In 2011 Hyundai came out with the Veloster, a 3 door fastback, I thought it looked neat but the reviews said it was a real dog. It only had 1.6 litre 138 HP engine. In 2012 I read they were releasing the 2013 with an optional 2.0 Litre 201 HP Turbo engine and the reviews were pretty good. They said they should arrive in the US late 2012.
In the summer of 2012 I started scanning autotrader.com for within 100 miles of TV for such a car and contacted a sales person at Jenkins in Ocala, who didn't know when they might get one. Besides the color they only have two choices, stick or automatic and optional sunroof/navigation package for $3500. I needed the automatic for my wife so she could drive and I didn't want to spend extra for the other.
There is a Veloster forum and I found out a ship with 725 Veloster turbos had docked in California in August and dealers in the northeast were getting stock of turbos, but were asking $1,000 above list, kind of like the days of the Mazda Miata. The list for a Veloster turbo with automatic and without the roof/nav was $23,925. In September I found a few in the Orlando area but they either had a stick shift or were red or black in color. I wanted either Ironman Silver or white.
Finally a dealer in Lakeland and dealer in Winter Haven both had a Silver automatic. I read reviews on the two dealers since they were only about ten miles apart. The Lakeland dealer was not good to deal with, a lot of bad feedback. The Winter Haven dealer was Red Hoagland Hyundai on Cypress Gardens Blvd and they had great reviews. They had the car listed on their site with actual photos for the llst price, no added prices or options. Floor mats, trunks nets, spare tire, it was all included at no extra price. I called the dealer's internet sales person and he walked out to the car with the phone and asked if I had any questions. It seems just right, so I told them I would be there in two hours.
Before I left I checked KBB.com for the price I should pay. They actually said $22,600, that was over a thousand less than list and with dealers in the north asking above list, I was somewhat hesistant to believe that. I checked my trade in price. I had a 2011 Mazda 3 Grand Touring with leather & sunroof and automatic. It said I should get $16,600 on trade for a new car.
I drove to the dealer, test drove the car, told them this is what I wanted to pay and this is what I want for my Mazda on trade. In one minute they yes, and yes and I was out the door in an hour or so. That was on Oct 10, 2012. It turned out to be a great little car with no problems, good acceleration, good handling, good gas mileage, I just recently traded the car for a new 2017 Chevy Camaro 50th Anniversary Edition.
