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Comments
Also, does the Santa Fe have a low washer fluid level light? My wife's 2001 Elantra does not, and while it's not a major concern, it is somewhat annoying.
For my price (under 25K) I'm looking at the Toyota Highlander base 2WD, Hyundai Santa Fe LX AWD, and the Subaru Forester XS AWD. I live in the Washington DC area (this past winter was heavy for us). Has anyone else compare these models, and what did you choose?
Thanks
Also, have a demo of a 2003 LX in the driveway right now, 2.7L w/ 2WD. Questions to anyone out there:
1. The acceleration on the 2.7L seems fine for a 2WD, would I expect it to decrease on a 4WD?
2. The leather seats seems awfully stiff, at least for my back, are the cloth seats any more cushioning?
Thanks for everybody's help.
Thanks musiclawyer Yeah, the Highlander will be over my budget. I really like the styling of the Santa Fe but the Forester seems to have more power. I hope to be able to rent them from Enterprise or someone. The 15 min test drives from the dealerships just don't do it for me.
Thanks again,
williaday
It wasn't as nice as having a rental to beat up, but it was much better than the standard test drive.
I'd suggest contacting your local dealers to see if they have any demo vehicles.
Thanks
I know that the body style is going to remain the same. Just want to find out if there will be any changes to the safety/interior specs.
Thanks!
It looks like the 3.5 is about $1,500 more than the 2.7. The 3.5 comes with the 5-speed auto trans.
In my opinion, this is a mistake. This vehicle does not look good in bright red. If you like the green, better find one now. The current blue is also being changed to a lighter blue...not bad.
italredfox, what parts is the dealer suggesting are better in the Hyundai? The Kia has received good write-ups on its interior quality and the engine is from the Hyundai XG350. More salesman bluster? As for market position, the Kia is still a "notch" below the Hyundai. Hyundai has moved away a bit from "price" marketing and focused on selling features first.
Both choices seem good, depending on your towing and off-road needs.
PS-- If ride is a consideration, definitely go with the Santa Fe!!!
now after 18K miles and 22 months, I like it even
better. A very smooth ride and power is decent. No rattles or squeaks. Not a single problem except the engine shaft position sensor recall.
cheers
hud :)
According to edmunds.com the invoice price on the 2.7 GLS is $20172 and the 3.5 GLS is $21479. That's a $1300 difference. Worth noting though is that the 3.5 GLS does come with a 5-speed auto and ABS/Traction Control standard.
Here's something I was told at the dealership, but haven't confirmed elsewhere. The power distribution between front and rear has changed from a 60/40 ratio to 90/10. Adjustments to the ratio are electronically controlled. This would make the Hyundai's AWD more similar to Volvo's than Subaru's.
As far as real world price: I have a deal on the table for a 2003 Santa Fe GLS 3.5L AWD w/ roof rack rails, mud guards, and cargo tray for $22100 (incl. dest charge) + tax, title, license. That's about $450 below Edmund's TMV, about $200 below invoice, and also before the available $1000 rebate, so I expect I'll take it since I really like how the car handles (still haven't fallen completely in love with the styling though).
The lease will be up on my Ford Ranger in Aug. and I'm thinking about either leasing or buying a Sante Fe. My question is does Hyundai have a two year lease or do you have to go longer?
Bob
If yes on both counts, it's a steal at $1900 below invoice. If it is after the rebate and includes the destination charge, then you are about $900 below invoice; still a great deal to me. If it is after the rebate, but doesn't include the destination charge; then it is still a good deal IMHO at about $400 below invoice (22550+1000+525=24075, invoice=24437).
Are people getting even better deals than this?? If so, where? Also, how is the dealer making any money on this?? (Not that I care mind you)
Bob
FWIW: I didn't spend much time haggling. I thought the price I got was fair and didn't feel like dealing with the stress of going for the throat. I expect I could have got a couple hundred more dollars off if I felt like playing hardball, but I didn't. I did get a fair price on my trade-in so I'm comfortable with the price I paid.
