Hyundai to Expand Warranty: Hyundai Motor Co....

Hyundai to Expand Warranty: Hyundai Motor Co. said Friday it will expand its enhanced warranty, which covers routine maintenance of new cars, to all of its 1992 models. In addition to the usual three-year/36,000-mile warranty on parts and service offered by many auto makers, Hyundai’s two-year/24,000-mile “ValueCare Ownership Program” picks up the tab for tuneups and oil changes. Hyundai, which has its U.S. headquarters in Fountain Valley, began the program last year with its Elantra and Sonata models. Now the warranty will also include the Scoupe and Excel. “It’s a good marketing tactic,” said John Rettie, a consultant with J. D. Power Associates, an automotive marketing firm in Agoura Hills. “Maintenance of a new car is not very expensive anyway, so (the warranty) is not a tremendous cost to the car company. Yet from the consumer’s point of view, it takes away another worry.”