2001년 그랜저 XG에 대한 미국 소비자 평가

그랜저 XG는 현대가 2000~2001년부터 미국에서 팔기 시작했는데 품질에 대한 평가는 좋지만 연비가 선전과 다르다는 얘기는 이 때에도 있었네요. 연비 괜찮다는 얘기도 물론 있고.

 

실제로 그랜저 XG를 산 사람이 사기 전에 비교 평가한 차는 포드의 링컨 LS였고, 이 사람의 아버지가 모는 캐딜랙 카테라(오펠 오메가의 미국판)와 비교해도 더 낫다는 평가였습니다.

또 다른 사람은 링컨 LS, 어큐라 TL, 렉서스 ES300, 인피니티 I30, 토요타 아발론과 비교했고.

   

 

From: "Robert" <70263,4...@compuserve.com>

Newsgroups: alt.autos.hyundai

Subject: XG300

Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 12:18:29 -0400

I just purchased an XG300L.  Love it!  I never in my life thought I would own a Hyundai.  I've always drove more expensive cars.  Before I even knew what the XG300 was I test drove a Lincoln LS.  It was nice but a little over priced.  My father has a Cadillac Caterra.  Also very nice but your talking $38-41 thousand.

I saw the XG300 on a business trip in Seattle and didn't know what it was.

I actually thought it was a very expensive Japanese luxury car.  Yes, it's that striking!  I went for a test drive and the rest is history.  I actually like it better than the Lincoln LS (6 cylinder)  and my father likes it better than his Catera.  The XG300 has much more head and leg room in both front and back than both the LS and Catera.  And for 12-15 grand less you can't go wrong.

It out classes the competition (Accord, Camry, Taurus etc...).  Worth a second look.

 

==========

 

From: Prefered Customer <jfr...@no.thanks.ieee.org>

Newsgroups: alt.autos.hyundai

Subject: Re: XG300

Date: Sat, 04 Aug 2001 17:00:57 -0500

"webmaster" <pbl...@home.com> wrote:

>I have been looking at the XG300 and am quite impressed by the car and its

>specs.  Does anyone have some extended experience with the car?  So far I

>have only found good comments.

I've had the 300L for ~five months and for the money, it's quite a car.  It rides nice, handles nice, has good ergonomics and, in general, it's a nice car.  The traction control system seems to work wonders in a very unobtrusive way; it doesn't slip and slide on wet pavement.  Seat comfort is good and the memory seats are great if you have two drivers in the family.  Headroom is a big deal for me; I can't wear my hat in the car but I do fine at 6' 3".

But I've a few comments that are not positive.  Remember, overall I like the car but, like every manufacturer, Hyundai overlooked a few things.

1.  There's no delay in the headlights turning off; turn off the key and off they go immediately.  The headlights do not come on until it's quite dark.  And there are no running lights.

2.  Gas mileage on my car is nowhere near what I would expect from an engine of this size--especially one that was modeled on the Mitsubishi engine.  Mileage can run as low as 15 MPG in town and even on the highway doesn't exceed 20 MPG; quite a departure from the 20/26 sticker.  If you want to keep the tank half full to extend the life of the fuel pump, plan on stopping for gas every 130-150 miles.  Maybe the extra weight of the XG300--about 400 lb; 3700 lb total--is responsible but I suspect the poor milage is more computer related than weight related.

The cruise control ENABLE/on button is located near your left knee; not very handy.

The mirrors on the car can be set to dip when you are in reverse, a feature I like.  Occasionally, the computer forgets what it's doing and doesn't put the passenger mirror back into the right position when the shift lever is moved to Drive.  I've never noticed that on the driver mirror but, then again, I seldom have that mirror set to dip in reverse.

Warm weather or cold weather the engine and transmission don't seem to know what to do with each other for a mile or two.  Someone said the problem is that the oxygen sensor has to be hot to work right.  I don't know if that's right or wrong but mine runs rougher than a cob for the first mile.  Toss in a hill in the first mile and the computer goes nearly nuts trying to figure out what the engine and transmission should be doing to and with each other.

The center console has an internal lighter plug so you can keep your phone hidden without the recharger plug showing.  But doing a permanent phone mount in the car is quite a challenge.

The floor mats are held in place with a plastic hook that's tightly sewn to the carpet.  Both hooks have actually torn the carpet on the passenger and driver side of the car.

The air conditioner is adequate on recirculate but, in Texas, it's not powerful enough to bring the outside air temperature down to the comfort range.  If you like fresh air all the time, it'll run a bit hot.

