I've read that Kia is getting an Amanti upgrade (the "VG") for 2010, to be released in August. For anyone who has any familiarity with the Amanti (rebadged XG350, which was the predecessor of the Azera), I'm sure you'll agree it is a much-needed improvement for Kia. What isn't clear is whether Hyundai will get their version of the VG platform to upgrade the Azera for 2010 or if the Azera will be discontinued to allow Hyundai to focus on marketing only one version of the VG platform for Kia and one version of the Genesis platform for Hyundai.

Any thoughts or rumors would be appreciated.

If 2009 is in fact the last year for the Azera, do you think this will cause difficulty in the form of increased depreciation and harder-to-find parts for Azera owners or do you think it will be a net positive for Azera owners?

Optimists may conclude that a discontinued Azera would result in even better value for buyers after August 2009 and possibly set up collector's-item status for 2006-9 Azera owners.

Collectors item... yea... right.....

Rightly or wrongly, the Azera basically passed by unnoticed, partly because it's not a flashy or sporty car by design.

I've read that Kia is getting an Amanti upgrade (the "VG") for 2010, to be released in August. For anyone who has any familiarity with the Amanti (rebadged XG350, which was the predecessor of the Azera), I'm sure you'll agree it is a much-needed improvement for Kia. What isn't clear is whether Hyundai will get their version of the VG platform to upgrade the Azera for 2010 or if the Azera will be discontinued to allow Hyundai to focus on marketing only one version of the VG platform for Kia and one version of the Genesis platform for Hyundai.

Any thoughts or rumors would be appreciated. If 2009 is in fact the last year for the Azera, do you think this will cause difficulty in the form of increased depreciation and harder-to-find parts for Azera owners or do you think it will be a net positive for Azera owners? Optimists may conclude that a discontinued Azera would result in even better value for buyers after August 2009 and possibly set up collector's-item status for 2006-9 Azera owners.

It is too bad that Hyundai wants to pull the plug on the Azera. Really the Azera has a good body and I have received many good comments on the design of the car from the outside. Reading this forum I see that many Azera owners have problems with their Azera's. Suspension problems, dash, seats, speakers, body side molding, and headlights. There are flaws but overall their are many cars on the market today including the most expensive automobiles that have the same sort of problems. As long as Hyundai stands behind their cars and the dealers fix the cars that is all that matters.

I love my Azera and I have a few problems but overall I think the Azera is a pretty darn good car. I only have 18,000 miles on the car three years old but not a bad car and I had many. There is always room for improvement in any automobile but Hyundai never gave Azera a chance to make in here in America.

Lack of advertisement, and not gettting the word out about the Azera caused poor sales. I think if most Americans knew about the automobile they would buy it. It is a deal for what one receives. The only way I found out about the Azera is going to a Acura dealership and I saw one on the lot. Shortly thereafter I saw a anticle in Car and Driver Magaine about the Azera. The first year Azera did have some articles in some press. But ever since 2006 Azera has been on the back lot. Shame on Hyundai as they really botched this one up. If the Azera goes away the fault is on Hyundai and there advertisement team.

As you pointed out, the way Hyundai handles their warranty claims is also fantastic.
David <><

This may be true in your neck o' the woods but my experience has been a little different. It seems that the dealer can't go to the restroom without asking permision from Hyundai Corporate.

I've had four problems fixed under warranty and each time there was a two day wait for review and approval from Hyundai for the fixes. When I tried to get them to replace the shocks (this was before the TSB was issued), they flat out refused and said that there was nothing wrong. A few weeks later, the TSB came out and I went back in armed with the TSB and they reluctantly did the job.

After a period of time, as you well know, the shocks wore out again. This time they refused to replace them again. I contacted Hyundai customer service and they got the local corporate " District Parts and Service manager" involved. I received a very cold, mater of fact letter basically stating that nothing is wrong with my shocks or suspension....period. See my post number #83 here for more detail on Hyundai's response to me. You might find it interesting and eye brow raising.

Both of these guys worked hard to get my second set of shocks for my ex-Azera.
David <><

First of all let me state that I am a true Hyundai fan. I owned an 07 Azera for over a year and currently own an 07 Santa Fe Limited.

A very close friend of mine is a General Manager for a successful Hyundai, Mitsubishi dealership in Tucson. It is his belief that Hyundai will be concentrating on the Sonata and Genesis models, as far as their family sedans are concerned. I certainly concur.

My 2007 Santa Fe Limited may be the best automobile I have ever owned, taking into consideration, build quality, fit and finish quality, engine performance per CC, and overall value considering the bells and whistles included.

I also believe that while hyundai may be cutting costs on each new model year, they will still contunue to produce some of the most quality for dollar vehicles in the world.

By the way, I bought my first new Hyundai in 1988. The last I heard, the Exel was still running with over 200,000 miles on the original engine with no rebuild.

I truly wish that the USA would build vehicles with the same quality, but with union and Obama involvement, it does not look good for us in the future, in many respects.

David <><

The Korean unions are much worse than the US ones; go on strike frequently.
The Azera was advertised very heavily in 06 and 07; otherwise I would never have heard of it or bought one. However, Hyundai seems to have an ADD marketing approach. Let's introduce a new car this year, market it hard, get good press reviews on it - and then 3 years from now introduce another new car and ignore all the others except for the low and mid range money makers. When Equus comes here (and it will), they will abandon Genesis Sedan.

I've read that Kia is getting an Amanti upgrade (the "VG") for 2010, to be released in August. For anyone who has any familiarity with the Amanti (rebadged XG350, which was the predecessor of the Azera), I'm sure you'll agree it is a much-needed improvement for Kia. What isn't clear is whether Hyundai will get their version of the VG platform to upgrade the Azera for 2010 or if the Azera will be discontinued to allow Hyundai to focus on marketing only one version of the VG platform for Kia and one version of the Genesis platform for Hyundai.

Any thoughts or rumors would be appreciated. If 2009 is in fact the last year for the Azera, do you think this will cause difficulty in the form of increased depreciation and harder-to-find parts for Azera owners or do you think it will be a net positive for Azera owners? Optimists may conclude that a discontinued Azera would result in even better value for buyers after August 2009 and possibly set up collector's-item status for 2006-9 Azera owners.

*I saw a Hyundai TV commercial that featured the entire Hyundai line up sans the Azera. Hmmmm....why would they show every Hyundai offering except the Azera? I dunno, just saying.

*A service manager at a Hyundai dealership told me that the Azera was going to be discontinued. This is a tuff one because it is sometimes hard to tell which ones (Hyundai service people) are giving you s#!t talk.



After dealing with Hyundai on the local level and the corporate level over the past two years, I'm betting on this one: "do you think this will cause difficulty in the form of increased depreciation and harder-to-find parts for Azera owners".


This would be in the catagory of "wishful thinking"