End of the fiscal year, holidays, interest rates a rising, dealer market share & factory volume discount allowance and .......... who's got money in January?

 

.......... who's got money in January?

I wanted to say Uncle Sam, but not sure that's an accurate statement. I'm seeing some exceptionally great offering's on almost every 2013 Hyundai model on the dealer's lots. Even a nice discount on the Gen Coupe that Santa said he was gonna put in my stocking. I'm holding my breath! The discounts are real, Santa...well, "I BELIEVE..." :wink2:

 

You know the old saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

It might be because they aren't selling very well. And a salesman I trust says he doesn't like them. Maybe they aren't all they are cracked up to be.

BUT, if you REALLY wanted to make your life complete, consider a new Genesis. I drove one the other day and it was wonderful. I can't make a good case for trading in my nearly new 2013 Sonata SE so I will defer this until a sack full of money drops out of the sky.

I would pass on the Sonata Hybrid. Drive the Genesis and see which you prefer. I've also driven the Azura and frankly, it didn't get my blood flowing like the Genesis. It's nice, looks pretty, but IMHO, not much better than the Sonata.

Having said all the above, without ANY question, an Elantra Limited with all the bells and whistles is the best car in Hyundai's stable. Dollar for dollar, pound for pound it can't be beat. And the new 2014 coming may even be better. But the discounts won't be there for a while.

Drive the Genesis before you buy anything. I think you will change your mind although you may disagree. That's why we are here anyway to learn from one another.

P.S. I'd definitely pass on the GT. It says "Elantra" but it's not the same car. I drove one to Texas and it was a torture box the last 100 miles.

 

BUT, if you REALLY wanted to make your life complete, consider a new Genesis. I drove one the other day and it was wonderful. I can't make a good case for trading in my nearly new 2013 Sonata SE so I will defer this until a sack full of money drops out of the sky.

Please don't talk about the Genesis. I'm one blank check away from going down to the dealer's lot and genuflecting in front of a Coupe's grill! :auto:

 

Maybe because other hybrids are being discounted? I saw that one manufacturer has their hybrid model priced the same as the gas engine version. I forget who, one of the domestics.

 

FYI, I am in quebec so we have good winters. However I can't tell how bad it will get as this is my first winter with my 2013 HSH. Still, so far I can see a pattern building up so I am starting to get an idea of what i'll be getting.

So far I am at about 5.5, 5.7l/100 (41mpg) and I am usually at 5l/100 (47mpg). I expect this to go to about maybe 6l/100 (39mpg) on worst temps.

Today it was -7C with heavy winds (with wind factor it was -17C). So far the colder it gets the more I have to wait for the battery to heatup, the engine reaches minimum temps faster than the battery.

When at about 5C to 15C, I endup having to wait for the engine to heatup but not the battery, but lower than that, the engine will heatup faster than the battery and you will see that it wont charge as much and if it tries to charge faster than it should at the given temp, the gas engine will startup and compensate by using the engine to brake. (I could be wrong here but that's what I think is happening based on what the car is displaying).

On my commute to work, it begins with about 3 km of a slight down slope and then a big 2km drop and 30km of mostly flat. Usually I will run on the battery for the whole first 5km (assuming everything is at temp), very slightly using battery power for the small downslope and then it will almost recharge completely on the big drop.

Now at current temp, it will heatup the engine until about halfway thru the downslope where it will shutoff and continue on electric only. Once I reach the drop the battery will recharge but the engine will then startup again during the drop to help braking as the battery is unable to take all the charge. Once I slowdown, the engine will be off again. About 3 minutes later, the battery is sufficiently heated up that it will be working as if it was summer. Usually I see that pattern as I have to slightly use the brakes during the drop and as soon as I touch them, the engine will start so that probably means that the battery can't take the extra power from regen braking.

You have to note that during that time, there is no cabin heating. As soon as you turn it on, the gas engine will start and it will take forever to heatup. Leave it off, let the gas engine heatup by itself and once it reaches its temp, start the cabin heating. So much wasted energy trying to run cabin heating when the engine is not at temp.

Hope this info is useful to you!

 

So far I am at about 5.5, 5.7l/100 (41mpg) and I am usually at 5l/100 (47mpg). I expect this to go to about maybe 6l/100 (39mpg) on worst temps.

SVoyager those are some great mpg numbers Could you give us some more detail on your commute like is your car in a garage, tire pressure, oil type, pure gas or 10% ethanol, distance to work, Blue Mode on/off, avg speed, use of cc and any hypermiling used.

 

Hi Tom, hmm lets see

Garage: no (wish I had one tho)
Tire Pressure: Hmm, I'll have to get back to you on this, don't know I let the dealer set the pressure when I changed for winter tires (new tires btw).
Oil Type: Normal (non synth. I told the dealer about putting synth and they told me not to. Of course I know that synthetic for winter is better but at the time I had a rough day and I didn't felt like arguing with them. Will do it next year or if I do enough mileage to do oil change again during the winter).
Gas: Normal "Up to 10% ethanol" is what is written on the pumps when you fillup.
Distance to work: 48km (30miles)
Blue mode: On
avg speed: Would have to check the trip comp but my commute goes from 70km/h to 100km/h with a long stretch at 90km/h. I do night shifts and my commute is off traffic hours. At night I get all green lights and no traffic, ideal conditions here.
cc: on as much as possible on flat stretches only. The portion at 100km/h is not so flat so no cc at that point, but the rest is until the last 5km where I have that slope to climb/descend when I reach my home and one equivalent slope before reaching work a bit before reaching 100km/h speed limits.
hypermiling: So far I am sticking to indicated speed limits. I try to take the longest possible when stopping to a light (when no cars behind me). I will brake as lightly as possible, will usually use the live energy flow display as a helper for how much to brake. When the regen line becomes bigger, I usually try not to brake harder at that point if it is possible to do so. I will sometimes force EV when I know that I have a small stretch of 70km/h left until going up to 90km/h trying my best to have the gas engine do the accelerations and EV's for holding speed. EV accelerations drains it so much at high speed, its not worth it. Also I always attempt to not fluctuate my speed and will overtake instead of brake.

