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Comments
OD
I noticed that the car goes at 80mph at 3000rpm.
since the car redlines at 6500rpm.....
it should go 160mph at 6000rpm, without voiding the warranty, right?
I haven't gone through my daughter's owner's manual, but doesn't the Elantra have a similar speed limiter chip?
It's not like the auto industry to "save us from ourselves"...
I have a wooden bead seat cover on the drivers side and a fold up padded cushon on the passengers side.
The beaded one can be obtained at Wal-mart for about $10. This is actually not as uncomfortable as it sounds or looks. And it has the added plus of stopping static shocks when you slide across the seat.
The fold up one can also be obtained at Wal-mart and has cloth on one side and sheep wool on the other side. This one was about $20.
Neither of these wrap around the seat so there is no airbag problem.
I really love this car and the care Hyundai seems to be showing for its new owners. I probably won't be buying another Hyundai (I'd really like a MINI next), but I recommended this car highly to everyone I meet.
One thing I have noticed that I'm not so fond of however. I'm not really sure if it's an effect of moving out here to cowboy country or not, but the lenses on my car's headlights seem to have a bazillion chips on them already (for a car with only 10K miles). Has anyone else noticed this phenomena? It looks like the plastic on the lenses is very thin and not at all resistant to stone chips.
Have you seen the Letter from the Town Hall Manager on the Town Hall Welcome page? If not, you might want to follow that link to have a look.
And hang on to your seats. Change is never easy - for any of us - but resolving the Search problems we've had will be worth the pain.
Pat
Sedans Host
Is there some way we can find out if a report is to be issued?
Thanks, Pat!
Try sending your question to editor@edmunds.com. Let us know what you hear!
Pat
Sedans Host
Prices vary across the country but are lowest in my area. So, if you do not live in Southern California, I think $11,995 is an excellent price for standard with package 5!
Jim
If yours does not perform as well, be persistent! You are free to choose any other Hyundai dealer. Hopefully, one of them will be more diligent and will correct it for you.
Good luck!
While I agree the Elantra is great value car, it's not the best. Why? Here are my reasons:
1. The warranty. While the US benefits from a 5-5-5 warranty on all Hyundais, Canada doesn't. We used to have a 6 year warranty, which dropped down to 5, and now down to 3, probably because Hyundais have become more well-known and accepted as a competitor.
2. Price. A loaded Hyundai Elantra will fetch a price very similar to a loaded Corolla LE. True, at the time when you shopped for your car, the Corolla was too expensive for the content. Have you, however, seen the new Corolla? It has finally become very competitive with the others in its class. The new Corolla LE, which would cost about $1500 CDN more, comes with many standard features, including ABS brakes.
3. Engine. The Elantra is a gas guzzler compared to the Corolla. The Elantra, to my knowledge, still uses a timing belt. The Corolla has a timing chain. Stainless steel exhaust is also standard on the Corolla on any model, which is important on our salty winter roads.
I'm not trying to flame the Hyundai or anyone's opinions about it, but rather saying that although I think it's a great car, it's not the best in its class. Hyundai has come a long way, and your comments here have proved this. But my question is, would anyone here spend $1500 CDN (about $600 more) for a Corolla?
Toyota Corolla LE: $20,640
Hyundai Elantra $16,995
Toyota warranty: Basic 3 yr/60,000 km., Powertrain 60/100,000, Corrosion-Perforation 60/unlimited
Hyundai warranty: Basic 3 yr/60,000 km., Powertrain 60/100,000, Corrosion-Perforation 60/unlimited
So there's a $3645 difference between both cars, but no difference in warranty. The Corolla, although not perfect, is less expensive to maintain on the long run than an Elantra. Plus those added bonuses (like ABS, a $600 plus option alone) is included in the price of the Corolla. The Elantra doesn't have ABS. We have to upgrade to the Sonata to get them, or at least the Elantra GT, and even then it's an option.
