Picked up a Bright Silver LTD with Prem package last Friday. Front map lights work with the doors and I made sure that the doors locks were activated to work when I start out. Thanks to this and the other SF forums for the great info on things to look for. I am extremly happy with the car so far and will keep everyone up on any problems so that others may gain from my experiences as I learned from all yours.
Happy Santa Fe'ing. I got mine at the end of March 2007 and I am so happy with it. I only had a couple of minor problems that were addressed and fixed quickly. I still love driving it. It's a pleasure to drive a vehicle that is as quiet as this one; and smooth riding, too :shades: .
I'm also in AZ - I'd be careful about removing the front License plate assembly, as i understand that it is meant to be a break-a-way fixture in case you hit a pedestrian
I was going to stick a couple of amber reflectors on it instead. At least it might look like it is for something.
I noticed on my Santa Fe that the rear center armrest was a little loose and that if I pulled it down onto the seat, with any force, the cup holder lid springs open on it's own. I noticed the lid was alittle warped, which I'm sure is stopping the opening mechanism from being as tight as it should be - I'm getting it looked at/replaced tomorrow.
I also tried several other S.F.'s, some had the problem, some didn't - I also put it down to the hot temps. here in Phoenix (already 104 -108f ) but I know that the Infra red reflective glass prevents heat build up. I absolutely know that to be true compared to my previous SUV.
I've noticed the same thing on mine. Though I don't see any warpage, the cupholder likes to open on its own, especially with the armrest all the way up. It looks to me like the little "rib" that's supposed to hold the rest in the closed position by engaging in its "slot" just isn't big enough to be effective. Please let us know if you have success in getting this taken care of.
Went to the dealer today and re-checked some S>F's and whether their rear cupholders did the same - some did & some didn't. It's not a very good design ( I bet the 2008 has a different design!)
After i complained for the 2nd. time , the mechanic finally tried it and got the same result as me -it popped open on it's own when I pulled it down onto the seat. The service manager ordered a new cup holder assembly to be fitted later when it comes in - yea !
Follow-up: Just had my map light fix installed today, it took a week to come in, then a week for me to schedule the appointment. Looks and works good (although I will have to sneak out to the garage when it gets dark to check it out ). My wife says the eyeglass holder works nicer than the old one (they replace the entire overhead console).
Part number for me was 00305-92800-J9SR (SE with beige interior and sunroof). It's listed as "SOP kit for dome light reposition".
I was the second one my dealer did. Not sure how long mine took, but they had told be the first one they installed last week took 1-1/2 hours.
I also had the auto door locks enabled at the same time. I'm a happy Santa Fe owner!
Excellent Drwoodr....haven't tried the new eyeglass holders yet but now I will! Glad it worked out but 1.5 hrs sounds like they drank a lot of coffee!! :shades:
Followup: Just checked my eyeglasholders and I have no idea what if any difference there is...why....because I have to wear my glasses when I drive and had never tried them:)
While I was at it, I checked the reported rear armrest cup holder problem reported...Mine is just fine...guess I got lucky.
Had the new rear cup-holder unit installed today and all is well in Santa Fe land again. It is firm and flat on the top lid and remains closed as it should, when lowered onto the rear seat.
I just took my first road trip in my 2007 Santa Fe SE.
For Father's day I wanted to go on a short road trip. I live in the Washington D.C. area (Northern VA) and the wife and I decided to drive to Antietam Battlefield in Sharpsburg MD which was approximately 140 miles roundtrip. (My wife and I love history and we are trying to visit as many historical sites as we can).
All I can say is "I LOVE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE!"
I recently travelled the same route when I took a trip to Harper's Ferry WV in my wife's 2006 Toyota Sienna XLE(Antietam Battlefield is only about a 30 minute drive further North). The route travels through portions of the Appalachian mountains and some portions are quite hilly and curvy.
There was no comparison. The Sienna has a nice smooth ride that readily absorbs bumps, however it is a little floaty and it sways heavily in corners! It does not instill confidence (in fact, it makes you want to slow down...a lot!).
