Why is there no AWD Hyundai Accent?

[gottacatchup]

Originally Posted by Global Hemisphere Originally Posted by insane Taking that into account the car probably wouldn't sell too good. The question really should be why there hasn't been an AWD Focus? But I guess that problem will be solved soon. They already do offer an AWD Focus, its called the Volvo S40. And I guess Mazda will have an AWD 3 soon.

The Mazdaspeed 3 is already offered in Japan using the same turbo 4 from the Mazdaspeed 6. However they have not upgraded the drivetrain to 4wd, still Fwd. Course its also still up in the air whether or not the car will ever make it to US soil.

[Global Warming]

Originally Posted by 30cm_penis That's an interesting discussion indeed... and you have a point when you mention that Subaru was not really interesting as a car manufacturer before the Impreza started to win at rallying. Anyway - althought it would be great to have a Xsara 2.0T AWD or a Focus RS AWD with 300hp... those versions are highly unlike to be a reliality. In the case of the Focus, it can have a chance since this kind of hot hatches have been a tradition for some years now; but in the case of the other "cheap" manufacturers... well - Peugeot even tried a 180hp version and they failed, so imagine what would happen with a higher version - afterall... it would be still a Peugeot So - in conclusion... the same as Peugeot could be applied for Hyundai - for sure they're improving (compared to the first models avaiable here - the latest Santa Fe for example is quite nice I have to say)... but they're still "cheap" brands.

I think over the next 10 years the Koreans have a much more realistic chance of making products with quality that will rival Japanese cars than French Peugeot. Korean companies are already breaking that image of cheap quality in the electronics industry.

[TopGearNL]

I remember that Hyundai had to pay a big fine of something in the region of 200.000 Dollar for not finishing the season :shock:

[Global Warming]

Originally Posted by insane Even so... Think about it this way. Peugeot was hugly succesful in the WRC with the 206 and they didn't manage to make the hot version too popular. Hyundai never had significant success and have now given up all together, so what chances do they really have to make such a popular car.

Well looking at it from an American perspective... The Subaru’s and Mitsus are popular here because the make really great, fast, tough AWD cars. I doubt anyone here knows about Subaru being successful or not in the WRC. I didn’t even know that and I love those cars! It’s sad to say but the WRC is virtually unknown here, I wish it wasn’t but it is. So I can say with almost complete certainty that those cars success in the USA (the largest car market in the world) has absolutely nothing to do with fan fair at the WRC at all.

Which is why I still think a Hyundai AWD car with roughly the same specs as a WRX would be very successful here. And it would not make any difference at all if they ever competed in the WRC again or not.

[666fast]

So I can say with almost complete certainty that those cars success in the USA (the largest car market in the world) has absolutely nothing to do with fan fair at the WRC at all.

It has a lot to do with a certain videogame. You might have heard of it, Gran Turismo. GT is responsible for making a whole list of virtually unknown cars popular in America. You didn't hear much about Evo's, WRX's, STi's and Skylines before GT. After it came out, everyone wanted it and kept begging untill Mitsubishi, Subaru and finally Nissan, gave in.

Which is why I still think a Hyundai AWD car with roughly the same specs as a WRX would be very successful here. And it would not make any difference at all if they ever competed in the WRC again or not.

I think you are entirely wrong. The reason diesel isn't popular here is because of two things. People either think of the crappy, smoky, unreliable junk that was put out for years. Or they think of big trucks and Semi's. Hyundai's problem is pretty much the same. People expect them to be cheap and an AWD Accent with WRX level horsepower won't be.

Honda had the same problem with the NSX. Hondas reputation is cheap and reliable. They couldn't get away with selling a car for that kind of money. So they made Acura. That way if it ended in catastophic failure, it wouldn't be Hondas name that was ruined.
Same goes for Nissan-Infinity, Toyota-Lexus

Car companies spend untold millions on market research thy aren't as dumb as we sometimes think they are. If Hyundai felt that a performance Accent with AWD would be a hot seller, they'd build one.

[Global Warming]

Well the reason diesels are not popular in the USA is because none of the good ones are allowed to be sold because of our air pollution laws! Nothing else! If the EPA would let Honda sell its new hi tech diesel in the USA I'm sure it would be very popular. Now I not going to pretend I understand the laws, I have no idea why some diesels are allowed to be sold here and others are not. But it is my understanding that the reason we do not have a lot of the smaller diesel engines in America is because of EPA laws.

As far as the NSX comparison goes, it’s not a very good one. Because I'm talking about a Hyundai like a WRX that would sell in the 20 to 25k range. That is maybe only 5 to 10% more than top of the line Hyundai’s now. The NSX was like 300% more than other Honda models and the NSX did not sell well anywhere except maybe Japan. Didn’t they say on Top Gear that there were like 7 NSXs sold in the UK during the entire 2004 year?

I don’t see that as a good comparison at all. Hyundai could do a 225HP AWD car that would fit very nicely into their expected price range. After all the Subaru STI is the most expensive Subaru too and like I pointed out in 1996 people EXPECTED Subaru to be cheaper than Honda and Toyota because they had usch a bad image here.

Oh and yes I admit the whole reason I started this thread is because of the cool looking and driving Hyundai rally cars in RalliSport Challenege 2 on Xbox made me ask the question why there are not production versions of the same thing.

[666fast]

Well the reason diesels are not popular in the USA is because none of the good ones are allowed to be sold because of our air pollution laws! Nothing else! If the EPA would let Honda sell its new hi tech diesel in the USA I'm sure it would be very popular. Now I not going to pretend I understand the laws, I have no idea why some diesels are allowed to be sold here and others are not. But it is my understanding that the reason we do not have a lot of the smaller diesel engines in America is because of EPA laws.

