 4wd! It has its place. However, don't be fooled into thinking you are safer. If you believe that, you are driving too fast for the conditions and you are a danger to everyone else!!
darryl10: That was quite a diatribe you wrote (has anyone ever told you that you take yourself WAY too serious? Just asking..). Ok, you're absolutely correct - all of us that bought fwd Santa Fe's are idiots and should have bought minivans because you know what's best for the rest of us (you must be a hoot at the annual x-mas party).
leigh8: Of course you are right..and YOU ARE probably fun at the annual x-mas party - not to mention you look way-more cool in your Santa Fe than the housewives in their minivans! Enjoy your new car!
1postle: Naw, I'm not a car salesman. Like everyone else, I just did a bunch of research and drove everything a couple of times because, regardless of price, buying a car is very subjective and you have to feel the car is right for you or what's the point? However, I did get the dealer to show me their invoice which had the fee's I mentioned earlier - (yep, even the advertising fee). I don't have the figures with me now but I believe Edmunds had the invoice price at 19,187 for the LX FWD but the final dealer cost after adding the dest. fee/Advertising fee/& options for my car was around 20,499. So that's where I started my bargaining.
khj: I'm sure you are a smart shopper just like most of us on this chain probably are. I'm not sure what you mean by "they quoted me one price & offered me another"..say what?? Also, what do you mean "they can put anything in that advertising fee section & they did"..?? Who's 'they'? Hyundai or the dealer? The invoice I saw was the real deal from Hyundai that had the fee's I stated above. The bottom line is that we all want the best deal we can get but I only pin the 'greedy' tag on those that add a 'dealer markup' to the MSRP.
jcgso: I think andes11 is mistaken. Dealers do get charged for advertising by the manufacturer (even Edmunds says as much - but not HOW much) so this should be considered when you start negotiating. Bottom line - have the dealer show you their hard-copy invoice!
camacle: I couldn't agree more about being prepared to walk away if you don't like their deal (this is probably rule #1) and most of what you said. However, whether a customer knows it or not, the dealer is taking into consideration the advertising fee they are charged.
harlek: I love mine too! I'm surprise at the complimentary remarks I get on it because I figured most people wouldn't like the styling. You are also right-on about 4wd. It reminds me of the short time I lived in Colorado when many of the local snow-driving experts found themselves in the ditch and us dummies from the sunshine states stayed on the road! Obviously, the local folks that had it together stayed on the road too but it's more a 'driver thing' than a '4wd/2wd' thing!
To those of you that have a trade-in - try NOT to have one! First of all, you can get much more selling it yourself (yeah, it's a hassle but I made $2,000 more than the dealer was willing to pay me for mine). Also, the dealers play with what they give you for your old car to make it look like they're really giving you a deal on the new one. So, you really never know just how much you paid for it (most likely more than MSRP!).
By the way, I don't claim to be an expert on awd's but I've owned two 4x4 FJ40 LandCruisers (the old style looking ones) which are about as rugged a vehicle as there is and a 4x4 Toyota PU that I used for some hardcore off-roading in the states and Baja so I know a little bit. Maybe that's why it amuses me when someone thinks they're cool because they actually take their AWD CRV on dirt roads!! Hang on to your hat Tilly, we're going off-roadin!! (just watch out for that old geezer up ahead in his Caddy..).
I plan to replace mt 93 Jeep GC 4x4 with a AWD Santa Fe. True the Jeep is the better off road vehicle but then it can do more than most ever need. I am a forester and have to get on old muddy logging roads once a week or so. Believe me, without AWD or 4WD you will just set there and spin and go into a ditch. I am hoping the Santa Fe is up to slippery clay roads and old woods roads. That, of couse, is not the same as over the boulders, jump the ravine, true off roading and really, how many of us do that?
I called Hyundai direct - as far as the person I talked to on phone stated - An advertising fee is NOT included in MSRP. The dealership themselves can & do add this fee on to whatever their teeny tiny hearts desire. As posted here - they differ.
HUNTER36: Meaning - I was quoted on the phone $350 over invoice until I walked into the dealership & they added $579 adv. fee which was never stated to me on the phone. I went through all the numbers previously with this same dealer on the Mazda Tribute before I saw the Santa Fe. They added up to the penny on the Tribute. But when it came to the Hyundai - the adv. fee appeared.
This forum is to educate each other - all I'm saying is not to take any dealer at his word. Do your homework.
Best of luck to all you Santa Fe'rs & soon to be Santa Fe'rs!
I called Hyundai direct - as far as the person I talked to on phone stated - An advertising fee is NOT included in MSRP. The dealership themselves can & do add this fee on to whatever their teeny tiny hearts desire. As posted here - they differ.
HUNTER36: Meaning - I was quoted on the phone $350 over invoice until I walked into the dealership & they added $579 adv. fee which was never stated to me on the phone. I went through all the numbers previously with this same dealer on the Mazda Tribute before I saw the Santa Fe. They added up to the penny on the Tribute. But when it came to the Hyundai - the adv. fee appeared.
This forum is to educate each other - all I'm saying is not to take any dealer at his word. Do your homework.
