Hyundai Elantra 5-door

bnorby1

yyeeeeeehaaaaaahhhhhh!

Yes. They are dangerous - that was prob my one and only time too, especially since if my wife found out, she would take my keys away!!

jimbeaumi

And I am so glad you are! My highest speed in my GLS was 100, in a stretch of Indiana that is particularly smooth (shhh, don't tell). Then I went to about 95 once I was back in Michigan, but that stretch had some unnerving dips so I ceased playing Speed Racer (that day). My experience was also a smooth one; car was stable.

lngtonge18

How bout this one: I hit 111 mph in my 2000 Accent hatchback with 13" tires and went up to between 105-110 on four other occassions, all of them late at night on a deserted road. I was actually pretty impressed with the little car's composure at such high speeds. The speed alone was impressive considering the little engine only put out 89 horses.

jimbeaumi

My hat is off to you!

dharmasutra

I just got around to reading the responses to my TCS questions of early october. The owner's manual is down in the car and I'm too lazy to go check it right now. Is the message regarding tcs correct when it says that the TCS is "off" when the TCS light is lit on the dash? Since the ABS light only lights up when it engages, I assumed the same was true of the TCS.

andil1

When you start the car the TCS is automatically engaged. There is no steady light on the dashboard. If the TCS kicks in, you will see the TCS light flashing as it is working. You will also hear and feel it--a bit disconcerting at first if you haven't experienced it! If you decide for some reason you don't want the TCS and push in the TCS button which will shut it off, you will then see the TCS dash light on continuously until you press the TCS button again, or shut off the car. TCS will be engaged once again the next time you start your car.

clayman1000

And the reason to disengage the TCS is??
Drag racing??

sambojoho

The only time I have found that it is a very good idea to disengage the TCS is when I got a flat and had to use the spare. The TCS seems to detect that the wheel with the spare is not rotating at the same speed, and will decrease engine power because it thinks the wheels are slipping, especially in turns.

Other than that one scenario, I always leave the TCS on.

bartbikerw

As I mentioned before I did 111 mph on my Elantra GLS.

jimbeaumi

I may take a day trip to Chicago tomorrow or Saturday. We have a bit of snow coming down, but if roads are mostly dry by the time I am well on my way, I might be tempted to spin that speedometer an extra crank. Woo hoo!

bnorby1

Jimbeaumi -- I have noticed that you are from Michigan. I am too - I live in Berrien County - whereabouts are you from, just out of curiosity? (I don't want to know specifically, but was curious because I have only seen 3 other GT's in this area that would appear to also reside 'round these parts).

jimbeaumi

I am transplanted from Detroit area to Grand Rapids. My car is a GLS, but I slip in here from time to time. As for GTs, there seem to be plenty in the area, as this is the second largest city in the state (hard to tell sometimes). My favorite GT color is still Pewter.

jeffhall76

Tonight a friend and I test drove a 2002 Saab 9-3 Viggen. This is Saab's 230 horsepower, blazing fast $38,000 sticker price 5 door hatchback. Sure the thing would blow the doors off almost any car out there, but as far as the ergonomics and "luxury" of the car for the price I am even more impressed with the Elantra GT.

I wanted a Saab really bad but after driving the Elantra GT I would have felt stupid paying $28,000 for a Saab 9-3SE. The Saab has one of the most awkward and uncomfortable driving positions with nowhere to put your left foot as it is blocked off. And to boot there's no high center armrest!

Go test drive a 9-3 and you'll see what a bargain the Elantra GT is. I'm not saying it's as good as the 9-3 but for the price the Elantra GT blows it off the road.

jimbeaumi

Not only does the GT look like the 2002 and earlier Saab 9-3, but it is nearly identical in every dimension inside and out. The most substantial difference on paper is, of course, horsepower. I compared the two on the AIC comparator at the hyundaiusa.com website. Oddly, the Saab is not classified as a "compact" even though the interior dimensions are so close to the Elantra. I may have to get the GT hatch next (I love the extra room!), but don't want to lose the good visibility of my GLS.

mpgman

My only complaint about my GT is the rear and side visibility. It might be the way I have my seat all the way back and high up. Don't know. I've had too many close calls with cars sneaking up on me on the right, and even some left side adventures. Never had this with any other car. I know that the pillars are thick and the rear window is raked and the rear headrests don't necessarily help. Other than that, just wish there was an audible signal for leaving the emergency brake on.

gpagpa

Saw this article from cartalk.com http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/mirrors.html

basically, it has you adjust your side mirrors so that it eliminates or reduces blind spots. I too, noticed that my visibility in my Gt was not very good. After I adjusted the mirrors, I noticed that once the vehicle moved out of my rear view mirror, it immediately went to the side mirror. Need some getting used to while driving, but seems to work. Also, if you are backing up or parallel parking, how can you see anything out the back window, you can't judge distance from the car behind you. Is it me or are other people having the same problem?

