Hyundai Assurance: Hyundai Should Be the Car of Choice for Those With a Brain by Michael Cahill

Article by by Michael Cahill- Click HERE
Did Someone Say Hyundai?

There are two things in life that I know for sure: Gas prices are terrible and auto repair can put you in the poor house. Now, unfortunately I cannot tell you how to properly replace the
 alternator on your car, and I certainly can't begin to figure out how to properly build and maintain an oil refinery plant. But I can tell you how to eliminate both of those facts: Buy a hyundai.

In todays economic and mass advertising world, we have so many choices as to what we drive. Every car company has a multitude of makes and models with different packages for extras. This makes buying a car a real headache. So let me simplify your choice. Buy a Hyundai.

If this were the early 90's, I'd stay as far away from this car as humanly possible. They were poorly made and offered little reassurance to the buyer. And even if you were to get a decent warranty, chances were you would waste most of your driving miles heading to and from the dealer for repairs. The game has changed as hyundai has commited itself to making a more reliable product and giving its buyers the reassurance it needs.

Hyundai boasts one of the best MPG rates in the industry. Their cars, on average, get 25-30 miles per gallon.  Please visit www.fueleconomy.gov to compare vehicle Miles Per Gallon.  In this day and age, that is a statistic you cannot afford to ignore. With gas prices hovering around the 3 dollar per gallon mark, you need a car that will get you good gas mileage.

If you look at the rising trend of hybrid cars, they make a good argument against the Hyundai, but only at face value. Hybrid cars, which are second to none in gas mileage also give you a more limited warranty and cost almost $10,000 more than your brand new Hyundai Elantra.

And don't forget the importance of that warranty. Hyundai boasts their 10 year/100,000 mile warranty option on all cars. This cannot be a better reason to buy a Hyundai. With the rising cost of repairs, given the fact
 that the technology has increased making mechanics more like specialists, you can spend at least $200 on every trip to the repair shop. Those who have bought a used car with no warranty can attest that buy the time they are ready to get a new car, they have spent about the same about of money that they would have to buy a certified pre-owned or a brand new car.

The bottom line is this: when you equate cost, warranty, reliability, and impending gas costs, you cannot afford to pass up a Hyundai. It is not always as nice looking as a Honda, or as trendy as a Prius, but in times of inflated prices and rising costs on just about everything, you need to be smart with such a big purchase. This is about your check book, not about a status symbol.

Unless of couse you're a mechanic with your own oil refinary. Then please, disregard this article.

Hyundai Assurance: Why Buy A Hyundai Equus Luxury? Surprising Answers

Click HERE for Edmonds Article

If you were born before 1990, you might remember the "old" Hyundai. That was the company whose first U.S. model, the Hyundai Excel, was barely a step up from a Yugo. The old Hyundai didn't build cars you wanted to drive; it built cars you could afford.
We're all familiar with the "new" Hyundai. That's the company surprising us again and again with refined and attractive new vehicles such as the 2010 Hyundai Genesis and the 2011 Hyundai Sonata -- cars that are not only terrific values but also, arguably, class-leading in design and execution. The new Hyundai makes cars you want and can afford.
Until now. The 2011 Hyundai Equus, recently introduced at the New York Auto Show, breaks new ground by being the first Hyundai you may really want but -- at an estimated $55,000 -- probably can't afford.
And if you can afford to buy one, would you?
We've turned to the enthusiast community on Edmunds.com's Inside Line for some insights.
 Edmunds.com's Inside Line readers are split on the car's appearance; what some find "attractive" and "beautiful," others call "gaudy" and even "hideous." The sharpest barbs are aimed at the car's front end, with readers saying, "Why does Hyundai keep screwing up the grilles on their upscale cars" and "looks kind of like a Chrysler Sebring ... NOT a good thing."
Folks are also divided on the interior. One commenter declares "comparing it to a Lexus LS interior is laughable," but another claims, "If they slapped a Lexus badge on it, nobody would think twice about purchasing it." And the ample wood on dash and door panels is called both fantastic and fake.
Less ambivalent are those who have seen the car, who seem to agree it "looks good in person, like a mini S-Class," and is "far more impressive ... than in video or print."
Looks aside, the Equus debut provokes our readers to debate a bigger question: Is Hyundai ready to take on the likes of Lexus, BMW and Mercedes?
Several suggest this "is too much too soon" for Hyundai, asserting the carmaker ought to "give time for the Genesis and Sonata to build up the company image before unveiling this top of the line model" and should wait to "make it a better car than its competitors and surprise the consumers."
One observes, "the Equus might be a terrific car and even a terrific value, but most $50K sedan buyers aren't really value shoppers." Another predicts, "This is going to be Hyundai's version of the VW Phaeton -- nobody went to VW for their $60K V12 sedan and nobody goes to Hyundai for their $50K+ V8."
Others argue "the point of this car is ... to prove that [Hyundai] can build a 50K+ car" and "they are not looking at volume but to pamper each customer on a individual level" by offering cutting-edge perks such as having "most maintenance ... scheduled via the [included] iPad owner's manual, with a valet bringing out a Genesis to drive while the Equus is being worked on."
Still, at least one reader opines "Audi, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti & Mercedes have nothing to worry about here. It would be like Rolex worrying about a $20,000 Casio watch -- not in the same league." Another points out, "Since we all know this car will depreciate at least somewhat faster (if not much faster) than an LS460, the Equus purchased new could actually cost more to own than the LS."
On the other hand, some believe that, in the wake of the recent recession, this car offers buyers a chance to "have your cake and eat it too." One reader reports, "I have owned a Lexus LS and Mercedes S550, and I feel why spend the extra money for one of them when you can get a Hyundai Genesis or better yet Equus for so much less." Another says, "I can do without the Taj Mahal showrooms and private breakfast bars @ Lexus, thank you."
Interestingly, the comments about the car grow more positive as the thread continues. One sums things up this way: "Given what Hyundai has done in the last 5 years, I wouldn't bet against them. They might not be BMW or Mercedes, but Lexus should be worried." Another says, "This seems more Lexus LS than VW Phaeton" -- perhaps the highest praise Hyundai could ask for.
In the end, as one notes, "The mere fact that there are this many comments ... proves that the Equus is already causing a stir."
 And that's the word on the street. - Mark Holthoff, Edmunds.com manager, Customer Support

