I too have an 2000 accent. And really no complants the only complait thou is the tranny. It's just your normal 5 speed but very hard to shift from 1 to 2 or down or just into first and I have taken it to the dealer 3 times now and they can't find anything wrong. I get great gas mileage between 30-35 in town and 37 to 40 on the highway. Very nice pickup after the motor has broke in but i only have 7,200 on it. I don't have a/c but i wish i did. The desert sand is a nice color and i would suggest this car to anybody that likes good gas mileage.
those cars can beat your ZX2 In a race, as can my ZX3. The new corolla has a 125 hp VVTL-i motor and it is the fastest of the subcompacts, even beating the neon I hear. It may be a bit more expensivem but you know its quality, and if you decide to go the Ford route which i did, over the accent and civic, get the Focus ZX3, its much sportier, faster and better handling for the same $$
Same money?? How can you compare the price of an 11-15 grand ZX3 to a 9-11 grand Accent? That's a completely different price range. People shopping for an Accent are looking for the cheapest no frills transportation they can buy, not a sports car. As far as the Metro beating a ZX2, what in the hell are you thinking?? And unless your ZX3 is modified, your car would not beat the ZX2 either. There is only a 5 hp difference between the 2 cars and the new Focus is heavier than the old Escort, so the performance difference is negligible. One other slight correction, the Corolla's engine has VVTi; only the Celica GTS has VVTL-i.
I've read all the posts to this forum, and here's my situation:
I need a car. I have approximately $11,000 to spend, and I'm considering the Accent, Echo, and a used Civic. I've test-driven the Accent and like everything about it--the feel, the gas mileage, and especially the cost. However, I'm concerned about safety and resale.
My main concern is safety--I've checked ConsumerReports and NHTSA, and both only have one test, and the Accent only got three stars.
Does anyone know anything about Hyundai safety? I'm thinking about a 2000, after the redesign, with automatic (yeah, I know about the acceleration problems) and A/C. And what about resale? Should I only purchase if I'm going to hold on to it for quite a while?
some one here has a brain!!!LOL metro's are very slow, but they are also very light. The accent looks cool I have to say but I considered it and felt I couldnt trust the reliability of it yet, tho i could have got it for like 7k. Give Hyundai some more time and it will definetly have a better name for itself. Everyone seems to hide behind thet 10 year warranty, but isnt there ALOT of small print along with it? As for the ZX2 vs ZX3, I have raced and beat them, not to mention the focus has a stiffer and better handling suspension, and if you have ever looked at the front air dam on the ZX2, the is nothing supporting it so if you hit anything, even a snow pile it looks like it will break. One of the good thing about the accent is the 1.5 motor, which used to be the Mitsubishi 1.5 produced by Hyundai under license, and I am wondering if that still is the case? That Mitsu 1.5 was unbeatable, it ran perfect for the 140k we kept it. The estimated gas mileage seems a bit low for that motor though and that made me a bit weary also.
Here's my advice for you. Go for the 2000 Accent as it has many safety improvements over the 99. It gained front seatbelt pretensioners, something unheard of in this price range. In case you are unsure what that does, it pulls back any slack in the seatbelt when an accident occurs, thereby controlling the forward movement of the person better. It also gained 2 side impact door beams in the front door, with 1 in the back door. Many cars rely only on 1 front beam, so I feel the front doors could withstand a side-impact quite well. Not to mention the beefy looking door sills, solid thunk when you shut the door, and impressively thick cross car beams in the floor and the roof. Also, the 2000 model gained reduced force front airbags. The structure feels very solid. All these things should improve the old Accent's 3 star for driver, 4 star for front passenger performance in the Government test. The car is also quite a bit bigger, so I would not compare the new car with the old one's crash protection. Not that the old one was bad to begin with; it earned average to above average protection. As far as resale, unless you plan on getting rid of the car in less than 2 years, it shouldn't be much of a problem. The car doesn't cost much to begin with, so its resale doesn't plummet quite as fast as some more expensive cars do. The Echo is a good car as long as you can deal with its butt ugly looks and ridiculous cheap looking interior. It also gets quite expensive once you start adding any options to it. 11 grand will buy you a fully equipped Accent ,including power everything, but only A/C in the Echo, not to mention the Echo doesn't even offer power windows. Expect to pay around 12 grand for a basic Echo with power steering, auto, and A/C. Not a good value if you ask me. Anyway, hope my advice helps. Good luck!
Yeah, I am a big car nutt and know my stuff. I would have to be considering how attached I am to the original pocket rocket 84 Rabbit GTI I also own. Anyway, we have good reason to hide behind the 10 year warranty. It doesn't have as much small print as you think. The warranty covers the entire engine, transmission (except clutch), and CV axles. You must keep all papers though if you plan on doing your own maintenance like me. The Accent has never had a Mitsubishi engine built by Hyundai. Since 95, the 1.5 engine has been Hyundai's own in-house engine design known as the Alpha engine. It was the first engine Hyundai designed all on its own. The Mitsu 1.5 was used in the Excel and Scoupe only. I'm sure the engines are very simlar in design as they both have SOHC and 12 valves, but they are still 2 completely different engines. Kudos to you for beating the ZX2. It has to do with your superior driving capabilities, not the performance difference between the 2 cars. Their 0-60 times are the same, so you must have been a much better driver than the ZX2 driver. However, the ZX3 definitely can outhandle the ZX2 and outstop it.
I now have over 5000 miles on the 2000 Accent. I am enjoying everyone's comments here, very informative. I drove up to the casino this weekend, the AC was off, mostly flat highway driving...the results are 238 miles using slightly under 6 gallons of gas (premium). I looked at the Ford Focus before buying this car, but felt it was in a completely different category. Here's why...the dealer wasn't willing to go below $14,000, before taxes, title, and registration. I drove off the Hyundai lot, including everything (AC, taxes, title, etc.) for $10,700. That is about a 40% difference in price when taxes are included, which is significant. I continue to be pleased with my purchase, the car is performing well......
Thanks for the advice. I just got home from test driving the Accent, Echo, and a 2000 Prizm. Still like the Accent, although those seats are pretty uncomfortable. The Echo appeared, at first, to be the ugliest car I had ever seen. It grew on me, but (as aldag mentioned) it seemed just too pricey. I'd also worry about it's resale as it's not a very popular car to begin with, I'm assuming from the selection around here (1!) and that I've seen one on the road in the last year.
I'm considering a used Prizm because they've got a better history of safety and resale value compared to the relatively unestablished Accents. I test-drove the 2000, but because there hasn't been a redesign since 1998, there's hardly a difference between cars.
So . . I think I'm down to between a used Prizm which I would then dispense of after 3 years, or a 2000 Accent GL, which I would probably keep the life of the warranty.
