Hyundai Santa Fe To Buy or not to Buy - Any advice?
Hi guys,
Just a quick question: I have the opportunity to buy a 2002 hyundia santa fe with about 55k miles for 6500. The passenger door needs to be repainted but otherwise I can't see any issues. Any thoughts???? Thanks much, since I am not as familar with the Hyundia product line. Cheers.
ron
Just a quick question: I have the opportunity to buy a 2002 hyundia santa fe with about 55k miles for 6500. The passenger door needs to be repainted but otherwise I can't see any issues. Any thoughts???? Thanks much, since I am not as familar with the Hyundia product line. Cheers.
ron
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Thanks for the replys, and Steve you are correct, I was just wondering if you guys thought it was a vehicle that was worth buying or should I continue my search. I read a large number of postings and saw that many had engine type issues etc. but when I looked in consumer reports it shows the Santa Fe as a very reliable vehicle. So, I thought many of you have owned one and just wanted to hear your advice. Thanks again and have a good weekend!
Cheers,
ron
Maybe the Consumer Reviews will tide you over until some more owners take the hint. :shades:
Cheers, and have a great week.
ron
I was in the import parts business for 30 years before retireing. I went to visit the factory in Montgomery, AL where the Santa Fe (and Sonata) are manufactured. It is recognized as THE MOST advanced automobile plant in the world.
I have 38,000 miles on my '07 Santa Fe. Other than one minor cosmetic issue (which was promptly resolved) the car has been 100% perfect. I get 19.6 city/26.9 highway. Best vehicle I have ever owned.
My wife and I both drove the 2008 Santa Fe and was quite supprised.
I fell in love and cant stop thinking about it.
I am going either get a Rav4 or a Santa Fe.
My problem is the same with every one else.
Its the relaiblity issues that they still have with this car.
Even though Hyundai has come a long way, there are still some major problems with their quality control.
You can tell my other posters complaints and problems with the vehicle.
Should I follow my head and say stay away from the Santa Fe
or should i go with my heart and buy it.
HELP.
There seems to be a lot of problems with this car, but I love it!!!
I'm not worried about the good things about the car, I am worried about the bad things.
Such as the car exploding, the air bag not working, air bag light not turning off. water comming in from the sun roof. transmission failure, car moving forward with out stepping on the gas.
So far those are the thing I found.
I'd like to hear the horror stories on this car, if any one has any input please.
both are over priced to be.
RDX is smaller then the Santa Fe
RX is ugly
The only other option is the Rav4 and the CRV for me.
I've had good sucess with them.
I trust Acuras
I just need some convincing.
I dont see any older Hyundai's on the road but I see alot of older old old old toyotas and hondas.
I would like to hear the horror stories of this Santa fe's 2007-2008 models
IMHO, The reason we all fell for the Santa Fe is because it drove and felt like a Lexus for a Hyundai price. But, as my Salesman said "...everyone has to get past the old idea of the slanted "H"."
If you want high re-sale and the perception of reliability, go for the Honda CRV with a noisy engine and skinny seats and less standard features, or Acura RDX, Lexus RX.at a high price.
If you want a decent, middle of the road kid hauler with an ugly interior, go for the Toyota RAV4.
If you want a good deal, with the best standard safety features, interior room and goodies at the best price,with the longest warranty, the Santa Fe is a good choice, but it still has a crappy reliability perception and re-sale value will be less. It only works if you keep the vehicle forever.
The other thing to take into consideration is the gas prices. Any money you save on the price of a car offsets the extra cost of gas. In that sense, Hyundai makes for a lot of saved gas.
Finally, i say all of this having had some problems with my own S.Fe LTD. which , I must admit, created some disppointment, but I have to say I liked the design concepts of this vehicle, and they were fixed. BUT, with any vehicle from Kia to Mercedes, it's always a crap shoot.
The most common defects in the Santa Fe have been :
1. Map lights -corrected in 07
2. Pass. seat belt sensors set too high for weight
3. outside temp. guage problems
4. leaking sunroof
5. ECM computer warning light issues
I personally had the brake switch go out,temp .guage replaced, badly fitted leather seats underneath at the back, cupholder in the rear armrest replaced, rear control arm bolt go out and replaced,and a rattling heat shield moved. All were fixed under warranty, so my problems were not all the normal ones. I just wanted it to a LEXUS, dammit.
The little things on does not really bother me that much really. Its the big horror stories that scare me.
I read one where the car caught on fire, the transmission went out after 24 hours, shifting from 1st to 2nd is non responsive/choppy. The car shooting forward.
Its like a love it hate it relationship for me. I love the car because of the price, looks, drive and feel.
But if it cant drive 2-5 years from now I might as well buy a used one with out an engine and have it sit in my driveway.
I'm afraid, very afraid.
I just need some stories to me feel better and some perspectives from owners that has already have this vehicle for about 1-2 years already.
As I am sure there are people that has the vehicle for 2 years now. Assuming they purchased in mid 2006.
Would love to hear from those people, as well as all the prospective buyers of the santa fe.
Good Luck
Gord
What year and month is your 07 Santa Fe built?
And....
Are you in any form related to Hyundai?
Sorry some one had to ask
20,000km
What year and month is your 07 Santa Fe built?