The Hyundai Equus luxury car is introduced at the New York auto show.

By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY, click HERE for Article Source.

NEW YORK — Buy a $50,000-plus Apple iPad and Hyundai will throw in a luxury car.

That's how the pitch could go in light of Hyundai's announcement Thursday that its new flagship luxury car, the Equus, will have an iPad in lieu of a printed owners manual.

Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik referred to the iPad as an "interactive" owners manual. While the features of the new Equus will be loaded into it for quick reference, the iPad is fully functional for whatever else owners wish to do with it.

Krafcik says Hyundai hopes to sell about 3,000 of the full-size luxury cars next year. The South Korea-built Equus, due on sale this summer, is powered by a 378-horsepower V-8 engine and will be the third, and largest, of Hyundai's recent luxury models.

The iPad will also schedule service appointments, for which owners won't even have to drive to the dealer. To give the brand a more upscale feel, Krafcik is creating a system in which a service attendant will pick up the car from the owner and leave them a loaner. Hyundai also is offering home test drives for potential buyers.

The introduction of Equus "has driven us to create an innovative customer experience designed to save our customers time," said Krafcik in a statement. "We'll use what we learn from Equus to upgrade the customer experience for all Hyundai owners."

Including an iPad in the luxury car adds to the car's "gotta-have" factor, predicts William Matthies of research firm Coyote Insight, who follows developments in automotive electronics.

"Many will respond positively to the inclusion of an iPad, not because they needed or planned to buy one, but simply because it is topical and cool," Matthies says.

12 Comments

Didn't Toyota have similar issues when the first Lexus models came out? Sure, they weren't badged as Toyotas, but I do seem to recall hearing people say "that much for a Toyota?" at car shows. The comments I recall reading and hearing were similar: complaints about the appearance (attempting to look like a Mercedes, or just plain boring), power (not enough) or simply "Mercedes/BMW/etc have nothing to worry about".
That being said, at least Toyota built a separate brand for the upscale cars (at least in N. America), and didn't try to piggyback it on the Toyota brand directly. You didn't see the LS400 sitting next to a Corolla in the showroom (although the ES sure felt like a Camry with fancier seats). This is where Hyundai's challenge could be, similar to the VW Phaeton comment: would you really buy a $55k+ car with the same logo as a $15k car?

Posted by: pushrod | May 25, 2010 at 4:52 AM

what the media continues to ignore is that the Genesis is NOT selling. Edmunds, nor anyone else has talked about Genesis sales. The car got rave reviews (both versions) and its not selling. They aren't even moving 3k units a month including the coupe. That isn't impressive at all, especially when you consider the coupe is very affordable.
The Equus is a nice car and offers impressive features but the success (or lack of) of the Genesis suggests that its not going to do well. People want to pay under $25k for a Hyundai product. The Veracruz has been a flop too- not that the media ever talks about that vehicle. Hyundai is doing well but that success is due to its mainstream, affordable products like Sonata and Elantra.

