Should I buy Hyundai?

Hi,
After I found out my Altima ('05)'s transmission is getting broke, I'm
trying to buy new one and thinking about Elantra 07. And I have few
questions and need some help from Hyundai-owner.

1. Does Elantra has Timing Belt or Timing Chain?

2. Elantra doesn't have engine immobilizer but I was told it has
'starter kill'. What is the starter kill?

3. I'm thinking about manual transmission because I had many of
transmission problem with Civic, and Altima. Some people said manual
transmission is very durable and reliable than automatic. Do you think
getting a manual transmission is a good idea? If I buy Elantra, I
wouldn't sell it until it is totally dead. -I know Hyundai's used car
value. :'(

4. Does Elantra has old-style antenna for all model? I saw some
picture of them, it was really ugly looking.

5. Do you, in overall, satisfies with your Hyundai?

Thanks for reading and I really appreciate for your comments.

 

wrote in @g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

Why don't you give it an allowance? Den it won't bees broke all da thyme.

Earache

 

Baa daaa boom...............tish!

 

Hi,

Nice.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

Okay, I'm going to let a rare ultra-bias stick out a little here, but if you
bought an Altima, you were virtually asking for trouble. No matter what
magazines like Consumer Reports says, the Altima keeps showing itself to be
one of the great lemons of all time.

And with all the good alternatives out there, including Hyundai, either the
Elantra or Sonata (if you were in an Altima, I'm not sure why your first
choice for Hyundai is the Elantra, but that's your business), I have seen
little reason to buy an Altima, and that is since the first one rolled out.

Hyundai/Kia has been making the transition from the timing belt to chain,
but don't know if it is quite complete yet. I believe, though, that the new
Elantra does have a chain. As for the transmission, almost every Hyundai
manual tranny owner on this site has reported good luck with them.

I'll let Mr. HyundaiTech or someone else explain that starter kill thing for
you.

Good luck. But please, don't let your children grow up to drive Altimas.

 

1. The 2.0 engine in the Elantra has a timing belt.
2. Once the car is locked with the remote, the starter won't operate
unless unlocked with the remote.
3. The clutch is labor intensive to replace. In my experience, replacing
the clutch at a dealer is only about $500 cheaper than replacing an
automatic transmission.
4. I'm not familiar with all the feature options. You should probably
ask your local dealer about the antenna.
5. I don't have a Hyundai, but part quality has greatly increased since
the days of poor reliability issues. On the other hand, there's been a
decrease in assembly quality.

 

I have 3 Hyundai's in my family. 2 of my kids drive 5-speed Eantras. They
love them and so do I. I have a 6 cylinder automatic Santa Fe. I will
probably buy another one when this one goes.

The only problem I have had so far is that the snobby Yuppies don't approve
of Hyundai's. It's not on their list of approved cars. If that doesn't
bother you, and I hope it doesn't, they are very good cars.

My Hyundai dealer provides the best service I have ever received, and I also
have 2 Honda's in my family.

Yes.......go for it, buy a Hyundai.

 

Advise not getting manual for Elantra, the gearing is such that high gear
on the highway is geared too low and the engine revs are high at speed
with associated noise. Automatic is fine. (they may have changed this for
'07 or '08's)

My '06 Elantra is very good so far, but looking at little things over the
months you can see where Hyundai cuts corners in assembly. Nothing bad,
but obviously not Toyota/Honda quality like my old Camry, Avalon, and
Accords. Kinda flimsy in lots of places.

But it never has given me any problems at all. So we bought my wife a
Tuscon, no problems after 5 months.

Lastly, gas mileage isn't going to be as good as a Toyota/Honda
equivalent. My mixed(mostly city) is 26 mpg, though pure highway is
around 40. Tuscon is 18ish in town, 25 on highway at best. I'm sure '08
models are better.

I'd buy another. -But- you do get what you pay for. Didn't pay more for
a Toyota etc., and saved money for gas, good warranty, but trade-in may
bite our butts.

 

The Elantra isn't as nice as an Avalon?....my, what a surprise. <grin>

I love my Sonata LX, have'nt noticed any cut corners in the 48 thousand
miles I driven it.Well equipped, fun to drive, and handsome.

It is the favorite car of my wife and kids too, and our other car is a
Volvo S60 T.

 

In the past, trade in for Hyundai has not been very good because of hte
reputation of the early models, Hopefully, that has changed. OTOH, some of
us keep cars for a long time and the difference between a Sonata and a Camry
will be one worth $100, the other worth $120.

 

comments

My 02 Sonata has been a good car with almost 70,00
miles on it. It has had one recurring problem though. The brak
rotors keep warping. The dealer turned the rotors 2 times an
replaced the rotors once. The car is still under bumper to bumpe
warranty but now the dealer will not do the repair under warranty.
am very disappointed with this decision and will most likely buy
Honda next time. Based on my experience Honda's are designed an
manufactured with better quality. And the Hyundai warranty is no
always honored

 

Everyone's opinion will be different, but I have the '07 Elantra with the 5
speed manual. Yeah, I wish they'd have given it an overdrive, but for what
it is, it is smooth and quiet at highway speeds, much quieter than the
competition I think.

A.

 

According to this, the 2006 had an overdrive 5th gear. I can't believe
that did away with that for the 2007 model.

http://www.hyundainews.com/Media_Kits/2006_Models/Elantra/Specifications.asp

Matt

 

From 07 Elantra Media kit
5-speed manual
Gear Ratios
First 3.31:1
Second 1.96:1
Third 1.26:1
Fourth 0.98:1
Fifth 0.78:1
Reverse 3.58:1
Final-drive 4.19:1

4-speed automatic
Gear Ratios
First 2.92:1
Second 1.55:1
Third 1.00:1
Fourth 0.71:1
Reverse 2.48:1
Final-drive 3.85:1

 

Dual overdrive gears!

Matt

 

Overdrive is a meaningless term today anyway. The final drive ratio is what
matters, and having enough engine torque to move the car at the desired
speed. .

 

Overdrive has the same meaning today as it has always had.

And the overall drive ratio has always been what has mattered.

Matt

 

In the dictionary, yes. As a means of being more economical or saving
engine wear, not necessarly.
Putting a .90 overdrive grear in a car then changing the rear from 3.08 to a
3.36 so it won't lug won't save you anything

Exactly. Which is more economical, a regular trans with a 1:1 high gear and
a 3.08 rear of a 4.56 with overdrive? Arguments can be made for both being
best for different reasons but a blanket statement that "overdrive is
better" is not correct. Engines have changed too, with differing power and
torque curves than the Blue Flame 6.

What gear is "best" varies depending on needs. I sometimes use a Chevy
Silverado with a 5 speed and we rarely put any weight in it. IMO, the
gearing sucks for our use, but is probably great for the guy that always
hauls 800+ pounds of material. Cruises at 70 at a fairly low RPM, but 90%
of its use is below 35 mph. At about 45, 4th is too low, 5th is too high.

 

Correct. Overdrive is anything over a nominal 1:1. Still a very meaningful
term today. As has always been the case, final drive ratio is the key, but
overdrive determines what that ratio translates to in mileage - and
performance.

 

Don't know - what is the overdrive ratio? You're leaving out pieces of the
equation Edwin.

Overdrive is overdrive Edwin. It's an overdrive for a given rear end ratio.
It's what takes you past 1:1. Overdrive is indeed better - when you're
talking the realm of overdrive, which is economy. Regardless of final
ration, overdrive is better.

Yeahbut, that has nothing to do with overdrive. That's just a matter of the
wrong vehicle.