[Elantra GT] New Owner!

[Paul H., aka Doohickie]

-----Original Message-----

Would it be crass to ask what you paid, or whether you arranged a deal 
before the largest component of the rebate expired in early Oct?

with envy,

Ron

-----Reply----------------
Of course it's crass, but I'll spill my guts anyway!

I lost out on $750 of the $1250 rebate.  I only got the $500 current rebate.
But I still only paid $13,900 + TT&L for a total of about $15k out the door.
I had pre-approved 6.25% financing, but the dealer got me a 5.74% rate
through a local credit union.

It's an electric red GLS 5-door with cruise control as the only option.  I
will upgrade the stereo to CD myself.  It also had the spoiler even though
it was not on the sticker, so that was free.  Not a show-stopper either way,
but it does make the car look nicer.

I'm mad, mostly at myself, for refusing to believe the incentives would be
pulled back in October; since July I've only seen them increase.  But it's a
matter of supply and demand.  Elantra supplies are very low, owing to the
hurricanes and Hyundai's record-setting sales volume this year.  Neither
Hyundai nor the dealers are no longer willing to sell them for nothing
(trust me, I tried!) because they want to have some stock on the lot until
the 06 Elantras arrive.  Hyundai's reputation for quality is becoming firmly
established, so it could be that the will no longer be the low-price leader
(I think that will fall on Suzuki (with many of their models currently being
made by Daewoo in Korea); watch to see if they improve their
bumper-to-bumper to 5 yr/60,000 miles like Hyundai and Kia).