The Santa FE really hugs the corners well for a midsize SUV and it encourages you to test it's limits (I really have to slow myself down in the twisties).
The Santa Fe is also so quiet! It is so much quieter than the Sienna and it feels so much more substantial (The Toyota has noticeable gaps where the dash panels come together...the Santa Fe has none!)
I usually have to drive the Sienna on long trips since I have 2 little one's and the Sienna has a DVD player that the Santa Fe lacks. However, since it was father's day I insisted that we drive the car I wanted to drive.
Fortunately, my nearly 3 year old son managed to keep himself entertained and did not fuss very much during the trip.
I averaged 22.5 MPG during the whole trip the AC was on roughly 50% of the time. There was a noticeable drop in MPG when the AC was on.
Those of you who are in the market for a midsized SUV need to take a serious look at the Santa Fe...you will not be sorry. My only regret is not getting a Limited, it would be nice to have a power driver's seat and leather! However the SE gave me most of the features I really wanted, and was in my budget.
I'm in complete agreement with you. I've had my Santa Fe Limited AWD for 4 weeks and I'm amazed at how enjoyable it is to drive. It's quiet, has a great combination of ride and handling, and has a very high-quality feel to it. Before buying this Santa Fe we had a Volvo XC90 AWD, a $45,000 vehicle. This Santa Fe is every bit as enjoyable to drive as that Volvo was. I'd recommend the Santa Fe to anyone in the market for an SUV.
My sister and daughter also live in NVA. I usually fly out there (I'm in Iowa), but if I ever take my SF, I know I will be safe on all the twisties-and there are many! They lives just outside Clifton and they often drive Fairfax Station Road. Not only is it beautiful, but it's made for a vehicle like the SF. I may have to extend my next vacation so I can drive out there and enjoy the roads. I just hope gas prices come down before next May :mad:. I really do enjoy driving the SF. It's fun and quiet and I've got the XM going :shades: ...
SF Limited FWD w/Premium package Golden Beige /golden beige interior
I picked up my new SF this past Monday. My last car was a Toyota Highlander that was rear ended when we were pulling into our driveway and my car before that was a Rav4. Our Toyota dealer here also sells Hyundai and I saw the SF. I test drove it and WOW it was such a better ride than the new Rav, which I wanted to go back to. It was hard for me to switch from a Toyota but I kept thinking about this SF. (I read a lot of posts here and searched online for info) Now I can't wait until after work to run errands etc! I really love my new car! And the blue lights that everyone is talking about....
I just bought an AWD Santa Fe limited with premium package two days ago.
This is a terrific vehicle. It feels upscale and drives well.
I just have a question about the ride of this car. It is very quiet on even surface. Even at 75 mile per hours, it is quiet and there is no need to raise my voice talking to my wife. In my old Mazda tribute, I needed to do that.
But, in the local road, especially, where there are some broken pavements or small bumps, the ride becomes uncomfortable and loud. I could hear loud impact noise on each one of the bumps. I think most of these noises are from the front wheel. In my old tribute, I did not hear these kind of noises.
I don't know. Maybe I am too sensitive. I am just wondering whether everyone's santa fe behaves the same way or not.
I have the same type of Santa Fe (Limited AWD with Premium Package) and have no objections regarding ride quality or noise, regardless of pavement type. Sure, it's not as smooth as quiet on rough pavement as it is on smooth, but that's to be expected. At no point does it turn objectionable to me.
Check the tire pressure first. Tires are usually overinflated for shipping and the dealers often forget to air them down when they do the prep on new cars. The recommended pressure should be on a label on the driver's side door jam/B pillar.
We have many bumpy roads in SE Iowa. Yes, it is a bit rough, but still quiet. We discovered not too long after purchasing that the tires were overinflated. I'll check this again, too.
doesn't really matter - the tire pressure at 30psi still gives a ride like the tires are hard/overinflated - i think the oem tires just have a rough ride - so if you're used to a car - you'll be sensitive to it - if you're used to a suv with a truck platform you'll feel right at home or pampered....
" But, in the local road, especially, where there are some broken pavements or small bumps, the ride becomes uncomfortable and loud. I could hear loud impact noise on each one of the bumps."