Best of luck to all you Santa Fe'rs & soon to be Santa Fe'rs!
has anyone found somewhere where you can purchase those covers that go over the headlights or fog lights clear cover types....so how does everyone like their santa fe.... did everyone see the new commercial about the hitchiker?
I have come to understand that the invoice the dealer shows you is not necessarily the correct one. The MSRP sticker on the car cannot be changed by federal law, but the "invoice" or any extra sticker on the car is not held to any standards. That is why that adv fee is nowhere to be found on the sticker price of the car but somehow appears on the invoice. If a dealer willingly show you an invoice, 9 times out of 10 it is to give you a false sense of confidence that you are getting a good deal when in fact he has either added things to the invoice or changed the invoice all together to make it look like he has a smaller profit margin to work with.
What's the story on the vibration problem mentioned by some on here?, I'm looking hard at a Santa Fe and I'm quite surprised by the vehicle itself and all the positive comments on here. The only real negative is the one post about a loss of brakes...fun,fun,fun. Reminds me of the time the steering gearbox on a 67 Chevelle SS went out on me driving down the road. Would like to hear more on the advertising cost, does Hyundai pass on a similar fee on their other cars in the lineup?
The analysis about the cause of vibration has thus not led to any action by the dealer other than calls to Hyundai central and the balancing of tires. The dealer's attitude of "let's fix this fast" changed when I returned the rental car that HE was paying for and instead took the Santa Fe home. So what's new! The problem is twofold: the replacement parts do not exist and the financial incentive to fix it is thin, once the car is sold, out the door and on the road... I'll report any future moves on this issue.
With regard to the advertising fee, I offered to pay $500 over invoice when bargaining at my "no haggle" dealership. He instantly said "yes" but then showed me an "invoice" with the advertising fee, saying he paid it so I would as well. The overall price was about $450 under MSRP and I was tired of looking so I said okay. My conclusion is that with regards to the Santa Fe, your main concern should NOT be invoice plus, but MSRP minus. Find the lowest price and don't worry how the dealer calculates his own cost. Use your lowest cited price as your starting point: this is not very hard since there are so few options on the Santa Fe that it is easy to compare apples with apples.
Finally, I do have a last bit of advice for potential buyers. Hyundai really has not gotten its quality control down on Santa Fe. I have driven over a half dozen, and each rides a bit differently. Some are noisier (growl upon acceleration), some (many) have more or less serious vibration problems, some have weird brake pedal pressure problems (like mine). On the other hand, all the features that are pluses that have you looking at the vehicle remain there and do lead to a decent driving experience, especially given the competition. I would therefore suggest that you do consider the Santa Fe but extensively test drive the specific vehicle you might buy PRIOR to purchase. Decide whether the flaws are so serious that even if they were NEVER fixed, they on balance are not so bad that they would dissuade you for buying altogether. On the other hand, since Hyundai's history of building cars of questionnaire quality and reliability is a buying consideration (which obviously led to the long warranty - which is great as long as the car doesn't remain permanently in the shop, there are parts to fix the cars, and the cars do get fixed!), it would certainly be better for Hyundai to look more closely at their quality control processes and not allow questionnable vehicles to be put on dealer lots, even if that does lessen supply and profits.
Responding to #546, toeouch: Could you be more specific re brake pedal pressue...when I apply brakes the pedal feels "soft", it stops o.k. but it's an odd feeling. Has anyone had similar experiences?
i have lx4wd and my brake pedal is soft to but like all vehicles every one is different.i feel secure with them! i have no vibration at hte mentioned speed of 60 to 65 mph on the highway.i can also say i did my research with options other makes and models did price research. and i went from dealer invoice and did well...
IF ANYONE ELSE IS LOOKING REMARKS ON THE SANTE FE TRY THIS ONE OUT GO TO MSN.COM PUNCH IN SUV THEN SANTA FE THEN CONSUMER'S REMARKS YOU GET TO READ THEM AS WELL SCORE YOUR OWN SANTA FE HOW YOU RATE IT.
Hi KHJ: I think we're on the same page... just aren't connecting! Yes, you are right about the adv. fee not being on the window sticker (MSRP) but, as you found out, it is included on the invoice (which most of us don't usually get to see)....and the dealer figures it in one way or another. By 'baiting' you with the lower price on the phone and then adding the adv. fee after you got there, it pretty much showed that the dealer was a sleaze.
I think Edmunds should make it a little clearer that the Adv. Fee is added on top of the Invoice Price that they are giving us. Afterall, they make it clear there is the $435. destination fee so, even if the Adv. Fee isn't always the same, they should at least make it clear this fee is should be added to the Invoice Price to get their true cost (again, forgetting about the holdback).
I just look at this buying process as a game and don't take it personal. The dealer is out to make as much as they can and I'm trying to pay them as little as possible. Once I saw the invoice and became aware of the Adv. Fee then I had to put that in the equation. I ended up paying about $500 under MSRP so feel that I did ok. Whether someone pays a little less/more isn't really a big deal if you plan on having the car for a while.
The bottom line is that we (buyers) are the ones with the money and they know that once we walk out we aren't likely to come back. I didn't have to use that tactic this time but have in the past to let them know it wasn't a big deal whether or not I bought from them or someone else...or, even bought that kind of car. I think they have a sixth sense that sniff's out impulse buyers so if you are one, try and not act too giddy because you look like raw meat to a lion if you do!
