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but wondering which dealer is best to deal with. Actually I went to Huffins Hyundai to test drive one, the dealer was not really willing to charge less than MSRP.
I don't want to play games with dealers...so please let me know if you know of a good dealer around here.
-thank you
the stupid spellcheck messed up my other post, here is the right one , the other one makes me sound retarded. - sorry
How aboput checking it out and commenting.
Did a new clock fix the problem?
My clock flickered today while the headlights were on so I was wondering.
Also, if anyone is interested, this site also has step rails that list for $249.00 but are actually on sale till Jan 15th for $199.00 plus shipping/handling. The shipping is not cheap as these things must be pretty heavy. I ordered mine lastnight. Can't wait to get them installed!
Anyway yea you can order anyhing aftermarket. What I was trying to say is it's not an option from the dealer.
All infomation/input welcome!!
Thank you in advance!!
My wife drove it home, and noticed a car that kept driving close to her...first from behind and then on the side. They would slow down, speed up, drop back, change lanes. They followed her when she exited the Interstate. They had been in trail about 3-4 miles. Finally, at the light, they got her attention, rolled down the window, and a man and woman both gave her the "thumbs up" and shouted out, "nice car!" I have had this happen numerous times on my Harley, but never in an automobile. The Santa Fe is a GREAT looking vehicle!
For anyone concerned about Hyundai quality: Sadly, my 1992 Hyundai Sonata engine(4cyl) just passed away the other day. I had 258,500 miles on it, and I treated it poorly and drove it hard. The car's body and interior have held up very well. Since the Sonata and I have emotionally bonded, I am dropping another engine in it, and shooting for another 100K+!
We love this Santa Fe, and expect to get the same great service out of it (we are going to treat it right!) that we have gotten out of our Sonata workhorse.
More to follow as we experience the joy of Santa Fe ownership!
Rick Adkins
One is bigger than SF and the other is smaller than SF.
Bigger one has V6 3.5 24valve engine and full option. Top notch's expected price is US $28,000
Hyundai will launch this SUV in Korea this Spring at first.
This is the photo of New SUV.
http://myhome.shinbiro.com/~good4677/highland-02.gif
You can check one more photo in this townhall-suv forum at Daewoo Musso board.
The other one is smaller than SF. It probably has 2.0 Dohc engine. There is no specific data about this car. It is designed based on Elantra. Also has an AWD system as an option.
http://myhome.shinbiro.com/~good4677/tirol-02.gif
This is not a SUV but a so called fusion car. This car is designed based on ACCENT. This is neither hatch-back subcompact nor mini-van. It will have 1.6~1.8 engine. It will lauched in U.S market at the end of this year or 2002 spring.
http://www.hancha.com/news/head/image/200101031002_2.jpg
College Park didn't have the color my aunt wanted, but said they did (they lied, since we even drove over to their second lot) even though they gave the best price (below MSRP). My previous experience with that dealership made me urge my aunt to buy at Fitzgerald's at MSRP to avoid alot of the stress of buying a car and get better customer service, since they had her color and model in stock. They also gave her a better interest rate than her credit union deal. In the distant future when my Sonata finally dies, I'll definitely buy from a no-haggle place for my next car and save the headaches.
I can't comment on other dealerships in the area such as Pohanka, Manassas, or Malloy (Woodbridge) since I haven't test-driven or even bought parts from them. Oh yeah, I really like the Santa Fe, even the base model automatic 4-cyl.
My insurance agent said, "wow, that's not what I expected, I'm not sure what I expected but this is really nice. from the front it looks like a Lincoln Navagiator."
Everyone has been impressed with the roominess and the styling. I parked near a new Escape tonight and look in to compare my interior styling to the Escapes. No comparison, the Escape was spartan compared to the Sante Fe.
I really like the way it drives, very mannered. My only real complaints are that I seem to have a hard time with the seatbelt latch, the placement just does not "feel" right. I can never find it on the first try. The other thing is that in a perfect world the engine would have just a little more zip to it. At crusing speed it will accelerate quite well but it tends to rev a bit from a standing start. I have used the shiftronic some to make a bit of a faster start. It is likely that I just have to realize that I no longer have a sports car like I have had for the last 8 years!
Otherwise I really like the Sante Fe!
However he said, that a Hyundai Plant was soon to be opened in Canada that would just feature V6 vehicles of various Hyundai models, including the SF. In his opinion, this should make more SFs available late spring / early summer....
