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Comments
Erik
I do like having something not everyone else has.... it stands out in a crowd. Kind'a like the old Saab 900 in the 80's. It's funny how close the new Saabs look to the GT (or the other way around).
I have had 2 long surveys mailed out to my house and they are from survey companies, not even directly from Hyundai.
My salesman only mentioned that if I was satisfied with his service he'd appreciate me saying so on the survey that was to come. I said sure, and that was the end of that. Of course I gave him high marks for his attitude and approach.
As for GTS or future GT models, my suggestion would be an upgrade to a 6-speed manual. 3500 rpm is just a bit too high for my taste at 85 mph.
Since I use the car for commuting I'm following the heavy-duty maintenance schedule. Thus, I'm 3,000+ miles overdue for my Hyundai-recommended 15,000 mile service. I'll post another report when the service is complete. I also plan to ask for the auto tranny reprogram since I occasionally notice the shift flare.
In the last month I've seen a marked increase in the number of GTs on the road. The secret must be out. I'm lso happy to see that our thread (over 1900 posts!) is still going strong. Congrats to all the new GT owners out there. And for those of you who are potential owners....what are you waiting for??
Happy Motoring!
I just vacuumed out four months worth of winter debris from the interior of our GT and I'm pleased to report that the interior surfaces still look good after hard use. There were a few scratches on the lower-level plastic surfaces but aside from those, the rest of the interior is tip-top. The leather is holding up very well as are the plastics in the console and upper dash area. Even the flimsy carpet (with the addition of a set of $9.99 AutoZone floormats) shows very little wear.
Here's more good news: after 18,000+, there are hardly any rattles or squeaks emnating from the GT. I am pleasantly surprised at how tightly our car is bolted together.
Top three cars for which our pewter Hyundai is consistently mistaken:
1. Saab
2. Subaru
3. Lexus (no lie - I can't figure it out, either!)
Happy Motoring!
1. Hyundai in Canada only has a 3 year comprehensive/5 year powertrain warranty. And we all know about Hyundai's bad name in reliability.
2. # recalls. I know the elantra for 2002 has been completely redesigned, but the # of recalls for the 2001 model -- after it has been out for several years is a whooping 39. compared to <10 for focus, civics i'm quite worried.
3. wagon style will be out.
4. inattractive interest rate. the gt's leasing interest rate is 5.9% in canada -- compared to focus wagon's / hatchback's 3.9% i'm not impressed.
5. cost of maintenance in long run. since hyundai's aren't as popular as honda / toyota's, does this mean i'll to pay more for its parts? or have parts custom rebuilt (this has happened when i had to replace rack-and-pinion steering on my e30.)
>1. Hyundai in Canada only has a 3 year comprehensive/5 year powertrain warranty. And we all know about Hyundai's bad name in reliability.
I have had 3 Hyundais when I was in Canada and I don't know about any reliability issues. I have never had any reliability problems with my 1989 Sonata GL, 1993 and 1995 Elantra GLs. If cared for, they are just as reliable as any other car in its class. This reliability bad name is nonsense.
> 2. # recalls. I know the elantra for 2002 has been completely redesigned, but the # of recalls for the 2001 model -- after it has been out for several years is a whooping 39. compared to <10 for focus, civics i'm quite worried.
The 2001 cannot have been out for "several years" and as for the number of recalls (assuming that this is an accurate number) -- are they all safety related? I have only had about 3 recalls in total for my 3 Canadian Hyundais. 39 recalls on one car/model which is on the road maybe 1.5 years is nonsense. Speaking of recalls Focus has a pretty serious one in effect now.
> 3. wagon style will be out.
The GT is not a wagon. It is a hatchback. Read the current literature and see the trends these days -- hatchbacks and crossover vehicles are "in" in NA now. Hatchbacks were always "in" in Europe, where people apparently can appreciate its versatility a bit more. Buy based on your needs, and not what the trends say you should buy.
> 5. cost of maintenance in long run. since hyundai's aren't as popular as honda / toyota's, does this mean i'll to pay more for its parts?
