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Comments
Do you have some problem with my saying I prefer the 2008 Elantra over the Sentra? You bought what you think is the right car for you, but it doesn't make it the right car for everyone.
I probably won't pick one until this summer when I can test the A/C cooling performance unless I already know the A/C is better than average on the car.
I wonder what the hatch/wagon body style will do to MPGs? I noticed that the Corolla 1.8 gets 35 MPG highway, but the Matrix with the same engine only gets 31.
van
And I agree that cubic feet in themselves aren't an end-all. I posted the specs because there was a statement of fact made that the Sentra has more interior room than the Elantra. For a given body in a given seat, that may be true. In terms of overall room, it's not.
Yes, our car choices are very much subjective. But they are based on both objective and subjective factors.
I have the same 3 cars on my radar. The earlier Fit was too hard riding for my taste but fun to drive.I am wondering the same thing about the Touring with its stiffer springs. The ride in the 2007/08 Elantra is very comfortable.
van
I am hoping the Touring will be here this fall in time for my purchase decision. Otherwise it will probably come down to the Fit and Elantra SE, or maybe one of those slick 2009 Sonatas if there's big discounts on them at the end of the year.
If you think the car is good value for that's great, I, on the other hand thought that Elantra w/ leather was too much money considering that you can get fully loaded Limited Sonata for about $1.5k more. (after those rebates) That's actually what the dealer said when we asked about unavailability of Elantra's w/ leather.
Sorry, but I haven't been regularly checking for a while on here; will have to get back into the habit.
Good luck on a good choice.
The biggest other bugaboos I have (besides the fact that the odds are fundamentally against me) are
1) How responsive is the warranty company actually going to be in terms of fixing things? Hassles? Deductibles? "Sorry, not covered"s?
2) You may not (regardless of your current intentions) even have the car beyond the expiration of the 5/60 factory coverage.
http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/faq/index.asp#2
The PZEV Elantras are available only in the CAFE states (and maybe also in bordering states). But not in areas like the Midwest--unless you go buy one from a CAFE or neighboring state. If PZEV were available where I live, I'd certainly go that route, as I'd most likely get the AT anyway.
The seat has a height adjustment but no tilt adjustment to raise the front so it supports your thighs. The seat's support is actually a little better than a 2008 Sonata that doesn't have the optional power seat, but not quite good enough. The seat in a base Sonata was so bad I didn't even bother test driving it.
I'm beginning to notice something I did not during the test drives of a GLS. (I was most concerned with 70 to 75 mph Highway noise, RPMs and smooth shifting up to those speeds)
If I am driving between about 25 and 30 some miles per hour, even tested with cruise control set, and on totally flat roads (there are no hills here!), I have significant jerkiness comming from the automatic transmission as it seems to be gearing up and gearing down constantly in this range.
Unfortunately this is exactly how I drive the car most days.. 25 mph residential streets and 30 mph main artery roads to go 3 miles to work each day.
I've only put ~60 miles on the car so far in the last week (it came with ~340 from the dealer). This is the only mechanical complaint I have about it so far, and hope it's going to adjust itself or is easily computer adjustable. I seem to recall seeing another post somewhere about it not being smooth between 30 and 35 for someone.
Smoth or not is one thing, a constant fluttering up and down at near constant speed is another. It's like it's trying to adjust too frequently when it should wait it out a little longer before adjusting.
I've driven several 2007-8 Elantra GLS 4ATs and not noticed this kind of behavior.
How steady is your pressure on the gas pedal? It's possible small variations in pedal pressure could cause upshifting/downshifting if you're at a speed near a shift point (and 25 is right around the 2nd-3rd shift point I think).
The transmission is a "learning" tranny and it may still be learning how you drive, so it may well adjust itself as you noted.
Other than that, I am very happy with my Elantra. It isn’t as refined as my Toyota’s were, but it was a lot less expensive, too.
Even old Geo Metros are now in demand.
Of course, a Corolla and Civic will still have better resale than an Elantra and they both get higher mpg.
I'm looking at a GLS A/T with popular package.
