Hyundai Rumored to build new truck

[shortspark]

I don't know if this has been mentioned here before or not but a couple months ago Pickuptrucks.com reported this:

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/05...kup-truck.html

Although they may be just testing the waters and are certainly not saying that they will or will not build a truck in the future, that a company like Hyundai would even be thinking such a thing comes as a surprise to me. I say that because times are still not ripe for a new generation of trucks, especially from outside the US. Truck buyers are very loyal (as we demonstrate at this forum every day) and a lot of them are "made in America" fanatics.

I like to buy American company products too but that I have to buy foreign is not my fault, it is the American car builder's fault (although the future looks a little better for their quality standards). But that is another subject. Hyundai is building great cars. I know because my girl friend has owned a Sonata for several years and I do the general maintenance. Man, that is a great little piece of equipment for the little money she paid! Their reputation for quality has really increased in recent years and because of that, if they do end up making a truck afterall and the Ridgeline rumor of its demise after 2011 is true, I may very well take a close look at the Hyundai.

What do you all think the chances are of Hyundai entering the truck market in the next few years?

[Outfitter]

Originally Posted by shortspark

I don't know if this has been mentioned here before or not but a couple months ago Pickuptrucks.com reported this:

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/05...kup-truck.html

Although they may be just testing the waters and are certainly not saying that they will or will not build a truck in the future, that a company like Hyundai would even be thinking such a thing comes as a surprise to me. I say that because times are still not ripe for a new generation of trucks, especially from outside the US. Truck buyers are very loyal (as we demonstrate at this forum every day) and a lot of them are "made in America" fanatics.

I like to buy American company products too but that I have to buy foreign is not my fault, it is the American car builder's fault (although the future looks a little better for their quality standards). But that is another subject. Hyundai is building great cars. I know because my girl friend has owned a Sonata for several years and I do the general maintenance. Man, that is a great little piece of equipment for the little money she paid! Their reputation for quality has really increased in recent years and because of that, if they do end up making a truck afterall and the Ridgeline rumor of its demise after 2011 is true, I may very well take a close look at the Hyundai.

What do you all think the chances are of Hyundai entering the truck market in the next few years?

I think the only way it would make sense is on a shared platform with another company using their lower costs. Still, if fuel follows the projected price increases, we may all be driving Flintstone mobiles in the near future especially if we have a conflict with Iran this fall.
Hang on to that old Ridgeline Marty, put it on blocks till you need it to make a "Road Warrior" monster truck out of it. If not that then I'm sure it will be a collectable some day.

[ChrisM]

Hyundai has been manufacturing heavy duty trucks since the late 70's. I would think that it would be a natural path for the company to start building pickup trucks for the North American market.

Every company wants and needs to increase it's market share regardless of the economy regardless of market niche. Why not a Hyundai pickup? Their quality is way better than it used to be by a factor of 20.

I used to think of Hyundai as a company like Yugo who made basic transportation for those who could not afford anything else. I think of them more like a cheap Honda now with the quality being nearly equal or in some cases better. Also,they have a lot of brand loyal customers who would be repeat buyers if they did make a truck sorta like how many people bought a Ridgeline after having Accords.

I have an 04' Sonata for a company car. I will be the 1st to admit that I the oil changes don't exactly get done on time and that I haven't followed the maintenance schedule at all. It still has the original belts, the original anti freeze, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. The only thing I have replaced was the battery a year ago because the car started cranking over a little slow. The Sonata starts and runs every day regardless of the temperature or weather conditions and has never stranded me one time in over 103k miles. It has a ton of power and I love the transmission. It more like a sport coupe than a grocery getter. It gets treated like a "red headed step child" but refuses to die.

I would absolutely love to have a new Sonata. IMO they are better looking than the Mercedes that they are a clone of. I have seen them side by side and the Sonata seems to flow better than the Mercedes design.

Heck, I'd not only bet that they make a pickup truck but they make a better pickup than some of the domestic stuff.

[ChrisM]

Originally Posted by Outfitter

Hang on to that old Ridgeline Marty, put it on blocks till you need it to make a "Road Warrior" monster truck out of it. If not that then I'm sure it will be a collectable some day.

Thank you Mike Deason!

[k757]

I was recently in a really newer Elantra (civic competitor) and the thing was WAY better than I thought Hyundai was at with their small cars. Solid little car and a very nice interior with quality materials. The car costs thousands less than the Civic and gets nearly 3x the warranty. Hyundai is hard to not consider in any market they are in.

Edit: Hyundai does have a very nice V8 in production already and their V6's are right up there with power

[shovelhd]

Originally Posted by ChrisM

I would absolutely love to have a new Sonata.

I did a double take when I saw one on the road recently. I couldn't believe that it was a Hyundai. Gorgeous, lifted design or not.

[Outfitter]

Originally Posted by ChrisM

Thank you Mike Deason!

Dang it, I forgot about the fake mud though.

[hiPSI]

Originally Posted by Outfitter

Dang it, I forgot about the fake mud though.

That was DaveHenderson lol

[mevers]

Originally Posted by k757

I was recently in a really newer Elantra (civic competitor) and the thing was WAY better than I thought Hyundai was at with their small cars. Solid little car and a very nice interior with quality materials. The car costs thousands less than the Civic and gets nearly 3x the warranty. Hyundai is hard to not consider in any market they are in.

I too recently took a ride in a friends new Sonata. This was my first look at a Hyundai and I was blown away by the features that were standard. The fit and finish was way nicer than I expected.

The wife will be in the market soon as her accord is rolling up on 14 yrs old. A month ago if you asked me what we would be looking at, Hyundai wouldn't have even come up but now I'm thinking we might be looking there first.

[kone]

My Dad just bought a new top-o-the-line Sonata and it is really nice and a super value. However, I just traded in a 2009 Santa Fe Limited that I absolutely coudn't stand. The more I drove it the more cheap it felt and sounded, creaks, squeaks, rattles everywhere and a very jarring ride. I felt like I was in a Bentley when I jumped from the Santa Fe to the Ridgeline for my test drive.