I am considering buying a 2002 Accent and am wondering if these cars are reliable. I know "you get what you pay for," and they don't cost much, but can you expect lots of little problems and a piece of junk after 50,000 miles, or are these fairly reliable and long-lasting little cars.
Please advise. (And don't say, "I've put 2,000 miles on my new Accent and it's going fine." Any car should run OK with really low mileage.
I would say from my experience these are very reliable cheap little cars. I didn't expect too much from the car when I bought it and figured if I did run into problems, at least Hyundai covered it for a long time. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised with my 00 hatchback and feel I got more then what I paid. After 21k miles, it shows no signs of falling into pieces or becoming unreliable. It's just as solid today as the day I got it. Only one warranty repair that required a trip to the dealer. Otherwise, its been problem free. It rides great, handles reasonably good, is very comfortable, and has plenty of room. Read through the posts and with one exception you will see people are generally happy with their Accents and have required few if any repairs. One guy in here has a 99 Accent with over 60k and he had a power steering pump replaced under warranty and then his alternator wore out after 60k (a bit early, but not as bad as some GM cars, including Saturns, which are known to lose their alternators around 30-40k). Other then those 2 problems, he has been very happy with his Accent and as far as I know, it continues to run great. I would have no problems trading in my Accent for another one; I'm that happy with how it drives. As far as long-term reliability, who knows. Only a few in here have posted remarks about their Accent with over 100k, and those few have also been positive. As long as you aren't looking for performance or the highest fuel economy, the Accent is an excellent value and should prove to be quite reliable over the long run.
If you got the money to buy a Honda or a Toyota, buy them. There a little more refined than Hyundai accents. If you short on cash, hyundai accents are a worthy alternative. I am really impressed with my accent so far. but if I was spending more money on a car, I'd definatly pick Honda or Toyota.
Hmmm forgot i registered with edmunds long ago lol . Well here is my story . In 95 i bought a 95 accent 4door with only air and radio cost me 11k out the door . Let me tell you after 157,000 mile it has been the best car i have ever owned . Let me say this again THE BEST . Other than maintence ,timing belt , front brakes ,( still have half life on rear ) tires , battery ,plugs , wires , headlamps , i have not put ANY , note the word ANY money into repairs . I had 3 warranty repairs , ac was making noise so they replaced pump , driver seat steching came apart , and the stupid armrest that is in middle of the front seats broke 2 time ,( broke 3 times but after war was over and i wasn't going to get a 4th i am 250lbs so it didn't stand a chance anyway lol ). The only other repair if u can call it that was i replaced the water pump when they did the timing belt . What the heck they were in there to replace the belt , which i did at 120k , why not replace that also while in there . So if anybody is looking for a long term answers i hope this post helps . At the moment i am thinking of getting a new elantra . If it is anything like my accent let me say this i will be a very happy camper . Sure friends laugh when i brag about my Hyundai and say man they are crap , well i guess i am into crap because they will happily get my money again in the near future.
Wow! Sounds like your car has actually held up better then my mom's 92 Accord. By that mileage, she had already replaced the radiator, alternator, AC compressor, master brake cylinder, igniter and ignition relay (both caused her car to refuse to start) and her distributor failed (a recall that happened after her's failed which caused her to be towed at only 80k). Thanks for that very long term update on your Accent! Keep us up to date as many people need to see this kind of long term ownership to satisfy their fears of buying a Hyundai.
You know i wasn't totaly honost in my post . I forgot that i got into a 10mph crash in stop and go trafic less than 2 months after i got the car ugggggg. I didn't even make the second payment on it yet sigh.... the airbags didn't even blow i was going so slow .It did 3800$ damage i think if i rememeber correct . Those headlight lences are expencive.... but even after the crash , they replaced both fenders , hood , front cross memeber and radiator , it has runn like a charm . So i guess it is good aye ?.So i guess one bad thing i would have to admit to is if you crash it the repair costs to replace the body parts are rather high , but i am in ca and everything cost alot here . But even after that at 157k i am still going to get another Hyundai , hope i can make atleast 3 payments before i crash it lol .