Lowest price I've received is $14,500 OTD. My closest dealer gave me $14,891 OTD. Taking off the rebate and 5% sales tax only puts it at $16,087 (who knows what other fees they're adding).
Where I need help is they offer an unlimited mileage/duration on the powertrain. Figuring the final price is $491 more, does the added warranty justify the added cost? I'm not too thrilled with these guys since they completely played the pressure and haggle system. "What's the extra $500?" they'd say, and honestly a lot to me. They kept whining about how much they're losing, but with their sticker price of $17,080 of course it looks like a lot. They're not even $300 below MSRP and with other dealers quoting $14,500 and still profiting I feel these guys are working off greed.
This is my first car and I'm paying cash. $500 is close to a week's worth of work so I take saving money seriously.
I need my car for work and put around 15,000 miles a year so I'm likely to hit the normal warranty around 7 years. Should I consider this offer? The more I think about it the more they piss me off, not to mention they don't have the color I want. I don't appreciate their hurry up attitude. I have my parents '93 GMC Jimmy, I've proven I'm in no rush. My thought is if I don't feel comfortable with these people then they don't deserve my business but I want to see what you would do.
Thanks,
Dan
van
It's almost as if it is not getting enough fuel. Last week the check engine light came on and took it to the dealership, replaced an O2 sensor.
Worked ok for about a day, then it just started sputtering, I thought it was running out of gas, b/c it was low (but not completely on the E) So I filled up. Ran fine again, until the next afternoon. Sputtering again, slowing creeping to a halt. When started up, it would sputter and idle erratically, and then eventually die. Then finally it just wouldn't start at all.
Had it towed, sat overnite at dealership, they went out and started it. Ran fine--like nothing was wrong. No codes or anything to help determine what could be the problem. :confuse:
Dealership had to call into Hyundai tech help, they say to replace fuel pump. I just wonder if anyone else has had similar problems with the newer models of the Elantra or if i'm special! :lemon:
Any ideas would be appreciated!
Thanks! Lisa
Just got my July issue in the mail today. Front page titled "Gas-saving cars; Beat high fuel prices. We rate 31 new small sedans....with great mpg"
Inside, the '08 Elantra SE gets top billing, and the article title states how the Elantra "beats the very thrifty Corolla". The article goes on to say it was compared to and came out on top against the redesigned '09 Toyota Corolla, redesigned Subaru Impreza, Ford Focus, and both Chevrolet Aveo and Cobalt. :shades:
Another quote from the article:
The Elantra's top rating in this class shows how far Hyundai has come in the last decade. It's cars used to be unreliable and unrefined, with low scores in our testing; now some compete with the best in their classes.
Complaints about Hyundai's low resale values will soon be a thing of the past. :P
Why do you think your car is a lemon because of this one problem? :surprise:
It used to be the Elantra was a well-kept secret, and those of us who recognized what a fine all-around small car it is could snatch one up for a super-low price. Thanks to CR and Edmunds (Edmunds's top choice for small used cars), those days may be over.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080603/may-auto-sales-hyundai.htm
I had the same problem on Monday night with the 08 Elantra that I bought new about a month ago and I now have 1010 miles on it. I came to a stop sign and when I made the turn it felt like the car had a hiccup. I continued driving and when I made another turn the car was very sluggish getting out of first gear. I then noticed that the check engine light turned on. I came to a traffic light and the engine sounded like it was going to die. I pulled over, called roadside assistance and had it towed to the dealership where I bought the car. While I was waiting for the tow, I started the car up and it seemed to run fine, but I had it towed anyway. A car with 1000 miles and the check engine light coming on already, RIDICULOUS!!! I spoke to the dealer Tuesday morning and they told me that they had another 08 Elantra come in with similar mileage and the same problem. Hyundai also told them to replace the fuel pump as well. Seems to be a recurring problem. Yeah, its covered under warranty, but I am very concerned with my purchase now.
This was the one thing my wife said she wished the Elantra had- so convenient in my Buick.
Thanks.
Eric