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javascript:popWindow('http://townhall.edmunds.com/cgi-bin/townhall/vprofile?user=mastrv');mastrv Feb 13, 2002 9:20am
I would be looking a manual 4 cylinder santa fe as opposed to the pontiac 6. Its not apples to apples but as far as price it is. my main concern is reliability and safety. I have a 16 month old and would be using this car a lot. Has anyone checked out the pontiac for comparison? I hear a lot of complaints about the hyndai 4 cylinders. any input would be helpful. thanks.
From what I have read on the various boards, a SF w/4 cylinder is adequate for local driving not so much driving on long trips.
Let me know.
RobertAnna@Yahoo.Com
Aztek Santa Fe GLS
Base MSRP $ 19,995 $ 19,599
Destination Charge $ 550 $ 495
Comfort and Conveniece
Power Windows Standard Standard
Power Door Locks Standard Standard
Power Steering Standard Standard
Air Conditioning Standard Standard
Power Driver Seat Optional Not Available
Leather Seating Areas Optional Not Available
Front Heated Seats Optional Not Available
RearFolding Seat Standard Standard
Cruise Control Optional Standard
Wheel w/Mounted Controls Optional Standard
Cassette Player Optional Standard
Compact Disc Player Standard Standard
Rear Seat Sound Controls Optional Not Available
Rear Window Defogger Standard Standard Illuminated Vanity Mirror Optional Not Available
Electrochromic D/N Mirror Optional Not Available
Tachometer Standard Standard
Remote Keyless Entry Optional Standard
Exterior Features
Alloy Wheels Standard Standard
Self-Sealing Tires Optional Not Available
Tinted Glass Standard Standard
Power Exterior Mirror Standard Standard
Fog Lights Standard Standard
Daytime Running Lights Standard Not Available
Load Bearing Exterior Rack Optional Standard
Power Sunroof Optional Not Available
Rear Spoiler Standard Not Available
Interval Wipers Standard Standard
Safety
Anti-Lock Braking System Standard Optional
Driver Air Bag Standard Standard
Passenger Air Bag Standard Standard
Front Side Air Bag Standard Not Available
Vehicle Anti-Theft Standard Standard
Child Safety Door Locks Standard Standard
Traction Control Optional Optional
Engine and Mechanical
6-Cylinder Engine Standard Standard
Automatic Transmission Standard Standard
Horsepower @ RPM 185@5200 181@6000
Torque @ RPM 210@4000 177@4000
Displacement (cc) 3350 2656
Bore X Stroke (inches) 3.62x3.31 3.41x2.95
Compression Ratio 9.5 10.0
Fuel Type Gasoline Gasoline
Fuel System SEFI MPFI
Fuel Economy City (mpg) 19 19
Fuel Economy Highway (mpg) 26 26
Steering and Suspension
Steering Type Rack and Pinion Rack and Pinion
Turning Diameter (Left) 36.4 37.1
Turning Diameter (Right) 36.4 37.1
Front Suspension Independent Independent
Rear Suspension Semi-Independent Independent
Tires 215/70R16 225/70R16
Dimensions
Length (inches) 182.1 177.2
Width (inches) 73.7 72.7
Wheelbase (inches) 108.3 103.1
Height (inches) 66.7 66.0
Ground Clearance (inches) 7.2 7.4
Curb Weight Automatic (lbs) 3779 3549
Dimensions - Interior
Front Head Room (inches) 39.7 39.6
Rear Head Room (inches) 39.1 39.2
Front Leg Room (inches) 40.5 41.6
Rear Leg Room (inches) 38.0 36.8
Front Shoulder Room (inches) 58.7 56.3
Rear Shoulder Room (inches) 58.8 56.5
Front Hip Room (inches) 58.5 54.4
Rear Hip Room (inches) 61.0 54.0
Standard Seating 5 5
EPA Class SUV FWD SUV FWD
One of most important thing is the warranty.
Aztek is 3 years/36,000 miles and the SF is 10 year/100,000 miles, The Santa Fe has had it share of problems just like any first year production model. I purchased my SF back on 09/2001. I absolutely love it and I think it will be very reliable.
