Team-BHP - Trident Hyundai, Bangalore
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Well, I've been reading all the threads about crappy dealers in Bangalore (specifically maruti ones). I figured this would be a good time to post up something good about a dealer.

To date, we've bought 3 cars from Trident Hyundai in bangalore.

The first one was a 1998 Hyundai Santro. Ours was the 101st Santro to be registered in Bangalore. When we went for the test drive, I noticed that the test drive cars rear door wasn't closing properly. So tried closing it twice (unsuccessfully). The salesperson shouted at me for fiddling around. This pissed me off cos its not like I was a little kid that he could shout at me like that. My dad stepped in and in front of all the customers at Trident, took the salespersons trip about it. Eventually, Cdr Kumar (the head of the dealership) came down and lo and behold, it turns out he's an old friend of my dad's (used to be in the Navy together).

Anyway, Cdr Kumar sealed the deal himself and we booked a beige santro the very same day. Our experiences with the Santro were quite a revelation (our prior cars were M800s, Fiats, Ambys n such). The first batch of Santro's did have some issues with the steering and bushes n such. And my dad is a stickler for quality. So almost every month, he used to go to Trident to try to get them to hear the noises that he kept hearing (I think more than half the noises were imaginary rl: ). But the interesting part is that the service guys were very patient and helpful all the time.

When it came time to upgrade the Santro, we checked out the usual suspects (Accent, Ikon, Esteem, etc). But our experiences with Trident convinced us that an Accent was what was right for us. So in 2003, we picked up a Silver Accent GVS. We thoroughly enjoyed the Accent and found that the quality of parts and interiors was really pretty good (for a Korean brand).

Come Feb 2005, Company decides to give Dad a car. So dad sells his accent and guess which car he asks the company to buy? A new Silver Accent GLE

However, this time, things weren't quite perfect at delivery time. The guys at Trident were supposed to give us the car with mud flaps. But when we went to pick up the car, they hadn't fit them yet and not even installed the CD player. As usual, Dad blew a fuse and vented his anger on the poor salesperson there. But the salesperson didn't loose his cool and was very cordial and apologetic. Well, in about an hours time, the stuff was finally fixed and the car pronounced ready for delivery. We walked around the car checking it carefully, and when I opened the boot, I realised that the boot wasn't closing properly. The lock part on the lid and the body of the car didn't line up perfectly. So you had to bang the lid down to make sure it shuts properly. This was too much for dad and even before the service guy could say anything or offer to fix it, dad told him and the salesperson that this was the last Hyundai he was ever going to guy in his life. Then we got in and drove back home.

An hour later, Cdr Kumar called dad and spoke to him about the issues. Next day, a service guy comes to dads office and within an hour, he has the boot fixed.

Throughout our experiences with Trident, I have to admit that things could have been a lot worse. But touch wood, we've been lucky. What I like about Trident is how they retain customers. Everytime there's a new car launch, we get a call from them offering a test drive (with no strings attached or no commitments expected). They just send the car for a drive, with a full tank of gas and then return after the test drive. Thus far, we've test driven all the cars in the Hyundai stable at our leisure.

I remember, somewhere in 2000, my dad was invited to a meeting at Ashoka Hotel with Hyundai India and some other Hyundai owners. The owners got a chance to explain their complaints/suggestions to the Hyundai management. And the best part of all, about a year later, when Hyundai released another version of the Santro, they had incorporated some of the suggestions and fixed issues with the car.

I have to admit that if ever I decide to buy a car when in India, it will be a Hyundai and it will be from Trident.

Well, don't you feel that you had the advantage of Cdr Kumar being an old friend of your dad ? If you were to be one of a normal customer, then probably you might have had a different experience. No offence meant.

I have to agree with cnu here. Looks like you had negative experience every time but was corrected because of your dad's friendship with their chief.

