Doubled down on Hyundai, wifey got an Elantra

[Mazda 3s]

Her Civic EX was 8 years old, 100,000 miles. We pretty much never took it on trips because it was loud as hell on the highway (buzzy engine) and there was tons of wind/road noise.

And since I got a new car two years ago, I found kind of bad about her driving around in that old thing. But since her student loans will be paid off in December, and that would leave us with $400/month to play with, we decided to take the plunge. And we'll still have over $100/month left (after the car payment) to go into savings.

2013 Elantra Limited (didn't splurge for the tech package). Invoice was $21,215 and we got it for $21,600 including TTL/processing fee bla bla. Pretty good car for the money (leather, heated front AND rear seats, Bluetooth, moonroof, 17" alloys, fogs, etc).

Wifey loves it, so I'm happy

[03GTI4Me]

F'king beige...

Elantra is a decent commuter though. I had a couple as rentals and always liked the design and function of the interior. I dont remember anything about the driving experience though.

[Mazda 3s]

F'king beige...

Elantra is a decent commuter though. I had a couple as rentals and always liked the design and function of the interior. I dont remember anything about the driving experience though.

She's doesn't like black or blue. My car is red, and her previous car was silver. She loves brown and this is a nice bronze color.

[WhistlerYOW]

These cars are pretty much replacing the Honda Civic around here for the previous Civic type buyer (young, single, recent grad, first new car, non-enthusiast). Nice car, I'm trying my best not to buy one (coupe/GT) right now, but they make a ton of sense so it might be hard.

[Saintor]

Her Civic EX was 8 years old, 100,000 miles. We pretty much never took it on trips because it was loud as hell on the highway (buzzy engine) and there was tons of wind/road noise.

Well, despite I see many reasons to get an Elantra - it is nicer overall, I don't think that ride quality/noise should be a reason.

6/10 for NVH and handling is bad
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...al-results.pdf

[brakedust]

[Petercar redo]

Wish my car only had 100000 miles on it. Nice new car though.

[Mazda 3s]

Well, despite I see many reasons to get an Elantra - it is nicer overall, I don't think that ride quality/noise should be a reason.

6/10 for NVH is bad
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...al-results.pdf

To tell you the truth, don't really care what C&D says on that one. The Elantra might as well be a coffin compared to her Civic with regards to noise levels. Ride is also better as well, not to mention the transmission shift points under acceleration are smooth as silk compared to the jarring shifts in her old four-speed auto.

In the end, all that matters is that she loves it and everything about it.

[what]

to Korean currency manipulation and protectionism!

[roadtripper]

we're on our sixth new one. (my first car was a 1988 4 door excel my grandmom gave me after my aunt moved away -- sweet! traded it for my first vanagon straight up! even sweeter!!) i honestly thought we'd both end up with one this time. they're really solid right now. (i went passat.)

we are scheduled on monday morning to have our entourage in for our first ever hyundai warranty-for-failure situation (steering rack bad at 38K miles). hopefully they have a loaner. we never had a single issue whatsoever with our elantras, santa fe, etc. a real american success story.

[DrewSXR]

Congrats man, I like the color too.

I actually think it is the best looking in it's class, as long as it has those wheels you got.

Good looking cars on the road. As long as she is happy, and that makes your life happy, it's all good man.

Best looking product that Hyundai currently makes IMO.

[delrio]

Posted pics of her and no post about her yet......surprised @ TCL

[Robski92]

Posted pics of her and no post about her yet......surprised @ TCL

Ok I'll do it.

We gonna need some more pics of wife op.

Satisfied?

[adrew]

It's crazy to me the kind of prices Hyundai is commanding these days. Our '07 Sonata with the premium package (auto headlights, power seat, leather steering wheel/shifter, trip computer, blah blah) cost $16,100 in July 2007.

[delrio]

Ok I'll do it.

We gonna need some more pics of wife op.

Satisfied?

A little late but I will take it

in4morepics

[2.0TJett]

Really a Hyundai? Wow next time don't go car shopping on crack!

EPIC FAIL

[Boogety Boogety]

I've driven four or five Elantras this year as rentals, and have always been impressed with them. There's nothing wrong with them as commuter cars, and lots to like. They present many compelling arguments for ownership...

My friends at Ford Corporate were telling me as far back as ten-twelve years ago the only manufacturer that kept them awake at night was Hyundai, since even back then, they hoped they wouldn't find a foothold in the USA, as it would present a serious challenge to their small car segments. Seeing the progress they've made in our marketplace since the turn of the century, I can see they were right to worry...

[bustedbucket]

Really a Hyundai? Wow next time don't go car shopping on crack!

EPIC FAIL

Really a 2.0TJett? Wow next time don't go making babies on crack! EPIC FAIL

[BLK9GEN]

Nice choice, but I would have got the GT. More cargo space, better steering, and higher quality interior overall.

[delrio]

just noticed the headlight makes up half of the fender....wtf

[2.0TJett]

Really a 2.0TJett? Wow next time don't go making babies on crack! EPIC FAIL

HYUNDAI
Hope You Understand Nothing's Driveable And Inexpensive


EPIC FAIL >

[BLK9GEN]

HYUNDAI
Hope You Understand Nothing's Driveable And Inexpensive


EPIC FAIL >

Such clever acronyms. Really, troll harder.

[Aguilar]

Nice choice, but I would have got the GT. More cargo space, better steering, and higher quality interior overall.