Another hint to you guys/gals that haven't bought many cars before, let the salesman know that you are also considering brand xxx (in this case, the Tribute or RAV4 etc.) so they don't think you're already sold on THEIR brand.
IncrediBill: I had a 2002 (76) too! I always wished I had a Tii though! However, I don't think you bought an Santa Fe LX. In Calif., I know you paid at least 7% ($1400 or so) sales tax and a little over $300 vehicle registration plus probably $40 bucks doc. fee. So, if you subtract that $1740 or so from your out-the-door price of $20,128 it means you got it for about $18,400 which is unlikely because that's quite a bit less than dealer cost! If you actually DID get it for that price then you definitely got the deal of the century!
Bill: Just saw your correction! You still got a great deal!!
Good luck to all of you present & future Santa Fe owners! I think it's the best deal around.
Toeouch- what you said about different Santa Fe's all feeling a bit different is pretty disturbing. Getting past the nice paint and other visible features, there are a lot of parts that likley are made to wide tolerances. This explains the differences. Foe example, wheel bearings with a wider acceptable tolerance are cheaper, but if they are on the Santa Fe, they are only expected to last through the warranty.Improving the tolerance of the parts would increase cost. The vibration that comes at 60 and then goes away is a mystery. Anything out of balance would get worst, not disappear at a higher speed. You might get a good Santa Fe, you might get a bad one. A car with too many out of tolerance parts is a lemon. I remember when Borg Warner made the 6 speed in the camaro/firebird. Nice tranny! Then, BW sold the design to Tremec, of mexico. All Camaros since '97 have this six speed as an option. All six speeds since '97 are made by tremec. They are now troublesome and no two six speed cars feel the same. Tolerances are out the window. Hyundai makes cars with set tolerances and it is up to the dealer to fix them when the parts just don't mesh up. If you are in the city, you might have access to several dealers, maybe one is good. I live 30 miles from the nearest dealer. It is small, only gets a couple of Santa Fe's a week and I have no idea how their service dept is. The next dealer is 180 miles away. I would hate to get a lemon. There are many Kia owners (Kia is owned by Hyundai) who would love to ditch their cars, despite that 10 year warranty that only guarantees themn frequent dealer visits. Anecdotely, it seems like there is a high number of owners with problems compared to owners with no problems.While this would not keep me from buying one, it does concern me.
Hyundai's quaility has increased dramatically over the last several years...The problems of the 80's are gone. The Santa Fe was tested for over two (2)years in Korea before bringing to U.S.; Hyundai didn't want to take any chances with quality on this vehicle. Have there been any recalls on the Santa Fe? NO. Can Mazda Tribute or Ford Escape say that? NO. How about Four(4)recalls on these vehicles as of this posting. Just read any review you can find about the Santa Fe. I've read every one I can find, and they are all impressive. I talked to several mechanics who told me this is a solid quality vehicle. I believe its the best for the money. Just test drive for yourself. I did and purchased a 6-cylinder AWD LX I was so impressed. I believe the price will go up when people realize this may very well be the next PT Cruiser. We have 500 miles on it with no problems whatsoever. Its fun to drive, solid (weighs about 350 LBS more than similar vehicles), quiet (no wind noise), good handling and responsive steering. Seats are comfortable (leather seats). What a great warranty and I am near a great dealership. Comes with all the goodies. I could go on because I haven't had this much enjoyment in driving in years. If you think I am excited about this vehicle, you are right. I will update at 1000 miles. MORE LATER. AWD in Virginia
The quality of the Santa Fe some concern to me but if you look at the NHSTA site and search recalls on the 2001 Tribute you will see 6 and none on the Santa Fe.
I'll be purchasing a 2001 Sante Fe LX next week. The dealer mentioned an additional 40,000 mi. bumper to bumper warranty for around $900. This would give me a 10 year 100,000 mi bumper to bumper warranty. I intend to keep the vehicle for several years.The warranty is transferable too. Does anyone have an opinion on this extended warranty?
To james- recalls are only done for dects which can impair the safety of the car or violate the clean air act. If these things come with bearings that will poop out at 65K miles,seals that leak around the same time, transmisions that follow suit, hey, that's not recall material!If every Santa Fe feels a little different, then that is PROOF that there are some loose tolerances in play, and that will not change.I have been in three different CRV's and they all felt identical. For example, Chrysler is known for loose tolerances,yet people keep buying them. The rear ends had so much play that they sing in the new GC. Rather than replace them, they simply placed a shield over them to cut down noise. If you have a good Santa Fe, great. What if someone buys one and it isn't? What if it always has a vibration problem? What if the dealer and company says "it's normal, live with it!" Also, it is really too early to tell if the Santa Fe will have no recalls. I have seen a few Tributes around, but not one Santa Fe. They have to be on the road before problems surface.
to darryl- Where I live the dealership can't keep Santa Fe's. Believe it or not, when I bought mine there were at least 2 people trying to get the same Santa Fe's. (they had 4 vehicles at the time). People were everywhere wanting to test drive (big dealership). You don't see that many on the road because there is a nationwide shortage and they only came out recently. You are right about recalls not being the total picture, but it sure is a good indicator. Only time will tell about the Santa Fe. I will update every 1000 miles to let you and everyone else know if I am having any problems. Unfortuntely, there are bad vehicles in all brands. There is no guarantee any vehicle will be perfect. That's why they come with warranties. Perhaps you have heard the saying, "don't buy a vehicle made on Monday or Friday". When states passed lemon laws, it wasn't for any particular brand. It was for all brands. You apparently don't like Chrysler. But look at the success they have had. They have sold more mini-vans than carter has liver pills. Try to keep a positive attitude. Life's too short. Happy Holidays. MORE LATER. AWD in Virginia.
