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After many months of looking I finally wrote that big check and drove away with a Nortic White L. model this evening. I have driven it only 27 miles thus far so it is certainly too early to give much of an opinion but I will admit that the more I drove the happier I was with my decision. I can say that after driving four cylinder cars for the past ten years the increased pickup was certainly welcomed. Also, while driving home I was very impressed with the lights. This car has two additional lights below the bumper which really do a great job to light up the road.
There are some things some potential buyers should know though. Some of you may recall my earlier posts questioning the accuracy of the pricing on Edmunds and all of the other similar sites. While these invoice prices are correct they are also incomplete. For example, my first offer was @$200 over what I thought was invoice. Every dealer told me that this was simply not correct, and not even close to their actual costs. Yes I tended not to believe them. Also, my car came with the only three options you can currently order for this car, floor mats, cargo net, and a wind deflector for the sunroof. Embarassing as it is to admit it, my offer did not take into consideration these three items. Lastly, and I know that I said earlier that I would not pay it, there is an advertising fee that varies widely by region. The base Edmunds price is roughly $22,854? The three options add another $103 bringing the total to $22,957. However, I held the invoice in my hand and the total came to $23,548, a difference of $591. This difference is directly attributable to this advertising fee. The dealer tells me that the reason that this is added on the invoice as an advertising fee instead of just increasing the price is so that the dealers can deduct this from their taxes as an advertising expense. I paid $199 over invoice for this car, which I considered a fair deal. I could have actually bought the car for about $100 less but I would have had to do so outside of my region where the advertising fee was cheaper. For me this was not worth the trouble and to tell the truth finding a I model of any kind was difficult, much less in my first choice of white. In fact, at almost exactly the same time as I bought the car, another couple was in another cubicle also closing the same deal on the same car. I beat them to the car literally by seconds. The also agreed to pay more than I did too.
Thanks to everyone for all of your help. I will keep you all posted as to my happiness with this vehicle.
Test drove an "I" model and liked it except could not get drivers seat height adjusted. Does anyone know if the seat height is adjustable for both the front and back of the seat cushion? The salesman and I both tried adjusting the bar, but it only raises the front elevation of the seat. This seems to be a full featured car but seats need to be adjustable for different drivers. Does anyone know if 2002 models will solve this?
Also does this car have a timing belt or chain? Does this require the head to be removed? I hear this is a Mitisubishi engine, so how good are they? I drive cars past 100,000 miles which is over 10 years?
Beautiful car, good ride, personally thought the engine to be quite peppy. Just don't know if I can get over the long term reliability question.
Whenever you take a decent test drive, you should test the dealership by making sure they can answer all of your questions. Have 'em pull out an owner's manual. If you can't find the answer, tell 'em to ask Service Dept. Talk with Service Dept. to see if they are friendly, know their stuff, is clean, etc. Buying a car is more than just the car. Really should shop on total buying and ownership experience. I won't buy from a dealer who can't or won't answer questions or who won't do same, either, in a friendly way. No decent test drive is complete without checking out the dealer's facilities and bugging people for answers to any and all questions you might have. A good dealer will ensure his/her sales staff and service dept. get you the info. And if they can't right then, they should say they will get back with you once they do and follow thru!!!
Not sure about the CA emissions requirements but I test drove a evening fog (L.) at Wilden's Hyundai in Las Vegas about 2 weeks ago. I think there were 3 on the lot.
I drove an XG300 last week for the first time. Wow, was I impressed! I have since read every post written on the XG and I am now pretty certain that I will be purchasing.
Thanks for the responce.I haven't seen evening fog in daylight. How would you describe the color? Does it change color at night? My kids are definitely sold on the xg, I'm still deciding.
Let me just say that I have but 500 miles on my new XG300L and every day I am more and more pleased with my decision. After spending considerable time in my father's 2000 Avalon, which I strongly considered for myself, I chose the XG. My main reason for choosing the XG was because of the cost but I also just liked the styling better. I was fearful that the ride might not be as smooth or the engine as powerful as the Avalon. Perhaps on paper this is the case, however in driving the two the differences are not at all noticeable. I do know that the radio is better on the XG. The transmitter to unlock the doors works from further away on the Avalon. I have only gotten half way through the owners manual so I don't fully know all about the XG and each day I discover something different. My friends at work were giving me grief about buying a Hyundai until they saw the car. One co-worker just put down a deposit to order a BMW 32?. I do not exaggerate when I tell you he is just sick that I could buy such an automobile for $23,700 and he is going to pay over $36,000. He is seriously considering canceling his order on the beemer and just giving up his deposit to get himself an XG. Lest someone out there chastise me for comparing the two cars, I AM NOT. However, it is a fact that this guy is sick after seeing how nice is my car. The only complaint I have heard is about the wheels. I agree that the rims are butt ugly but the rest of the car makes up for it. Some even seem to feel that it resembles a Bently.
Regarding Hyundai's connection with Mitsubishi. Regardless of the engines origins, it is smooth and plenty powerful. If it should turn out to be a Mitsubishi engine or even a clone it is not a bad thing, just the opposite. I personally put 183,000 on a Galant before I wrecked it. I have a Mitsubishi Expo LRV in my garage right now with over 140,000 without any engine problems to date. Mitsubishi makes great engines. Unfortunately they make terrible transmissions and brakes. Speaking of transmissions, as I said earlier, each day I discover something new about my XG. Yesterday I discovered that transmission also includes, from the factory, an auxillary transmission cooler. I was going to install one myself just to lengthen the tranny's life but Hyundai did it for me. Obviously they are working hard to insure reliability. I just hope that they put in as much effort on the brakes.
what is wrong with the brakes? you don't like the feel of them right? i think the brakes are awesome(in that the front rotors are "HUGE") except the pedal "feel".
the solution is stainless braided brake lines from either EARLS.. or some other brand name..it should help..
