Elantra recommendation anyone?

Hi All!

I'm currently looking at purchasing a vehicle and I'm considering
purchasing a 2004 Elantra.

My main blockage in purchasing one is the reputation that the Hyundai
vehicles for breaking down when they first came out. I've done a lot of
research on the Internet and apparently, quality is no longer the issue
that it used to be with.

I'm still a bit concerned about reliability and customer service
though... So I'd like to ask any of you long time Hyundai owners out
there, what do you think? Are the problems as bad? Are the cars
reliable? Will the paint start chipping away as soon as I drive out of
the dealership? Is the 5 year warranty proof that there's something
wrong with the product? Has this car been a good buy to you?

Thanks for your time!

Steffan

 

Hyundai vehicles are not the same trash they were a decade ago. They
are a little under-powered compared to the competing models but they
more than make up for it in value. Some models have had problems with
the paint but the dealers have been very accommodating. Hyundai
vehicles in Canada only come with the 5 year warranty but in the US
it's 10 years. The parts aren't any different. Do you really think
that anyone would give a long warranty on a product that is going to
break all the time? I worry more about GM vehicles with their 3yr/36K
warranty.

 

I see a lot more Ponies on the road than Pintos, so what is the issue?
Hyundai beats any Detroit car with quality and details. See "lemon" book
2004 for details.

I have Elantra for over tree years (50000km) and only spark plug wires
failed under warranty. Works excellent.
I had Ford and Chrysler before with only grief and $$$ in repair to
remember.
pavel.

 

Well Steffan, I just bought a 2004 Elantra GT 3 months ago. LOVE IT, its my
second Hyundai, before that I had a 2000 Elantra SW, with was trouble free
the whole time I owned, it I'd reccomend a Hyundai to anyone, great cars for
the price..


Pete..
Proud Happy Elantra Owner

 

for the price?
my experience is that they're pretty damn good cars.
62,000 trouble free km in my accent and it still feels pretty new.

I have a webcam in the tropics
http://ii.net/~farmerjim/

 

Thanks for the comments guys! It's nice to know that there are people
ready to recommend them to others!

I'm going to start shopping around for one this week...

Steffan

 

I traded my VW for a 2003 Elantra last May and I had the same concerns
that you have at that time. I wanted to trade the VW because repair
costs were killing me. I loved the car buy just couldn't afford to
keep fixing it everytime it broke down. Hyundai's 10 year warranty (in
the US) was a big selling point. I also looked at Civic and Corolla
but liked the Elantra the best.

Eleven months and almost 15K miles later I couldn't be happier with my
choice. I have not had one repair or issue with the car. It has never
seen the inside of a shop except for oil changes and routine
maintenance. It is a quiet and smooth running little car that actually
seems better put together than the VW did.

If something happened to this car I'd buy another Elantra in a minute!

Wil

 

After my wife was involved in a car crash, which totaled her 01
Saturn SL2, we went shopping for cars again. We test drove the
Mazda 3, Corolla, Sentra, Focus, Civic, and the Elantra GT.
After every drive we just came back to the Elantra. Notice
Saturn isn't listed in there because I have become so
disappointed with their quality of design and quality of build.

Anyway, we've had the car about 6 weeks and I am still utterly
impressed with this vehicle. It is very quiet for a small car,
plenty of power for day to day driving, an MP3 stereo! Plus
the fit and finish were right on par with Honda and Toyota.

In 1995 we drove and Elantra and walked away laughing because it
was such a hunk of junk, we most certainly aren't saying that
anymore. Regarding the reliability, check out Consumer Reports.
Hyundai may not rank as high as Honda or Toyota, but they are
on the positive side of the graph for overall reliability which
is more than the European and Detroit brands can say! With my
wife averaging 20K miles per year, the 100K warranty is just an
added peace of mind!

 

I have an 03 that I bought in September03, with 8K on the speedo, I have
only had
to do 2 oil changes and a loose roof molding the dealer snapped back on. My
wife
and I both like driving it and the gas mileage is great. Getting about 23 in
the city and
about 26 mixed hiwy.
I wash the car each week and have waxed it 3 times, the paint did have one
small
paint defect, that the dealer could not get out, looked like bird dodo
stained it.
I think the car is tight and for the money you can't beat it.

I have more ELantra links on my site:
http://www.stanarseneaux.com/elantra/

ElantraStan

 

I'll throw my hat in and recommend the Elantra, too. I have a 2003 Elantra GLS with 16k miles and it runs perfectly. I do a mix of city and freeway driving and get between 27mpg and 30mpg. On a longer freeway trip I got the rated 34mpg. I have the five speed manual transmission which I feel is perkier then the automatic. I recommend the options package that includes power windows, doors, alarm with keyless entry, cruise control, and ABS/TCS (anti-lock braking system, traction control system). By the way, I was told by one dealer that I couldn't get the ABS package with a manual transmission, but what he actually meant was he couldn't get it <g>. - another dealer did get it for me. The GT model is worth a look too, if you'd like a leather interior, sun roof, driving lights, CD player, and alloy wheels.

I park my car outdoors and so far the paint has been fine. I believe the paint is under warranty for three years.

 

I've had a 1999 Elantra since new. It just hit 90k miles and I haven't had
any problems yet...

 

I have a 03 Elantra GT with 22k mile on it and I have not had any problems
with the vehicle. Great car, good reliability. I'd buy another one.
James