Regarding your question to convince you to buy the Santa Fe, I would like to say that we are not car salesmen here. We are expressing our opinions about the Santa Fe and not convincing people to buy or not to buy. What I like in a car may not be what you like or want. It is a subjective decision. Whether you are convinced or not is not our concern nor our job. You need to make your decision. If you think the Subaru is better, go for it. You can read opinions to see if the Santa Fe is what you want or dont want. So talk to a Santa Fe salesman to convince you and come back to read owners' opinions here.
I've put over 1200 miles on my Santa Fe so far, and it is still purring like a kitten. My lady's son made an interesting point about my Santa Fe yesterday; he said that he can't believe how quiet the ride is. I can't relate to the discussion about engine noise or vibrations at 60 mph. On the contrary, I have to watch the speedometer because I'll be doing 80 mph on these "lovely" LA freeways and it feels as if I'm going 60. The quality is there in this vehicle. I've read probably 90% of all the reviews on the internet for this vehicle and visit owner chatrooms like this one to hear about any problems. Fortunately, the accolades outweigh the complaints so far.
BTW, I'm going to install my medium burlwood wooddash today! I got it from www.exoticwooddash.com for $200! I'll try and post pictures at a later date.
There were some posting as to why buy and SUV instead of a van. My wife loves the Santa Fe but hates vans. The reason for the santa fe are, 1.Better view is safer 2.Higher roof mean less head banging and back strain putting out two year old into the car seat in the middle of the back seat (now have Mazda 626) 3 If hit by another SUV at least your not at eye level with the bumper. 4. No need for the bulk/size/extra seats of a van 5.In case you do get in that snow or more likely heavy rain the AWD or even FWD may help. 6 Weight and height of Santa fe make make for more safety than the light, low Mazda 626 7.Privacy glass is great to keep sun out of child's eyes. 8 Lots of storage compartments real air vents. 9 Vans to us are just ugly boxes but to each his own
To james- I hate Chrysler because 1) everyone in my family who has had one has had nothing but trouble 2) The second time the tranny went out in my K car, I ended up walking.When I got home, my older brother yelled where I was.From work he was given front row, center of the rink tickets for the season opener for the Kings, the first game that Gretzky played for LA. There were fireworks and, just months before his death, Roy Orbinson was there to sing the national anthem! I missed all this because of Chrysler! Anyhow, I drove the GLS awd with limited slip and I too was impressed. I didn't take it on the freeway though. This was the only SF the dealer had and I was told it was even for sale. They want to always have a demo ready and it was it. I don't know if the mon or fri logic still applies to cars. My Impala SS was the day before thanksgiving weekend (!), but has proven, at 50K to be a fine car. I was scared enough to shop service policies, but I am glad I didn't. I can't think of a worse day to buy a car than before thanksgiving! BTW, Chrysler has lead the industry in absenteism and that could be a factor in the poor quality of the vehicles. Recently, they took steps to curb this. I wish I could drive a SF with 70K miles on the clock. Most any new car will feel good. I drove a couple of new Cherokees,but I rode in my coworkers with 80K miles and it was leaky,on its 2nd cyclinder head and was creaky. to tomsr- Subaru? I won't denigrate them.But, my local Honda dealer also is the local SUbe dealer, and one of the mechanics told me that subes are good, but not excellent. For example, my CRV was one of only 8-10 CRV sold in the past three years that has been in for warranty work! He called the CRV the most trouble free car ever made by Honda. On the otherhand, he said SUbe can't compare. They get lots of them in for work, and often, there is a wait for parts and customers blame the dealer. he said that they are no worse than domestics, probably a little better, but they can and do have problems.He also said that even if he, a mechanic, were to get the Sube I6 VDC, he would buy a service warranty because the system is complex with expensive parts. I have questioned the quality of Santa Fe. In quality, the SUbe is closer to the SF than the CRV. My point is... at the level, the SF would be a better buy.At my work, one person has had two Subes and loves them, another had one that was a lemon and hates them.In the low 20's, I think the two best choices are the SF, for size and features, and the CRV for quality and reliability. Compared to those two, Subaru gives the least of both.
