"modern engines don't have little pieces of junk floating around and there's no such thing as break in oil."
Well I will have to disagree on you with this one. I have changed oil and seen, felt grit in the oil. Very tiny metal particles, as a matter of fact. This from an engine that performed very well, so it is not a matter of internal bits breaking off, or anything like that.
Consider this ... most (all) tranny pans have magnets, usually in the lowest corners. What is that for if not to trap metal filings?
When there are metal surfaces wearing against one another, there will be small pieces of metal produced, hence an oil filter or a tranny fluid filter and magnet. How small -- that varies. When the engine is new and tight, it would likely produce more waste as the engine wears in, after which time it should become insignificant.
As for the matter of oil changes and leaving oil in for varying amounts of time ... I read a lot of posts about oil breaking down in viscosity and so forth, and that being the main reason why people would change oil at certain intervals. I have not read about people changing oil because it is getting dirty and full of contaminants, such as the by products of the combustion process getting into the oil. Acids are produced, and in spite of it being in a corrosion resistant substrate, can't be good for the engine. Someone mentioned the oil being a bath for the engine and I agree with this.
One can't change oil and filter too frequently, from a wear and care of engine point of view. Now from a cost POV, that is a different matter.
Personally, I like to change it twice during the break in period (before the book says to have it changed once) and then after that I like to change it every 5000 miles. I also prefer to change my own oil -- cheaper and done right (oil plug gasket, torque wrench, hot engine, level surface).
First, I'd like to collectively thank all of you Elantra owners who have taken the time to offer your perspective and experience to this forum.
I've been reading the postings here regularly for a few months and I have never been so confident or informed about a new car purchase before. From the rattling of the passenger-side seatbelt (which some seem to think comes from inside the passenger-side door), to the awkwardly placed arial antenna, and average MPG, I know exaclty what to expect. I will be buying my own GT within three months. Thank you very much to you all.
As I said, I'm buying my own GT very soon and I haven't begun to talk price with my dealer yet. I haven't seen much about price on here (maybe no one wants to see that others got a better price). For those of you that have purchased GTs, how closely does the Edmunds TMV price come to the prices you all have negotiated? I'm looking at the GT with the traction control/ABS/sunroof package. If anyone can give me a general idea about how close they came to the invoice price (with options) or to the Edmunds calculator, I would be very grateful.
Anyone ever try to get different wheel covers (hub caps) from the manufacturer on thier new GT? I ask because the European GT comes with sportier looking wheel covers and if anyone has had any luck with getting different ones from Hyundai, that would be helpful when I talk to my dealer about it.
Well, the US GT comes with alloy wheels standard. It might be a little difficult to get wheel covers. You would have to replace the wheels with steel wheels that would accept the wheel covers, I would think.
For me, I do all my own oil changes. I use 2 quarts full synthetic oil, with the remainder being Castrol GTX (I despise Quaker Mistake oil). I change my oil every 5,000 miles.
As far as the amount of oil to use in an oil change, I simply add 3.5 quarts, replace the filler cap, run the car about 15 seconds, wait a couple of minutes for the oil to settle, and then read the dipstick. I keep doing this and adding more oil until it is full. I've changed my own oil this same way for MANY years.
Fram filters are crap, for sure. I have heard this from MANY mechanics, a couple of whom were good friends of mine. They definitely use cheap materials. One time when I did use Fram oil filters, after my 1990 Plymouth Laser Turbo died, the Plymouth dealer told me that he would rebuild the engine this one time, but, if I continued to use Fram oil filters, he'd not cover any future warrantied engine repairs.
I'd have to agree with some others about the radio reception being a bit weak. Our Protege definitely pulls-in stations better. So did my previous autos. I personally think the head unit in this car is one of it's few downfalls - the sound quality is very good, but radio reception is adequate at best, and I continue to have intermittent problems with the CD player. I'll probably install my old Alpine CD/Tuner within the year (it's 10 years old and works as good as new).
"I was browsing HyundaiPerformance.com boards and noticed someone mentioned that Motor Trend got an Elantra GT to run 0 to 60 in 8 seconds flat."
It was not Motor Trend -- they have not seen fit to test the GT. It was MotorWeek on PBS.
They tested a manual (5-speed) GT without ABS and got 8.0 secs. from 0 - 60 mph and also got an excellent fade-free 124 ft from 60 - 0 mph (without ABS). I have these numbers and the review on my yet-to-be released GT website.
You asked about what you can expect to pay for a GT: There is a separate bulletin board (under townhall, owner's clubs, hyundai owner clubs, elantra) titled "What did you pay?" There are some nice figures to bounce around in there.
I beat the TMV by $800-$1000 for a car similar to what you are looking for--I did buy a MY 2001 in 2002 but there is virtually no difference between the 2001 and 2002. At any rate, I think you can get a great deal with a little homework and persistence
I have offered a spreadsheet to a few folks here to help their research--has a nice breakdown of prices/options as well as a monthly payment chart. Email me at dmarzo1@hotmail.com and I will be happy to send it along to you
Thanks for the info on the security system and the remote fuel pull!
One other question: My insurance company asked if the car had daytime running lights. Is it fair to say the GT has them since you can essentially leave the lights in the on position permanently (and they will turn off automatically when you remove the key)? Or does the term "daytime running lights" connote something else?
"Daytime running lights" refer to having only the headlamps come on when the parking brake is released, without you having to touch anything. My Jetta has DRLs, and all cars in Canada are required to have them by law. But no, the GT doesn't have them.