I agree with hoo320, in local roads especially at lower speeds (30-45mph), you really feel a loud impact noise on every bump. I drive a '03 Honda Civic before getting the SF Limited AWD, the Civic handles the bumps, broken pavements better at lower speeds compared to the Santa Fe. When the speed increases though, you can notice that a sudden decrease of the loud impact noises on broken pavements.
A few weeks ago, I notice that the noise is not that loud anymore. I checked the tires and found out that it's 28psi. I put it back to the recommended 30psi, and the same loud impact noise is back.
But overall, I'm pretty happy with the SF. It's definitely a big upgrade from my previous ride.
I generally like the ride on my 07 Limited AWD. The only complaint I have is similar to some of those above -- at moderate speeds (20-30 mph, i.e., parking lot and neighborhood speeds) I notice a lack of damping in the suspension. It is evident when hitting potholes, speed bumps, etc. I can feel and hear the wheel bounce completely off the pavement.
In comparison, my wife's 2005 Honda Odyssey doesn't do that at all. The Odyssey isn't as smooth on the highway, though (you feel expansion joints in the pavement too much), and also isn't as quiet (wind noise).
Also, my previous car was a 2003 Pontiac Vibe (aka the Toyota Matrix). It rode a lot harder than the Santa Fe, but the tires didn't "bounce" over broken pavement the way the Santa Fe's do.
I've just learned to take really it slow and steady over speed bumps, because I am NOT giving up my Santa Fe.
When I took delivery of my SE in feb, the tires were also over inflated. (seems the dealers do not really check much before they deliver a vehicle. I had instructed them to please check the tire pressure, fluid levels etc while I was doing the paperwork....They did not! It was an ugly day to buy a new car, I must admit, and I was able to get them down on the dealer prep charge by 2/3's!. At least they remembered to fill it with gas, which was at about $2.65 gal back then...Hey, better in my pocket than theirs!
tires were about 38 lbs as well, 1/2 of the washer fluid canister was empty, brake fluid was a little low. They did a Great job washing it though, even though it was snowing that day :P ! :mad:
Bottom line, That night I adjusted the tires, when cold to 30lbs using a digital gauge. No real change with bumps at slow speeds....you still feel speed bumps pretty hard at slow speed IMHO. However this is somewhat typical of the suspension of the crossovers these days. Although it takes a bit of getting used to, I prefer that th a mushy suspension. (adjustable air/gas shocks would have be nice) .......
Word to the wise: Always check all fluid levels and pressures after your SF has been in for any type of service....Those guys (or maybe chimps)must have a great Kool Aid dispenser as they usually manage to forget something...
THIS IS NOT A HYUNDAI THING....just the quality of the help that the auto dealerships hire (My ex Mini Cooper dealer was way worse and 125 miles away!.... believe me!)....still love the SF (and am happy with the dealer as well) though I do have a nice little "shop" set up in the 3rd bay of my garage
i think they try to strke a balance in the suspension not too mushy and not to harsh - ends up with an undefined suspension - so if you're like me and like a stiff sportscar suspension - the harsh bumping is not a problem but the wheel bounce (especially in turns) is annoying... if you like a wallowy boat like luxury car soft suspension where you can't feel the wheels on the ground - you'll be much more turned off! overall I think they did a decent job trying to keep an suv/crossover feeling like a car ride.. but as soon as the warranty is up - i'll be upgrading the struts! Maybe the springs too!!
as for the dealership guys that work on our cars - the old addage comes to mind - good help is hard to find (even harder to pay for!)
Agreed 100%,,,I also prefer a lottle stiffer suspension rather and a mushy one!
If I had wanted a car ride, I would have purchased a different vehicle. There is no perfection that I have ever driven. I am perfectly satisfied with the SF, and although I have been known to buy something new every few years, will probably keep the SF longer. I found out at the end of winter just how nice their AWD system is!!! It is a least as good as the Honda element was and probably a bit better having the ESC system. Sometimes I need 4 wheel drive to get into my own driveway!)
