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Hyundai Elantra 2001-2006

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Comments

  • mike91326mike91326 Member Posts: 251
    Pewter2002,

    Where was the on-off switch installed?
  • zigliflerziglifler Member Posts: 99
    Hi all well it is time to replace the accent with 158k miles on it . Here is where i am stuck . i found a dealer that will do a elantra for 200 over invoice . Should i go with the gt or gls ? I can get a 5sp with abs and traction , or just as is , witch i would rather have cause i am really not into sunroofs worried about them leaking , or just go with the best buy for the dollar the gls ? what do you people think ? i have driven both and like the ride of the gt better but can only get the abs in pewter and the reg gt in black . I live in cali where it gets 110 in summer so black isn't really what i might want . Now the price difference is about 2k from gls to gt with all the werks ... Not really into leather but the ride in the gt i liked more . So can someone shout out and add there .02$
    thanks ,
  • csandstecsandste Member Posts: 1,866
    When I bought my GLS last summer the dealer in St. Louis was advertising base cars for 10894, I think the price was just raised $100 with the '02's. I believe invoice is just under $11000. Upcharges to higher packages were at Edmund's actual dealer costs. California sales prices were MUCH cheaper at that time. I guess the market has gotten a bit tighter for these cars. I've never paid $200 over invoice for any car--what kind of prices are you getting from other dealers or over the web?

    I was waiting for good availability of the GT but my other car crapped out and I was forced to buy a GLS. Really like the car a lot, don't miss the leather seats, but would have liked the hatch.

    Handling on the GLS was probably a step down from my other finalist, a Focus, but the car seems more comfortable than a Focus. I would try both suspensions, you have to live with the car.

    IMHO the GLS has a prettier rear end, GT is too busy in the tail light department. The GT has a better profile however, Saabish while the GLS is a bit Malibuish. If hatches and sedans were both available in GLS and GT forms, I'd probably select a GLS hatch-- if they were the same price.

    The GT has been in more demand (or lower supply) so $200 over invoice might not be too bad. The prices I quoted included the $500 rebate, but no taxes or license fees. Some people report taxes as part of price. This just obscures things since they vary greatly by state.
  • rsinger2rsinger2 Member Posts: 19
    Thinking of buying an 02 GLS. Would get a GT, but think it's ugly. Really enjoyed test driving the peppy GLS, and I'm wondering if it could be any more enjoyable...has anybody upgraded wheels and/or tires, or suspension, and - what difference did it make? If the GLS loses some body roll and gets a little grippier, then - who needs a WRX? :) Thanks for any info.
  • browneybrowney Member Posts: 104
    Don't forget to check out the Edmunds TMV price and the Carsdirect.com price for your zip code.
    You should still be able to get an Elantra in CA for several hundred below invoice.
  • pewter2002pewter2002 Member Posts: 9
    Sorry, been trying to answer some questions directed at me...but I can't seem to post.
  • pewter2002pewter2002 Member Posts: 9
    Love to answer your questions. Cant.
    Micheal the light is two inches to the left of the steering column.
  • buoyantbuoyant Member Posts: 128
    Your insurance is $236/mo.?!?!?!?!?!?! If my mind math works out ok, that's almost $3K a year!

    That is simply outrageous. Even if you're fully covered and have $0 deductibles across the board, that is a frightening figure for one vehicle.

    Barring any DUI's or reckless driving convictions, you should really shop for a new policy. You are getting screwed, man.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I live in Baltimore, Md., have a 2002 Jetta turbo, am 23 years old, commute 30 miles one way to work, and have one point for speeding. My limits are 50/100/50 with 250/500 comp/coll deductibles. I have shopped around, and this is definitely the cheapest insurance I can find. (I tried Progressive, and they said $3500 every 6 MONTHS!) This also includes a multi-line discount from State Farm because I have my house insurance with them. That and safety discounts save me $200 every 6 months.
  • zigliflerziglifler Member Posts: 99
    I had Progressive but changed when i got my new GT . Progressive wanted almost 5k a year for my GT accent and a old pickup for me and my 16 year old son ,That right i said 5k a year . I added my GT to get it off the lot and got a new insurance company the next day that insured all 3 cars for 2100 a year .
  • smiller678smiller678 Member Posts: 64
    Hi,