well i'd like to say i drive also on paved roads i dont go hotdogging off roading either if you like that type of vehicle then do it you have to be happy but FIRST test drive the santa fe.... luv mine ..and wouldn't trade it,its graet and has it all and handles well in the wind enjoy
To Darryl..Good Post. I think we have learned over the years that no vehicle is perfect. Each has its own problems. (unless you buy a lexus) We had a 1994 Dodge Caravan and a 1998 also with no problems. My father has a 1999 LHS and my brother has a 1997 Stratus and a 2000 Dakota. No problems with any of these vehicles. My wifes last 3 vehicles were vans and she fell in love with the SF when it came out. So we got rid of the 98 caravan and got the SF. Should I buy the 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty for $900.00 ?. (assuming it plan to keep for 10 years) or simply invest or keep the money for myself? It already has 5 years or 60,000 B to B and 100,000 powertrain. I'm sure a lot of SF buyers are questioning if extended warranty is worth it. You are right about the K Cars. A lot of bad cars were made in the 80's. I had a new Ford which was a lemon. In the shop more than the road. Traded in after six months. This was before the lemon laws. You seem to have a better knowledge of vehicles than I do. I agree the CRV is a good choice based on what I have read. HAPPY MOTORING. Awd in Virginia
I forgot to post the besst gauge. Go to warranyygold.com and get some quotes. The higher the quote (for extended warranty), the greaterlikely hood of expensive and frequent repairs. They make their living on this, so check it out.Of course, the standard warranty might skew comparing, so compare the SF to the Sportage (poorer quality!) and to the Rodeo (maybe better quality).Is $900 for complete coverage worth it? I dunno. I got a quote from warrantygold for $900 to extend the warranty on my CRV to 100K miles!If you were talking about a Chrysler, I would do it.I am inclined to do it on a SF for a few reasons 1)A lot of stuff can go wrong between 60K and 100K miles. Everything but the drivetrain went out on my Audi. Had the Audi had the Hyundai warranty, it would not help a bit. Ever tried to change a blower motor? Replace struts? Pain. A good plan takes away those worries.Plus, the SF is new and parts could be hard to come by in a timely manner. A service plan can give you a loaner car.FWIW, my mom got the warrantygold plan on her crappy Lincoln Continental and has used it twice already. I think it will more than pay for itself in her case. Do remember that a service paln doesn't cover maintenance. However, it does pay for all that breaks, and paying upfront gives you set amount. For example, I have no idea who makes the auto (Hyundai?), but if it craps out, it could cost up to $2,000 to get it fixed (imports are more expensive).If that happened with it in extended warranty, you would be happy to get a new tranny for free! Unless underwriting believes recent Hyundais to be yucky,they should be able to give a better price than dealer, based on the already good warranty.Oh, if you want the the Hyundai exteneded warranty, bear in mind that there is a good chance that the price is negotiable. For example, on my Impala SS, I got a quote of $1600, but a dealer back east would sell me the same GM plan for $1200. In other words, call around to other dealers and get prices. A dealer in Bum f$ck Egypt might be happy to make a mere $50 for selling a plan to a customer he will never see.
I picked up my SF GLS AWD w/antilock brakes-traction control two week ago. It was the best decision I have made! This is the first SUV that I have ever owned. My last two cars were economy models. When you go from a Nissan Sentra to a Santa Fe you feel like you are driving an Luxury car. And to all the people out there wanting to get one do it - you will not be disappointed!
I have not had any problems and I have an hour compute to and from work. In regard to the person who has vibration - were is it located? I thought my SF was doing it to then what I figured out is that it was my cd jewel cases rattling in the slot below the CD/Radio.
I'll keep everyone posted on how I'm doing with it.
I thought that Consumer Digest gives "best buy" designation according to consumer rating of the vehicles. How can they give it a best buy designation if it has only been on sale a few months,only a few people have bought it, reliability is still uncertain. Not to say that I dont think its a nice vehicle, because I do, but it worries me.
The testing is done by Consumer Reports. The Santa Fe is mentioned in Consumer Digest as a best buy in compact/midsize SUV's along with the Forester,Xterra,Tribute/Escape, the Dec. 2000 issue (annual buying guide) mentions the Santa Fe. Has anyone seen the new Saturn SUV it may be worth waiting for.
I was finally able to test drive a Santa Fe at the dealership last Saturday. I must say that I was very impressed with the vehicle. I found it handled very well, the ride was very quiet, and seemed to have plenty of power.(no hills or load and AC not on) I think the best feature though is the Shiftronic transmission, it really is fun to use! Basically, the Santa Fe fits our needs perfectly except it's towing capacity.(Posts 340 and 344) According to the manual (thanks Mr Twixx) and info from Hyundai of Canada, the capacity for the AWD with ABS (Canadian GLS) is 1500 pounds, and I need to tow about 1300. Hyundai of Canada would not say if the Santa Fe could tow this load safely, and not cause any damage to engine or tranny. Has anybody out there that has bought a Santa Fe towed anything (weighing this amount?) Is the power and brakes sufficient? How about going up hills? Thanx
When you buy extended warranty you are buying peace of mind and that is priceless.I paid $995 for 7 years 100K miles waranty covering everything except cosmetics when I bought a new 98 Acura but I don't expect to use it.Of course the other option is to have the cash set aside in case something does break.It's an insurance policy!
I'm a new poster and Santa Fe owner. Actually my girlfriend and I purchased it. Started reading here prior to purchase and have continued...I guess I need reassured that I made a good move.
Purchased a Black GLS which now has 600 miles on it. (Our 1st SUV). My girlfriend had no desire for an SUV; we had a Toyota Celica GT. Now I can't get her out of it. We went for the Hyundai 10/100,000 extended warranty ($1000) because of the 1st year syndrome. We figured the price per year was worth it.