The unsigned invoice was written as follows:
Inv-$17.175, Options & Installation-$566 (Group 2 Utility Pckg),Floor Mats-$51,Cargo Tray-$51, Running Boards-$500,Cross Rails-$110, Advertising Fee-$600, Freight-$590 for a total of $19,463 + finance charges. Going with 0% Interest rate.
In addition I had to pay $85 to get the Sandstone Color I preferred but not on the lot. I also took into account that the Sante Fe is basically a hot commodity SUV after checking 4 dealership for quantity on lots. PLus on the day we got the paperwork going, 5 Sante Fe's were the only vechicle being taken for a test drive
Brad
BTW, two sales people said that they did not know if the $1000 rebate (or zero percent financing) will end this month or be extended, but one salesman said (AFTER I purchased the Santa Fe) that it will end because the sales of the Santa Fe has been so good.
Two days of driving the new Santa Fe has proven the idea that car based SUVs are much safer than and handle better than truck frame SUVs (see recent Consumer Reports SUV issue on the safety of car based SUVs- and the Santa Fe is one of the few that they recommend). Having driven the same route to work in my old Ford Explorer for almost 15 years (I know every place that I had to REALLY slow down), my new Santa Fe drives infinitely better -- it really handles well (the old Exploder would porpoise along on washboard bumps and I had no control over steering for brief periods of time). Now if I can get the Santa Fe through deep snow in town, and over Mosquito Pass in the Rockies.
Tim
Read the entire message thread at the following URL and you'll find a link to the actual instructions, as well as the part number for the filter:
http://pub108.ezboard.com/fhyundaisantafemessageboardfrm63.showMe- - ssage?topicID=2536.topic
If you just ask the dealer for a cabin air filter for a Santa Fe, they won't know what you're talking about. Mine cost me $35, others have been charged as little as $29.
Installation took me about 1.5 hours with several interruptions. The only tools needed are a 10-mm socket wrench and a phillips head screwdriver. If you already own these, you can probably do the installation yourself without any difficulty. Best to do this while the car is still new, before dust builds up on the air conditioning evaporator.
and the cabin air filter is missing.There was small bits of leaves and other debis on the floor next to the evaporator. I am sure in the 2 yrs and 7 months I have owened the Santa FE LX that dirt has entered the evaporator.
I am going to the dealer today to get the cabin air filter. It only took me about 15 min to open and get to the filter.
Follow-Up Test: 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
Steve, Host
007up
makeover anytime soon?
The 2.7 V6 Santa Fes still have the old system, which leads me to believe that the new system was added to the 3.5 V6 models to mitigate some of the weight gain and poorer gas mileage that came with the new engine.
I believe the next redesign is expected in the 2005-2006 time frame, once Hyundai starts building Santa Fes in their US plant.
-Jason
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety side impact crash tests
Steve, Host
surprised to find NO torque steer.
I bought it!! =;-)
2003 Santa Fe LX, 3.5L engine w/5 speed Shiftronic transmission. Factory option package 5/AE with powered moonroof was installed. The dealer installed a "Gold Package" which is basically some pinstripe and the badges are gold plated. MSRP was 24,684 before the dealer's $1,195 add-on. I had a towing hitch added for the MSRP price of $350, and the following the dealer added on at no cost: Roof rack crossrails (MSRP $180), mud guards (MSRP $75) and chromed tubular cab steps (not the Hyundai running boards) (MSRP $490). In addition, my first oil change is free and I got a full tank of gas. All told, I paid $23,999 out the door. Their invoice price was $24,003 for all of the above (I included $20 for the gas and $15 for the oil change, which would be their cost). I think it was a fair deal.
It's a smooth, powerful ride and I like it a lot. On the lot the blower motor for the air conditioning system had a leaf or something stuck in it, but they fixed that before I would drive it off the lot.
HINT: Get all your known factory defects fixed BEFORE you drive it off the lot. You always have the option of walking away from your contract if you are not completely satisfied with the deal and IF you don't take delivery within 3 days. If you take delivery though, it's yours.
Did anyone else's dealer hold ALL copies of the sales contract for several days after the deal? I thought I would get a copy right away, but they informed me my copy would be mailed along with my rebate check in about a week. Sounds suspicious to me.