    I have an 01 Elantra and I am thinking of replacing the wheels with alloy ones. I was thinking of going stock by looking for the GT ones but those are too expensive. So I looking at aftermarket and have found some I like. Has anyone ungraded there wheels for aftermarket ones? If so, what size are your rims and what tires are you using? Does it ride more stiff and did it affect mileage? I am thinking of 15 x 6 (if I can find) or maybe 16 x 6.5 (if I can find).

    Also, I have just turned a tad over 20500 miles on my Elantra. NOT A SINGLE PROBLEM. Haven't even ever brought the car to be serviced by anyone. I do all the oil and lubes myself. Its about time though to get a tire rotation.

    Shawn
  • dmarzo1dmarzo1 Member Posts: 37
    Hi,

    I bought a 2001 Elantra GT and had a good experience with the dealer, Farrish of Manassas, VA. Salesman was Trey Minto.

    I got a great deal on the car. They did not screw around with me on the price. In fact, I probably low-balled them a bit and they accepted and did not try any tricks with me--I was quite pleased. Trey answered all my questions, was straight about everything and treated me well.

    Good experience overall!

    Dave
  • claywaterfillclaywaterfill Member Posts: 534
    Glad to hear of your good experience with the dealer. Don't forget to update us on the Elantra GT thread under Hatchbacks! We're looking to replace a Sephia this year. I like the Elantra. We want this car to last about 10 years, and my wife is afraid the Hyundai won't make it. I think it will, so I enjoy reading owner updates from time to time. Enjoy!
  • acelinkacelink Member Posts: 106
  • frankpcbfrankpcb Member Posts: 27
  • frankpcbfrankpcb Member Posts: 27
    I am in the insurance business (Allstate) and the reason why your insurance costs so much is the turbo motor, that immediately puts your jetta in the sports car class and that combined with your age. Did you check what the insurance cost would be with the wimpy 2 liter motor, just for a comparison. Actually the V6 motor would probably have resulted in lower insurance costs and is actually faster than turbo (no lag). I test drove 2 elantra's the GT and the GLS back to back and also a Lancer (dealer had both makes). Lancer sucked , very tinny and seats were not comfortable. GT was the better drive all around. Steering felt tighter (it is according to Hyundai manual) and ride was just like GLS, the only differences are the roll bars are slightly larger in the GT(front and rear). The GT is a better car (4 wheel disk brakes) than the sedan and the interior is much nicer. My question is has any of you bought the Hyundai extended warranty and if so how much did it cost? By the way 02 has trip computer which I don't thing the 01 GT has. The brochure the dealer gave me also had a pic of the new ferrari knockoff the tiburon, v6 (181 hp) and 6 speed, big duals out the back, very sharp. I am serioulsy considering buying the GT, but have never bought Korean before, this car would be in addition to my 1992 nissan sentra, 161,000 trouble free miles, never burned a drop of oil, and still cruises at 80-90 easily, just replaced clutch at 150K. Your advice/opinions would be appreciated.

    Frank
  • acelinkacelink Member Posts: 106
    I had an Allstate insurance on my 240sx. Anyway, don't worry about Elantra breaking down on you. Hyundai has made great strides in improving the quality of its products and they are as good as Japanese vehicles. Unless you plan to carry people in back seats often, I would say 2003 Tiburon (AKA Tuscani in Korea) is more fun car to drive than Elantra. Tuscani is based on Elantra platform and it is available in a v6 engine and a 6 speed manual. Heard it is going to debut soon.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    ..quoted me $318 a month for the same coverage State Farm charges me $236 a month for. I pay enough already, thank you. :) Also, I had a comprehensive claim last year on my policy, and SF did not raise my rates. I was shocked.
  • beeryr4beeryr4 Member Posts: 19
    The web link changed a little. Try this one:

    http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/longterm/articles/46043/page008.html


    Or go to the main Long Term Road Test page and follow the links to the Elantra. That's how I found it.