Posted by: 1487 | May 25, 2010 at 1:05 PM

It is true that I have seen some unsold 2009 Genesis sedans still on dealer lots, mostly V8s. Which suggests that maybe the V6s are more attractive from a price/performance point of view, which I think most reviews concluded. Also, if 2009 models are unsold when 2010 model clearance is underway, it's time to bite the bullet and drop the price already--waiting for a rich moron who's willing to overpay for something which will have a full 2 years of depreciation in a few months is a crap shoot I wouldn't undertake.
As for Lexus, when they started out they were selling a near-S-class sized car with a V8 for less than a V6 E-class, which, combined with Toyota's reputation and existing customer base, was quite an attractant. Hyundai's improvement is still a story in progress, and a sizeable portion of their customer base is lower-tier. Plus they are entering the heart of the luxury market with a car that may be a value proposition but isn't exactly low-priced. And I agree that the styling is not as elegant and international as the Genesis sedan; it's distinctly Asian and not in the best way. If I had to guess, they will attract older customers who used to buy de Villes and Lucernes but don't like "Government Motors" and their more stylish new vehicles. And equally old customers who will miss the Town Car and Grand Marquis, if they can afford an Equus.

Posted by: bc1960 | May 25, 2010 at 3:48 PM

bc1960: my point is that, had Toyota tried to sell the ES and LS as Toyota's, it wouldn't have worked, or at least not nearly as well. The Lexus brand was able to piggy-back on the Toyota brand's reputation for quality, but was different, upscale and new enough that people didn't mind shelling out the extra cash because they were getting "more than a Toyota". Had Toyota tried to put the LS in the same showroom as the Corolla, it likely wouldn't have done as well. It would have been the same basic question then as Hyundai is making people ask today: they want *how much* for a Toyota? By creating an upscale brand, Toyota was able to command the prices that they did. Hyundai isn't doing that, and they are creating a marketing challenge for themselves as a result.

Posted by: pushrod | May 25, 2010 at 8:57 PM

Its not like this is a new Car guys.
Hyundai has been building Equuses For other markets for the last 10 years. The Equus does fine overseas, why not in America. Sure this will be a low volume 500 or so a year model, but for this car that's quite fine.
As a Hyundai Fan Im not a Fan of the Equus Grille to be honest, but Im a fan of the idea of the car. It brings the brand "HALO" even higher.
Hyundai is the separate luxury Brand they are trying to create. Its called image makeover. They do have 2 brands you know, Hyundai making cheap cars really hurts KIAs sales badly, and they had to do something or the business case for keeping KIA in the US was going to dry up.
VW did it, and now VW CC comands a price close to the Merc C-Class.
Hyundai has learned from V Dubs mistakes, hence the reason why Equus is priced at $55K.
Korea isnt Japan, its an Asian Germany. It was only a matter of time before the Koreans stopped following Cheap Japanese cars from Honda and Toyota around, and started to follow the more premium Germans.
believe it or not, in 20 years Hyundai will be audi, and VW will be VW.
You might as well get over it now, because in 2 years KIA will have its own RWD Genesis car too. Youll see!!

Posted by: hyundaismoke | May 25, 2010 at 9:10 PM

@1487
The Genesis sedan has been a modest success for Hyundai (considering that it was launched in the US at the onset of the recession).
In 2009. the Genesis sedan OUTSOLD the Lexus GS and Infiniti M by a 2:1 margin and was the 3rd best selling import E segment sedan (after the E Class and 5 Series).
And unless the new M sees an appreciable increase in sales, the Genesis sedan may very well outsell the M this year as well.
As for the Equus, it is basically a marketing exercise by Hyundai in preparation of developing/launching a premium brand 5-6 years down the line (in time for the debut of the next gen Genesis sedan and coupe).
Hyundai isn't expecting big sales and thus, is only allocating about 2,500 Equus models to the US annually.
Anyway, the 1st year's allotment is already spoken for - anyone interested in the Equus will have to wait for next year's allotment.

Posted by: j2j | May 25, 2010 at 11:42 PM

I was born before 1990 and I remember the Excel. Sorry, but Hyundais always will be cheap cars in my mind, regardless of how good everyone claims they are. No Hyundai should sell for more than $15K. The Genesis isn't selling well because the intended buyers also remember the Excel. Much like the $90K+ VW Phaeton of not too long ago, Hyundai is shooting at the wrong target with the wrong weapon. A $55K Hyundai?...Can you hear me laughing?