The warranty is nice on the sante fe, but it's a warranty you might need. The Aztek has proven itself to be reliable in the 2 years it's been out. I don't think you will need the warranty for it. Although if you do need a warranty, you can get one for around $750 online. Thanks for the comparo, that really puts the $2002 rebate in perspective. When you take that rebate into consideration you get one heck of a deal!!
Oh, I forgot the most important of all
I emailed consumer reports hoping to get more info on this. I was told that the aztek will not be made next year and that the man who designed it, (or persons) was fired. Now that is another big concern of my husbands. any word on this?
Here's a quote...
"Outspoken and unabashed, Lutz has often criticized GM’s products in the past, but during his first appearance as a General Motors employee, he tried to put a good face on things. Wearing a GM tie clip, watch and employee pin from his days, almost 40 years ago, with the European Opel subsidiary, Lutz even found positive things to say about the oft-maligned Pontiac Aztek, which he saw as proof of GM’s willingness to take risks and innovate."
IMO: I know the Pontiac dealer is offering $4004 as a rebate. Which is good but Hyundai has not been offering any rebates and yet the SF is selling like crazy. That is something for you to think about
According to Santa Fe owners you guys don't get as good as mileage as the Tek.
Also, don't forget that the Tek did very well in all the other safety test.
I dont own either of these vehicles yet but I must say that it seems that some of the comments on these boards tells me that they're are people with very strong feelings on their vehicle. It sometimes gives me the feeling Im talking to people that actually work for the manufacturers not the owners. Lets keep it friendly folks.
of course I could get my dander up too and make it interesting!,,,,,,,,,, just kidding. !!!!!
dont get me wrong Im glad for the info but dont want to start any wars. but I will respond to comments like everyone else but just so you know, Im doing it nicely!
Anyone else had the wind noise problem?
I have an '02 GLS. No wind noise (when the windows are closed). If you are getting wind noise from a door, that's probably where you are getting the excess road noise, too. It would be like driving with a door that is not fully closed. Keep after this dealer to repair the wind noise problem. Or you might try to locate the 'leak' yourself. You (or a friend) take a bright light - shine it around the closed door edge. The second person should be on the other side of the door looking for the light leak. This is, of course, done at night, or in a dark garage.
Or take a strip of cloth and close it in the door. Pull on the cloth and feel for the loose area. Point out the problem door area to the service guy. Your other choice - try another dealer. BTW, have you checked the fit of the door. Is it flush, plumb and square? Might be something easy like the latch just needing adjustment.
As to your hate of the rearview mirror - all I can suggest is buy another type of mirror.
The roof rack probably makes an ideal perch. Hopefully we won't wind up walking to our Santa Fes in the morning and wind up looking like some scene from "The Birds"! I guess I should've gotten Merlot! ;-)
That's funny because my Hyundai Santa Fe now has 13,500 hard driven miles on it and I haven't had even one problem with my SUV. And you Lexus RX300 owners thought that our Hyundai Santa Fe's were nothing but junk. Maybe it's the other way around.
More to the subject...better check your VIN with Hyundai Central, buddy!
Lots of them Korean V-6s put together last year in the Santa Fe seem to be blowing metal pieces all over the road - and without notice according to Hyundai Corporate. I guess most of the Bad V-6s were in a factory lot about the time the ol' GTGTCobra-Mobile was being assembled, too! That that WOULD be a shame if it was YOUR ride...
As for your "no problems"...I seem to recall one or two of your last posts before Probation...something about your Santa Fe's paint rusting out on the way home from the dealership on Day #1 of ownership. Hey, nothing a 99-cent spray can can't take care of...
As for oil sludge in the Toy/Lexus...not a problem for owners that actually spend money changing oil & filters on their vehicle two or three times a year AND have great dealers for support...whoops, I forgot, you have NO idea what I'm talkin' about.
Final question - is that Mercedes of yours close to 3 million miles yet? Inquiring minds want to know.
After seeing a few post about shake/vibration at about 60-65mph I thought I might post about our experience.
