Hyundai Elantra 5-door

orangelebaron

Also... what good is getting high gas mileage if you have to pay $200 to $400 more a year in car insurance because it's a Jetta regardless of the fact that it's slow?
I called up my insurance company and they quoted $1800 a year for a Jetta TDI wagon!!! I got quoted $1600 for a CRV EX. This is 100/300 coverage in NY suburb with a clean record. What do you pay for your GT, MPGMan and where are you in NY?

tdawg76

Hi guys,

I am in the market for a new car and I want something smaller than an Accord/Camry but with a lot of the features and manners that cars of that caliber come with. I've heard you talk about the Elantra GT and I've read the Edmunds folks constantly praise it. My question is this: do you guys like the hatchback? Also, would any of you like the sedan better? Also...could somebody give me some more detailed information regarding what types of service the Elantra requires at specific intervals? My e-mail is edfan9214@yahoo.com.....thanks! All opinions welcome...

wmoses

tdawg76 asked --

do you guys like the hatchback? Also, would any of you like the sedan better?

According to poll respondents on the Drivers and Believers website (http://gwebworks.com/elantra_gt/), 9% preferred the 4-door sedan, 86% preferred the hatchback, and 5% liked them equally.

If no one tells you about the service intervals I would be pleased to do so. Just email me -- my address is on the aforementioned website.

steven39

well folks i have been reaserching the elantra gt for about a couple months now and have been to many forums including msn carpoint, cars
direct, among many others and cant believe that the elantra gt or just the elantra in general got better reviews from consumers than the accord,camry, and the nissan
altima is this car really that good????? steve

lovetosavegas

I wouldn't say that Elantra GT is a better car then Accord/Camry/Altima. I would say that it is a much better value for your $$$. Test drive them all and see whether hatch utility and 5-6K difference in price will be worth ACA performance/feeling advantage.

mpgman

I'm in Manhattan and Jersey, splitting time. Insurance for my GT is approx. $1500/year with it based in NY. I have very high coverage levels including an umbrella, $200 deductibles and full or $50 deductible window glass coverage, I believe.

As to the GT in comparison to other cars per the more recent posts, the GT in either hatch or sedan form is probably more new car for the money in terms of content and warranty than anything out there. Service intervals are 7.5K for oil changes in normal driving with the usual 30/60/90K major servicings. I think that the TB is called for at 60K but I don't have my manual handy. It's not a Honda or a Toyota, but it is a lot better these days being just a Hyundai. Don't know what the earlier ones were like, but the GT is one solid car.

bnorby1

Hey, here's my two cents; Get the hatch! I used to drive an 88 Ford Escort - it had a hatch too. I had that sucker for 12 years and used it to move everything you could imagine - from Christmas trees to file cabinets to full size recliners to, well, you can imagine. Also many many trips fully loaded to and from college, all in one trip. Anyway, the point is the GT's hatch makes the car look sleek and is functional too - I have been using mine alot to haul around lots of things - albiet with much more caution (hey it's my first new car and why scratch the leather!). So, before you buy, look the car over, test drive the competition and get quotes form many different dealers so you can get the best price - and have fun!

Lestrade1

i had the problem with the crackling noise
dealer re installed the windshield and the noise went away dealer got the fix from hyundai america

Lestrade1

have 8000 miles on my 02 GT and have never gotten better than 25mpg regardless of what type of driving. anyone else have this problem?

5port

Lestrade1

I have 11,000 miles on my 2001.5 GT and my lifetime average is 24 mpg. Remember this is an average reading. If you want to see what your realtime mpg is press the reset button before your next trip.

compensate

I have now surpased the 30,000 mile mark in my 2001.5 5-speed Elantra GT. I now average about 34 mpg, with about 85% highway driving.

So far, things have been great - no major issues.

My biggest gripe has been the CD player - it still tends to "error-out" and eject the CD whenever I decelerate quickly or hit a decent bump in the road. It's probably just a faulty unit (CD suspension), which happens from time to time.

All-in-all I love my GT and hope to drive it for many years!

jimbeaumi

Will you be replacing your CD player? A problem like that should be grounds for replacement under your warranty.

kentavos

I just purchased a 2002 GT hatchback a few months ago and am thrilled with it everyday.

Here's what I like:

1. It's uncommon. I hardly see any GT's on the road and I like that. I can't keep up with the amount of Accords/Civics/Camrys I see everyday. For me having a car that stood out was a big plus.

2. It's loaded. We have the moonroof option, but the standards are incredible. I priced the Civic EX alongside it and the Elantra GT either matched or beat it in almost every category.