One more thing: I'm playing dealers off each other, and so far the lowest price for a 2000 Accent GL Sedan with auto, air, and the carpeted floor mats is $10,768 plus tax. It doesn't seem too bad to me, in light of invoice, etc., but there is a $500 rebate going on, and that's not even touching dealer holdback of 2%. How does it sound to you?
~ae2000
P.S. I didn't know what seatbelt pretensioners were three days ago, but after researching at my computer since then, I do now. I know more than the salesmen!
Your price quote sounds about right, or at least in the range that I was being quoted here locally (CT). Your price includes the auto transmission and carpeted floor mats (first class!). You are correct to question the reliability, only time and experience will answer that question for me. I will try to share my experiences here in that regard. So you noticed about the extra firm seats...well, I use a cushion to be a bit taller, and that helps, bought one for the passenger side, too. The 2000 Accents must be selling well, as I noticed several on the road, and two in my own neighborhood, same blue color as mine.....
The ECHO tends to get blown around in moderate winds. I think this is because it is so short and tall. My 99 Accent sedan is solid as a rock on the highway even with high winds. I paid 10,870 out the door for my 99 last September. This is a sedan with AC, automatic, mud guards and carpet mats. This was one of the most EXPENSIVE Accents too! This price includes the $750 rebate they were offering at the time. They may increase the rebate to $750 in August on the 2000's like they did on the 99's, maybe you should wait. Anyway put 26,000 miles on my 99 with no problems so far. The 2000 is even nicer and I like the power window, door lock package for about $300 extra too. I remember seeing a 2000 Accent sedan in a nice gold color that really looked classy. The only other car I would consider is the Kia Rio that should be cooming out soon. The best thing about the Rio is the DOHC 1.5 l. 108 HP engine. I hear rumours that Kia may even match Hyundais 10 year 100,000 warranty too. Scott
My apologies to the host and all for what I am going to say here. Below these next two paragraphs I have some real questions about the Accent and some I think interesting observations to those who maybe considering the Accent. However I would like to clarify a couple things first for the ZX3 driver.
Excuse me Focus ZX3 driver... Are you aware of the specs on your ZX3? We have the same engine with the same Horsepower!!! According to Edmunds your car goes 0-60 in 8.8 seconds versus the ZX2 which goes 0-60 in 8.3. Granted this is only tenths of a second faster, but suddenly your ZX3 seems kind of slow. Besides I would like to know where you race your car, so I can avoid your city. The Zx2 Drivers probably backed off when they realised you where racing, speed doesn't bother me but IDIOTIC RACING DOES!!! For the record a very dear friend of mine has the ZTS Focus, which for your information is the UPRATED sedan version of your car. Guess what? I still prefer the ZX2. Yes, yours is has a better interior with nicer options that I am quick to admit would be nice in a ZX2. However I would suggest you check the specs before shooting off your mouth about performance!!! In the future why not set up a topic about the ZX3 versus the ZX2. This topic concerns the Hyundai Accent a car which is several thousand LESS than either of our respective cars, and is not even in competition with them.
Point of interest about colisions in small cars. Last week I totaled my ZX2 car in 75mph colision when some twit in a van suddenly pulled off the left shoulder on Interstate 95 south, in southern Virginia. In the police report they ruled it felony hit and run, as the other driver managed to limp away and evade the police. If it tells you anything I hit him so fast I barely touched the brakes with NO SKID!!! Not surprisingly the car was totaly demolished. HOWEVER apart from some minor whiplash, and my nerves being a touch frazzled I surived. Granted the doctor who examined me said the fact that I am a weight lifter may have saved me additional pain and suffering. Basically though the cars crumple zones did exactly what they where supposed to do, save my life. I am the first to admit I am VERY VERY LUCKY however, I think though it says a lot how deceptively well built these little cars are.
Now then with my apologies to the host; and all concerned again, for shooting off my own mouth and taking the group away from the subject. Not surprisingly after the little upset I suffered last week I am looking towards getting a new car. My first choice is another ZX2. However if I can't agree upon a price with the Ford dealer I may very well consider the Hyundai Accent only it would be as primary car, and not as a secondary, as I originally had planned. When I was at the Hyundai Showroom near my Ford dealer. The Salesman eluded to an Accent GS, but seemed very reluctant to discuss it in detail. About the only thing I could realy get out of him was that the Accent GS came with power windows. I find this a triffle difficult believe. Does anybody know the truth? What are the difference between them? About the only thing that dealer convinced me of is that the Accent is a viable 2nd new car option and that this particular dealership WOULD NOT get the sale. There was something very odd about the about the entire discusion. As a salesman myself (thankfully not cars) I have developed some strange instincts, and if another salesman lies I usaully get a funny a feeling. I am sort of wondering if there is a lower profit on the GS than there is on the regular Accent. Which could account for their reluctance to talk about it.
If I went with an Accent I would want the full package with all the bells and whistles short of the Automatic Trans. I tried checking the Hyundai websight but that doesn't even acknowledge the Accent as being available in a two door.
As for my opinions about the Accent as a car. Granted the automatic is rather weak, but the manual was surprisingly zippy, much more so than I thought it would be. It was also fairly comfortable to drive. Yes, there are about a dozen custom changes I would have to make to the interior if I went this route, however it would still cost less than a fully loaded ZX2. Hmmm...
On the same day I also test drove a Tiberion. Which despite being the competitor to my beloved ZX2 holds the record for the shortest test drive I have ever taken. Within 8 minutes I was back at the dealer saying "No I don't want one of these". I went over two speed bumps and both times banged my head into the roof. In most sports cars I can find a measure of comfort in them, but NOT this one. Even the salesman couldn't believe I didn't like it. No chance no way. If do go Hyundai the Accent will certainly get the vote.
Sorry to hear about your terrible accident! Where did you hit the van? I can't believe it was able to get away! Where was the damage confined to your car? Any chance the police will be able to find the van? Good luck to you in finding that jerk so you can make him pay. Anyway, I can inform you the complete difference between the GS and the L hatchbacks. The GS adds a tachometer, driver-side armrest, digital clock, cloth door trim inserts and deluxe carpeting, tilt and height adjustable driver's seat, and a rear wiper/washer as standard equipment. The GS has as options over the L an automatic and a power package that includes power windows, locks, and mirrors and a 100 watt CD player. The L, in contrast, has A/C as the only factory option. So, if you want a fully equipped Accent, you must buy the GS model or the GL sedan. I will warn you that it is very hard to find a GS with a manual, let alone a manual equipped with package 3 (the power package). My local dealer carries 4 GS models and all of them have an automatic. The only manual hatch they have on the lot is a base L model that doesn't even have A/C (unbelieveable in Florida!). Anyway, hope I helped. Good luck in your search!