So, after all that, how much oil do you ultimately replace? I put in a total of 3.5 quarts...and after running the engine awhile I'm still dead on the fill-line at 3.5. How much variable can there be? btw I'm just trying to pin this down.
Okay, so I test drove the Elantra GT this morning. Beautiful! I love the car so much... One sour note- why would the dealer give me the keys to a GT for a test drive, and not make sure there was some gas in it? I get in, and the gas light is on! But whoa, if that's all I've got to complain about...I'm sold! We talked numbers, the salesman and I. He wanted me to pay over $17,000 for a completely loaded GT (auto trans, moonroof, deflector, the works). Lucky for me, I have been researching this car for over a month now (and have received wonderful information from this town hall-thanks!) and saw that the TMV on this vehicle was only around $15,600. I was getting jipped and asked the salesman if he could offer any better. Well, he admitted that there was a bit of a mark-up and so he was off to find me a better deal- which he did. Needless to say, I will be picking my new GT up next week. Thank you soooo much for posting some great information on this board!
Well I changed my oil today and it took 3 2/3 quarts -- pretty close to the 3.5 quarts others were reporting.
Mind you, I didn't check how much was in each quart bottle before I put the oil in the car. If there was a few ounces extra in each, then it could well be a 4 quart capacity.
My conclusion? The manual is probably right, since it is likely reporting the completely dry capacity of the engine. When we change the oil, there is likely a few ounces still undrained from the engine.
Next change will be at the scheduled 7500 mile maintenance.
I put on a Bosch Premium Filter and used Exxon 10W-30 SL grade oil.
"One sour note- why would the dealer give me the keys to a GT for a test drive, and not make sure there was some gas in it? I get in, and the gas light is on!"
I once took a BMW 328is for a test drive and when the drive started it was low, and by 1/2 way through the drive it had gone down close to "E" and the fuel light was on. I had to stop and put in $2 worth of gas just to get back to the dealer. When I got back they apologised and promptly refunded my money no questions asked. Needless to say, the car was a blast to drive. That is probably why the gas went down so fast. :-)
Glad to hear that you settled on a deal for a GT. I know you will be happy with the car. My dealer didn't give me quie a full tank. They gave me $10 worth of gas. Better than nothing.
......and remain convinced that I did the right thing buying the Elantra GT. Although the 03 appears to be a nicer car inside and out than the 02, front leg room is still cramped and the seats are still too mushy for me. It was a pleasure getting back behind the wheel of my GT as I drove away...even the salesperson said, "Nice car."
Hey dmarzo1, You mentioned in the "what did you pay?" section of the owners club that Hyundai has a loyalty program. Do you have any more info on that? Or do you know where I could find more information? I have not heard anything about a loyalty rebate except on the XG300 (or 350). Thanks, DW
I was getting my Sonatas and Elantras mixed up. (I was shopping for both before ending up with the GT) The loyalty program was for the Sonata and I believe it ended at the end of January. There are some other incentives ongoing though. Go to www.hyundaiusa.com. On the left they have a link that says "Showroon" Click on that and you will see a sublevel link for incentives. In the east region, they identify a $750 rebate for the 2001 Elantra (the GT is excluded) and $500 for the 2002 through Feb 28th.
I have seen several messages concerning fuel doors that don't release easily using the release lever. I too had that problem, but there is an easy DIY fix. Once you do get the door open, just bend back the catch (on the door) a little. Just a slight push, don't over do it.
Prices: Glad MMB2002 got the dealer down from 17K, that is way too much. However, you have to remember that the final sale price involves many factors. After the dealer considers their profit and local availability, you also need to consider extras like wind deflectors, mud flaps, floor mats, and especially the trade-in. Dealers will often make up for low profit on the new car by reducing the amount of your trade in value (they can come up with all kinds of reasons for a low trade-in price). Of course, you can usually get a better price if you sell your current car yourself, but depending in transportation needs, that may not be an option. From experience, I always recommend that if you are going to trade, keep the negotiations separate. Lock in an agreeable trade-in price first, then discuss the purchase price. That helps to keep the whole process a little more simple. At that point, prices you see at sites like Edmunds are a good starting point for the purchase price negotiations.
I installed satellite radio over the weekend and had pretty much gutted the interior to run wires. Since nobody's mentioned any thing like it yet, I'll share what I found. First, the horn has Kia stamped on it. (I know this is not the radio but I wanted some nice loud Fiamm blasters!) I had no idea the two (Hyundai & Kia) were associated. The accelerator pedal and lever is plastic (I was surprised!) The mounting for the automatic xmission shifter is plastic (another surprise). It's a little black plastic cage connected as a fulcrum and you can see the other linkage underneath it. Some things that are stressed are mounted right onto the plastic trim panels. For example, the hood release is anchored directly onto the plastic trim that surrounds the fuze box. No additional support. It is only 1-2 inches from that piece's anchoring. The dash and most of the trim are partially to completely anchored by little plastic tabs that push into a toothed clip. You can see yourself if you gently pry off the small "ends" of the dashboard that kiss the doors. I think they are adequate. It loks as though Hyundai spent an extra $10/car in zip-strips to anchor wires under the dash wherever there is a free-run. A good idea, I think, as it will cut down on rattles. There is up to almost an inch of sound-deadening material in the cabin. It's thickest under the front seats. There is an ingenious little spring-loaded vacuum tube (like from your 5th grade science class) that attempts to give a constant-velocity to the glove-box if left to grop open. You can see the string that attaches it at the upper right rear of the glove box. All of the interior lights that I looked at were pretty much just lens, bulb, and contacts, which served as support for the bulb.
