Which Hatchback?

drago

If you go with the Elantra you will save about 3k on the comparable cars you have mentioned. I have a 2004 Elantra GLS that gets 30mpg and I already have 27k miles on it. No problems and runs great. I liked it so much that I purchased a 2005 Elantra GT for my wife back in February. She loves the great ride, sunroof, leather seats and I love that both payments total only 450 bucks a month. Thats only 40 more than my F150 that sits in the driveway...haha.
I don't think you can go wrong with the Hyundai, the price and features are right and they are well built. Just think of the nice trip you could go on with the saved cash. Not saying the Elantra is any kind of beauty but atleast you won't have a car that looks like it had been rear-ended...haha

doohickie

"Not saying the Elantra is any kind of beauty..." Captures it in a nutshell. It is a relatively handsome car, not ugly, but certainly nothing that inspires oohs and ahs. It seems very "last generation". Even though it doesn't have cutting edge styling, the Reno has the aaah factor for me. The Aerio has the Oh... wow! factor. Even though neither one is going to be universally acclaimed as a design standard, they have very nice lines. The Elantra is just kind of there for me. I like the Scion xA styling a lot too. But I'm coming to realize I want more space than that. I drove a Matrix, but found it to be too..... SUV- or minivan-like. You sit really high in it, and when you start hitting bumps in the road it starts to gallop a bit.

I understand Hyundai is redoing the Elantra styling, but it won't come out until sometime next year. I almost want to wait and see what they do with it before buying; if I like it, it might be worth the wait to get the oooh-aaaah factor. (The new Sonata, Accent and Azera all have it for me.

jkobb

The Elantra is a good looking car in my opinion in both the Gt and GLS design. I don`t think the Aerio is as nice looking. I can`t comment on the Reno because I`m not even sure what they look like. Is that a Suzuki? If so there is a dealer in the next town I`ll have to stop and look at one.

doohickie

Yep, a Reno is a Suzuki. It is the hatchback version of the Forenza but has a different grill. In Canada, the Forenza, Forenza Wagon and Reno are all sold under the Chevy Optra nameplate. You can see them at suzukiauto.com. The Reno probably won't come across as well unless you drive it. It did nothing for me until I sat in the seat and starting tooling around in it.

I know the Elantra is a good looking car, but the design is getting a little dated. The new Hyundais coming out (Azera, Sonata, Accent) are vast improvements over previous Hyundai models and I expect the Elantra will be a similar step up. I may end up waiting to at least get a glimpse (auto show or spy photo) of the new Elantra before I buy; maybe it'll be worth the wait.

As far as the Aerio goes, it's kind of a hit or miss car. Even with me, sometimes I look at it and say, "Cool!" Other times, it's more like "Ugh!" But at least it makes a statement, just like the Scions do. You may not like it, but it least it's a bold step.

Sylvia

Was moved to the discussion Mazda Protege Owners: Accessories & Modifications

doohickie

You have $15k (+TTL) to spend on a car. You research several models and find that with current incentives and through a warehouse membership, the following cars all cost the same, within $500 of each other. Which one do you buy?

Ford Focus ZX5
Kia Spectra5
Hyundai Elantra GT 5 door
Suzuki Aerio
Suzuki Reno

(All are similarly equipped with power windows & locks, AT, sunroof, CD player. The Elantra & Reno have leather seats.)

d15b7

I know what you looking for!
So, you looking for used car around 100,000miles.
What about these very good babies - Lexus IS300(SportWagon), Honda Accord Wagon, Toyota Camry Wagon.
The IS300 is perfect for that you looking for! Probably is a little expensive than $18K, but not too much probably $1000-2000. But you gonna get really good vehicle!

