Conicelli Hyundai

My First and Last Hyundai Purchase Where do I begin on the worst experience for a first time car buyer? Last September I was in the market for a new car. I had read about Hyundai’s Where do I begin on the worst experience for a first time car buyer? Last September I was in the market for a new car. I had read about Hyundai’s prices and warranty, so I thought I’d research them. Hatchbacks are where I generally lean so the Elantra GT stood out. Every review talked about the sleek new style Hyundai had packaged as well as the top class fuel efficiency. Both were big pluses for me. I decided if the price was right this would be my first every brand new car. I went to Conicelli as it was the closest dealership to me and based on the name recognition. After taking a few hours with my salesman, Pat, he finally wooed me with a 2013 Elantra GT in blue that had the “Touch and Go” package already attached. The package included a push button start, which was a great feature, as well as “sport handling” and 17” alloy wheels. I was sold and the car was mine. I felt good until several months later I noticed I wasn’t getting the “top class” fuel economy I had hoped for. My previous car, a 2004 Honda Civic, had averaged 26 MPG and 300 miles per tank. The 2013 Elantra GT was making between 22-24 MPG and averaging 250-280 miles per tank. I took it in for service to make sure nothing was wrong. They tested the car and found no issues. I got the usual “never seen that before” and the “MPG is tested a perfect indoor place” excuses for why it wasn’t accurate. When I told the technician that I got better mileage from my old 2004 Honda his response was, “Well yeah it’s a Honda.” Not what I wanted to hear from my Hyundai technician. I sucked it up and moved on. When I purchased this vehicle I was a greenhorn and went through Hyundai’s financing department. I later got a better rate with my credit union and swapped out. I had my credit union send the usual 10-day payoff letter and I soon received a note saying Hyundai had been paid. Then $260 went missing from my account. It turns out Hyundai might’ve gotten their money but didn’t tell their collection agency NOT to collect. I located the number as I thought the fee was a thief and got mostly reimbursed. The collection company charged me a transfer fee that was nonrefundable. When I consulted with the finance manager, Lenny, at Conicelli he said that it wasn’t his job to tell them not to collect. I was floored. How was I supposed to know to call a company I had no idea about? A page of writing and I am still not onto the issue that caused me to get rid of this nightmare purchase. In March, my low tire pressure sensor alerted me. When I went to fill the tires I noticed my front passenger tire had bubbles. I knew this was bad and when I searched it I found that the bubbles indicate a tire has lost its structural integrity and could blow out at any time. I immediately took it Hyundai and since I was covered with the additional Safeguard plan it was free of charge. A half hour and I was out. Later that weekend I hit a small bump coming down off of a walkway speedbump at my office. I hit the same front passenger tire and saw bubbles once again. The next morning (Monday) I decided to look and get a better idea of the damage and saw bubbles EXACTLY like last time. I called Conicelli Hyundai only to find out they replaced the wrong tire. They replaced a perfectly fine front drive tire and I would have to come back. I had to drive on the damaged tire for another week. Then while on my way my car shuttered violently. I pulled over and found my REAR driver tire was completely flat and could not be inflated. Hyundai Assurance came and towed me. I then was told they couldn’t fix my tires until Safeguard sent an adjuster because it was too many claims in such a short period. Mind you one of said claims was their fault since they changed the wrong tire. I got a rental and was on my way. 2 days later I got my car back, now with 3 new tires in a week. A few passed and while a highway speeds (50-60mph) I noticed my car starting to shudder. I was taking my car in for an oil change anyhow and asked them to check it. It turned out a wheel was bent. Once again I was back in a rental and told by the head of service, Pat, to come back Monday at 7am. I head back at 7am only to find out Pat forgot he said that because they usually don’t open till 7:30am. He let me in anyhow and told me that Safeguard was arguing with them that the wheel could be repaired instead of replaced. There was nothing I could do but wait. By the middle of the week I found out Safeguard sent a technician to take the wheel for repair, but he noticed two more had bends and took photos to submit. I called again Friday because I needed my car for the travels of Memorial Day weekend and was told it would be ready by 8am. That Saturday I got my Elantra back but was told that only ONE tired was repaired. I asked about the other two bends and was assured they were fine to drive on. Hours later, while driving through Coatesville, I hit a bump and a tire blew out. Hyundai Assurance came but could not take me to Conicelli because it was out of the 25 mile range. I then went to Colonial Hyundai. Colonial didn’t use Safeguard and didn’t have exact matching tires to my Elantra because they couldn’t get a tire delivery because of a sinkhole. I called Conicelli and Wendy didn’t have an answer. She did say that Safeguard would cover the one tire and gave me their number for Colonial to use. When I asked about having two different tires and it’s affect on the axel wear, she only said that I could buy another tire and hope Pat would issue a reimbursement that following Tuesday. I ended spending $180 because Safeguard would only cover the minimum of the $90 Nexen tires I had initially and not the $127 Hankook tired Colonial had in stock. I was furious. Two days later, it happened again. While slowing at a red light on City Avenue, I hit a bump and the BRAND NEW Hanook tire I just got went out. I had to have my fiancee’s mother pick us up in a parking lot, borrow my mother’s Honda and follow the Hyundai Assurance tow up to Conicelli. Since it was Memorial Day service was closed. I spoke with the GM, Oliver, and informed him that I no longer felt safe in the Elantra GT. I was only thankful none of the blowouts happened on the highway. Oliver said he had never heard of Safeguard leaving on bend wheels and the bad gas mileage but if I could meet at 1pm the next day he would sit down with me and Pat, the head of service, to discuss my issue. The next day Oliver was out sick and I sat with Pat and got nowhere. I got the usual “well we didn’t build the car” and “if you think you’re getting into a new car at no cost, you’re wrong.” It led me to discussions with a lemon lawyer. Sadly, since Hyundai didn’t cover the tires under their warranty, I had no case. As far as my reimbursement of the $180 I spent on tires, I got $35 in the end. Finally a light shown and my sister recommended I try Roberts Honda in Downingtown. She had gotten her 2011 Honda Accord there and loved it. I searched their inventory and they had one 2013 Honda Civic EX in blue. It was exact make and model I wanted to get initially had my local Honda dealer not tried to shake me down. I spruced up the “death wagon” as I came to call my Elantra and traded it in. Now I feel safe, get 30 MPG combined and 360 miles per tank in my Honda Civic. I get the safety, reliability and massive fuel efficiency that I was looking for in a new car. Thanks Conicelli for selling me my first and last Hyundai and for showing me that it’s a “not so nice place to do business” there. More