The Elantra does 0-60 in I believe 8.5 seconds, pretty good for a 4 door sedan. If you would consider a sedan, try a test drive in an Elantra. We have 14,000 miles on our 99 Elantra and it has been perfect. Too bad you can't wait, I really think you would like the Kia Rio. I saw an ad in the newspaper today and Kia IS now offering the same warranty that Hyundai has. 5/60 bumper to bumper and 10/100 powertrain.
That is a terrible way to lose a car, sorry to hear of your accident. I lost my Dodge Shadow because some guy slid into it with a Honda Odyssey. He thought his ABS brakes would allow him to drive fast in a snow storm, but the results were not so good. Anyway, as my Hyundai dealer explained to me, most of the base Accent L models are shipped without the AC since they are meant to be price competitive. But it is very easy for the dealer to add the AC package, which is what I had done for mine. The AC has been working great, so the dealer mechanic must have done a good job....
I'm back again with my utter disgust for the fuel economy I am getting with my 2000 Accent. I posted earlier how I got only 24 mpg. Well, the next tank went up to 27.9 mpg, but this last tank dropped back down to 24.8 mpg under the same driving circumstances (I only got 196 miles to 7.9 gallons). I have never encountered such inconsistency in fuel economy before! Not to mention that it is way below the 28 mpg I am supposed to get with the 5 speed. Almost every car tends to get better mileage than what is on the sticker, but not this car! If it doesn't improve back up to 28 on this tank, than I will take it to the dealer to see why it is getting such poor mileage. However, I am reluctant to do that because I know all they will say is, "its within the parameters, nothing we can do" or "let your engine break in more". I have 3300 miles and have already done the first oil change on my own, so the engine should already be broken in pretty good, especially since all my driving is in the city. I always select the highest gear possible, sometimes even cruising at 50 mph in fifth gear for a few miles when I can, so I know it is not my driving that is causing it. Either this engine is inefficient or something is majorly wrong. But the engine runs smooth and accelerates quick with the A/C off, so I doubt it is a fouled plug. Anyone know what could be wrong?? I have one other concern that I am wondering whether anyone else has encountered. My gas gauge slowly falls when left overnight instead of staying at the current reading (when tank is full, overnight, it might drop down to the 3/4 mark). Is this normal? When the car is started, the gauge sometimes goes back to where it was but sometimes only rises part of the way. This makes it read lower than it should. Anyone else encountered this? I thought a gauge was either supposed to drop immediately after turning off the car or stay in one spot, not drop slowly over time. I'm wondering whether I should have them replace the fuel gauge sending unit or just ignore it as something that is normal. What do you guys think? Other than my fuel economy concerns, I really like the car and have encountered no problems. I still would recommend this car to anyone. It is an excellent value, a great-looking, solid, and refined car, and has a nice, comfortable interior. I just hope I can squeeze some more miles out of a tank of gas. If I can do that, than I will be satisfied, although more low-end torque would be nice.
Sorry again for blowing off a little steam with my last posting. I agree it was a terrible way to lose a new car however I lived with no obvious serious damage to my person. As for the other driver as the State Trooper said within 24 hours he could be anywhere from Maine to Florida. So the odds of finding him are slim to nil. His van took a beating on the rear end and in my shock I failed to to get anything more than a description of the driver, but not his number plate.
Hmmm Suddenly the GS hatchback may not be an option after all. I can't stand sedans (no offence to any who own them) and if went with an Accent I would want it loaded to the gills. Given my time frame if I can't agree upon a price for a new ZX2, I will consider a vain attempt to find GS Manual Hatchback at another Hyundai dealer, and failing that may even consider visiting Carmax. We shall see what there is to see. Thanks again for your concerns.
That is disappointing fuel economy you are getting, I think something must be wrong. I just refilled with 7.5 gallons for 278 miles, or about 37.1 miles per gallon for mixed highway/local driving with the AC occasionally on. Could the car be running too rich? I once had a Mercury Monarch that wasn't heating up fully due to a faulty thermostat. So it ran rich all the time, because it was never fully heated, tended to foul the plugs also. There was no temp gauge, so it was impossible to see the problem. Fortunately, the Accent has a temp gauge. Does your temp gauge reach the middle position and stay there while driving? You could try a tank of premium gas to see if it has an effect. The Accent has a very high 10 to 1 compression ratio, it may be de-tuning itself to run on 87 octane gas. (Some cars automatically adjust the timing to work with lower grades of gas, I don't know if the Accent has such a feature.) Also, your fuel gauge sounds different than mine. Mine doesn't seem to move when I turn off the car. You might want to have that checked. Of course, with a 5 year bumper to bumper warranty, there is no hurry....
My temp gauge stays steady a little below the half mark no matter how hot it is outside (even at 103 with A/C on full blast!). It rises pretty quickly to that mark when started in the morning. As for my fuel gauge, it doesn't visibly fall after shutting off the car. But if you let the car sit for a little while, the gauge reads lower than when you left the car. Does your gauge do that at all Aldag? Look at the reading and make a mental note of it when you come home at night and than when you leave in the morning, before starting the car, see if the gauge has lowered any. I just find it odd, like the gauge slowly loses its charge from the battery. Anyway, what octane are you using? I was using 89 when I first got the car, but switched down to 87. With 87 octane, I initially got between 29-31 mpg in all city driving, and than all of a sudden, it dropped and has stayed low. I have since switched to 89 and will see if that improves my mileage any. The tank I got 24.8 mpg on was 87 mixed with 89. I will post my findings on this tank with full 89. I may end up checking the plugs myself since it would be a pain to have the dealer look at it when I can do it in 15 minutes. Hell, maybe I ought to just put in platinum plugs and be done with it. Anyone know if platinum plugs are not a good idea for this engine (some engines it is advised not to use them)? I'm hoping I can get the car out on the highway and run it hard for awhile and see if that doesn't clean out whatever may be causing the poor mileage. Will let you all know the outcome.
Well, guys, I finally got to take my car on the highway again and had fun doing it. I cruised easily at 90 mph for a few minutes with the A/C on, even climbing a hill without losing much steam. I was also able to take my hands completely off the wheel and the car stayed straight. Than, I decided to open up her lungs and see what she could do. I turned off the A/C and started accelerating from 75. I hit 100 mph effortlessly and rather quickly, and she continued to accelerate without strain (pedal was not even to the floor)but I decided not to push it any further until she is broken in more. I can't believe my little 10 grand hatchback just reached a higher speed than many SUVs can only dream about The car is surpisingly stable at this speed, much more so than my Mom's 92 Accord (her rear end felt light and the steering became very sensitive). What surprised me the most was how quiet the engine was at that speed; I could barely hear the engine with only wind noise and road noise becoming more noticeable. Hopefully, the stint on the highway blew out whatever gunk may have collected in the engine so that my mileage will increase. Already I have 100 miles and it is still reading 3/4, whereas last tank it read 1/2 at that mileage.
