Vacation Car Rental....Hyundai Surprise

[matt_a]

I like to rent cars for vacation. It's something I started doing about 6 years ago and it's awesome. I don't have to worry about road dings, mileage, where I park it...etc. I can relax, drive the crap out of it and enjoy my vacation while our cars are locked safely at home in the garage. Anyhow, we just got back from a week down at Myrtle Beach, SC. I reserved a "Full Size" car from Enterprise. When I went to pick it up they drove around in a Chevy HHR. This is basically Chevy's version of a PT Cruiser. When I asked they claimed that the HHR is considered (by Enterprise) to be in the full-size class. Now understand that I was about to take myself, my wife, our 16 year-old son and his 17 yr old friend on a 9 hour drive with luggage. I sat in the HHR and said, "No way". It was downright small inside. The rear seat legroom was way too tight. I mean like knees-against-the-hard-plastic-seatback tight. After looking around the lot at other options, I decided on a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. It was actually cheaper because it's considered "Intermediate" size but it had much more passenger room. I have never driven a Hyundai before and I'm pretty sure 10 years ago I wouldn't have liked it. But let me tell you, that '09 Sonata was a really nice car. It was well appointed, very comfortable, and ran great. I have to admit that if I were shopping for a car right now, the Hyundai Sonata would be on my short list.

[Andrews Chalmers]

Yep - Hyundai has some pretty decent offerings now. The Kia Forte is like a reliable and cheap Honda Civic, and the Genesis is like a reliable car built like a luxury sedan without the name brand price.

[GapRunr]

Hyundai has come a long way. I used to live in Canada where they were introduced in 1984. They had the Excel and the Stellar if memory serves me right. Dollar for dollar, they were very well equipped but they weren't up to the quality, reliability, or refinement of the Japanese.

Nowadays that has changed and Hyundai is becoming a major player.

GapRunr

[matt_a]

Yeah, I was really surprised at how nice it was. It had lots of goodies like satellite radio, sunroof, shiftable automatic trans, power seats, cruise...etc. The interior was beige with "wood" accents and a black dash. It looked really sharp. I saw lots of nice extras like 2 power ports, iPod dock, and USB connector too. All of the switches felt solid and the car rode really nice with plenty of power. Honestly, I never expected a Hyundai to be that nice. If they can keep that up and still be priced below Nissan, Honda and Toyota I would seriously consider one for my next car. I never thought I would say that about a Hyundai.

[kc5f]

My first car (37 years ago) was a little foreign car nobody had ever heard of - a Subaru. $1850 new, but I had to get rid of it after 75k miles because of its problems and I swore I'd stick to American cars. Until my Versa. Sounds like when it wears out it might be worth it to give Hyundai a look, too!

[Bubs daddy]

Indeed, the Sonata is a great car. I leased one a few years ago and it was a high quality car with a considerable amount of options for far less than other comparable cars.

[devilV]

Yes Sonatas are good cars. My wife drives one. We bought it new at the end of 05. Its got 40 some-odd k miles. No problems at all so far. The only thing is Hyundai kinda took Ford's place with the Taurus as far as rentals go. Selling so many Sonatas to rental fleets hurts resale.

[Shad0wXCalibur]

That's what I've been trying to tell people about Hyundai. Their current cars are nothing like the old cars that people keep bashing Hyundai for but people don't seem to get it. Don't get me wrong, I like my Versa over the Accent but if I was in the market for a bigger car, I'd move over to Hyundai as one of my choices.

[devilV]

And what about the Genesis coupe? That is a sweet car. Hyundai has come a very long way.

[dee_tymz_sl]

I love the Genesis Coupe... It's such a sexy car.. If I were thinking of buying another car right now it wouldn't definitely be that

[Shad0wXCalibur]

And what about the Genesis coupe? That is a sweet car. Hyundai has come a very long way.

I would LOVE to test drive one. There's already a black one around here slightly modded up with hyper yellow fogs and smoked taillights. I LOVE the stock headlights and wheels. It looks way awesome.

[Andrews Chalmers]

I've had the opportunity to drive a Genesis coup. While I like Hyundai's offerings, I think the coup needs time to become a little more refined... the engine wasn't very well calibrated IMO - there seemed to be not enough torque at certain ranges...

I think it somewhat lacks the execution of the Genesis sedan.

[frankoV]

Hyundai has come a long way. I used to live in Canada where they were introduced in 1984. They had the Excel and the Stellar if memory serves me right. Dollar for dollar, they were very well equipped but they weren't up to the quality, reliability, or refinement of the Japanese.

Remember the Pony? One Winnipeg winter and they were rusted away to nothing!

[devilV]

Which one did you drive? I set in one but have never driven one.

[Andrews Chalmers]

The V6 variant. I can't remember which options it had - but for the similar price, I'll rather get the 370z.

[Stumpkin]

The entry level Hyundai (can't recall the name) was on our short list when be got the "V" a little over a year ago. The Hyundai got better gas millage, as cost a little less but it also felt more cramped. The decision maker was the better crash rating on the "V" as the car is used mostly by my daughters. Yes Hyundai has come a long long way from the 80's in the positive direction. Seems to me most Asian brands have done the same - the big 3 (now the little almost out of the picture 3) domestics seamed to have learned nothing in the past 25+ years. Best part is you can buy a foreign brand and still support American labor as so many of them have assembly plants in America (& North America).

[VersaMG08]

I would still buy a Hyundai over any domestic brand car anyday.

[Shad0wXCalibur]

I would still buy a Hyundai over any domestic brand car anyday.

I agree. The big 3 were out of the question when I went looking for a car as I didn't like ANYTHING I've been in from GM, Ford, or Dodge except for my dad's 2000 Silverado and the old Neon I used to have. It wasn't that reliable but it was fun to drive...

[NODES]

I am not a fan of ford at all....but they are coming out with some nice cars now a days.

[matt_a]

I am not a fan of ford at all....but they are coming out with some nice cars now a days.

I agree. If someone put a gun to my head and forced me to buy a domestic car, it would be a Ford. But yeah, I'm with VersaMG08...I'd rather have a Hyundai over any domestic.