Posted by: soakee | May 26, 2010 at 5:04 AM

j2j:
Lets not be ridiculous and compare Genesis sales to similarly sized MB and Infiniti products. That is absurd. The Genesis competes price wise with the G37, TL, CTS, etc. It has not outsold those cars. You failed to mention that Genesis sales figures include the COUPE. Hyundai does not separate out sedan sales so we can assume the sedan's sales alone would not come close to the sales of the ES350, CTS, TL, etc. Outselling the GS or M is pretty easy when a car costs many thousands less than either. In addition, both of those luxury models are dated and barely competitive. The M has been replaced as you know but the GS is 5 years old.
2500 Equus models for the year sounds about right. I think that' all they can expect. The question is this: why push this car out before establishing the Genesis as a real success? I have not seen an add for the Genesis since it was first launched. They spent millions to introduce the car and then stopped running ads.
soakee:
I dont think they care if you laugh. They are increasing their share every year in this market at the expense of American and Japanese competitors. Before the incentive push Toyota was losing share and Hyundai was gaining.

Posted by: 1487 | May 26, 2010 at 5:35 AM

And as for the new Sonata, I saw a TV commercial and asked myself if the car could actually be that ugly. So I drove past a dealer to see for myself. I was wrong, it's uglier than I thought.

Posted by: soakee | May 26, 2010 at 5:38 AM

and guys like "soakee" should just stay inside a cage and live there happily ever after.

Posted by: alman08 | May 26, 2010 at 4:36 PM

When the initial 2 Lexus models came out in 1990, as well as the Miata, the economy was in good shape. This gave Lexus (and Miata) a 'turbo' boost that gave them momentum that has served them well over the past 20 years.
I agree with those who say Hyundai's intent is to bring the Hyundai brand name upscale from Kia. The Genesis and Equus might do that. Whatever, Hyundai is on a roll and if, as some have said, the existing Equus is successful outside the US, I don't think its possible failure in the US would damage Hyundai's reputation. The Phaeton disaster did not hurt VW, and now the CC and the Vw are doing well. We all live and learn, including car manufacturers.
@soakee: You are in very select company with your evaluation of the styling of the new Sonata. I would like to know what you consider to be a stylish midsize family sedan.

Posted by: ed124c | May 27, 2010 at 4:03 PM

I am sure Hyundai is not oblivious to the Toyota/Lexus differentiation. Perhaps their strategy is to eventually introduce a luxury brand, but not yet. There are two possible reasons to not do so yet.
First is the cost – they would need to have a full lineup of cars ready and a huge marketing push, and with the economy still shaky and stubborn labellers like soakee (I was born in 1973 but it seems like unlike him/her I am capable of considering new evidence on an ongoing basis), maybe now would not be the best timing.
Second is they may think they can try to help the Hyundai image in the meantime by introducing these luxury models. As others have said, these models are sold elsewhere, so Hyundai only needs to pay a little more to do some limited advertising and certification for the US. That effort would pay for itself easily in the long run because it would get these models reviewed and talked about. Reviewers speaking highly of the models and the existence of $55k Hyundais may over time pull up the overall perception of Hyundai, allowing them in the future to increase their sales margins across their whole lineup.
If all goes to plan, then the Hyundai brand will become similarly reputed to Honda and Toyota. Then assuming the economy is a little better, the company can introduce a premium brand. Then they will have a 3-tier organization like Toyota, with Kia = Scion, Hyundai = Toyota, and NewBrand = Lexus.

Posted by: hyundaivirgin | June 18, 2010 at 4:01 PM

Hyundai Assurance: How to Trust and More Than A Symbol

The Hyundai logo may look like the first letter of our name, but it also symbolizes two people—the company and customer—shaking hands. Nowadays, with the value of a handshake declining, our promise to customers remains intact, click HERE to learn about our Hyundai Assurance.

 Trust: Article by LiveStrong.com

Trust is defined in the following ways
Here are some beliefs of people who have problems trusting
What behavioral traits do people need in order to develop trust?
What steps can be taken to improve trust building?

Trust is defined in the following ways:

Letting others know your feelings, emotions and reactions, and having the confidence in them to respect you and to not take advantage of you.

Sharing your inner feelings and thoughts with others with the belief that they will not spread them indiscriminately.

Placing confidence in others so that they will be supportive and reinforcing of you, even if you let down your mask and show your weaknesses.

Assuming that others will not intentionally hurt or abuse you if you should make an error or a mistake.
The inner sense of acceptance you have of others with whom you are able to share secrets, knowing they are safe.

The sense that things are fine; that nothing can disrupt the bond between you and the other.

The ability to let others into your life so that you and they can create a relationship built on an understanding of mutual respect, caring and concern to assist one another in growing and maturing independently.