You must have misunderstood me, I was using it as an example to show peoples perceptions. Our laws have nothing to do with what I was saying about diesels. Most people here do not want diesels because of what they already know from past and present experiences. They are either junk or built for huge trucks and semi's. That really is what the majority of people think of diesels.

As far as the NSX comparison goes, it’s not a very good one. Because I'm talking about a Hyundai like a WRX that would sell in the 20 to 25k range. That is maybe only 5 to 10% more than top of the line Hyundai’s now. The NSX was like 300% more than other Honda models and the NSX did not sell well anywhere except maybe Japan. Didn’t they say on Top Gear that there were like 7 NSXs sold in the UK during the entire 2004 year?

Again, it has to do with peoples perceptions. It was just another example. People expect Hyundai's to be very cheap. What you want them to build wouldn't be.

After all the Subaru STI is the most expensive Subaru too and like I pointed out in 1996 people EXPECTED Subaru to be cheaper than Honda and Toyota because they had usch a bad image here.

Subaru has had loyal followers for years, long before the WRX. The Brat, SVX, Impreza RS just to name a few.

I'm completely convinced that an AWD Accent with that kind of power would be too expensive for most people to even consider buying. Remember, there are pretty much only two types of people who buy Hyundai's. People who don't care and people who don't have much money to spend. Those aren't the type to pay extra for a jumped up performance model.

[Global Warming]

Well I just think your perception of Hyundai has not come alone as far as a lot of other people’s. If they made a WRX type car that cost the very same amount I would consider it and I think a lot of other people would too. If they did that and came in 1,500 to 2k less then I would REALLY consider it and also think a lot of other people would.

I already think Hyundai is much better than Suzuki and over the next 10 years you will see Hyundai coming out with more and more higher quality, more expensive cars to raise their image and compete directly with Honda/Toyota, etc. Like was already mentioned they are talking about a V8 RWD.

I think your opinion and image perception of Hyundai is out of date.

[666fast]

I think your opinion and image perception of Hyundai is out of date.

I don't think so, if that wasn't obvious. I had the misfortune of havin to drive a Tucson for a week. I hated the thing. There is a reason it's cheap. And to make matters worse, it was defeated by 6 inches of snow.

[Global Warming]

Originally Posted by 666fast I think your opinion and image perception of Hyundai is out of date. I don't think so, if that wasn't obvious. I had the misfortune of havin to drive a Tucson for a week. I hated the thing. There is a reason it's cheap. And to make matters worse, it was defeated by 6 inches of snow.

But 6" of snow would defeat all the other small SUVs with stock tires in the class too. You think a CRV with stock tires can handle 6" of snow?? It can’t I have tried.

The Santa Fe is a good car and a great competitor in that market. You may have had a bad experience but many other satisfied customers and it’s sales records would suggest otherwise.

[antonioledesma]

Originally Posted by Global Hemisphere I already think Hyundai is much better than Suzuki and over the next 10 years you will see Hyundai coming out with more and more higher quality, more expensive cars to raise their image and compete directly with Honda/Toyota, etc.

then... how about you forget about this topic for 10 years? and then in 4th of july of 2016 bring it back?

today hyundai cars are crap, simple as that. If they are improving as you say, maybe in 10 years I'll look at them again.

EDIT:

btw... just admit that you own a hyundai

[666fast]

Originally Posted by Global Hemisphere Originally Posted by 666fast I think your opinion and image perception of Hyundai is out of date. I don't think so, if that wasn't obvious. I had the misfortune of havin to drive a Tucson for a week. I hated the thing. There is a reason it's cheap. And to make matters worse, it was defeated by 6 inches of snow. But 6" of snow would defeat all the other small SUVs with stock tires in the class too. You think a CRV with stock tires can handle 6" of snow?? It can’t I have tried. The Santa Fe is a good car and a great competitor in that market. You may have had a bad experience but many other satisfied customers and it’s sales records would suggest otherwise.

If a car can't handle 6" of snow it doesn't belong in Minnesota, simple as that. It happens repeatedly every winter. BTW, the Vitaras at work had zero problems this winter with over 12" on the ground.

As much as you may want an AWD Accent with that kind of power, it isn't going to happen.

[Global Warming]

Originally Posted by 666fast Originally Posted by Global Hemisphere Originally Posted by 666fast I think your opinion and image perception of Hyundai is out of date. I don't think so, if that wasn't obvious. I had the misfortune of havin to drive a Tucson for a week. I hated the thing. There is a reason it's cheap. And to make matters worse, it was defeated by 6 inches of snow. But 6" of snow would defeat all the other small SUVs with stock tires in the class too. You think a CRV with stock tires can handle 6" of snow?? It can’t I have tried. The Santa Fe is a good car and a great competitor in that market. You may have had a bad experience but many other satisfied customers and it’s sales records would suggest otherwise. If a car can't handle 6" of snow it doesn't belong in Minnesota, simple as that. It happens repeatedly every winter. BTW, the Vitaras at work had zero problems this winter with over 12" on the ground. As much as you may want an AWD Accent with that kind of power, it isn't going to happen.

Living in Minnesota you should know that the tires make more of a difference in snow than anything else. Not just on AWD but FWD and RWD cars too. Almost all stock tires that come on cars today are "all weather" which translates to "terrible in snow". Every Honda I have ever owned has been horrible in the snow because of the crappy Michelins especially the “Pilots” that come on most. Those Pilots are so bad in snow they even screw up the ABS system to the point that its down right dangerous to drive! But if you put proper snow tires on them they will do much, much better!

I' sure the Santa Fe would do just as well in the snow as all the other small SUVs with proper tires.