I think what made this car different from others I've been able to see is the obvious and complete attention made towards reducing costs. Not to say it is bad, because if it works, then it is better. I suppose a plastic gas pedal works fine, as well as the the other stuff.
By the way, the radio sounds pretty nice if you turn the bass and treble way DOWN! The satellite radio is incredible as well. If anybody is considering putting it in, contact me and I'll give you some suggestions so you won't have to gut the entire interior to do a nice installation.
I've been car shopping for a few weeks and I was disappointed at most vehicles that I looked at. I knew when I started that what I really wanted was a 4-door hatchback. I am currently driving a 1987 VW Scirocco, but I've also owned a Honda Civic hatchback. I love all the space that a hatchback gives you, but I really need 4 doors for when I have passengers. I also needed a roomier "hatch" area because my two medium-sized dogs may need to ride back there if I have more than 2 passengers. I looked at the Ford Focus ZX5 and the Mazda Protege5. There's no way I'm putting my babies back there even if just in case of an emergency. I had pretty much given up hope on finding a hatchback, so I started looking at mini-SUV's. Last week, I was pysched about getting a Honda CRV, but the idea of me being an SUV owner was not settling too well in my stomach. It just seemed too wastefully yuppieish for a mostly single passenger vehicle. I trashed the CRV idea and decided that I would wait for the new Toyota Matrix to be released. Then on Saturday, I stumbled upon the Elantra GT while doing research on the Matrix.
The Elantra GT looked a bit puny in the pictures I saw, but I decided to swing by the local Hyundai dealer on the way home. They only had one in Rally Red. I wasn't impressed with the colour, but everything else was just perfect for my needs with lots to spare. The salesman talked me into a test drive and that pretty much made up my mind. I'm used to a having a zippy car with my 16V Scirocco (even if it is ancient) and the Elantra GT exceeded my expectations. It felt strange driving an automatic, but it was a fun drive overall. I was still going to wait and see what the Matrix has to offer, but after doing more research about the Elantra GT and reading close to 800 posts on this board, I'm definitely going to get the GT.
This is my first new vehicle purchase, so I'm feeling a bit like a fish out of water. I'm also a rather petite female, so I feel like I'm at a serious disadvantage when dealing with sales people or mechanics. I'd prefer to buy my car via the internet so I don't have to do in-person haggling but is it bad karma to not give the local salesman a decent shot at meeting my price expectations? I have a feeling that he's going to have a hard time finding the car I want: Cobalt Blue, ABS/moonroof and automatic. I was told that they had to trade with a dealer in Wichita, KS (I'm in Central Illinois) to get a Chianti Red with moonroof for their last GT customer! I'll probably let the local guy have a shot, but he better not think he's going to sell me that car for $16K. Should I start my offer at invoice price?
When Edmunds lists the Max. Luggage Capacity, would that be with the seats up? Edmunds doesn't have the luggage capacity for the GT, but I found a site that says it's 18.2 cubic feet. The Focus ZX5 is 18.6 cu ft and the Mazda Proteg5 is 19.8 cu ft, but both of those definitely looked smaller than the GT. Is that just due to styling?
well the Elantra GT has a much more sloped back that cuts into the area that the more "squared off" Protege 5 and ZX5 have.
By the way, the Elantra GT, Protege 5, and ZX5 really are about the same size. If you were concerned about the size of the vehicle (and infering safety from that I assume), maybe you should have gone up to a mid-sized sedan or wagon?
I test drove those 3 (plus a Subaru Impreza TS wagon) all in the same day, and my impression was that the Elantra GT had the most interior room. I had my upright bass along, to see how it would fit, and it fit the most comfortably by far in the Elantra GT. However, as sem_key notes, the sloped back could be troublesome for tall objects.
Risa5--Do you perhaps mean carbon blue? I believe that's what the 2002 color is. It's a blue with just a hint of purple--like the old blue carbon paper used to be. Quite striking in the sunlight. There is a dealer in Aurora, IL, just west of Chicago, that has 2--both at sticker price $16,607. I know one's been there for about a month--maybe your dealer could do a trade with them--www.gartnercars.com
Seminole: quite the opposite actually. I'm trying to find the smallest car to fit my needs and the Elantra GT fits the bill. I only asked about the luggage cap. because the other two cars really did look smaller back there. It must be because they're tall and thin rather than sloped and wide. I'm pretty sure the Elantra GT is slightly wider in the rear. The sloped works better for me because my dogs can fit back there comfortably when they have to ride back there and still look out if they want.
andil1: Thanks for the lead. I actually did some hunting today and it looks like several dealers within 200 miles do have that car and I think I do mean Carbon Blue. It must just be that Chianti Red that is really hard to find. Wish me luck on getting a good price!
I've had my 5sp Carbon Blue GT since Dec 23rd. Last weekend I took an extended (800+ mi) road trip. I just had to tell you all how thrilled I was with the GT's performance and comfort - what a smooth ride! Cruising between 60-80 mph is effortless. Plenty of passing power in 5th gear. Averaged 33 mpg. The seats are VERY comfortable, even after 7 hours of driving. No engine noise. Minimal road noise. Not one interior rattle.