Could be a problem with the o2 semsor. The computer would set a very rich air/gas ratio if the o2 sensor is bad. You should have the engine light on though. The air mass/flow semsor could also be bed, this may NOT cause the engine light to come on. Take it to a dealer and have them check it out. Make sure you have the problem in writing, so you have proff you told the dealer about the problem.
A few posts back I asked for advice on car shopping, and quite a few of you were very helpful--especially focuszx3r, lngtongel18, and aldag. I thought I'd let you know that my car quest is over.
Tonight I purchased a 96 Honda Civic DX with auto, car alarm, air, and 4 doors for $9850. I decided against the Focus because it was just out of my price range and I didn't think it would have much resale because it's just a bit odd looking. As much as I like the idea of a Hyundai, the lack of proven safety features made me pause. And what made me really decide against it was that I only want to keep the car about three years--it seems like the Hyundai is a really good value if you keep it 5 to 10. And since I'd be selling it before that, I needed reliable resale, which the Hyundai just doesn't have yet. Someday!
Thanks for all your help. Best of luck to you all. ~ae2000
I was doing an underhood check of my 2000 Accent and noticed something odd. Everything looks new and black in color except for one hose. It is a vacuum hose that goes from the intake to the brake booster. What's so odd about the hose is that it has turned brown in color as if the hose was burned, and it is bulged in a few areas. The hose is also very hard to the touch, not squeezable like all the other hoses. Is this normal?? Can anyone look at their brake booster vacuum line for me and tell me whether it is black in color and is bendable?? I'm wondering if that hose is what is causing my poor fuel economy, but I don't want to be paranoid about it if it is supposed to look like that. On the other hand, if the hose was blocked or the check valve inside it was malfuntioning, I would think it would cause my brakes to feel funny, but they are totally fine. Any thoughts? On a side note, I took my car on a long distance trip, hoping my gas mileage would increase. I used a whole tank of gas on almost all highway driving going 70-80 mph, and I only averaged 32 mpg. About 30 miles of the trip was done in heavy traffic in Panama City, but that is not enough to lower the mileage from the 37 mpg I got on a similar trip when the car was new. So I am pretty convinced it is not just the city driving that was causing the low mileage numbers. I will be taking it into the dealer if someone here tells me their vacuum line does not look or feel like mine. Maybe by some fluke, that is my problem! Also thought I would share my experiences with doing the first oil change on my own. It is very cool that you can change the oil without needing to lift the car. I did it with the car flat on the ground and had plenty of room to do the job. However, it totally sucks that you have to partially take off the plastic shroud in order to get at the filter. The filter is also at such an angle that it tends to leak oil all over the shroud when taking it off. It is a messier job than it should be. And boy does the factory put the filter on tight! I fought with the filter for 15 minutes before finally having to poke a hole in it with a screwdriver to get it off. Let me tell you, the skin of that Hyundai filter is very tough as it took a lot of pounding to get the screwdriver to pierce it. The entire job took me much longer than it should (almost an hour), but now that the filter isn't so tight, I should be able to cut the time in half. I just wish Hyundai would place the filter away from the shroud at a more vertical angle while still allowing you to change it without needing to lift the car.
Changed to oil on my 99 Accent last Saturday. I take 3 of the bolts that hold the plastic cover over the engine off. The plastic is flexible enough that I just fold it down enough to fit my oil drain pan under it. This way I get all the spilled oil from the filter. Believe me this is MUCH easier then changing the filter on most of the other cars I drove before. As I recall the factory really glued the drain bolt and filter on my 99 Accent and Elantra too. After the first change the later ones got a lot easier. Wallmart has their own house brand of 100% synthetic now for $2.97 a quart. About mileage, funny, I have to average my mileage over more then one tank of gas. I would get 39 mpg on one tank and only 31 mpg on the next. This with pretty much the same driving. The tank is so small it is hard to really get accurate mpg numbers. Try and figure your mileage after say, 50 gallons (5 fill ups). This should give you a better average mpg number
With apologies to the Accent drivers out there. I am now the proud owner of a new 2000 Tropic Green Ford ZX2. The Ford dealer came down to $12,300 on a heavily loaded one so I am now in a ZX2 again. Damn does it feel good to be in one again. For sheer handling and performance I don't think there is a car that can compete with it for under $13,000.
Naught to worry though Accent fans, once my insurance settles down, and I know what my yearly bill will be. I may yet again be looking at the Accent again. Only this would be as a 2nd Car which was my original intention. Perhaps a stripped down one or a used loaded one may fit the bill. In any event the forcast time frame is some time late next year. I did rather like the manual one I test drove, and would have NO reservations about recomending the Accent to anyone. I just wish the Automatic version had a bit more power, as I hope my second car will be Auto.
Thanks for your concerns regarding the loss of my first ZX2.
I just purchased a 2000 Accent GS and am getting about 21-23 mpg. Sometimes I notice the engine "roaring" more than others even if the air isn't on. Could this be due to the breakingin period? I've got about 300 miles on it.
It is great to hear that the both of you have obtained the cars you wanted and I hope you have many miles of great driving experiences. I just finished another tank of gas on my Accent with a 7.0 gallon refill for 260 miles, or 37.1 miles per gallon, which surprisingly is exactly what I got for the previous tank of gas. I must agree with lngtonge18 and baber about the initial tightness of the factory supplied oil filter and the drain bolt. Clearly, the factory did not want these components to accidentally fall off, as they were both nearly impossible to remove. The next oil change should be a bit easier. I now have about 5500 miles with no discernible oil usage and the oil is staying fairly clean between changes. (On the Shadow, the oil was black after 2500 miles, and usually I had to add a half quart between changes.) That brake booster vacuum line discoloration sounds peculiar, lngtonge18. I can't check to see what mine looks like as it is raining at the moment, but I will check later and let you know what I see. The other day I drove during very heavy rain and through some deep puddles, no problems were encountered....
rlyn, I don't believe your Accent should be "roaring". This might be caused by over-reving of the engine, which is something to be avoided, especially during the break in period. So it might be worth while to have this checked by the dealer, to assure a normal break in and avoid possible damage to the various seals. Also, even during the break in, your mileage should be better than what you quoted. However, it may be difficult to tell after only 300 miles. But it would definitely be good to have the "roaring" checked.....