I have had my 2000 Accent GS for almost 2 years. Not a single problem. Its certainly not a powerful car, but its very adequate for city use. I unbolted and removed the rear seats for a recent move, and the cargo area is really cavernous. My biggest surpise about owning the Accent has more to do with social perceptions than the actual vehicle. I think if I stuck a fake mercedes badge on it people would like it more:) Such a shallow society we live in. I also own a 1994 Mazda Miata, which is more fun to drive than the Accent, but far less useful. I am going to sell the Miata and keep the Accent as my primary car. If you just need a utilitarian car, aren't concerned with status, prestige, I think the Accent is an easy car to live with.
The 03 Accent will not be a major redesign. Their will only be a mild exterior freshening at best, along the lines of possible new headlight, taillight, grille, and bumper designs. The rest of the car stays the same. Hyundai runs its cars on a 5 year redesign schedule, with the 4th year seeing a slight freshening. The next completely new Accent will not come out until 05.
Hi guys, haven't poseted in a while. Have an 01 accent GSi (3-door). Just rolled over one year and I still fairly impressed. There is one item that is starting to drive me crazy (a short journey by the way). I have this annoying squeak and there is strong eveidence that it is coming from the drivers seat. I am wondering if anyone else has had any noise problems with their seats? I have spoken to the dealer and they just 'lube' the seat track and say they cannot find any other noises... So if any of you have had a similar prolem and HAVE had it fixed, please advise. seasons greetings to all!!
Do you hear the squeak whenever you move around in the seat enough to pull on the seatbelt? If so, then it's your seat belt latch. I had a very annoying squeak that occured everytime I made the slightest move or leaned forward. I discovered that pulling on the seatbelt while it was latched reproduced the squeak. The dealer sprayed WD40 into the latch and it no longer squeaks. Hope this fixes your problem.
While there may be the odd occassion that forward movement on the seat belt coincides with the noise, the majority is caused by the slightest body movement while seated. I may have to write Hyundai directly with this one as the dealer seems unwilling/unable to resolve the issue. Thanks for the feedback.
I've owned a 2000 Accent for about 1 1/2 yrs, and have put on 37,000 miles. Only 1 warranty repair, at 10k for a noisy water pump. Dealer said they changed the design. No problem since just reg. maint. Front brake pads and spark plugs at 30k. Put in split fires (only plugs the place had in stock) and my mileage went up about 2 mpg. I have an auto with A/C, and got 38mpg on a recent trip with the AC on. I'm impressed with the tires, good grip and ride and I still have over half the tread left.
Yes, I did recieve a recall notice for the item mentioned. (Freezing of the throttle linkage) Being from Calgary Alberta Canada we have a tendancy to get cool enough to have the problem, as described, occur. Took the dealer about 20 minutes to rectify the issue.
This is in reply to the message inquiring about reliability of Hyundais. Well, I was pleasantly surprised with it, given my perception of the brand prior to the purchase. I had one repair performed when still under warranty (clutch cylinder) and I guess that was the only thing in the car that actually broke. Of course I maintained the car (tires, oil, filters, spark plugs & cables, belts, etc.), and I had to replace the A/C compressor clutch for $320 due to wear and tear. Also the washer pump stopped working and I put in the new one (bought it for $22). To sum up, a very reliable and durable car overall, with cheap parts (you can check @ www.hyundaiusaparts.com/consumer). Everything except for battery, front brake pads and maintenance items is original, including hoses, gaskets and clutch.
Now the bad... The dealer did not inspect the car upon delivery, refused to upgrade T-rated tires to H-rated as the sticker stated and was very rude about that whole issue (I contacted Hyundai of America and they reimbursed me for the new set of tires). Also two different dealers where I had brought the car in for service told me that my clutch was worn and needed repair (3 times) and that my A/C compressor needed repair (2 times); the car still has original clutch and compressor! Also the paint finish is not the most durable you can find, so take a very good car of it (no automatic car wash, no excessive waxing, cover the car if possible). The main minus pertaining to the use of the car was very high noise level, but it could have been fixed in the new model; also headlights don't seem to illuminate as much as most other newer cars. One more point: keep in mind that depreciation is STEEP!
The last but not the least... Please don't be surprised when other guys (even those with oil-chugging clunkers) make fun of you and of the Hyundais in general, especially when you tell them that you like yours. Also, women are usually not very impressed when you tell them the brand of the car you drive (to put it mildly). But hey, the brand image of Hyundai is changing and personal experiences are different. I am still glad I bought it instead of a Tercel, an Escort or a bare-bones Civic hatchback.:)
the experience I've had with my Elantra are quite good for 10K. Still haven't had to return to the dealer for service.
