Paradigm Shift: Hyundai Azera the Best-loved Big Car?

[betron02]

The new 2006 Hyundai Azera ranked first among large cars in a J.D. Power survey that rates vehicles by how well new owners like them. The closely-related Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 tied for second place in the category.

In a different J.D. Power survey released earlier this month, Hyundai finished third overall, behind Porsche and Lexus, when the brands were ranked for the quality of their new vehicles.
While J.D. Power's Initial Quality survey, released June 7, measured the number of problems owners experienced with their vehicles, the latest survey, called APEAL - for Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout - ranks cars according to how well their new owners like them.

Link-
http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/06/27/...eal/index.html

[mkaresh]

I'ts always amazing when someone who decides to buy a car after examining its strengths and weaknesses actually likes the thing.

How about a second survey of people who considered a particular car, then decided to buy something else?

[91 s-10baja]

I drove one, not bad, more of a Camry than an upper end competitor. But I got a $50 Amex gift card out of it! Spent it on a Starbucks card!

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by 91 s-10baja

I drove one, not bad, more of a Camry than an upper end competitor. But I got a $50 Amex gift card out of it! Spent it on a Starbucks card!

I checked one out too. More of an Avalon competitor than a true luxury car.

[hunchman]

OMG.........a survey on HOW WELL owners liked their car..............you've got to be kidding. Let's see I liked my car really well is that better or worse than if I liked it super duper alot..........give me a break someone should be shot for this.............lol

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

With Toyota now focused on Hyundia, I wonder if that is an opportunity for GM?

[Bravada]

No wonder the tight-budget pensioners love the Azera, they keep convincing themselves that they've got "so much for the money". It's very hard to satisfy a Mercedes buyer, but even if Mercedes or Lexus or some other prestige brand get lower rankings than Hyundai, they are worse cars - their owners just have higher expectations.

See, if I bought a Hyundai, I would be happy if it would be "within reasonable limits" in terms of handling and performance, provide "enough" room, I could live with some cheapo plastics, rattles and not-so-well-fitting parts. But if I shelled out a lot of dough on a Jaguar, Mercedes or BMW, any small imperfection would make me go fuming.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by Bravada

No wonder the tight-budget pensioners love the Azera, they keep convincing themselves that they've got "so much for the money". It's very hard to satisfy a Mercedes buyer, but even if Mercedes or Lexus or some other prestige brand get lower rankings than Hyundai, they are worse cars - their owners just have higher expectations.

On the flip side, when it comes to Toyohonda I've heard first hand from owners who swear by the quality regardless of how many problems they encounter. An Odyssey taken in 4 times for complete transmission replacement and cruise control wiring harness replaced, all within 3 years, and the owner still considered Honda quality tops and would not trust Domestics, even though a domestic minivan he had as a long-term rental for months prior to buying the Odyssey gave him no problems, and he had no other Domestic buying experiences to base his mistrust on.

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by Bravada

No wonder the tight-budget pensioners love the Azera, they keep convincing themselves that they've got "so much for the money". It's very hard to satisfy a Mercedes buyer, but even if Mercedes or Lexus or some other prestige brand get lower rankings than Hyundai, they are worse cars - their owners just have higher expectations.

See, if I bought a Hyundai, I would be happy if it would be "within reasonable limits" in terms of handling and performance, provide "enough" room, I could live with some cheapo plastics, rattles and not-so-well-fitting parts. But if I shelled out a lot of dough on a Jaguar, Mercedes or BMW, any small imperfection would make me go fuming.

You live in Poland. The Hyundai's that are made here in the US nowadays don't have some "cheapo plastics, rattles and not-so-well-fitting parts".

Qualitywise, the Sonata's coming out of the Alabama plant are some of the best well put together cars I've see on the road, even better than some Toyotas. Their tolerances are super tight. Hyundai may be making junk in the rest of the world but over here, they're making some very high quality cars. (and they come with a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty to back it up)

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by Ming

On the flip side, when it comes to Toyohonda I've heard first hand from owners who swear by the quality regardless of how many problems they encounter. An Odyssey taken in 4 times for complete transmission replacement and cruise control wiring harness replaced, all within 3 years, and the owner still considered Honda quality tops and would not trust Domestics, even though a domestic minivan he had as a long-term rental for months prior to buying the Odyssey gave him no problems, and he had no other Domestic buying experiences to base his mistrust on.