Tom, its not the first time you seem skeptical of my numbers . Maybe my trip computer is not calculating it correctly, I don't know! Or its just that its a 3-4 months old 2013 HSH. D*mn do I drive that good kidding.

Cheers
SV

 

For that reason I grabbed one. Sales guys aren't really all that up to speed on them and was trying to push me to the turbo. The first guy didn't know about the unlimited battery warranty for example. Then tried to show me an Elantra limited touting the recoup costs for the hsh. They're quirky to drive compared to the Fusion and Prius but again, the price sold me. I've had mine now 1600 miles and aside from one time the Nav froze up, it's been ok and I'm getting 40+ (my next fill should put me over 40 on fuelly).

 

SV I'm not skeptical at all about your numbers just jealous as I know these cars can do it with a very skillful driver that really understands his ride. I rarely get to drive my wife's Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (HSH) so I'm stuck driving my Santa Fe. The dealers usually put in 34 psi in the tires unless you specify and initial for more. My wife lately was getting 33 mpg and I found the tires down to 30 psi so I put them to 40 psi and she is now back to 36-37 mpg. When I ride with her I mentally think what I would be doing as her only hypermiling skill is to go the speed limit.

 

Its cool no hard feelings . Yeah the speed limit is pretty much what they can do usually, must not ask too much of the wifes just kidding. To be frank tho I find my numbers to be alright but not earth shattering either too, I guess I was used to them with my elantra but that was expected when I bought the HSH. The city numbers are awesome tho. After having driven the HSH for a few months, I can only imagine the improvements they could do on the software that would make the mpg go up! In the end, I would never change it for anything else, at that price that car is just awesome!

 

Thanks for all the info guys!


By the way, in our 2012 Sonata Limited I am getting very good MPG :

sonata (Hyundai Sonata) | Fuelly

Two things to note here:

• I usually drive 90%+ highway. In fact, I often drive our 'junker' 2004 mazda MPV around town...because I can.
• I really like the instant fuel meter. It really has 'trained' me to be a more efficient driver ( my daughter thinks I 'drive like a grandma' ).
• I was able to get awesome MPG on a 2500 mile Yellowstone trip this summer.

If we end up getting the Hybrid, it will be really interesting comparing the two. Of course, the Hybrid will be my wife's car..but I should be able to sneak some drives in there.

 

Just a quick followup. We ( my wife ) decided on the Elantra GT, since she feels more comfortable driving a smaller car. So you will find me in the Elantra GT forum and/or the Sonata forum ( since my car is a 2012 Sonata Limited ).


Thanks for all of your help everyone!

 

It depends were you buy I posted .I price of 32 grand for a limited with technology package moon roof mats plus trunk mat cargo net and I pod cable. I was basically called lying and some one wanted me to post my sales sheet. I told them I received 2 grand rebate from planet hyundai and 1 grand for being retired law enforcement. Still I was going to be stoned. I offered my sales persons name but no takers. Be careful of advice friend for the most part everyone here is helpful. But some have a holyer than others anwser. Just my 2 cents.

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Farmecologist…I was wondering if you found the in-store markup well below the giant advertised "discounts"?

The only dealer I saw running those kinds of discounts was using their own in house numbers (minus the giant discount) essentially a fake added margin and then a fake discount.

Congrats on the Elantra GT!

 

yeah, me and the wife wondered the same about the massive discounts... about 7 grand off each of both the base and the limited (NOT demos either)... no haggling.. the gas versions didn't offer the same discounts... anyhow we took advantage and bought one of each (she got the limited, I got the base LOL)

 

:00000732: Your the first member to have one for each of you. You got a lot of reading on how you can beat your wife on mpg. Keep us informed on how it't going. You should be getting 30's in the winter and 40's in the summer.

 

I'm shopping for one so keep these hot deals coming!

I feel the reason they're discounting them so much is because they over built and gas is coming down (it's below $3 in many places now). People are very shortsighted so if gas starts climbing, the demand will go up and the deals will quickly evaporate.

 

Glenn I don't think it's a matter they over built. I think currently the deals are normal incentives and dealers trying to get the last of the 2013s off the lot before the 2014s hit.

That's how I got the great deal I did in early 2012 (mine is a 2011). Keep shopping and good luck!

 

Well whatever the reason there are far more 13 hybrids available than regular Sonatas, at least at some dealers lots near me. In fact, I've been looking at the Fusion and the Lexus ES hybrids and they're dealing on those too, much more than on the non-hybrid models.

 

The Hyundai dealerships around here... have TONS of 2014 Sonatas... way more than the Hybrids Even my preferred dealer who has 39 Hybrids

 

I think one reason is because the Hybrids are more expensive so they didn't sell as many so now they are trying to blow them out to get them off of the lots.

 

thanks, yeah seems about right when I am working up in north texas I get mileage in the mid to upper 30s while in south texas I get in the lower to mid 40s in south texas... as for my wife ,god bless her heart and her heavy foot she's been getting in the upper 30s