Fuel Saving Tips

Did you ever play MASH as a kid? Or maybe you still play it. I don’t know. I always liked finding out who I was supposed to marry the most Then after that my favorite part was to watch whether the M, the A, the S or the H got circled at the very top designating mansion, apartment, shack or house.

But right after that the best part was finding out what car you would drive when you were “grown up.” I think it was really exciting because I was so clueless. I wanted the game to tell me what kind of car I’d be driving because I wasn’t even that aware of what I should want to be driving! I did have to come up with the 4 options and they were always some crazy, random combination like this:

1. Bug

2. Ferrari

3. VW Bug

4. BMW

Yes, yes. I know it’s a ridiculous list. But my 8 year old self was trying her very best. I’ve absolutely defined my preferences since then! Now I’m wondering if I’d ever heard of the Hyundai as a child. And if I hadn’t…why not? I find their line up offers something for every mood I’ve ever found myself in; not that you should buy a vehicle based on mood unless you’re P-Diddy, but it’s nice to know I could if I felt like it. You could start off in the Accent (it’s remarkably affordable) and move up to the Elantra when you’re ready. It offers more space than its competition and some pretty admirable “green” features.

The Hyundai Sonata is a “large car” according to its EPA classification and offers a great variety of popular safety features all standard. The Azera has been awarded J. D. Power and Associates APEAL study recognition twice. The Hyundai Tucson offers a great combination of SUV and car that is so popular right now; the look and feel of the SUV and the comfort of the car. The Santa Fe was chosen by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as a “Top Safety Pick”. The Entourage received the same honor from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Its the Hyundai’s version of the mini van and comes equipped with all the technological advances we’ve come across in recent years to make the mini-van even more user friendly. The Veracruz has that fabulous third row seat known as the Hyundai Hideaway! And the Tiburon comes along as the only Hyundai coupe. It’s got sport tuned suspension and a design that just looks good.

Playing MASH at this late date may be a bit pointless since I’m technically already “all grown up,” but I’d be much better at it now than I was when I was 8. I think I’m going to challenge someone to a game the next time I’m waiting at the doctor’s office. I’m totally going to get the Mansion and the Tiburon and Brad Pitt. Watch and see…

In an industry as tough as the automotive industry, it would be tempting to accept your position as an industry leader and pat yourself on the back for your success. But Hyundai refuses to accept anything less than THE industry leader. That’s why they continue to improve upon a product that is accepted as one of the best buys in the market.

One example of Hyundai’s continuous movement to improve upon the quality of their already high quality product is the assembly plant in Alabama. Hyundai’s assembly plant in Alabama is one of the best in the industry. It’s state of the art in every way from technology to environmental elements.

The Sonata and Santa Fe models (built especially for the American market) come out of the Alabama plant. The assembly is handled by over 250 welding robots with complex optical sensors that guarantee tight welds and minimal panel gaps. The quality control is handled by more robots as well as an immediate road test following assembly completion.

So don’t attempt to find a Hyundai Sonata or Hyundai Santa Fe with a zeroed out odometer. If you find one, there’s something strange going on because every vehicle leaves the Alabama plant with 2.3 miles on the odometer. Immediately after coming off the assembly line, every vehicle is taken for a road test on Hyundai’s special test track. All this ensures that everything on new Hyundai models is working as intended; no unexplainable rattles or unidentifiable squeaks.

No one goes on a test drive and decides to buy a new car because they’re attached to the odd sounds and quirky functioning of a vehicle. Hyundai is aware of the need for seamless operation and peace of mind. And both come from owning a vehicle that runs smoothly and accommodates the needs of drivers and passengers. Driving a Hyundai means driving a car with a history you can trust and modern innovations you can enjoy.

Hyundai doesn’t just talk about improving the quality and customer satisfaction of their drivers. At Hyundai the quest for improvement has checks and measures just as thorough as their industry recognized assembly plants. Hyundai employs continuous survey systems to ensure they are aware of the public response to their improvements, additions, and changes. And they all say the same thing…we’re impressed.

I can’t remember when I saw the first TV commercial depicting the Maytag repairman sitting around wishing someone would call for a repair on their Maytag product without any luck. I’ve always thought it was a fabulous marketing idea for the company and now that it’s lasted decades it’s even more obvious that it’s a successful one!

Recently I read an article that discussed Hyundai and while reading it I was eerily reminded of the Maytag Repairman and his lack of necessary repairs. The Hyundai spokesperson in the article mentioned that their projected costs related to their warranties were always higher than the actual costs to the company.

Considering that the Hyundai warranty offers the best warranty in the business (10 years/100,000 miles powertrain; five years/60,000 miles bumper to bumper; etc.) the fact that their costs are coming in lower than reasonable projections indicates that the Hyundai vehicles on the road today are high quality. So consumers can enjoy the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes with getting great warranty coverage on their new car AND enjoy the additional warm and fuzzy that comes with knowing that they probably won’t need to use it much.

There’s not a soul out there that wouldn’t agree that not needing to use your warranty at all is better than having one in the first place. And Hyundai was absolutely aware of that. They took that knowledge and didn’t just say they had a quality product with a guarantee…they actually produced a high quality product that the consumer could use and appreciate.

Hyundai’s warranty definitely sets them apart from the crowd. But it’s not the only notable focus of the Hyundai design. Hyundai also has a history of leading the pack when it comes to installing safety features. For example, in 2006 the Hyundai Sonata became the first mid size sedan to offer ESC (Electronic Stability Control) as a standard feature. (This particular safety feature decreases the probability of single vehicle crashes by 35% and the probability of single vehicle fatalities by 30%…substantial numbers).

The Hyundai has definitely made moves to carve out a wider niche for itself in the industry by giving consumers good vehicles at good prices with intent focus on the things that matter. We all want to make it from point A to point B safely and without incident, but if there is an incident, we want to know that precautions have been taken to keep us safe. Hyundai took that universal concern and made sure that Hyundai drivers could worry a lot less. To find out more information about current safety features in various Hyundai models visit your local dealership or find the info online at HyundaiTempe.com.