Now Audi releases the new A3 - 5 door hatchbach sporty car. In Europe there is A3 w/t 3 door too.

doohickie

Do you realize you've answered a post that is 4-1/2 years old? Ol' Leo has probably already put over 50,000 miles on the car he was looking for then.

backy

Just to complicate things a bit, if I had $15k + T&L to spend, I'd be tempted to get a year-old Mazda3s 5-door (since this discussion is about hatches). Actually I might be able to get a new one ('05 closeout) for close to that right now. It wouldn't have an automatic or moonroof or leather, but those aren't that important to me.

Drop the price range down a bit (around $12-13k) and then I'd go for a new Elantra, but in GLS 5-door trim.

doohickie

Well, according to what someone said on the Elantra buying board, the Costco deal is Invoice - $200. When I figured what invoice price of my target cars are and subtracted incentives and such, they all came out within about $500 of each other. Weird, huh?

I'm dead set against buying a used car. My track record on used cars is that one is as likely to get a year-old car that's been severely abused or neglected as one that's practically brand new. The old "I don't wanna buy someone else's problems" philosophy applies for me.

If that is the Costco deal (haven't found it on their website anywhere), it's good to know. It means I know where I'm starting from and can only gown down in price from there. Maybe I can get a car I'll be satisfied with for $12-13k.

backy

You might be able to get an Elantra GLS 5-door with automatic and moonroof for around $13k, but that will be tough for the GT unless incentives increase. I have the advantage there of qualifying for the loyalty rebate.

I would only buy used if I knew the car's history and knew it had not been abused. I prefer to buy new myself, especially considering the long powertrain warranties that aren't always transferrable to 2nd owners.

doohickie

Even at $15k, an Elantra GT w/ AT is a helluva good deal. As are the rest of those cars (assuming no :lemon: )

d15b7

Ohh, I'm sorry! I just have registrate yesterday and wanted to give my firts opinion.

doohickie

I listened to people who urged me to look at the Mazda3 wagon. Took it for a test drive, and I can see why their advertising slogan is Zoom Zoom! It's significantly more expensive than the other cars on my list; probably at least 15-20% higher for the price I'll actually pay. And clearly worth it. But if I decide on the Mazda, I'll probably have to put off buying until I can pay some other bills down. Decisions, decisions...

autonomous

if I decide on the Mazda, I'll probably have to put off buying until I can pay some other bills

When I bought my 2002 Protege5, Mazda was offering 90 month payment deferral; that could give you some breathing room. The other option, of course, is leasing ...

doohickie

That's worth looking into, although the salesman said the Mazda3s are selling so well that incentives weren't likely (of course, that could just be salesman b.s.) Also, the car will likely be handed down to my younger son when he goes to college (he's a high school freshman now), and I'm not sure I wanna equip him with Zoom Zoom! right off the bat. And after he gets the Elantra or Spectra or whatever this time, I can get Zoom Zoom! next time.

I haven't quite decided for sure whether I'm going to defer Zoom Zoom! or not, but I might.

The Mazda3 is a fantastic car; I just loved it. Gawd it had a lot of power for a 4 cylinder.

backy

I have the same situation--my current car (Elantra GLS) is going to my oldest son next year. The Elantra GT (currently wife's car) is going to 2nd son in four years. Whatever car I buy next year will go to my daughter. So I am hesitant to get zoom-zoom until my daugher gets her hand-me-down car. The next car will probably be a relatively low-powered and practical 5-door, like the Honda Fit, Kia Rio5 (or the Accent if it's in a 5-door by then), or even another Elantra.

When I get my zoom-zoom, it will probably not be a Mazda3. Maybe a 3 Series, or something totally impractical like a MX-5.

doohickie

Damn, backy, are we living the same life or something?

Sounds like it anyway. I have one son starting college this month. My other son is starting high school. The older one will probably get my wife's Taurus when he gets a car on campus in a year or two, and the younger one will get what we're buying this time when he goes to school. The older one learned on my wife's old Escort Wagon, as will the younger one, and that's what they get while in high school. At college, though, they need something a little more reliable than that. After this next car goes to college, then I can get some Zoom Zoom! for myself.