3. It's a great value. We'll have it paid off in three years easy and that's with nothing down.
It was easily a couple grand less than the Civic EX.

4. It's fun. I'm not a car expert, but I enjoy the way it handles and it has more than enough pick-up to keep things interesting.

5. It's got a warranty that will last as long as I'll keep the car. Most car dealers will privately tell you that spending extra money on a warranty is a waste and I'd agree. But if it's part of the deal, then it's a great bonus.

Here's what I don't like:

1. Visibility isn't the greatest. I wouldn't say it was as bad as a Honda Del Sol which is just dangerous, but it's not great.

2. Every now and then I hear a strange rattle out of the passenger side. I haven't been able to pinpoint it yet, but have read about this happening and so am not too worried.

3. The AC makes a noticeable noise when it's on. I read about this as well and am confident it will disappear in time. It's not loud enough to hear over the radio, but it is noticeable.

4. The speedometer needle fluctuates sometimes when I first start the car. I've only seen this happen twice and am not sure what it is. I read about this as well and will have the dealer look at it.

But that's it. Overall, money+features = great car.

windup_bird

Last week when I was holiday shopping, I bought a cheap FM transmitter ($20) at BestBuy and a poratble MP3 player ($30) at CircuitCity. Since I had converted all of my CDs to MP3 files a while ago, these little gadgets will let me listen to a nice mix of my music in my GLS, which only has a casstte player, without a hassle. Even if you have a CD player, this might be useful.

rjjensen

mostly highway, with some stop/go

wmoses

I like the look of the new layout. Congratulations to Edmunds' web designers.

gt_fan

In the 17,000 miles I've put on my GT since I bought it in January, I've never had occasion to get more than 100 miles from home. (Family vacations involve a Durango and travel trailer.) But over the Thanksgiving day weekend I took the car on it's first real road trip, to Gunnison CO and back. I reset the trip computer as I left home, and upon arriving back in Monument CO 554 miles later, it read 39.2 mpg. This included several mountain passes, including two crossings of 11,312' Monarch pass, which the GT easily cleared in 4th gear. Even with my progressing middle-age spread, I found the driver's seat to be exceptionally comfortable for hours on end. Good thing too, because with the GT's relatively large fuel capacity (I overfilled it before heading out) and good mileage, I didn't stop to refuel until I got back.

Overall, I was very pleased with the long distance comfort of the car. (Especially after bouncing around off-road all weekend in my brother-in-law's F250!) When I bought it, I was looking for an around-town commuter car and figured that road trips wouldn't be it's forte. But the GT takes to the open road with an aplomb only matched by my old Audi. Kudos, Hyundai!

backy

Do you realize you had enough gas left to go all of about 2 miles when you got home?

I used to take weekly trips between Austin and Houston in my '82 Celica GT and tried to make it all the way back home without refueling. That included driving around Houston all weekend. Once I got caught and my engine died about 10 miles from home. Luckily I was able to coast into a gas station. I never let the tank run that low again (but I've come close in my Elantra, a couple of times getting below one gallon).

gt_fan

The trip computer showed 32 miles to empty. By overfilling the tank, you can get more gas in there than the published specs would have you believe. I've pumped as much as 15.4 gallons into the GT. I used to do this quite often until I heard the deal about how it could damage the charcoal canister. This was the first time I had overfilled since then, but I figured since I was going on pretty good trip it wouldn't be overfilled for long.

Actually, on my '95 Audi (and some VW models I've seen) there was a relief valve right next to the filler that you can push while topping off. It releases the air from the top of the tank so that gas can fill the tank clear to the top. I found out about it on a VW diesel enthusiast site, and it seemed like it was a pretty popular thing to do. The one warning they had about it though: don't overfill and then park in the hot sun. You might end up with a gallon of fuel running down the side of your car. (Bad for pride, paint and the environment!)

bartbikerw

I just wanted to let everybody know that I posted an update on the Hyundai Elantra sedan forum regarding my Lemon Law which might be interesting to read. Post 3210.

steve9186

I was averaging above 30 mpg for the first 5oo miles than a slow drop in average to 27 mpg. I now have 2000 miles and I am averaging 25 mpg city and highway.

mpgman

may be worse than overfilling. You run the risk of sucking up sediment from the bottom of the tank into your fuel injectors.

gt_fan

True, you don't want to get into the little nasties at the bottom of the tank, but is the fear of sediment overblown? I've driven fuel injected cars since the 70's (75 SAAB, 77 280Z) and I've never managed to clog an injector. The Datsun's fuel gauge was spotty and I ran it out of fuel on several occasion with no ill effects (other than not getting where I was going on time!). The fuel filter should (theoretically) catch about anything that's big enough to get caught in an injector, and I run fuel-drying additives through the tank on a scheduled basis to keep the water at bay. It would seem to me that vigorous cornering with anything less than half a tank would stir up the sediment anyway. Opinions?