A friend at work has leased a black Jag S. I have been a Jag fan from the 50's. Beautiful cars but back to reality!
I made an offer 27k on an Avalon and the salesmen laughed at it. This should have bought the car by Edmunds pricing. Wife did not like the Avalon. Looks too bib for her.
She likes this XG300 though. Well, I too think the styling is better on the XG300L. I think the white color is the best combination for interior and exterior. The interior is just as plush looking to me as that in the Jag. It just needs that "Jag hood emblem and the wheels". Well, I guess you have to give up something for the 40k to 24k difference.
By the way the Avalon had front and back seat cushion height adjustment? The XG300 does not? The Avalon quality may be slipping based on this site.
I have read reviews with complaints on the transmission shifting at lower speeds. Have you noticed this? Did not notice that during my test drive. Seemed to be as smooth as silk.
Since you are in Las Vegas,try Valley Hyundai in Henderson,they give you the 24K/24month free maint-anance,and have all colors in stock.I bought one there last month and LOVE it.
When I saw the MSRP of the XG300 on the commerical, I told my friends Hyundai is crazy. If I pay that amount of money, I can buy a fully-equipped Accord, Camry, or Maxima. If I pay a little bit more, I can get similar equipped Passat 1.8t. They are either reliable Japanese sedans or nice German sedan. IMO, they are much better than a Korean sedan.
I doubt XG300 can steal a lot of sales from Accord or Camry, may be a little.
Why do you want to buy a Korean car ? You are looking for a way to use the least money to get the most features !
I am not a Honda or Toyota fan but I won't put $24k for a Korean sedan even though it is nicely equipped.
People in here get defensive real fast and make personal attacks when you critique their choice or occupation or something they purchased...
I don't know why? I guess they come in here looking for some validation for their decision. Personally, when I invest a good deal of my time or money, I am positve about the decision enough not to be concerned about what other think..
By the way the xg weighs 600 lbs more than a comparably equipped Camry. Further the competing models referenced by 'Edmunds' include Camry and Accord. I don't see a TL or lexus in duh bunch..They muss b wrong 2...!Can all of the people who don't agree with u be wrong..? Being perfect muss be hard to maintain...
You keep wanting to compare apples to oranges. Comparing loaded XG300 to a stripped Camry isn't fair. A much better comparison is to Avalon.
Hyundai XG300L weighs 3,604 pounds. Is 191.5 inches long, has a 108.3 inch wheelbase, is 71.9 inches wide, and 55.9 inches tall. EPA rates it at 19/27 mpg.
Toyota Avalon weighs 3,330 pounds. Is 191.9 inches long, has a 107.1 inch wheelbase, is 71.7 inches wide, and 57.7 inches tall. EPA rates it at 21/29 mpg.
These two cars are more comparable in regard to standard and expected equipment, engines, size, etc. Sonata compares better to Camry.
according to a recent Financial Times article. reuters and the others state the same.
Re: post #263
maybe you've been in the dark the last few decades, but Korea is the #1 producer of steel in the world surpassing even Japan(former #1). And Posco(listed on the NYSE) is the single largest steel company in the world.
And also the #1 shipbuilding nation in the world is Korea and it too surpassed Japan recently(former #1). Hyundai Heavy Industries(no relation to Hyundai motor anymore; they split) is the world's largest shipbuilding company. Samsung Heavy Industries is not far behind.
And analysts project that it will stay that way into the near future based on the Number of orders received.
There is an interesting story on how Korea became #1 in shipbuilding. Way back when in the early '60's, the then President Park of Korea was promoting heavy industry to enrichen the country. But they needed money and nobody would loan them any money. But a man named Chung Ju-young set out to obtain some funds. He was turned down everywhere. His lucky break came when he was meeting with Barclay's Bank in England. He appealed for funds. The Barclay people were skeptical. But Mr. Chung pulled out a bill depicting an iron clad submersible turtle ship that was used to defeat the Japanese in the late 1500's. That was the first ship of it's kind, Mr.Chung said. And Mr. Chung still had to convince them how he intended to start the shipbuilding business.
At the time, Mr. Chung didn't even have an order for any ships let alone a shipyard!
Well upon obtaining the funds from Barclay's, Mr. Chung was able to secure an order for a couple of ships(from the Greek company) and he built the ships and the shipyard in two years!
That surprised everybody!
And since then everything was kind of in a catch-up mode.
Everything was rushed and hurried.
That was the Korean way.
Mr. Chung started the automobile business by rebuilding jeeps that were left by American soldiers after the Korean war in 1953. After Hyundai came out with their first model the Pony, again a rushed attempt was made to export them.
Well almost 40 years later, the Korean economy has matured and stands tall as one of the newly industrialized countries.
There isn't as desperate of a drive to catch up with Japan or the other industrialized countries on just a output basis anymore. Outputwise, Korea is right up there. It is one of the top ten in the world I believe.
Now, the korean economy has matured for the most part and the products coming out of that country reflect that.
The above advantages plus a super diligent work force with high ethics, supporting clusters of industries for the automobile industry gives the korean auto manufacturers a comparative advantage.
As you may know, the #1 producer of memory chips is Samsung and they have just developed the world's first 4 gigbyte Mega DRam chip. That is probably at least two years ahead of anyone else(including Japan which was the former #1 until the last eighties) considering that Samsung was 18 months ahead of the Japanese in coming out with the 1 giga chip.
Internet usage is among the highest in the world in Korea and the whole country is wired for high speed internet access.
All of the above factors plus a lot of hard work have catapulted Korea from being one of the poorest nations in the world in the early '60's to becoming a full-fledged industrial powerhouse nation it has become.
But the rivalry between Japan and Korea surely played a role in the upsurge akin to the rivalry between Germany and England or France.