There is still a chance I may end up an Accent in the future. As I said I still want a second car. Once the Second loan for my replacement ZX2 is paid off, and I know what my insurance is, I may again be looking to Accent. This will however probably happen late next year. In any event I plan to watch the Accent line VERY VERY CAREFULLY, and keep my eyes open for deals on used Accents. As near as I can figure a used 97 or 98 Accent should probably go for around 5 or 6 thousand. So it might be a possibilty.
After the first oil change, if you don't over tighten the filter, can all be done standing up. Both the drain plug and the oil filter can be reached from the top of the engine compartment. No need to remove the plastic guard underneath. I just slide the drain pan underneath, then reach down the back of the engine from the passenger side to reach the drain plug. The oil filter can be reached from the same standing position, its behind the alternator. I just hand tight the new oil filter so next change will also be easy.
Has anyone noticed that the Accent has a tendency to lock up its right front brake, especially when it is slick outside? It is a bit disconcerting that it locks its front brakes so easily. Most cars tend to lock the rear brakes, which is easier to control, but front brake lockup totally takes away steering control of the car. Someone pulled out in front of me the other day and than stopped halfway out after hearing me blare my horn. Being a 2 lane road, I had to stop or broadside him. I hit my brakes only moderately hard because I was only going 40 and had already started slowing down when I saw him pull out. The right front brake immediately locked on the moist road and the car went into a screeching slide. It stopped confidently short, but the lockup was not expected at such a slow speed. My 84 VW GTI has only locked its front brakes on 2 occasions over the past 5 years and 70,000 miles, both of which were panic stops from 60 mph. And at any rate, the rear brakes locked well before the fronts gave up. The Accent is the complete opposite. It locks up the front brakes long before the rears begin to give up. I think there is something wrong with the braking balance in the Accent's system. I have locked up the front brakes 3 times already in 3 months. This is one car that could benefit greatly from ABS. Supposedly ABS is available, but Edmunds does not list it as an option. Is it just not available yet or do you have to order it directly from the factory? Anyway, I would suggest that anyone looking into the Accent should try to get one with ABS if money and time permits it.
Anti-lock brakes aren't available for the Accent. The option was axed for the 1999 model year, even before the redesign. Small, light cars have a tendency to skid more outside because there isn't much weight holding them down. My Protege skids sometimes, but my friend's Neon is A LOT more likely to skid than the Protege.
I can confirm the Accent will go into a slide during hard stops on wet pavement. But I don't think it is the fault of the brakes. I believe the tires, which are adequately grippy on dry pavement, do not have very good wet traction, especially if the surface is oily. I cannot recommend to anyone with any vehicle to rely on any ABS braking system to stop under poor conditions. The fellow that totaled my Dodge Shadow relied on ABS, and the results were not good. The key here will be to drive conservatively in wet or slippery conditions. I will upgrade my tires when the original tires wear out and see if this makes a difference.....
Had lightning strike a tree in my front yard last week. It also got my house too. Lost the modem and video card in my computer, a phone, answering machine and a microwave oven. My 99 Accent was parked about 25 feet from the tree that got hit. The bark was blown right off the tree and my Accent was showered with splinters that stuck to the paint. I managed to scrub all the wood splinters off without any damage to the paint. I thought I was lucky when I noticed the AM band on my radio stopped working. The power steering pump was starting to make noise so I took it in today. They replaced the radio for free, but they had to order the power steering pump (bad bearing). They gave me a HUGE Dodge 1500 crew cab truck as a loaner for the night. Everything is supposed to be covered under warranty.
did you ever take your car to the dealer to fix that starnge hose and fuel guage/mileage problem. IIt may be all interconnected. As for the break lockup, all of the cars I have driven have tended to lock up the front disc breaks if you really smashed the pedal, not the rear. My car, the focus, also locks up the right one first if you hit the pedal hard in the rain. It is mostly the tires, which may not be traction A, which is a rating of how the tire stops in the wet. Definetly take your car back to the dealer and have your problems fixed
actually my old subaru would lock the rears up. It all has to do with the brake balance, and i guess the accent and most other cars dont put alot of the force to the back wheels as the vw and my scoob did. sometimes those drum brakes can be weak. I have strongly recommended the Accent GS to one of my friends and he is very close to buying, but what is a good pirce on one with a 5-speed an a/c, no other options??
I haven't bothered taking my car in yet. The strange hose was determined to be normal after talking with other Accent and Elantra owners. As far as the mileage is concerned, it is below what I should get, but I don't think it is bad enough for the dealer to even consider it a problem worth investigating. Over the past 5 tanks, my total average was 27 mpg, 1 less than the city mileage and that average included some highway driving. Pitiful when considering its small 1.5 liter engine, but only 1 mpg away fron the range stated on the sticker, so the dealer will probably just brush it off as needing to let my engine break in more. Maybe that is true, but I already have 3900 miles on the car, so it should be broken in pretty good by now. At any rate, I will continue to monitor my mileage and if it doesn't improve soon, than I will visit the dealer and have them look for a fouled plug or something. As to your friend, I would say 9700-9900 out the door would be a fair price for the Accent L 5-speed with air, the same exact car I got. There is a $500 rebate going on right now for the Accent. Aldag, I agree that you should not rely on ABS to stop in poor conditions, but it is definitely nice to have when the car has a tendency to lock up its front brakes. ABS would allow me to steer away from impending danger, rather than just slide right into it. I wouldn't care as much if it was the rear brakes that locked up. That's quite easy to control. It probably does have to do with the cheap all season tires in combination with the small 13" footprint and soft front shocks that allow too much sudden weight transfer. But I also think it has something to do with the balance in the braking system (too much front brake emphasis). Example: my Mom's 92 Accord has ABS but I have never engaged it, even when I purposely set out to do it when it was pouring rain for an hour and the road was super slick. I slammed on the brakes from about 25-30 mph repeatedly, and the ABS never engaged, yet the car did not slide or even try to lock up. That car exhibits good braking balance. The Accent would have been locking its front brakes and sliding all over the place in the same test, thus it has poor brake balance and would benefit greatly from ABS.
The rain has stopped and I have been able to closely examine the brake vacuum line hose in my Accent (for lngtonge18 that asked about it). I observed that the hose appears to be made of a fairly thick walled black rubber or soft plastic material. I noted a distinct bulge in the hose about 4 or 5 inches from the brake side of the hose. This bulge turns out to be caused by something solid which has been inserted into the hose. I am not certain what the object could be, perhaps a reverse vacuum check valve. It is clear that if this hose would ever require replacement, an exact duplicate would be needed as opposed to a generic substitute so as to obtain the solid object within the hose.......