We had the same problem(With our 2002 LX) but with more of a vibration than a shake.
After having the tires balanced three times and rotated one time the problem continued. Three different Hyundai mechanics found no problems, one even told me "Oh well, Hyundai's are all like that. Live with it".
I finally took to Manly Hyundai in Santa Rosa,Calif. and found a great Mechanic named Steve. Steve went for a ride with me and after 2 minutes said it did'nt feel like a tire problem, but like a drive shaft balance problem.
After waiting for a couple of days (They provided a very nice rental car while waiting) for them to find a new drive shaft that matched. The Santa Fe was returned to me without the vibration.
I was ready to start looking for a new car, but these guys restored out faith in Hyundai and in our Santa Fe.
So...If you live in The Northern California Bay Area and need a good Hyundai Service dept. Try Manly Hyundai in Santa Rosa.
Thanks
From the shores of Lake Grapevine, TX
Mine does not respond when switching from radio to cd & vice versa. And sometimes the cd will not eject!!
When going up through the gears, I feel 3 shifts, but no drop down in the rpm's as I feel in other vehicles when the torque converter locks up. This generally feels like another shift.
It was running at 2,250 at 60 and 2,500+ rpm,s at 70. I called the local dealership who thought this was a normal rpm level. They also said because it was a 4 speed auto, I should only feel 3 shifts, but I could swear in other vehicles I feel a 4th "shift" when the torque converted locks up.
Does anyone know if this is normal?
Thanks
No problems with any of our Hyundais. We have a 2000 Accent, a 2001 Sonata GLS and a 2002 Santa Fe LX. So far, we have not had to take any in for any servicing other than oil changes ( though we did just get a recall on the Accent).
I have owned over 30 cars, and by now most would have been in the shop. I do have the famous buzzing in the passenger side door on the Sonata and the occasional odd 2-3 shift, but no real problems.
13k miles on it. My wife brought to my attention the other day that there was a loud roaring noise coming from the front of the car. I took it out and found the noise occurs above 40mph. Since this is the same noise we heard previously, at
7k miles, and the dealer replaced the left front wheel bearing, I suspected that this was a repeat performance.. Sure enough, I took the car in, and they said "wheel bearing".. They've ordered the
parts, and will replace the bearing AGAIN.. We've never been off-road
with the vehicle, it's only driven on the street. My question to the group is: Are we an isolated case or does Hyundai/SF have a problem w/ wheel bearings? Twice in 13k miles is a bit hard to believe...
Kinda like a chevy / oldsmobile? Different names, but basically same people. From what i have been reading that new Saturn suv has alot of problems too. but i think the saturn is having more Seriously problems, problems with like Cv-joints and over major issues. Thank god i was blessed with NO problems with my 1999 tracker 2 door. "yeah i know laugh away" 8) I did change all fluids and i mean ALL fluid to amsoil synthetics. I beat this little thing as if i was trying to cause problems. i bought it as a off-road suv. cause it has TRUE 4x4. with 4hi & 4 low range. It just depresses me to see all these people buying new suv's from, either saturn, Hyundai, toyota etc. and it seems like all kinds of problems are popping up. i know no one builds a totally flawless suv. oh well hopefully i keep on having luck with my little toy §uv. Now watch after i said all of this i will have problems. I guess i better go out and wash it in Holy water. lol lol
You didn't say what engine in your Toy. If you've got one of those likely-to-sludge Toy engines, better keep the good eye on your oil. =;-)
I hope your mechanics have enough sense to look at the mating parts. If two left front bearings go out , it just might be the part that the bearing mates to, eh? That would be the er, ... um, ... let's see - the drive shaft goes through the bearing and the bearing mounts in the steering knuckle? I think (it's been a long time since I've been inside the drive of a FWD car ...).
Also, I seem to remember reading about Hyundai having drive shaft balance problems, early on.
~tim
Anyway, I think the most perplexing is the alignment problem. It's been done twice now and the computer readout states it might be a suspension problem. How could that be on a new car? Has anyone else experienced this problem?
Sure would like to be able to enjoy my new car!
JC