By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
The bodyshop had a new bumper cover from Hyundai in 3 days. Problem was, Hyundai said there was only one color for the bumpers (there are actually two... warm grey and cool grey). My bumper color is, of course, not the color Hyundai gave the bodyshop, so my bumper ended up "cool grey" (more silver) instead of "warm grey" (more bronze/brown). Obviously, this didn't sit well with me...
The Sante Fe is going back in tomorrow for a bumper repaint... the bodyshop had to do an electronic analysis of the paint on the damaged bumper cover to get the color right. Hyundai was no help at all... they swore up and down there was only one color for the bumpers. I found this amusing (OK, irritating) since their own brochure shows both bumper colors in it!
Cost of the whole experience was $511.
By the way... after 5,000 miles... I still love my sandstone LX. We're actually on a waiting list for a silver GLS to replace our other car.
My advice to anyone looking for 4WD with ABS and TCS is to buy the first one you find (any color)! This set of options is a very small part of the allotment of Sante Fes being made. And if you want a GLS with those options (TCS ABS) forget it, there are even fewer of those and for less than $1,000 difference in price why would you get a GLS and not a loaded LX?
Take any color you can or wait months to get a specific color. That is what I was told in early January and since then demand has only grown. My dealer had 10-12 Sante fes on the lot when I purchased mine. This week I notice they have one on the lot...ONE.
Why would the 4WD,Traction Control and Anti-lock brakes with leather be so hard to get up here in New England in the LX version?
I would hate to buy a color which I don't like, especially if I am going to keep the vehicle for at least 4 to 5 years and be paying the loan on it. Color and options are important things when choosing to buy a new $23,000 vehicle.
For fully loaded LX: Black is classiest
For 2wd or little optioned: White, Blue is nicest.
What I didn't like: Sandstone is too brown/boring, I'd prefer more orange in it like the Honda CRV copper or Miata Evolution Orange. Green is too weak, should have made it brighter. Silver is also too weak, should have made it more like dark grey or Pewter to set it off. Red I didn't like. Should be bright red or candyapple red.
Vote for your best color for fully loaded LX, unloaded 2wd, and what you didn't like.
Love the car. A few things I don't like on the first day:
1. The middle console is too short. I would have much preferred if it doubled as an arm rest. The way it's positioned, you can't put your arm there at all.
(Are there any aftermarket longer ones that would fit?)
2. Find the clock position uncomfortable.
3. You know the indentation in the inside door handle? Most cars, at least on their better models, cover the screws. Here, the screws are totally exposed. Looks very cheap...
Other than that - so far so good.
I'm in the market for a Solara or Crown Vic. Of course, both have the ability to move nothing but passengers. hmmm. A Santa Fe??...
Ya know my favorite car WAS my wood panalled wangoneer by Jeep. 'course it needed repairs all the time but it was fun to drive.
I'm looking for the masses of repair issues for these Santa Fe's but you owners don't seem to have any! At this moment I'm looking at Consumer Report April issue; "Fit and finish are good, and controls are logically placed. The ride is supple and quiet. Handling is sound and fairly carlike , though not as agile as, say, a Toyota Rav 4. The AWD system works seamlessly"....
Interesting...a Santa Fe. hmmm. Consumer Report rates it fairly far above the Honda CRV, an EX model even. Smack dab between very good and excellent!!!
National highway and safety hasn't done crash tests yet but this sonata?? has the best side impact ratings in the entire class next to the Lexus. They didn't do frontal but 4 and 5 stars for side impact, driver and passenger. That's damm good! And this Santa Fe is based on that car eh??
I'm looking at it's picture in C.R. now. Ya know what? It isn't hard to look at. It's actually quite pleasing to the eye.
Summary:
Price: 10
Versatility: 8
Looks: 8
Safety 8+??
Drive Ratings based on consumer report and carpoint 8+
Interesting. And this week i'll be driving by a dealer. It's worth stopping and taking a look at one.
A Santa Fe...hmmm
I suggest you get on the phone/internet and locate your car somewhere in the US. Buy it over the phone, fly out there and drive it back!
Anyway I'm selling my Explorer with 264000 miles and I'm buying a nordic whiTe 4WD 6-engine just like you! It best value today in suv.