My wife was very close to pulling the trigger on a Elantra GT. However, the car felt under-powered, which according to the reviews, it's the transmission that's at fault with the lazy gearing (we're also at 4000 ft above sea level). There's also that the dealership did not want to deal and bring it to $21k otd. She went with the Sonic and loves everything about it, specially the power from the small 1.4t. It was $3k cheaper out the door than what we offered for the Elantra.

[BLK9GEN]

My wife was very close to pulling the trigger on a Elantra GT. However, the car felt under-powered, which according to the reviews, it's the transmission that's at fault with the lazy gearing (we're also at 4000 ft above sea level). There's also that the dealership did not want to deal and bring it to $21k otd. She went with the Sonic and loves everything about it, specially the power from the small 1.4t. It was $3k cheaper out the door than what we offered for the Elantra.

I completely agree on the lack of accelerative performance. Thankfully the 1.6T is on the way.

I too have recently looked at the Sonic, but was turned off by the plastic fantastic interior. Many of the surfaces are constructed of hard and hollow, and in at least a couple places creeky plastic trim (center stack near the AC vents, door panels). Dollar for dollar I thought the Spark interior was more impressive. Just my $0.02. I hope it treats her well. If GM gave it an interior more akin to the Cruze I wouldn't mind owning a RS model.

[WhistlerYOW]

I completely agree on the lack of accelerative performance. Thankfully the 1.6T is on the way.

I too have recently looked at the Sonic, but was turned off by the plastic fantastic interior. Many of the surfaces are constructed of hard and hollow, and in at least a couple places creeky plastic trim (center stack near the AC vents, door panels). Dollar for dollar I thought the Spark interior was more impressive. Just my $0.02. I hope it treats her well. If GM gave it an interior more akin to the Cruze I wouldn't mind owning a RS model.

Why does everyone give so much credit to the Cruzes interior? I have been trying so damn hard to like it but it is not very good. The steering wheel, stereo and AC buttons, AC vents, and shifter particularly have a real cheap feel.

The shift lever on the auto feels exactly the same as the shift lever from the last Aveo and even has the same fake aluminum plastic (hopefully they've improved it from the Aveos where it wore off to its white plastic in about a year).

[cougar]

Wifey loves it, so I'm happy

The only part of the post that truly matters .

[2.0TJett]

Such clever acronyms. Really, troll harder.

http://www.hyundaiforum.com/< Just thought i'd help you here!

[above8k]

Congratz.

But H&K are still polished turds.

[BLK9GEN]

Why does everyone give so much credit to the Cruzes interior? I have been trying so damn hard to like it but it is not very good. The steering wheel, stereo and AC buttons, AC vents, and shifter particularly have a real cheap feel.

The shift lever on the auto feels exactly the same as the shift lever from the last Aveo and even has the same fake aluminum plastic (hopefully they've improved it from the Aveos where it wore off to its white plastic in about a year).

No interior at the Cruze's price point is above reproach, but overall it exceeds class averages. The dash plastics are low sheen, nicely grained and soft where you expect. The fabrics/leathers feel high quality. And the doors close with a nice solid thud not commonly found in cars below $30k.

BACK ON TOPIC:

I look forward to hearing more about the car as the miles rack up. As a prior owner of that generation Civic, the Elantra is a HUGE step up in terms of tech and refinement. My 2002 EX Coupe was mechanically reliable but ridiculously loud under acceleration or on the highway. It also would vibrate quite badly at idle with the AC on and had an irritating rattle somewhere in the back parcel shelf that the dealer never did fix.

[Aguilar]

I too have recently looked at the Sonic, but was turned off by the plastic fantastic interior.

Agreed. I guess we don't care much for the interior... the Sonic is a clear improvement over the Corvette interior, haha.

Hyundai cars are really well equipped for the money, no doubt about it. We really wanted a Golf, but the 2.5L's fuel efficiency and premium pricing really kills the deal.

OP, the car looks great and you got a great deal. I'm sure you guys will enjoy it.

[WhistlerYOW]

No interior at the Cruze's price point is above reproach, but overall it exceeds class averages. The dash plastics are low sheen, nicely grained and soft where you expect. The fabrics/leathers feel high quality. And the doors close with a nice solid thud not commonly found in cars below $30k.

The doors close nice and the fabric is nice but every thing else is not that good.

I mean its not bad but it is worse than the Elantra, Focus, VW Golf, Dart, Impreza, and those are just the ones I checked out the last two weeks since I am in the market for this class of car. The Verano sitting next to the Cruze was like a massive step above it (considering the Verano is cheaper than a Cruze LTZ).

And the Cruze is now in the premium compact price category.

Also I checked out the forums on Cruze talk and there are tons of reliability issues with the car, enough to make me run away even though I like GMs and they have some killer pricing. I know forums aren't a scientific measure but I do it for every car I consider.

[2.0_Mazda]

Really nice car. I've always had a sweat spot for these cars. Also starting to like all Hyundai's in general.

Without getting too much off topic, how's the Sonata holding up after 2 years?

[choochoo]

congrats on the new car. About time to change your username huh?

[uncleho]

Congrats. Gotsta keep the lady happy.

I do like the Hyundai transmission in the Elantra. And I think the Elantra is one of the nicer profile and proportions in the compact class.

I remember tolerating my 91 Si's 4k roar at 80mph... for about 12 years and 200k+ miles, because it drove like a gokart.

[cougar]

I have no self-esteem and feel obligated to bash your recent purchase for no reason.

Totally fixed it.