Purchasing experience was better than at DC dealer (94 Caravan), but not as good as GM-- Saturn, excellent as expected, and some of the experience rubbed off on 97 Cavalier purchase. Salesmen at multi line Hyundai dealership were not up on what was being introduced (didn't even know about GT until it hit the showroom). They did go above and beyond the call of duty in correcting some slight hail damage, however-- completely and competantly repainting two small inperfections and giving me a free rental car.
I think Hyundai still has a number of weak links in the dealership department, as does Kia.
I personally think that the reason why they were lying to me about problems with the clutch and the compressor, and I am sure that they did the same to other Hyundai owners as well, is because they are not making any money off of these cars. They have to sell them at cost because they frankly don't sell too well, and now that the reliability of Hyundai cars is really good, they are not making anything off of repairs either.
Frankly I think that a lot of people are clueless enough to fall for their tactics and let them fix what's not broken. Then the word gets out that "Hyundais are bad" and the brand image suffers.
I am just wondering if others also have experience of dealers pitching repairs for items that were not broken? The reason I think it might be more than an isolated occurance is because two different dealers were doing that to me.
Sometimes you forget just how useful a hatchback is. Last week I was able to stuff a 32" HDTV still in its box into my 00 Accent. I left the hatch wide open and the box stuck out the back half-way (due to roof clearance issues), but it brought it safely home. The Best Buy guys just laughed at me when I said to try and fit it. They said there was no way it would fit but were quite amazed when it slipped right in. The TV would not fit in my 84 VW Rabbit and definitely would not fit in any sedan. And this is why we love hatchbacks!
Yep. When I was shopping for my 2002 Accent, my wife tried to convince me to get the sedan, pointing out that the fold-down rear seats give nearly as much flexibility. I held firm on getting the hatchback, though, and I'm glad I did: twice already in the first couple of months I've owned it, I had to carry loads that were taller than the opening from the trunk into the passenger compartment on the sedan. I don't haul large stuff very often, but it's really nice to be able to do so at need. Hatchbacks are great.
I have been looking at quite a few cars recently. I was looking to buy a car for just $10,000. That narrowed the field down. The only two things I was looking for were A/C and Auto Trans. Well I was offered a New 2001 Lanos for $8995. It looks just like the rest of these cars but at the last minute a Hyundai Dealer met my price. It's a 2002 GS with auto and I liked the warranty they offered. It's for my kid so I figured he would get use out of the warranty and roadside assistance they give. I will let you guys know if it turns out to be a lemon.
Well, I think I will have to take my 00 Accent in for its 2nd warranty repair. Today, at 21,300 miles, the whirring/whistling noise I have been hearing from the clutch off and on since it was almost new has turned into a loud rattling sound if you put slight pressure on the clutch pedal without depressing it down. I'm pretty sure it's the throw out release bearing, which I felt was the problem all along. I hope they can access it without taking off my tranny. Since I knew it would become a problem at some point and I was just putting off the repair till it got more noticeable to the dealer, I'm not really disappointed, though I hope this is the last bad bearing I will have to deal with. I just hope the dealer does the repair right and doesn't keep my car longer then a day. I will let everyone know how the repair goes.
I got my car back today and it only took 1 day for repairs (another day was wasted determining what the problem was). They determined the throw out release bearing was shot (surprise surprise), but also decided to replace the entire clutch under warranty! I was quite surprised and delighted to get a new clutch for 3 reasons. 1. I didn't complain about the clutch itself so didn't expect it to be replaced willingly by the dealer 2. The clutch is considered a normal wear item and usually will not be replaced under warranty 3. The clutch never quite felt right. It seemed weak and the clutch disc or pressure plate was slightly warped because the car would buck when cold and climbing hills. Now, the car drives like new!! The clutch is way better feeling then it ever was. This leads me to believe I got a manufacturing defect in the clutch straight from the factory. Perhaps that's why Hyundai so willingly fixed it. The pedal is as light as a feather and travels smoothly, whereas before you felt a little resistance and it felt a little grainy. The car no longer hesitates when climbing hills and it starts from a dead stop with a stronger feeling. The shifter seems a bit ragged going into 1st and 2nd gear, which wasn't the case when I brought it in, so maybe the new clutch needs to wear in or they might have messed up the alignment of the cables. Overall though, I'm very pleased with the repairs. I was treated with way more respect then I was when I had the water pump replaced. I think the dealer has earned 5 star status from Chrysler, so that may be why their service suddenly seems so much better. I'm very pleased with Hyundai standing behind their warranty on something they didn't even have to. It shows to me that Hyundai does care about their customers and are trying hard to improve their image. I just hope this is the last warranty repair I will run into and the last bad bearing!