I've gotten the same runaround on no SFs like I want so I asked buddy to do computer search where he puts all the thing I want into computer and it says if any such SF has just come from Korean boat - guess what!!! We're in luck now becose 10 loaded LX like we want 6, 4wd, lether, trakton control, are going to dealers tomorrow monday from port. I asked him where and got dealer names too. So now we can buy them! Glad to help.
I'm afraid my wife will find out, she loves the SF so much, if she find out I scratch her SF she might kill me. I'm going to lie to her when her find out. I'm preparing to say it might be hit-and-run.
Any good excuse better than this? Pls let me know!
Thks.
Recently when I visit the Forum "Hyundai Sante Fe vs Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute". I find some guys really try to scare away SF's buyers. For those whose love their SF please put some positive messages about your SF in that forum to neutralize those almost all negative messages about the SF.
The one in "Will Hyundai Santa Fe success make SUV price go down?" forum message #17 mention a very scary SF's story. I do not believe it , how about you?
-Bill
PS: My SF reach 9000Km today, still running excellent w/o any problem!
All for the low, low price of just $580 !!!!!!!
This upcharge is automatically added, whether you request it or not, though you can argue to have the badging replaced with the stock items.
I do not know if the gold-tone badging is created locally by spraying a gold lacquer over the chrome plating, or if these are items they can order from Hyundai.
As far as post 1388 from Keith: My Santa Fe did the same thing after only 2 days. It was a problem when the dealer filled the tank upon delivery of our vehicle, the cap was not tight enough. The switch had to be reset at the dealership - my removing the gas cap and retightening it did not solve the problem no even if I added more gas. It was a simple fix and has not been a problem since then . . . I do make sure I hear the clicking every time I fill up.
As far as accidents go: Glad to hear that no one has been injured too badly in these mishaps! I just hope the syndrome is not contagious!
Finally, about a Nordic White Santa Fe: I, too, agree that this is the nicest color, but it is only my opinion and understand that everyone loves the colors they have purchased and that is what makes us all happy owners. My experience in finding a loaded white LX was similar to gtmustang's. I ended up settling for the GLS with 4WD with Traction Control and gave up the leather seats and silver trimmed door handles as I had was unable to locate the exact vehicle I wanted and was getting nervous that I would lose the White GLS that was available. After about two months of ownership, I did see a White LX available at another dealer that had just arrived - it did not last long. I was a bit disappointed at first as I had searched at this dealership originally and they said that they did not know what they would be getting in or when. I do believe that they didn't know. Overall, my impatience cost me heated leather, but I got an additional 2 months of happy driving. Good luck in your search!
Happy Driving!
Congrats on your new Santa Fe! I am just about ready to take the plunge myself and to start looking for a Pewter or Black LX loaded 2WD here in Southern NJ- hope I don't have as much trouble as some have had on this board in locating one, and at a decent price at this date.
Interestingly enough, I had also noticed the same small detail (exposed screws in the indentation in the inside door handle) when I test drove the Santa Fe, but noticed also when looking at the Escape/Trib that Ford/Mazda only inserts a little piece of thin foam/plastic into the same door handle well to cover the same screw (not even glued down that I could see)! Oh well, I hope this is the "worst" of the "imperfections" that perfectionists such as us discover!
Have fun with your new Santa Fe.
Al
1. Santa Fe's do not come from the factory with gold emblems. The emblems are being Gold Plated. The emblems are being plated after market, while ON the car. 95% of them do not need to be removed! Don't let them tell you they do(they try to raise the price for this.)
2. I would personally charge a dealer about $25-35 per emblem. They then mark up to whatever they feel is fair?????? $500 is WAYYYY to much. Negotiate this price. I would think more towards $300 would be fair for a S.F.
3. To those of you who do have the plated emblems. Enjoy. But use caution. The gold is ONLY a plating and can rub off. So only polish them with a clean rag and don't rub to much or they WILL fade and go back to a chrome look.