That said, I have had only positive experience with Trident Hyundai service station. First time I drove in into Trident Service station on kanakapura road, the engineer says "Hmm, Udupi registration" and checks whether I can speak Tulu. Then onwards the conversation continues in Tulu. Turns out even the manager of the station is from around Udupi. After that every time I go there, I have tea with the manager. Whenever I go there for any minor issue, they don't charge me. Although I didn't have any connection, these guys have a way to develop rapport.

I didn't buy in Bangalore, therefore don't know about their sales.

Satyamenon,

I am very impressed with some initiatives of Trident and Hyundai, especially the no-hassle test drive calls of new products and the meeting to voice your opinion. As has been mentioned, your close affinity with the owner probably had something to do with it.

Except for Auto Hangar and Vitesse in Mumbai, I havent had a great experience with any dealerships.

GTO

I doubt if Satyas experience was good just because his dad knew Cdr Kumar.

After my last (overloaded) trip to Bangalore in my Accent where I hit quite a few speedbreakers and potholes on the Bangalore-Mysore road, I wanted to have my car checked.

Called up Trident and asked them when I can bring the car over...they asked me what the matter was, because they wanted to allocate the job based on the seriousness. When I mentioned that I wanted the vehicle checked up after hitting some potholes and stuff, they gave me a booking for two day later. However, when I explained that I was from out of the state and would be driving back on the highway they asked me to come over immediately.

When I went to Trident, their garage was overflowing. There was NO service bay free and there were vehicles qued up outside. Despite this, the service advisor saw to it that another vehicle was moved aside so that mine could be checked up immediately. After the checkup was done, they even sent their Accent 'specialist' with me on a test drive even though they hadnt found anything wrong with it.

As you can see, service levels are outstanding. My experience has been the same with all the Hyundai service centres I have visited - MGF Cochin, MGF Autoplex Cochin (my favourite service centre), Hilton Trivandrum & KTC, Trichur.

This is just one of the reasons why I am a Hyundai fan.

Nice to hear the kind of commitment level from Hyundai Dealers. I heard Advaith Hyundai also does a good job. Hence there is positive competition between Trident and Advaith to retain the customer.

Good time for Bangalore Hyundai car owners.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnu
Well, don't you feel that you had the advantage of Cdr Kumar being an old friend of your dad ? If you were to be one of a normal customer, then probably you might have had a different experience. No offence meant.

No offence taken, cnu. :)

Yes. Stuff like the test drives are courtesy Cdr Kumar. However, the service and sales people at Trident have changed several times over the last couple of years. And several times, when my dad goes there, he doesn't tell Cdr Kumar in advance cos he wants an unbiased experience. A couple of times, we've gone there to get issues resolved/looked into and after a satisfactory inspection/service, we're on our way out when we meet Cdr Kumar. And he doesn't give us any other preferential treatment or anything. If for example, they are unable to take the car in for service, they won't give us priority or anything. But at least, they'll be honest about when they can take it in and when they will return it. I guess you can't expect much more from a dealer.

Also, we've recommended Trident to several friends and thus far, our friends/family have bought 4 Santros, 2 Accents and a Sonata from Trident, and they've all been happy with their purchases.

We even recommended an accent to an uncle of mine in Coimbatore and he bought it from a dealership in Kerala. He's been happy with his purchase too. So I guess Hyundai is doing something good pretty much all over India. ;)

Having said that, I'm sure there are some buyers who have had some negative experiences with Trident. I just haven't met anyone or heard of anyone who has had negative experiences with them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by prkothan
Nice to hear the kind of commitment level from Hyundai Dealers. I heard Advaith Hyundai also does a good job. Hence there is positive competition between Trident and Advaith to retain the customer.

Good time for Bangalore Hyundai car owners.