I just traded my 2000 accent 44,000 miles for a new one. I really like the 2000 but I could not keep it past the warranty of 60,000. all the repair work!(although covered, it was too much) both front wheel bearings @ 19000 right and 43000 left. water pump 15000, value gasket 25000, dip stick broke at base 12000, front brake pads replaced 17000. The front window was always to hard to go up and down. The back of the car were the hatch met the trunk made noise, I placed a piece of foam between the latch and the trunk to keep it quit. I was now looking at new front brakes 44000 and the back ones made a grinding noise that the dealer said was normal. Sometimes the parking brake would not relese. I hope that car was just a lemon. I did like the way it drove and I got 40 mpg on the highway. It was a 5 spd. Any one else have wheel bearing troubles? I have already put 1k on the new car in two weeks. I love it, wish me luck.
I've read some good things about the 2002 Hyundai Accent. May it serve you well for many years to come. ;-)
To everyone- From Edmunds' Headline News section, here's a good review on the Hyundai Accent from the Belfast News: Hyundai's hatch with all the extras. Hope you enjoy. Btw, this news only stays on this server for a given period of time; so for those that come along later..., sorry if it's no longer there.
Wow, that does sound like a lemon! That's the longest list of problems I've seen anyone post.
I have a 2002 that I got at the end of October, now with 5600 miles on it -- no problems so far, knock on wood, and it feels very solid. I've averaged 32 mpg over that period (I have a little spreadsheet I wrote for my PDA that keeps track of per-tank and lifetime mileage), in mostly suburban driving. I really like it and am looking hopefully forward to many years of enjoyment. Best wishes for yours, too!
I purchased a new Hyundai Accent GL about two weeks ago. I have it parked in a flat parking lot. I've noticed that the car appears to be tilted to the right. When standing back about 20 feet and looking at the rear of the car, there is a small tilt to the car. With a ruler, I measured the distance from the pavement to the car body. The right side of the car is approximately 1 inch higher than the left side of the car. I'm not an expert on cars, but this doesn't appear to be normal. Suspension problems? Has anyone else had such problems? What could be wrong?
tested one in 1999, it was 1) quiet2) nice interior3) decent vehicle all around (except the non-tilt steering column). 2001, June, tested a Accentg(105 HP). 1) Loud engine noises2) cheapened interior vs 1999 3) just not as good of a car IMO.
Now, why would Hyudnai make the Accent less desirable? Simple, to make the people who like nicer cars buy th next level up, the Elantra, for "only" a few grand more. NIssan has been doing this(or did from march 1995-end of 1999) with the Sentra/200sx. Our old 2door sentra xe, a nice car(was considerd the "middle car", there was base,xe,then another "upper level sentra). move ahead 1997, Xe is still 2nd spot, but back 2 slots, behind gxe and gle(?). It is not as nicely loaded as the older sentra's from 1990-1994.5 models.
Why "cheapen' the Sentras? To make you buy the Altima. (or buy the highest priced, loaded up sentra). Used to be a time that you could buy the entry level cars and get a nice ride. they were trying to get you into the door as a customer, and keep you, not force you into a higher payment bracket by making entry level cars almost unworthy of buying.
Is it just me, or do you older guys who got cars in the later 1980-now notice the differences,too?
Never heard of that happening. Sounds like one of your shocks has partially collapsed or the spring on one side was improperly installed on the spring seat, thereby raising that side up slightly. I would take it in and have it looked at.
I checked my 2000 Accent engine yesterday while it was running and made an interesting discovery. One of the bolts which holds the fuel injector assembly to the engine had come loose and was wobbling around in its hole (that's how I noticed it). I tighten the bolt back into position and tighten the other two bolts also, both of which were only finger tight. I would recommend that all Accent owners check these bolts. I suspect the plastic fuel injector assembly may have shrunk slightly over time (plastic sometimes shrinks when exposed to heat) causing the bolts to loosen. Now at 22,500 miles.
