[Paradox]

The Koreans (South) are getting better and better at building things. The new Hyundais (other than the low-ball Accent) are VERY good cars in my opinion. The Accent is merely "decent". I own a 1999 Accent, and it has been above average, but not stellar.

In the meantime, many miles north, the exact same people, ethnic group, and basic culture have been economically DESTROYED by the worst economic-ideological virus to have infected the mind of mankind..

[gortklattu]

I looked hard at the Hyundai two years ago, but bought a Ford Focus ZX3, a great car for diving on the twisting roads of Colorado and Wyoming.

The Hyundai was focused on quality, but the Focus delivered. Not one problem with that car in 80 K Miles.

[John H K]

One of my best friends from high school is a Ford engineer.

They do spend time taking apart the cars of competitors. He thinks Hyundai is pretty good, especially with their super-warranty, and if he was a kid graduating from college who needed a cheap new car, he'd get one.

He's still in awe of Toyota, though :-)

[ThePythonicCow]

In the meantime, many miles north

Yes - that is my favorite example for teaching the evils of communism (aka tyranny) to the many non-believers in my neck of the woods (left coast Kalifornia).

One people, one geography, one history, one culture, separated 50 years ago by war into free and communist halves.

Now satellite photos at night show a prosperous, well lit up South Korea, and a totally dark North. Unseen on the photos are the people feeding dirt and grass to their children, starving in abject poverty and terror in the cold.

An amazingly sharp contrast.

[Jorge]

The new Hyundais (other than the low-ball Accent) are VERY good cars in my opinion. The Accent is merely "decent". I own a 1999 Accent, and it has been above average, but not stellar.

I owned an Excell that totally died at around 45,000 miles. It was well maintained, but of course it was nearly 10 years old and I bought it from my Mom for only $600. Still, I would never buy a Hyundai again.

I've had great luck with Fords.
I had an Escort (inexpensive little car) that I drove like a nut and rarely ever changed the oil, and had virtually not problems with for 120,000+ ,miles.