The rear wheel bounce is a bit annoying but you get used to it and just take it easy. On the open road the thing handles beautifully for a crossover and I couldn't be happier. I will be even happier when I finally can ditch those bridgestone 18" dueler tires...man are they noisy...Tire rack will get my business, but I do not put that many miles on the vehicle these days so it will take a while!
OT: My Mini Cooper experience....it was the most fun car I have ever owned (inc a Porsche 911SC in the 80's) BUT also the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned...getting more practical in my old age I guess. The SF seems to fit me to a tee and I did a lot of shopping last winter!!!!
DEALERSHIP SHOPS...I REALLY CANNOT COMPLAIN ABOUT MINE....THEY HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS HAPPY. That in itself is reassuring (this is my 1st Hyundai and I could not believe I was actually buying one!)
I purchased my SF/SE 10-31-07 with 31 miles on it and I'm fighting with my wife over who is going to drive it when we go on vacation over Thanksgiving week. It's ssssoooooo Quiet that I'm glad I go rid of my accord :lemon: . I look foward to next year when my wife buys her own SF.
It's been a while since your post, so can we assume the map light kit was installed?
We just bought a "fleet" (i.e. used rental car company inventory) 2007 Santa Fe GL last week and the Hyundai dealer said I'd have to come into the service dept and sign a work order for the map light retrofit. It *is* a no charge item but as it is a "good will" fix (not a warranty item or a flaw (POV?) it has to be requested by the customer. I *think* that is what you meant by "but I need to set it up." in your post.
Yes, I posted on June 12th that is was completed. Hyundai USA ordered the parts and had them sent to my dealer, what I was referring to was that I had to set up the appointment with the dealer after the parts arrived. Now that it's dark early, I love having the lights in the front.
Just purchased a new SF last week. I got the Artic White/ Biege cloth SE. Got it from Gene Messer Hyundai in Lubbock, Texas. Very happy with my sales representatives. I had two. Although, I too am very unhappy with the lack of lighting in the front seat area. Can someone please clue me in as to what I need to do to get this "fix" that I have read about? I think it would be great if my map lights came on when I opened my door or when I pressed the remote unlock button. Due to my work schedule and the current time change it is dark outside when I leave for work and when I leave work and head home. Also, is there really a reprogram of sorts that can make my doors lock automatically at a set MPH. ? Any help anyone could give would be great.
Early-build 2007 Santa Fes have front overhead map lights that do not come on upon opening the front doors. It sounds like your Santa Fe is in this group. The good news is that Hyundai USA has authorized a retrofit that can be installed upon request at no cost to you, the owner. It's possible that your dealer's service department already knows about this; I suggest starting with them. If they're aware of the situation, they'll order the parts and set up an appointment to install them. If they give you the "deer in the headlights" look when you talk to them, don't fret; just contact Hyundai customer service at 800-633-5151. They should be able to get everything set up for you.
My wife's best friend listened to us and purchased an 07 Sante Fe SE from the Hyundai dealership on Okeechobee Blvd. in WPB,Fl. She is absolutely amazed on what a great vehicle it is and absolutely loves it. Upon asking her if she'd used the cargo net that comes with it-she checked and it appeared to be missing. Upon being called by the dealership to pick up her new license plate-she asked the sales manager if she could get a cargo net-since it was missing from the vehicle that she had purchased 2 weeks earlier. He told her that how did he know that she really didn't get the cargo net and that she should have checked to make sure that it was in the car when delivered to her.(is this guy for real?) Anyway-if she wanted a cargo net-she would need to write Hyundai! Upon hearing this comeback-she asked the name of the owner of the dealership-the sales manager said HE DIDN'T KNOW! I feel bad because I suggested that she go there to purchase the vehicle-and now I see this is the treatment that she gets as a single mom.
