7/27/2009

New Car: 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring





So after a couple months of research, tire kicking and harassing car salesmen I closed the deal on a new Hyundai Elantra Touring on Saturday.

The 2002 Hyundai Elantra GT that I had been driving for the past 6 years had seen better days. The car was the first new car I ever owned and treated me very well racking up over 168K miles when I traded it in this weekend. I like the utility of a hatchback so I had coveted the Touring since it was first announced as a model for 2009.

I just want to give a big middle finger to Rusty Clifford the General Manager of Herb Chambers Hyundai in Auburn. The tactics that management uses there seems to make it impossible for their salespeople to close deals with informed customers. If you want to get rakes over the coals and don't know how to score a deal go to Herb Chambers. If you want to have salespeople hold your license or keys and chase you outside when you leave go to Herb Chambers. The salesman I worked with there was a good guy and knew I was not going to overpay but the men behind the glass were pure assholes.

On the other hand Route 44 Hyundai in Taunton was a pleasure to deal with. They blew Herb Chambers quote out of the water and made the back and forth pretty painless. Now I wont have to worry any longer about my car disintegrating into pieces when going 75 on the Mass Pike on the way to work. I'm not excited about having a car payment again after not having one for the past 2 years or so, but such is life.

6 comments:

Dee Wells said...

Congratulations on the new car! And sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience at Herb Chambers Auburn.

Buying a car is always "an experience" because most sales people think that consumers are uninformed and when they run into an educated consumer that knows how the game is played, they get "flipped".

Travel safely!!

younona said...

I am glad that you made such a choice. The 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring is a great car. I think the Korean team makes a good job on this car. This family car gives you the comfort and safety you really need. The price starts at only $17,800.
I also like the exterior and the audio system. See a complete review about 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring on topspeed.com

Kelly said...

I know I'm a little late to comment on this, but I have to pipe in that as a previous owner of an Elantra (10 very happy years) my experience with Herb Chambers was exactly like yours. It was so bad that I couldn't allow myself to buy another Hundai no matter how much I wanted one, because I would not give that dealership a dime, and that counted service/warranty work. (Being that they're the only dealer within 30 miles it's hard for me to go elsewhere). After I RAN out of that dealership, I was called by a salesman every day for 2 weeks. I felt horrible for the guy because the "management" chased away a willing buyer but customers can only speak with their wallets.

Anyway, I bought a Kia Rondo. I like it a lot, and am hoping that Huyndai quality is now spilling over into the Kia line. Just wanted to let you know you were not alone. (love the touring, though)

Anonymous said...

I worked for Herb Chambers Hyundai in Auburn. I'm a former car salesmen who worked under Rusty Clifford. I can assure you that he's the biggest piece of shit I've ever worked for. He began harassing me as soon as I worked there. He'd treat me like a ghost. He'd treat salesmen over the age of 40 like children. He thinks $250/wk (46-52 hrs) is something worth begging to keep your job for. I had zero respect for him and he knew it.

Rusty Clifford said...

This is Rusty Clifford. I have worked for Herb Chambers Hyundai since I was 19 years old. I have done my absolute best to take care of everyone as much as possible, as I do have a very large client basis that comes back and buy cars off of me directly. I apoligize if anyone here feels that I have not done that. Please feel free to call me directly on my cell phone (774)272-3614. I would really appreciate any input that you have. If I was what some of you have said I am, I would not have posted this.

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