And in 2002, Korea/Japan will be hosting the World Cup Soccer event together.
Now, I look forward to "matured" products from Korea.
in2dadark--- You've never SERIOUSLY considered the XG at all and you know it. You are only in this topic blowing smoke. I've read your stuff in other topics...so just go buy the friggin' Avalon and be done with it. If you have anything USEFUL to offer this forum, it is the reminder that dilettantes like yourself prove their utter USELESSNESS.
r34--- Maxima, maybe...full blown Accord or Camry, never. Passat of any variety...you've got to be kidding. ...let's see...hmmmmm, 5/60 + 5/60 + 10/100 vs...uh-oh, 2/24 + 2/24 + 10/100. Yeah, that's the ticket...Gimme one o' those. In case you didn't know it, r34, VW has a great deal of experience making bad cars and, I dare say, a much richer tradition of it than Hyundai.
Korean cars are here to stay. They get better each and every cycle and soon will be kicking serious butt in the U.S. Guys like me will be waving to guys like you with your finely engineered German made hood up in the air on the roadside. But that's OK...you'll have your Comprehensive Roadside Assistance to rely on...er, well maybe, that is, er, if you need it, er, in the first two years. Won't that be a comfort.
YK911 - I never said that the brakes on the XG were bad. My car is new and it it way too early to judge. I am also impressed with the large rotors you mentioned. I did say that Mitsubishi, who may or may not have built the brake system on my XG, typically makes cars with brake problems. Go out and look at the Galant postings and you will see the same problems over and over - brakes and transmissions. I formerly owned two (now one) Mitsubishi products which were wonderful vehicles if you take away the four transmissions and the countless brake repairs, repairs that Mitsubishi has admitted to covering up. That does not mean that the brakes on the XG are faulty. In fact I agree that they are quite powerful. Lets just hope that they are also quite durable.
Regarding the comparisons of the XG to the Camry, the Accord, the Maxima, or the VW, all four of these vehicles are well established. The Camry and Accord have earned a great repair record though I personally believe that the Toyota, once the clear reliability king, has been toppled by Honda. The reliability of the Maxima is a distant third. However, the Maxima has a far more spirited engine. Any reasonable person who has taken the time to research VW any at all will find that they are simply not reliable cars (hence the two year warranty). Just because they are high priced for what you get and made in Germany does not make them a Mercedes or BMW. However VW has, in my opinion, done a better styling job than the other three. Unfortunately, and I admit that this is subjective, all three of the other vehicles are just plain bland, particularly the interiors. I challenge anyone to compare the interior styling and creature comforts on the top of the line models of any of these three to the XG. I could have bought any one of them and I personally could see no comparison. Regarding Korean built cars. I personally don't care where they make them or how much they weigh. The only thing that matters to me is that they are good looking, reasonably priced, pleasant to drive, and reliable. I also think that anyone who prefers a Camry, Accord. or Maxima should buy what they like. I just decided when opting for an XG to step up another notch in luxury, yes to Avalon territory. I have no regrets thus far.
Regarding the transmission questions, the fuzzy logic is going to take some getting use to (hence why it is called fuzzy logic). The car definately remembers your driving habits. When I first started driving it I experienced the noticable delay between pushing down on the accelerator and the car downshifting and taking off. After a bit of driving more aggressively I found just the opposite was true. I found myself suddenly accelerating briskly when I did not mean to. Obviously both problems will go away when the car and I get use to one another. I would say that this has been a small problem and I remain very happy with my decision to purchase the XG instead of the Avalon.
Hopefully u all wont get bored with your purchase, because I will be glad to offer you a small fraction of what u paid and I will be among the generous ones!
I actually drove the xg three times and drove two different ones. Each time my opinion depreciated. Familiarity breeds contempt?? True in here no doubt..LOL
I opted for an appreciably loaded Camry which was made in Japan...(paid four hundred under invoice -500 rebate). My opinion of IT has only appreciated up to the 418 miles I have on it....
I looked at the xg preceisly because it was NOT made in the U.S. I would not buy a Camry made in the U.S. I still think the xg is only half baked and will be ready for picky people like me in 3 or 4 years if they don't digress...
I must say the xg has very seductive lines and a more expensive feel than I expected. But the cheap feel to 'some' of its components and the absence of a full door frame and that smell?? What is up with that?
My Camry came over on a boat and It does not smell like cheap furniture??I agree with others assessment of VW ... Mitubishi no way , Nissan been dere done dat...American not for 2 more decades if then.
So, basically I agree with u all... I believe Hyundai is on the right track and (maybe) in a few years they will be the logical choice and I am glad you all gave them the money to invest in the engineering of my future vehicle..Thank you..
Congratulations on your purchase - enjoy your Camry.
If you'd like to start a discussion on the Camry vs. the XG300, feel free to do so - although as I understand it, they are in different categories, but I suppose you can compare anything to anything else that you want.
Obviously, other folks here have different views, which is fine - we all are entitled to our opinions. Since this is not specifically a comparison topic, let's allow this discussion to continue about the XG300.
Thanks,
Pat Host Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
>>I must say the xg has very seductive lines and a more expensive feel than I expected. But the cheap feel to 'some' of its components and the absence of a full door frame and that smell?? What is up with that...
it's the scotish lamb leather or something... that's why it smells like that..i've gotten used to it.. the frameless door... i'm sorta getting used to it.. it'll be weird closing the door with the window open during the summer though.
these should be compared. XG300 vs. ES300 XG300 vs. 3.2TL XG300 vs. I30 XG300 vs. Avalon and maybe XG300 vs. Catera
The Hyundai XG is a nice car. Period. If it did not have the Hyundai name plate, every single person in this forum would proclaim, nice Honda/Toyota/Nissan!