Can someone else confirm this 'new' Canada plant?
Thanks.
I do get a lot of compliments and double looks on it. Mine is Pewter which is very pretty. I sort of wanted the green too.
http://www.car-action.com/focus/techno/sut_4.jpg
" "Hyundai Santa Fe....drops in value like a Santa Fe train"
1/12/2001
By: A CarPoint Consumer
Owned: Less than 1 year
Pros:
Price and style
Cons:
I believed the Hyundai changed its quality but mine squeeks and creeks. I tried trading my Santa Fe with only 4,000 miles on several vehicles and they tell me I am a sucker. I fed into the pennies and overstepped the dollars and now I pay.....I am sitting with a vehicle that I was sold on based on reviews BUT nobody told me it would drop from the 21K out the door good price to being the absolute worst resale vehicle I've ever, ever known. I even went back to Hyundai and they laughed saying yes that is our biggest problem but don't worry you have a 10 year warranty and after 5 years it will be okay!!! Lame answer...
Overall Review:
BEWARE....HYUNDAI PRODUCTS STILL HAVE NO RESALE....IT DOES HAVE GOOD ARTICLES BUY WHY ON EARTH WOULD NOBODY BOTHER TO TELL YOU THAT YOU TAKE A HUGE LOSS AT DELIVERY. If you don't believe me...before you buy one, call ANY dealer and ask them IF they would consider buying your Hyundai....typical answer is ha ha...heck no. I got the BEST offer from Hyundai who offered 14,500 for it.....Ford offered 13,000, Mazda did not want it at all and laughed saying even a Tribute with 5 recalls is better than a Hyundai on the showroom floor...I am sick...I made a major error buying this.
Review ID: #57222 "
I'm still shopping for a LX, but now, for sure I'm not going to pay MSRP to the blood sucking dealer.
Any thought????
If you think about it, ANY vehicle drops in value as soon as it is driven off the lot; some more than others. To me it sounds as if that particular buyer was just generally unhappy with his purchase and had a bad case of buyers remorse. A lot of us go through that at some point I believe.
I have had my Santa Fe for 3 weeks now and feel better today about buying it than I did the day I drove it home. I purchased mine because I wanted more bang for the buck. No other vehicle compares when you consider price (even if you pay full MSRP like I did), roominess, style and equipment.
I got a kick lastnight while I was dining out. I parked the SF on the row next to the restaurant so I could look out at it. Pretty soon this older couple walks out of their way to go get a closer look. Made me feel real good!
Overall I am very happy with my Santa Fe. I had a Mustang before the SF and it took a little while for me to get used to the take off power of the SF but then hey, the SF ain't no sportscar!
Buying ANY new auto is a loss. I had not purchased a brand new auto in 8 years before the Sante Fe. I couldn't find any preowned autos that fit my needs.
If you plan on keeping a car for at least 5 years then who cares what the resale value is with 4000 miles and a few months. Who in their right mind buys any car and tries to trade it in after a few months? You always loose big bucks on a deal like that.
I drive my cars 7+ years before I even think about changing.
Has anyone had the moonroof installed where the roof slides OUTSIDE the Santa Fe? I've spoken to ASC (AutoSunroofComp) a while back - they said they could install one & I believe they said they install it to slide out to save head room but the I think the finished quality would look much better. Any thoughts & comments much appreciated.
I just put a deposit down on a Santa Fe locate. They seemed confident they could find my pewter Santa Fe GLS-AWD with ABS - where other dealers in my area said their are none & if they have to locate it could take months (and then they lose interest & don't follow up) or I would have to pay sticker (which I never would). I agreed to pay a few hundred under what Edmunds TMV has listed.
I've done my homework - which I suggest everyone does in purchasing a new car. But I've never been so uneasy about buying a car. Part of it is the Hyundai name to be honest. So keep those positive comments coming & even the not so positive.
(Actually these one's are already opened to press and public as a mass production models, so if you can access to Korean Auto site, you can get photos easily..)
However, bigger SUV's production has been delayed, because of Hyundai's internal things.
(For example, Daimler-Chrysler acquired Hyundai's stock upto 10% and made an strategic alliance.)
This New bigger Hyundai SUV is based on Mitsubishi Montero but this one is definitely modified and tuned. This one was not designed by Hyundai Motors but Hyundai Precison and Eng. However, Hyundai Motors acquired Hyundai Precison and Eng. the end of last year. Because of that,launching time has been delayed three times. According to press, it will be launched in February in Korea.