So far we have no complaints. Its not as fast as the Celica but I'm actually impressed with its pickup, especially if you keep the revs up. We have had several people stop and do a doubletake when they see the Hyundai Badge. One friend saw it and said "You must be doing pretty good to afford a new Lexus" I pointed out the Hyundai nameplate, much to his amazement.
I read an epinion by Bobmazda regarding the tinny(sp) sound of the door closing. I don't know what vehicle he was looking at but I'm impressed by the "thunk" it makes and am pleased with the fit and finish.
Anyone purchased their Santa Fe in Missouri or Illinois? Would you mind telling me what trim you got as well as the deal you were able to get? I got two dealers within 20 miles of each other in St. Louis area. One can't keep them on the lot, the other is sitting on 8 4wdGLS and 2 4wdLX. Some of the GLS have been on the lot for 60+ days! I can't figure it out. The guy with none is selling them at 9% over MSRP and the other one that is not able to sell them is offering them at 3% over invoice! I saw his invoice on a GLS and it was only $200 different then what Edmunds says. I wonder what the deal is around here. What I want is a 2wdGLS anyone seen one in these areas?
Comments
Do you know for a fact that Hyundai does not charge dealers for advertising? I am picking up my Santa Fe on Monday. The invoice I was shown has a charge of $622.00 for advertising. The dealer said they have to pay it, so I do. If you are correct, how can I show the dealer I have proof?
Some of us housewives just want a fun ride that our husbands will enjoy. (My husband dislikes my car because after driving his truck he feels like he is sitting on the road in my car.) Personally, when I drove my van I felt like I was driving a bus.
I'm sorry to vent but the van vs. SUV argument is getting very old!
On your second question, it's not possible to prove a negative.
If someone claims something exists, the burden of proof is on the person making that claim.
the MSRP and invoice price are readily available free information on the internet.
the MSRP on the Santa Fe amounts to (as I recall) about a $1100 to 1400 markup. A smaller markup than other comparable products, but still a markup. In my area MSRP for the Santa Fe was still less than a "deal" on a comparably equipped Tribute. (The Mazda dealer around here, by the way, hasn't had a trib on the lot for more than 2 months, and won't for several more. I think they are still taking orders for MSRP! Why not? If you can sell a car you haven't bought yet, might as well ask for top dollar. but my guess is that demand is falling.)
I have seen no standard "advertising fee." Some dealers apply it for negotiating purposes, some don't. Mine didn't. But for all I know, they might with somebody else.
dealers receive holdback dollars on quick sales.
what is "a fair" price depends upon perception. What's fair for me, may not be for another.
you can only negotiate with someone if you are prepared to leave the table. If you gotta have it, you will pay what the seller wants you to.
these new SUV's are selling quickly right now, so it will be hard to negotiate a price (whatever that price is) that is less than the seller knows he can get from somebody else. Some dealers seem to be capitalizing on that market.
things may change as inventory builds, or if demand slips. I think the price will fall later in the year, but nobody really knows.
If you can wait, and a price is more than you want to pay, you might as well keep looking. Why argue?
there is always someone who gets a better deal than you.
Why is 4wd so much safer?? Except for taking off, or driving thru deep snow, 4wd does little. After snow snorms, a majority of vehicles in the ditch are 4 wd. Why?? - overconfidence! If you do no spin when taking off, you often do not realize how slick it is. Back wheels having power to them do not eliminate slidng, or help at all when stopping. I recently was driving on ice when a 4wd Suburban passed me going way to fast. 10 minutes later, his vehicle was 100 yds off the road, rolled several times, and he was dead. 4wd was the cause of this. He had no clue how slick it was and his vehicle slid just as easy as any fwd vehicle on the road. Once he started sliding, he could not stop any easier either!
I am not knocking 4wd! It has its place. However, don't be fooled into thinking you are safer. If you believe that, you are driving too fast for the conditions and you are a danger to everyone else!!
leigh8: Of course you are right..and YOU ARE probably fun at the annual x-mas party - not to mention you look way-more cool in your Santa Fe than the housewives in their minivans! Enjoy your new car!
1postle: Naw, I'm not a car salesman. Like everyone else, I just did a bunch of research and drove everything a couple of times because, regardless of price, buying a car is very subjective and you have to feel the car is right for you or what's the point? However, I did get the dealer to show me their invoice which had the fee's I mentioned earlier - (yep, even the advertising fee). I don't have the figures with me now but I believe Edmunds had the invoice price at 19,187 for the LX FWD but the final dealer cost after adding the dest. fee/Advertising fee/& options for my car was around 20,499. So that's where I started my bargaining.
khj: I'm sure you are a smart shopper just like most of us on this chain probably are. I'm not sure what you mean by "they quoted me one price & offered me another"..say what?? Also, what do you mean "they can put anything in that advertising fee section & they did"..?? Who's 'they'? Hyundai or the dealer? The invoice I saw was the real deal from Hyundai that had the fee's I stated above. The bottom line is that we all want the best deal we can get but I only pin the 'greedy' tag on those that add a 'dealer markup' to the MSRP.