And, for the record, let's get out of the dark ages here. VW is no longer unreliable. Period. In fact, my VW Jetta was the most reliable car I had. My Nissan's and Acuras on the other hand....well....not so good.
When will people realize that Hyundai and VW have bad reps to overcome? They have to WORK towards that. That shows up in their products. Anyone notice that Honda/Toyota quality is not so great anymore? They don't think they have to work for it anymore.....and they pawn off some pretty substandard cars (Camry. Echo? a joke) on us....but we take it up the a*% because it says TOYOTA......
Time to smarten up. Buy what you like. What feels right. What you can write the monthly check for without feeling like a sucker. Forget the quality and reliability crap.....people that buy cars JUST for that, have major issues that should be discussed in therapy.
A couple days ago.. I was waiting my turn to enter a car wash, As I was entering the car wash the attendants who were spraying down my car with a pressure hose were commenting on my car. One guy said "I thought it was a Mazda..", the other guy said "I thought it was an Aura..", another comment was "I think Hyundai is turning into an Acura...Etc." And the other dude kept shouting "NICE~! NICE~! NICE~!" as I drove into the car wash.
Does anyone think Hyundai will turn into a Luxury division in the near future? Like what Honda/Aura is doing?...Hyundai/Kia
Hyundai is definately going upscale... soon we'll see the EF-B Sonata hitting our shores.. and "next" tiburon (code named GK...6pd. 200hp) will lauch in korea this summer... then i think several years down the road the XG will get an upgraded engine as the Eqqus will be brought in afterwards..
Does anybody know about a security chip that prevents the xg300 from being started should a thief get past the alarm and punches the ignition . Supposedly if someone tries to start the car without a key ,the chip recognizes the situation and prevents starting.Does anyone know anything about this?
After 600 miles on my XG I have made the following observations: gas mileage after 1st tank 22.99 also appreciate the fact that the fill tank is located on the drivers side, road lighting is excellent, key fob transmitter only works when within @20 feet - advantage Avalon which has far greater range, though car is nicely accepted by everyone - by far the biggest complaint is the ugly wheels, was pleasantly surprised by the power (fast enough for me anyway) and the built in transmission cooler which I think is an indication of Hyundai putting reliability in the forefront. On a wish list, other than new wheels and a garage door opener, a telescoping steering wheel would have been nice. For a short person to be a comfortable distance from the steering wheel you end up being closer to the windshield and the dash than is preferred. Since I am just wishing anyway, pedals such as in the Tarus/Sable that can be moved forward would really be a nice touch. Currently I am very pleased with my purchase.
YK911, the wheels are sharp. What are they called? As I am now 46 years old I never expected to buy sport wheels for a new car but must admit that I am considering them as they would certainly make this luxury car seem just a little sporty too.
the wheels that you saw were 18x7 Enkei Rp-05 5x114.3 bolt pattern, 42 offset.. these were the lightest one piece wheel that i could find... i would've gone to 3 piece(which is lighter and stronger) but price has prohibited me from getting those..
i think 16" wheels are perfect for the XG. The road feel would be slightly better and the disk brakes would nicely fill the wheels... as for my 18" wheels.. the disk brakes look tiny~.. i might have to put on bigger rotors.. we'll see... = )
next on my list are lowering springs.. which lowers the car about 1 inch.. and improve overall handling....
Beautiful XG! Good looking wheels. I think the white looks nice with the amount of chrome stripping on the car. By the way...I guess you do get some tire thumping with that 40 series rubber! And you want to lower the car even further?
with the 40 series tire... i was suprised with the handling.. i thought i would get some steering kick back.. but none is existent(i assumed i would get some b/c when i owned a bonneville with wide 17" tires.. i had tons which was cured by a "racing"car alignment guy) it soaks up the bumps almost like it came from the factory that way.... my only problem with these tires is that they're abit noisy at low speeds... i guess it's b/c they're Z rated tires?
yes.. springs will lower it about 1 inch.. i'm trying to get my hands on a set from B+G of europe.
The LZ450.... i hope they start selling them soon..... the EQQUS in korea.. Cenntenial in EUROPE. waaaayyy better than XG.. but more pricey and more geared towards "older" people.
for bobcook54, yk911 and anyone else with insights Any word on supposed improvements in April deliveries of XGs.....ie 16" wheels.etc. Took test drive yesterday and was blown away....very nice.....Jus wondering on previously mentioned improvements. Thanks in advance Jack
Novotny-jack, The one improvement I am sure of is that the wheels will be upgraded to 16". One of the salesman I have been talking to checked with the district manager ( or someone like that) and he confirmed, they are coming and he thinks "soon". My salesman has promised to call me as soon as he receives the first one. I have heard rumors of a larger engine, but I think that is at least the 2002 model. Just my opinion... no official info. on that.
i don't know if it is my alignment or not... but i'm getting alot of road noise... from the 18" wheels that i have installed... until my alignment guy gets the specs for my car.. i'll be putting the rims in storage..
I strongly suspect the rubber more than anything. Z-rated treads can be notoriously noisy as you know. Put that together with a hard 40 series profile and that spells noise. Oh well, you can't have everything.
I just spent the morning wandering on my dealers' lot while my Sonata GLS was getting serviced. He sells Toyo, Olds, D-C, Jeep, and Hyundai from the same location. Closely studied and compared the XLE's, Avalons, Concordes, etc. to the XG. Every time I do this I come away scratching my head. What fools people are with their money. I mean, the XG300 is not just a better value---it's a better car, plain and simple. Man, I gotta get me one!