May I offer some advice (from old guy, that's bought new cars) that seemed to work for me 2 wks ago when i purchased 2002 GT, Black, Auto, Moonroof, mats & mudguards. I balked at the extra price of the moonroof ($600). I used that as a bargaining chip. I asked them to find me one w/o moonroof...which prob is impossible.So I kept telling them that I really didn't want the sunroof. The car listed for $15,500 and was bought for 15,242. That was the same price as the invoice they showed me. Try to figure that if it's a popular model they won't deal that much. And if you're going to keep the car for a long time $100 or $200 isn't that much (I'm not saying it's not a lot, but if you really like the car, go for it). I have a 110lb Lab who is fine in back seat. The car if great to drive and I hope you enjoy it. P.S. We also have a Santa Fe that's tops!
OK. How about if I say that that the interior sight lines from the driver's seat to view the outside from the right rear of the car are less than optimal? I still love the car.
"Edmunds doesn't have the luggage capacity for the GT, but I found a site that says it's 18.2 cubic feet. The Focus ZX5 is 18.6 cu ft and the Mazda Proteg5 is 19.8 cu ft, but both of those definitely looked smaller than the GT."
They are both smaller than the GT. The luggage space on the GT, seats down, is 28.3 cu.ft (brochure, various reviews) and 18.2 cu.ft seats up. This means nothing until you actually bother to take the headrests out, flip the rear seat cushions forward and fold the rear seat backs down. The space becomes enormous, and with the wide hatch opening, hauling furniture or a large TV is not a problem.
remarketer said: "I have seen several messages concerning fuel doors that don't release easily using the release lever. I too had that problem, but there is an easy DIY fix. Once you do get the door open, just bend back the catch (on the door) a little. Just a slight push, don't over do it."
Thanks for the tip! I'll give it a try tomorrow when I fill up.
That definitely gave me the "inside story" on my Elantra. But I started to wonder about other cars... so when I drove my '99 GCS ($28k list), I checked the accelerator--it is plastic! I did not rip up the carpets to check the amount of insulation, however. ;-)
I invite all members here (and elsewhere) to join in the associated mailing list on the web site. Unlike this one, it is email based, and allows for a freer flow of discussions. The list is moderated.
I will be making changes to the website as time goes by, and will be only announcing those changes on its mailing list, or on the website itself.
One of the things to be implemented, is the "Garage" page, where fixes such as the fuel door fix, and others can be documented. More details will be posted on the web page. See you there.
Good luck on your quest for the Carbon Blue GT with ABS/auto. We just got one, but it took us over three aggravating months. I didn't think the dealership was very aggressive in trying to find the model we were waiting for. The ABS made the search particularly tricky. When is Hyundai going to figure out that it's new breed of buyers cares about things like ABS brakes?
It took weeks and weeks of badgering, but it finally paid off. We got our car last weekend and so far love it. The irony is that we started looking for it so long ago, that we were really looking for a Cobalt Blue model. The color change took us by surprise. The Carbon is nice, but not as bright as we would have liked for safety purposes.
I was telling some guys I know that I'm getting a Hyundai Elantra GT. I got the -- are you a stupid girl who knows absolutely nothing about cars? Someone said some derisive comment about it being a large lawnmower and most everyone else was talking about lemons. One guy told me I was better off with a Geo Metro -- those aren't even made anymore are they? He himself would buy a Chevy Prizm -- umm yeah, boring. I don't think anyone was listening when I said I NEED a 4-door hatchback or that I researched for one month. I've been trying since Saturday to find something really bad (other than the trunk leak) about the Elantra, but there really hasn't been anything and I must have Googled to the ends of the internet. I had a $25K budget for my new car, but why spend all that money if I can buy a nice little car for $15K? Hopefully, I'll have the last laugh. Also, I like how the Elantra GT looks a bit like my old Scirocco but with two extra doors.
Risa you will have the last laugh. I could have bought anything up to 32,000 dollars. I looked at buying a Acura RSX type S, but after I drove the Elantra GT 5spd I was hooked and I saved a bundle. The Elantra is built solid and has lots of standard feautures you dont get in other cars in its class. I also save on gas, insurance and maintenance. You should see the looks I get when I drive this car. The car has great performance, I had to get out of a sticky situation over the weekend, I was turning left at a stoplight when a car came out of knowhere, I punched the gas and the tack climbed up into the 6 range and the tires where spinning, so I backed off a little bit on the gas, but I got out of ok. Boy does that engine perform well. Well have fun with your purchace and let your friends have a ride in your new car and watch there jaws drop when they feel the leather seats and hear how quiet the engine is. They will say, how much did you pay for this again????
Some how 3.5 quarts does not seem right. I know of no engine that takes less than 4 quarts of oil. I think there must be more left in the pan somehow. Maybe jacking up the front end might get more oil out when draining.
You will most assuredly laugh last. My wife and I skipped the more expensive VW Passat to buy the Elantra GT and we have not been disappointed. 14,394 trouble-free* miles later we are still impressed. Co-workers often ask about my car and very often we use it to take ourselves to lunch because (gasp) five people cannot fit comfortably into another co-worker's 3-series BMW.
* I just blew out my left-side front speaker cranking "Hundred Mile High City" by Ocean Colour Scene. Bummer. I'll check to see if replacement is covered under the warranty.