(the chrome is removed and the gold adheres to a nickel plating under the chrome)
I am sure by writing this I am going to make most of the gold platers and the dealers upset. Oh well! This is a service and the consumers have a right to be informed. Hope this helps. CIAO
Your description of how the gold is applied fits in line with what I've been told and I've even seen some of the equipment. I do have one question for you [actaully two].
You mentioned the chrome is removed before applying the gold. Is the entire process performed with the emblem completely attached or do you loosen the emblem to prevent any damage to the paint surface? If the emblem is not loosened do they insert some sort of film/material between the emblem and paint for protection during the application process?
Thanks
We also get the chance to pay £18,000 for it
68p=$1=$26470.58.How dose this compare with your price.No discount given off as its only just released on this market 1st march.
Going to florida first 2 weeks in may, would like to see US model where would be closest dealer to
KISSIMMEE.Will be interested to find out if
same problem with petrol cap over here as you have. Let you know in 2 weeks when I pick it up.
BOB
-Kathy
I think that these Hyundai dealers are not telling us everything that they know about what's available at the port in New Jersey in the fully loaded LX model.
Does anybody here have any information or input on this? I would like to find out more about this problem. There's got to be some "inside information" about the secrets of the stock that is available at the New Jersey Port on the fully loaded Santa Fe LX model. There should also be information on how many of these LX vehicles are currently at the New Jersey Port and what colors they each are, as well as when the next shipments of these vehicles are due in the New Jersey Port. If we knew all this information, then the dealers would not be jerking us around like they do saying that there aren't any of these vehicles around. I would like to know if anybody here knows the answers to all these questions in "detail".
BTW, my lovely wife's name is Kathy too!
- Bill
I wouldn't have done it without the help of Hugh the regional manager here in the mid west.
I'm in chicago and I'm very excited.
But I just realized once I saw how good the car looks that not having a garage is going to be a problem. I would hate to see that beautifull shine fade away
Has anyone here done that and would this leave a hole?
Silly as it may be I didn't like the fact it had 40 m on it AND didn't like that I wasn't disclosed. They said "all our other cars have the same mileage." I asked the guy to show me some "other cars," and every car we looked at had only 8 or 6 or 10 miles on it. So I decided to switch.
The funny part is this - when I was originally looking for a Santa Fe - I would tell every dealership I called, that I'd consider any color except for Green. When I was picking a substitute for the Sandstone with 40 m. on it Saturday - it was raining and very overcast. The salesman had only two ABSs. He showed me another sandstone and then this very nice color car. Again, it was overcast. I asked, "Is it blue?" The guy said it was blue. I said I'd take it. They had to redo all the paperwork and install the cross rails, which took a couple of hours. The weather cleared up by then and suddenly I saw that my new New blue car was GREEN! LOL.
It actually grew on me very quickly, it seems to change color depending on the light, so I'm happy.
Now, driving back from San Diego to LA, I did, as pro212 suggested: 55-65mph for 20 minutes, and then about 40mph for a while. There were no side roads, so I had to stay on the freeway.
I can tell you that pulling hair and extracting your own teeth must be easier. It was soooo tedious, not to mention - a little scary. But I would put my emergency lights on and slow down in the slow lane. The cars were honking, giving me a finger, but like a good Santa Fe soldier, I persevered.
After a couple of hours of this slow torture I see red lights flashing behind me. It's nighttime by now, so all I can see is the flashing red lights. I figured: it must be an ambulance, I am already in the slow lane with my emergency lights on - he will pass me. But the lazy ambulance driver kept behind me, and then even stupidly turned on his sirens. Well, the stupid ambulance driver turned out to be a cop....
He cited me for driving too slow and said that in the old times engines were indeed made like that, but since a lot of people were getting rear-ended, the manufacturers make them now, so you CAN drive at normal freeway speeds, as long as you alternate slightly.
So now I am ticketed and confused in my new blue, oops, green Santa Fe.
Removing the Emblem is very easy. Just use the hair dryer and heated and peel it out slowly. How simple is that.
However! You should not remove the word 4WD instead of removing the number "4" and take the "A" from the HYUNDAI and replace is with the "4". The car is really Full-Time AWD (not 4wd).