I am pretty certain with an Acura nameplate on the front, it would sell like hot cakes at this price. Even though it might not be as good as an Acura or Lexus, it's close, and a much better value for the money. Better than paying over 30k for a Camry with a different sheet metal and a Lexus badge. If only there wasn't the image problem ... Unfortuntaly, many people buy a near luxury car to impress others, to show the world how far they've come, so they won't go for the Huyndai. On the other hand, someone value-oriented (should I say smart), would prefer it and with good reason. I don't think they are that unreliable either, all cars are improving lately anyway, even American cars, and the XG is probably better than many of them (in reliability). But I still think that many many people (not the people who have actual interest in cars and discuss at edmunds) in the near-luxury market just buy by image for the show. The kind of people who want something MORE than their neighbors Accord but aren't really that rich. Anyone agrees with me?
Absolutely agree. Americans are especially prone to this trait. Status rules---even over common sense or dollars and cents. But Hyundai is intelligent enough to know that growth in the near luxury market will take time. So long as they keep delivering better and better products, their reputation will slowly change into something respectable.
Just read the post above. Looked at watch and ran to turn on TV, 'cause at 0830 CST Iowa Public TV shows the show. Sure enough, the XG300 story was the first up on today's episode. They pretty much raved about it, mainly due to the high overall value factor. Price & features great.
I'm in Michigan and looking for an Ontario CN dealer who will sell an XG300 for export to the US. Are there any Ontario subscribers who can recommend a dealer and inform me 1) if the CN XG300's have the same trim options as the US and 2)price & date quoted?
Last I heard,starting with April production, we were supposed to get 16" tires and wheels. I'll check with my sources in Hyundailand on Monday and post the answer here. Bob
the Xg300 sold in canada is different than the Xg300 sold in the US... different wheels... and there is no option except the choice of paint...
everything is standard... including sunroof. no wood/leather steering wheel/cd changer/wind deflector.
in canada.. the car goes for about 31,995 CND. and i think there is about 1-2 weeks waiting list for the car of your preference..(color)....FYI.. canada is getting only about 1500 or abit more for this year..
plus the speedo must be changed inorder to be able to bring the car into the US... please check with your CUstoms agent before importing.
Tires on the XG300L were not Michelin's and had some gaudy looking after market chrome wheels on it. Motor Week's review says alloy rims; wonder if this is some new wheels? Are pictures reference by "yk911" standard equipment in Canada? Anyone car to explain benefits of 16" vs 15" tires and wheels?
Manager here showed invoice of maybe $650 advertising fee and over $150 for mats and misc. Edmunds I believe had mats at one time listed as an option but not now.
Dealer willing to sell at Edmunds TMV but $650 for advertising? Get real! No other car manufacturer has this much charge for advertising. Never seen an XG300 advertisement? Dealer said $500 plus his invoice? Well this looks like $1150 profit between the manufacture and dealer? What a way of Marketing! Well, who is right here Edmunds or the dealer on Invoice price? Makes a difference to me if I am offering $650 profit to someone.
HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT LEATHER? ALMOST EVERY CAR ORDER THAN 1 YR HAS WRINKLED UP LEATHER? SOME ARE CRACKED? THIS IS ON THE PURE LUXURY CARS ALSO. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AS NOTICEABLE ON CLOTH SEATS.
What exactly is this advertising fee. I looked over my paper work from when I bought my XG and there is no mention of advertising fees. I even call the dealership and asked about it. They have never heard of such a thing. Maybe they do business differently here in Pennsylvania.
Now that I've had my XG for two months now I still very please with my purchase. I have noticed that the doors must be closed firmly or they do not catch properly but only when it's cold. Anyone have a similiar occurance of this ? All body panels and lines are straight and even, my guess is the weather striping is the culprit here. It's not a problem but just wondering......
This fee is what the dealer pays to Hyundai for advertising cost. It was listed on the dealers invoice. I do not think they would normally provide or make copies of this.
It came up only because the dealer claimed the car cost him more than Edmunds Invoice price. So he showed me a piece of paper that was suppose to be the Invoice. I do understand that the fee varies according to location somehow.
I always hate to hear about something like this after the fact but it might be one of those things you have little control over other than not buying the car. But at least some may have a say so in it. Hope this helps.
It is always something: doc fee's or something else to prevent sales. No wonder people are buying used cars.
Comments
There are some things some potential buyers should know though. Some of you may recall my earlier posts questioning the accuracy of the pricing on Edmunds and all of the other similar sites. While these invoice prices are correct they are also incomplete. For example, my first offer was @$200 over what I thought was invoice. Every dealer told me that this was simply not correct, and not even close to their actual costs. Yes I tended not to believe them. Also, my car came with the only three options you can currently order for this car, floor mats, cargo net, and a wind deflector for the sunroof. Embarassing as it is to admit it, my offer did not take into consideration these three items. Lastly, and I know that I said earlier that I would not pay it, there is an advertising fee that varies widely by region. The base Edmunds price is roughly $22,854? The three options add another $103 bringing the total to $22,957. However, I held the invoice in my hand and the total came to $23,548, a difference of $591. This difference is directly attributable to this advertising fee. The dealer tells me that the reason that this is added on the invoice as an advertising fee instead of just increasing the price is so that the dealers can deduct this from their taxes as an advertising expense. I paid $199 over invoice for this car, which I considered a fair deal. I could have actually bought the car for about $100 less but I would have had to do so outside of my region where the advertising fee was cheaper. For me this was not worth the trouble and to tell the truth finding a I model of any kind was difficult, much less in my first choice of white. In fact, at almost exactly the same time as I bought the car, another couple was in another cubicle also closing the same deal on the same car. I beat them to the car literally by seconds. The also agreed to pay more than I did too.
Thanks to everyone for all of your help. I will keep you all posted as to my happiness with this vehicle.
Also does this car have a timing belt or chain? Does this require the head to be removed? I hear this is a Mitisubishi engine, so how good are they? I drive cars past 100,000 miles which is over 10 years?
Beautiful car, good ride, personally thought the engine to be quite peppy. Just don't know if I can get over the long term reliability question.
