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**Gamle-ged** · 12-18-2006, 01:55 AM

Let the fact that the Sonata is now a very commonly seen auto put your mind at ease regarding the Azera's likely recognition and eventual popularity. Back in 1975, when I took the huge risk of buying a new Honda Civic CVCC, the cars were relatively few and far between and I got the extended warranty juuust in case.

Then in '76 the Accord first arrived on our shores and I kicked myself for not having waited... what a great looking car! I held out one more year, then traded on a 1977 Accord. Up until now, I'd owned only one other car, a used '90 Accord LX (which I still have; the '77 lasted nearly 20 years and 328,000 miles and my '90 ownership overlapped the '77 by about 6 years and currently has 245,000 miles) and the Honda, like the Toyota, has become the car to beat for price, reliability and owner satisfaction. Hyundai wants to be the Korean Honda/Toyota, and I suspect that they'll succeed...

Islander · 12-19-2006, 12:58 AM

Gamle-ged

My wanting to se more Azera's on the road is tied to Hyundai seeing it as a winner from a corproate point of view here in the US market. The more they sell the louder the voice of the ownership - and hence the more likely they'll invest in finding a fix for the dreaded clunk that many of us have.

The fact that they are introducing the Veracruz and are targeting the Acura and Lexus crossovers, as well as introducing a larger than Azera (rear wheel drive) top-of-the-line sedan, I would have to expect that they will be very sensitive to Azera owners. After all, we're the ones that will be asked how we like our cars, by potential buyers of more expensive Hyundai's.

Your comparison of the Hyundai to Toyota & Honda are right on. I believe the quality is there, in these cars. As a 1st year model, the Azera despite the clunk has relatively few complaint points. We're just the lucky ones to have the cars at a reduced price.....as their reputation continues to grow, so will sticker prices.

Enjoy your holidays!

**Gamle-ged** · 12-19-2006, 03:47 AM

"We're just the lucky ones to have the cars at a reduced price.....as their reputation continues to grow, so will sticker prices."

And doesn't that made us feel smarter than th' average bear! Biggrin

cdmuile · (This post was last modified: 12-30-2006 12:17 PM by cdmuile.)

Re:An Azera Sighting
We spent the past holiday in the DC area. On the 28th, about 2pm, we were driving to Reagan National and passed a beautiful brown or ambergris(eggplant?)Azera on the freeway. It had a nifty gold pinstripe on the side. Did this car belong to a forum member? It was the only Azera I saw in the Washington area in 5 days!!! (My wife says the car was black)

NJ_Azera · 01-10-2007, 08:33 AM

I saw an Azera today , first one since I bought mine 5 weeks ago . It was silver like mine but had a gray interior (I have Black), I can't beleive it took 5 weeks to see one since I live in the most congested area in the country (NNJ/NYC)

Islander · 01-12-2007, 01:27 AM

I too went a long time before I saw my first Azera after purchasing mine. In 2007 I've seen two; a silver/grey and abeige/tan...both on Long Island, NY.

That said, I see as many Lamborghini's as I do Azera's.

***Azera*** · (This post was last modified: 01-14-2007 05:46 PM by Azera.)

I haven't seen an Azera in a while. Sonatas on the other hand are everywhere here. They're like Accords/Camrys now.

**Gamle-ged** · 01-15-2007, 11:43 PM

I see maybe 1 per week in my travels between here and Tampa and MouseTown...

NJ_Azera · 01-20-2007, 01:48 PM

I saw another Azera today Shock

This one was blue/ beige parked on Ferry street in Newark NJ....
some very good restaurants on that street Biggrin

**Gamle-ged** · 02-08-2007, 12:53 AM

A possible cause for few-and-far-between Azera sightings, found on a different site and here quoted:
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By reading the financial pages, I learned Hyundai has been in two types of problems, work-related and legal.

The work aspect is that the company has been plagued by multiple stops in the production of their vehicles in South Korea, where the Azera is made, since the very start. Their workers have been on strike for higher wages and better working conditions every year but one since 1987.

Last year was the worst ever in this area, with 17 days of strike causing a production loss of 115000 vehicles. I guess they figure there's no point in advertising if they can't make enough cars to answer the current demand. If they advertise, the car could sell a lot, but people wouldn't be able to get it for months. In Canada, at least in Ontario, the 2007 model is not even arrived yet.

The legal aspect is that their chairman, Chung Mong-koo, has been in trouble for the last few years. Yesterday he was handed a three-year jail term for illegally raising a $110 million (u.s.) slush fund to seek government favors.

Mind you, he appealed the decision and was released on bail so he won't go to prison any time soon. Actually he's been allowed back into the boardroom for the time being. This guy has been there since 1999 and is credited for expanding greatly the Hyundai brand by opening new plants and putting the emphasis on quality. At the same time, he seems to have a confrontational attitude with his workers.

So these two problems probably don't have a big effect on the Sonata and the new Santa Fe because these models are produced at their Alabama plant (opened in 2005), but it's got to cause a big slowdown in South Korea where the Azera is made.