I am sandbagging a bit until the new Rio5 comes out; I want to see what that's like in real life. I suspect it will be a little too small for me (the Scion xA is), but if not it could be the car for me. I suspect the price will be right, and the looks are pretty nice.

gagrice

backy, are we living the same life or something?

Your both living the American dream. I think the selling point on all the mentioned hatches, is the warranty on the Hyundai. That 10 years of warranty would be the clincher for me, if the car was going to be driven by a student. You can always buy the extended warranty. That adds $1k-$2k to the price. They are not always honored at dealers in other parts of the country. Once you get out from the heavy burden of educating your family you can get a zoom car that you really like. You will be amazed at how much more money you have when that glorious day of graduation arrives.

backy

FYI: Hyundai offers its own extended warranty (just under $1000 based on the best price I got after checking with all area dealers) that extends the 5-year/60k bumper-to-bumper warranty to 10/100k and is also transferrable. This warranty, since it's from Hyundai, is honored by all Hyundai dealers in the U.S. I didn't get it however because over 10 years, the initial $1000 investment would at least double in value, so I'm betting I won't need to put $2000 into fixing non-powertrain problems after the b-to-b warranty expires. And I'll be owning the cars for at least 10 years so transferrability doesn't help me.

autonomous

I said: ... Mazda was offering 90 month payment deferral ...
I should have said: ... Mazda was offering 90 day payment deferral ...

I'm amazed that no one jumped on me for this!

gagrice

We were being gracious, it is Sunday. I'm sure no one thought you could get a 7.5 year deferment of payments. I did wonder if you meant 9 months, or 90 days.

doohickie

I just read what you meant; not what you said.

sheroo

Hi guys, I am new to the forum and have found it to be very informative.
I have been thinking about getting either a Civic or Elantra and am tempted towards the elantra because of the 2.0 ltr engine. I like to go camping a lot and one of my friends who has a civic recently busted his transmission while driving in the redwoods area. He has taken his car to a lot of the parks but has always complained about lack of power. The second reason is that I hate taking my bike on a carrier so I wanted something where I could take my bike inside. Is the elantra Hatchback space sufficient for a 26' bike?

Has anyone taken on trails in national/state parks. How has the elantra behaved there?

backy

IMO if you plan on doing this kind of thing frequently you would be better off with a small SUV, e.g. Tucson, Sportage, Forester, etc. Tucson and Sportage are Elantra-based and have plenty of room inside (with rear seats folded) for bikes, even if you need to detach the front wheel.

sheroo

Hi Backy,

sorry should have been more clear. couple of reasons I don't/can't buy an SUV

1. Economics: Both long term (gas prices) as well as present down payment etc.
2. I don't do it so frequently (twice a month). my wife lives about 200 miles away and we meet up on weekends so most of my driving is on the 80/680

so trying to balance between some light trail use and 4 hr drives on the weekends.

BTW anyone know the ground clearance on the Elantra

backy

AWD Impreza wagons can be had for $189/mo lease, no money down. Fuel economy within a couple ticks of an Elantra.

doohickie

I was going to suggest looking at a Tucson also. I understand the cost constraints, but we're talking about probably $50 a month more for the Tucson over the Elantra (based on a 60-month loan for the full amount). The Tucson is a very *nice* small SUV that gets pretty good mileage (20/28 if I remember right).

If you want a car for camping, the Elantra's cousin, th Kia Spectra5, might also be something to look at, although you may want to remove the the bolt-on ground effects to increase your ground clearance.