I drove an XG300 last week for the first time. Wow, was I impressed! I have since read every post written on the XG and I am now pretty certain that I will be purchasing.
http://www.fxtreme.org/Ultimate/NonCGI/Forum1/HTML/004898.html
Regarding Hyundai's connection with Mitsubishi. Regardless of the engines origins, it is smooth and plenty powerful. If it should turn out to be a Mitsubishi engine or even a clone it is not a bad thing, just the opposite. I personally put 183,000 on a Galant before I wrecked it. I have a Mitsubishi Expo LRV in my garage right now with over 140,000 without any engine problems to date. Mitsubishi makes great engines. Unfortunately they make terrible transmissions and brakes. Speaking of transmissions, as I said earlier, each day I discover something new about my XG. Yesterday I discovered that transmission also includes, from the factory, an auxillary transmission cooler. I was going to install one myself just to lengthen the tranny's life but Hyundai did it for me. Obviously they are working hard to insure reliability. I just hope that they put in as much effort on the brakes.
I love this car!
the solution is stainless braided brake lines from either EARLS.. or some other brand name..it should help..
A friend at work has leased a black Jag S. I have been a Jag fan from the 50's. Beautiful cars but back to reality!
I made an offer 27k on an Avalon and the salesmen laughed at it. This should have bought the car by Edmunds pricing. Wife did not like the Avalon. Looks too bib for her.
She likes this XG300 though. Well, I too think the styling is better on the XG300L. I think the white color is the best combination for interior and exterior. The interior is just as plush looking to me as that in the Jag. It just needs that "Jag hood emblem and the wheels". Well, I guess you have to give up something for the 40k to 24k difference.
By the way the Avalon had front and back seat cushion height adjustment? The XG300 does not? The Avalon quality may be slipping based on this site.
I have read reviews with complaints on the transmission shifting at lower speeds. Have you noticed this? Did not notice that during my test drive. Seemed to be as smooth as silk.
Henderson,they give you the 24K/24month free maint-anance,and have all colors in stock.I bought one there last month and LOVE it.
If I pay that amount of money, I can buy a fully-equipped Accord, Camry, or Maxima. If I pay a little bit more, I can get similar equipped Passat 1.8t. They are either reliable Japanese sedans or nice German sedan. IMO, they are much better than a Korean sedan.
I doubt XG300 can steal a lot of sales from Accord or Camry, may be a little.
Why do you want to buy a Korean car ? You are looking for a way to use the least money to get the most features !
I am not a Honda or Toyota fan but I won't put $24k for a Korean sedan even though it is nicely equipped.
I don't know why? I guess they come in here looking for some validation for their decision. Personally, when I invest a good deal of my time or money, I am positve about the decision enough not to be concerned about what other think..
By the way the xg weighs 600 lbs more than a comparably equipped Camry. Further the competing models referenced by 'Edmunds' include Camry and Accord. I don't see a TL or lexus in duh bunch..They muss b wrong 2...!Can all of the people who don't agree with u be wrong..? Being perfect muss be hard to maintain...
Hyundai XG300L weighs 3,604 pounds. Is 191.5 inches long, has a 108.3 inch wheelbase, is 71.9 inches wide, and 55.9 inches tall. EPA rates it at 19/27 mpg.
Toyota Avalon weighs 3,330 pounds. Is 191.9 inches long, has a 107.1 inch wheelbase, is 71.7 inches wide, and 57.7 inches tall. EPA rates it at 21/29 mpg.
These two cars are more comparable in regard to standard and expected equipment, engines, size, etc. Sonata compares better to Camry.
Re: post #263
maybe you've been in the dark the last few decades, but Korea is the #1 producer of steel in the world surpassing even Japan(former #1). And Posco(listed on the NYSE) is the single largest steel company in the world.
And also the #1 shipbuilding nation in the world is Korea and it too surpassed Japan recently(former #1). Hyundai Heavy Industries(no relation to Hyundai motor anymore; they split) is the world's largest shipbuilding company. Samsung Heavy Industries is not far behind.
And analysts project that it will stay that way into the near future based on the Number of orders received.
There is an interesting story on how Korea became #1 in shipbuilding. Way back when in the early '60's, the then President Park of Korea was promoting heavy industry to enrichen the country. But they needed money and nobody would loan them any money. But a man named Chung Ju-young set out to obtain some funds. He was turned down everywhere. His lucky break came when he was meeting with Barclay's Bank in England.
He appealed for funds. The Barclay people were skeptical. But Mr. Chung pulled out a bill depicting an iron clad submersible turtle ship that was used to defeat the Japanese in the late 1500's. That was the first ship of it's kind, Mr.Chung said. And Mr. Chung still had to convince them how he intended to start the shipbuilding business.
At the time, Mr. Chung didn't even have an order for any ships let alone a shipyard!
Well upon obtaining the funds from Barclay's, Mr. Chung was able to secure an order for a couple of ships(from the Greek company) and he built the ships and the shipyard in two years!
That surprised everybody!
And since then everything was kind of in a catch-up mode.
Everything was rushed and hurried.
That was the Korean way.
Mr. Chung started the automobile business by rebuilding jeeps that were left by American soldiers after the Korean war in 1953. After Hyundai came out with their first model the Pony, again a rushed attempt was made to export them.
Well almost 40 years later, the Korean economy has matured and stands tall as one of the newly industrialized countries.
There isn't as desperate of a drive to catch up with Japan or the other industrialized countries on just a output basis anymore. Outputwise, Korea is right up there. It is one of the top ten in the world I believe.
Now, the korean economy has matured for the most part and the products coming out of that country reflect that.
The above advantages plus a super diligent work force with high ethics, supporting clusters of industries for the automobile industry gives the korean auto manufacturers a comparative advantage.