You will not pay more for parts. You will pay less. Also, the parts availability is just about the same as with any other vehicle *including domestics*
If you want a solid, dependable, sporty car that is the *best* value for your money, then you will have not choice but to buy the GT.
Visit my website to learn some more about the GT,
http://www.gwebworks.com/elantra_gt
and ignore Consumer Reports.
2001 elantra recalls/problems
http://www.alldata.com/TSB/25/01250421.html
1996 elantra recalls/problems
http://www.alldata.com/TSB/25/96250416.html
Comparing recalls of the current generation Elantra to the current generation Civic, the Elantra has had one recall affecting less than 1000 cars. The Civic has had six recall actions to date, although if you look at the recall bulletins it looks like only four different defects. I also noticed that Hyundai overall has had no recalls to date on its 2002 models, while Toyota has had two, both on the Camry (although one recall affected only 2 cars). It will be interesting to see if the '03 Corolla can uphold Toyota's stellar reliability record.
Automotive Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins for 2001 Hyundai Elantra L4-1997cc 2.0L DOHC MFI.
and if you look at the top of the list it stats that all 39 entrys are service bulletins . not recalls .
a sercive bulletin is just for the service departments to let them know of changes and posible fix's to problems that might arise . not a recall .
if u really looked at the page you would understand it alittle better . even the first bulletin is to decode the vin #. others are corrections in the service manuals , specs of the car and how to cut a key ... not notices of a recall.
if you go thru the whole 2001 list of cars from hyundai u will see there was only 1 recall for any of there 2001 model cars and it was for the xg300 and you know what it was for ?? Tire Inflation Pressure Label Replacement .. and the recall for that seems to me is a none issue what ya think ?
I will post a picture of it if I like it. A local shop that does a lot of work for the Hyundai dealer is installing it, ( 95$ CDN)
Again I will see if I like it 1st then will post a picture.
That being said, TCS or not, the car performs at least as well in the snow as my old Saab 99LE, which is to say very, very good. Stability on icy and snow-packed roads is excellent, and the ABS brakes work so well in any weather that they alone are worth the price of the extra package. But IMHO, having good winter tires is by far the most important thing when it comes to driving in the snow.
I've been checking out your page quite a bit recently. (found it through google) I was looking for a site that had details on the stereo in the GT, and your garage section was a great help in letting me see what i have to look forward to when i get my GT soon. (still deciding) Anyway, the pics of your car look good with that spoiler. Is that the factory elantra spoiler from the GLS ? If you don't mind me asking, how much can i expect to pay for that as an add-on ? Thanks ! Nice site !
By the way, anyone out there try fitting bicycles with the front wheels on in the hatch? Any luck getting a regulation sized bike inside? Anyone try 2?
The GT has 22,000 miles and is still purring.
Thanks for the compliment. Good to see that the website is useful.
The spoiler is actually a Toyota Celica GT spoiler made as an aftermarket piece. It fits the GT perfectly and is actually the spoiler the dealers around here put on when it is requested.
I believe it costs a bit over $300, but that is through the dealership. You should be able to get it cheaper if you shop around. Someone liked my spoiler also, and managed to find it on eBay and bought it for much less than $300 ... If you get it when you buy the car you can haggle on the spoiler and should be able to get them down to $200 or so.
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?EveryShadeofBlue
I'm really happy with the way it looks. Perfect fit, like it was designed for the GT.
Jeff
I have a quick question for everyone. I was wondering if anyone knows what size rear speakers the GT has. I would bet the fronts are 5 1/4 like the GLS, but I have a hard time believing that the rears have 6x9's like the GLS as per the Best Buy guy. It doesn't seem like 6x9's would fit in the strut towers. I could experiment, but don't want to take it apart if I don't need to, and don't want to guess and buy the wrong components. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Rich
Unfortunately, I've found that it's extremely difficult to fit a 26" or 700c bicycle in the rear hatch with the front wheel attached. You might be able to do it if you loosened the bike's handlebars and turned the wheel, but then you run the risk of damaging the headliner. You might also be able to carry an adult sized bike if you left the hatch open but secured it with bungees or straps.