I think the ground clearance on the Elantra is probably pretty good as it is, based on its looks, anyway. I've been camping with old Fords- Escort and Aspire- and they weren't too bad for clearance. I bet the Elantra is better than they are.

autonomous

I hate taking my bike on a carrier so I wanted something where I could take my bike inside.

a neighbour of mine has the Ford Focus wagon which he uses for his Ironman (run, cycle, swim) competitions; it has a huge cargo space; also, with the recent employee discounts it's probably very affordable. The Focus has also been rated highly by Consumer Reports.

sheroo

Thanks guys for your suggestions. I have been looking at the tucson ever since it came out . One of my friends finally got it (2WD 4cyl) he is happy with it and gets good mileage but he was dissapointed with its performance on trails. He is already planning on exchanging it for the 6 cylinder and that is where it goes beyond my reach. I just finished my PhD and paying off my undergrad loans. Don't want to get into another big one so soon
So it looks like the GLS hatchback may be the right one for me. :shades:

backy

Idea: some rental car companies have Elantras. Rent one for a weekend and see how it handles one of your favorite trails, before you buy. You may not be able to find the GLS 5-door or a GT as a rental, however, and the GLS sedan's suspension is softer (don't know about difference in ground clearance though--should be minimal if any difference).

ssseafolk

Good Travels:
I have enjoyed reading several related forums over the past several days and into the wee hours of weekend morns. I am most appreciative of forum members' time and efforts to communicate. At times I am lost with the abbreviations used to discuss various cars. Also, I have yet to find a site that couples AUtomatic transmission with hatchbacks.
I really liked driving the Toyota Prius. However, I found that for the 100 miles I will be driving on Ohio state routes during the work week -- that the hybrid does not work effectively. It is better in city stop and go driving to recharge the battery. Thanks for the contribution of this information.
Reading the train of forums' comments, CR and other reports, the Mazda 3, which also comes in an automatic, is popular and reliable. Both these cars are higher priced than many others discussed in the forums. As abbreviations and lingo are used to describe other cars, I am not sure which cars are often being defined as lower priced options within this more educated group.
What are other new hatchback cars that:
1. have good highway fuel economy
2. are Automatic
3. comfortable
4. fun and
5. as of late August may have good discounts/deals attached?

I cannot decide if I should spend money on a newer car to drive 50 miles to work and 50 miles back per day (and pay for depreciation) or I should just have something used and cost effective car that gets the job done.

What are Used hatchbacks with:
1. fuel economy
2. Automatic
3. tolerable to fun
for prior years? When I look in the newspaper, it often does not specify auto or stick.
I have had a VW Automatic Cabriolet since 1990 that I dearly love with 170,000 miles. It was a specialty car made in Germany. I am very spoiled with its carrying me without much complaint. It had great driving. The only thing I missed was a hatch. I am ready to give up the convertible option and go for the functional hatchback and have not studied the market. I have had the VW maintained by a gentleman that works exclusively on VWs 200 miles from where I will work in the future. So, I will be without this great mechanic.
Most of the used VWs are stick shift in my area. I am open to looking at other dependable, not in the shop too often, automatic transmission cars. I do not want to use my few vacation days to be with my car at a repair shop.

Additional questions are as follows:
Is diesal going to be more expensive or less than gas per 100 miles?
What cars should be avioded for premium gas requirments?
Which, if any Dependable Used Hondas, Toyotas....are automatics. Any things to be wary of concerning older models, 1995-2005 under 50,000miles.

I realise I've neglected my land transport education.
Thanks in advance for your sharing thoughts and experiences related to my questions above.
SS Seafolk

smith20

Welcome Seafolk. I know you said you've been reading throughout the forum, but I just want to make sure you got to read about Doohickie's experiences. It starts on message #388 of this discussion. He is also looking for an automatic transmission hatchback which gets good fuel economy among other things. He has also posted detailed reviews of his many of his test drives. I think you may be able glean a lot of helpful information from both his posts and the ensuing replies to his posts by many other forum members in order to help your form your own list of cars you want to consider.