As you may know, the #1 producer of memory chips is Samsung and they have just developed the world's first 4 gigbyte Mega DRam chip. That is probably at least two years ahead of anyone else(including Japan which was the former #1 until the last eighties) considering that Samsung was 18 months ahead of the Japanese in coming out with the 1 giga chip.
Internet usage is among the highest in the world in Korea and the whole country is wired for high speed internet access.
All of the above factors plus a lot of hard work have catapulted Korea from being one of the poorest nations in the world in the early '60's to becoming a full-fledged industrial powerhouse nation it has become.
But the rivalry between Japan and Korea surely played a role in the upsurge akin to the rivalry between Germany and England or France.
And in 2002, Korea/Japan will be hosting the World Cup Soccer event together.
Now, I look forward to "matured" products from Korea.
Boy how times have changed...
You've never SERIOUSLY considered the XG at all and you know it. You are only in this topic blowing smoke. I've read your stuff in other topics...so just go buy the friggin' Avalon and be done with it. If you have anything USEFUL to offer this forum, it is the reminder that dilettantes like yourself prove their utter USELESSNESS.
r34---
Maxima, maybe...full blown Accord or Camry, never.
Passat of any variety...you've got to be kidding.
...let's see...hmmmmm, 5/60 + 5/60 + 10/100 vs...uh-oh, 2/24 + 2/24 + 10/100. Yeah, that's the ticket...Gimme one o' those. In case you didn't know it, r34, VW has a great deal of experience making bad cars and, I dare say, a much richer tradition of it than Hyundai.
Korean cars are here to stay. They get better each and every cycle and soon will be kicking serious butt in the U.S. Guys like me will be waving to guys like you with your finely engineered German made hood up in the air on the roadside. But that's OK...you'll have your Comprehensive Roadside Assistance to rely on...er, well maybe, that is, er, if you need it, er, in the first two years. Won't that be a comfort.
i've posted up the illuminated guage pic here...
http://www.fxtreme.org/Ultimate/NonCGI/Forum22/HTML/000008.html
i'll also be posting day time pics tomorrow.
Regarding the comparisons of the XG to the Camry, the Accord, the Maxima, or the VW, all four of these vehicles are well established. The Camry and Accord have earned a great repair record though I personally believe that the Toyota, once the clear reliability king, has been toppled by Honda. The reliability of the Maxima is a distant third. However, the Maxima has a far more spirited engine. Any reasonable person who has taken the time to research VW any at all will find that they are simply not reliable cars (hence the two year warranty). Just because they are high priced for what you get and made in Germany does not make them a Mercedes or BMW. However VW has, in my opinion, done a better styling job than the other three. Unfortunately, and I admit that this is subjective, all three of the other vehicles are just plain bland, particularly the interiors. I challenge anyone to compare the interior styling and creature comforts on the top of the line models of any of these three to the XG. I could have bought any one of them and I personally could see no comparison. Regarding Korean built cars. I personally don't care where they make them or how much they weigh. The only thing that matters to me is that they are good looking, reasonably priced, pleasant to drive, and reliable. I also think that anyone who prefers a Camry, Accord. or Maxima should buy what they like. I just decided when opting for an XG to step up another notch in luxury, yes to Avalon territory. I have no regrets thus far.
Regarding the transmission questions, the fuzzy logic is going to take some getting use to (hence why it is called fuzzy logic). The car definately remembers your driving habits. When I first started driving it I experienced the noticable delay between pushing down on the accelerator and the car downshifting and taking off. After a bit of driving more aggressively I found just the opposite was true. I found myself suddenly accelerating briskly when I did not mean to. Obviously both problems will go away when the car and I get use to one another. I would say that this has been a small problem and I remain very happy with my decision to purchase the XG instead of the Avalon.
Hopefully u all wont get bored with your purchase, because I will be glad to offer you a small fraction of what u paid and I will be among the generous ones!
I actually drove the xg three times and drove two different ones. Each time my opinion depreciated. Familiarity breeds contempt?? True in here no doubt..LOL
I opted for an appreciably loaded Camry which was made in Japan...(paid four hundred under invoice -500 rebate). My opinion of IT has only appreciated up to the 418 miles I have on it....
I looked at the xg preceisly because it was NOT made in the U.S. I would not buy a Camry made in the U.S. I still think the xg is only half baked and will be ready for picky people like me in 3 or 4 years if they don't digress...
I must say the xg has very seductive lines and a more expensive feel than I expected. But the cheap feel to 'some' of its components and the absence of a full door frame and that smell?? What is up with that?
My Camry came over on a boat and It does not smell like cheap furniture??I agree with others assessment of VW ... Mitubishi no way , Nissan been dere done dat...American not for 2 more decades if then.
So, basically I agree with u all... I believe Hyundai is on the right track and (maybe) in a few years they will be the logical choice and I am glad you all gave them the money to invest in the engineering of my future vehicle..Thank you..
(don't hate)
If you'd like to start a discussion on the Camry vs. the XG300, feel free to do so - although as I understand it, they are in different categories, but I suppose you can compare anything to anything else that you want.
Obviously, other folks here have different views, which is fine - we all are entitled to our opinions. Since this is not specifically a comparison topic, let's allow this discussion to continue about the XG300.
Thanks,
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
it's the scotish lamb leather or something... that's why it smells like that..i've gotten used to it.. the frameless door... i'm sorta getting used to it.. it'll be weird closing the door with the window open during the summer though.
these should be compared.
XG300 vs. ES300
XG300 vs. 3.2TL
XG300 vs. I30
XG300 vs. Avalon
and maybe XG300 vs. Catera
all "near luxury" cars
And, for the record, let's get out of the dark ages here. VW is no longer unreliable. Period. In fact, my VW Jetta was the most reliable car I had. My Nissan's and Acuras on the other hand....well....not so good.