I just saw the new Toyota Highlander today ! Now, I've never been a big fan of Toyota's but then again I've never been a fan of Hyundai's either, but I have to say that that new Highlander looks pretty sweet ! I'm actually considering taking my Santa Fe back. The sales guy says that they can work out a deal with me on the Santa Fe but that it would be easier if I just returned it to the Hyundai dealer. Thats easy for them to say but what happens if I turn in the SF, get my old car back ( its still on the used car lot ), and then they are not able to negotiate a deal with me? I'll be up the proverbial creek !! I'm still very much on the fence about this. One thing that I did notice is the lack of bells and whistles on the Highlander compared to my Santa Fe. My Santa Fe is the SE model and I've got features like a sunroof and XM radio and 19 in. wheels. I'd have to move up to the Highlander Sport model to get those items. $$$$$$$$$$$ Oh well, I'm going back tomorrow to see what we can do. If it works out then fine but if not then at least I know I'll be going home in a good vehicle.
I pretty much talked myself out of it. I've weighed my options and realized that I'm much better off in the Santa Fe than in the Highlander. In order to get the features that I'm already used to having in a car,( sunroof, heated seats, XM Radio, etc.) I'd have to step to a more expensive Highlander and those items would still be optional extras. Its just not worth it to me.
Before I made up my mind to buy SF this September, I really wanted to wait for the 2008 Highlander. I thought I'd be regret when I saw the new Highlander. Month ago I saw one 2008 Highlander at a local parking lot and since then I saw some on local streets. Now I can say I've made a good decision to get SF rather than the Highlander. I just hate the exterior design of the 08 Highlander. Like a monster, not elegant at all.
will pick up an 08 Santa Fe; the dealer offers some type of electronic rustproofing package, with scotchguarding and also with some type of outside paint protection against bird droppings, etc. Do I need it? Aren't. Santa Fes rustproofed in the factory and if so what additional rustproofing do I need? Any assistance would be appreciated.
I strongly recommend not wasting your money on any of these things. You're absolutely correct that these cars are rustproofed at the factory; no additional rustproofing is necessary.
There's some value in Scotchgard, but it's definitely something you can do yourself. You can buy the spray in any automotive parts store and spray it on fabric and carpets the same way a dealer would. Don't pay the dealer for this!
As for outside paint protection, anything the dealer does will be temporary at best and will quickly wear off with washings and exposure to weather. The only exception to this is a ClearBra applied to the front bumper and leading portion of the hood. This provides excellent protection against paint chips. We've had it installed on a total of 5 new cars and it works so well that I'll never own another new car without having it applied. This is not something you should have your dealer do, however. Installation is tricky and best handled by a certified installer who specializes in it. Here's a link where you can get more info:
The items your dealer is trying to sell you are grossly overpriced and practically worthless. They're simply ways for the dealer to add more profit to the deal. I highly recommend passing on them.
I have a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited, and I was at my dealer today to have an oil change and I asked them about the Map Light Fix, and they gave me the deer in the Head Lights Look! They said they never heard of this fix. I am just wondering if anyone recently had this done? I got my 2007 at the end of last year, so I hope they still can do the fix. I hope Barbra is still at Hyundai! Thanks for the info guys!
We had ours done before the end of last year (go back a dozen or so postings and you'll see where I asked another forum member about theirs. See posting 193 it has the toll free number for Hyundai where you can arrange the "good will" retrofit to be done. The dealer will have to get parts to replace the maplight plus cabling so it could take a few days depending where the parts are coming from.
For me, in Canada, I printed off postings from this forum and brought them with me although they seemed to be aware of the map light thing and I didn't have to call Hyundai or anything. At the same time, they fixed a security alarm issue for us, and I got them to program the auto door lock option as well.
I've owned my SE for one week, and I'm still in awe of its capabilities. Thought I'd share some thoughts:
My map lights come on up front. The rear cup holder works as intended. The outside temp reads correctly. The stereo sounds decent (and I'm in the audio/electronics industry!). All of this by way of saying, I think it's best to NEVER buy the first MY of any car...all the little annoyances that have been mentioned here seem to have been corrected on the '08s.
Some accessories I've added:
I found the rear cargo cover on ebay (from a Hyundai dealer) for $199 + shipping. I can see why Hyundai stopped offering it, either as standard or optional. It's kind of rinky-dink, the way the front parts extend from the bar and attach to the headrests, but with the way the reclining seatbacks work I don't see how else thay could have done it. However, over the years I've had cargo covers with several wagons and hatchbacks, and none were as....err...."lacking" as this one. Still better than nothing.