The power steering and brake pressure hoses on my 99 Accent were discolored brown too. There appears to be some kind of oily coating on these hoses that seem to have oxydized. I was able to wipe the brown discoloration off my hoses. I think this oily coating is some kind of preservative. No big deal. Got the bulge (check valve?) in my brake hose too.
All your input has been much appreciated! I am no longer worried about it. Glad I can count on someone to answer important questions about the Accent without having to make an unneeded trip to the dealer
I was surprised to hear of your experiences with the stock tires on the Accent and wet pavement. I know anything is possible with cars, but I am constantly priding the Hankooks on my Accent to others. i tell them how I drove a notorious stretch of highway out my way that runs north/south and has the disadvantage in the winter of icing up in places. In all kinds of weather, the Hankooks, which are not even snow tires, amazed me. I usually am of the breed that says, you not only are wrong when you say you don't need snow tires because you have radials, but also - I used to say I buy the best available "mother rapier claw" tires I can find. I didn't have the money for them the winter I got the Accent and yet really, really didn't need them once! I feel as if I could drive up a telephone poll and down the other side, so to speak, with those tires. But as for the fellow who commented about the acceleration - I can't seem to get that sort of power out of my Accent. I put on the AC and it's like hitting a chain across the gate of an athletic field riding a bike at night! Suddenly, the car loses vitality noticeably. Other than that and the wish for a louder radio and one or two more inches of foot room, I love the car...so far.
It't true I am quite happily a Ford ZX2 driver again. However next year I am hoping to pickup a used Accent as a second car. Much as I admire the Accent, the one glaring weakness with the car is the Engine. It could definately use a little more engine power. As it is now, the Auto Trans causes the car to become grossly underpowered. Though in fairness the Manual Trans is suprisingly Zippy, considering the size of the engine.
I'm so jealous of your mileage!! I only got 256 miles out of 9.6 gallons in mainly city driving with the AC on almost the whole time, in other words 26.6 mpg. But, thats my only real complaint with this car (well, that and the low power) and I should be thankfull I am not having any problems after 4100 miles. I still love my Accent! The word must be getting out about the Accent's great looks, value, and warranty because I have seen 2 other 2000 Accent hatchbacks in the past 2 days. One was an exact copy of mine! Thankfully, that black Accent had mirror tint instead of the dark black tint I have on my black Accent. What color is your car aldag?
I am very interested to see how well the Accent blue clear coat paint stands up over time. Conditions for my cars are difficult because they are outside all the time. This means full sun and weather everyday. The clear coat paint job (blue) on the Dodge Shadow started to flake and peel after about 4 years. To be fair to Dodge, the Shadow was also vandalized, which accelerated the paint failure. However, other local Shadows with similar dark colors of the same vintage suffered paint failure. My Shadow wore a coat of Krylon blue with better success than the original paint ;-) Right now I have a coat of Nu-Finish wax on the Accent which is beading up the rain very well after a month or so. (I let the paint age a few months before applying the first coat of wax.) So I will be observing the paint durability very closely. Let's hope the Accent doesn't get vandalized, and I can get a legitimate test of the finish life. In any event, I have a lot of cans of blue Krylon left over, if the need should ever arrive.....
Well, I'm finally taking my car in on Thursday to have a few warranty repairs done. I went to the dealer today to have them look at my minor problems since I am off school and work. I was pleasantly surprised with how well I was treated and how they did not second guess any of my complaints. Luckily, my dealer services a number of different cars, so they have to be nice or risk losing a lot of business. They service Hyundai, Daewoo, Lincoln, Mercury, Jeep, and Chrysler. Quite a range of cars if you ask me. Anyway, I am having them either adjust or replace the misaligned glove box cover, fix a rattling center stop light (its very loose and banging against the window everytime I hit a bump), fix the very annoying creak/squeak in the driver's buckle assembly (the buckle squeaks whenever I move in the seat), and investigate into why my fuel economy is so low. The service manager actually heard the buckle squeak, agreed that my mileage was way too low and that something must be wrong, and said immediately that they will probably just replace my glove box. The whole visit lasted just 5 minutes! So far, I am very impressed with the fast and friendly customer service. Hopefully, their mechanical work is just as good and they will solve all my complaints the first time around. I will let you all know the outcome.
Sorry - I gotta comments on that: It's hilarious! Especially for small cars like the accent; it's a shame to waste all the energy and spontaneity of small cars with an automatc transm.; worse though are people driving sports cars w/ auto transmissions.... why bother ???
My latest tankful for my Accent with manual shift was 6.4 gallons for 184 miles or 28.8 miles per gallon. Here we can see the effect of local driving with the AC on almost continuously (it has been hot and humid). So lngtonge, what if anything, did they have to say about your car? I can see if you have been driving locally with a lot of AC how your mileage would be lower as the effect on my mileage was very pronounced. So you may have nothing wrong at all...
Comments
I've read all the posts to this forum, and here's my situation:
I need a car. I have approximately $11,000 to spend, and I'm considering the Accent, Echo, and a used Civic. I've test-driven the Accent and like everything about it--the feel, the gas mileage, and especially the cost. However, I'm concerned about safety and resale.
My main concern is safety--I've checked ConsumerReports and NHTSA, and both only have one test, and the Accent only got three stars.
Does anyone know anything about Hyundai safety? I'm thinking about a 2000, after the redesign, with automatic (yeah, I know about the acceleration problems) and A/C. And what about resale? Should I only purchase if I'm going to hold on to it for quite a while?
Thanks for any advice you can give me.
As for the ZX2 vs ZX3, I have raced and beat them, not to mention the focus has a stiffer and better handling suspension, and if you have ever looked at the front air dam on the ZX2, the is nothing supporting it so if you hit anything, even a snow pile it looks like it will break.
One of the good thing about the accent is the 1.5 motor, which used to be the Mitsubishi 1.5 produced by Hyundai under license, and I am wondering if that still is the case? That Mitsu 1.5 was unbeatable, it ran perfect for the 140k we kept it. The estimated gas mileage seems a bit low for that motor though and that made me a bit weary also.
As far as resale, unless you plan on getting rid of the car in less than 2 years, it shouldn't be much of a problem. The car doesn't cost much to begin with, so its resale doesn't plummet quite as fast as some more expensive cars do.
The Echo is a good car as long as you can deal with its butt ugly looks and ridiculous cheap looking interior. It also gets quite expensive once you start adding any options to it. 11 grand will buy you a fully equipped Accent ,including power everything, but only A/C in the Echo, not to mention the Echo doesn't even offer power windows. Expect to pay around 12 grand for a basic Echo with power steering, auto, and A/C. Not a good value if you ask me.
