Thinking of a Hyundai

I was looking for a used Corolla when someone suggested a Hyundai instead.

What do they have in a used car, around a 2000 model, that has the same
kind of leg room as a Corolla ( as much as possible ) , auto and AC, gets
35-40 REAL LIFE MPG, and isnt too low to the ground for us older folks?

 

Well, a Corolla won't get 35-40 MPG either unless you drive 50 MPH on
level interstates all of the time. The Elantra is probably the closest
to the Corolla, but the Accent may not be too bad either.

Matt

 

Ok. Are the older used ones as reliable as Corollas?

 

There are none. Nor are there any Corollas getting real life 40 mpg. The
only car I've driven with 42 mpg was a Smart ForFour and they are not sold
in the US.

Elantra would be the model of interest to you. They have proven to be
pretty decent cars. The Accent is smaller, but I think it may be too small
and it may be hard to find with Auto and AC in the older models.

 

Hyundai has dramatically improved quality in the last five years, but a 2000
model is now 9 years old.

 

I'd recommend a 2001 or newer Elantra if you're interested in
reliability. That year began a new model and was another notch up in
terms of quality.

I'm still not convinced Hyundai can hold its own with Toyota on long-
term reliability. The most recent improvements haven't had time to be
old enough to draw a conclusion.

 

I don't have personal experience with the Accent or Elantra. I have a
2006 Sonata that has been extremely reliable. It has some annoying
design issues, but everything works today (45,000 miles) as it did the
say I bought in three years ago.

Hopefully, others here can share some first-hand Elantra or Accent
experiences. I doubt either of the Hyundai's will match the Corolla for
reliability, but they also won't even close to match the Corolla's cost.

Matt

 

Sarah I would say no, 4 cylinder Hyundai's back then I believe were famous
for chewing up timing belts and if it is a interference type of engine and
the belt breaks it will most likely bend some valves requiring the head to
be rebuilt or replaced. Meaning the car would not be worth repairing. I put
25,000 mi. yr. on my car that's why I got a Sentra because it does not have
a timing belt! My wife has a 2004 Santa Fe and I wished we could have waited
until Hyundai started putting timing chains in them. 2006 ?

 

I beleive that the Smart cars are being sold in the U.S. I have
seen a few on the streets including one just today.

Old_Timer

 

My daughte has a 2000 Elantra that she is still driving and is still
happy with the car. She just recenlly told me that a new car is not
even on the horizon at this time. The only work the has been reuired
on the car in those 9 years are oil chnages, new tires, new battery,
new belts, new wipers blades, all the usual things must expect.

Her Elantra still looks shinly and clean as well.

Old_Timer

 

Yes some models are, but the ForFour is not. In Europe you can also get the
Mercedes emblem version if you want a bit more upscale model.

 

The engines that famously chewed timing belts are:
1.6, 1.8 -- 1992-1995 Elantra
2.0 -- 1992-1998 Sonata
2.4 -- 1999-2005 Sonata.

1996 and newer Elantras should have no timing belt issues if the belt
is changed anywhere near the service interval (4 years/60k miles).

 

Personally I would go for 2002 or later Elantra

Earlier ElantraÅ› did have some issues
Later ones appeared to go up SEVERAL notches in quality and reliability

Then again nothing wrong with the Toyota product either but it is going
to be dearer to buy and to run/repair .

We have both in our fleets and to be honest the Hyundais have proven
bullet proof -as have the little toyotaÅ› here in Australia

where the conditions are MUCH harsher
HTH

 

Hi Sarah,I bought a 2000 accent for my GF when her Mazda blew a head
gasket several years ago.I didn't have time to read consumer reports
that said the 2000 was not a good buy.I did a www.autobrag.com search
several days ago and found 3 dealers willing to take my $8000 offer for
a base 3dr 2009 accent.I never figured they would go that low.Don't know
how much you have to spend but if you look for new and decide on
different model you can try the above site in your area.

 

I have a 2003 Elantra with 80k+ miles and have had zero problems - just
regular maintenance costs. Best gas mileage is about 34 mpg and that's with
the five speed manual stick (automatic might be a little less). After six
years the body/paint has held up really well too. Instead of thinking about
a "2000 model" why not think in terms of finding the newest model you can
afford? My new Elantra only cost $13k. My wife has a 2001 Corolla and the
leg room is comparable to the Elantra.

 

Kind of makes you want to quit driving except for emergengies when one gets
close to the timing belt required change. Mine is a 2002 XG350 and for the
first 5 years it was a perfect car except for gas milage. (about 18 in town
and 25-28 0n the highway) at 2,000 rpm it runs just about 60 mph and my
wife's Buick Lucerne gets 22 in town and 30 on the hwy. At 2,000 rpm her's
cruises at about 70. I have a friend that has a Toyota Corolla and his
doesn't get that so I think the other posters are shooting you the right
info. My next new one is gonna be a Chevrolet volt (if GM don't go out of
business in the interim.)then we can tell the folks in the middle east to
kiss our keesters. If I was gonna get one that old I'd stay with the Toyota
or a Nissan.

 

I have a 2K Accent GS 5 speed with 120,000 miles
planning to take this car in the 1st week of March
to change out the timing belt. I bought this car new
and had very few problems over the years.

Tom Welch in Mesa, AZ USA

 

Is this the second timing belt to be changed?
Or the original?

My 2001 Elantra has now reeached the 60K mile, though the manual says it
can go for 100k in California, I am inclined to swap it out now.

 

I have a 2K Accent GS 5 speed with 120,000 miles

More precisely I believe the manual implies that the timing belt will be
covered by the 100k/10 year warranty (in California) should it break.
Whether it can go for 100k is another matter

 

Is this the second timing belt to be changed?
The original timing belt was changed @ 61K.

Tom Welch in Mesa, AZ