I recently learned that my local Hyundai dealership is going out of business. Rumor is that the franchise has been bought by a mega-dealer and will be relocated 20 or so miles distant. This makes the dealer close to 40 miles away rather than 20 miles away and on my way to work.
What a bummer! So much for buying another Hyundai.
It also appears that much of the staff at the current dealership will be laid off. I hope hyundaitech tech didn't work there! That might be why he has gone silent.
Amazing that the mega-dealers are still growing even with this economy.
What is so bad about a 40 mile drive? In 3 1/2 years of Hyundai ownership I've been to the dealer three times, including twice to pick up the new cars I bought. Sixty miles driving over the life of a car to have the one I really want is not a big deal. Never bought a Lamborghini since the dealer was 200 miles away, but now that there is a new one about 75 miles, I may consider one next time around.
A Lamborghini may require more frequent visits to the dealer LOL.
My original dealer (Howard Hyundai) sold off their Hyundai biz to an Acura shop down the road from them. From me it's about a 5 mile trip one way so not too bad but I am here in Chicago and there are tons of Hyundai shops. I've been to the dealer *maybe* 3 times since I've owned my 02 Sonata. Sorry to hear it's now 40 miles for you. That is a trek.
- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]
It is the time not the miles per se. The current dealer is on my way to work and about two miles from where I work. I can drop the car off in the morning for service and they take me to work. When the car is done, they come and get me. It takes about 10 - 15 minutes out of my day. I have had the car back to the dealer at least 6-7 times in the 4 years I have owned it, probably more. Every issue takes at least two visits: one for diagnosis and one when the parts come in as the dealer appeared to stock virtually nothing. Even the cabin air filter had to be ordered!
The new dealer is not on my way to work and I don't think offers a shuttle as far away as my office is from their location, but I need to check on the latter. Even if they did, it would add an hour to my commute on each direction at a minimum. It just isn't convenient and the Sonata just hasn't been a dramatically better car than other cars I have owned. There is a Chevy garage right across the street from the current Hyundai garage and they offer the shuttle service also. And I have had good luck with my past Chevies including my current truck which is 16 years old with 120,000 miles and still going strong, albeit with some rust starting to come through in a couple of spots.
The new Chevy vehicles are quite nice and when I recently test drove the Equinox back-to-back with the Santa Fe, both me and my wife much preferred the Chevy. And the new Malibu appears to be the equal of the Sonata, although I have driven the new model Sonata.
So, most likely back to GM for my next car which may well be a cross-over such as the Equinox.
Matt
Certainly more expensive visits!
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