    Another nice "easy" review as I recall.

  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    Okay, it is time. My mothers Grand Am now has 200k miles on it. It has not ONCE given her a problem, but she is officially "freaking"...;)

    She actually really likes the new Elantras. And obviously, the warranty is right up her alley. My question is:

    Do you all find that ABS equipped automatic Elantras are out there, WITHOUT sunroofs? Is that a lot to ask? I called a couple local dealers, and it seems like to find an automatic, ABS, NO SUNROOF, is an issue. Are they full of it, or is that the case?

    Any reason here why someone would NOT recommend their Elantra to their Mother? They seem safe, and have a nice selection of airbags.
  • zigliflerziglifler Member Posts: 99
    Justin, If you want abs you have to get the sunroof . there is no way around it . If you could have that is what i would have done . i don't really like sunroofs:(.

    Frank, I can only speak from past exp , but i also have a 95 accent and it has 158k on it . It was very trouble free. Even after crashing it 2 months after buying it , I still had no real problems with it . I didn't buy the extended warranty when i got mine for the reason that my accent never gave me any major problems . But you can add it later if you like ( least thats what the dealer told me ) if you would like . with 158k on my accent and never haveing any problems with it i didn't see why i should pay the extra k for the coverage . Hope this helps and good luck .
  • claywaterfillclaywaterfill Member Posts: 534
    I'm probably wrong here, but...I thought package 4 was the package that had the sunroof--keyless, cruise, cd player and sunroof. Package 5 was the package with ABS. Keyless, cruise, cd, ABS and TCS--no sunroof. I thought that was what the web site said, but I guess things could have changed in real life. I was at a Hyundai dealer a couple of weeks ago and the only package 5 (ABS/TCS) Elantra they had did not have the sunroof.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    According to CarsDirect.com, the sunroof does not come in conjunction with ABS on the GLS sedan. It does on the GT, but not the GLS.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I priced the Hyundai extended warranty (the one that extends the bumper-to-bumper to 10 years and makes it transferrable) late last year for my almost-year-old '01 Elantra GLS; you have to get it before the one-year/12,000 mile mark. Anyway, I checked three dealers in the Twin Cities and got quotes ranging from $995 to $1195. I passed. I don't know if the price is lower if you buy the warranty when you buy the car, but from my experience it pays to shop around for the warranty.
  • jpelderjpelder Member Posts: 235
    I parked beside a new Elantra today. I know that the cars are pretty cheap, but man....was it ugly. Is it due for a redesign anytime soon? The Sonata is not so bad. In fact, I like the rear end of the Sonata; the front doesn't seem to match. But this Elantra definitely got hit by the ugly truck.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Styling is subjective, isn't it? I happen to think the GLS is the best-looking low-end sedan out there today. But then I own one. I especially like the rear end. It's not the same bland styling of all the Japanese compacts, and it's not too far the other way, such as the Focus is.

    I saw an ad for the new Infiniti G35 today and something caught my eye. The picture was an offset frontal view of the passenger side. If I lopped off the front of the car forward of the middle of the front wheel wells, it was a dead ringer for the GLS (except for the black rocker panels). I think the G35 has a more handsome grill, but it has equally large headlights and I like the styling of the GLS' headlamps better. But I guess $30,000 cars can be ugly too.

    To answer your question, don't expect any major changes to the Elantra until at least the 2004 model year, if Hyundai maintains the usual schedule of styling tweaks in the 4th year, as it did with the '02 Sonata, the '99 Elantra, and the '98 Accent. But if you are that turned off by the Elantra's looks, I doubt if a a minor facelift will help your opinion. The next generation won't be out until probably the fall of 2005. If you want style, check out the '03 Tiburon, based on the Elantra platform but a real slick piece (has been compared to a Ferrari by some auto mags). Also, it will be available with a V6.
  • buoyantbuoyant Member Posts: 128
    Styling: I totally agree with backy. I bought my Elantra BECAUSE OF the styling rather than despite it. The reaction I've gotten from people who look at the exterior has been very positive. Personally, the profile and front-end remind me of the 84-91 BMW 3 Series (a car I thought was beautiful).

