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The fact is, Hyundai would rather save money and equipp its cars with air bags aplenty, then actually spend the R&D and manufacuring costs to produce a safe structered car. Hyundai does have a ways to go.
If I was Hyundai, I'd drop the Accent line completely. They don't sell well and all the model does is hurt the reputation of the other models that are decent.
Also, we don't know yet how Hyundai will respond to these results, or whether it's possible to improve them without major changes to the car.
Here they are. Not far off what German Car Employee reports . . . but not exactly fully truthful (as usual), either.
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=586
#560 of 565 Another nail in the Accent coffin: IIHS by germancarfan1
Dec 19, 2006 (6:46 am)
Well, if you needed another reason not to buy the Accent, here it is: Awful IIHS scores. It's pretty much a death trap.
Side impact: POOR
Rear impact: POOR
Front impact: Acceptable
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=715
"Death trap" is hyperbole of course, but worst-in-class on crash tests is not a good thing--especially for a car company that touts the safety of its cars at every opportunity.
So to make the Accent/Rio "upscale" for America, Hyundai just installs the extra gear it's easy to leave out in Asian markets. But the cost of the basic "chassis" isn't increased across the board.
Honda uses high strength steels in selected areas of the Fit, and Subaru and Volvo do the same. VW does extra chassis spot welding on its Golf/Rabbit/Jetta series to increase body rigidity. I suspect Hyundai on the Accent/Rio, and Chevy/Daweoo on the Aveo, use cheaper steels, with fewer inventory tracking issues, and fewer welds. Thus the basic costs, which impact every market (including Asia and Latin America) aren't driven up. It's not a question of lacking technical expertise to build a tougher body structure, its the need to keep basic costs down.
In Hyundai's defense, and Chevy's defense, they DO give you side protection - side protection that will work a lot better in MOST side crashes. I question whether the Fit is actually that much more "survivable" than the Hyundai/Aveo if you up the crash speed or crash vehicle weight. The failure zone is very narrow indeed, and a vehicle that you can survive nicely at 30 might fail at 35 or 37 or 40...but it's not like there's going to be a BIG spread in survivability speeds/weights.
The Insurance Institute itself pretty much tells us you are better off in a larger car.
Yeah, death trap is hyperbole. BUT Hyundai is creating a serious perception gap by building tough minivans and fragile minicars - I wouldn't want my kid in one, even with all those airbags. On the other hand, it's getting harder and harder to imagine buying any vehicle without side curtain airbags these days, and I am a real car fanatic, it's taken the last 5 years for it to sink in how important these side curtain airbags are.
Meanwhile, a friend at work won't even upgrade to a post-1995 car with side impact beams; she's driving around in a beamless Camry, lot of protection there, huh, even less...much less... than the last ranked modern cars.
It is a plus that the Accent has standard side bags and curtains. At least heads are protected well. The people sitting in front might get serious injuries, but at least their brains won't be scrambled. And it appears kids travelling in back would be fairly well protected also.
So I'd rather drive an Accent with its side bags than a Yaris or Cobalt or (fill in name) without them, but with small cars like the Fit, Civic, and Rabbit available with standard side bags and ABS--and very good crash test scores--and the Versa with very good crash scores and at least the promise of ABS, I don't see any reason anymore to plunk my money down on an Accent. Especially since this is a car my daughter will be driving in a few years.
The 2008 Focus, for example, will get standard side curtain airbags. Right now they have combo bags for the front occupants only. A ZX3 hatchback with standard side curtain airbags would be easy to shop for, at a big discount.
Anyway, on the Accent, there are a lot of good choices and more coming. Assuming that the new Elantra scores well in the IIHS tests (not a given of course), it's price compared to a comparably-equipped Accent isn't that much more. If Hyundai decides to put a general rebate back on the Elantra, it will be hard to move those Accent sedans.
And believe it or not, many of these buyers don't put crash safety anywhere near the top of their requirements list.
Here's what the NY Times article said:
But dealers say their customers rarely are willing to pay more for side air bags or wait longer for a vehicle equipped with them.
Brett Younger, general manager at Champion Toyota in Philadelphia, said most shoppers wanted a Yaris "as inexpensive as we can get it in an automatic." Parents buying the vehicle for a younger driver child often request side air bags, which have been in short supply in parts of the United States since the Yaris went on sale, Mr. Younger said, but other buyers see the $650 add-on as unnecessary.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/19/automobiles/19auto.html?ref=business?8dt&emc=d- - t
Ever spent any time in a head-trauma unit? The kind where people will spend the rest of their days on a positive-pressure tracheal vent, drool off their chin, and no sense of anything-whatsoever-at-all?
Good old coup-countercoup brain injuries will do that.
Give me the airbags: I have no desire to have my brain popping around the inside of my head like Jiffy-pop in does the pan.