Another one is KIA'S SUV it is definitely bigger than Santafe and sportage. Although it will have a Kia badge, it is designed by Hyundai R&D team. This one has also same engine V6 3.0 and V6 3.5.
This one has hyundai's own new platform. It will be launched in August.
This is BL(BL is project name)
http://www.hancha.com/news/head/image/200012131002_6.jpg
Santafe option?
Well, we have diesel powered SF. It has real nice low end torque. This has turbo charged intercooler engine. Hyundai will ship this model to European market in spring. This new diesel engine has new generation ultra high pressure injector, therefore it's pretty silent and smoother than normal one.
I have no Idea about option which can be available in the U.S. These ones, for example, V6 2.7LPG engine, 6-CD changer, Navigation system with TV and VCD, memory power seat and mirror, full auto climate control system, digital multimeter, third row seat, and so on, can't be available in the U.S. We can buy these options in Korea. In my opinion, because Hyundai had a bad reputation in America, Hyundai just want sell cars at low price. So, I think cars which is sold in America have lack of options.
If there is something new in SF option, I will report it on this board like what I did on Hyundai Sonata board.
Have a safe driving....
Yep..a lot of head turns to see what I'm driving and the general comments have been great.
Fuel consumption seems high but my dealer tells me it's normal for the first 5,000km.
Will keep you posted when I have a bit more mileage.
Enjoy !
If you are doing a locator search you will likely pay at least sticker if not above. The options you want are not widely available and no dealer is going to part with one they have (especially in a popular color) without getting top dollar from the locator. Which means your locator dealer has far less room to deal.
Only 15% of all Hyundai product shipping is Sante Fe and the ABS is a small portion of that. To me this is the biggest mistake that Hyundai made on all their cars, ABS should be standard. But since ABS saved my life one time I am unshakable on the requirement for ABS on any auto I buy. If you can forgo ABS you will likely find what you want in a GLS. If not I suggest doing the math difference of a sticker GLS and a below sticker LX, there is not much price difference and the LX has some nice features.
The only disappointment (so far) with the Santa Fe is the lack of "random" playback on the CD player. I may check with the dealer and see if I can swap out the radio/CD for a unit that does have random. Very glad we did not go with the Mazda Tribute - the Santa Fe I feel has more bang for the buck.
What city and dealer did you go to?...what kind of deal did you get?
rsharp - As far as ABS - I'm in NJ. Getting everything I want - color to ABS is the problem. I've seen ABS on other colors - more on the LX versions at this time but a few on GLS but not the color I want. I'll be finding out more info today on the search. Thanks again for the responses.
How much did you pay for your moonroof? Also, did you get it installed at the dealership? Thanks.
***
I live in Southern CA and have been to TJ twice since getting my SF in November. I've put over 3K miles on it so far, and the only problem I've had is the clock flickering every now and then; I'll have the dealer take a look at it this week when I get my oil changed. Other than that, I think that Hyundai should pay us for all the questions we have to answer about the SF from the many admirers:-)
Thanks
chris
Remember, I'm a Hyundai owner and I hoping there will be a trade in value to this vehicle also.
The moonroof costs $1498.00 including installation (3 days). The dealer had the moonroof put in by the local ASC rep store.
Lexus RX, rich man's Santa Fe? I found myself behind a Black Lexus RX yesterday, and thought to myself..."Wow, that looks almost as nice as my Santa Fe! Almost. Heh, heh, heh!"
We love our White Santa Fe GLS, and the Gawkfest continues...no matter where we drive it, someone is staring and making positive comments.
Now consider this before reading on...A loaded Lexus RX 300 runs approx $40,000. A loaded Santa Fe LX around $22,000. I pulled this posting from the Lexus RX Town Hall board:
"I got a 2001 rx300 in mid december. After driving 1400 miles the car brokedown. I got it towed to the lexus dealer and after investigation he told me one of the cylinders in the engine is defective and lexus would change the engine. But I think lexus should give me a new car as such a major flaw is not expected in a lexus. (pulled from the Lexus Town Hall)"
Hmmmmmm....I'm not the smartest cookie in the jar, but I have figured out a good deal when I see one! Heck...buy 2 Santa Fes instead of 1 Lexus!
Trade in value? Why would I want to trade it in? If I wanted to trade it in, I would have bought whatever I was going to trade it in on! You ALWAYS lose when you trade ANY car in.