    The interior, well that's another matter (hey, what do you expect from a $13K car? Genuine walnut inlays?). And if you really wanted to see some cheesy interior plastics, check out the new Nissan Altima (and that baby retails for up to $27K).

    It continually surprises me that there are people out there who actually find the Focus and Corolla visually appealing, but to each his own. I know people who actually have the 1970's-style Home Interiors wall sconces and starburst clocks in their living rooms and the last time I was in a furniture store, I noticed they still stocked table lamps and were actually selling couches that reclined (ah, can we say "tawdry?"). Like backy said, style is a subjective thing.

    Elantra GT: personally, I didn't need to look at one twice. Were the only Elantra model a GT, I would've bought something other than a Hyundai. Why the GLS (the non-sporty model) has a monochrome color treatment and the GT has contrasting black moldings makes no sense to me whatsoever. I know Hyundai had to separate it from the GLS, but they went the wrong way IMO.

    The GT definitely has a nicer interior aesthetically speaking, but it only comes in leather. It's leather (GT) or funky cloth (GLS) only. I've had my experience with leather, and did not plan on re-living it anytime soon.

    The sunroof and ABS: Personally, I won't drive a car without a factory-installed power sunroof. I use it more often than the AC (just open the sunroof, crack the back windows an inch and all the hot air is expunged from the car while you tan). I've never had problems with factory installed sunroofs (caveat emptor the aftermarket Milwaukee Sawzall jobs - 90% of dealers will tell you that's "it's just as good as the one they put in at the factory"...BS).

    I thought about getting the ABS for a bit, but since it ISN'T available with a factory installed sunroof on the GLS, I quickly put the kibosh on that idea.

    The extended warranty: Metro Hyundai in Bloomington, MN quoted me a payment $20/mo. higher on a 60 mo. loan if I got it (an interesting technique). They never quoted me an actual price, but it was somewhere between $1,100 and $1,200 dollars (my interest rate was 6.9%, if you want to do the exact math).

    It didn't seem worth it to me either. When a car comes with the longest warranty in the industry to begin with, buying an extension seems a bit excessive.

    The Jetta: you may save insurance money by sticking with the standard 2.0, but at what cost? When I drove an 02 Jetta with the base engine I was blown away by how unpleasant it was - pressing the accelator only seemed to amplify the tractor noises and resulted in very little added forward momentum. It was even slower than the Focus I tested. When I popped open the hood, I was expecting to see "Briggs and Stratton" tattoed across the engine block.

    The 1.8T was the exact opposite: unbelievably quiet in operation and very fast. Verdict: if you're getting a Jetta, the turbo or V6 are must-haves.

    Interestingly, my insurance co. (Illinois Farmers Ins. Group) quoted me identical rates for a non-turbo and turbo VW. So let that be a lesson: don't insure your turbo VW with Allstate.
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    My dealer in north Fl had 2 Elantras with auto and ABS a few months ago. You cannot get a sunroof with ABS on the GLS model. Finding a manual with ABS is almost impossible, but getting an auto with ABS isn't quite as hard.
  • desgdesg Member Posts: 52
    FWIW here with get a GL and a GLS in both sedan and hatch but no GT, from the pictures I've seen we get a different interior. Basic black cloth in the GLS with while fleck through it. Unlike the US the only additions we can make are ABS and passenger airbag. We cannot get cruise, trip computer, sunroof, leather etc. What our GLS does get though is alloys, power aerial, CD player. The hatch and sedan are identically priced, but the hatch gets rear discs.