The question is, don't they need more than just the sedan? They are admittedly introducing a 2 door coupe, and that could potentially threaten the 3 door hatch, but I have a coupe now (Cobalt) and can assure you and every other reader out there that you can't beat a hatchback for versatility - it's a "mini wagon."
I am a clueless, young, female relatively-new car owner. My car is due for inspection in July and I'm not sure what the protocol is for this.
Should I schedule an appointment with a Hyundai dealership? or is it sufficient to go to the closest certified mechanic?
What paperwork should I take with me to be prepared?
How long should I expect to be there (this car is about 3-4 yrs old and doesn't have any problems that i've noticed after driving it on a day-to-day
basis)?
any other pertinent information that might prevent me from embarrassing myself in front of these people?
thanks in advance for your help!
Since you haven't posted a lot about the car other than age, it's possible you MIGHT need tires, or perhaps brake pads will be worn down to where they won't pass, things like that. Light bulbs, dash lights, all sorts of little things have to pass as well, so there's no real way to say how long it might take. How busy the place you take it is at the time will factor in too, but I'd guess a minimum of 1-1.5 hours, a bit more if they have to replace brakes or whatever.
Registration and insurance cards are certainly things you'll need with you for inspection.
Your dealership is an OK place for inspection, but any certified inspection station should do. If any parts are needed, the dealership MAY have faster access to them.
Give a quick call to the dealership service department and ask them. I'm sure they'll be glad to tell you what you need.
2008 Accent
The car is getting between 30 and 31 MPG HWY. I would not complain too much there but 15 MPG CTY.
We have performed Hyundai Service Center Oil/Filter Changes every 3 months and the 15/16 MPG CTY is just unacceptable.
DO NOT BUY unless you like poor gas performance.
my 2006 6 CYL Hyundai Tuscon AWD SUV has performed exactly the same in CTY driving since day 1.
I wish we bought a Toyota, Nissan or Honda in this car class for day today CTY driving.
I am planning to buy a Hyundai Accent GLS 2008. (IL state). I am a first time auto buyer. I have below doubts to clarify.
1. Is Hyundai Accent is good to consider? (Safety, comfort mileage and economy)
2. What is the best price to buy (Including all base price, sales tax (IL state), title)?
3. When dealing with a dealer what is the best price to start the bargain? Is it invoice price or MSRP?
4.If there is any rebate, does it applies on the Invoice price or MSRP?
Please also refer me if any good forums and discussions links.
If that is not enough to dissuade you from looking at the Accent, then I think it's a good little car, and quite comfortable in GLS trim. It has a relatively smooth ride for a small car, a comfortable driver's seat with dual height adjustments, and is pretty roomy (actually more interior room than a Civic). You will want to get the package with ABS, for better braking performance.
For a best price, I have seen some dealers offer Accents for as much as $1000 or more below invoice, before rebates, but since the Accent is quite popular these days with gas at $4 a gallon, I would say a price of invoice before rebates would be a decent ceiling for negotiations. I'd try for less than that.
If I think about the crash test results, next vehicle I prefer is Toyota Corolla 09 LE.
Can you please tell me how Corolla is rated compared to Accent? (Only in terms Safety and Crash test results).
Thanks.
The Corolla is a huge step up from the Accent in price. IMO if you are looking at the Corolla, the comparable Hyundai you should look at is the Elantra (or possibly even the Sonata, as a Sonata will come closer in real-world price to the Corolla than the Elantra!). The Elantra compares much better to the Corolla in safety and size, e.g. both have ABS standard and both got a Good on the IIHS frontal crash test (Elantra not yet rated by IIHS on the side crash test). The Elantra SE has a big advantage over the Corolla in that the SE has electronic stability control standard (it's an option and not that easy to find on the Corolla). But the Elantra SE is somewhat hard to find.
Since the hatchback wasn't tested, it is hard to say how it would do relative to the Sedan. I'd take all the test with a grain of salt. They are simple and fairly limited testing conditions, necessary for gathering data but they may not accurately reflect the magnitude of difference between cars.
I have seen other crash test scores where the 2-door was worse in side impact protection than the 4-door:
http://www.safercar.gov/portal/site/safercar/menuitem.94b0130be143aeb342252f0835- a67789/?vgnextoid=68adf2905bf54110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD
I have also read that the design of a 4-door, with its smaller front door opening and the bracing needed for the other doors, plus the reinforced beam in those doors, makes the 4-door models safer in a side crash. So it could actually be that the Accent sedan has better scores than the hatch.