For these main reasons, I think Hyundai is not competitive in Canada.
http://www.toyota.ca
Ironically enough, most Corollas sold in the upper US are made in Canada, but some come with options that are standard here.
The Elantra seems like a good buy in the US, but I beg to differ in a Canadian setting.
Secondly, the prices were unbelievable! I paid $10,988 (with auto transmission). In the U.S., this price included power windows, doors, A/C, etc.
Although Hyundai reliability was already on the upswing, the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty eased any lingering concerns. As for poor gas mileage, 24 city and 33 highway isn't great, but certainly not in the gas-guzzler category! And with a heavier, more substantial car with the highest horsepower in its class (140), 1 or 2 miles per gallon less can easily be rationalized.
Would I pay $3,645 Cdn.($20,640 - $16,995) ($2,370 U.S.) more for a Corolla? No. I would be paying 21.5% more for a car that all the reviews said was inferior to the Elantra.
Mind you, I don't have to deal with the salty roads (I used to!) and a shorter warranty could be an issue for you, but for my circumstances, this was the best buy!
By the way, before I began my research, I had never even heard of the Elantra. My choice was not made on bias, but on evaluation of the myriad of objective evidence available on the internet. And it was overwhelming!
One thing about Hyundai vs. Toyota: financing. Toyota will rarely have 0% financing options, whereas that's what we have for the Elantra, for up to 36 months. Plus Hyundai dealers might bring their price down much lower than the MSRP... more so than a Toyota dealer.
I remember going to see the local Honda dealer. They didn't want to drop their MSRP down, not even a dollar! They had a bit of an arrogant attitude about that, saying that their cars were "flying off the lot", that they couldn't keep them long enough, which is why they couldn't drop down the MSRP. Geez.
It's kind of like Avis trying harder because they are number 2....
I have to disagree with you regarding the Elantra vs. the Corolla in Canada. I've spent the past month carefully searching for a new car. I test drove the Corolla and the Elantra. I met with the dealers and went over the specs and deals on each company's Canadian website with a fine-toothed comb. I was seriously considering buying the Corolla; but the Elantra is simply the best buy, which is why I bought it yesterday. I don't know how you can say an '03 Corolla (especially an LE!) is anywhere close in price to a _comparably equipped_ LE, given the interest rates offered by the respective manufacturers. Not to mention that "Access Toyota"'s pricing is barely any discount off of MSRP, whereas I was able to get over $1,000 off MSRP on my Elantra.
As far as the car's ride, ergonomics, controls, etc. goes, I suppose we could disagree on just about everything based purely on personal preference. I happen to think the Elantra's interior is roomier, more comfortable, and the engine has more kick (witness the 10hp difference). My wife felt the same way once she drove both.
Anyway, it all boils down to preferences in some way I suppose, but as long as we're discussing the subject, I don't see how you can say "the Elantra is not a very good buy" here in Canada. I certainly found it to be a great buy.
Cheers,
Dave
Oh, in fairness to Toyota, I will also say the soft intermittent A/C noise on the Elantra will bug the hell out of me unless Hyundai can straighten it out before I take possession of the car
How hard is it to get approved with Hyundai? Do they have their own financing or do they go through other banks?
I am about to go through chapter 7 bankruptcy and should have my discharge letter in a few months. I would also have around 2 grand to put down. I know that mitsubishi is very easy on people with a bankruptcy but am not sure how forgiving hyundai is?
any help would be greatly appreciated.
P.S....please tell me that this car is better than the excel. I have a 2001 mazda protege that has not been very good. I will be giving it up under the bankruptcy.... or actually they may just take it since I am 2 payments behind. 430.00 a month is way too much for this car. THEY CAN HAVE IT! I hate ford.
If you compare both cars though and compare the two MSRP's, the price difference isn't that big considering all the added options the Corolla has standard for that price, where the Elantra doesn't have. I think that Hyundai should at least be fair with Canadians and offer a 5-year warranty, like our US neighbours have.