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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!mark
From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton)
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.auto
Subject: Re: Restrictions on Japanese Cars
Message-ID: <900@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 24-Feb-85 20:16:46 EST
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.900
Posted: Sun Feb 24 20:16:46 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Feb-85 04:20:45 EST
References: <3305@umcp-cs.UUCP> <163@umich.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Columbus
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Xref: watmath net.consumers:1872 net.auto:5839

Last summer I test drove a Hyundai Pony in Canada.  It was basically
the most stripped down, economy minded car I've ever seen.  It had
poor accelleration, little or no safety features, and little or no
pollution control equipment.  There were essentially no options, just
three "lines" with minor variations (different trim, mostly.)  It
probably gets great gas mileage.  It was, of course, a tiny subcompact,
sort of like a Chevette or a Starlet (but it had 4 doors.)

I think it cost about $6000 Canadian (that's about $4500 US.)
My overall impression was that Hyundai is a startup.  The dealer
operated out of a defunct gas station.  With no options, they have
a very limited selection.  There was a choice of 4 colors, but you
could not get air conditioning, for example.

If Hyundai is going to start selling cars in the USA, it's going to
have to be a different car.  Once they put all the pollution control
stuff on that little engine, it's going to have to become a bigger
engine.  The cost will go up.  There will have to be a service network
or a deal with an American company to sell and service them, otherwise
nobody would buy a car that they can't get fixed when it breaks and
leaves them "High and Dry."  (Actually, the blurbs say this is pronounced
"Hoon Day", I think.)