This is what I have on my car (Santa Fe AWD-V6). I am going to a Car Wreck Place sometime soon to find the emblem with the word "LX-special ABS+TC". The word LX-special usually made by Honda & Acura and the letter T from GT and C from CE, A from AWD, S from LS or SE, and B from BMW or BTi. Hopefully I will find these emblem in Chrome Plated.
Does Anyone know where we can buy the Emblem Letter?
Please refer to your owner's manual for the proper break-in procedure for your vehicle.
Good luck!
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards
The place where I bought the SF was 35 miles away from my home. When I got the SF, there was 43 miles on it. I don't mind even if the car have 500 miles on it. I drove the car home on freeway without traffic and hitting 70 plus. Hell care! Actually the higher the mile you drive the break-in period go faster. However, don't (rev) rpm to high. Start acceleration and brake slowly each time and that should be good.
Break-in period depend on the RPM not the actual mile.
Thanks
Personally I think the side airbag is a good feature but it does loose lot of space in the car. I prefer NOT to install this option my Santa Fe.
I called my dealer here in the US [NJ] and asked him about side-airbags as an option he told me unless they come from the manufacturer installed they DO NOT touch them nor can they ADD them.
In Europe , however [and I believe parts of South America], side-airbags are factory installed on some trim levels.
Visit www.hyundaicanada.com and you will see that no side airbags are offered.
Buy the way my Silver Santa Fe is going great with 5,000 km on it. I smile everytime I see a RX-300 or an Infiniti QX4 and think of how much money I saved.
ABS can help if you understand how to use it. Most do not and therefoe accidents rates are the sme with or without. Deaths are actually higher with ABS as many people are steering themselves into head on traffic instead of the more normal uncontrolled brakes locked slide into whatever pulled out in front of them. Bottom line, technology cannot always save you. Dive safe & be prepared for the avoidable To load up with these safety options and then drive like a bat out of hell is a big mistake.
Do not worry or concern about the Side Airbags for now. Just simply drive carefully with good precaution and everything will be find. When I drive myself I don't pay attention 100% on the road but when there is someone in my car I do. You know what I mean.
They probably don't know SF come with Shriftronic gear shift, it is true when using automatic D shift, SF is accelerated slower than Tribute & Escape, but if you start accelerate manually using shritronic, I find it accelerate much much faster..... That is the way why I win over so many Tributes & Escape & V8 on road(How many seconds from 0-100km is greatly depend on the driver experience & response.
Anyone have time how many seconds from 0-100km using manual shifts(shiftronic)? please post.
-Bill
Toyota Rav4-L Manual with I-4 engine
0-60=10.4, 1/4-mile=18.0@77mph, Top Speed=107mph
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Mazda Tribute-ES A/T with V6 engine
0-60=9.1, 1/4-mile=17.1@77mph, Top Speed=107mph
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ford Escape-XLT A/T with V6 engine
0-60=8.9, 1/4-mile=16.8@83mph, Top Speed=107mph
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hyundai Santa Fe-LX AM/T with V6 engine
0-60=9.5, 1/4-mile=17.3@80mph, Top Speed=110mph
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Example of V8 - Toyota Sequoia Limited-SE V8 Engine
0-60=9.4, 1/4-mile=16.8@75mph, Top Speed=105mph
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Car & Driver Reports:
As you see there isn't any much different of speed according to these cars. As normal ride they all perform the same in speed. "Santa Fe" is not a weak car.
However, there is plenty of sport upgrade pieces available for the Santa Fe at www.hdkautosport.com.
1. Turbo Charge
2. Muffler Flow Upgrade
3. ECU
4. Suspension
5. Air Power Flow
6. Ultra Spark Plug Wires
7. Cyclone Power Charge
8. NK Manifold
9. DOHC Camshaft
10. Strut & Sway Bars
**If you install all of these products then the car become a real racing sport car** According to my estimate: 0-60=4.0 to 5.5 second. 1/4 miles can be around 9 to 12 second. So far I only add the Front Strut Bar and already made a different in "CORNERING". I can turn fast in relatively high speed. Can not imagine the Turbo Charge!!!!!
However, the Santa Fe is fast enough for me right now, I MAY install the ECU, Flow Muffler, Air Flow in the future for higher RPM acceleration. *This will probably get me into a Celica GT speed*