5port

The GTs side mirrors need to be overajusted compared to other cars. By that I mean, if you can see the side of the car in the mirror it is not adjusted out far enough into the next lane. Once you move both mirrors out you will have better coverage. Nothing can be done about the rear window as any car with a hatch, shallow angle rear window and high rear end has this problem. My old Eagle Talon Tsi was much worse.

backy

I don't know what you mean by "overadjusted compared to other cars". Car experts like Click and Clack recommend adjusting the side mirrors the same way for every car. As has been mentioned here before, it involves setting the center mirror first, then adjusting the side mirrors so as a vehicle leaves the view of the center mirror, it comes into view in one of the side mirrors. In their weekly column today they explain how to do that. They say you should put your head over to the left so that it touches the window, and then adjust the mirror so you can just see your car from that position.

I've tried to explain this to my lovely wife several times, but it hasn't helped. Every time I get into our Caravan or Elantra (after she's driven it, which isn't often), I find she's mis-adjusted the mirrors the "old" way, i.e. so that the rear of the car is visible in them.

mpgman

All true, but the GT, like other hatchbacks, sets no standard for visibility, and this comes from an owner who thinks it is hands down the most new car for the money out there. Just wish that for one thing, the rear quarter window could have been more expansive, although perhaps this had something to do with structural integrity of the rear pillar. I gather that these visibility issues don't apply to the sedan?

billster

I currently drive a 1990 Mazda Miata with 137,000 miles on it. Obviously I like the car and it still runs good and is in great condition as I take good care of my possessions.

Currently working for a large car dealership group and am eligible for a discount of some type on a new car. Our dealership has a Hyundai franchise in the group. Been hearing more and more positive things about Elantra GT's. Previous vehicles I have owned are Acura Integra and Mazda RX7.

In the last 2 weeks I took notice of what I thought was a Saab9/3 until I got closer and realized it was a Hyundai GT and to me it meant affordable sport sedan, providing it had nice equipment to go with the exterior looks.

Visited our franchise and took a GT out for a quick test drive and also did the net research before the ride so I sort of knew what to expect. The test ride met my expectations, loved the simple yet elegant interior, I think I am hooked.

SOOOO, what is a good/going price for a '03 GT with sunroof in a 5 speed? Retail was something silly like $15,5K with a bunch of silly add on stuff like paint sealant(who paint seals clearcoat?), fabric protection(on leather?)and a paint strip. I think I saw a wholesale price of 14K on a 2003 in my desired pakspec. Anyone care to comment?

After driving the GT, I think I might try or like to consider giving it a little more power like a CAI and possibly a cat back exaust system. Also considering larger custom rims and tires and the tower braces. Anyone try any customization and does/would this void the warranty?

Lastly, resale value. I am hearing that resale value is bad on Hyundai. I tried to do a comparison as I feel the GT is very comparable to a Toyota Corolla. Value for 3 year old is within $1000. I will say this comparison is sketchy as the GT has only been around as a 5 door hatch a short time so I am not sure how reliable my comparison is.

backy

No, there isn't any visibility issue on the sedan. The C pillar is completely different, of course, more upright on the sedan with a larger (cross-section) rear window. But why are people picking on the GT hatchback in this regard? I'd think any car with a similar design would have visibility problems. For example, my '82 Celica GT hatchback had poor rear visibility too, with a wide C pillar that made quite a blind spot back there. Is the Elantra GT's visibility really worse than other cars of a similar design?

jimpimms

The first accessory I buy for any new car is an under $2.00 2-inch convex mirror, which I apply to the driver-side mirror, at the extreme outboard end. This will alert you of the presence of another vehicle, nothing more. Even though the GTs have heated mirrors, my spot mirror has been on the car since June, 2001, with no problems (of course, this is the wrong time of year to apply it in a northern climate).