elantraman

Almost all our driving is stop and go with short trips the norm. Mileage varied between 18 mpg and 22 mpg the first 6000 miles. GT is automatic. Made first trip over 50 miles on Saturday. To and from State College from Pittsburgh. Mostly highway but not an interstate, frequent stop lights. MPG for trip was 32.4. I assume if I get in good weather on an interstate that it would do 35 mpg. Lots of hills in this trip. After 7 months, this car has had the best initial driving pleasure that I have experienced except for my dad's 76 V8 Camaro. I was a Honda enthusiast but Hyundai has won me over to this point.

little9

How dare you disparage the visibility of the Honda Del Sol. Don't you know that it was designed that way to increase your faith? I know that it sure has increased mine...on several occasions.

jjpeter

Hi, new to this forum but have been reading with interest. I have not even test driven the Elantra yet, but it seems like an incredible deal for the money.

Speaking of price, I have a quote from a local dealer (I live in the San Jose, CA area) for a GT with Package 7 - the december sale price will be $13,551.

Does this sound reasonable? Edmunds TVM price for this car with the Package 7 option is $15,068.

Sounds too good to be true!

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

kirk33

Had the same noise, especially on cool days. Dealer adjusted the torque on the struts - each needed about 1/2 turn to meet factory specs - and noise is now gone.

jimbeaumi

On paper, the Elantra is a great value. But the only way you'll be convinced is to drive it. Even without the nice discounts being offered, the car offers so much for the money: comfort, quiet, decent handling. Many of us have had very good experiences with our Elantras, both GT and GLS models, and I am one of them. Go drive it.

ezwjraia

As a one-time-only good will gesture, West Palm HYUNDAI has replaced my damaged oil pan.

Although it was not a condition required by their service manager, I intend to have them do all future oil changes. I'll miss the convenience of JIFFY LUBE oil changes, but the inconvenience will be offset by no future hassle over someone else's work voiding the warranty. In my thank you note to Finbarr O'Neil, I suggested that HYUNDAI state more emphatically in the service manual that a new, compressible washer must be used every time the oil drain plug is reinstalled.

I remain a fan of my GT and HYUNDAI Motors. Thanks to all who gave me suggestions when I cried out for help.

mxo11

Elantraman, most of your traffic lights must have been between Beaver and Park Ave., no?

Been keeping an eye on the mileage since I bought my GT '02 (13K now)and I've noticed the average is normally 29 miles/gal. However, in my last trip to Northeast PA the average dropped to 22 (on the way there) and then climbed back up to 31 on the way back. Weird enough, right now, while the trip odometer is showing more than 250 miles, the meter is still halfway, which means there are, according to the car computer, approximately 250 miles to go with this tank, something that I find ludicrous. This happened to me earlier with the end result that the needle suddenly dropped to near-empty (from a more-than-quater position) and I found myself driving with the warning light on. Has anybody experienced this?

2. I have some sporadic noise on the right window, especially when driving over bumpy streets. Took it to the dealer once, but of course, they couldn't hear anything. Suggestions?

3. Polished my GT and, carelessly enough, I put wax on the plastic things on the side (yeah, I know: how stupid could this be?). The question is: how can I get it off?

Thanks!

lngtonge18

Here is a simple fix that may or may not work but worth a try. It worked on my 00 Accent when wax stained the weatherstripping around the rear windows but that's a softer substance than the rub guards on the doors (I think it also worked on my side mirrors). Anyway, here's what you do: take a simple eraser, preferably the rectangular artist type that is white, and erase away the markings! I know it sounds ridiculous, but it really worked on my Accent. It made the car look much better. I learned this trick from the Protege5 forum where someone else had similar good results. Let me know if it works.

gt_fan

When I went to the dealer to pick up a few crushable washers, the parts department only had two of them in stock(!). The same washer is used by all of the Hyundai models, so pardon me if I question the diligence of the service department when it comes to using new washers. The first time I got my oil changed at the dealer I didn't see a separate line item for the price of a new washer. I'd have to believe that if they had used one they wouldn't have missed the opportunity to charge for it! After hearing of several Elantra owners having trouble with stripped threads, I installed a Fumoto oil drain valve. Now I can drain my oil without unscrewing anything and I don't have to worry about the threads.

fgaydos

It is a buyers market but don't wait too long.