The net of it is, we don't really know if the Accent hatch would fare better or worse than the sedan in a crash. Based on the crash test scores for the Accent, I don't think I want to do a real-world test.
question has anyone ever did this , I need to know how to get that shut of valvre out and the little air filter,
http://www.hyundai-blog.com/index.php/2009/09/30/new-hyundai-accent-rb-in-the-wo- rks/
A little backstory: I'm almost 21 and I'm a college student. I'm looking at buying a car and I have about $15k saved and my mom will pitch in whatever I need.
I've been looking at used car lots at dealerships for about 2 months and the price of used cars is insane right now! I could get an Accord with 100k+ miles for like $15k at a nearby Honda dealership!
So I started looking at cheap entry level cars. I come from a family that's bought Japanese automaker cars for quite some time. Good reliability with Hondas and Subarus...been *really* disappointed with Toyotas.
But the 2012 Accent is really appealing. Great warranty, list of standard features, fuel economy, styling and the price is right. My mom is iffy on buying a Hyundai, but she understands the appeal.
Everything I've read seems to be raving about every new car Hyundai comes out with. I want to know how people (consumers, not just the press behind Edmunds/KBB/Inside Line, etc) feel about Hyundai, the warranty, and the long-term reliability of the car?
I'm not interested in Hyundai. I've never really considered their vehicles for purchase. Like your mother, it seems the reputation from my biological parents made it's way to me. It seems most people see Hyundai and Kia as cheap brands and that's their reputation thus far. They've been working to repair that image to be on par with their Japanese rivals. Right now everyone is trying to be sleek and stylish. They pay the price for focusing too much on style and looks.
The warranty... Eh... Some parts are only covered for so long in that 5 year warranty. It's not that much better than what their competitors offer. Seeing as how Hyundai and Kia are the cheaper alternative, it makes sense they can afford to cover their vehicles for longer periods. Personally, their warranties are a bit worse than what Subaru and Toyota offer in my opinion. It seems Hyundai likes to be the kind of company that values quantity over quality. I say that because like most dealers, they try to list as MANY options and accessories as they can, even listing the "packages" as it's own individual option but still have the contents listed as additional options.
Long term reliability for Hyundai, I'm not familiar with. I don't see that many Hyundai's, or I just don't notice them.
I look at the Accent and I like the styling, the fuel economy, the list of standard features, the warranty, and the price. But at the same time, I look at that stylized H on the grille and just feel a sense of worry because although I do think Hyundai has made massive strides to be competitive with the Japanese, that long-term reliability has yet to show through. And it seems like their dealership services are expensive, too. I don't know. Just looking for experiences and advice before I spend everything I've saved up! Heh.
But don't take the word of one owner, even a repeat owner... or especially, don't take the word of someone who has never owned a Hyundai or possibly hasn't even driven one in the past few years. Check out the JD Power and CR reliability studies, ask owners you meet what they think about their cars, and be sure to drive all the cars that might interest you including the Accent.
Now if it were me, I might look at the Accent, but if I lived in the "snowy parts of the Sierra Nevadas" like you do, I might take a hard look at a Subaru. But I'd wait, if possible, for the 2012 Impreza, a new design that looks like a much improved car especially in fuel economy. It's supposed to be out pretty soon. In the meantime, you can save up a little more money towards the car.
Another car you might look at is the SX4, which is AWD, made in Japan, is reasonably priced, and is a pretty good car, often overlooked.
The 2012 Impreza looks fantastic, and as you mentioned...the jump in fuel economy is incredible for a vehicle with AWD. Something like 36 on the highway??? Crazy! My mom recently purchased a 2010 Legacy and with 14k miles on the odometer and nothing but oil changes and whatnot the care has had 0 problems (most people around here love their Subarus). We easily get 33 on the highway, sometimes up to 36 depending on where we're traveling. I think the price on a new Impreza will be significantly higher than a new Fit or Accent, though...
I believe the Camry is due for a re-model soon...? If the prices of used cars ever drop I'd like to maybe look for one...although I'm if-fy on Toyotas too after the acceleration debacle. But it seems like it's kind of disappeared, no? I haven't heard about anything in a long time about it.
Total cost to own (especially repair costs), I'd pick a 2012 Subaru Impreza over a 2011-12 Suzuki SX4.
The Toyota sudden acceleration issue was mostly due to driver error as it always has been. I'm sure some people on this forum will argue against that though (in favor against Toyota). At any rate, if you're that worried, you should familiarize yourself with how to stop your car if you have a sudden acceleration problem.
Either way, AWD or not, you still should think about purchasing a good set of winter tires after you purchase the vehicle of your choice. No matter how sophisticated and powerful an AWD system, your tires are the ones that touch the snow or ground. In short, FWD with winter tires > AWD with all-season tires; FWD with winter tires < AWD with winter tires.
