Chuck that makes perfect sense. A new car is a one-two punch. We all tend to focus on the acquisition/purchase of the car on this forum, but equally if not more so, one should consider the service angle of ownership. Glad you found a good option in the sisterhood of Hyundai.
Very cool!
Just to update everyone on latest developments. This last Friday the 13th, my daughter's Kia Sportage was stolen. While going through the settlement process with her insurance company they (insurance company) said they need to get a paper title to complete the settlement. When she bought the car, she took out a loan. Which means in our state (Kansas) a paper title isn't issued. Kansas issues an electronic title, and won't provide a paper title (that is needed by the insurance company) until they receive a lien release from Kia Finance. She paid the car off 5 months ago, two weeks after they received the payoff she formally requested a lien release. Again, this was 5 months ago. She still hasn't received it. She has called numerous times over the past several months and every time she was told that 1) the car is paid off and the lien is satisfied and 2) they will send out a lien release in 3 to 5 days. She started calling every day since her car was stolen and every time was is told that 1) no, the lien release hasn't gone out yet and 2) it will be sent out in 3 to 5 days. She talked to a supervisor and was told that nothing further can be done. She asked to speak to the title department and was told they don't talk to customers. Kansas State law requires that lien releases be provided within 10 days after a car is paid off, which they have violated. Unfortunately the only penalty is a civil fine of $100. She has filed a complaint with the Kansas Attorney General but she was told it might be months before they get to it. Her insurance company is taking the position that he holdup isn't their fault so they will no longer pay for a rental car. So she doesn't have a car and has to pay nearly $50 a day for a rental. I've owned perhaps 15 or more new cars in my lifetime, financed some of them and never, never had a problem like this. So not only does the dealer not give a wit about customers, Kia Finance doesn't either. I will never, ever consider purchasing a Kia again.
I’d consider filing a civil lawsuit to recoup all the rental charges and “pain and suffering” caused by empty promises and failure to act as required by State Law. In addition, sue for attorney coverages. Sometimes, a simple call from an attorney will work wonders and at minimum eliminate the need to pay 50 a day for a rental. Good luck and please keep us posted.
cheapness has a downside - terrible customer service. collect checks, all your daughter's correspondence with Kia. Since they violate the law, as a result, you incur losses, you will be able to recover it through the courts.
Thanks Frankie, yes we're strongly considering a lawsuit. The last conversation she had with them was a conference call with Kia, my daughter and the State Farm adjuster. The State Farm adjuster clearly told the Kia rep that the conversation was being recorded and during that recorded conversation my daughter recited the dates and times she called, which is confirmed with her cell phone bills. Kia promised to fax the release directly to State Farm in, you guessed it, 3 to 5 days. They also committed to mail the hard copy release to her in "3 to 5 days". If I ever hear that phrase it will be too soon for me.
Problem is Kia isn't selling cheap cars anymore. A fully equipped Telluride goes for $50K, but it seems like the dealers and Corporate doesn't understand that a great car needs a great organization behind it. That's what I liked about Lexus when they first came out. They truly believed in their motto of "Relentless pursuit of perfection". My old Lexus mechanic had been with them since the beginning 30 years ago, and is one of their most senior mechanics. About 5 years ago he told me that in the beginning when he went to Lexus corporate in Torrance every one there were "car guys". You'd look in the parking lot and most of the cars had modifications of some sort. Now you go there and most of the people seem to be lawyers or business people and the parking lot is filled with their Lexus lease vehicles. Lexus is now just another car company. Which is why for the first time in nearly 30 years I no longer own a Lexus.
Well you can say what you want, but there are perks to having a Luxury vehicle that we are learning as we get older..... they may or may not be more dependable, but they do most generally have a longer warranty, more attentive service department, Pickup and delivery service with a no quibble loaner for as long as your vehicle is gone.. 3 days or 60 days.... and basically know who you are as you visit the dealership for most any issues....
My Lexus came with a 4 year 50,000 mile basic warranty, 6 year 70,000 mile powertrain warranty. Hyundai/Kia comes with 5 year 60,000 mile basic warranty, 10 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Hyundai/Kia wins the warranty wars. You're right that I always got a loaner when I took my Lexus in for service, then when I picked it up I paid over $200 for what amounted to an oil change. Service for my Palisade is $50, and the first three years are free. I can rent my own car if needed, or use Uber for a lot less. When I lived in Southern California my Lexus mechanic lived two blocks from me. He would come to my house, bring a loaner car, take mine in for service and return it in the evening. Now that I live in a state that has two Lexus dealers (in the entire state) they no longer offer to pick up the car and when I take it in for service they don't know me from Adam. I also had more serious recalls on my Lexus - leaking fuel rails that could cause a fire, broken valve springs that would grenade the engine, premature valve guide wear that triggered knock sensors and cut engine power when accelerating. Perhaps in my case I have an extraordinarily good Hyundai dealer, and an extraordinarily bad Lexus dealer, but 20 years ago Lexus corporate wouldn't tolerate a bad dealer. From my previous comments you know the one Kia dealer in my one-horse town is extraordinarily bad, so I won't be buying a Kia but given that my local Hyundai dealer takes much better care of me than the local Lexus dealer ever did I just can't justify the much higher cost of ownership of a Lexus vs a Palisade. And I've never had to wait more than a couple days to get it in for service. I too am on the older side and would be willing to pay for better service, but I was paying for better service and not getting it. Which is what led me to abandon Lexus after 30 years of continuous ownership.
"We're too busy" is never an excuse for a quality company's service levels. Busy or slow, you treat every customer the same. There's a way to do it successfully that enhances your reputation. Everyone else is just being lazy.
