Need a car--Get a Hyundai and Rest Assured!

Are you thinking of getting a new car but are worried about possible job loss? If you have a safety net and can afford the estimated monthly payments without living on the edge--GO FOR IT--but get a Hyundai. Why? The Hyundai company took a giant risk--and the roll of the dice came up lucky numbers, for the company and its customers.

While other carmakers begged the government for a bailout, Hyundai offered to bailout customers if they lost their job. You probably heard of the "Hyundai Assurance" program where you can return a Hyundai if you lose your job, becomed disabled, are transferred abroad, or have to file personal bankruptcy. The program is working that Hyundai sales for the Sonata (that's my car! a small sedan) increased 85% in January!

When GM pulled out of the commercials for the Academy Awards, Hyundai filled the spot with seven commercials. They even advertised in the pricey Super Bowl.

Hyundai did not rely on government help or taxpayer's to bail them out but rather their own efforts. It's marketing and business genius! The other three US automakers followed suit three months later after Hyundai's immediate success.

ABC New's Nightline aired this special report on the "Hyundai Cinderella Story". Here are the highlights or click below to view the video (6 minutes).

1. Half of Hyundai autos are made in local USA plant in Alabama.
2. All workers are all non-union and trained for multiple tasks. Most employees have no prior automobile experience and come from local waffle house. No kidding. The fast food industry teaches valuable skills in multitasking.
3. It did not receive any money from stimulus package but it did receive millions in tax rebates for building its plant in Alabama.
4. Young, non union workforce is Hyundai's biggest advantage due to lower healthcare costs while other automakers are saddled with high health insurance premiums and actual medical costs.

I'm reminded of my days working for America West Airlines. As a reservationist, I earned $7.00 an hour while competing airlines paid $10.00 and higher for the same job. Why? America West was non-union and we were proud of it. $3.00 and hour difference in hourly rate is a significant amount times 40 hours a week over 52 weeks. However, our perks were free airfare and $50 to fly first class based on availability. Other airline employees had to pay a percentage of the airfare just to fly in coach. Free air travel ranked highest in our list of perks and we would not trade it for any union promises. At America West, we were not just a company, but a large family.

Back to Hyundai. I own a Sonata since 2004. I bought it one year used in 2003 and I LOVE MY HYUNDAI. At the time I spotted this sleek white car on the road, it looked exactly like the Jaguar without the animal token protruding from hood. It looked like the Jaguar, rode smoother than the Jaguar and consumer ratings were much higher. I saved over $20,000 buying one year used and a Hyundai. With only 20,000 miles on the car--there was plenty of warranty left--six years or 100,000 miles. It still runs smooth with routine maintenance and no other major repairs. I thought of getting a new one, but I love not having car payments. So I opted for moving to a new modern condo.
CHRISTINE