Then I adjust both side mirrors to achieve the widest possible field of view of adjacent lanes. You can then optimize your settings in traffic, if need be. And I still turn my head when changing lanes.

jimbeaumi

billster -- if you are getting a discount on your next car, then why does a "going price" matter? Don't you get the price your dealer group offers to its employees? P.S. Buy the car!

backy -- I only mention the visibility dilemma (mine) because I am spoiled by my GLS' good visibility, and also because my last hatchback spoiled me in many ways, including very good visibility. However, it is only a minor dilemma as I am a good parker, and a good mirror user, and one never knows when that huge amount of cargo space will be needed. The view out the rear would not be a deal-breaker for me -- I prefer the looks of the GT hatch to the GT sedan. Give me Pewter.

billster

I am a little skeptical of the dealers so called "discount", not that they are dishonest or anything. My father, who also works for the dealership part time inquired about a vehicle that had been purchased at the auction. Value of his car is 7K; auction car was bought for 11K. "We'll treat you right; we need your car and 12K."

Secondly, I am not sure as to how long I will be at this current position, as I may purchase after I leave the position, that is the reason for asking a good current price. Not looking to trade my Mazda, I may keep it and/or then decide to sell it outright when convertible season begins in the spring.

So, any comments on price or after market upgrades?

jimbeaumi

My my, it will be hard to give up a convertible, won't it? If I had the space and the cash, I would have both. Now where's my plane back off of Fantasy Island ... ?

I am not an aftermarket add-on fan, and I don't think GT pricing is being aggressively marketed like GLS pricing. Sorry I can't be more helpful on those points. Even at MSRP the GT is such a great value.

mpgman

Not picking on the GT...actually, I love mine, except for the visibility thing. I suspect that most hatchbacks suffer from this, although I don't recall it from my old Rabbit and Festiva. Now, if they would change the colors of the dash to something with a bit more contrast in sunlight I'd be really happy. 28,000 great miles so far.

backy

Those were a different configuration than the GT, not a fastback style. Both have pretty large rear quarter windows and more upright C pillars. The Festiva in particular has a really narrow C pillar. That could account for why you didn't have visibility problems with those, and why I had a problem with my Celica GT, which was a fastback style.

mpgman

It killed me to let my Festiva go when it overheated and melted its insides at 320,800 original miles on the ORIGINAL clutch! I was the only driver and did a lot of highway miles. They don't build them that good anymore. You are right about the rear pillar design. The GT is fine during the day, but I am particularly wary at night in the rain when it comes to changing lanes. Always turn the head all the way and won't rely on the mirrors at all.

gpagpa

Its the first measurable snow up here in OH. While driving on fresh snow in the street and pressing the brake half way, I could feel the abs kick in by pulsing the brake pedal, tried it on the clear street and braked as normal. Guess it works ok.

gpagpa

Ok, I remember reading someone had a problem with the front windshield left side making a crackling sound when going over bumps like a plastic bag. What did you do, and what did the dealer do about it, and what was their diagnosis of the problem. It only happened when my car was out in the cold for an hour or so. So now I can hear rattling in stereo, back right and now front left. I plan on bringing in to the dealer for an oil change and I want to have them look at both issues.

th003g

well my car Does Not have abs... and when I was making the turn into my block after work... a flatbed truck was making an illegal u turn in reverse coming out backwards where i was heading in ( I was making a right turn..) I immediatly jammed on my brakes... four wheel skid... about 10 feet of rubber (Z rated) marks left on pavement... you shouldda seen the look on the guys face.... pretty dumb move on his part since my block is a very short block and ends in a cul-de-sack and a connecting street that goes back up to the main road...
it would've taken him less time to drive down to the end of the block and around the circle and come back out the right way than back out the way he did...
it just shows how good the brakes are on the GT even if you lock up... so long as its a dry surface..
its pretty cool that I can see my own skidmarks on the street... clearly see all four tires... and the center groove on the tire
and its gonna snow tomorrow... but i'm going to retire my GT for the winter soon...(dont feel like changing tires or driving summer tires in the winter)
i'll be driving my sister's 2002 GLS

onegvu001

Any recommended dealers in the Bay Area?

gt_fan

I was driving home last night and ran over a some road debris. By the time I got home, my left rear tire was noticeably soft. I put the space saver spare on (a Kuhmo, what else?) and took the flat in for repair this morning at my usual tire and repair place. No dice, the sidewall was damaged. The tire shop, which doesn't stock Michelins, quoted me $195 for replacement. Ouch! I quick called around and found the exact MXV4 plus at Sams Club for $112, went and picked it up and took it back to the tire shop for installation. Total cost for tire, mount and balance: $128 after our favorite uncle took his piece of the action. Still painful, but not near as bad.