For the record, I have an automatic 2004 GT Elantra hatchback and I greatly enjoy it. For 2005 there is also a GLS variant which has slightly less features for a little less cost. In the wretched stop-and-go driving of my commute (with emphasis on stop, unfortunately) I get about 21mpg, however we typically get 32-36mpg on the highway with this car when we take it on road trips. So my poor fuel efficiency is due to my stupid commute. So anyway, I recommend giving it a test drive. I feel it is a great value and I don't feel like I gave up very much by purchasing it compared to some of the other hatchbacks.

doohickie

I agree with just about everything backy said. I am leaning toward the Elantra as well. It may not be the very best of the bunch, but it is a great combination of performance, fuel economy and price. It has a great warranty too (both full bumper-to-bumper and drivetrain). And, in my experience, the Elantra has the best online resources, inculding active forums, mail lists AND Hyundai gives FREE access to shop manuals, technical service bulletins, and other info. No other automaker offers this. Lots of resources to maximize enjoyment of ownership.

doohickie

Okay, so now I'm doing some real shopping. Went to a Ford dealer and they gave me the following deal on a Focus:

ZX3 w/ AT, Convenience Group, Sport Group & 6-disc CD upgrade

Ford Family Plan price is $13,123; they quoted $12,900, + TTL = $13,900. They offered $1200 trade-in for my 95 Aspire w/ 117k miles (about twice what I expected to sell it for), plus give me the $400 new graduate incentive for my wife who just got her degree, so we would be financing about $12,300 for a total of about $240/month for 60 months. I am *this close* to going back tomorrow with my trade to close the deal.

I went to the Hyundai dealer I've been working with to give them a shot at giving me an Elantra hatch. At this point I've decided I don't want the GT, just a GLS with cruise & CD. They didn't have any but said they would check to see if they could locate one. They appraised my Aspire (I didn't see what the number was) and I told them I'm shooting for $250/month for 60 months + the tradein; they said they would get back to me if they could find a car.

In the morning I will probably go to the Kia dealer to get a hard quote on a Spec5 and see how they do. If I can get a good deal on the Kia or Hyundai, I'll take it; otherwise I need to decide if the Focus is what I want. The two marks against it are that I wanted 4 doors and could only get 2, and the Focus seems to have more tire noise at highway speeds than the other two.

But tomorrow could be the day.

backy

On the CD for the Elantra, my advice is--don't bother. It's not that great a unit and IMO Hyundai charges too much for it. For $12 you can buy an adapter to play your portable MP3 or CD player through the cassette unit (that's what my son does on my Elantra). Or wait for a good sale at your local audio shop and get a better unit, maybe one with MP3 and XM compatibility, for around $200 instead of the $350 Hyundai charges. Of course, some of the extra money is for the two in-door-tweeters, but the base speakers aren't that bad and new speakers don't cost much. And you might find a package 2 GLS on the lot languishing, saying "discount me, discount me!" because most people insist on a CD player.

Don't discount the four doors. I had a '85 Civic hatchback that I loved, but when the kids started to arrive it was a real pain getting them in and out of the back seat.

On another note, I was overseas this week and read a review of a Holden compact station wagon. The interesting thing to me was the cars to which they compared it--two other compact station wagons, and the Elantra 5-door. They noted the Elantra wasn't a wagon (duh) but had lots of versatile space. And it sure doesn't look like a wagon. Aren't hatchbacks great?

doohickie

I could settle for no CD player and put my own in; the problem is that the available vehicles are over-equipped with prices are too high.

The other thing is that I really feel I should give my coworker's son a shot at my old car; I told my coworker his son could look at it when I was ready. Then I was offered twice what I thought I would get for it. That sweetened the deal on the Focus, but I'm still not convinced the Focus is for me. But now I feel should at least talk to his son about it and see if he is really interested. I could mention to him it needs three new tires, a new timing belt in 3000 miles, and maybe new rear brakes (probably about $400 of stuff); maybe he wouldn't want it anyway. At this point, I think it is worth more as a trade in and I don't want to go through the paperwork of selling it (including the out-of-state title I have).

