2006 Hyundai quality report from J D Powers

I don't think that. I have five new cars worth of data!
To me it is the difference between design and assembly. They are two
different things and have quite different ramifications.

My 84 Accord was fairly trouble-free at first, although it did have two
recalls, but at about 60,000 miles it began to self-destruct and at
80,000 miles the top end of the engine failed (cam and all 16 rocker
arms). I traded it off at 90,000 miles for an 89 Acclaim. It is the
only car I've owned that didn't make 100,000 miles. The Acclaim wasn't
assembled as nicely as the Honda and had a few more teething problems,
but that car was the most reliable and durable car I've ever owned. It
still had the original exhaust system on it when my wife hit a deer with
it and totaled it when it was 9 years old and had 143,000 miles on it.
The Honda needed a complete exhaust system, including converter, at just
over 60,000 miles. It also needed new rotors and drums then as well as
the originals were rusted so badly they couldn't even be turned!

Same with my 86 Jeep Comanche. Had a few teething problems, but was
durable as could be after that. I ran it 9 years and sold it to my
father-in-law when I bought my 94 Chevy pickup. He ran it 10 more years
and gave it back to me right before he died two years ago. I STILL use
it for off-road work now as it is rusted too badly to pass inspection.

My Sonata has had virtually no teething problems, just like my Accord,
although it has had several "recalls" already, just like my Accord. I'm
just hoping that it doesn't fall apart at 60-80,000 miles like my
Accord! I take some comfort knowing that Chrysler had a hand in the
engine design as I've had great luck with Chrysler engines, starting
with a slant-6 in a 1976 Dodge Truck. I'm worried about the clutch and
transmission, especially the clutch. It is a bugger to start out with
the too tall first gear and too sensitive electronic throttle without
slipping the clutch a lot more than I like. However, if you don't, then
you risk stalling as I've don't way too many times.


Matt

 

You can have it, and take mine while you're at it.

No, I agree. I saw the film too. I'm impressed with the robotics, but even
more impressed with the people. One guy was really impressive, and I
thought he was a manager of some kind. The subtitle stated he was a "Team
Member", meaning a regular hourly worker. I like the way they all seem to be
focused on cars, not seeing who can screw the other.

 

Great comeback, Bob! As soon as I read it, I was thinking "I wish I'd
have thought to say that."

That is good to hear. Anyone know when this was aired? I'd like to
find it and see if it is scheduled to air again sometime.

Matt

 

It was one of the "something" Marvels - I think the content was
"Assembly Lines". I will try to send another note after I check the
name when it pops up again later. It's a common series on

 

UH, do you have any hard proof of this bribery?
I think Nissan is the company that you are thinking is crooked!

Kevin

 

Yes, personal experience. Read the past posts for details.

Matt

 

When I was a kid, I drove my BIL's slant 6 Valiant with Torqueflite. The
engine and tranny were bullet proof. It would do 0-20 mph in about .1
second, and really crush you back in the seat for a fleeting moment.

 

Hey Matt, here is a link to The History Channel's film. It has 90% of the
Sonata plant footage. I viewed it 3-4 times, and noticed different little
things each time. Better hurry, I'm guessing they'll be taking it down soon.

http://www.historychannel.com/modernmarvels/?page=video

 

Thanks, Bob, I just watched it. Pretty cool!!

Looks like the end got chopped off some, but maybe I'll catch a re-run
on the History channel and have my mother tape it. I live in the
boonies and only get 3 channels on the rabbit ears!


Matt

 

Not to worry, they have a lot of reruns. It's been on 3 or 4 times in the
last week at various times of the day. It will probably be run a dozen more
times this year.

I never knew that Henry Ford copied slaughter house techniques of the day.
He simply reversed the "disassembly" lines they used in the big meat plants.

 

My mother uses something like Zap2It (I'm sure that isn't right, but it
is something like that) to look up schedules for the History channel and
said this show had run twice recently, but doesn't show up again in the
future for at least the next month, so I may have to wait a while.

Yes, was it Solomon who made some little comment about nothing new under
the sun.


Matt

 

here is the link....you can watch it on your computer..
http://www.historychannel.com/modernmarvels/?page=video

 

Toyota's quality has gone down since they outsourced their American
production to GM facilities. Their smaller vehicles also lack value
compared to practically anything else on the market - "resale value"
aside (I generally don't sell still-running vehicles so 'resale value'
means little to me)

Its been going on since 1992ish that I know of (Geo Prism/Toyota
Corolla), and its not doing any favors for Toyota.

OTOH, I haven't been closer than 20 ft to a US-built Hyundai, yet.. I
wouldn't be surprised if the build quality has gone down - its happened
to every other foreign-gone-domestic automaker...

JS

 

Do you have even a shred of evidence to back that up? I've seen data
exactly to the contrary. The number of problems per 100 vehicles has
been in a steady decline for all regions of the world for last 20 years
or so. Some of gained faster than others and the Asians still lead,
eith the US behind and the Europeans father behind, but I've seen no
uptick in issues in general.


Matt

 

You completely missed the point, but thats no real surprise.

JS

 

No, I caught the point precisely. You made an inaccurate claim and have
nothing to back it up.

Matt

 

Throwing my two cents in.... I think very highly of my new 06 Sonata.
The build quality is excellent and I love the car and I'd tell that to
J.D. Powers or anyone else who asked because it's the truth as far as I
am concerned.

Neither Hyundai nor the dealer has bribed me with anything and even if
they had thrown piles of "free oil change" coupons at me, it would not
change the build quality or how happy I am about the car.

 

I've seen older Sonatas and own a new one. The build quality has improved,
and I believe it will continue to improve.

American workers are second to none when they are unencumbered by union
politics. You can't compare the work coming out of the northern union shops
and the non-union shops of Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai.

 

Yes, I agree that the biggest problem isn't the American worker it is
the American labor and management system that is broken. However,
having said that, my employer owns plants in Korea, Taiwan, Japan,
Europe and the US. And the Koreas are probably the most industrious and
have the highest attention to detail of any of the folks I've worked
with. That Japanes are very good also, but have more NIH than the
Koreas who will "adopt" (some say steal even) almost any practice that
they think will give them an advantage.


Matt

 

Unless you took a bribe or made a bribe, then I don't see that you have any
proof.

Care to elaborate?