Sept 11/06
And....
Are you in any form related to Hyundai?
NO.....Just a retired glass installer from Canada.
Good Luck on your purchase...whatever it is.
Sorry some one had to ask"
Strange as it may seem, there are those of us here - and I'm one - who have no connection to Hyundai, but love our vehicles. Over the years, I've owned the following, with some problems:
Datsun 810 - melted fuse box
Mazda 626 - failed adjustable shocks
Acura Integra - headliner kept falling out
Subaru Legacy - gear whine in transmission
Nissan Stanza - power window failed, guide for timing chain failed (twice)
And now I've got an '08 SF with squeaky front windows. The point is, no car is perfect, and I think it's wrong to assume that everyone has serious problems. You want to read some horror stories? Check out the Nissan Murano forum! That was what I was looking at originally, until I started reading the forums. Although I'm sure it's a very nice vehicle, ultimately I felt the SF was a better deal, much less money and equally as nice - although not quite as "out there" as the Murano. If I had lots of money and wasn't afarid of all the Murano's high-tech "gadgets", I might have gone with that. I DON'T have lots of money, so the "low-tech" SF is fine for me. I keep my cars fairly long, so resale doesn't really matter to me - I'll drive it til it drops. I think it's one of the nicest cars I've ever owned.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/news/2007/04/top-picks-for-2007- -4-07/overview/0704_top-picks-2007.htm
I own a 2007 that has been problem free for a year. Great vehicle overall and I'm very impressed with the ride. I do a silent comparison when I ride in everyone else's car and none compare with my truck. It rides great, handles great and is very quiet. Despite the greed on wall street thats making gas prices sour you wouldn't go wrong buying one. If you are doing some highway driving it gets decent MPG for a vehicle its size.
I am one of these.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=chicken%20sound&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&t- ab=wv#q=chicken%20&hl=en&sitesearch=
I was examining the car again today and it seems that the kia's and the hyundai have many simularities of the Toyota and Honda's.
Are they copy cats or are they collaborating to purchase old techonology from the toyota & honda Manufacture's..? :confuse:
I've also notice the quality of the toyota's and the honda's have gone down maybe those manufacture are focusing in china and kia and hyundai is focusing on the U.S market?
The kia dealer told me he would never buy anything made in the U.S. and he said he would choose a kia over a hyundai even thought they are same company. He rather choose a car made in korea then a car made in Alabama.
I'm done rambling.
I just need some conviceing or some stories to convince me ya or nay.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Its a comfortable ride, its nice and clean,
The inside door handle looks cheap, the handle in the back is cheap,
More bang for the buck.
But I dont want the problems associated with it.
The problems that read seems to be comming from the AWD more, am i wrong?
Also, if I have it done by an outside vendor, I'm told it might void my warranty. I really do not understand how Hyundai can continue to sell these with tow packages. It's a joke, except the joke is on the customer.
sound like misrepresentation to me.
Knowing that there is a recall and yet still sell you something they dont have.
I smell something.
I like the Santa Fe overall, however I have some very minor issues, the length of the bottom of the front seats (a little short for tall people) which could give a little more support to the legs. Also the tan cloth interior stains pretty easily, an ipod jack should have been included, and mileage could be better average is about 17 mpg city. Lastly the rear should have a little stiffer springs or at least some self leveling shock absorbers for all of the additional weight one might have when towing and bringing along gear for camping etc.
I think it's a great value and at this juncture it's still a fantastic vehicle.
Are the items listed on your invoice? If so then you should be due a refund.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
They say thats what their cost would have been. The estimate from a local U-Haul dealer is $345.00. I think that Hyundai should reinburse the dealers the amount of having an outside vendor doing the work. Then the customers who have negotiated the price of the hitch in the sale would be compensated. I'm still waiting to hear back from Hyundai to see what they are going to do for me. I will post when I get some answers.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Coverage applies to Original Owner only effective with 2004 Model Year and newer model year vehicles. On 1999-2003 Model Years, coverage applies to Original Owner and immediate family members (i.e. wife, husband, daughter, son, stepdaughter, stepson).
Second and/or subsequent owners have powertrain components coverage under the 5 year / 60,000 mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Excludes coverage for vehicles in commercial use (i.e. taxi, route delivery, delivery service, rental, etc.).
Source: http://www.hyundaiusa.com/global/warranty/warranty.aspx
I have a couple of questions.
1) Does the warranty continue with the second owner?
2) Are the sun visor lights suppose to "light" when you open the flap? I cannot find anything in the owner's manual about these lights. My glove box light is also out but the owner's manual does tell me how to access this lamp.
Any help with these questions would be greatly appreciated!
What do you both think about the price I paid and if you know anything about the visor lights? I cannot find anything in the owner's manual for these lights!
Thanks again, all.
Hondas and Toyotas you can drive them for 250,000 to 300,000 miles. So I wouldn't even question the miles on those two makes of cars, but on a Chevy or Ford I certainly would.
I am considering purchasing a 2004 Santa Fe for $8,888 with 77,269 miles. Is that a good price with those miles for that year vehicle?
Thanks for any advice :-)
If I can get them to come down some Im ready to drive it off the lot.