Since my family has both of these models (the 99 since May 1999 and the 01 since Jan. 2001), I feel that I can make an educated "compare and contrast" of these 2 cars ...
Styling - Subjective I know, but personally the 01 wins in this department ... funkier looks!
Reliability - about equal. Both cars have been very reliable and our Dealership experience excellent.
Gas Milage - the 99 wins here, seems to get better with age. The 01, O.K. but not giving me what I expect per fill up.
Ergonomics - the 01 has a much more comfortable cabin and driving position than the 99. Also the rotary climate controls are much better than the 99's slider-type controls. Visibility though is better in the 99 ... the 01 (which is a hatch) has huge blind spots created by the thick C-pillars and the tiny, non-opening (yuck) rear side windows.
Fit & Finish - Both not bad, the 01 gets the edge, seems to be a bit more "solid" if you know what I mean, a bit more refined. The 01's black paint seems to invite scratches though ...
Drivability - this is interesting ... the 99 has more pick-up ... hit the gas and it responds better than the 01. This might be due to the fact that the 01 is likely a heavier car. Steering is lighter in the 99 as well, the 01 has a deader feel to it, but tracks well. The ride of the 01 is softer than the 99 and wallows a bit in a cross wind ... might have something to do with the 185-80R13 tires on the 01 vs the 175-70R13's on the 99. Personally, I like the ride of the 99 better ... a little stiffer, better road feel.
Verdict - Hey, neither of these cars is a Honda Civic, or Toyota Corolla, but they ain't bad ... so far decent value for money spent. In compairing the two model years I own, the 01 gets the edge, but only slightly ...
2 years with the Accent, 15000 miles, only 1 problem. The check engine light came on, I took it to the dealer, they replaced a bad sensor under warranty. I bought good Blizzak snow tires, a world of difference in traction. The rear seats are attached with six bolts that are easy to get at. I took them out for a recent move, its huge in back. Its been a versatile, dependable car so far.
What I don't like about it: No engine power, but I knew that when I bought it. Big blind spots in the hatchback from C pillars. Rear floor cover over spare tire is very thin, bends easily. The hatch lid rattles. Its a very lightweight car, so some safety concerns.
What I like about it: Good seating position and forward visibility. Great cargo area for such a tiny car. Nimble in traffic. Great mileage.
hi everybody. I need some advice. I have been looking at an accent gs 5 speed for the last year. i plan to buy in a few weeks. i have been quoted about 10 thousand for the car but recently i have seen the elantra gls 5 speed advertised for the same price. i know the elantra is more car for the money but i like the accent..even though the elantra is much nicer..i have reservations about three things.... 1. the elantra does not fold down completely for storage, like the accent because of the trunk. 2. the elantra gets lower gas mileage. 3. the elantra is harder to park because it is longer. so...if i can get both cars for 10 thousand...should i get the elantra or accent?? i can't decide. thanks for the advice.
Hi lw12- Have you compared the individual features/options on both of these vehicles? It could be the Elantra is the same price as the Accent because it has fewer features/options on it. So the questions is would a higher level base model vehicle be as satisfying to you a lower level model that's loaded with more comfort features?
Also, be sure to read the fine print in any car ads that you see. There could be hidden costs (dealer fees & etc) that are not accounted for yet; not to mention, they usually do not not include the manufacturer destination fee in most ads.
Now if it turns out they have similar options, then my guess is that may be more wiggle room in your Accent price. Have you can checked with Edmunds' Manufacturer Incentives & Rebates to see if there's anything you else you can subtract from your Accent cost?
In closing, here's a direct link to Edmunds' side by side comparison where you can compare these two vehicles... to see exactly what it is you're getting for your money. Others here have more to add. Good luck and please keep us posted on your decision/purchase. ;-)
Can someone verify something for me. Doesn't the digital readout on the cassette player have 2 lights, one on each end of the screen? Only the right side appears to be illuminated on my car and I don't think it was like that before. If one of the lights is out, do you guys suggest I have it fixed and risk starting rattles when they tear my dash apart or should I just live with it? Thanks for any help.
At night with all lights off, the digital readout looks normal, but during the day, it appears to only be half-lit. Not sure if it was always like this or I just noticed it.