From the same ebay seller I ordered the mudguards for $36, front and rear. No "H" logo. An absolute necessity for me since Iive on a dirt road, which in springtime becomes a mud road.
I have the "Bugflector II" on order from my local Auto Zone - only $50 compared to the $60-"$75 most online sellers want. So the internet isn't always the cheapest!
That's about all I can think of for now...you'll have to excuse me, gotta go cruisin' in my SF!
I got it from Frank Hyundai in California - sells on Ebay as frank-motors. It was $199 plus $14 shipping to Colorado - your shipping may be different. I just checked his store listing and the beige screen is no longer shown, just the grey or black. They may just be out of the beige or it might not be available any more. Good luck! BTW, according to their listing, $247 is LIST!
Comments
I was going to stick a couple of amber reflectors on it instead. At least it might look like it is for something.
I also tried several other S.F.'s, some had the problem, some didn't - I also put it down to the hot temps. here in Phoenix (already 104 -108f ) but I know that the Infra red reflective glass prevents heat build up. I absolutely know that to be true compared to my previous SUV.
Anyone else out there notice this?
After i complained for the 2nd. time , the mechanic finally tried it and got the same result as me -it popped open on it's own when I pulled it down onto the seat. The service manager ordered a new cup holder assembly to be fitted later when it comes in - yea !
Part number for me was 00305-92800-J9SR (SE with beige interior and sunroof). It's listed as "SOP kit for dome light reposition".
I was the second one my dealer did. Not sure how long mine took, but they had told be the first one they installed last week took 1-1/2 hours.
I also had the auto door locks enabled at the same time. I'm a happy Santa Fe owner!
Followup: Just checked my eyeglasholders and I have no idea what if any difference there is...why....because I have to wear my glasses when I drive and had never tried them:)
While I was at it, I checked the reported rear armrest cup holder problem reported...Mine is just fine...guess I got lucky.
For Father's day I wanted to go on a short road trip. I live in the Washington D.C. area (Northern VA) and the wife and I decided to drive to Antietam Battlefield in Sharpsburg MD which was approximately 140 miles roundtrip. (My wife and I love history and we are trying to visit as many historical sites as we can).
All I can say is "I LOVE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE!"
I recently travelled the same route when I took a trip to Harper's Ferry WV in my wife's 2006 Toyota Sienna XLE(Antietam Battlefield is only about a 30 minute drive further North). The route travels through portions of the Appalachian mountains and some portions are quite hilly and curvy.
There was no comparison. The Sienna has a nice smooth ride that readily absorbs bumps, however it is a little floaty and it sways heavily in corners! It does not instill confidence (in fact, it makes you want to slow down...a lot!).
The Santa FE really hugs the corners well for a midsize SUV and it encourages you to test it's limits (I really have to slow myself down in the twisties).
The Santa Fe is also so quiet! It is so much quieter than the Sienna and it feels so much more substantial (The Toyota has noticeable gaps where the dash panels come together...the Santa Fe has none!)
I usually have to drive the Sienna on long trips since I have 2 little one's and the Sienna has a DVD player that the Santa Fe lacks. However, since it was father's day I insisted that we drive the car I wanted to drive.
Fortunately, my nearly 3 year old son managed to keep himself entertained and did not fuss very much during the trip.
I averaged 22.5 MPG during the whole trip the AC was on roughly 50% of the time. There was a noticeable drop in MPG when the AC was on.
Those of you who are in the market for a midsized SUV need to take a serious look at the Santa Fe...you will not be sorry. My only regret is not getting a Limited, it would be nice to have a power driver's seat and leather! However the SE gave me most of the features I really wanted, and was in my budget.
SF Limited FWD w/Premium package
Golden Beige /golden beige interior
This is a terrific vehicle. It feels upscale and drives well.
I just have a question about the ride of this car. It is very quiet on even surface. Even at 75 mile per hours, it is quiet and there is no need to raise my voice talking to my wife. In my old Mazda tribute, I needed to do that.