jcgso: I think andes11 is mistaken. Dealers do get charged for advertising by the manufacturer (even Edmunds says as much - but not HOW much) so this should be considered when you start negotiating. Bottom line - have the dealer show you their hard-copy invoice!
camacle: I couldn't agree more about being prepared to walk away if you don't like their deal (this is probably rule #1) and most of what you said. However, whether a customer knows it or not, the dealer is taking into consideration the advertising fee they are charged.
harlek: I love mine too! I'm surprise at the complimentary remarks I get on it because I figured most people wouldn't like the styling. You are also right-on about 4wd. It reminds me of the short time I lived in Colorado when many of the local snow-driving experts found themselves in the ditch and us dummies from the sunshine states stayed on the road! Obviously, the local folks that had it together stayed on the road too but it's more a 'driver thing' than a '4wd/2wd' thing!
To those of you that have a trade-in - try NOT to have one! First of all, you can get much more selling it yourself (yeah, it's a hassle but I made $2,000 more than the dealer was willing to pay me for mine). Also, the dealers play with what they give you for your old car to make it look like they're really giving you a deal on the new one. So, you really never know just how much you paid for it (most likely more than MSRP!).
By the way, I don't claim to be an expert on awd's but I've owned two 4x4 FJ40 LandCruisers (the old style looking ones) which are about as rugged a vehicle as there is and a 4x4 Toyota PU that I used for some hardcore off-roading in the states and Baja so I know a little bit. Maybe that's why it amuses me when someone thinks they're cool because they actually take their AWD CRV on dirt roads!! Hang on to your hat Tilly, we're going off-roadin!! (just watch out for that old geezer up ahead in his Caddy..).
HUNTER36: Meaning - I was quoted on the phone $350 over invoice until I walked into the dealership & they added $579 adv. fee which was never stated to me on the phone. I went through all the numbers previously with this same dealer on the Mazda Tribute before I saw the Santa Fe. They added up to the penny on the Tribute. But when it came to the Hyundai - the adv. fee appeared.
This forum is to educate each other - all I'm saying is not to take any dealer at his word. Do your homework.
Best of luck to all you Santa Fe'rs & soon to be Santa Fe'rs!
HUNTER36: Meaning - I was quoted on the phone $350 over invoice until I walked into the dealership & they added $579 adv. fee which was never stated to me on the phone. I went through all the numbers previously with this same dealer on the Mazda Tribute before I saw the Santa Fe. They added up to the penny on the Tribute. But when it came to the Hyundai - the adv. fee appeared.
This forum is to educate each other - all I'm saying is not to take any dealer at his word. Do your homework.
Best of luck to all you Santa Fe'rs & soon to be Santa Fe'rs!
Reminds me of the time the steering gearbox on a 67 Chevelle SS went out on me driving down the road.
Would like to hear more on the advertising cost, does Hyundai pass on a similar fee on their other cars in the lineup?
With regard to the advertising fee, I offered to pay $500 over invoice when bargaining at my "no haggle" dealership. He instantly said "yes" but then showed me an "invoice" with the advertising fee, saying he paid it so I would as well. The overall price was about $450 under MSRP and I was tired of looking so I said okay. My conclusion is that with regards to the Santa Fe, your main concern should NOT be invoice plus, but MSRP minus. Find the lowest price and don't worry how the dealer calculates his own cost. Use your lowest cited price as your starting point: this is not very hard since there are so few options on the Santa Fe that it is easy to compare apples with apples.
Finally, I do have a last bit of advice for potential buyers. Hyundai really has not gotten its quality control down on Santa Fe. I have driven over a half dozen, and each rides a bit differently. Some are noisier (growl upon acceleration), some (many) have more or less serious vibration problems, some have weird brake pedal pressure problems (like mine). On the other hand, all the features that are pluses that have you looking at the vehicle remain there and do lead to a decent driving experience, especially given the competition. I would therefore suggest that you do consider the Santa Fe but extensively test drive the specific vehicle you might buy PRIOR to purchase. Decide whether the flaws are so serious that even if they were NEVER fixed, they on balance are not so bad that they would dissuade you for buying altogether. On the other hand, since Hyundai's history of building cars of questionnaire quality and reliability is a buying consideration (which obviously led to the long warranty - which is great as long as the car doesn't remain permanently in the shop, there are parts to fix the cars, and the cars do get fixed!), it would certainly be better for Hyundai to look more closely at their quality control processes and not allow questionnable vehicles to be put on dealer lots, even if that does lessen supply and profits.
Has anyone had similar experiences?
I think Edmunds should make it a little clearer that the Adv. Fee is added on top of the Invoice Price that they are giving us. Afterall, they make it clear there is the $435. destination fee so, even if the Adv. Fee isn't always the same, they should at least make it clear this fee is should be added to the Invoice Price to get their true cost (again, forgetting about the holdback).
I just look at this buying process as a game and don't take it personal. The dealer is out to make as much as they can and I'm trying to pay them as little as possible. Once I saw the invoice and became aware of the Adv. Fee then I had to put that in the equation. I ended up paying about $500 under MSRP so feel that I did ok. Whether someone pays a little less/more isn't really a big deal if you plan on having the car for a while.