I also need to revisit the Kia Spec5. If they are better stocked I might be able to find what I want. I get $1000 cash back plus $750 competitive bonus (I own an Escort)... if I could talk them down a bit beyond that it could be do-able. I notice Kia also has a $400 new college grad program (would have to register it to my wife).

doohickie

Getting complicated: I called the guy whose son was interested in my old car; he said he would contact his son and let me know. He originally said it would be a deal between his son and myself, but he seems to be driving the deal (and although we had talked about what the car might be worth in vague terms, he is trying to hold me to $600). I hope he calls back and says he doesn't want it; it's worth more to me in a trade.

In the meantime, the Hyundai dealer said they found an Elantra for me with my desired features. Counting my trade as $850, they said my payments would be $270/month. Didn't really get the details. My wife is now getting cold feet, thinking we can afford $250 but not $270; a little bit of time should smooth that out.

Assuming the guy's son doesn't want my Aspire and the wife cozies up to $270/month, I think I'll go with the Elantra.

explorerx4

the difference in the 240 a month for the focus to 270 for the elantra is 30 * 60 = 1800.

iowaelantra

I've been reading the posts and must say that if I was doohickie, my head would be spinning. You have looked at so many cars that if it was me, I would be totally confused by now. That's not a slam, doohickie, just saying that it would be car overload for this old guy. I've been looking but not sure when or if I will be able to get a new car. Everything right now hangs on whether I get a favorable decision on Social Security Disability. I've been in the process for nearly two years now and the "backpay" I would get if the decision is favorable would give me quite a few greenbacks to use for a new car. So, I've been researching and doing some test drives.

I kind of like the Pontiac Vibe. However, my daughter and her hubby bought one and the price paid ended up around 21-22K. Even with more than enough money to buy it, I just think the price is too high. Of course, they got the GT version that seems to have just about everything, but I want a lot of bells and whistles, also. I can't say anything really bad about the Vibe but it just doesn't really talk to me. One thing I have noticed when I drive it is that I don't seem to feel totally secure in the seat. I feel as if I went around a hard curve or a sharp turn that I might slide right out of the seat. I don't readjust the settings for seat and tilt wheel when I drive the Vibe. It is set to positions my daughter is comfortable with and I hate to change those, but at the settings they are at, I feel like I'm really reaching for the steering wheel. In one of the car magazines, one of the "experts" had a similar comment. He just didn't feel the driving position was particularly comfortable in a Vibe, and he had set the seat position and tilt for what would normally be comfortable for him.

I love the Mazda3. I tested one and was grinning from ear to ear while I drove it. It was responsive and the handling was great. I liked the idea of audio controls and cruise controls on the steering wheel. The model I drove had all the bells and whistles on it. Although I love the Mazda3, and it is probably the top of my list, the price was the big downer for me. The car I drove was stickered at nearly 22k. I just don't feel inclined to spend that much money on a car. In reading the car magazines and comparison tests among cars in the Mazda3 class, it seemed the Elantra was coming in just behind the Mazda. In my mind, number 2 ain't bad, so I decided to test an Elantra.

