Elantra suits former sales consultant, wife

To say that Joe Rappa knows a little about the car business is a definite understatement. A former sales consultant with Planet Hyundai, Rappa spent several years in the industry.

So when Rappa and his wife, Jean, started looking for a reliable and affordable vehicle, the couple met with Planet Hyundai Sahara sales consultant Anthony Fisher for the purchase of a 2012 Elantra.

Over the years, Fisher has sold cars to several members of the Rappa family. In fact, Fisher and Rappa were both salesmen of the month several times years ago.

The couple, who owns the Saucy Tomato Restaurant at 3870 E. Flamingo Road, love the new vehicle.

"We bought the Elantra because it gets excellent gas mileage and it's also very good looking," said Joe Rappa . "I traded in my Cadillac and the Elantra has many of the features that the Cadillac had.

"My wife drives the car, which is an Elantra Limited, and she gets nothing but compliments on it."

Joe Rappa praises Hyundai products.

"I definitely recommend to everyone that they should check out the Hyundai," he said. "They will be surprised. Even our waitress bought a Hyundai Accent from Tony. Four years ago, my sister-in-law called me from Chicago to tell me that she needed a car. I told her to look at the Hyundai back then. She now owns a Hyundai Elantra hatchback and loves it.

"I never worry about my friends when I tell them to check out a Hyundai."

Jean Rappa said she is amazed at how people react to her new car.

"When I'm driving down the road, people are either pulling up and rolling down their window to ask what kind of car I have or pulling in behind me to see what kind of car it is. Somebody stopped me at the grocery store the other day to ask me if I was driving a BMW. I can't get over the car. The attention I'm getting is incredible," she said.

Jean Rappa said the power in the Elantra also is impressive.

"It picks up and goes," she said. "The power is great."

The Elantra was named North American Car of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show that concluded earlier this month. The vehicle gets an estimated 33 mpg in the city.

Hyundai vehicles come with a 10-year, 100,000-mile power train warranty and the five-year, 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Planet Hyundai dealerships include Planet Hyundai Centennial at 6200 Centennial Center Blvd. in the northwest valley and Planet Hyundai Sahara at 7150 W. Sahara Ave. Planet Hyundai was the top-selling Hyundai dealership in Nevada in 2011.

Further information can be found by calling 702-938-1400 (Sahara) or 702-483-2200 (Centennial), or by visiting www.planetlv.com.