http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/earthlink-net/mw-news.asp?GUID={D7F9AF50-952E-4799-945E-B0C5D464952F}

gtovrit

I also went to my dealer and asked the service manager about a crushable washer. He said he didn't think they even stocked them and would probably have to order one. I asked if they used a new one every time, he said there was no need to. When I went around to the parts dept., the parts guy just gave me one. So I know they have them, I also know they don't use them. I put on a Fumoto valve right away. I used to have one that I put on an Olds back in the early 90s, may not have been Fumoto, but it was identical in design and manufacture. It worked great, bought it at Pep Boys, but by the time I got my next car, they no longer carried it, and couldn't tell me anything about them. These valves are a great idea, they should be on every car.
Next topic, has anyone got a good idea for a cupholder for the GT? Because of the back seat design, the Elantra cupholder is not a possibility. The last thing I want is my kid sloshing a drink around back there.
Also, average mileage is 26-27 mpg, measured by dividing miles by gallons, not trusting the mileage computer. I have noticed the gas gauge shows a lot of miles (150) for the first quarter tank, not so good (200) for the next quarter, then the last half disappears pretty fast. Usually 350 per tank before I get nervous. This isn't limited to this car, though. Many cars and vans I've owned show uneven readings per gauge quarters. I believe someone else on here stated it is because of the shape of the tank, and the way the float is constructed. Bottom line, don't obsess.
P.S. I put a Sony 10 Disc changer in my GT, in the driver's side back corner, mounted vertically. It works well, sounds great, if only the face was black with purple lights...

adriana1

The dealer is talking about a fuel injection service @$89.99, decarb service @$135.00, tire rotation @$18.00 and oil change @$21.65 for the 23,000 miles on my GT
The manual does not call for all that!
I'm getting ready for a long vacation trip (5,000 miles), what should I go for?
I do not know much about this, any help will be really appreciated, FELIZ NAVIDAD A TODOS!!!!

csandste

The first two services show you're dealing with a dishonest dealer. As far as the rotations and oil changes: Wal-Mart will rotate and balance your tires for the lifetime of the tire for a little over $7 per tire and oil changes and filters cost $11.94. Figuring 7 rotations for the life of the tire-- that's $4 for the rotation and balance and $12 for the oil and filter. What's the extra $24 for?

adriana1

Is Wal-Mart also an authorized service provider for Hyundai? Can someone in the Chicago area recommend a honest dealer? Thanks again!!!

mxo11

The lack of a CD changer is THE only thing I dislike of my GT. It appears GTOVIRT solved that problem successfully, though! Any special recommendations? CD ref? Installation? (Did you install it yourself?)

gt_fan

Adriana1, at my 15,000 mile service, the dealer tried to talk me into doing their package that would have cost me over $300. I did some research on the net and decided that I didn't need most of the stuff that they recommended. Try these sites:

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/maintenance/articles/43781/article.html

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/maintenance/articles/43780/article.html

http://www.edmunds.com/products/maintguide/index.html

When all was said and done, I got everything that the owners manual calls for, plus a tire balance, for less than $60. Good luck!

gtjill

Hey everyone.. i havent posted here in a while, but i was wondering if anyone else was having the same problem that i'm having.

I've had my GT for about a year now, and have really had no problems with it at all... except for the fact that the headlights keep going out!! i know this doesn't sound like a huge deal, but i've had to have the headlights fixed 3 times already.. i've never had this occur so much with a car i drive. Has anyone else had this problem? is this just something that happens to a lot of cars, or is there possibly something wrong?

since i got the car last november, the drivers side headlight has gone out twice and the passenger side once. Each time the dealership has fixed it for free under warranty (not that they're all that expensive anyway).. but its mainly the inconvenience. Each time it happens i get pulled over at least once before i'm able to have it fixed.. this last time i was pulled over 3 times while waiting for my appointment...

anyway, just wondering if its common with these cars.. or maybe its common with all cars and i just don't know.. any input?

gsgman69

Just a curious 2002 GTI 1.8t owner here, but what does everyone here think of a 160hp, 2002 Civic SI for under 16k as compared to a GT for TVM?

gtovrit

MX011,myCD player/radio is a Sony XR CA400, the changer is a Sony XPlode. I bought these together about a year and a half ago, and had them in my last car, a Taurus. I pulled them out, and mounted the changer myself, although I had a car audio shop do the deck and wiring installation. I did the changer mounting because it saved about $40, and I placed it exactly where I wanted it, in the small space in the driver's side rear corner. Car shop guys will generally mount things where they are easiest for them, not always the best for you.
Drawbacks: The silver faceplate is out of place, I would definitely look for a unit with black next time. The removable faceplate button is right below the volume button, guess what happens. The disadvantage to mounting the changer in the driver's side back is no light in the hatch area when changing cartridges.
The sound is great, the units are reliable, but since I bought them last year, I'm sure the model number and some features have been changed by now.