The glue or cement of relationships that allows you to need others to fulfill yourself.

Opening yourself up to let others in on your background, problems, concerns and mistakes with the assurance that they will not ostracize you because of these things.

The act of placing yourself in the vulnerable position of relying on others to treat you in a fair, open and honest way.

People have trouble developing trust if they have:

Experienced a great deal of emotional and/or physical abuse and/or neglect.
Been chronically put down for the way they feel or for what they believe.
Been emotionally hurt in the past and are not willing to risk getting hurt in the future.
Had problem relationships in the past where they were belittled, misunderstood or ignored.
Experienced the loss of a loved one through death. They can get so caught up in unresolved grief that they are unable to open themselves up to others, fearing they will be left alone again due to death or abandonment.
Experienced a hostile or bitter divorce, separation or end of a relationship. They may be unable to believe anyone who opens up to them in a new, committed relationship.
Been reared in or have lived in an environment emotionally and/or physically unpredictable and volatile.
Experienced a great deal of pain at the hands of another. Even if the other finally recognizes and accepts the responsibility to change such behavior, the person fears that if they let their guard down, the pain and hurt will begin again.
Low self-esteem and cannot believe that they are deserving of the attention, care and concern of anyone. They have problems even trusting the positive, healthy and reinforcing behavior of another who is sincere.
Experienced a great deal of non-provoked victimization in their lives. They are unwilling to trust people, situations or institutions for fear of being victimized again.

Here are some beliefs of people who have problems trusting:

I have been hurt too much in the past, and I refuse to be hurt again now or in the future.
People are out to get all they can from you, so avoid them to survive.
As soon as you let your guard down, you will be stepped on again.
No one is to be trusted.
You always get hurt by the ones you love.
I get no respect from anyone.
All men (or women) are dishonest and are never to be trusted.
Everyone is out to get me.
I am never successful in picking partners, so why try again?
As soon as you care and open up to someone, they will always leave you.
Marriage is the pits.
There is no such thing as a healthy relationship.
You can never let your guard down because all hell will break loose.
All reformations are short-lived.
If I give in and believe you have truly changed, relaxing my defenses, I am most certainly going to be hurt again once you backslide.
There is no such thing as change in behavior. It is only manipulation by others to get their way with you.
Everyone is out to get as much as they can out of you.
There is no such thing as a fair employer, generous company or supportive workplace.
It is better to live alone for the rest of my life than to risk being hurt as I was.
I will never let you know my true feelings again since, if I do open up, I'm afraid you will use them against me to hurt me.

What behavioral traits do people need in order to develop trust?

People need to develop the following behavior traits, attitudes and beliefs in order to develop trust:
Hope in the goodness of mankind. Without such hope, people can become emotionally stuck, reclusive and isolated. Hope in goodness is a change based on the willingness to take a risk that all people are not evil, bad or ill-willed.

Faith in the fairness of life. This faith in fairness is similar to the "boomerang belief," that what you throw out to others will come back to you eventually in life. So if people are fair, honest or nurturing, they will eventually receive similar behavior aimed back at them. Having faith in fairness is an attitude that helps people be open to others and risk being vulnerable. They believe that the person who treats them negatively will eventually "get it in the end!" and be punished in someway later in this life or in the next.
Belief in a power greater than yourself: This is the acceptance of a spiritual power with greater strength, wisdom and knowledge than you; one with a divine plan to include your experience, whatever you will encounter in life. Rather than believing that you are 100 percent in control of your destiny, belief in this spiritual power enables you to let go of over responsibility, guilt and anger. This lets you accept God's will in your life and enables you to let go of your distrust and isolation from others. If God is in control of the universe, you can lighten your load and let God do some of the leading in your life.

A healing environment. This is the creating of a trust bond with the significant others in your personal life where blaming, accusing and acrimony do not exist. In the healing mode the participants actively use forgiveness, understanding and healthy communication to resolve problems and issues. The participants are then willing to forget, to let go and to release themselves of the past hurts, wounds and pain, opening themselves to trust one another.

Reduction of a sense of competition. This reducing of competition, jealousy and defensiveness with significant others in your life is a way to reduce the barriers between you and them. The lowering of these psychological barriers is essential to the movement toward development of mutual trust.

Self-disclosure of negative self-scripts. Your disclosing of your inability to feel good about yourself and your perceived lack of healthy self-esteem are essential in reducing miscommunication or misunderstanding between you and the significant others in your life. This self-disclosure reveals to the others your perspective on obstacles you believe you bring to relationships. This sheds the mask of self-defensiveness and allows the other to know you as you know yourself. It is easier to trust that which is real than that which is unreal or hidden.