BTW - in reference to being "better off with a Geo Metro": I sold my 1993 Metro when we bought the GT. The Metro was the best darn car I've ever owned. It never failed to start - not once - in seven years, even after being COMPLETELY buried by a snowplow in 1996 (only the antenna was visible). My only hope is that every other car I own will be as reliable as the Metro was. I still miss it every day. Don't diss the Metro!!
Risa, I don't think you can go wrong with a GT. It really does feel and perform like a much more expensive car. Before I bought mine, my wife was pushing me to get a huge and expensive Dodge Intrepid because she thought we needed a "large" car for our expanding family. I've always liked smaller cars and really wanted a hatch to carry my greyhound around. The GT is the only late-model hatch I could find that was big enough for our three car seats (the Saab 9-3 is too narrow). After I demonstrated to her that you can indeed squeeze three child safety seat in back she relented, but was still pretty dubious about buying a small Korean car.
That changed when she had a chance to drive it a few times. She liked the fact that it handled a lot like the hot little Nissan Pulsar she had when she was single. It's also a lot easier to park than her Durango. The last straw was when a kid getting out of his slammed Honda in the parking lot commented "Cool car!" to her. There's nothing like a compliment from a stranger to change your preconceived notions about a car!
Anyway, I've got 1600 miles on mine now (Carbon Blue really is the best color, IMO) and couldn't be happier.
my accent also took 3.5 quarts on oil changes so it isn't uncommen .
as for colors . i really liked the carbon blue also i think it is the best color . but it is very very hard to find and after calling dealers from chico to la in ca i couldn't find one . there doesn't seem to be many Gt's period being shiped . each dealer had at most 4 on there lots if they had any at all . some only had 1 or 2 01's and no 02's . i think hyundai didn't expect the damand for them . if u want a gls there a lots on each lots , but gt's ? maybe 4 at best . i got a chanti red one instead (burgandy) it was my second choice and i am happy with the color . but i agree the carbon blue looks the nicest. i would have waited for a carbon blue but i wanted to buy before sales tax went up on the 1st of the year
i have 2k on mine now and i had the fuel door problem but the dealer replaced the spring and it fixed it . but i noticed last nice that the cruise sometimes gives me static with some am radio stations . has anybody else noticed that ? i live in sacremento and was listening to a sf radio station . sf is about 90 miles away and maybe being it is a far away staion is why . it doesn't mess with the local am stations .
I know of what you speak of. My brother-in-law thought I was crazy when I bought a 2000 Elantra GLS. I recalled him saying, "I would never buy a Korean car."
Well, that same brother-in-law called me this morning to excitedly tell me that he saw two 2003 Tiburons on display while driving by Route 22 in Northern New Jersey. Judging from his enthusiasm I suspect he is entertaining the idea of getting one himself.
IMO, Hyundai has turned the corner with the release of the Elantra GT and the 2003 Tib. They are now a respectable car company among knowledgeable/fairminded people.
Thanks for the encouraging comments everyone, especially gt_fan because his auto needs are closest to mine. I needed the hatch to carry my Australian shepherds, but I also was looking for a car that would eventually hold baby seats. I'm planning to keep my car for several years and there is a remote possibility that I could get married and have at least one child during those years. It was a real bonus to see the child seat anchors; they're also very helpful for the doggie seatbelts.
"Nice website! Your GT looks very nice. Is that the factory spoiler for the GT?"
Thanks to all who like my new Elantra GT website. To risa5 -- I know that there is a dearth of material on the web for the GT, especially for people interested int the car. I intend to change that starting with my website.
Regarding the spoiler -- that is a factory spoiler. There was some question earlier on this forum as to what car it was from, and based on the other factory spoilers, it is most likely a Sonata spoler if it is not actually a GT spoiler. Whatever it is, I like it the best of the ones I have seen. If people are really interested, I can find out directly from the salesman.
Meanwhile, I hope to make an addition to the Garage page tonight. I will add photos on a bit of maintenance that I did a couple of weeks ago.
Congratulations on a great website. When I purchased my Silver GT in november, I told the dealer I wanted a spoiler as soon as they would be available. The dealer offered me, for the same price of $450 (canadian), either a immediately available third party spoiler they had in stock, or an original one as soon as they became available. Since he did not know what they would look like or when (if ever) they would be produced, I decided to go with the third party one. It looks like the one on your GT except it has a brake light about a foot long on the edge. The car looks terrific with the the spoiler, and judging from the looks it gets everywhere, everybody seems to agree. I have yet to see another GT with a spoiler in the Montreal region, or any other Gt for that matter since I have only seen about six or seven so far. For now, I have kind of an exclusivity. Keep up the great work, and once again, great website.
"The hatchback configuration is pretty popular here, in fact the price of the hatch version was put up $1000 on Jan 1st"
Thanks to you and my Canuck compadre for the compliments on the website. I made the first entries in the Garage Page last night.
I am not surprised that the price has started to increase. As a matter of fact, one reviewer migth have put the bee in Hyundai's bonnet when he suggested that the car could be priced closer to $20k and still be a good buy. Hyundai knows precisely what it is doing with this aggressive pricing and warranty. I have watched the prices and the quality and the name recognition grow over the years as a Hyundai customer and they are doing exactly what the Japanese had to do in the 70's and 80's to get where they are today.
Hyundai even has its sights set on overtaking VW in North America this year, and from all indications it is possible. VW is not in the same sales mode as Hyundai, and I think that once more people realise that good quality can be had for thousands less, then why throw good money away.
