In my own personal dealings with Hyundai, the customer service at corporate
level is 1000% better than the local dealer. Particularly at Reliable
Imports in Springfield Mo. In a list of suggested 30,000 mile service on a
2002 XG350 the maintainance suggested totaled over 1,000 dollars. After
talking to the shop manager at this same dealer, the necessities, (doing my
own work of course) were less that $125.00 and that was buying their
coolant, oil filter, transmission fluid, and air filter. They had some of
the most ridiculous labor charges I'd ever seen for guys that probably
didn't make over $20.00 an hour with no benefits. Just rotating and
balancing tires was over 100 dollars when Sams club will do it for 25% of
that or less .Also they said the transmission fluid had to be flushed and
filled when all that was required was drained and filled as was the engine
coolant.

Funny part was the parts counter prices on anything they peddle is 25%
higher if quoted on shop use prices than it is customer (DIY) prices. One
example of this is an engine air filter for 24.65 at the counter and a
quote of 36.50 in the shop estimate.( No, labor was separate). I don't know
how they justify that. I guess because they are the only game in town. That
service manager is no longer with them and I'll just bet it was because of
his honest dealings with customers. The young kid that gave the the
ridiculously high estimates of repairs for warranty service is now shop
manager. Wonder why? In a capitalistic society, you can't warranty a
vehicle forever but some leeway should be given. Like many of the
commenters have said, they shot themselves in the head when it came to
repeat business. That customer will surely remember his/her treatment at
that dealer when purchasing their next vehicle.

We have a "lemon law" in the state of Mo. and it has protected some folks
from dealers like this one you speak of if the car has a more than frequent
breakdown rate. In the case of the doorlock failures, it would be hard to
convince a small claims court here that by not draining the transmission
fluid a month late caused the doorlock to shoot craps.

 

Keep in mind that's $1500 below MSRP. Furthermore, if you're in certain
geographic areas, dealers will charge significantly more than MSRP to
cover their own costs of doing business in that location.

Also, you'll need to add the labor for replacing the engine. I can
testify that this is *not* a fun job.

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Done it before. Would consider it again (or just about any other car line)
for the right money.

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>Keep in mind that's $1500 below MSRP. Furthermore, if you're in certain
>geographic areas, dealers will charge significantly more than MSRP to
>cover their own costs of doing business in that location.
>
>Also, you'll need to add the labor for replacing the engine. I can
>testify that this is *not* a fun job.

Local taxes and MSRP go hand in hand. I live on the border of two
counties. I go into one and it's at 9% sales tax. I go into the other,
7.5. I bought my 02 Sonata in the 7.5% county but I lived in the 9% so
I got a lovely letter saying I had to pay the difference. Nice eh?

On a good day with all planets in alignment, how long does it take to
replace an engine in man-hours?

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

This particular engine, I'd count on 1.5 to 2 days. Lots of hard-to-get-to
stuff to take off prior to dropping engine/trans. And lots of stuff to
take off even after dropped. I did one once, and it definitely was not
fun.

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