I drove an Elantra GT sedan. My locar dealer had one hatchback only on the lot and it was a manual tranny. I haven't driven a manual in years and decided I didn't want to relearn a manual on a test drive. Besides, I'm 56 and having some troubles with my knees and don't think a manual tranny is really very workable for me, so any car I end up buying will be an automatic. The Elantra didn't make me grin from ear to ear like the Mazda did. HOWEVER, I felt it was a solid car and very drivable. It wasn't quite as peppy nor was the handling quite as snappy as the Mazda, but it was definitely a stable driving and riding car for the way I drive. The Mazda has some features on it that the Elantra didn't have, but the same can be said for the Elantra vs the Mazda. Do I REALLY need audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel. Handy and nice, but necessary......not really. On the other hand, heated mirrors and a trip meter and indicator of how many more miles you can drive before needing a refill...those would be nice features....the heated mirrors especially during our Iowa winters(from what I can tell, the Mazda does not offer either of these features). I liked the Kenwood audio system in the Elantra. It was fine for me. I don't need a really powerful audio system where people three blocks away can hear me coming. I like to listen to music, but I also like to hear how my car is running. I liked the seats in both cars. I felt they gripped me much better and I felt more secure in either of these cars vs the Vibe. The Elantra had the side air bags standard, the Mazda as an option. Both cars felt like they would be comfortable on a trip, so that was a wash. The Elantra didn't make me grin like the Mazda, the "fun" factor wasn't the same, but I felt the Elantra was a very comfortable, stable car and one that I could be very happy with. Especially when I compared the sticker prices. The sticker on the Elantra was 17,199k vs the nearly 22K for the Mazda. In my mind, the Mazda just didn't seem like it was worth 5K more than the Elantra. Other than that "fun" feeling when driving it, the Mazda just didn't really have any features that the Elantra did not that made it worth the extra 5K. The practical side of me felt the Mazda would be a fun car to own but the Elantra would give me a solid stable ride, the hatchback room that I want, and virtually all the same features as the Mazda...at a much more reasonable price. The practical side of me is going to win out on this one. I drove the two cars in two different towns and two different sets of roads. If I had driven the Elantra over the same roads as I had with the Mazda....maybe that fun factor between the two cars would have been closer....then again, maybe they would have been farther apart. I don't really want to go smaller than the Elantra/Mazda size, neither am I an old grandpa who wants a battleship to drive around. I'm recently divorced after 30 years of marriage and I think a bit of pent up "boy" is coming out in me. I want a smaller car than the family sedan, something that at least feels a little bit sportier and maybe looks a little sportier, too, but still want a car that is practical and somewhat economical. I will have to drive the Elantra a second or third time, even, but after the first test drive, my feeling is that the Elantra will fill the bill quite nicely.

doohickie

The Elantra didn't make me grin from ear to ear like the Mazda did. HOWEVER, I felt it was a solid car and very drivable.

In my experience, I like the Elantra more each time I drive it. It doesn't reach out and grab you by the throat like the Mazda3, but it is a good, stable, well-mannered ride. I think each time I drive it, I learn more about how it drives/shifts/etc. and it becomes more of a pleasure because I am better able to get the most out of it. To me, it's closest competition is the Kia Spectra5 (which is a close cousin) and the Suzuki Reno/Forenza (I think it has potentiential, but not much of a track record yet on the Daewoo-built Suzuki models).

I almost bought a car this weekend- a Ford Focus- but I decided the Hyundai is really more of what I want. I struck a deal for the Hyundai, but my wife has convinced me we need to wait a bit before we buy. She just started a new job and is not comfortable committing to a car payment until she gets her first paycheck (this Wednesday). Also, I could trade in my Ford Aspire, but I mentioned it to a coworker and he said his son may want to buy it. I'm trying to get together with him now. The Hyundai in question was not at my local dealer, they would have to get it from another. If that one gets sold and they can't get a comparable one, I may see if a Spec5 is available that would meet my needs. Both are good cars; the Hyundai is a little smoother and well-mannered while the Kia is a little sportier.

If you test drive a brand new model, make sure you check the tire pressure; the Elantra I drive Friday had about 60 psi in the tires (they do that for shipping, I think to minimize the "flat spot" from sitting too long on one part of the tire).

backy

Since you are going to wait, be sure to check out the new Rio5, due into dealers any day now.

doohickie

I was planning on doing that. I checked with the local Kia dealer about a week and a half ago and they said they don't expect them in until the end of September now. This kind of worries me. It could be something as simple as import delays or something scary like quality or design issues on the new models. I suspect the Rio will be too small for me anyway, but I want to look at it all the same.