Comments
"modern engines don't have little pieces of junk floating around and there's no such thing as break in oil."
Well I will have to disagree on you with this one. I have changed oil and seen, felt grit in the oil. Very tiny metal particles, as a matter of fact. This from an engine that performed very well, so it is not a matter of internal bits breaking off, or anything like that.
Consider this ... most (all) tranny pans have magnets, usually in the lowest corners. What is that for if not to trap metal filings?
When there are metal surfaces wearing against one another, there will be small pieces of metal produced, hence an oil filter or a tranny fluid filter and magnet. How small -- that varies. When the engine is new and tight, it would likely produce more waste as the engine wears in, after which time it should become insignificant.
As for the matter of oil changes and leaving oil in for varying amounts of time ... I read a lot of posts about oil breaking down in viscosity and so forth, and that being the main reason why people would change oil at certain intervals. I have not read about people changing oil because it is getting dirty and full of contaminants, such as the by products of the combustion process getting into the oil. Acids are produced, and in spite of it being in a corrosion resistant substrate, can't be good for the engine. Someone mentioned the oil being a bath for the engine and I agree with this.
One can't change oil and filter too frequently, from a wear and care of engine point of view. Now from a cost POV, that is a different matter.
Personally, I like to change it twice during the break in period (before the book says to have it changed once) and then after that I like to change it every 5000 miles. I also prefer to change my own oil -- cheaper and done right (oil plug gasket, torque wrench, hot engine, level surface).
I've been reading the postings here regularly for a few months and I have never been so confident or informed about a new car purchase before. From the rattling of the passenger-side seatbelt (which some seem to think comes from inside the passenger-side door), to the awkwardly placed arial antenna, and average MPG, I know exaclty what to expect. I will be buying my own GT within three months. Thank you very much to you all.
As I said, I'm buying my own GT very soon and I haven't begun to talk price with my dealer yet. I haven't seen much about price on here (maybe no one wants to see that others got a better price). For those of you that have purchased GTs, how closely does the Edmunds TMV price come to the prices you all have negotiated? I'm looking at the GT with the traction control/ABS/sunroof package. If anyone can give me a general idea about how close they came to the invoice price (with options) or to the Edmunds calculator, I would be very grateful.
I'm assuming it was a manual, but could that be? My auto takes more than 10 seconds to get to that. That is a big difference.
As far as the amount of oil to use in an oil change, I simply add 3.5 quarts, replace the filler cap, run the car about 15 seconds, wait a couple of minutes for the oil to settle, and then read the dipstick. I keep doing this and adding more oil until it is full. I've changed my own oil this same way for MANY years.
Fram filters are crap, for sure. I have heard this from MANY mechanics, a couple of whom were good friends of mine. They definitely use cheap materials. One time when I did use Fram oil filters, after my 1990 Plymouth Laser Turbo died, the Plymouth dealer told me that he would rebuild the engine this one time, but, if I continued to use Fram oil filters, he'd not cover any future warrantied engine repairs.
I'd have to agree with some others about the radio reception being a bit weak. Our Protege definitely pulls-in stations better. So did my previous autos. I personally think the head unit in this car is one of it's few downfalls - the sound quality is very good, but radio reception is adequate at best, and I continue to have intermittent problems with the CD player. I'll probably install my old Alpine CD/Tuner within the year (it's 10 years old and works as good as new).
Good luck to all with your GTs!
"I was browsing HyundaiPerformance.com boards and noticed someone mentioned that Motor Trend got an Elantra GT to run 0 to 60 in 8 seconds flat."
It was not Motor Trend -- they have not seen fit to test the GT. It was MotorWeek on PBS.
They tested a manual (5-speed) GT without ABS and got 8.0 secs. from 0 - 60 mph and also got an excellent fade-free 124 ft from 60 - 0 mph (without ABS). I have these numbers and the review on my yet-to-be released GT website.
Maybe this weekend ...
I beat the TMV by $800-$1000 for a car similar to what you are looking for--I did buy a MY 2001 in 2002 but there is virtually no difference between the 2001 and 2002. At any rate, I think you can get a great deal with a little homework and persistence
I have offered a spreadsheet to a few folks here to help their research--has a nice breakdown of prices/options as well as a monthly payment chart. Email me at dmarzo1@hotmail.com and I will be happy to send it along to you
One other question: My insurance company asked if the car had daytime running lights. Is it fair to say the GT has them since you can essentially leave the lights in the on position permanently (and they will turn off automatically when you remove the key)? Or does the term "daytime running lights" connote something else?
Thanks
Dave
Dave M
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards
Mind you, I didn't check how much was in each quart bottle before I put the oil in the car. If there was a few ounces extra in each, then it could well be a 4 quart capacity.
My conclusion? The manual is probably right, since it is likely reporting the completely dry capacity of the engine. When we change the oil, there is likely a few ounces still undrained from the engine.
Next change will be at the scheduled 7500 mile maintenance.
I put on a Bosch Premium Filter and used Exxon 10W-30 SL grade oil.
"One sour note- why would the dealer give me the keys to a GT for a test drive, and not make sure there was some gas in it? I get in, and the gas light is on!"