Just checked the illumination for the radio LCD. It seems to be evenly lit from both sides. The brightness of the illumination varies depending on whether the headlights are on or not. Turning the headlights on seems to cause the LCD illumination to become somewhat dimmer. If one of the lights were to fail in the radio I would be disinclined to do something about it. If both lights failed then some corrective action would be necessary. Car radios can be a real pain in the neck to work on.
You guys solved my curiosity. Apparently, the left side LCD light is burnt out since that side is definitely darker. Strange that it would burn out after only 21k. I guess I will leave it alone since the display is still visible. This is now the second light to go out. The first was my right side license plate light, which is harder to replace then it should be because you have to take off the plastic piece with the "H" emblem on it to pull the socket far enough out to replace the bulb. I did see signs of Hyundai's efforts to keep their cars rattle free. The screws that held the plastic trim on had rubber gaskets to stifle squeaks and the bulb socket has foam surrounding the wires and socket to keep it from rattling against the body. Hyundai appears to sweat even the small details. Once again, thanks for investigating my problem.
Anyone taken the intake resonator off? This is the large black box hanging underneath the intake tube. I have heard this box restricts airflow and on the Contour, owners reported a noticeable power increase when they took it off. I decided to give it a try since the Accent is definitely a car that could use more power. It took all of 5 minutes to take it off. The hardest part was manuevering it out without taking anything else off. I then put a piece of masking tape over the hole to keep it from sucking in unfiltered air. This is a temporary fix while I determine if there are any benefits to this experiment. Initial findings are promising. The car accelerated much better up a hill and seemed less drained when using the AC. There was no increase in intake noise and the engine actually seemed to idle a little smoother. I'm about to fill up my tank, so I will try it for a whole tank and see if there are any increases in gas mileage. I will report back my full findings in a week or two. The resonator box baffles me. It's simply a heavy piece of empty plastic. I see no reason for it to be there. Anyone know what it really does, other then supposedly decrease intake noise?
Have now reached 24,000 miles on my 2000 Accent. I am hearing a very slight wheel bearing noise at the present time (intermittent) but I can't tell if it is coming from the front or back. It may or may not be a future problem. I suspect that one of the bearings is not exactly round. I checked into the theory about these air resonators. Apparently, the resonator is designed to reduce engine intake noise under hard acceleration. I would be disinclined to modify it.
Elantra has a higher level of standard equipment, including side air bags. It is bigger, and is more comfortable inside. A base Elantra is better equipped than a top end Accent GL. If they are the same price, get the Elantra. The mpg differential is not that much. I get in the low to mid 30s on the highway with my automatic Elantra GT and around 24-25 in town. How much better do you think the Accent will be? In truth, I think that the Accent mpgs should be a lot better than they are, given the weight of the car and the size of the engine. 25/35 for the auto is little different than 24/33 for the auto Elantra. Good Luck!
I just purchased a 2002 Accent GS w/Option 3 pkg (CD Player, power windows, power door locks), floor mats, mud flaps for $10400.00 I have been shopping for awhile to replace my worn out Metro (I love those cars). They Hyundai just had more equipment, power than everything else I drove (Saturn, Kia, Neon) for the money. I drive about 115 miles a day so it will be a good test to see how it holds up. My Metro is finally saying enough after 258k
and congrats on your new 2002 Accent! We appreciate hearing the details. With all those miles you put on everyday it will be interesting to hear more.... Please keep us posted. Thanks for your participation. ;-)
i bought an accent 99 couple of weeks back. there is a metallic sound ( not a knock) when i press hard on the gas ..(going up hill ..) The mechanic says that is a air intake sound and not a ping from the engine.. Does anyone have a similar problem ? Please let me know Thanks
Comments
Please advise. (And don't say, "I've put 2,000 miles on my new Accent and it's going fine." Any car should run OK with really low mileage.
Thanks.
I am really impressed with my accent so far. but if I was spending more money on a car, I'd definatly pick Honda or Toyota.
At the moment i am thinking of getting a new elantra . If it is anything like my accent let me say this i will be a very happy camper . Sure friends laugh when i brag about my Hyundai and say man they are crap , well i guess i am into crap because they will happily get my money again in the near future.
Revka
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Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards
But even after that at 157k i am still going to get another Hyundai , hope i can make atleast 3 payments before i crash it lol .
I unbolted and removed the rear seats for a recent move, and the cargo area is really cavernous.
