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jmmnh,
I believe owner's manual does not require higher octane. Hmm, engine rough...I haven't had
that problem w/octane87, though my XG 2002 engine makes tapping noise that I hear on idle.
I test drove ES300,audiA6, volvo S60 when I was shopping but I could not pass what XG offered: price-styling-features.
Well, the replacement TCM module arrived, was installed, and did not cure the problem. The factory told the dealer that they would send a replacement TCM module and that they should install it to make sure that it wasn't just a bad TCM that had been installed earlier. I called the service manager today and was told that the new (2nd) module had been installed, with no improvement. The factory is now talking to the dealer about replacement of the entire transmission!
The service manager at West Broad Mitsubishi/Hyundai has been very nice, and tells me to keep driving the Sonata. The Sonata is a fine car, but I really miss my XG. I really notice now the luxury touches that are not present in the Sonata, and the difference in how the car rides and in the amount of power from the engine. At this point, I have no idea how long it will take to get my car back fixed, if ever. Perhaps I'll be "lucky" enough that the new transmission is installed, and the car still won't work right, and Hyundai will have to give me a new 2004 XG350 to replace my 2001! I would be happy to be able to keep driving an XG, but I am concerned about the amount of warranty work that I have had to have on this car, and I am very glad now that I paid $750.00 for the factory extended warranty.
warranty offer over and above the stanard warranty
which on 01's has been extened by Hyundai for
bumper to bumper,road asst. or engine& transmission,owners choice.
1. It's a lot longer; 10 years bumper-to-bumper.
2. You have the right to a loaner vehicle if your car is in overnight for warranty service.
3. The horsepower advertising boo-boo extension option was offered to owners of the extended warranty as well; I chose a couple of extra years of road-side service.
I've stated elsewhere in these threads that my last long-life vehicle -- a 1987 Mercury Lynx GS 5-speed that lasted 10 years, 227K miles -- was maintained on a standard schedule, other than oil changes at roughly half the scheduled intervals. All other work was performed on the normal schedule. I, too, would like to know when the "industry" decided we should needlessly spend all the extra dollars on a bogus maintenance schedule.
The noise is more prominent when going up the incline from standing still and it sounds something like gas guzzling noise. The car feels sluggish as it has trouble getting gas. Other annoying problems that I have is vibration felt through the steering wheel and brake pedal when the transmission is in P and D. The vibration disappears once the car is in motion.
A local mechanic took a test drive today and said the last timing belt job was a lousy job. He said something like the setting is all off and offered to correct the mishap for $150. He then said he might have to change other things as necessary to get the job done right (some other belts that I am not familiar with). As for the vibration felt through the steering wheel and brake pedal, he said something about replacing the engine mounts. I did not agree with him on this part because the engine mounts have been replaced not long ago.
Do you think bad timing belt adjustment may cause these vibration as well?
I will be keeping this car till the next generation XG appears late next year. Should I put up with the problems or go ahead and make the mechanic a happy man? It really bothers me to drive this car knowing it is not performing as it should be, but at the same time the car has become a money eater lately. Advices please.
said when I went in for an oil change that I needed the 30K service even though I only had 12K
on the car,butit was 27 mos.old.He gave me a sheet
outlineing what should be done.Change oil,drain plug washer,install motor oil conditioner,replace air filter,wiper blades,rotate&balance wheels,new plugs,drain cooling sys,inspect brakes,imstall fuel sys treatment,drain trans,&filteradd conditioner,check tire pressureclean&check batt.all this for only$349+tax&shop supplies.When I told him the manual only called for Oil,trans,air filter,&rad.flush,he said Im the only one who ever read the manual.Thus next oil change I wii have them do manual version.This was one of the first Hyundai dealers in USA,owner died,widow sold out to Chicago dealer,was still run honestly till Chicago dealer sold out to Planet Hyundai.
Got the wife out of the SUV mode and we've settled on a mid-size sedan to replace her 72K mile '91 Toyota Tercel. Since my Olds has traction control and ABS and I didn't get stuck at all this past winter in the NE, we're looking for her car to have the same.
The XG comes with it all standard - GREAT!