I once took a BMW 328is for a test drive and when the drive started it was low, and by 1/2 way through the drive it had gone down close to "E" and the fuel light was on. I had to stop and put in $2 worth of gas just to get back to the dealer. When I got back they apologised and promptly refunded my money no questions asked. Needless to say, the car was a blast to drive. That is probably why the gas went down so fast. :-)
Glad to hear that you settled on a deal for a GT. I know you will be happy with the car. My dealer didn't give me quie a full tank. They gave me $10 worth of gas. Better than nothing.
You mentioned in the "what did you pay?" section of the owners club that Hyundai has a loyalty program. Do you have any more info on that? Or do you know where I could find more information? I have not heard anything about a loyalty rebate except on the XG300 (or 350).
Thanks, DW
Sorry for any confusions.
Regards
Dave
Prices: Glad MMB2002 got the dealer down from 17K, that is way too much. However, you have to remember that the final sale price involves many factors. After the dealer considers their profit and local availability, you also need to consider extras like wind deflectors, mud flaps, floor mats, and especially the trade-in. Dealers will often make up for low profit on the new car by reducing the amount of your trade in value (they can come up with all kinds of reasons for a low trade-in price). Of course, you can usually get a better price if you sell your current car yourself, but depending in transportation needs, that may not be an option. From experience, I always recommend that if you are going to trade, keep the negotiations separate. Lock in an agreeable trade-in price first, then discuss the purchase price. That helps to keep the whole process a little more simple. At that point, prices you see at sites like Edmunds are a good starting point for the purchase price negotiations.
There is an ingenious little spring-loaded vacuum tube (like from your 5th grade science class) that attempts to give a constant-velocity to the glove-box if left to grop open. You can see the string that attaches it at the upper right rear of the glove box. All of the interior lights that I looked at were pretty much just lens, bulb, and contacts, which served as support for the bulb.
I think what made this car different from others I've been able to see is the obvious and complete attention made towards reducing costs. Not to say it is bad, because if it works, then it is better. I suppose a plastic gas pedal works fine, as well as the the other stuff.
By the way, the radio sounds pretty nice if you turn the bass and treble way DOWN! The satellite radio is incredible as well. If anybody is considering putting it in, contact me and I'll give you some suggestions so you won't have to gut the entire interior to do a nice installation.
I love this car, but I wish it had more horses!
The Elantra GT looked a bit puny in the pictures I saw, but I decided to swing by the local Hyundai dealer on the way home. They only had one in Rally Red. I wasn't impressed with the colour, but everything else was just perfect for my needs with lots to spare. The salesman talked me into a test drive and that pretty much made up my mind. I'm used to a having a zippy car with my 16V Scirocco (even if it is ancient) and the Elantra GT exceeded my expectations. It felt strange driving an automatic, but it was a fun drive overall. I was still going to wait and see what the Matrix has to offer, but after doing more research about the Elantra GT and reading close to 800 posts on this board, I'm definitely going to get the GT.
This is my first new vehicle purchase, so I'm feeling a bit like a fish out of water. I'm also a rather petite female, so I feel like I'm at a serious disadvantage when dealing with sales people or mechanics. I'd prefer to buy my car via the internet so I don't have to do in-person haggling but is it bad karma to not give the local salesman a decent shot at meeting my price expectations? I have a feeling that he's going to have a hard time finding the car I want: Cobalt Blue, ABS/moonroof and automatic. I was told that they had to trade with a dealer in Wichita, KS (I'm in Central Illinois) to get a Chianti Red with moonroof for their last GT customer! I'll probably let the local guy have a shot, but he better not think he's going to sell me that car for $16K. Should I start my offer at invoice price?
By the way, the Elantra GT, Protege 5, and ZX5 really are about the same size. If you were concerned about the size of the vehicle (and infering safety from that I assume), maybe you should have gone up to a mid-sized sedan or wagon?
and my impression was that the Elantra GT had the most interior room. I had
my upright bass along, to see how it would fit, and it fit the most comfortably
by far in the Elantra GT. However, as sem_key notes, the sloped back could
be troublesome for tall objects.
Erik
andil1: Thanks for the lead. I actually did some hunting today and it looks like several dealers within 200 miles do have that car and I think I do mean Carbon Blue. It must just be that Chianti Red that is really hard to find. Wish me luck on getting a good price!
How do I love my GT? Let me count the ways!
Jacky
I balked at the extra price of the moonroof ($600). I used that as a bargaining chip. I asked them to find me one w/o moonroof...which prob is impossible.So I kept telling them that I really didn't want the sunroof. The car listed for $15,500 and was bought for 15,242. That was the same price as the invoice they showed me.
Try to figure that if it's a popular model they won't deal that much. And if you're going to keep the car for a long time $100 or $200 isn't that much (I'm not saying it's not a lot, but if you really like the car, go for it).
I have a 110lb Lab who is fine in back seat. The car if great to drive and I hope you enjoy it.
P.S. We also have a Santa Fe that's tops!
good luck
"Edmunds doesn't have the luggage capacity for the GT, but I found a site that says it's 18.2 cubic feet. The Focus ZX5 is 18.6 cu ft and the Mazda Proteg5 is 19.8 cu ft, but both of those definitely looked smaller than the GT."
They are both smaller than the GT. The luggage space on the GT, seats down, is 28.3 cu.ft (brochure, various reviews) and 18.2 cu.ft seats up. This means nothing until you actually bother to take the headrests out, flip the rear seat cushions forward and fold the rear seat backs down. The space becomes enormous, and with the wide hatch opening, hauling furniture or a large TV is not a problem.