But, in the local road, especially, where there are some broken pavements or small bumps, the ride becomes uncomfortable and loud. I could hear loud impact noise on each one of the bumps. I think most of these noises are from the front wheel. In my old tribute, I did not hear these kind of noises.
I don't know. Maybe I am too sensitive. I am just wondering whether everyone's santa fe behaves the same way or not.
Thanks
I was considering downgrade to 16 inch wheel for a better ride
I agree with hoo320, in local roads especially at lower speeds (30-45mph), you really feel a loud impact noise on every bump. I drive a '03 Honda Civic before getting the SF Limited AWD, the Civic handles the bumps, broken pavements better at lower speeds compared to the Santa Fe. When the speed increases though, you can notice that a sudden decrease of the loud impact noises on broken pavements.
A few weeks ago, I notice that the noise is not that loud anymore. I checked the tires and found out that it's 28psi. I put it back to the recommended 30psi, and the same loud impact noise is back.
But overall, I'm pretty happy with the SF. It's definitely a big upgrade from my previous ride.
In comparison, my wife's 2005 Honda Odyssey doesn't do that at all. The Odyssey isn't as smooth on the highway, though (you feel expansion joints in the pavement too much), and also isn't as quiet (wind noise).
Also, my previous car was a 2003 Pontiac Vibe (aka the Toyota Matrix). It rode a lot harder than the Santa Fe, but the tires didn't "bounce" over broken pavement the way the Santa Fe's do.
I've just learned to take really it slow and steady over speed bumps, because I am NOT giving up my Santa Fe.
tires were about 38 lbs as well, 1/2 of the washer fluid canister was empty, brake fluid was a little low. They did a Great job washing it though, even though it was snowing that day :P ! :mad:
Bottom line, That night I adjusted the tires, when cold to 30lbs using a digital gauge. No real change with bumps at slow speeds....you still feel speed bumps pretty hard at slow speed IMHO. However this is somewhat typical of the suspension of the crossovers these days. Although it takes a bit of getting used to, I prefer that th a mushy suspension. (adjustable air/gas shocks would have be nice) .......
Word to the wise: Always check all fluid levels and pressures after your SF has been in for any type of service....Those guys (or maybe chimps)must have a great Kool Aid dispenser as they usually manage to forget something...
THIS IS NOT A HYUNDAI THING....just the quality of the help that the auto dealerships hire (My ex Mini Cooper dealer was way worse and 125 miles away!.... believe me!)....still love the SF (and am happy with the dealer as well) though I do have a nice little "shop" set up in the 3rd bay of my garage
as for the dealership guys that work on our cars - the old addage comes to mind - good help is hard to find (even harder to pay for!)
If I had wanted a car ride, I would have purchased a different vehicle. There is no perfection that I have ever driven. I am perfectly satisfied with the SF, and although I have been known to buy something new every few years, will probably keep the SF longer. I found out at the end of winter just how nice their AWD system is!!!
The rear wheel bounce is a bit annoying but you get used to it and just take it easy. On the open road the thing handles beautifully for a crossover and I couldn't be happier. I will be even happier when I finally can ditch those bridgestone 18" dueler tires...man are they noisy...Tire rack will get my business, but I do not put that many miles on the vehicle these days so it will take a while!
OT: My Mini Cooper experience....it was the most fun car I have ever owned (inc a Porsche 911SC in the 80's) BUT also the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned...getting more practical in my old age I guess. The SF seems to fit me to a tee and I did a lot of shopping last winter!!!!
DEALERSHIP SHOPS...I REALLY CANNOT COMPLAIN ABOUT MINE....THEY HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS HAPPY. That in itself is reassuring (this is my 1st Hyundai and I could not believe I was actually buying one!)
I believe this sentiment is shared by 90% of this community!
hmm - maybe we should create a section for all the cars we had before - why we got them - leading up to getting our SANTA FE's...
We just bought a "fleet" (i.e. used rental car company inventory) 2007 Santa Fe GL last week and the Hyundai dealer said I'd have to come into the service dept and sign a work order for the map light retrofit. It *is* a no charge item but as it is a "good will" fix (not a warranty item or a flaw (POV?) it has to be requested by the customer. I *think* that is what you meant by "but I need to set it up." in your post.