Everyone has stories like this. But overall, there's a reason why people say the Japanese make reliable cars. That reputation didn't just magically appear. Everyone here knocks American journalists for their "bias". Well, guess what? The rest of the world feels the same way too.

I spent several years in Kuwait. Over there, American cars and German cars used to reign supreme. You could hardly find any Japanese vehicles (other than Toyota Landcruisers which were practically everywhere for camping in 120 degree, harsh, sandy desert conditions)

But now, it's mostly German and Japanese brands. In a country where gas is extremely inexpensive, V-8's were what everyone desired. Nobody cares about fuel economy out there. That is why the American cars sold so well. But now after several years, Toyota's seem to have taken over in a major way.

And look at this old Top Gear review (video) from the UK. You can see how Toyota formed their reputation in the early stages in an era when everyone else was making unreliable cars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwlbiwenoyU

[Ming]

True, but reputation should not override reality to the point of it being ridiculous. If you've taken your Odyssey in for 5 major repairs in 3 years, and have no negative experiences with Domestics, you should not be knocking Domestics and singing the reliability/quality praises of a car (or Japanese cars in general) that's been to shop so many times for repairs.

As Hyundai proves, things change. And consumers should be more willing to accept these changes into their pre-conceived notions and stereotypes of what to expect from different automakers.

My story above is personal because I drove the Odyssey owner to the Honda dealership twice to pick up / drop off his loaner Civic during trans replacement. You can't see it much more clearly than that.

Belief in Toyota and Honda quality is almost like a religion for some people I know, including, I suppose, the person with the Odyssey. You can't convince them otherwise, and I sometimes wonder if my friend had taken a quality survey if he would have reported his problems with the same kind of zeal with which you hear people complain about problems with their Domestic cars.

On the other hand, perhaps he simply liked the features of the Odyssey so much that he was willing to overlook the bad. But his negative comments in general about Domestics make me doubt that.

[yamahr1]

Originally Posted by Ming

Belief in Toyota and Honda quality is almost like a religion for some people I know, including, I suppose, the person with the Odyssey. You can't convince them otherwise, and I sometimes wonder if my friend had taken a quality survey if he would have reported his problems with the same kind of zeal with which you hear people complain about problems with their Domestic cars.

Not only do I think what you're saying is true, I think it also accounts for a lot of the skew in Consumer Reports. Admitting that you've had a problem with a Toyota or Honda is just not PC these days, but trendy people welcome hearing about problems with domestics. It kind of puts you in the "in crowd."

I have a friend with a Nissan Xterra and I think he's had to replace the supercharger twice and had some other significant problems as well. Yet it would not suprise me if he went back to buy another Nissan. It's got to be good, right??

[dindak]

I wouldn't be caught dead in a Hyundai

[Quickening]

Originally Posted by dindak

I wouldn't be caught dead in a Hyundai

Agreed.

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by Ming

True, but reputation should not override reality to the point of it being ridiculous. If you've taken your Odyssey in for 5 major repairs in 3 years, and have no negative experiences with Domestics, you should not be knocking Domestics and singing the reliability/quality praises of a car (or Japanese cars in general) that's been to shop so many times for repairs.

As Hyundai proves, things change. And consumers should be more willing to accept these changes into their pre-conceived notions and stereotypes of what to expect from different automakers.

My story above is personal because I drove the Odyssey owner to the Honda dealership twice to pick up / drop off his loaner Civic during trans replacement. You can't see it much more clearly than that.

Belief in Toyota and Honda quality is almost like a religion for some people I know, including, I suppose, the person with the Odyssey. You can't convince them otherwise, and I sometimes wonder if my friend had taken a quality survey if he would have reported his problems with the same kind of zeal with which you hear people complain about problems with their Domestic cars.

On the other hand, perhaps he simply liked the features of the Odyssey so much that he was willing to overlook the bad. But his negative comments in general about Domestics make me doubt that.

Like I said, one person's experience is just one person's experience. There are millions more with the opposite experience where truely, nothing has gone wrong. BTW, I have firsthand experience with the Odyssey too and as a 25 year old, I didn't expect to like it at all but I loved it. My Brother-in-law bought an Odyssey last year and I rode in it part way when he drove from TN to NJ last Christmas. It's simply a fantastic minivan. I don't think there is anything else on the market that even comes close to it. That was one of the best "family" road trips of my life and I had tons of fun with my smaller cousins. I know it's a minivan but it's very warm and comfortable inside. Also, the navigation system in it is really excellent. Overall, I was very impressed with the Odyssey and would recommend it to large families.