Anyway, hope my advice helps. Good luck!
The Accent has never had a Mitsubishi engine built by Hyundai. Since 95, the 1.5 engine has been Hyundai's own in-house engine design known as the Alpha engine. It was the first engine Hyundai designed all on its own. The Mitsu 1.5 was used in the Excel and Scoupe only. I'm sure the engines are very simlar in design as they both have SOHC and 12 valves, but they are still 2 completely different engines.
Kudos to you for beating the ZX2. It has to do with your superior driving capabilities, not the performance difference between the 2 cars. Their 0-60 times are the same, so you must have been a much better driver than the ZX2 driver. However, the ZX3 definitely can outhandle the ZX2 and outstop it.
Thanks for the advice. I just got home from test driving the Accent, Echo, and a 2000 Prizm. Still like the Accent, although those seats are pretty uncomfortable. The Echo appeared, at first, to be the ugliest car I had ever seen. It grew on me, but (as aldag mentioned) it seemed just too pricey. I'd also worry about it's resale as it's not a very popular car to begin with, I'm assuming from the selection around here (1!) and that I've seen one on the road in the last year.
I'm considering a used Prizm because they've got a better history of safety and resale value compared to the relatively unestablished Accents. I test-drove the 2000, but because there hasn't been a redesign since 1998, there's hardly a difference between cars.
So . . I think I'm down to between a used Prizm which I would then dispense of after 3 years, or a 2000 Accent GL, which I would probably keep the life of the warranty.
One more thing: I'm playing dealers off each other, and so far the lowest price for a 2000 Accent GL Sedan with auto, air, and the carpeted floor mats is $10,768 plus tax. It doesn't seem too bad to me, in light of invoice, etc., but there is a $500 rebate going on, and that's not even touching dealer holdback of 2%. How does it sound to you?
~ae2000
P.S. I didn't know what seatbelt pretensioners were three days ago, but after researching at my computer since then, I do now. I know more than the salesmen!
Scott
Excuse me Focus ZX3 driver... Are you aware of the specs on your ZX3? We have the same engine with the same Horsepower!!! According to Edmunds your car goes 0-60 in 8.8 seconds versus the ZX2 which goes 0-60 in 8.3. Granted this is only tenths of a second faster, but suddenly your ZX3 seems kind of slow. Besides I would like to know where you race your car, so I can avoid your city. The Zx2 Drivers probably backed off when they realised you where racing, speed doesn't bother me but IDIOTIC RACING DOES!!! For the record a very dear friend of mine has the ZTS Focus, which for your information is the UPRATED sedan version of your car. Guess what? I still prefer the ZX2. Yes, yours is has a better interior with nicer options that I am quick to admit would be nice in a ZX2. However I would suggest you check the specs before shooting off your mouth about performance!!! In the future why not set up a topic about the ZX3 versus the ZX2. This topic concerns the Hyundai Accent a car which is several thousand LESS than either of our respective cars, and is not even in competition with them.
Point of interest about colisions in small cars. Last week I totaled my ZX2 car in 75mph colision when some twit in a van suddenly pulled off the left shoulder on Interstate 95 south, in southern Virginia. In the police report they ruled it felony hit and run, as the other driver managed to limp away and evade the police. If it tells you anything I hit him so fast I barely touched the brakes with NO SKID!!! Not surprisingly the car was totaly demolished. HOWEVER apart from some minor whiplash, and my nerves being a touch frazzled I surived. Granted the doctor who examined me said the fact that I am a weight lifter may have saved me additional pain and suffering. Basically though the cars crumple zones did exactly what they where supposed to do, save my life. I am the first to admit I am VERY VERY LUCKY however, I think though it says a lot how deceptively well built these little cars are.
Now then with my apologies to the host; and all concerned again, for shooting off my own mouth and taking the group away from the subject. Not surprisingly after the little upset I suffered last week I am looking towards getting a new car. My first choice is another ZX2. However if I can't agree upon a price with the Ford dealer I may very well consider the Hyundai Accent only it would be as primary car, and not as a secondary, as I originally had planned. When I was at the Hyundai Showroom near my Ford dealer. The Salesman eluded to an Accent GS, but seemed very reluctant to discuss it in detail. About the only thing I could realy get out of him was that the Accent GS came with power windows. I find this a triffle difficult believe. Does anybody know the truth? What are the difference between them? About the only thing that dealer convinced me of is that the Accent is a viable 2nd new car option and that this particular dealership WOULD NOT get the sale. There was something very odd about the about the entire discusion. As a salesman myself (thankfully not cars) I have developed some strange instincts, and if another salesman lies I usaully get a funny a feeling. I am sort of wondering if there is a lower profit on the GS than there is on the regular Accent. Which could account for their reluctance to talk about it.
If I went with an Accent I would want the full package with all the bells and whistles short of the Automatic Trans. I tried checking the Hyundai websight but that doesn't even acknowledge the Accent as being available in a two door.
As for my opinions about the Accent as a car. Granted the automatic is rather weak, but the manual was surprisingly zippy, much more so than I thought it would be. It was also fairly comfortable to drive. Yes, there are about a dozen custom changes I would have to make to the interior if I went this route, however it would still cost less than a fully loaded ZX2. Hmmm...
On the same day I also test drove a Tiberion. Which despite being the competitor to my beloved ZX2 holds the record for the shortest test drive I have ever taken. Within 8 minutes I was back at the dealer saying "No I don't want one of these". I went over two speed bumps and both times banged my head into the roof. In most sports cars I can find a measure of comfort in them, but NOT this one. Even the salesman couldn't believe I didn't like it. No chance no way. If do go Hyundai the Accent will certainly get the vote.
Anyway, I can inform you the complete difference between the GS and the L hatchbacks. The GS adds a tachometer, driver-side armrest, digital clock, cloth door trim inserts and deluxe carpeting, tilt and height adjustable driver's seat, and a rear wiper/washer as standard equipment. The GS has as options over the L an automatic and a power package that includes power windows, locks, and mirrors and a 100 watt CD player. The L, in contrast, has A/C as the only factory option. So, if you want a fully equipped Accent, you must buy the GS model or the GL sedan. I will warn you that it is very hard to find a GS with a manual, let alone a manual equipped with package 3 (the power package). My local dealer carries 4 GS models and all of them have an automatic. The only manual hatch they have on the lot is a base L model that doesn't even have A/C (unbelieveable in Florida!). Anyway, hope I helped. Good luck in your search!