True. In fact, when Advaith first started, the first couple of years, they weren't very good. But over the last few years, they have improved a lot and now, there are two good Hyundai dealers, at least in Bangalore. :)

Hyundai guys are really doin some neat job there.Popular service in cochin is really keeping up their good work..Once i've been there with my crdi for a service..the treatment from their side was really outstanding.My car had some dents and front bumper had a crack...Normally i dont think you can claim the insurance amount for more than 1 incident for a car at a time. .I just felt very hassle free when the popular guys easily got me the insurance which was claimed.Almost everthing was fixed very neatly.

wow - just a year ago, people on this forum were trashing Hyundai!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajmat
wow - just a year ago, people on this forum were trashing Hyundai!!

Oh they still do that...I guess there's a certain 'cool' factor associated with Hyundai-bashing.

The ones talking here are those that have owned or still own Hyundai vehicles and have had a good ownership experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid
Oh they still do that...I guess there's a certain 'cool' factor associated with Hyundai-bashing.

The ones talking here are those that have owned or still own Hyundai vehicles and have had a good ownership experience.

agree:I second your opinion cent percent, man.

I have been reading thru the post....
Its pretty true with hyundai....
Starting of a long story..

I brought my santro from Advaith...
They delayed the delivery by a day... I fumed, screamed, exploded etc...
But they had genuine reason and I comprimised with them when they promised lot of goodies... Which i received.
Neva I have gone back to Advaith... Becoz Trident is nearer to my house and i been going there...
I have been posting on serveral threads regarding my expereince with Hyundai...
I am not going to repeat...
But agree wit the thread starter, they are really trying to make a difference.

I still remember taking my car back after the first service and I have been given a feedback form to fill in... Its not normally practised but the Service engineer was beside me when i was filling it. He was lookin thru it... I gave the best scores to all but one... the option which says " Did the service engineer provide the correct estimate before servicing the car", I gave 3 for that and suddenly the guy, starts in a begging mode... he says.. " Sir i told u today that i will cost so much, I am sorry that i didnt write that in the slip... But i did remind you the same when i called u up for delivery"... Oops I had to give up and give a 5 for the same.... If these feedbacks didnt matter to the company why shud he be bothered about the scores...

Tat was a year ago..

Last service I took my car with a broken bumper and full of complaints regarding the previous service... I was angry that the wobbling in the steering is still there not fixed and my car is like a piece of mess.... They assigned a senior Engineer who handles only Terracan and Tuscon to take care of me. He delivered the car on time , fixed the issue , put in few suggestions and he was pretty knowledgable too...

I was very happy when I brought my car back home... I was telling my friends that it was a pretty positive experience. I felt jst like driving out of the showroom... my car was pretty silent and smooth...

Well tats what I think everyone is looking for... a smile when they get back the car..

Having read through the ownership and service expereince of hyundai customers, I strongly feel that Hyundai's standards of sales and service are the best in country. Only God knows how Maruti tops the J.D.Power survey's year after year. I mean there are a number of members here who have had a bad expereince with Maruti dealers but none that I can remember has complained of unethical or poor service and sales standards from Hyundai.

A week back, I got my second car; A Santro XO from Advaith after years of Maruti experience. Sales person was very co-operative and delivered a happy overall pre-sales experience. On the first day evening itself, I went out on Mysore road and found that only one headlite is glowing. I blasted them as I felt that they have not done PDI properly but within 25 minutes, a service engineer was at my door step and he fixed the issue. What happened was that right before the delivery, engine comparpant was cleaned in front of me and probably while doing so headlite wire were removed. I drove the car for a week but wasn't happy with car ride as clutch was having little high play and today I went to one their service center. Immedately a mechanic was assigned for my job and we were driving on road to understand my issue and I must say, mechanic was really smart as how to deal with a customer. He asked me the cars I used to drive and explained the difference in the cars. After tring two clutch different setting with difference amount of play, I found the one. And all the he tried his best to ensure that job done to my satisfaction and requested me to come again, if I still find any issue. I really felt that Hyundai knows how to papmer their customer.


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