    It's interesting to see the different choices in various markets. Now if I could just pick and choose the options from each market I want :)

    Personally I don't like the look of the sedan, however I do like the hatch, I think it has much nicer lines and that is what I have on order.

    Each to his own, if we all liked the same thing we would not have the choices we do
  • jpelderjpelder Member Posts: 235
    Ok, so tastes can differ. I should have specified that the "ugly" elantra I saw was a sedan. I can't remember seeing a hatchback recently.

    I've never been a fan of the Hyundai...had a bad taste of them when my uncle bought an Elantra a few years ago. I would step on the accelerator and wait for the thing to slowly come to life. But at least it didn't scream "ugly", just looked it's price.

    Backy, at least we agree it isn't bland! (very few mutants could described that way!) By the way, I do like the looks of the Focus hatchback and wagon for economy cars. If I had to go economy, they are probably what I'd pick.

    Bouyant...isnt'that 1.8T a kick?!
  • stevesailstevesail Member Posts: 15
    We bought our GLS in mid-July specifically because of the good looks (especially the front end), the price, the recent reviews, and the warranty. We definitely didn't want a car that looked exactly like everyone else's. There have been a number of times that I've seen people kind of scoping the car out as they walk buy or pass by on the road.

    On another topic - we just had the car in for it's 7500 mile checkup (oil, tire rotation). They told us they had the service bulletin for engine idle issues and did the re-programming of the on-board processor. I can't put my finger on it, but the car seems to run more smoothly, though I didn't think it ever ran roughly before. I had been having the intermittent issue with the engine revving up to 3000-3500rpm for up to 10 seconds when first turning on the engine (didn't seem to matter whether it was cold or not). That didn't happen for a week after the re-programming, but unfortunately happened twice again yesterday. It's no big deal, but somewhat annoying when it does happen.
  • aquesadaaquesada Member Posts: 24
    I took a look at your Dodge Caravan and I can say:
    man! this is also a big ugly elephant, and the bigger the worst!!
  • jpelderjpelder Member Posts: 235
    Be careful what you say about this elephant...it can squash your rat.

    Ok, my 2000 Grand Caravan is a bit bland. You've always sacrificed looks a bit for the space.

    I'm getting a 2002 next month, and you must admit, the looks are much improved.

    The biggest reason the Elanta sedan looked bad to me was that is was parked beside my 2002 Alero sedan. Especially, since with the alero rebate and my GM card points, I paid less for the Alero than I would have for a Hyundai.

    Why do these Edmunds profiles only list one vehicle, since most have 2 or 3?
  • csandstecsandste Member Posts: 1,866
    because it's designed to maximize interior room. This means it is a bit tall-- like the Focus. Other than trunk, the Elantra is much roomier in every dimension than the Alero.

    I love my Elantra, but think it has a bit too much Malibu in profile and Impala in front. The GT is better looking IMHO, except for the rear which is busy, busy, busy.

    I formerly drove a Cavalier-- still in my family. The Cav. is actually one of the best GM cars in my opinion, if you're restricting yourself to styling. Compared to the Elantra, it is however, rude crude and cramped. As more and more small cars pick up space by adding height, the eye will adjust and low cars will look strange.
  • phillyglsphillygls Member Posts: 20
    jpelder-You think the Focus is better looking than the Elantra! Wow-I was in the market for a Focus last year and decided not to buy the vehicle because of it's looks. I love my Elantra and have received numerous compliments on it's looks.
  • hyundaimahyundaima Member Posts: 197
    Have a dealer replace the TPS.
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    I think it looks quite tidy for such an inexpensive car. It appears clean and graceful - even a little classy. The Focus is totally different. But, that look appeals to some too - the Focus is like a 4 door Celica.