On another subject, my computer readout has been showing 30-31 mpg since I had the 15,000 mile service done a couple of weeks ago. For some this might be good, but I was used to seeing 33-34 before, with actual mileage being about 1 mpg lower. I'm wondering if the mpg computations take info from the TPS (throttle position sensor) which was replaced during the service. I also noticed that the tires had been brought down to 26 psi from the normal over-inflated 35 psi that I like. It just occured to me, too, that if history is any guide, the dealer may have overfilled the oil again. If it's too high, the crankshaft may be dragging through it. My old-granny style of driving has netted me a lifetime 32.6 mpg for this car. I don't want it to go down now!

joffficer

Will the alloy wheels on my 2002 GT fit (correctly) on a 2001 accent L ? I'm considering buying a used accent for a commuter as the wife has 'considered' the GT her's.
Thanks.

BTW will the 2.0 fit in the accent easily? just curious, but 135hsp would be fun in such a light car!

csandste

Telling comments about the Michelins. Although I think the MXV4+'s are good tires I think they're overpriced. I think Michelin gives the manufacturers a very low rate on these OEM tires in hopes that you'll be back to buy one at full price. That's how they make their money.

I've had good luck with Kelly tires before and got a pretty good price on Chargers--$69.23 per tire with lifetime rotation and warranty. Trouble is they're not an H rated tire. Obviously the H rating is well in excess of any speed I'll drive or any speed the Elantra is capable of. Many dealers tell me I have to go with the same rating the original tire was because even though the speed is excessive that H rated tires have different drive characteristics than those rated S or T. Others say this is BS.

Although I love my Elantra, I must say that a friend's Focus is a better handling car. Korean cars tend to be soft handling anyway. I really think the Michelins are just a scam in hopes that I'll rip one to shreds or be dumb enough to lay out $130+ per tire when they wear out.

Past Kellys have been reliable. In fact I've liked them as well or better than their Goodyear cousins. Your thoughts on having to go with an H rated tire. Cheaper H rated tires are available, but their mileage rating is generally worse than the Kellys. Of course all references are to 195-60 15R's, I'm not talking about changing size or aspect ratio.

csandste

Wal-Marts house brand tires are made in the Kelly plant. Douglas tires are H rated and don't cost any more than the Chargers but they're only rated at 40K vs. 55K for the Kellys. I'm also looking at Coopers-- can't remember the model. Any other comments on good tires?

backy

The decrease in tire pressure could easily account for the decline in mpg, also, do the gas stations in your area switch to "winter formulation" about this time, as mine do? That always seems to take about 1-2 mpg off of my cars.

billster

Don't own an Elantra GT yet but have been driving sporty type cars for about 17 years now. I made the mistake once of buying a set of Pirelli P77 tires for my Mazda RX7. They were an all season tire but did not have a stiff sidewall like the original Yokohama tires. Handling suffered, no question and these were the correct size, unsure of the rating. Should have gotten the P6's. That H rating will make a difference and with out them, handling may become "softer" or "mushier". Currently using Dunlop D60A2, great tire, 40K mile tire on my Mazda Miata. I shopped around and got a great price of under $250 for 4 tires out the door, NT&B. Stick within the parameters of the stock Michelins, personally I think they(Michelins) are overpriced, stickier tires will improve handling but will wear faster.

gt_fan

Backy -
Indeed, our gas here switches to an ethanol blend in the winter. (They used to have MTBE as an option, but I haven't seen any lately.) That may very well be what's causing the drop. During the last winter, my mileage was lower, but I attributed that to the fact that the car wasn't broken in yet.

I did check the oil level, and sure enough, it was well above the high mark on the stick. I'm going to drain some off in the morning. The Fumoto oil drain valve should make that job easier.