Got it from Gene Messer Hyundai in Lubbock, Texas.
Very happy with my sales representatives. I had two.
Although, I too am very unhappy with the lack of lighting in the front seat area.
Can someone please clue me in as to what I need to do to get this "fix" that I have read about?
I think it would be great if my map lights came on when I opened my door or when I pressed the remote unlock button.
Due to my work schedule and the current time change it is dark outside when I leave for work and when I leave work and head home.
Also, is there really a reprogram of sorts that can make my doors lock automatically at a set MPH. ?
Any help anyone could give would be great.
Now, I've never been a big fan of Toyota's but then again I've never been a fan of Hyundai's either, but I have to say that that new Highlander looks pretty sweet !
I'm actually considering taking my Santa Fe back.
The sales guy says that they can work out a deal with me on the Santa Fe but that it would be easier if I just returned it to the Hyundai dealer.
Thats easy for them to say but what happens if I turn in the SF, get my old car back ( its still on the used car lot ), and then they are not able to negotiate a deal with me? I'll be up the proverbial creek !!
I'm still very much on the fence about this.
One thing that I did notice is the lack of bells and whistles on the Highlander compared to my Santa Fe. My Santa Fe is the SE model and I've got features like a sunroof and XM radio and 19 in. wheels.
I'd have to move up to the Highlander Sport model to get those items. $$$$$$$$$$$
Oh well, I'm going back tomorrow to see what we can do.
If it works out then fine but if not then at least I know I'll be going home in a good vehicle.
I've weighed my options and realized that I'm much better off in the Santa Fe than in the Highlander.
In order to get the features that I'm already used to having in a car,( sunroof, heated seats, XM Radio, etc.) I'd have to step to a more expensive Highlander and those items would still be optional extras. Its just not worth it to me.
There's some value in Scotchgard, but it's definitely something you can do yourself. You can buy the spray in any automotive parts store and spray it on fabric and carpets the same way a dealer would. Don't pay the dealer for this!
As for outside paint protection, anything the dealer does will be temporary at best and will quickly wear off with washings and exposure to weather. The only exception to this is a ClearBra applied to the front bumper and leading portion of the hood. This provides excellent protection against paint chips. We've had it installed on a total of 5 new cars and it works so well that I'll never own another new car without having it applied. This is not something you should have your dealer do, however. Installation is tricky and best handled by a certified installer who specializes in it. Here's a link where you can get more info:
klik
The items your dealer is trying to sell you are grossly overpriced and practically worthless. They're simply ways for the dealer to add more profit to the deal. I highly recommend passing on them.
For me, in Canada, I printed off postings from this forum and brought them with me although they seemed to be aware of the map light thing and I didn't have to call Hyundai or anything. At the same time, they fixed a security alarm issue for us, and I got them to program the auto door lock option as well.
My map lights come on up front. The rear cup holder works as intended. The outside temp reads correctly. The stereo sounds decent (and I'm in the audio/electronics industry!). All of this by way of saying, I think it's best to NEVER buy the first MY of any car...all the little annoyances that have been mentioned here seem to have been corrected on the '08s.
Some accessories I've added:
I found the rear cargo cover on ebay (from a Hyundai dealer) for $199 + shipping. I can see why Hyundai stopped offering it, either as standard or optional. It's kind of rinky-dink, the way the front parts extend from the bar and attach to the headrests, but with the way the reclining seatbacks work I don't see how else thay could have done it. However, over the years I've had cargo covers with several wagons and hatchbacks, and none were as....err...."lacking" as this one. Still better than nothing.
From the same ebay seller I ordered the mudguards for $36, front and rear. No "H" logo. An absolute necessity for me since Iive on a dirt road, which in springtime becomes a mud road.
I have the "Bugflector II" on order from my local Auto Zone - only $50 compared to the $60-"$75 most online sellers want. So the internet isn't always the cheapest!
That's about all I can think of for now...you'll have to excuse me, gotta go cruisin' in my SF!