    So, I guess from the lack of feedback, no one here would NOT recommend the new Elantra to their mother???? Or to a friend? Everyone has had fairly decent experiences?
  • markregelmarkregel Member Posts: 32
    Elantra may have a better warantee, but is it really worth an inferrior car? I'm not saying it's a bad car (certainly a lot better than it used to be!), but both the Focus and similiar Mazda Protege have better steering response and handling. You probably won't notice just driving around the block, but take these cars on a spirted drive on a curvy road and there is a big difference. The Focus or Protege is clearly the drivers enthusiasts choice. Looks? This is purly personal perference, but can't imagine anyone getting too excited about the Elantra (kind of reminds me of a Toyota Echo). Power train warantees only cover major mechnical failure, not the components that are most likly to fail. Major mechnical failure on any car before 100K miles is very rare, and is also very difficult on collect on. If they determine that the failure is a result of lack of service or abuse (and they usually do), they will not pay. Check your owners manual, how may people change the automatic transmission fluid every 30K miles and do all that other stuff your supposed to do? Most of the manafactures will give you the 5-60K bumper to bumper or better. Was the Chrysler K-Car better because it had the best warantee at the time, absolutely not! If you are thinking about this car, give Focus or Protege a drive. If you got to have the warantee, make the dealer throw it in!
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    The Protege and Focus may have sportier handling (I am not sure, because I have never driven a 2001 Elantra), but the Elantra is more about value than driving performance. The car does have the most powerful engine in the class though. And also the longest warranty, most equipment, and lowest price. I guess that's one of the decision factors (driving enjoyment) on which car to buy.
  • jpelderjpelder Member Posts: 235
    I respect your difference of opinion regarding looks. However, MUCH roomier than than Alero? Not even close. Maybe a half inch more hip room, etc, but Much roomier? I would think the Elantra would be better for tall people. The Alero trunk is MUCH bigger however.

    Sorry, but you lose credibility when you say the Cavalier is one the GM's best products. In a sea of car enthusiasts, I think you are alone there.

    The posts here seem to follow 2 patterns. Those who dislike the Elantra (or Hyundai) and Elantra owners who come here for reassurement (I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it people like me).

    By the way, I took another look at the Elantra online, and the front did not look as offensive as the rear of the sedan. At 13K, perhaps I expect too much.

    I would happily recommend this car to my
    mother-in-law!
  • csandstecsandste Member Posts: 1,866
    it's rude, crude and boring. The only good thing about it is that it's cheap to buy and fix. I do think that the basic lines (design, not substance) of the Cav are better than the Malibu and the Impala. As to GM, I generally prefer Olds model for model to Pontiac which looks like they were drawn by a 14 year old boy daydreaming in math class (think I stole that line from C&D's review of the Bonneville). Hopefully Pontiac will deep-six the cladding--looks like they're trying to do that in 02.

    I think the Elantra is larger in almost every dimension to the N-body GM cars with the exception of trunk. At 94 cubic feet of passenger space it (and the Focus) are right up there with larger size vehicles. That's why the Focus replaced both the Escort and Contour.
  • csandstecsandste Member Posts: 1,866
    the Elantra is very close in handling, but probably not quite as good. I compared the Pro5 to the GLS. I would think that the GT Elantra might be right up there. When my Michelins are worn down I'll probably replace with Yokahamas. I would think any Focus advantage would largely be with tire aspect ratios and more aggressive tread design. I did find the Elantra more comfortable.

    The Focus and Mazda were close to the Elantra in engine response but the extra horsepower is noticable in the Elantra.

    If all three cars cost exactly the same it would be almost a push. I think price considerations give the advantage to the Elantra.
  • csandstecsandste Member Posts: 1,866
    Elantra, Focus, Alero

    Front headroom 39.6,39.3, 38.4
    Rear headroom 38, 38.5, 37
    Front shoulder 54.7,53.7,53.6
    Rear shoulder 53.5,53.7, 52.6
    Front hip 53,49.4, 50.9
    Rear hip 55.6, 49.5, 51.5
    Front leg 43.2,43.1, 42.2
    Rear leg 35, 37.6, 35.5
    Luggage 11, 12.9, 14.6

    I would say that the Alero comes up third in most of the meaningful comparison EXCEPT for cargo. I think that subjectively it could be called prettier, however.
  • jpelderjpelder Member Posts: 235
    I sense a little Stuart Smalley here...
  • jpelderjpelder Member Posts: 235
    How did I misunderstand?

