Thanks again for the input. I really like the looks of this car and I'm having a hard time scratching it off of the list of cars I'm considering. I just don't want to buy a car that after the warranty is over will nickle and dime me to death.

I bought the 10-year, 100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper extended warranty just in case (which I'll likely see expire after about 7 years), new model first year (2006)and all. But to date, with no warranty work needed at all, no "klunk" no "bounce" no steering wheel peel, no nutthin' to disappoint after 29,000 miles of driving, I'll have to say it looks very promising. Will it do as well as my new 1977 and my used 1990 Accords did? Time will tell... :grin:

I would if Hyundai would get their act together. The Azera is a good looking automobile however for $27,000 bucks suspension, lights, cracks, and rattles should be out of mind for the consumer. These areas of concern should be looked at and Hyundai should be able to come of with a proper fix. Either put quality parts on the car or get out of the high priced car market. When one offers a top notch luxury car then give the consumer you market. The Azera doesn't have anything on the BMW, Lexus, or Acura. These three auto brands live up to quality.

In five four more years I will be trading my Azera. I will continue to read this and other forums plus see how my Azera behaves in the next few years and then I will make my decision. Currently the jury is stll out.

It's true, that something, anything, this expensive, ought to be a good solid asset. BUT, and this is nothing but a descriptive, and friendly, retort: for Azera ($24k-$31k) competition in terms of power, features & luxury, you correctly cited BMW (525i, $45k-52k), Lexus (ES, $35k-$42k) and Acura (TL, smaller and not as well-appointed & luxurious, but similar power, $34k-$40k). Throw in M-B (E350, $52k-$60k) for good measure. Honestly, $25k or $27k isn't THAT much for a car any more. The relevant comparison for price means "taking an enormous step downward in power, refinement, equipment and prestige". Good, reliable cars, don't get me wrong, but utterly bland people-movers: Taurus, Malibu, Camry, Accord. I even considered a fully-loaded Accord or Camry vs. the second Azera, but these would have run $34k-35k, and the dealers weren't too keen on "making a deal". I paid $25500 for each Azera. So the reality is, you're comparing against base-model V6 Camry and Accord. I said this, earlier in this thread, I believe, but for this enormous saving on the price of the car, and the extensive warranty coverage, you should be WILLING TO (notice I didn't say EXPECT TO) have some inconvenience, some challenges. It probably won't be a perfect, flawless experience.

It's a pretty simple decision tree. If you won't miss the extra $10k-$30k, or if you don't think a little inconvenience is worth that much money (don't forget the time-value of money over the life of a lease or loan), don't bother with Hyundai. No need to. If you are really limited to this price point, you can also choose between dull, predictable reliability, or something special.

And I say all of this "inconvenience" and "giving something up" in terms of, and on behalf of, others' experiences on this forum. Both of our Azeras (my wife's and my own) have been flawless so far. Fewer problems (zero, to be exact) than I ever had with used OR new Jaguars, BMWs, Buicks, Volvos.

So it goes... :beer:

(P.S... if anybody wants to observe the very definition of a high-maintenance relationship with a car, stop by my house next weekend. I'll be removing the intake manifold & intercooler from my XJR to access the throttle body and clean it out, as well as to clean out the idle air control valve. This is periodic maintenance on my grey cat! :) )

I am going to pipe in on this. Would I buy another Azera. The question I see is would I consider buying another Azera, the answer is Yes. I say consider because who knows what will be out there in the next 3-5 years with the price of gas and fuel economy. We just got back from a 1600 mile trip, the car performed flawlessly, 8000 miles on it so far. Build date April 07. MPG at average speed of 70 was around 25.5 both directions which I consider pretty good for an engine this size and on regular gas. There is no question that some on this forum have, unfortunately, got hold of a lemon and that truly sucks. Rephrasing from what Andyman said lemons and problems exist in almost any line of car and manufacturer. I work with several MB and BMW owners and some are always complaining about their car in the shop and they paid a lot more on their car than I did. One also needs to take in to consideration that this forum and members represent such a small number of Azera owners. Hyundai USA reported June Azera sales of 1,745 and 11,443 year to date. It appears that those on this forum who are having most of the problems with their Azeras are owners with first year production which, unfortunately, tend to have more problems. My son drove the car on the trip and when I asked him to compare the drive and ride vs. our previous Avalons he said the Azera had a better drive and ride. Having been made hypersensitive to this suspension noise and ride, whenever I get in someone else's vehicle I pay more attention, and I can't say I feel or hear anything much different, some more, some less. Now, I have only 8000 miles on the car, will I say the same thing at 10, 15 and 20,000+, time will tell. I do have to take it in to get the rear bass speaker checked for some rattling at certain frequencies and sound levels. So, like CarolinaBob said, test drive it over various road surfaces, take your current car and any of the other cars your are considering over the same roads, to compare. I would also recommend a very late model 07 if not an 08 or an 09 if you can find them. The date is easy to find, its on a label on the driver side door pillar. And if your lucky to have several dealers in the area, visit each one. The Azera is the size and type of car we like at a very good price, so we will certainly consider another one in 3 years. Good driving to ya.