Taking a risk to be open to others. This enables you to become a real person to others. It is an essential behavior in trust-building between two people, because it is the establishing of the parameters of strengths and weaknesses on which you have to draw as the relationship develops.

Becoming vulnerable. This enables you to be hurt by others who know your weaknesses and strengths. This is an essential step in trust-building between people. It lays the cards on the table in a gamble that in such total self-revelation the others will accept you for who you really are rather than for who they want you to be. In order to get to full self-disclosure you must take the risk to be vulnerable to others. This is an important building block in trust development.

Letting go of fear. Fear restricts your actions with others. Letting go frees you of behavioral constraints that can immobilize your emotional development. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of caring, fear of success, fear of being hurt, fear of the unknown and fear of intimacy are blocks to the development of trust relationships and can impede relationship growth if not given appropriate attention and remedial action.

Self-acceptance. Accepting who you are and what your potential is an important step in letting down your guard enough to develop a trusting relationship with others. If you are so insecure in your identity that you are unable to accept yourself first, how can you achieve the self-revelation necessary to develop trust? Self-acceptance through an active program of self-affirmation and self-love is a key to the development of trust.

What steps can be taken to improve trust building?

Step 1: Read the material in this section and answer the following questions in your journal:
a. Am I lacking trust in persons, groups or institutions? If yes, in which persons, groups or institutions do I lack trust? How does this lack of trust manifest itself? This lack of trust looks like [put your answers here].
b. Why do I lack trust in the persons, groups or institutions listed under "a?"
c. What beliefs do I hold that are behind my lack of trust in the persons, groups or institutions listed under "a?"
d. What new behavior trait(s) do I need to acquire or develop in order to develop trust in the person, group or institution listed under "a?"

Step 2: Now you should have a good idea of where your lack of trust lies. Why is this so? To change some beliefs and to fix this situation:
a. Take the beliefs in Step 1c and use the Tools for Personal Growth "refuting Irrational Beliefs" model to get replacement beliefs. Let go of the old beliefs.
b. Take the new behavior listed in Step 1d, and use the self-affirmation process in Tools for Personal Growth to make the new beliefs real for you.

Step 3: Once you have let go of your irrational beliefs and have begun affirming new personal beliefs, try one or both of the following exercises to assist your development of trust:
a. Letter writing: To a person you have problems trusting, write a letter listing your reasons for the lack of trust, list the feelings and beliefs that block your trust, and ask the person to understand and assist you in this problem. Tell the person what you are willing to do and to commit to in order to change this situation. Also, tell the person what you are unwilling to do because of your personal integrity. Once you have written the letter you have three choices: (1) send it, (2) save it or (3) rip it up and throw it away. No matter what your choice is, you have spent the time to think out this problem and have identified your feelings, beliefs and the behavior involved. You have cleared your own "air waves," even if you never send the letter.

b. Trust walk: Ask the individual you have been having problems trusting to share at least 90 minutes together. During this time you and the person will each take 30-minute turns being "blinded'' with a cloth and led by the "sighted'' person on a walk in a park, mall, neighborhood or building. The sighted person must give clear, precise verbal instructions and must not hold on to or grab the "blinded" person. The "blinded" person is allowed only to hold on to the left upper or lower arm or elbow of the "sighted" person. The "blinded" person can ask as many questions as needed. The "blinded" person does not determine the route of the walk. The "sighted" guide determines the route and destination of this walk. At the end of the first 30-minute walk, the two people exchange roles and blindfold and proceed with the second part of the walk for another 30 minutes.

When both parties have played both roles, they should spend at least another 30 minutes discussing:
How comfortable was I in trusting you?
How comfortable was I in the "sighted" role?
How comfortable was I in the "blinded" role?
How important was mutual trust in making the trust-walk successful?
What were my feelings as I was being blindfolded?
What were my feelings as the "sighted" guide?
How clear were my verbal instructions for you?
How could I have improved my guidance?
How willing were you to accept my guidance?
What does this experience tell us about our trust of one another?
What does this experience tell me about my fear of loss of personal control?
What does this experience tell us about changes we need to make to develop mutual trust?
How willing are we to take a trust-walk once a month or until we have established a healthy level of trust in one another?
What are the remaining blocks to developing a sense of trust between us?
What are we willing to do to continue developing our sense of trust?
Step 4: If after completing Steps 1, 2 and 3 you still have problems developing trust in a person, group or institution, return to Step 1 and begin again.