The bottom line is that we (buyers) are the ones with the money and they know that once we walk out we aren't likely to come back. I didn't have to use that tactic this time but have in the past to let them know it wasn't a big deal whether or not I bought from them or someone else...or, even bought that kind of car. I think they have a sixth sense that sniff's out impulse buyers so if you are one, try and not act too giddy because you look like raw meat to a lion if you do!
Another hint to you guys/gals that haven't bought many cars before, let the salesman know that you are also considering brand xxx (in this case, the Tribute or RAV4 etc.) so they don't think you're already sold on THEIR brand.
IncrediBill: I had a 2002 (76) too! I always wished I had a Tii though!
However, I don't think you bought an Santa Fe LX. In Calif., I know you paid at least 7% ($1400 or so) sales tax and a little over $300 vehicle registration plus probably $40 bucks doc. fee. So, if you subtract that $1740 or so from your out-the-door price of $20,128 it means you got it for about $18,400 which is unlikely because that's quite a bit less than dealer cost! If you actually DID get it for that price then you definitely got the deal of the century!
Bill: Just saw your correction! You still got a great deal!!
Good luck to all of you present & future Santa Fe owners! I think it's the best deal around.
the Hyundai dealership you got your SF from
and ask this question tomorrow morning:
Does Hyundai Motor America/Hyundai Motor Company charge/bill your dealership
for their advertising cost?
If the manager answers yes, then get his/her
FULL name and post the names of the dealership and manager here.
Can you do that for us?
Legacy assuming I only drive on paved roads.
Regarding your question to convince you to buy the Santa Fe, I would like to say that we are not car salesmen here. We are expressing our opinions about the Santa Fe and not convincing people to buy or not to buy. What I like in a car may not be what you like or want. It is a subjective decision. Whether you are convinced or not is not our concern nor our job. You need to make your decision. If you think the Subaru is better, go for it. You can read opinions to see if the Santa Fe is what you want or dont want. So talk to a Santa Fe salesman to convince you and come back to read owners' opinions here.
BTW, I'm going to install my medium burlwood wooddash today! I got it from www.exoticwooddash.com for $200! I'll try and post pictures at a later date.
1.Better view is safer
2.Higher roof mean less head banging and back strain putting out two year old into the car seat in the middle of the back seat (now have Mazda 626)
3 If hit by another SUV at least your not at eye level with the bumper.
4. No need for the bulk/size/extra seats of a van
5.In case you do get in that snow or more likely heavy rain the AWD or even FWD may help.
6 Weight and height of Santa fe make make for more safety than the light, low Mazda 626
7.Privacy glass is great to keep sun out of child's eyes.
8 Lots of storage compartments
real air vents.
9 Vans to us are just ugly boxes but to each his own
to tomsr- Subaru? I won't denigrate them.But, my local Honda dealer also is the local SUbe dealer, and one of the mechanics told me that subes are good, but not excellent. For example, my CRV was one of only 8-10 CRV sold in the past three years that has been in for warranty work! He called the CRV the most trouble free car ever made by Honda. On the otherhand, he said SUbe can't compare. They get lots of them in for work, and often, there is a wait for parts and customers blame the dealer. he said that they are no worse than domestics, probably a little better, but they can and do have problems.He also said that even if he, a mechanic, were to get the Sube I6 VDC, he would buy a service warranty because the system is complex with expensive parts. I have questioned the quality of Santa Fe. In quality, the SUbe is closer to the SF than the CRV. My point is... at the level, the SF would be a better buy.At my work, one person has had two Subes and loves them, another had one that was a lemon and hates them.In the low 20's, I think the two best choices are the SF, for size and features, and the CRV for quality and reliability. Compared to those two, Subaru gives the least of both.
I have not had any problems and I have an hour compute to and from work. In regard to the person who has vibration - were is it located? I thought my SF was doing it to then what I figured out is that it was my cd jewel cases rattling in the slot below the CD/Radio.
I'll keep everyone posted on how I'm doing with it.
Has anyone seen the new Saturn SUV it may be worth waiting for.
Thanx
peace of mind and that is priceless.I paid $995
for 7 years 100K miles waranty covering everything
except cosmetics when I bought a new 98 Acura but
I don't expect to use it.Of course the other option is to have the cash set aside in case
something does break.It's an insurance policy!
Purchased a Black GLS which now has 600 miles on it. (Our 1st SUV). My girlfriend had no desire for an SUV; we had a Toyota Celica GT. Now I can't get her out of it. We went for the Hyundai 10/100,000 extended warranty ($1000) because of the 1st year syndrome. We figured the price per year was worth it.
So far we have no complaints. Its not as fast as the Celica but I'm actually impressed with its pickup, especially if you keep the revs up. We have had several people stop and do a doubletake when they see the Hyundai Badge. One friend saw it and said "You must be doing pretty good to afford a new Lexus" I pointed out the Hyundai nameplate, much to his amazement.
I read an epinion by Bobmazda regarding the tinny(sp) sound of the door closing. I don't know what vehicle he was looking at but I'm impressed by the "thunk" it makes and am pleased with the fit and finish.
Well I post notes as to how it goes.
http://www.t-h-c.org/cgi-bin/iviewer/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=SantaFe-Images&image=1770_3.jpg&img=36&tt=