Thanks for the tip! I'll give it a try tomorrow when I fill up.
Still lovin' the GT!!
http://www.gwebworks.com/elantra_gt
I invite all members here (and elsewhere) to join in the associated mailing list on the web site. Unlike this one, it is email based, and allows for a freer flow of discussions. The list is moderated.
I will be making changes to the website as time goes by, and will be only announcing those changes on its mailing list, or on the website itself.
One of the things to be implemented, is the "Garage" page, where fixes such as the fuel door fix, and others can be documented. More details will be posted on the web page. See you there.
It took weeks and weeks of badgering, but it finally paid off. We got our car last weekend and so far love it. The irony is that we started looking for it so long ago, that we were really looking for a Cobalt Blue model. The color change took us by surprise. The Carbon is nice, but not as bright as we would have liked for safety purposes.
* I just blew out my left-side front speaker cranking "Hundred Mile High City" by Ocean Colour Scene. Bummer. I'll check to see if replacement is covered under the warranty.
BTW - in reference to being "better off with a Geo Metro": I sold my 1993 Metro when we bought the GT. The Metro was the best darn car I've ever owned. It never failed to start - not once - in seven years, even after being COMPLETELY buried by a snowplow in 1996 (only the antenna was visible). My only hope is that every other car I own will be as reliable as the Metro was. I still miss it every day. Don't diss the Metro!!
Happy Motoring!
Risa, I don't think you can go wrong with a GT. It really does feel and perform like a much more expensive car. Before I bought mine, my wife was pushing me to get a huge and expensive Dodge Intrepid because she thought we needed a "large" car for our expanding family. I've always liked smaller cars and really wanted a hatch to carry my greyhound around. The GT is the only late-model hatch I could find that was big enough for our three car seats (the Saab 9-3 is too narrow). After I demonstrated to her that you can indeed squeeze three child safety seat in back she relented, but was still pretty dubious about buying a small Korean car.
That changed when she had a chance to drive it a few times. She liked the fact that it handled a lot like the hot little Nissan Pulsar she had when she was single. It's also a lot easier to park than her Durango. The last straw was when a kid getting out of his slammed Honda in the parking lot commented "Cool car!" to her. There's nothing like a compliment from a stranger to change your preconceived notions about a car!
Anyway, I've got 1600 miles on mine now (Carbon Blue really is the best color, IMO) and couldn't be happier.
as for colors . i really liked the carbon blue also i think it is the best color . but it is very very hard to find and after calling dealers from chico to la in ca i couldn't find one . there doesn't seem to be many Gt's period being shiped . each dealer had at most 4 on there lots if they had any at all . some only had 1 or 2 01's and no 02's . i think hyundai didn't expect the damand for them . if u want a gls there a lots on each lots , but gt's ? maybe 4 at best . i got a chanti red one instead (burgandy) it was my second choice and i am happy with the color . but i agree the carbon blue looks the nicest. i would have waited for a carbon blue but i wanted to buy before sales tax went up on the 1st of the year
i have 2k on mine now and i had the fuel door problem but the dealer replaced the spring and it fixed it . but i noticed last nice that the cruise sometimes gives me static with some am radio stations . has anybody else noticed that ? i live in sacremento and was listening to a sf radio station . sf is about 90 miles away and maybe being it is a far away staion is why . it doesn't mess with the local am stations .
Well, that same brother-in-law called me this morning to excitedly tell me that he saw two 2003 Tiburons on display while driving by Route 22 in Northern New Jersey. Judging from his enthusiasm I suspect he is entertaining the idea of getting one himself.
IMO, Hyundai has turned the corner with the release of the Elantra GT and the 2003 Tib. They are now a respectable car company among knowledgeable/fairminded people.
"Nice website! Your GT looks very nice. Is that the factory spoiler for the GT?"
Thanks to all who like my new Elantra GT website. To risa5 -- I know that there is a dearth of material on the web for the GT, especially for people interested int the car. I intend to change that starting with my website.
Regarding the spoiler -- that is a factory spoiler. There was some question earlier on this forum as to what car it was from, and based on the other factory spoilers, it is most likely a Sonata spoler if it is not actually a GT spoiler. Whatever it is, I like it the best of the ones I have seen. If people are really interested, I can find out directly from the salesman.
Meanwhile, I hope to make an addition to the Garage page tonight. I will add photos on a bit of maintenance that I did a couple of weeks ago.
The spoiler is available here from dealers unfortunately no pictures have been posted on it.
The hatchback configuration is pretty popular here, in fact the price of the hatch version was put up $1000 on Jan 1st
"The hatchback configuration is pretty popular here, in fact the price of the hatch version was put up $1000 on Jan 1st"
Thanks to you and my Canuck compadre for the compliments on the website. I made the first entries in the Garage Page last night.
I am not surprised that the price has started to increase. As a matter of fact, one reviewer migth have put the bee in Hyundai's bonnet when he suggested that the car could be priced closer to $20k and still be a good buy. Hyundai knows precisely what it is doing with this aggressive pricing and warranty. I have watched the prices and the quality and the name recognition grow over the years as a Hyundai customer and they are doing exactly what the Japanese had to do in the 70's and 80's to get where they are today.
Hyundai even has its sights set on overtaking VW in North America this year, and from all indications it is possible. VW is not in the same sales mode as Hyundai, and I think that once more people realise that good quality can be had for thousands less, then why throw good money away.
Now is the best time to buy a GT I guess.