Laid off? Hyundai will take your car back

The automaker's new incentive program aims to reassure car buyers who are worried about losing their jobs.
Click HERE for source article CNNMoney.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Hyundai Motor America is taking aim at Americans' worries about job security: If you buy a new Hyundai and lose your job within a year, you can give it back.
"In this uncertain economy, we are looking for ways to reassure shoppers that Hyundai still represents the best value in the auto industry," said John Krafcik, president and chief executive of Hyundai Motor America, the U.S. arm of the South Korea-based automaker, in a company statement.
"If you find that you cannot make your payment because of a covered life changing event, we'll allow you to return your vehicle and walk away from your loan obligation - and in most cases we will cover most, if not all of the difference," the carmaker's Web site says.
With no extra charge to the sticker price, the program pays the difference between the car's trade-in value at the time the owner files a claim and any remaining balance on the loan up to a maximum of $7,500.
Hyundai is offering the program because its own market research showed car shoppers weren't attracted by rebates and other more normal incentives, said Joel Ewanick, Hyundai America's vice president for marketing. People are simply too worried about making payments no matter how good the deal is, he said.
"Until they saw a change in that, customers just aren't going to buy," he said.
As defined by Hyundai, life changing events include involuntary job loss, personal bankruptcy if self-employed, getting transferred overseas and accidental death. The benefit will be given to any qualified Hyundai vehicle buyer or lessee, the carmaker says, regardless of health or employment history.
To get the benefit, the vehicle buyer must have made at least two payments before filing for the benefit, and buyers are responsible for any payments due before filing.
The program is managed by a Walkaway USA, a subsidiary of Dallas-based EFG Companies, which provides finance and insurance products and support services for auto dealers.
"The goal is that this gives the consumer the opportunity to avoid default and maintain their credit rating," said Jeff Beaver, senior vice president for marketing at EFG Companies.
Walkaway said it has been selling a similar program as an extra-cost product through various auto dealers in Canada since 2000. The company recently began offering similar plans in the U.S., but Hyundai will be the only manufacturer offering the plan nationally.
The program neatly fits the needs of Hyundai's market said Art Spinella, an analyst with CNW Market Research, and it builds on the 10-year 100,000 mile warranty that Hyundai began offering in the U.S. in 1998.
"Hyundai has kind of carved its own niche with warranties and it's been successful with it," he said.
The program should appeal to Hyundai buyers, according to Spinella, because they tend to have lower household incomes and are more likely to be worried about income loss than buyers of more expensive cars.

Customer value

Since the program is offered on all Hyundai vehicles with no extra charge, it's impossible to say whether it would really be worth it to consumers, said Peter Sorgenfrei, a New York-based automotive marketing consultant. It would depend on whether the dealer would have charged less for the vehicle without the protection, but it's impossible to know how much less.
And given the low odds even in today's economy, that any given Hyundai buyer would lose his or her income within a year, the protection wouldn't add much value to the typical consumer, according to Sorgenfrei. "Not a lot of people are going to take advantage of it," he said.
Few of those drivers who lose their income, he said, would want to give up a car they would need to find a new job and then commute to it.
But some customers might want to trade in their new Hyundai for a less expensive used car, said EFG's Beaver, so the program benefits dealers by turning a customer with a financial problem into another potential sale.
While Hyundai will be the only carmaker offering a national program, Walkaway plans to allow auto dealers selling any brand to offer the program, said Beaver.
Regardless of the dealer or the vehicle brand, 12-month protection plans would always be offered at no extra charge, Beaver said, but customers could also purchase longer-term plans for an extra charge. Hyundai dealers will soon be able to offer longer coverage at additional cost, said Hyundai's Ewanick.
But even if it's never used, Sorgenfrei said, the plan has public relations value: The program should drive some car shoppers to at least consider a Hyundai and it will make them feel cared for. 

Is There Light In This Long Recession Tunnel?

As bad as the economy seems, the worst may be over, said a panel of experts convened to look for signs of light at the end of the tunnel. “We’re better off than we were six months ago,” said Art Hogan, director of global equity products at Jefferies & Co., who famously called the market’s bottom on CNBC on Oct. 10, a day when the Dow’s low was 7,773.71.  We’re at a point in the market where we seem to continue to be able to withstand a high degree of bad news,” he said Thursday night at a meeting of the Massachusetts Network Communications Council in Waltham, Mass. And while economic data will get worse before it gets better, Hogan said, there’s bit of risk-taking and “for the first time in about six months we’re actually seeing selectivity” in stock buying, as opposed to indiscriminate selling......Click HERE for more.

Paul Deninger, a Jefferies & Co. vice chairman, said he’s worried about restoring confidence when public company chief executives have no reason to offer positive guidance. “Everyone’s guiding down because they’re worried about the economy but they’re also guiding down because even if they grow, they’re not getting credit for it,” he said. “So why not guide the entire market down and then anything you do, you’re going to be a hero later. There are no rewards in the equity market right now for courage and heroism.”.



