I don't know what it is but I seem to be a target for people who like to talk smack about Hyundais. Usually I'm able to get them to understand that they're darn good cars but every now and again I get the type who pretty much says, "You're an idiot and have no idea what kind of car you're driving." And it's usually ignorant people who haven't been paying attention and automatically assume Hyundai is still cranking out 1986 Excels with an unchanged quality level.

I know Toyota and Honda were viewed as crap when they first came to the states in the '70s but when is Hyundai going to get their well-deserved recognition?

"when is Hyundai going to get their well-deserved recognition?"

I think they are recieving the well-deserved recognition now already. The bad old image is shaking off but it is still there. The new cars they recently brought out looks real promising.

To get rid of the stigma they really have to grab other car manufacturers by the balls (not in the pricing aspect) but in such aspects such as hardcore performance (may I repeat HARDCORE), looks and sexiness as the first priority.

They can make an advertisement look as great as they can but the automatic response from MANY people is still: "They're just trying too hard, it looks good on the outside but it's probably slow, lacks power and the build quality may not be as good as other brands."

Hyundai needs to build a legend, not a car that "attempts" to rival other cars in it's class. There's a big difference between releasing a car that competes with the competitors and releasing a car that beats the competitors,... and I think that's what Hyundai has been doing wrong for a loooong time.

People who bash Hyundai haven't driven one or have only driven one prior to about 2000. Hyundai cars built after 2000 are some very good cars and have improved every year.

Bad opinions take year to be forgotten. Don't worry, if Hyundai keeps doing what they are doing, they will be seen as a great car company in time. Toyota and Honda are getting neck pains from looking over their shoulders at Hyundai catching up (and soon passing them).

Well, some people have never driven a hyundai, and they think that Hyundai is cheap crappy cars. The funny thing is that those who bash about Hyundai still have time to look at every details of Hyundai models by going over motor trend, edmunds, etc. What does it say? They cannot resist the value that they can get from Hyundai.
Only time will tell. Elantras and Accents are selling like hotcakes these days, and year after year, sales volumes are increasing.

Sure is a lot of crap on the roads then... LOL I looked at Sube's, Honda's and Toyota's before settling on the Santa Fe.. even Consumer Reports put the SF over the Pilot this year.

Hyundai is getting a lot of good press, and with time the name will catch on. Its reputation is growing even faster than Toyota's did.

I never miss a chance to tell people that after 20 years of driving Hondas and Nissans, our new Santa Fe is the best-built vehicle we've ever owned. It generates a lot of interest, and people can't hide their surprise when they sit in it. Just two days ago, a couple approached us in a parking lot to ask us about our Santa Fe... they switched away from Hyundai back in the 80s and are feeling the pressure to come back.

Well coming from a nissan family . My used 07 Elantra is above and beyond the sentra I traded in and as nice if not equal to the altima(my parents car). Also after test driving an 08 corolla i bought an 07 Elantra. If this car turns out to be even halfway reliable they've won me over. I work in a Jeep dealership in parts and i wouldn't own one of our vehicles.

**** yeah there was a guy in a ek hatch who pulled up next to me and gave me a thumb down i asked him what do you have in there he said stock four cylender vtec i was like yeah those come stock with y7's (which dont have vtec and have less than 100 hp) he said his car was faster than mine. hahah mine is faster and handles better.