The Altima she likes only comes with Traction Control as an OPTION on the 3.5S model - which takes premium gas, too. Also, side airbags are optional as well as ABS!
I'm trying to convince her that either the XG or the Sonata will be her best choice.
We tend to keep cars for a while (the Toyota was bought new), so depreciation is no object (just look at my 30K 98 Olds Intrigue!).
Anyway, just looking for some more ammo to push her towards the XG. And I've gotten a lot of mileage out of the $$ factor - Altima $28K+ Vs XG OTD $21K....
Deke
Previously she was driving a loaded 1999 Lexus LS-400.
She has remarked serveral times about how the XG experience "seems a lot like the Lexus."
When she's happy, I'm happy! ;-)))
I couldn't pass up the new marketing campaign, warranty and new European look/style of the XG.
We negotiated for eight hours and two sales people later, I paid $16,600 which included tax, license and the financing for five years. They were asking $19,900 What a steal!!
So if anyone is looking at a new car no matter what make, stick to your guns and don't go soft.
Remember it's a game they are trying to play.
As far as how I like my XG350, It's the closest I will get to a Lincoln LS at a far less price.
I look forward to the 2004 XG350.
Remaining issues are:
1) Some paint was knocked off of the front bumper while at the shop, they have promised to have it repaired for me.
2) Cruise control is not working. Considering how many parts they replaced to fix the transmission, I shouldn't be surprised that some thing was left unplugged somewhere! I'll call them tomorrow to let them know they have one more thing to fix.
Entire transmission was replaced, along with TCM and an engine control module (I think) along with sensor and syncros. Transmission is now working better than it ever has. Much smoother and no "shudder" or surging noted in the short time that I have had to drive it today. The dealer kept it a couple of extra days to do about 200 miles of test driving to make sure that it was working properly.
I must admit that I was almost disappointed that they were finally able to (apparently) repair the transmission, as I was giving longing looks at the black 2004 XG350L that the dealer has in front of their showroom! The look is much sharper, and a little sleeker, I particularly like how the front end of the car has a cleaner, sharper look, especially the way the new headlights look. The new wheels are pretty good. The lighter woodgrain plastic color in the interior is an improvement, too.
Still on the fence about the XG350L or the Camry. Might end up going with the Toyota as it will retain more of its value....
But the XG has a TON of features for the same price. AAARRGGG!!!
Deke
All who bought XG probably thought about retail value. I and my wife are enjoying driving our XG350. Hope you will enjoy your new car anyways.
only thing is, a friend of ours is an insurance adjuster and he tells me stories of recommending that two year old cars with $5000 damage be totalled.
God forbid I end up in that situation, I don't want to be handed a check for next to nothing and told good luck looking for a replacement.
We just donated my wife's 91 Toyota Tercel with 72K on it, so we keep for the long run. Don't put too many miles on our cars (my 98 Olds Intrigue has 30400 in 4 1/2 years).
My sister in-law is dating the GM of the local Nissan store and we're being prodded to the Altima, but I don't like his attitude; says I don't know what I want in the car and he knows best! Actually, he wants to get us in the Maxima, but I think it's a turd, and he took offense!
Guess it'll all come down to the test drives....
If I could only drive the cars blindfolded; that's the only way to check out quality!
Deke
Anyone have experience with high mileage 350s? Will is go the distance?
In my opinion, I would go for the XG. The XG is more luxurious and unique than the Camry. I am a 2 time Hyundai owner and would have no qualms about buying a 3rd. They are good cars. My low end 00 Accent required only 2 warranty repairs and it was very reliable in the 25k that I owned it. My friend currently owns the car, now with 40k, and has only encountered a dead battery. The car is rattle free and relatively refined and quiet for such a cheap car. I made the mistake of buying an 03 Suzuki Aerio, thinking that a Japanese car would assure me a reliable trouble free car, and ran into lots of annoying problems, way more than my 5k cheaper Accent. I traded the darn thing in after only 8 months for the Tiburon. This car has been flawless so far. I should have never left the Hyundai family!
Note: We like XG350 ride and features better than Accord V6Xe and Camry LXE,and of course the lower price. It is replacing an 86 Cressida so we don't expect to care about resale value only that it runs for years and years.
