Well r31 we're both right.
If you read my post carefully you'll see it says model
year. The way to tell when it was built is to look at the sticker you've pointed out - although for resale purposes the date on the compliance plate is the relevant one.
The issue is that the new model YEAR comes out before the end of the previous year (usually August-ish). The model YEAR is the time that the changes are implemented (like the 6 airbags or pollution upgrades). Therefore there are quite a number of MY10s built in 2009 (including yours).
I imagine new MYs are rolled out early because they don't want to be retooling or changing factory procedures around Christmas/New Year.
My i30 Crystal was an MY 2009 (9Uxxxxxx) but was built in September 2008. My new Getz is an MY 2010 (AUxxxxxx) but was built in August 2009. Both of those cars were in the first load of cars off the boat of their respective model years.
As I said, MY is relatively meaningless for resale (unless there are substantial changes) because cars are valued normally on their year of manufacture, but from an ownership point of view (if you want all the latest updates and improvements) you're better off going for the newest MY you can get.
Having said that, it's not always a good thing to get the new MY - they deleted a few bits and bobs from the MY10 Getz so I would have been better off with an MY09.
In terms of an i30 though there's no detriment in getting the newer one.
BTW thanks for standing up for my credentials Dazz, but I was Service and Parts (Fixed Operations) Manager. Couldn't bring myself to sell cars!Well, maybe Hyundais.
