Castlegar Hyundai Auto Blog 

The idea or concept of a "certified" used vehicle has been around for many years in the automotive industry. For some manufacturers, it was little more than a marketing gimmick. Besides a fancy label, a certified used car didn't seem much different than any other pre-owned vehicle. As ...

Lately, several customers have visited our dealership and asked about Hyundai's five-year or 100,000 kilometer warranty. These customers had shopped another dealership in the area and were told that Hyundai offered only a three-year comprehensive warranty and that the last two years were li...

It is an exciting time as Hyundai is rolling out seven new vehicles in 24 months. The latest installment: the 2011 Sonata Turbo or Sonata 2.0T. Our first arrived at Castlegar Hyundai this week, a Limited version in Venetian Red. More than just a new vehicle, this new Sonata really reveals Hyundai...

Just returned from Vancouver, where Hyundai Canada hosted dealers from across the country at a national meeting. There were cocktails and finger foods, but I came for one thing: to see all the latest models that will land at Castlegar Hyundai in the coming months. On this front, Hyundai did not disa...

Hyundai Canada just announced that the all-new 2011 Elantra was the best-selling compact car in January, the first month the vehicle was offered in Canada. When you consider the number of vehicles in this competitive segment, the Elantra's early success is an admirable achievement. So why has it...

Last week, Hyundai dealers from all over British Columbia gathered for a meeting with Hyundai executives. Before the first coffee break, it was clear that Hyundai is changing, and rapdily. Strategically, the car maker is moving away from competing mostly on price and massive rebates.&...

By now, finding a 2011 Sonata is something like discovering the Holy Grail. Most dealers are very light on inventory, so Hyundai has wisely pushed up the launch of the 2012 Sonata. We don't have pricing yet, but Hyundai has revealed some excellent upgrades to certain Sonata models. For example, ...

The first day of each month is a big deal in the car business. It is the day that most manufacturers announce the latest programs and interest rates, tweaked and designed with the hope of finding just the right formula for sales success. In July, Hyundai has put some pretty aggressive incentives on ...

Earlier this week, Hyundai offered a few hints about an upcoming sales event for dealerships in western Canada. Hyundai finally released the details yesterday. There will be a Three-Day "Super Sale" Event that starts today, October 28 with offers on most vehicles and 0% financing. The moti...

Once a week, I log-in to a popular car auction website, excited and optimistic about finding some used Hyundai vehicles for our dealership lot. This week, I was especially jazzed about the first Hyundai on the auction block in Vancouver, a loaded Santa Fe with low kilometers. It didn't take long...

Automotive News reports that sales of certified used vehicles hit a new high in 2011. It's a growing part of the industry. Many automotive companies now offer certified programs, which typically include a detailed inspection, additional warranty and other benefits. In the U.S., certified sa...

  Our Hyundai representative sent us several links to the Hyundai commercials that will air during this year's Super Bowl on February 5. The television spots are a mix of funny, serious, and in the case of the Veloster ad featuring DJ Porter Robinson, really entertaining. Check them out b...

Lately, a few customers at Castlegar Hyundai have asked, "Is Hyundai's zero per cent financing 'true' zero per cent financing, or is there a catch?" I wasn't sure what to make of these concerns. So, I did a little research to see what people have been reading about zero pe...

Fuel prices are rising, again. In two days, the price jumped to 134.9 cents per litre in Castlegar from 120.9 cents, an 11.5 per cent increase. Whether its the threat of reduced supply or the onset of spring that's driving the signficant increase, the only sure bet is that fuel is getting more e...

Las Vegas is all about glamour, gambling, debauchery and excess. During a brief trip to Vegas last week for a meeting of Canadian Hyundai dealers, I spent my time stuffed into a dark, cavernous conference room, instead of sipping seven litres of daquiri from a giant Eiffel Tower cup. ...

A new month brings new programs and offers from all the automakers. Hyundai Canada rolled out a new campaign, called "The Hyundai Advantage" that appears to show more than a hint of aggression from this rapidly growing company. Across its vehicle brands, the new offers from Hyundai show a ...

10. We won't play Christmas music in November. In fact, we won't play Christmas music, period. Just Classic Rock, Top 40 -- or maybe country if the wrong person gets control of our satellite radio. 9. For the first time ever, we're offering Employee, Friends and Family Pricing at Castle...

The most important pillar of Hyundai's strategy is to pack more content, features, improved styling and equipment into each new version of its vehicles, without jacking up prices. With the recent launch of the 2013 Santa Fe, a totally redesigned SUV, I wondered if Hyundai had stuck to its tradit...

At an early-morning meeting a few weeks ago, we started to kick around ideas for a sales promotion to launch in the spring. At first, our brainstorming didn't amount to much. The challenge was creatingsomething that would stand out...

In "Exposed: Secrets of the car dealer", Peter Cheney at the Globe and Mail "explains the tricks, tactics, strategies and scams" used by car dealers to  exploit customers, according to the national newspaper. The article offered a lengthy list of common complaints ...

The idea or concept of a "certified" used vehicle has been around for many years in the automotive industry. For some manufacturers, it was little more than a marketing gimmick. Besides a fancy label, a certified used car didn't seem much different than any other pre-owned vehicle. As ...

My second daughter was born last week. She is delightful. I was cautioned by several experienced parents, however, that one child is a walk in the park. Two or more kids: well, brace yourself for a few lifestyle change...