Scott
I have one other concern that I am wondering whether anyone else has encountered. My gas gauge slowly falls when left overnight instead of staying at the current reading (when tank is full, overnight, it might drop down to the 3/4 mark). Is this normal? When the car is started, the gauge sometimes goes back to where it was but sometimes only rises part of the way. This makes it read lower than it should. Anyone else encountered this? I thought a gauge was either supposed to drop immediately after turning off the car or stay in one spot, not drop slowly over time. I'm wondering whether I should have them replace the fuel gauge sending unit or just ignore it as something that is normal. What do you guys think?
Other than my fuel economy concerns, I really like the car and have encountered no problems. I still would recommend this car to anyone. It is an excellent value, a great-looking, solid, and refined car, and has a nice, comfortable interior. I just hope I can squeeze some more miles out of a tank of gas. If I can do that, than I will be satisfied, although more low-end torque would be nice.
Hmmm Suddenly the GS hatchback may not be an option after all. I can't stand sedans (no offence to any who own them) and if went with an Accent I would want it loaded to the gills. Given my time frame if I can't agree upon a price for a new ZX2, I will consider a vain attempt to find GS Manual Hatchback at another Hyundai dealer, and failing that may even consider visiting Carmax. We shall see what there is to see. Thanks again for your concerns.
Anyway, what octane are you using? I was using 89 when I first got the car, but switched down to 87. With 87 octane, I initially got between 29-31 mpg in all city driving, and than all of a sudden, it dropped and has stayed low. I have since switched to 89 and will see if that improves my mileage any. The tank I got 24.8 mpg on was 87 mixed with 89. I will post my findings on this tank with full 89. I may end up checking the plugs myself since it would be a pain to have the dealer look at it when I can do it in 15 minutes. Hell, maybe I ought to just put in platinum plugs and be done with it. Anyone know if platinum plugs are not a good idea for this engine (some engines it is advised not to use them)? I'm hoping I can get the car out on the highway and run it hard for awhile and see if that doesn't clean out whatever may be causing the poor mileage. Will let you all know the outcome.
Scott
A few posts back I asked for advice on car shopping, and quite a few of you were very helpful--especially focuszx3r, lngtongel18, and aldag. I thought I'd let you know that my car quest is over.
Tonight I purchased a 96 Honda Civic DX with auto, car alarm, air, and 4 doors for $9850. I decided against the Focus because it was just out of my price range and I didn't think it would have much resale because it's just a bit odd looking. As much as I like the idea of a Hyundai, the lack of proven safety features made me pause. And what made me really decide against it was that I only want to keep the car about three years--it seems like the Hyundai is a really good value if you keep it 5 to 10. And since I'd be selling it before that, I needed reliable resale, which the Hyundai just doesn't have yet. Someday!
Thanks for all your help. Best of luck to you all.
~ae2000
On a side note, I took my car on a long distance trip, hoping my gas mileage would increase. I used a whole tank of gas on almost all highway driving going 70-80 mph, and I only averaged 32 mpg. About 30 miles of the trip was done in heavy traffic in Panama City, but that is not enough to lower the mileage from the 37 mpg I got on a similar trip when the car was new. So I am pretty convinced it is not just the city driving that was causing the low mileage numbers. I will be taking it into the dealer if someone here tells me their vacuum line does not look or feel like mine. Maybe by some fluke, that is my problem!
Also thought I would share my experiences with doing the first oil change on my own. It is very cool that you can change the oil without needing to lift the car. I did it with the car flat on the ground and had plenty of room to do the job. However, it totally sucks that you have to partially take off the plastic shroud in order to get at the filter. The filter is also at such an angle that it tends to leak oil all over the shroud when taking it off. It is a messier job than it should be. And boy does the factory put the filter on tight! I fought with the filter for 15 minutes before finally having to poke a hole in it with a screwdriver to get it off. Let me tell you, the skin of that Hyundai filter is very tough as it took a lot of pounding to get the screwdriver to pierce it. The entire job took me much longer than it should (almost an hour), but now that the filter isn't so tight, I should be able to cut the time in half. I just wish Hyundai would place the filter away from the shroud at a more vertical angle while still allowing you to change it without needing to lift the car.
Scott
Naught to worry though Accent fans, once my insurance settles down, and I know what my yearly bill will be. I may yet again be looking at the Accent again. Only this would be as a 2nd Car which was my original intention. Perhaps a stripped down one or a used loaded one may fit the bill. In any event the forcast time frame is some time late next year. I did rather like the manual one I test drove, and would have NO reservations about recomending the Accent to anyone. I just wish the Automatic version had a bit more power, as I hope my second car will be Auto.
Thanks for your concerns regarding the loss of my first ZX2.
I just slide the drain pan underneath, then reach down the back of the engine from the passenger side to reach the drain plug. The oil filter can be reached from the same standing position, its behind the alternator. I just hand tight the new oil filter so next change will also be easy.
Scott
I have strongly recommended the Accent GS to one of my friends and he is very close to buying, but what is a good pirce on one with a 5-speed an a/c, no other options??
Aldag, I agree that you should not rely on ABS to stop in poor conditions, but it is definitely nice to have when the car has a tendency to lock up its front brakes. ABS would allow me to steer away from impending danger, rather than just slide right into it. I wouldn't care as much if it was the rear brakes that locked up. That's quite easy to control. It probably does have to do with the cheap all season tires in combination with the small 13" footprint and soft front shocks that allow too much sudden weight transfer. But I also think it has something to do with the balance in the braking system (too much front brake emphasis). Example: my Mom's 92 Accord has ABS but I have never engaged it, even when I purposely set out to do it when it was pouring rain for an hour and the road was super slick. I slammed on the brakes from about 25-30 mph repeatedly, and the ABS never engaged, yet the car did not slide or even try to lock up. That car exhibits good braking balance. The Accent would have been locking its front brakes and sliding all over the place in the same test, thus it has poor brake balance and would benefit greatly from ABS.
Scott
The word must be getting out about the Accent's great looks, value, and warranty because I have seen 2 other 2000 Accent hatchbacks in the past 2 days. One was an exact copy of mine! Thankfully, that black Accent had mirror tint instead of the dark black tint I have on my black Accent. What color is your car aldag?
Anyway, I am having them either adjust or replace the misaligned glove box cover, fix a rattling center stop light (its very loose and banging against the window everytime I hit a bump), fix the very annoying creak/squeak in the driver's buckle assembly (the buckle squeaks whenever I move in the seat), and investigate into why my fuel economy is so low. The service manager actually heard the buckle squeak, agreed that my mileage was way too low and that something must be wrong, and said immediately that they will probably just replace my glove box. The whole visit lasted just 5 minutes! So far, I am very impressed with the fast and friendly customer service. Hopefully, their mechanical work is just as good and they will solve all my complaints the first time around. I will let you all know the outcome.
worse though are people driving sports cars w/ auto transmissions.... why bother ???