Used Hyundais in New Jersey could soon receive negative attention when more buyers learn the South Korean manufacturer has decided to leave the Japanese market.

The Hyundai brand has been growing in many of its markets, but Japan isn’t one of them, according to Automobile Magazine. Sales have been so slow in the country that the company has already begun informing its Japanese dealers of its intention to withdraw.

Hyundai entered Japan eight years ago and has sold only 15,095 vehicles since that time, according to Motor Trend. In 2008, Volkswagen sold nearly 62,000 cars – VW being the country’s best-selling brand of automobile.

Although its 46 Japanese dealers will soon cease much of their activity, Hyundai’s commercial vehicle operation will continue doing business, says the news source.

Brand image often has a lot to do with a buyer’s choice of car. Fortunately for used Hyundais in New Jersey, the company has experienced growth in nearly all of its other major markets, reports the publication. In the U.S., the manufacturer saw sales improve by 4 percent in October.

Hyundai Motor America recently teamed up with Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) and its Tuner School to build a car for this year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, and the news could give used Hyundais in New Jersey a racer reputation.

The Tuner School was founded by HPE president John Hennessey. The team built up a matte black Hyundai Genesis that now has 500 horsepower and can reach 60 MPH in an estimated 3.9 seconds.

“To work with a leading tuner such as John Hennessey and his Tuner School is a testament to the potential of our rear-wheel-drive Genesis Coupe,” said Michael Deitz of Hyundai. “With its 500 horsepower and 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds we expect this vehicle to be one of the stars of SEMA.”

Some people see Hyundais as affordable compacts, but this reputation isn’t totally accurate anymore. It seems some of the company’s models can be heavily modified, and with news of the Tuner School’s Genesis, used Hyundais in New Jersey just might become cooler.

While buyers considering a used car in New York may want to ensure protection for their investment in the form of car insurance, the differences between the most expensive and most affordable cars to insure can be up to $1,700.

For that reason, those looking to find an affordable deal may also want to consider the cost to insure their vehicle in making any purchasing decisions, according to Insure.com.

The most expensive to insure is the Nissan GT-R supercar at roughly $2,500, but the company says that some SUVs which are prone to theft can also incur higher premiums, including Range Rovers and Cadillac Escalades.

On the other end of the spectrum is the mid-sized Hyundai Santa Fe, a mid-size SUV with average insurance premiums about half required for the Cadillac and Range Rover.

A used Hyundai Santa Fe is also generally more affordable than the other two, and a 2005 model is solidly built with many standard features, according to Edmunds.com

Other steps to help reduce the rates, which will be an expense that lasts longer than a loan or other payment plan, include “maintaining a good driving history and good credit are also crucial to getting good rates,” according to Amy Danise, Insure.com editor. “Your age and location also have a big impact.”

Find Used Hyundai Cars in New York with New Jersey State Auto

As the months tick by, the increase in rates for one expense for those looking at used cars in New York is showing no signs of slowing down.

Car insurance premiums differ based on the type of car, the driver’s demographic and history including accidents, as well as a number of other factors, but according to Carinsurance.com, the average rates its visitors are seeing have risen about 12 percent since last year, and 4 percent from April to May of this year.

It may be of particular concern to those living in New York or New Jersey, which rank near the top in terms of most expensive areas to insure a car.

Another website, however, says that some cars may put less of a dent in the wallet, including the Hyundai Santa Fe, which had a yearly premium somewhat above $832, the lowest of any car rated by Insure.com

A used Hyundai Santa Fe may be worth considering for its spacious interior and good safety scores in the 2005 model, according to Edmunds.com.

Find Used Hyundai Cars in New York with New Jersey State Auto

There are three holiday weekends coming up, including Memorial Day Weekend May 23 -25, and while traffic may make vacation travel slow, riding in the right vehicle may lower the stress of both driver and whatever passengers he or she decides to bring along.

It may seem somewhat strange for a compact car to be a good choice, but U.S. News wrote that while it’s in the news provider’s affordable small car class, it’s actually classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offering more space for a small family.

They also ranked the Hyundai Elantra as one of the most cost effective to own because of its reliability and costs of repair and maintenance.

If you don’t need the space of the new Elantra Touring edition, which comes as a wagon, previous models may offer a similar quality for used car buyers.

According to Edmunds.com editors, the 2005 Elantra offered an affordable price to go along with a laundry list of standard features. Users on the site agreed, citing its mileage and the quality interior of GLS trim Elantras.

Find Used Hyundai Cars with New Jersey State Auto

For the first time ever, Cars.com announced its Car of the Year which in somewhat of a shock to most in the car industry, went to the Hyundai Genesis.

As a fairly new car company, Hyundai has made some great strides in recent years. As Cars.com points out, the company went from a punchline when it was introduced to the U.S. market 10 years ago to passing Honda Nissan and Chrysler in worldwide sales.

With all those people buying the cars, Hyundai must be doing something right.

Cars.com says even it was surprised that the Hyundai Genesis was its selection as Car of the Year.

“The Genesis is surprising not simply because it’s a Hyundai, but because it gives the European stalwarts a solid run for their money – and for much less of it.”

But maybe the award for the Hyundai Genesis shouldn’t be too surprising as the car also took home the award for North American Car of the Year and the North American International Auto Show.

Also winning awards from Cars.com were:

–Toyota Prius for Eco-friendly Car of the Year
–Ford Flex for Family Car of the Year
–BMW M3 for Play Car of the Year
–Dodge Ram 1500 for Work Car of the Year

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.