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I know that these units coming in are the first off the production line, but out of 3 different SC I looked at over the past two days, each of them had significant issues with body paint and/or body panel alignment.
SC #1: Blue Stone SEL Premium - Rear Driver's side quarterpanel and Front Passenger side quarterpanel color was distinctly different in color. These panels were more of a gray tone than the rest of the vehicle. No alignment issues with the body panels but some gaps were much wider and some very narrow.
SC #2: Blue Stone SEL Premium - Coloring seemed ok. However, significant alignment issues with several panels where they simply didn't meet up properly. On panel was popping out over the black wheel trim. Again, noticeable differences in the gaps between the body panels.
SC #3: White Limited - Significant alignment issues, especially with the hood. On the passenger side, the front of the hood had about a 1/4" overhang from the front quarter panel where they should have met up flush. On the Driver's side, it was maybe a 1/16" of an inch in the opposite direction. Also, one of the door pillars was noticeably more gray than the rest of the vehicle.
Also, on the inside of the White Limited with the Leather seats, the passenger's seat was making an annoying rubbing sound every time you went around a curve or a turn, yet no one was sitting in the seat. Very strange. Wasn't a rattle, but a rubbing sound.
I've owned my fair share of Hyundai and Kia products, and some I've bought very early in the production cycle, but I cannot recall seeing so many issues with the fit & finish quaility as I've seen on these vehicles and that's on all 3 that I've looked at, and the only 3 that I've looked at. One of them was from a different dealer.
While I want to love the Santa Cruz, I'm a bit concerned that there may be even more gremlins hidden behind what can be seen on the outside, and wondering if I should wait a while before jumping in. With the chip shortgage, I understand beggars can't be choosers, but also don't want to end up owning an early production vehicle where they were still working out the kinks on the assembly line. Just too many red flags for me.
SC #1: Blue Stone SEL Premium - Rear Driver's side quarterpanel and Front Passenger side quarterpanel color was distinctly different in color. These panels were more of a gray tone than the rest of the vehicle. No alignment issues with the body panels but some gaps were much wider and some very narrow.
SC #2: Blue Stone SEL Premium - Coloring seemed ok. However, significant alignment issues with several panels where they simply didn't meet up properly. On panel was popping out over the black wheel trim. Again, noticeable differences in the gaps between the body panels.
SC #3: White Limited - Significant alignment issues, especially with the hood. On the passenger side, the front of the hood had about a 1/4" overhang from the front quarter panel where they should have met up flush. On the Driver's side, it was maybe a 1/16" of an inch in the opposite direction. Also, one of the door pillars was noticeably more gray than the rest of the vehicle.
Also, on the inside of the White Limited with the Leather seats, the passenger's seat was making an annoying rubbing sound every time you went around a curve or a turn, yet no one was sitting in the seat. Very strange. Wasn't a rattle, but a rubbing sound.
I've owned my fair share of Hyundai and Kia products, and some I've bought very early in the production cycle, but I cannot recall seeing so many issues with the fit & finish quaility as I've seen on these vehicles and that's on all 3 that I've looked at, and the only 3 that I've looked at. One of them was from a different dealer.
While I want to love the Santa Cruz, I'm a bit concerned that there may be even more gremlins hidden behind what can be seen on the outside, and wondering if I should wait a while before jumping in. With the chip shortgage, I understand beggars can't be choosers, but also don't want to end up owning an early production vehicle where they were still working out the kinks on the assembly line. Just too many red flags for me.