However, I've sucessfully carried two bicycles on many occasions. Ditch the cargo cover, and as long as all four wheels are reomved and all seats folded you'll fit both bikes in easily. In fact, you might be able to squeeze in a third (especially if you're not carrying a passenger) due to the relatively high ceiling in the car.
I often carry my road bike with only half the seats folded and the cargo cover still in place.
Elantra GT owners should avoid rear-mount bicycle carriers. The upper straps which hold those units in place will pull against the glass rear window and could damage it. I think another owner posted with this problem earlier.
Good luck.
looking to put a different unit in. any suggestions?
so far i love driving this car when my wife isn't. thanks for all the previous posts, as they are always helpful
Speaking of oil (here we go again). I changed my oil, and with 4qts (plus a full filter) the level is at the full mark.
"These are the reviews that make me wonder how "unbiased" the media is."
I would definitely substitute "smart" in place of "unbiased" in the above when it comes to certain automotive "reviewers".
http://carpoint.msn.com/Vip/Heraud/Hyundai/Elantra/2002R.asp
A quick tip for Mr. Heroud: The wipers work better if you turn them on, Dan!
I agree...it is missing something, and this is from a so called "journalist". A class or two at the local community college can do more harm than good!
bpi, "They clear only a relatively small part of the windshield's surface." Your correct....maybe that was what he was trying to say. Honestly I find that hard to believe, though. I don't (can't) look out from under the headliner, but from the outside it looks like the wipers miss that part. I wonder how much Heraud really tested this car?
http://carpoint.msn.com/Vip/Heraud/Hyundai/Elantra/2002R.asp
It wouldn't surprise me to hear he works for Consumer Reports as well! I'm guessing he has big fat fingers also....... I've never had a problem with any radio built after 1985! Is this guy for real?
interior fit + finish: better than civic, hell better than $26k altima
performance: something called using the throttle buddy... if he says that about elantra I wonder if he's ever driven the civic dx
Braking: sorry but I belive the elantra Non ABS bests the cometition by stopping from 60 in 126 or so feet. better than abs equipped competition (as stated by numerous more prestigios and worthy sources than someone from MSN)
Tires: all new hyundai elantra's come with
Michelins
Lights; brighter than my cousins civic and my Jag
nuff said( of course HID is going to be brighter, my parrot could figure that out)
Wipers: clear only a small part.... yeah the part needed to be clear so I can see through it not the top corners of course......extremely slow? turn the intermittent setting up or put it to the third setting
defroster: one of the fastest one's i've used and I've had access to many cars from all different continents...(benz, jag, honda, hyundai, toyota, mitsu, chevy,ford, daewoo, nissan, peugot)
seriously people need to get real and see the light that civics can't compare to elantras
in small print ant bottom of test page:
Testing Methodology
Each vehicle featured in Test Drive undergoes a comprehensive week-long evaluation by Daniel Heraud and his team of four testers. Using the .....
yeah and I used my state of the art test intrument: my brain... guess what your instruments are honda biased tooo!!!!!!!!!
PS he also said about the civic:
PRO #4: Driving pleasure (127-hp)
7. Performance (127-hp)
take heart:
COn#5. Slow windshield wipers
hell just read the civic review... it pisses me off
daniel jedilicka said in his report on the elantra: . But no power driver's seat is offered. LOL
hahaha
I'm not putting down the civic... it's a nice car... but when I shopped around (in the same price range) the GT won hands down!
I really like the spoiler. I checked out SpoilerDepot.com, but I can't figure out how to order one. I understand from Wayne that it's a Toyota Celica GT spoiler, but their website doesn't let you specify the right color. How did you order the spoiler? I just want to make sure I don't screw up and order the wrong part/color.
Also, where'd you get your antenna from? It looks _much_ better than the ugly stock antenna. I was thinking about installing a retracting antenna, but yours looks much cooloer.
Scott
http://www.autoweek.com/
Maybe this is the start, and maybe Hyundais will get the recognition they deserve when compared with Hondas and their ilk.
Jeff
The price, unpainted, was $115 plus $26 for shipping. I checked with a couple of local auto body shops who said they could paint it at a price not much more than what Spoiler Depot charges. All totalled, I should be in at less than $250, which sure beats the $400 some dealers are charging.