    "The Cav. is actually one of the best GM cars in my opinion, if you're restricting yourself to styling. "
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Note the title of this forum: Hyundai Elantra. So yes, Elantra owners congregate at this board to talk about how wonderful we think our cars are, and also about our wishes and gripes. If people want to beat up on the Elantra, there are other boards expressly for that purpose, e.g. the Honda Civic vs. Hyundai Elantra board and the Low-End Cars board (one of my favorites because we can talk about lots of cars).

    Re the Protege and Focus: I agree that the Protege handles better, but the tradeoff is a harsh ride. I recently read a thread on the Protege board about a poor guy in Chicago who bought a Pro ES and just loved it--until the jarring ride aggravated an old neck injury. I've rented many Pros in Chicago and that's what took it off my list. The Focus may handle a little better than the Elantra (the GLS anyway, not sure about the GT) but there was no way I would buy a Focus in the fall of 2000 with all its recalls and quality issues, not after all the problems I had with my new '95 Mystique (but it had great ride and handling). I bought the Elantra because of its smooth ride, roomy interior, performance, driver's seat comfort, styling, features, warranty, and value--under $12,000 nicely equipped. I'm amazed if you could buy an Alero for that, especially since it will soon be a collector's item with the death of Oldsmobile.
  • th003gth003g Member Posts: 149
    I just got back from picking up mom's new Elantra GLS to go along with my GT. Having driven the Pro 5 and having a sister who works at a Ford dealership, I have the following opinions. Equip the GT with a strut tower bar and lower profile 50 series tires and it would handle on par with the Pro/5 let alone out accelerate the poor Mazda. GT's tires at 60 series are just too tall plain and simple, they roll easily in fast cornering which I like to do in my GT. The GT is a bigger car (longer by 7 inches and more room in almost every dimension). The focus ZX5 equipped anywhere near the GT will cost more than a Pro5 let alone my GT. IMHO the focus is butt ugly, especially in the interior. Ford has got to do something with their design team... maybe keep them sober or get real world focus groups. Again this is my Opinion
  • buoyantbuoyant Member Posts: 128
    It appears the firestarters have finally entered the room (it's always just a matter of time). Unfortunately, a select group of individuals derives pleasure in upsetting others and now they moved from the freeway (I usually get stuck behind them while they've buried their heads in the clouds while cruising at 63mph in the passing lane) to this board.

    If you don't like the Elantra, that is fine. Odds are I think the model you are driving is about as appealing as clothing from a J.C. Penney clearance rack. But this board probably isn't the best place to come and talk about how much you dislike the Elantra (PARTICULARLY if you neither own one or wouldn't consider owning one). I don't like the Focus, but you won't see me posting my dissent on the Focus board.

    It's great (or is it?) that everyone seems to have an opinion on everything, but it's rather annoying that some feel the necessity to share their opinions with EVERYONE (as though everyone else was actually interested). If scientists can ever single out the gene that causes this unrestrained vocal behavior, I'd be in support of genetic engineering.

    Let me reiterate: this is the Elantra board. It is not the Alero board, neither is it the Protege board. If you think the Alero is the best thing since sliced bread (you own one) and want to discuss how much you prefer it over the competitions' offerings, your comments belong on the Alero board, not here.

    When I last drove an Alero, I thought it was a pretty nice car for being an automatic. But I did not care for the looks AT ALL. An Intrigue the Alero is not. Yet, I feel no compelling reason to share this opinion with the Alero board. I guess I feel most people who like the Alero could really give a d--- how I "feel" about their car. And I don't post for the sake of posting.

    I am not here to reassure myself. I drove nearly 20 different models before settling on the Elantra, and found it the best car for ME.

    By all means, I encourage everyone to drive all the cars in their price range, because you might be surprised what you discover. God knows I was.