Oh, and to iowaelantra: I was just up in your neck of the woods, dropping my son off to college in Cedar Rapids!

iowaelantra

Doohickie....wow. Is your son going to Coe? I live in Cedar Rapids. What a coincidence. What part of the world are you from?

doohickie

Yep. Coe. I live in Fort Worth, TX.

randydriver

I was talking to a couple of sales guys at a dealership on saturday evening and they said that the Lime Green color has been discontinued. They said the color was just not popular...I then said..its not listed how will people know if you dont know you can get it. They doesnt make sense to me.

iowaelantra

Don't know how a kid from Ft. Worth, TX decided to come to Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA, but I wish him the very best of luck. I think he will like it here once he gets used to it. Cedar Rapids is a very nice small city. Coe is fairly close to the Quaker Oats plant so he will get to smell all the good cereals when they are making them.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the people along the Gulf coast. I'm thankful that Iowa doesn't have to worry about hurricanes.

Last night I did a comparison between the Kia Spectra5 and the Elantra hatchback. Using the Edmunds system the Kia priced out higher than the Elantra but doesn't seem to have the options the Elantra does. I kind of like the looks of the Spectra5, but with what the Elantra has in it I still favor the Elantra. The experts seem to back me up. What do you guys think? Why do you suppose the Kia is higher priced than the Elantra?

iowaelantra

Ok, I've posted a similar message on the Kia forum, now I'll give you guys equal opportunity. After doing some reading on the Kia Spectra5 and reading the forums here at Edmunds, I'm totally confused. I will definitely have to go and test drive a Spectra5 to see how I like it. I want to give you guys a chance to voice your opinions on both the Spectra5 and the Elantra GT hatch. Give me your comparisons of both cars, ride, handling etc. but remember to hit the little things, too. How do you like the audio controls in both cars, what color are the dash lights at night, which do you prefer and why? Are window swithches and dash controls lit at night or not and the ignition switch too. Do the interior lights stay on for a bit after you exit the car and do headlights stay on for a bit after ignition switch is cut? Does the heat/Ac have vents in the back in either or both of the cars or just the front dash vents? How about a cargo net? How do the seats compare, cloth or leather, and how do they feel to you? Let me know all those little things that you do and don't like about both models. Finally at the end, if you were faced with buying one or the other, which one would be your choice and why? Oh, don't forget to tell which colors you like best for both cars. If I reach a point where I can buy a NEW car, I think it could become a big battle between the Spec5 and the Elantra GT hatch. Help me out.

doohickie

Don't know how a kid from Ft. Worth, TX decided to come to Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA

They found him based on his PSAT survey, and recruited him (academic recruitment- what a concept!)

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the people along the Gulf coast. I'm thankful that Iowa doesn't have to worry about hurricanes.

Amen to that. A friend of mine had his entire New Orleans family show up here in Fort Worth, including friends and hangers-on. Apparently he and two siblings live here the area here, and they were dividing up grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, boyfriends, girlfriends and pets among the three households.

Last night I did a comparison between the Kia Spectra5 and the Elantra hatchback. Using the Edmunds system the Kia priced out higher than the Elantra but doesn't seem to have the options the Elantra does. I kind of like the looks of the Spectra5, but with what the Elantra has in it I still favor the Elantra. The experts seem to back me up. What do you guys think? Why do you suppose the Kia is higher priced than the Elantra?

Elantra may be a better value, but the Spec5 has all-new styling and therefore they can get a premium for it. When the 07 Elantra comes out, it will probably be the same, or slightly more, than the Spectra.

And in my case, I qualify for a competitive bonus of $750 on the Spectra (assuming they renew it past today's expiration), so things even out a little.

gagrice

They found him based on his PSAT survey, and recruited him (academic recruitment- what a concept!)

It has to be in the genes. If he is half the analyst you are he should do well in school. I have never spent as much time test driving cars as you have. You should be able to make a very intelligent decision with the time you have spent. From your research, I lean toward the Elantra with that generous warranty. Good luck to you and your son.