The automatic temperature circuit is a little too smart for its own good.  The day/night sensor actually measures the sun's intensity and adjusts the temperature accordingly.  This can make for frozen passengers until it finally stabilizes--which takes about 15 minutes.

The suspension is quite nice on reasonable roads.  But on unpaved roads or where the pavement is especially rough, it can actually become unstable and hard to handle.

The passenger wiper blade movement is to the middle of the driver's field of view.  Which means that when the rain is over, you have a neat little streak right in front of you; keep a wipe rag handy.

The remote control works well but the trunk and door buttons are adjacent to each other and the labels are impossible to read in dim light..  Half the time a valet brings the car, the trunk is open.  I accidentally hit the trunk button as I exit the car about one time in ten.

You cannot disable the passenger airbag if you're hauling too many kids to fit in the back seat.

Hyundai's labor rate must be low.  Buy the car from the dealer closest to you so you have some leverage or don't buy it if you want speedy service.  This car is still new to the dealer's mechanics.  Half of them don't know how the car works.  One example is the mirror control and some of its limitations.  And they don't seem to have a clue how to "tune" the software that actually runs the car.

I hope you like a sound system with a lot of bass.  The default audio control settings make it sound like a getto blaster.  Plan on operating the equalization in the "Classical" mode or you'll leave your rear-seat passengers with ear bleed.

The front low-frequency speakers are right in the front door where your foot wants to go when you get out of the car; it would be very easy to put your foot right through the cloth covering if someone bumps the door while you're exiting.

Well, nothing's perfect and your out-the-door price should be about five grand less than anything that offers similar features, i.e. you save about 20%.  If you don't keep the car for at least five years, you'll probably lose unless you buy another Hyundai.  The warranty is great--which is good because you'll use it.  (Not to suggest that you would not on any other car!)  One last note: I was actually interested in the XG300 but only the L had the memory seats and the auto-chromatic rear-view mirror.  The price differential isn't that much but (for good or bad) you also get a moon roof--something I really didn't want.

Fred, W8OY

jfr...@ieee.nospam.org

 

==========

 

From: "Robert Dianetti" <rdia...@neo.rr.com>

Newsgroups: alt.autos.hyundai

References: <9kjrkn$blv$1@suaar1ab.prod.compuserve.com>

Subject: Re: XG300

Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2001 02:36:02 GMT

I bought one of the first XG300s out of the gate.  My local dealer bought 6 initially, and I got the first one!

I agree with all the comments in this thread, but my gas milage has been better then reported here.  I get about 19 in combined city/highway, and 22 or so on the highway.  Not spectacular, but better than my '98 Sonata with a 4 cylinder!

I have had small electrical problems, but the dealer easily cleared them up and gave me a rental each time.

My one complaint is that the interior seems "creaky".  Not rattly, but it makes a fuss on bumpy roads and around turns.

Would I buy it again?  In a heartbeat.  Sorry Chevy!

 

==========

 

From: "JAMES M. REED" <423...@home.com>

Newsgroups: alt.autos.hyundai

Subject: Re: XG300

Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2001 18:59:04 GMT

I bought an XG300L, gold color in early May of this year. So far I have 1800 miles on it. I'm very happy with my XG. It has all of the luxury that I wanted in this car. I also have the factory option of a Hyundai six disc CD changer in the trunk. So I have two CD players... single one in the radio and the CD changer. Pretty cool!

The car runs great. I get 18 to 22 MPG around town, and 27 MPG on highway runs. The car looks like a more expensive car than it is. Mine was $ 26272 list. I bought it because I wanted a car that was luxurious like the Lincoln LS, Acura TL, Toyota Avalon, Infiniti I30, Lexus ES300, etc. But I didn't want to pay in the $ 30M to $ 37M range. I traded in a 1997 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer V8 SUV.

So far, I"m very happy with the car and even the dealer service, etc. My two concerns in buying the XG300L was not car quality, because everyone I know who owns a Hyundai, is happy with their cars. My concerns were, a) dealer quality, b) resale value. The dealer turned out OK, and we'll have to wait and see about resale value down the road.

You need to buy what you really like, or what is your heart's desire. When you do that, you'll be very happy. The car rides great, handles great, has the right acceleration, etc., and I don't see my car coming at me on every street, like with my Explorer. Our other car is a 1994 Ford SHO, so I know when I get a great car. I first saw the XG300L at the Chicago Auto Show in February of this year, and I fell for it on the spot. But what really sold on it, was taking it for a couple of test drives. This car needs to be driven and sat in to truly appreciate it.

Good luck with your final decision. I know I made the right choice.

JMR