Will Hyundai's mileage fiasco hurt the brand? Options

[elantragt]

Most of you know that Hyundai/Kia has admitted there were "errors" in testing that gave some incorrect numbers on the MPG of many of their vehicles. There is a ton of negative publicity right now online and in the print media. It's stock shares are dropping and there are more lawsuits on the way. Having said that, I personally think this is a bit blown out of proportion but I'm not Joe Average consumer.

Do you think this will hurt Hyundai's image and ultimately their future sales?

[Kate31]

People look for any possible reason to blame others and try to hurt others image. I think everyone should just grow up and move on from it. Hyundai took care of it how they had to and now everyone will be receiving money for the rest of the time that they own the car. I still feel the car gets much better mileage than others anyways.

[PaulRoss]

I still feel the car gets much better mileage than others anyways.

I agree with this statement and have fallen in love with my car in the last month I have had it, but we are people already "saddled" with the cars. I think this will have long term negative effects from future prospective buyers.

[Alex2013GT]

I think the negative publicity will hurt them a little in the short term, but shouldn't do much of anything from a long-term perspective. Unless this was some evil ill-conceived plan to dupe customers out of a hard earned $60 per year in additional gas costs followed by massive bribery payments to the EPA to not test their calculated figures, and . . . ahhh nevermind!

[sarge]

I feel that if Hyundai keeps on top of their numbers from now on, and can prove that changes are done it should be fine.
I mean look how they've improved from the first Excel, Sonata, or even Elantra... A small change in mpg numbers is nothing in the scope of it.

How hard of a hit did Toyota get from their major safety issue? Are they still selling cars, and still getting some of the top sales numbers? And those things have even injured(/killed?) people!! The price the average owner will recoup is nothing to swoon over, but it's all about having the owners taken care of and happy.

Sure a slight drop, but they'll be back in the races in no time. It's all blown out of proportion IMO. 1-2MPG on the EPA... c'mon!

[Vinnie]

It may make consumers timid from now on but Hyundai/Kia need to keep their numbers straight and everything will be good.

[VIG]

I honestly don't think it's that big of a deal to the world.

Toyota's fiasco was life threatening, so it was on every news report for 6 months. This is nothing compared to that. I have a feeling people are going to: A) Not care or B) Forget about it.

[flcerberus]

Depends on how they handle it. If they do what they did when they mis-stated horsepower figures for the 2.8 V-6 by offering extension of warranties or a cash incentive it will blow over pretty quick. Happened to us and we ended up buying a 2nd Hyundai. My 04 GT Hatch.

[VIG]

^this.

I bet if you go out and ask 100 random people in the street about the horsepower issue 99 of them wouldn't know what you were talking about.

[ElantraGuy19]

I have a friend with an '08 Sonata (his second Hyundai) and he told me that he thinks this has put the brand "back at square one". I beg to differ completely. Their cars are still well-made, good looking and a great value. This is not a 1986 Excel that spluttered to the side of the road in not-worth-fixing fashion at 50,000 miles. Give it a year or less and this will be water under the bridge.

[FurunoFan]

With the company stepping up and not only paying back the difference for the affected vehicles but giving an extra 15%; I don’t think anyone truly wounded by this. Most of the folks at my work never heard the news and seemed to care less about it. This included the lady in the office with a 2011 Sonata. The news bump is over and even the lawyers have moved on because there isn’t enough uncompensated damages to sue over. The problem was the way they were testing how the car coasted. I noticed my car coasts really well. I think manual transmissions can coast must easier without much drag compared to an automatic. I don’t fully understand the details but it does sound like an honest mistake. I will file for the money but I am not sure it would have changed my buying decision. For others who have a larger MPG difference, then I understand why it might have made a difference in your decision to buy. I can also see that it might affect your resale value. You have a right to vent (a little) and weigh that in your next car buying decision.

[only1db]

its really not a big deal...though people are going to be looking for things because the traditional companies are NOT doing as well as Hyundai...

really 1mpg and people are bitching?? my dads accent recent got 44mpg on his last tank...people need to chill.

the same thing happened to Honda some time ago. it will blow over.