We've got a one-time settlement coming to us and plan on paying off bills, replacing the wife's car and little repairs to the house. After all that, whatever's left over goes away for the long-term, so we won't be able to cough up ready cash for a replacement car.
Deke
The Chairman of Hyundai Asan killed himself this morning. He was being investigated for his ties to allegedly funnelling about $100 million to North Korea and for cooking Hyundai's books and siphoning off billions of dollars. Hyundai Motors is a separate company, but it is run by the dead guys older brother.
And they say women are fickle.....;-P
Thanks for all the research, answers to my questions, etc. I may just lurk here for a while, but now I move over to the Camry boards.
Thanks, all, again.
Deke
My wife drives it every day and often takes business associates to lunch in it. Most of them have engineering degrees. She says that a common remark made as they are riding down the street is "Is this a Lexus??" Of course, none of them has ever heard of an XG.
In fact, previously she drove a 1999 Lexus LS400, and we think that the overall driving experience is remarkably similar.
Our only hesitations about the car at this time are the relatively high cost of scheduled maintenance and the relatively high depreciation in its value over time.
We've had few problems and for quite some time now we have had NO problems. None of the problems that we have had could be called "failures," that is, problems with its reliability. As a matter of fact, at this stage of ownership I had had significantly more complaints about the Lexus (engineering design deficiencies) than I do about the Hyundai.
up to rip us off.Mine told me the 24K runs $349,plus shop supplies&tax.Well I re-read my owners manual and found that Hyundai reommends
oil&filter,flush radiator,change transaxel oil&filter,change air filter.Total cost $155.00+tax.
It may be that what we XG owners are seeing is simple greed on the part of the dealers, or it may be that they are in some way being aided and abetted by Hyundai USA.
At the 15,000 mile service, my wife was coerced in buying expensive "cleaning of the fuel injectors", which is not mentioned in the owners manual.
Shortly we will be taking the car in for the 22,500 mile service and rest assured that we will be wire brushing all "recommendations" as to the services required.
By way of context, I also have a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, and the dealer's service rep whips out a printed brochure which shows "THEIR" service recommendations at the various mileage levels, and naturally this at least doubles the maintenance costs, if not more. As if the dealer could POSSIBLY understand the vehicle better than Chevrolet Division does. ROFLMAO. So I tell them that I want EXACTLY, PRECISELY what Chevrolet requires, the guy acts like I am a complete cretin (part of his training, no doubt), and they proceed to do what I ask without further comment.
I do see a climactic scene developing with the XG at 60,000 miles, where apparent requirements for changing out the timing belt and spark plugs could possibly result in horse choking maintenance costs, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. I DO NOT understand why the timing belt change is NOT required in California, but is apparently "required" by Hyundai elsewhere. Is this because of unique consumer protection activity in the state of California?
As for the brake issue, I tend to agree with you. The same mechanic suggested a fluid change (I don't believe it's recommended till 60K) because of the possibility of moisture in the fluid. I don't ever remember having this service performed other than when recommended, including on a car that I drove for more than 200K miles.
Here are some links that back myself up:
http://www.brakesafely.com/whychange.html
http://www.trustmymechanic.com/brake_fluid_change.htm
2/1/01 - Faulty valve in emissions system
2/28/01 - Wiring short under dash
10/9/01 - Rough shifting between 3rd and 4th
11/14/01 - Rough shifting between 3rd and 4th
10/11/02 - Battery Failure
10/30/02 - Rough shifting between 3rd and 4th
12/30/02 - Ignition coil #1 failure
2/5/03 - Right rear swaybar bushings defective
2/28/03 - Defective spark plugs
3/6/03 - Ignition coil #2 failure
4/15/03 - Defective front control arm assembly
7/7/03 - Wiring short in driver-side door
9/18/03- Rough shifting between 3rd and 4th
The chronic transmission problem finally showed up in the computer during the 9/18/03 examination A new transmission has been ordered for the car. Interesting that I sent a complaint to Hyundai in 2002 and received a letter response, stating that Hyundai would contact me about the problem. They never did!
I sure hope that Hyundai has improved the reliability of their XG automobiles, as I am considering a trade for an XG350.