So I ask, Would you buy an Azera again if you had to buy a car now? If not, why?

Your question should have been, [I]would you buy another Hyundai?

In my case, a replacement Santa Fe, probably. A new Azera...maybe, if I thought it was still going to be availabe. A Genesis?....no way.

High 30's into the 40's for a Hyundai? With their brain dead dealer network and Korean Klown rope-a-dope stonewalling on quality issues? Dream on.

Oops?! I stand corrected, I do have one minor complaint, the rear shelf vibration when I have the bass cranked up a bit with some music. I'd forgotten about that...

YES, YES, YES. I would buy another one in a minute. Great cars, great quality, one great ride.

Mark
Ball Ground, GA

http://forums.jag-lovers.org/tv.php3?eNrLL...ptYWAEAdqgMsg==

The European competition is setting a very low bar. Perhaps we ought to stick to Acura & Lexus comparisons :P

After 27,000 miles, a new dash, a new instument cluster, new struts, a new driver's seat, a sub-woofer that rattles, a driver's door panel that sounds like opening a rusted gate when you touch it, a roar in the left front suspension somewhere, an information system that chooses what it wants to display and even changes the numbers to ones it likes better -- all is well. Hyundai and my dealer say "everything functions as it was designed". I feel so comforted. Think I'll get in my Yugo and go home now!

Well I would like to say thanks to all that replied. After reviewing what was said in this thread, after the miles start racking up the quality starts to show through. This car would be good as a lease because you would be covered under the warranty while you are making the payments. With the gas prices climbing up and over the $4 mark I think I'm going to look at the 4cyl Sonata Limited, if I buy Hyundai. :whistling:

Once again I say thank you!! :beer:

And I thought I had it bad....jeeze !

I just had my 06 Azzy in for service. It has 16,500 miles and they have been flawless. Yes I have had the struts replaced(before the TSB) and it was with the same struts 041's. All I said was that the TSB said they should be 040's and my dealer said they will order them, no questions asked. I have had a peeling steering wheel replaced(twice), also no questions asked. I had the timing chain tensioner replaced because I thought I heard some clicking. These are not major problems, the car rides and looks beautiful(Pearl White). I brought in a case of Mobil 1 and had done only what was necessary. I have an excellent service department and all I can say is that my Azera and Sonata are just great. I haven't had a car in years that didn't develop some sort of noise which was always annoying. In 2 years these cars are tight and without any squeaks or rubbing sounds. Every model car from the top to the bottom can and will develop problems. Just look at the message boards! Hyundai's quality is right up there.

:grin:
Don

:)

Here's my $0.02 worth, for what it's worth? :whistling:

Outside of an O2 sensor going B O, the only real problem mine has had is the same as most
everyone else is having, that being with those terrible quality MANDO front shocks.
Be they the original 041s or their TSB replacements, the 040s, both are not worth
the trouble to change them out. Both sets didn't last even 5K miles. Now what?

Are the newest 640s any better? No one I know has gone 5K miles on a late 2008 with a built date
of 10/20/07 or later or any 2009 yet and reported on whether these latest parts are holding up.

Bilstein has no plans to build replacements and neither does anyone else
except Gabriel, and from what I hear, they don't hold up either.
They're supposed to be available near the end of the year but I'm afraid of 'em.

'Tis really a shame, this otherwise wonderful car let down because of those cheap
poorly constructed MANDO shocks, and no other builder of replacemet shocks
willing to step up to the plate and produce a quality replacement.

:amen:

:)

This post has been edited by snaglepus: Jul 16 2008, 03:31 PM

We just returned from a 1500+ mile trip in our Azera. We found the drive to be relaxing and comfortable the whole way. Our fuel economy ranged from 30.8 mpg to 30.1 mpg with speed ranging from 60-70 mph. That was mostly Interstate highway driving and some US highway (about 10 %) with the AC on the whole time. One thing I missed on the trip is satellite radio. I plan to add that soon (a separate tuner with an FM adapter). Our car now has about 7600 miles on it and two oil and filter changes. We have had no problems to report so far and would likely buy another Azera in the future if gasoline doesn't go astronomically high.

The only mishap on the trip was a stone thrown up by a pickup cracked our windshield. Now I will have to visit the dealer to check on replacing the windshield. The crack is already a foot long and growing.

I had occasion to utilize the acceleration potential of the Azera on the trip to get up to speed quickly from a standing start. The car has phenomenal acceleration. We were doing 80 before I realized it.

If I were buying a new Azera I would go for the Ultimate package, but not with the Nav. option. I would buy a separate portable Nav. unit to move from vehicle to vehicle. :thumbsup:

Joe