    Vocus is right, handling and sportiness are not the Hyundai's forte. But Hyundai has never peddled the Elantra as a sports car. If someone told you it was, they were being deceitful.

    Likewise, if you place aesthetic importance on mock-stainless steel trim, dapper upholstery and pumpkin colored dash lighting, the Elantra is not your ride.

    Personally, I bought my Elantra because I wanted more driver involvement, and the stick in the Elantra was better than every other model I tested (the 5-spd Nissans were so unpleasant to drive, it's almost beyond description). This came as a complete surprise to me.

    I considered (STRONGLY considered) a Pro 5 because of Mazda's college grad program, but was turned off by how loud it ran on the highway (try driving 85mph across Montana on the Interstate in one of those babies and you'd be screaming for mercy after a couple hours - and you'd probably be deaf too). I'd love to have a car that handled like a BMW (actually, I'd love to have a BMW), but not if driving it over 70 made hearing the stereo clearly an impossibility (BTW, the stock stereo in the Protege could double as a boat anchor - it's just that good ;) ).

    The Elantra is primarily about value, but that wasn't the actual sell for me. I wanted a stick, and the one in the Elantra had the best action. I also do a lot of Interstate driving (no corkscrew turns) and quietness at the higher end is a must. Interestingly, the Elantra excelled at both these criteria despite costing far less than some of the other cars I was considering.

    Plus, I love the outside looks. And the lower beltline means I don't have to put up with that "sitting in a bathtub" feeling I got from a lot of the other small cars I tested - something I hate (especially when doing rapid manuevers in heavy traffic).

    Quality? I kept coming back to this issue again and again, but with the warranty, I feel somewhat reassured.

    One thing I CAN tell you after delivering cars part-time for a local Ford dealer: the Focus is NOT as well-built as the Elantra is (and I won't even bring up any of the recalls on it).

    One of the new Foci I drove was so poorly put together that you could see the painted sheet metal (a good 3/4" inch of it) in the passenger footwell because the carpeting was not cut properly. The person riding with me was in similar disbelief that it could have left the factory that way.

    So, it bests the Ford on the quality front IMO and if "Quality is Job 1" at Ford, the Hyundai must be the automotive equivalent of a fine Swiss timepiece.

    Lastly, I would strongly encourage anyone considering a stick shift to at least drive an Elantra. I was more than happy to exchange a little handling in return for a much more pleasant and driveable manual transaxle. It is the BEST manual I've ever driven (and I've driven a lot of them). Try it and you may be pleasantly surprised. I sure was.
  • zigliflerziglifler Member Posts: 99
    All i gotta say is wow . that was very well put and almost .... wait a minute. Do you write for a living ???? because i gotta say that was way well put .. covered most the base's and Damn straight forward .

    Sure i drive a hyundai ( my second i might add) and i am a bit parcial. But i think the elantra is a great car for the money . Sure there are alot of better cars out there but i think if hyundai buyers are one of two things . They are either way cheap or out to find the best value for there money .

    I purchased a GT so i guess i am best value type (god did that sound way cheesy) . For what it cost and what it has as standard options i don't think there is a better value out there . I think gls buyers are also looking for the best value they also come with nice standard features. hmmmm maybe hyundai buyers aren't so cheap after all ???
  • jpelderjpelder Member Posts: 235
    I doubt Bouyant writes for a living, since nobody would regularly read someone who so strongly discourages input from others.

    What is clear is a hypersensitivity and intolerance for dissenting opinions. Nobody is deriving pleasure is upsetting others...were others even upset? This conversation was rather uncharted and evolved freely.

    By the way, I am not a cheerleader for the Focus, but if you are open-mined this will interest you. The carpet for the Focus is cut with a computer-controlled high pressure water jet. In fact, the company that does it also does it for several import companies. (I know this because I tried to sell them the glue to adhere it to the floor.) There is little if any human error possible. However, other things happen to the car along the way, so I do not question your experience.

    Don't be so defensive and intolerant when others express opinions that differ from yours...you'll go further in life.
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