Back in July, we reported that our Hyundai Veracruz's horn still wasn't working but that the dealership had ordered a part for us. Two and half months later, the Veracruz is still beepless. It seems that the Hyundai dealership never called to tell us the part was in, and we absent-mindedly let the issue fall off our radar.
Meanwhile, it seems we also, uh, forgot to get the 15,000-mile service done. At least the dipstick's easy to find and pull (oil: A-OK and dirty). A dealer visit will hopefully occur later this week.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 17,167 miles
edubya says:
12:15 PM, 09/22/08
Well, many consumers have an occasional bout of absent-mindedness, too, so this latest episode gives a bit more real-world flair to the LT test fleet.
I have to ask how in the world you survived without a horn for over two months in SoCal traffic. Seems a bit dangerous to me!
altimadude00 says:
12:20 PM, 09/22/08
I have to ask how in the world you survived without a horn for over two months in SoCal traffic. Seems a bit dangerous to me!
Easy.
They didn't drive it.
redliner says:
12:21 PM, 09/22/08
Shame on you. If this had been the BMW, it would be a diffrent story.
On another note, isn't that engine transversly mounted? So why is the engine cover shaped like it is?
dougtheeng says:
12:31 PM, 09/22/08
I don't use my horn very much, but I would still be disgruntled if I didn't have it for 2 months. Hopefully the repair goes smoothly.
desmolicious says:
01:40 PM, 09/22/08
I've had my 330i for over 2 years now and I have never used the horn. I live in LA.
wobbly_ears says:
02:01 PM, 09/22/08
Driving without a non-operational horn IS dangerous. It is there to alert a non-attentive driver who wanders into your lane. A non-operational horn is like tires without tread. Not importanti till you need it in a hurry.
Hyundai Veracruz has a very long service interval - 7.5k between oil changes. Anyone who thinks that their ride doesn't need a little TLC time 2-3 times a year shouldn't even have a driver's license.
I wonder if Edmunds editors have gotten careless with the LT fleet. Just the other day, we had the Kia Rondo with a ton of shattered glass floating freely in the cabin.
Your fleet manager is either incompetent or careless.
I rest.
wallyballs says:
02:30 PM, 09/22/08
"On another note, isn't that engine transversly mounted? So why is the engine cover shaped like it is?"
I work in the parts department of a Hyundai dealership. I've asked every single person I could think to ask at HMA that very question. No one knows. Its the same way on several cars. I've actually had several Tib. kids tell me their tiburons are rear drive.
I guess they've copied so much stuff over the years they figured they'd copy a RWD engine cover...
slickersdrip says:
07:41 PM, 09/22/08
@Wally,
Before you know it they'll all be driving the Genesis Coupe and complain that it just doesn't handle as well as their old Tib.
lime679 says:
07:42 PM, 09/22/08
Redliner of course if this were a BMW it would be a different story.
But since it's just a "Hyundai"....
We expect more from BMW and in most cases get it.
Hyundai is doing some great things though but you won't see new money roll up to the country club in one.
mercedesfan says:
07:47 PM, 09/22/08
If it was a BMW (or Mercedes or Audi) the car would be giving a warning chime everytime you started it up warning you that the horn was malfunctioning and that service was past due so of course it would be a different story.
bimmerjay says:
10:49 PM, 09/22/08
"If it was a BMW (or Mercedes or Audi) the car would be giving a warning chime everytime you started it up warning you that the horn was malfunctioning and that service was past due so of course it would be a different story."
LOL... too true.
brn says:
05:45 AM, 09/23/08
In my state (and probably others), the horn is considered a safety device. As such, the car isn't legal on the road if it's not operational.
wallyballs says:
06:35 AM, 09/23/08
slickersdrip,
Around here, we're all thinking the Genesis Coupe will be mercifully (for us at least) out of the tib. kids price range.
And since I brought it up, how frickin' hard is it to say "Tiburon"? It gets a tad annoying after a while. Here's the short list of what I've heard it called in the last 3 months:
Trib-u-lon
Trib-u-rown
Tib-u-lawn
Tribune
Tribulation (I'm serious)
Ty-bew-ron