csandste

is an authorized service provider. Under the Magneson-Moss Act any service required by a dealer has to be free. I'll probably do my first dealer scheduled maint. at 60K miles. At 30K I'll get a local tire store to check all fluid levels and change coolant for less than $40. That leaves the air filter which I can handle. (I could handle the oil changes too, but wanted a third party record.)

rii

I'm seriously considering the Elantra GT for my next vehicle. It seems to have everything -- good fuel economy and all the upgrades for a very low price. Hyundai seems to have improved their quality from the time of their debut in the mid 1980's.

Are you all generally pleased with your Hyundai experiences? I've also been considering the Toyota Matrix, Protege5 and VW Golf.

cjaccetta

I now have 32,435 miles (mostly suburban) on my 2001 Elantra GT and she's still running great. Mileage holding steady at approx. 26.5 combined. I do notice more little squeaks and rattles now that the temperatures have dropped, but these noises seem normal and are not annoying. They come mostly from the hatch area.

Just replaced my right-side lo-beam headlamp which burned out earlier this week. Replacing the passenger side bulb is MUCH easier than replacing the driver's side unit. Cost of new bulb was $14.83. Installation took 5 minutes and required no tools. Both factory bulbs have been now been replaced. No trouble with any other bulbs (marker lamps, fog lights, interior, etc.).

We got our first appreciable snowfall in Sopranoland this month. I learned that when the roads are snowy the GT (auto tranny) requires a light foot on the throttle to keep the front wheels from spinning. Other than that, the GT seems to be a fine winter car. You do notice the extra weight contributing to the car's stable feel during inclement weather. However, the feature I appreciated most during the snowstorm was the rear window wiper. All hatchbacks should have this feature.

(I know this is probably a matter for another forum, but I need to vent: if I see one more soccer mom driving her Ford Expedition Pollution Machine 5 mph down the center line because there are a few snow flurries falling, I swear I'm going to move to Europe. Driving a ridiculous mall-running SUV is bad enough by itself but driving one with self-important disregard for other motorists ought to be a hangin' crime.)

Anyway, the GT is still running great. My wife and I are so impressed by Hyundai that we are considering a second Elantra (or an '03 Accent) for a second car this spring.

gt_fan

In the 18,000 miles I've put on my GT since January, the only light I've had go out is the passenger side fog light. I drive with my headlights and fogs on about 50% of the time so I don't consider that to be too bad. I bought the new bulb a few weeks ago, but haven't installed it yet. I've heard it's a real bear!

The thing I really like about the fog lights is that they throw off a lot of light to the side. I drive I-25 through Colorado Springs every night where there's a nasty section under construction. They've got those concrete barriers right up against the edge of the left lane (where you'll usually find me tailgating some 5-under-the-limit white knuckler, hehe!). The street lighting is really poor and with the glare of oncoming headlights 3-4 feet to the left, the extra side lighting of the fogs really helps define the position of that unforgiving concrete!

clayman1000

RII,

I test drove all the cars you mentioned and am really impressed with my '03 Gt.
The Matrix pretty slow until very high revs. Like the Vibe.
The Golf is having lots of problems, check out the GOLF board here on Edmunds plus they are expensive.
The P5 I felt was noisy and quite small compared to the GT.

Hope that helps.

mpgman

The Civic Si will no doubt have Honda's great reliability and resale, but sit in it. I think it is nowhere near as comfortable for the driver as the GT and forget about the back seat. There is no armrest and no footrest, I believe. These are two somewhat different cars, but I'd take the GT hands down for all of its content and price. As to the others, the Matrix is utilitarian but very costly for what you get. The Golf appeals to me only in the TDI form. The P-5 is nowhere as comfortable as the GT and has less content.

Good Luck!

vadp

The current Civic Si is a slow seller.
Also it has some reliability problems. (at least more of them than the previous gen model).
It's still too early to tell, but it looks like the resale values are not gonna be nearly as high as for '96-'01 model.

jlgolden

gtjill: Our Elantra also had a headlight problem - the right headlamp would work a day or two, then not work, then work again. A new bulb solved the problem, of course. Now I wonder if the left lamp will do the same! Oh well, no big deal. We are so pleased with the car, we still joyfully laugh out loud when we think about how much luxury, comfort, and style we got for so little money!