Oh and I'm also in the same boat as you, albeit with a lower down payment. If I had that much money as a down payment, I'd go with purchasing via financing through a (low interest rate) loan and buying the 2012 Subaru Impreza. I wouldn't try to foot the bill with a used car and repair costs no longer covered by the warranty. Especially if I'm going to college. I can afford a steady payment, I could probably not afford a sudden huge repair cost. I feel more secure with the warranty and lemon laws in addition to knowing I'm the first and only owner.
I've been reading a lot of articles about Toyota since the 'sudden unintended acceleration' incidents started occurring, and it does seem like driver error is really at fault. It's just, as mentioned before, re-sale value and buying used cars right now makes absolutely no sense vs buying a new entry level vehicle from Honda or something. I also priced a new Fit vs a new Accent, and the price is only about $800 more for the Fit. As impressive as the new numbers coming from Hyundai look on paper, I think Honda still has a far superior product.
Another one to check out is a 2009-10 Optima. Has all the safety equipment and the same I4 powertrain as the Sonata, but a bit smaller than the Sonata and a little crisper handling. And since it's a Kia, the resale value should be less than for a Sonata or most anything else.
Yes, my original question would apply to Kia as well as Hyundai. How do people feel about Kia as a brand and in terms of longevity of owning a car compared to a Honda or Toyota how do they hold up?
Also keep in mind, being 20-21 means my insurance is way up. If I could get away with $12k or less, I'd much prefer it. Give me more money in the bank and save me on insurance. Does anyone have any idea when used car prices are expected to drop? A year ago I could have gotten a Fusion/Milan/Optima with <35k miles for $10k....
Kia doesn't have quite as long a quality rep as Hyundai but has made huge strides in the past few years in product quality and reliability. And since they share major mechanicals e.g. some powertrains with Hyundai, those parts will be just as reliable as on Hyundais.
If anyone could predict with any accuracy when used car prices will drop, they would be able to make themselves a lot of money (and would probably be spending most of their time in Vegas vs. on these forums).
Don't waste your time lamenting over what was. If you need a car now, find the best one you can within your budget. There's good cars out there for under $10k. My 22-year-old son just bought a 2007 Accord SE with stick for about $9000 + T&L. It had 90k miles on it but they were "highway" miles and the car was in great condition, and it drives like new. He also got low insurance rates from Progressive. But he lives in a small city in Iowa and he's 22, not 20-21, so that helped him.
Surprisingly, I have yet to find an Optima or Sonata worth looking at less than $14k around these parts...
Did your son buy the Accord from a dealership or from a mom-n-pop shop? Are those shops even worth looking at? I will be turning 21 in October and I'll have 3 years of clean driving coming up in August, so my insurance will be going down (thankfully) but it's still insane! Granted, I am under my mom's for now and I'm paying $120/mo for about $500k coverage...I couldn't afford that on my own for sure!
I'd go for a '08 Fusion rather than a '01 Camry if it were my choice. Fusion has more safety features, better handling, and hasn't had ten years of use. It still has a little powertrain warranty left also. The Camry might have been driven a lot of short trips, which is harder on a car than driving on the highway.
My son found out that paying for his own insurance cost a lot less than keeping him on my coverage. You can get online quotes from some companies... you should check that out if you haven't yet.
I found several 2009-10 Optimas from dealers within 100 miles of me with 20-40k miles for under $14k, on cars.com. You must live in a higher-priced area than I do.
I'd go with the Hyundai, even though I'm a Honda and Mazda owner. I think the Accent Hatchback now looks like a really good car for the money. Can you drive a manual? That will save you 1k right there.
My 05 has 147 k on it now and I am itching to get a new car . It runs great still . I would jump in it and drive to the right coast, I am on the left coast , at any time . They have all been the most reliable cars I have ever had .
Now as for the New accent , they are nice but the new body style means they are in short supply and you will not get a deal on one , The Elantra is the same . They are pretty hot sellers at the moment and you won't get a deal . As for the Subaru , if you are worried about cost how can you even look at them . They are hard at best to touch for under 20K new . Don't take this wrong , I am not saying don't get one of the Hyundai's , I am just saying you might get a better deal on another car . The dealers aren't selling them for under or much under msrp at the moment .
I would say look at the Kia's . The Soul can be had for about 15 or even a Forte . They are both in your range and they also have a great warranty . Being you are a college student they should be covered for the whole time your are in college . That alone is worth something . At least to me it is .
But don't listen to me , look for yourself . You will be driving it not I...
Today I drove home in a 2010 Toyota Corolla. I was looking at 2 Corollas. One for $13.6k from Hertz as a previous daily rental with 44k on the odometer and one for $14.8k at the nearby Toyota dealership with 9k on the odometer and a still valid factory warranty (and a free, clean Carfax report provided) for both the bumper-to-bumper and powertrain. Needless to say, the one with 35k less miles and a warranty won out over the thousand-ish saved from the other Corolla.