2016 Hyundai Starex, Q and A with RM3k hike

In this blog entry, I'm blogging about Enhanced 2016 Hyundai Grand Starex Royale.  The Grand Starex Royale's still CBU from KOREA.  Import Baru with 5 years OR 300,000km warranty on engine and gearbox

Price Hike RM3,000 across the range for 2016 year make. Mild changes in trims. Also, due to our Weakened RM vs Korean WON.

Without further ado, let's proceed to Q and As.

1) What's NEW for 2016?:

Exterior

1. Repositioned Daytime Running Light from Side mirror to Front Bumper;

2. Electric Folding Side Mirror (photo below) equipped with Turning Indicator (picture above).  Replacing DRL previously; 

3. Chrome Door Garnish

Interior

1. A-Pillar Wrapping;

2. Single Tone (Black) Dash Board;

3. Redesigned Center Fascia;

4. Redesigned Air Cond Control Panel;

5. Leather Wrapped with Silver Stitching at bottom of Center Fascia;

- Key with Remote Control Unit (New design, similar to the type being used for Elantra EX)

OTHER FEATURES Carried forward from 2015 as below:

NEW 2015 variant. ADDS THE FOLLOWING EXTRAS:

1) Front Camera with Front parking sensors
2) Safe-Drive Video Recorder
3) NEW SPORT Bodykits
4) Leather wrapped Gear knob and steering
5) Illuminated Sill Plate
6) NEW Chrome grille design

2) WHAT'S THE 2016 Grand Starex Royale Pricing?

PRICE: RM160,146 OTR Without insurance. ADD the following:

Power sliding left door, Auto cruise, Nappa Brown leather = RM11,000 extra. After adding both, will be known as GRAND STAREX ROYALE PREMIUM and price will be RM170,870 OTR Without Insurance.

Add another RM10,000. Gets you Power sliding right door. It'll be known as Grand Starex Royale Deluxe and price will be RM180,595 OTR without insurance.  Price above is OTR Without insurance.  Please call for latest Discounts...

3) What is the Colour Choices and Stock Availability?

Colour choices: White solid, timeless Black metallic and Hyper Silver Metallic

IMMEDIATE STOCK!

4) What is the Performance?

- Top speed 200km/h and 0-100km/h in 10.5 seconds! (Tested). This is FR (Front engine, RWD) MPV. In South Korea, it's used for Drifting.

5) What's the Fuel Consumption?

Tested 68.96 litres of Diesel (Or RM95.00 of EURO5 back in 21 February). Mixed City and Highway 880km.  Ie. 12.7km/l.  Not bad for a 2 TONNE LARGE MPV right?

Rest of my Mudah Ad Description of the Starex:

YOU ARE LOOKING AT Brand NEW CBU from Korea 11 seater LARGE MPV. Beats Recond Alphard OR Vellfire anytime in Fuel consumption, SIZE and Price. I'm talking about almost 1/2 price. 

The LARGE MPV Name is Hyundai Grand Starex 2.5 Diesel VGT Auto.

We have now Moved from Damansara Perdana to bigger 3S Centre in Setia Alam. Address belows:
No.8, Jln Setia Dagang AL U13/AL, Seksyen U13, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor D.E.

Specifications of Hyundai Grand Starex 2.5 Diesel VGT (A)
-A LUXURY AND PREMIUM 11 SEATERS MPV CAR.
-2.5 CRDi with VGT 16valve Diesel with
169hp@3800rpm power and 392Nm@1800-2500rpm torque
-Air Cond with 16 Air vents including 6 CEILING AIR VENTS
-DVD PLAYER WITH 7 inch LCD SCREEN front with GPS and reverse camera
- DVD PLAYER with 10.2" LCD Screen Rear (2xDVD LCD Screens)
-FLEXIBLE SEAT CONFIGURATION
-11 SAFETY SEAT BELTS
-ADJUSTABLE SLIDING SEATS
-4 REVERSE SENSORS
-DUAL SRS FRONT AIRBAGS
-5.6m TURNING RADIUS
-EXCELLENT SUSPENSION
-5 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION WITH SHIFTRONIC

-DOOR LIGHTS
- 16 inch ALLOY RIMS
- ROYALE Bodykits
- Leather for all 11 seats.

AWARDS: (Winner of 40 over awards worldwide. Here's Malaysian awards).
Autocar ASEAN COTY Award 2008: Large MPV Category Winner
NST/CBT Maybank Car of the Year 2009 Large MPV of the Year
Autoworld.com.my Car of the year awards 2010 Best Large MPV

Terms and conditions apply...  If you want to buy this LARGE MPV, please call Jefferson Lim at 012-6852-718.

Jefferson's ALL TIME Favourite cars!

In this blog entry, I'd like to Answer this Burning question.  A lot of people around me often asked the following cars:

1) "What is your ALL TIME Favourite car/s?"
2) "What is your dream car?"

Well I'll answer question 1 and 2 now.

Question 1:

My ALL TIME top 3 favourite cars.

1) BMW F11 5-series touring

Especially 520d and 535d M-sport touring

Here's why:
http://otoreview.blogspot.com/2012/10/comprehensive-review-bmw-5-series.html

2) BMW F31 3-series touring.

Especially 320d Efficient dynamics and 335d.

3) Hyundai VF i40 2.0GDI Tourer Plus

As you can see, I'm a Estate/ Wagon and sunroof lover.  I rather buy Estate / wagon than Boxy, ugly MPV.

Only MPV I Like is the NEW Odyssey 2.4 Earth dreams EXV.

Question 2:
What is Your Dream car?