Bottom line: Hyundai makes a fine car, and backs it up with the best warranty you can get. If it breaks down, they are going to tow you in for free for 5 years. If you run out of gas, they are going to bring you 3 gallons...lock your keys in your car? They will come unlock it for you. Flat tire?...they'll come change it for you! Leave your lights on and run your battery down? Not to worry...they are on the way to give you a jump! If it breaks, they are going to fix it (bumper to bumper) for 5 years/60,000 miles (or 10/100,000 on powertrain).
You could spend $5,000-or $10,000 more on a number of SUVs, but would you be happier driving them? The Santa Fe met our needs exactly, including the price point...Spacious, good looking, comfortable. We are not off-roaders, and neither are most SUV buyers. Buy the Santa Fe, and invest the difference!
I looked at the Lexus--it looks like a jelly bean on wheels. Tried the Mercedes and the seat was like sitting on a board. Looked at the new Acura-beautiful inside but what a mighty ugly front end. BMW just isn't my image; although it is beautiful if you want snob appeal for $52,000 plus. Toyota RAV4--liked the looks inside and out--but small and no V6. Would not even consider the new Ford Tribute-looks like a truck, and why buy with all the recall problems?
In my humble opinion the Santa Fe has the best looking exterior of them all. The Santa Fe interior is simple but there is something appealing about it as well. The Santa Fe is peppy enough for me and offers lots of room. There is simply no better value anywhere! I love the way the AWD with ABS and tracs handles in the snow. Heater is fabulous and the seats comfortable!
If you are thinking about buying I would say go for it! I may well buy another! Compared to some of the others out there, you really can buy two Santa Fes for the price of one and be very satisified with your choice !! Don't you agree?
Escape: Kick-[non-permissible content removed] engine, accelaration is great, you've got 200hp at a given curb weight. Blows away the SF in speed and performance. Fit and finish... crap. The interior looks cheap and blandly designed. Too many recalls for my taste. I'm sorry, the column shifter HAS TO GO.
Tribute: Of course same engine as above. Fit and finish... better. Interior design a little better. I swear, I'm gonna break that column shifter off of the steering wheel...
Santa Fe: This is a Hyundai? Fit and finish... good. Interior design better than Triscape. Nice body lines. The engine, while good, is ANEMIC for a vehicle of this weight. On the AWD, accelaration was so-so, they let this vehicle get too heavy in the design. Nothing to write home about. Though you have a 10 year warranty, good luck while the parts department tries to keep up. I'm not saying that the car won't be reliable (time will determine that), it's just that they don't have an above average parts distribution system in North America.
Given a choice between the above three vehicles (and I had my choice) #1 Santa Fe, #2 Tribute. You can keep the Ford Excuse.
The only thing the Santa Fe shares with the RX300 is some similar looking lamp lenses and body lines.
Why did I get a RX300 instead?
My family's SAFETY: The RX300 is one of the best performers on the offset crash tests. Advanced chassis design in case of accident (the engine actually drops down instead of pushing into the passenger compartment). Advanced traction control. Vehicle Skid Control (prevents over and under-steer, plus vehicle rollover). 4-channel ABS with emergency power-assist. Anti-pinch system on all windows and moonroof. Electrochromic mirrors. High intensity discharge lamps.
Luxury: Memory for the seats. Navigation system. Auto climate control. Standard 220watt sound system with subwoofer. Vehicle information system and programmability. Higher level of fit, finish, and materials (the leather is like butter).
Performance: 220hp engine matched to an incredible 4-speed elctronically controlled transsmission. You have to drive it to believe how smooth it shifts. Performance handling, yet soaks up all the bumps. Special "snow" setting that automatically starts the car in 2nd gear to prevent wheel-spin. Proven reliability and customer service.
While a loaded Santa Fe may be a good buy for about $23 -24k, please don't kid yourselves into thinking it's anywhere near an Acura MDX, MB ML320, or Lexus RX300.
I hate to see what happens once the crash test data comes out... oh, I forgot, you just care about 'looks'.
And I love the bone-head who pulled one "selective" posting out of the RX300 forum to make his point. Notice he could pull only one.
Wake up and smell the motor oil.
"Green-eyed?" Jeez, what logic. Green-eyed implies jealous. Like someone else stated, if one wanted to they could buy almost two SF's for the price of one RX300. Sooo, I guess I'm not jealous since I could have bought one if I wanted to.
BTW, A fully loaded RX300 with Nav can be had for $38K. I didn't have to pay MSRP or even close to it.
Have fun.