New sources of growth like innovation and green growth, as well as structural measures to improve labor productivity and utilization, will therefore be crucial to put the economy back on a strong, sustainable and jobs-rich growth path.  Five other factors will dominate the economy over the next 12 months:



1. Uncertainty about the future improves as the anti-business tone in Washington diminishes. Fewer political initiatives as the Congress of the United States swings from the left leaning democrats to one with more conservative and right wing elements. With the prospect of a stalemate in congress, investors can expect less change from the government reducing the uncertainity that has plagued companies and investors.
The financial sector will be the greatest benefactor, though they still face declining or flat loan demand as companies and consumers reduce their debt load.
2. Emerging markets drive global growth. Any sector or company that derives the bulk of their business from exporting capital goods, commodities and certain higher end consumer goods should see their revenues and earnings appreciate nicely.
Capital goods companies that export like Boeing, Caterpillar (CAT) and Deere (DE) will continue to experience robust revenue and earnings expansion. Their upstream suppliers will also participate including the likes of Nucor, Titanium Metals (TIE), Precision Cast Parts (PCP) and Trimble Navigation (TRMB).
Higher end consumer goods companies with a growing presence in China, India, and Brazil will see demand for their products drive up revenues. Coach (COH), Williams Sonoma (WSM), and Apple (APPL) fit here nicely.
Productivity continues to enhance companies’ bottom lines. Most providers of the software and hardware necessary to change the way a company does business in position to grow revenues and profits. Cisco (CSCO), EMC (EMC), Oracle (ORCL) and Hewlett Packard (HPQ) come to mind.
3. Employment will diverge. Those with the skills in demand (software engineering, engineering in general, proven sales experience, and healthcare are examples) will see many job opportunities. On the other hand, anyone with lower level skills or who only has worked in the home construction industry will continue to suffer slow to negative job growth.
To maintain employment equilibrium the economy must add 100,000 to 125,000 new jobs a month. So far, we have not even reached that level. When we do, there still are the more than 9 million unemployed and 17 million underemployed people looking for work. Many of these people lack the necessary skills and reduction to find well-paying jobs. The muddle through economy does not hold very good prospects for them.
4. Leading labor’s problems is a weak housing market. The overbuilding and large numbers of foreclosures are major contributors to housings woes. Supply remains excess and prices keep falling as the market tries to find the right balance of available homes and at what price.
Fire sale prices encourage new homeowners and investors to wait for the best deal rather than buy one of the lower priced homes. As long as this attitude persists, the single-family housing market will remain in the doldrums. I do not expect this picture to improve any time soon.
5. The Federal Reserve will remain supportive. The Fed will keep short term rates near zero for another year. They might add to the available money supply by buying additional treasuries goring their enormous balance sheet even further.


The light you see at the end of the tunnel is a very slow moving train. (PhysOrg.com) -- Sure, the U.S. economy is struggling, but the end to the "growth recession" may be in sight, say University of Michigan economists.
  

Customer Satisfaction and Hyundai Assurance

Wikipedia Definition of Customer satisfaction, a business term, is a measure of how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation. It is seen as a key performance indicator within business and is part of the four of a Balanced Scorecard.  In a competitive marketplace where businesses compete for customers, customer satisfaction is seen as a key differentiator and increasingly has become a key element of business strategy.

At Hyundai Assurance,  our dedication to customer service has developed into the Hyundai Assurance, an umbrella of services that includes America's Best Warranty, 24/7 Roadside Assistance and our Buyer Protection Program.


     1. Hyundai Assurance America's Best Warranty- For more than a decade, America’s Best Warranty hasn’t just changed how our customers feel about their cars, it’s changed how we build vehicles. To make sure we deliver automobiles worthy of a 10-year warranty, Hyundai initiated the Drive Defects to Zero plan.  Click HERE for  more details.

     2. Hyundai Assurance 24/7 Roadside Assistance- Hyundai strives to make ownership as worry-free as possible, which is why we have included 5 years of Roadside Assistance absolutely free, with every new Hyundai. Valid in all 50 states and Canada, if your Hyundai becomes disabled or even if you just lock yourself out, we’ll send someone to help you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.Click HERE for more details.

     3. Hyundai Assurance Buyer Protection Program- In these uncertain times, Hyundai is the first automaker in the U.S. to offer a Buyer Protection Program. If, in the first 12 months, you find that you cannot make your payment because of a covered life changing event*, we'll allow you to return your vehicle and walk away from your loan or lease obligation.  Click HERE for more details.

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