1 and only 1.  The Ultimate Acura NSX (Honda NSX in other parts of the world)

The NSX is SO GOOD that it SHOCKED the SUPERCAR world at it's launch back in 1990.  Back then, Supercars were Un-reliable (Ferrari and Lambo), temperamental (All Italian supercars), tail-happy (Porsche), not-user friendly (All Supercars) and uncomfortable (Lambo) to drive.   Ie. can't be daily driven.  This NSX is your EVERYDAY Supercar.

 It's SO GOOD that Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini all used the NSX as benchmark for their Porsche 993, Ferrari 355 and Diablo respectively.  

Why?
Read here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_NSX
 and here:
http://www.edmunds.com/acura/nsx/1991/long-term-road-test/introduction.html

Anyway, in my own words...  It's the WORLD'S 1st ALL ALUMINIUM construction, titanium connecting rods, electric power steering AND V6 VTEC.  It's MR (mid-engined RWD) configuration ensuring 50:50 weight distribution.  Adding value, the late Ayrton Senna lent a hand in Chassis rigidity Development and tuning the NSX.  THIS CAR's SO GOOD that it's on sale from 1990 to 2005 with minimal changes.  

But only a handful (limited) units sold in Malaysia.  Finding 1 Excellent condition  is like finding a needle in a haystack.

That's why I said it's my Dream car.  All is not lost, A 1:18 100% accurate Die-cast model by AutoArt asking for RM650.  Saving money to buy the Replica.

That's all folks, thanks for having the time to read this blog entry.  

Buying new Car from Branch OR Dealers better?

Are you looking to buy a New car?  Now, many people throwing me this Question:

IS it better to buy From < insert Brand... > Branch or Dealerships?

Well, let me run through the pros and cons and differences from buying with Branch and dealerships.
I am a Hyundai Salesman for a Dealer but I have a friend working in branch (Hyundai Sime Darby Motors).  So we often exchange information...

Here's what I gather...

BRANCH (Sime darby)

Pros:

- Quicker to get car allocations (most models)
- They do QC before delivery (Eg. Alignment and balancing, headlight levelling)
- PRIORITY  for defect claims
- HUGE discounts on "Passport" models only (At the moment it's Elantra and i10)
- Branch salesmen only Hyundai Roadshow at Motorshows, 1 Utama, Mid-valley, KLCC, The Curve
- 1st hand information on Production line (hence more accurate waiting lists)
- 1st to get NEW Trading terms.  Often 1 week earlier (headstart) than Dealers.
- Cars are Paid after SOLD.  So more Varieties/Colors in the Inventory. 
- Got chance to do SPONSORED Roadshows (such as World Cup, Maybank Malaysian Open Golf)
 - Got chance to sell Pre-owned, Demo cars (SO TRUE for HYUNDAI SIME DARBY MALAYSIA)
 - FOR SALESPERSONS: Tied down with Legal Employment contract.

CONS:

- No previous year stock (all passed to dealers)
- less discounts (on other models)
- Less Commission
- Less margin
- Standardized Bonus, leave and Company annual trip/incentives.
- NEED TO WEAR Formal (Long sleeve and tie for guys, Long-sleeve blouse, scarf and skirts for girls) UNIFORM at duty.
- Higher pressure for Sales performance (especially 3S branches)
- LOTS OF POLITICS / Backstabbing / Group-think.
- YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN.  Very little Teamwork, support from other Colleagues.
- TOO MANY SALESMEN (At least 15, up to 25)

DEALERS

Pros:

- ALL cars are PAID with Cash upfront before SOLD
- Therefore, to compensate (get back the cash), Better Discounts and freebies given
- Sometimes faster than branches if they keep OR force to take STOCK.  Eg. CBU Cars.
- Can offer to Submit Loan 1st, only pay Booking upon loan approval
- Can offer to Mark up for full loan
- Previous year (OR 2 years back stock - Kah Bintang) available.  So HUGE Discounts.
- For Salesmen, bigger commissions and margins and better Incentives (with passport models)
- ALSO for salesmen, more hands on Learning experience (ALL ROUNDER), more things to learn.  Cause everything Salesmen do.  Eg. Puspakom inspection, JPJ registration, collect AP from HQ.
- NO Politics,  LOTS OF TEAMWORK!  Cover 1 another, help one another.
- Less Hassle/formalities in Transactions VS Branches.  Eg. No need Wear tie and long sleeves.  Flexible Annual leave.  LESS FORMAL or NO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT.
- Less salesmen.  Average 7 only.


CONS:

- No Pre-delivery QC
- Slightly more difficult for Defects claims.
- for Salesmen, Only "small scale" roadshow allowed.  As Major roadshows only Branches can do
- Lots of disappointments in Delivery date cause no access to Production line.
- Slightly higher mileage (for CBU cars)
- Sometimes slow selling cars HQ forced Dealer to take (in exchange with HOT Selling cars)
- Selling "While stock lasts".  "Sell what we have".
- Trading terms and promotions we were always 1 week behind Branches.


CONCLUSION: It's NOT Branch or dealers that matters.  It's SALESPERSON Services.  It's our JOB to guide you/ make you feel comfortable to buy your NEW Car.  Some salesmen I know DO Provide DOOR TO DOOR Service.  1 salesman (HYUNDAI ADVANT SPEED MOTORS) even do the FOLLOWING EXTRA MILES:

1)  Collect car from Client's house or office, drive to service centre and return to Client office. 
2) Helped Client to renew Roadtax and insurance and Deliver to their Doorstep.
3) And many more...  Salesmen Extra miles service. 

That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry. 

Tags: Branch VS Dealers, HSDM vs Dealers, "Shall I work in Branch or Dealers?", "Where to buy?" Branch OR Dealers.