My biggest surpise about owning the Accent has more to do with social perceptions than the actual vehicle. I think if I stuck a fake mercedes badge on it people would like it more:)
Such a shallow society we live in.
I also own a 1994 Mazda Miata, which is more fun to drive than the Accent, but far less useful. I am going to sell the Miata and keep the Accent as my primary car.
If you just need a utilitarian car, aren't concerned with status, prestige, I think the Accent is an easy car to live with.
http://applications.edmunds.com/maintenance/index.html#
(click on recalls on the right)
Doesn't seem to be a huge deal. Any comments?
DW
Now the bad... The dealer did not inspect the car upon delivery, refused to upgrade T-rated tires to H-rated as the sticker stated and was very rude about that whole issue (I contacted Hyundai of America and they reimbursed me for the new set of tires). Also two different dealers where I had brought the car in for service told me that my clutch was worn and needed repair (3 times) and that my A/C compressor needed repair (2 times); the car still has original clutch and compressor! Also the paint finish is not the most durable you can find, so take a very good car of it (no automatic car wash, no excessive waxing, cover the car if possible). The main minus pertaining to the use of the car was very high noise level, but it could have been fixed in the new model; also headlights don't seem to illuminate as much as most other newer cars. One more point: keep in mind that depreciation is STEEP!
The last but not the least... Please don't be surprised when other guys (even those with oil-chugging clunkers) make fun of you and of the Hyundais in general, especially when you tell them that you like yours. Also, women are usually not very impressed when you tell them the brand of the car you drive (to put it mildly). But hey, the brand image of Hyundai is changing and personal experiences are different. I am still glad I bought it instead of a Tercel, an Escort or a bare-bones Civic hatchback.:)
Purchasing experience was better than at DC dealer (94 Caravan), but not as good as GM-- Saturn, excellent as expected, and some of the experience rubbed off on 97 Cavalier purchase. Salesmen at multi line Hyundai dealership were not up on what was being introduced (didn't even know about GT until it hit the showroom). They did go above and beyond the call of duty in correcting some slight hail damage, however-- completely and competantly repainting two small inperfections and giving me a free rental car.
I think Hyundai still has a number of weak links in the dealership department, as does Kia.
Frankly I think that a lot of people are clueless enough to fall for their tactics and let them fix what's not broken. Then the word gets out that "Hyundais are bad" and the brand image suffers.
I am just wondering if others also have experience of dealers pitching repairs for items that were not broken? The reason I think it might be more than an isolated occurance is because two different dealers were doing that to me.
both front wheel bearings @ 19000 right and 43000 left. water pump 15000, value gasket 25000, dip stick broke at base 12000, front brake pads replaced 17000. The front window was always to hard to go up and down. The back of the car were the hatch met the trunk made noise, I placed a piece of foam between the latch and the trunk to keep it quit. I was now looking at new front brakes 44000 and the back ones made a grinding noise that the dealer said was normal. Sometimes the parking brake would not relese. I hope that car was just a lemon.
I did like the way it drove and I got 40 mpg on the highway. It was a 5 spd. Any one else have wheel bearing troubles? I have already put 1k on the new car in two weeks. I love it, wish me luck.
To everyone- From Edmunds' Headline News section, here's a good review on the Hyundai Accent from the Belfast News: Hyundai's hatch with all the extras. Hope you enjoy. Btw, this news only stays on this server for a given period of time; so for those that come along later..., sorry if it's no longer there.
Revka
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Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
I have a 2002 that I got at the end of October, now with 5600 miles on it -- no problems so far, knock on wood, and it feels very solid. I've averaged 32 mpg over that period (I have a little spreadsheet I wrote for my PDA that keeps track of per-tank and lifetime mileage), in mostly suburban driving. I really like it and am looking hopefully forward to many years of enjoyment. Best wishes for yours, too!
2001, June, tested a Accentg(105 HP). 1) Loud engine noises2) cheapened interior vs 1999 3) just not as good of a car IMO.
Now, why would Hyudnai make the Accent less desirable? Simple, to make the people who like nicer cars buy th next level up, the Elantra, for "only" a few grand more.
NIssan has been doing this(or did from march 1995-end of 1999) with the Sentra/200sx.