When will people realize that Hyundai and VW have bad reps to overcome? They have to WORK towards that. That shows up in their products. Anyone notice that Honda/Toyota quality is not so great anymore? They don't think they have to work for it anymore.....and they pawn off some pretty substandard cars (Camry. Echo? a joke) on us....but we take it up the a*% because it says TOYOTA......
Time to smarten up. Buy what you like. What feels right. What you can write the monthly check for without feeling like a sucker. Forget the quality and reliability crap.....people that buy cars JUST for that, have major issues that should be discussed in therapy.
ENJOY YOUR XG300's everyone.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
Does anyone think Hyundai will turn into a Luxury division in the near future? Like what Honda/Aura is doing?...Hyundai/Kia
Hyundai is definately going upscale... soon we'll see the EF-B Sonata hitting our shores.. and "next" tiburon (code named GK...6pd. 200hp) will lauch in korea this summer... then i think several years down the road the XG will get an upgraded engine as the Eqqus will be brought in afterwards..
just my 2 cents
take a look
http://www.fxtreme.org/Ultimate/NonCGI/Forum22/HTML/000012.html
YK911, the wheels are sharp. What are they called? As I am now 46 years old I never expected to buy sport wheels for a new car but must admit that I am considering them as they would certainly make this luxury car seem just a little sporty too.
5x114.3 bolt pattern, 42 offset.. these were the lightest one piece wheel that i could find... i would've gone to 3 piece(which is lighter and stronger) but price has prohibited me from getting those..
i think 16" wheels are perfect for the XG.
The road feel would be slightly better and the disk brakes would nicely fill the wheels...
as for my 18" wheels.. the disk brakes look tiny~.. i might have to put on bigger rotors.. we'll see... = )
next on my list are lowering springs.. which lowers the car about 1 inch.. and improve overall handling....
http://www.prnewswire.com/gh/cnoc/comp/424987.html
and read the Mar. 19 story on the Dallas auto show. The U.S. may well get another high lux Hyundai with V-8 power. Something to consider...
yes.. springs will lower it about 1 inch.. i'm trying to get my hands on a set from B+G of europe.
The LZ450.... i hope they start selling them soon..... the EQQUS in korea.. Cenntenial in EUROPE. waaaayyy better than XG.. but more pricey
and more geared towards "older" people.
the front strut bar that i'm getting installed soon...http://www.fxtreme.org/Ultimate/NonCGI/Forum22/HTML/000013.html
Any word on supposed improvements in April deliveries of XGs.....ie 16" wheels.etc.
Took test drive yesterday and was blown away....very nice.....Jus wondering on previously mentioned improvements. Thanks in advance
Jack
just a warning... ^_^
http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2028.shtml
I just spent the morning wandering on my dealers' lot while my Sonata GLS was getting serviced. He sells Toyo, Olds, D-C, Jeep, and Hyundai from the same location. Closely studied and compared the XLE's, Avalons, Concordes, etc. to the XG. Every time I do this I come away scratching my head. What fools people are with their money. I mean, the XG300 is not just a better value---it's a better car, plain and simple. Man, I gotta get me one!
Unfortuntaly, many people buy a near luxury car to impress others, to show the world how far they've come, so they won't go for the Huyndai. On the other hand, someone value-oriented (should I say smart), would prefer it and with good reason. I don't think they are that unreliable either, all cars are improving lately anyway, even American cars, and the XG is probably better than many of them (in reliability).
But I still think that many many people (not the people who have actual interest in cars and discuss at edmunds) in the near-luxury market just buy by image for the show. The kind of people who want something MORE than their neighbors Accord but aren't really that rich.
Anyone agrees with me?
everything is standard... including sunroof.
no wood/leather steering wheel/cd changer/wind deflector.
in canada.. the car goes for about 31,995 CND.
and i think there is about 1-2 weeks waiting list for the car of your preference..(color)....FYI.. canada is getting only about 1500 or abit more for this year..
plus the speedo must be changed inorder to be able to bring the car into the US... please check with your CUstoms agent before importing.
Other cars such as MAxima,TL3.2,ES300... etc... most require 91-92 octane at the least..
http://www.fxtreme.org/forums/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000029
NOTE: look at the wheels... we might get those wheels... which are 16" wheels.. not sure.
Manager here showed invoice of maybe $650 advertising fee and over $150 for mats and misc. Edmunds I believe had mats at one time listed as an option but not now.
Dealer willing to sell at Edmunds TMV but $650 for advertising? Get real! No other car manufacturer has this much charge for advertising. Never seen an XG300 advertisement? Dealer said $500 plus his invoice? Well this looks like $1150 profit between the manufacture and dealer?
What a way of Marketing! Well, who is right here Edmunds or the dealer on Invoice price? Makes a difference to me if I am offering $650 profit to someone.
HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT LEATHER? ALMOST EVERY CAR ORDER THAN 1 YR HAS WRINKLED UP LEATHER? SOME ARE CRACKED? THIS IS ON THE PURE LUXURY CARS ALSO. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AS NOTICEABLE ON CLOTH SEATS.
Now that I've had my XG for two months now I still very please with my purchase. I have noticed that the doors must be closed firmly or they do not catch properly but only when it's cold. Anyone have a similiar occurance of this ? All body panels and lines are straight and even, my guess is the weather striping is the culprit here. It's not a problem but just wondering......
It came up only because the dealer claimed the car cost him more than Edmunds Invoice price. So he showed me a piece of paper that was suppose to be the Invoice. I do understand that the fee varies according to location somehow.
I always hate to hear about something like this after the fact but it might be one of those things you have little control over other than not buying the car. But at least some may have a say so in it. Hope this helps.
It is always something: doc fee's or something else to prevent sales. No wonder people are buying used cars.