Csandste -
Funny you should mention Kelly tires. The tire shop suggested that I replace the dead Michelin and one of the good ones with a pair of Kellys. It would have been about $25 more than putting on just one new Michelin, but I've always gotten a ton of miles out of Michelins and didn't want to give them up. Besides, they only have 17k on them.

While I was at Sams Club, I noticed that the MXV4's also come in a V-rated compound. Logically, these would be a stickier, higher performance (though lower mileage) tire. They might be a good compromise for someone looking to replace the OE tires with something quicker, without the expense of 16 or 17" aftermarket wheels.

ziglifler

If you can try to get out of the bay area . high overhead = higher priced cars .

steven39

hi, i have been trying to find
a elantra gt 2003 and none of the 5 hyndai dealerships that is within a 20 mile radius of my home has one. only gls
should i get the gls or keep searching for a gt? i really want a gt.

dutch4505

It is down to the wire. I have to decide between a 2003 Hyundai Elantra GT, auto, moonroof, abs brakes OR used 2001 VW Jetta turbodiesel (15,000 miles.) Both are within 1,000 in price. Both ride nice, but I feel that the VW is "more solid" on the road.

I have been reading about some reliablity issues with VW (Made in Mexico). The Elantra seems to be a good value now, but I worry about resale value in the future.

"What to do?"

windup_bird

Have you tried CarsDirect.com? My local dealers couldn't find me a 2002 GLS (they only had 2003 GLSes), but CarsDirect.com found me a dealer in a neighboring state that had a 2002 GLS with the specifications I wanted (stick, chianti red). This dealer, five hours away from my home, delivered it to me by a flatbed truck three days later.

backy

On reliability, the Elantra has the edge, at least based on Consumer Reports, which rates the Elantra average in predicted reliability while the Jetta is below average. But the Jetta TDI has the edge in resale value; e.g. according to Kiplinger's Personal Finance, the Jetta GL TDI returns 48% of MSRP after 4 years while the Elantra GT hatchback returns 37%. With the Jetta, it's already taken the worst of the depreciation hit since it's a 2001 model. If you plan on keeping the car several years, resale value shouldn't matter as much. Also consider that with the Elantra you'll have 5 full years of warranty protection (or 60k miles), so your repair costs over the first five years should be lower than for the Jetta.

csandste

1. The Jetta will save you big fuel $$$
2. Do you want to hunt for stations with Diesel?
3. VW's have better resale, but according to Kiplingers (at least) Hyundai resale figures are creeping up and average at least.
4. Hatches are handy (of course both hatches and sedans are available on both cars).

lovetosavegas

Another thing that Elantra has advantage vs Jetta TDI is noise/vibration area. I test drove a TDI one before getting an Elantra and was unhappy with the idling vibration while stopped for the red lights.

steve9186

Has anyone had these windshield noises (like a crackling sound) from the left side of the car? I had them daily till 1850 miles on the car and has now gone away. Might be due to the temporary warm weather.
Also when cold,there is a delay in shifting from 2nd to 3rd; and only when first out in the morning.

lovetosavegas

Was pleasantly surprised by the elantra's mileage on my 400 mile 'break-in' trip. Before the trip car had 450 miles for the first 200 miles(one way) the mileage was 37.2 mpg most of the way. On the way back 36.8 was displayed most of the time - don't know why it was different, same tank of gas, used heater on the way back and it was a night trip. All highway with various speed 55 - 70 mph.

vadp

Such a minor difference in milage could be a result of a change in wind direction in addition to a current draw increase due to night driving.

mpgman

Two different breeds. Drive the TDI for awhile and make sure the subtle but audidle noise of the diesel doesn't bother you or other regular passengers. Check into the cost of the required TDI maintenance...it is more expensive than gas cars. For example, the need to use synthetic oil, far more expensive filters, more costly timing belt maintenance, etc. What portion of the TDI warranty would you be getting? Turbo repairs can be enormously expensive. I think the Jetta is a better riding car and might even be a bit more comfortable in the front seat, but the GT is bigger overall and has a lot more flexibility. The GT's new car warranty is a huge plus. CR now has removed the Jetta from its recommended list due to reliability issues. Good Luck! Sure would like the TDI's mpgs though, but it depends on how much you really drive.