Our old 2door sentra xe, a nice car(was considerd the "middle car", there was base,xe,then another "upper level sentra).
move ahead 1997, Xe is still 2nd spot, but back 2 slots, behind gxe and gle(?). It is not as nicely loaded as the older sentra's from 1990-1994.5 models.
Why "cheapen' the Sentras? To make you buy the Altima.
(or buy the highest priced, loaded up sentra).
Used to be a time that you could buy the entry level cars and get a nice ride. they were trying to get you into the door as a customer, and keep you, not force you into a higher payment bracket by making entry level cars almost unworthy of buying.
Is it just me, or do you older guys who got cars in the later 1980-now notice the differences,too?
Styling - Subjective I know, but personally the 01 wins in this department ... funkier looks!
Reliability - about equal. Both cars have been very reliable and our Dealership experience excellent.
Gas Milage - the 99 wins here, seems to get better with age. The 01, O.K. but not giving me what I expect per fill up.
Ergonomics - the 01 has a much more comfortable cabin and driving position than the 99. Also the rotary climate controls are much better than the 99's slider-type controls. Visibility though is better in the 99 ... the 01 (which is a hatch) has huge blind spots created by the thick C-pillars and the tiny, non-opening (yuck) rear side windows.
Fit & Finish - Both not bad, the 01 gets the edge, seems to be a bit more "solid" if you know what I mean, a bit more refined. The 01's black paint seems to invite scratches though ...
Drivability - this is interesting ... the 99 has more pick-up ... hit the gas and it responds better than the 01. This might be due to the fact that the 01 is likely a heavier car. Steering is lighter in the 99 as well, the 01 has a deader feel to it, but tracks well. The ride of the 01 is softer than the 99 and wallows a bit in a cross wind ... might have something to do with the 185-80R13 tires on the 01 vs the 175-70R13's on the 99. Personally, I like the ride of the 99 better ... a little stiffer, better road feel.
Verdict - Hey, neither of these cars is a Honda Civic, or Toyota Corolla, but they ain't bad ... so far decent value for money spent. In compairing the two model years I own, the 01 gets the edge, but only slightly ...
I bought good Blizzak snow tires, a world of difference in traction.
The rear seats are attached with six bolts that are easy to get at. I took them out for a recent move, its huge in back.
Its been a versatile, dependable car so far.
What I don't like about it:
No engine power, but I knew that when I bought it.
Big blind spots in the hatchback from C pillars.
Rear floor cover over spare tire is very thin, bends easily.
The hatch lid rattles.
Its a very lightweight car, so some safety concerns.
What I like about it:
Good seating position and forward visibility.
Great cargo area for such a tiny car.
Nimble in traffic.
Great mileage.
1. the elantra does not fold down completely for storage, like the accent because of the trunk.
2. the elantra gets lower gas mileage.
3. the elantra is harder to park because it is longer.
so...if i can get both cars for 10 thousand...should i get the elantra or accent?? i can't decide. thanks for the advice.
Also, be sure to read the fine print in any car ads that you see. There could be hidden costs (dealer fees & etc) that are not accounted for yet; not to mention, they usually do not not include the manufacturer destination fee in most ads.
Now if it turns out they have similar options, then my guess is that may be more wiggle room in your Accent price. Have you can checked with Edmunds' Manufacturer Incentives & Rebates to see if there's anything you else you can subtract from your Accent cost?
In closing, here's a direct link to Edmunds' side by side comparison where you can compare these two vehicles... to see exactly what it is you're getting for your money. Others here have more to add. Good luck and please keep us posted on your decision/purchase. ;-)
Revka
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Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
I can't help you with the tape player, but the CD player lights up quite evenly, if that means anything. Wish I could help more.
DW
Elantra has a higher level of standard equipment, including side air bags. It is bigger, and is more comfortable inside. A base Elantra is better equipped than a top end Accent GL. If they are the same price, get the Elantra. The mpg differential is not that much. I get in the low to mid 30s on the highway with my automatic Elantra GT and around 24-25 in town. How much better do you think the Accent will be? In truth, I think that the Accent mpgs should be a lot better than they are, given the weight of the car and the size of the engine. 25/35 for the auto is little different than 24/33 for the auto Elantra. Good Luck!
Revka
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Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
there is a metallic sound ( not a knock) when i press hard on the gas ..(going up hill ..)
The mechanic says that is a air intake sound and not a ping from the engine..
Does anyone have a similar problem ?
Please let me know
Thanks