Durability. Price. ALL the extras which are standard! Love the hatchback. The auto transmission is smooth. The cruising speed is delightful. (I made 5-6 runs from upstate Saratoga Springs to NYC at, ah, "high speed".)Runs like a top.

Only 2 negatives. (1) The rear antenna is fixed; should be telescopic. (2) Dealership rather curt and unaccommodating.

A sports accident in Australia left me with a fractured neck (c5/c6) and a quadriplegic for 5 weeks, a paraplegic for 9 months, and wheelchair-bound for 2 years (hedbringSCI.com). Luck, work, and time got me walking -- and to where I could drive again. Car choice was critical, given lingering handicaps (leg spasticity, weakness, fatigue, ad nauseum). With $25K to spend, I picked the Elantra GT ... and saved nearly $10K ! The GT survived a brutal 2003 January/February upstate winter wonderfully. The heater warms the cabin in 5 minutes (critical to my now-whacky body temp sensitivity). The defroster is perfect, traction fine in snow, and the A/C worked fine during our short 2003 summer. It is a GREAT car at a GREAT price. I am 6' 1" 180 lbs and I do not feel at all cramped.

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So much comes standard, add the GT package and you've got leather, (although it's kinda cheezy) nice moonroof, six speaker cd (sounds great), 4 wheel disc brakes and so many other features that would drive the price of the competiter's cars up into the 20K range. Very nice instrument panel, easy on the eyes at night with it's violet blue display. Great warranty and terrific salesman helped seal the deal.

Clutch could be designed better for women under 5'3. I have to push the seat too far forward to fully depress the clutch, seems I haven't found just the right placements for the seat. Really powers up at 3000 RPM or more, but would like to see more torque at lower levels so less shifting required.

I traded my 2000 Elantra Sport Wagon for this cool Cobolt Blue GT last month. I'll use any excuse to drive my new Elantra, need more stuff from 7-11? This car is a real kick to drive, and believe me, I'm 51 driving a 5 speed again and loving it! I haven't had such a fun ride since my 1977 TR7. Folks, the price is right, the car handles like a dream - you can't go wrong. Plus they moved the cups holders away from the ash tray this year, good move guys.

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Value/cost Comfortable Reliable Quiet ride; low engine noise

Handling not the best, but equals equilvalent products in market Clutch engagement has "choppy-feel"

I had no intention of ever buying a Hyundai product. Previously I owned a 1993 Acura Integra and a 1986 Honda Accord, both were excellent sporty-wehicles. However, I needed a small economical four-door family car. I would never say that my Elantra handles like a Honda product, but for the amount $$ I paid, it is the best value by far, since I plan to keep the ELantra for 100k miles. Currently, I have had no serious mechanical or electrical problems. I test-road comparable 2003 competitor products, by Mazda (protege) and Toyota (corolla) and found the Elantra was equal, if not better than both.

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Pretty quick Nice stock stereo Short throws for a stock shifter ICE COLD A/C (I live in El Paso) Good looks Lots of driving room (6'1")

Torque steer Could use limited slip diff.

I must say that I am very pleased with my car. This is my first car and i learned how to drive standard in it and the clutch is fine. The paint still looks good (champagne) although I'm going to paint it black and put a body kit. All in all great car.

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quick and looks great when it is clean.. ice cold a/c..

steering is awful. don't get water in your power locks!

I have had my elantra for a little over a year, and i really don't have any complaints. the only thing i really hate is automatic locks. they lock as soon as you start your car. i lock my keys in my car all of the time.. The radio is very weak, and i cannot seem to get it out to hook up a cd changer. the steering is terrible, and it has a squeeky clutch.also has a very bumpy ride. for what i paid, i am very satisfied. don't crack your window if it is raining. the water really screws up your power locks.. they will buzz very loudly.

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Price, comfort.

Paint chipping and radio quit working just after warranty expired. Expected better milage out of the 4 cyl engine.

I have had this car for about 2-1/2 years now. I have to say I am a bit disappointed with this car. This is my first new car, and expected more. The car comes with a 60,000 b2b warranty, and a 100,000 powertrain warranty. EXCEPT for the fact the the paint has a warranty of 36,000 miles and of course, paint started chipping off the car at 37,000. The paint on the front of the driver side mirror is completly gone. Also there are large quarter sized chips peeling from the front bumper and fenders. Also the radio fall under the 36,000 mile "fine print" warranty, and has quit receiving AM stations. The car in general rides a little rough, since the day I got it. Also have had to take it in to the dealer about once every 3 months for minor repair, which were thankfully under warranty.

Reliable, awesome warranty, CUTE :-) GREAT on gas, modestly priced! 24 hour road side assistace! Need I say mpre?!

Stock radio was weak, but once I added some spice to it, was GREAT!

I bought my Hundai 3yrs Oct. I have since sold it to my mother. BUT... I have to say I loved it! I only had minor problems with it. I had 49 thousand miles on it, when I got rid of it.And it still drove like the 1st day I bought it. I can NOT think of any complaints! If you take care, and keep up with all the scheduled tune ups and such, the car shouldnt disappoint you!

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Cant really compare this to anything else I have owned.My 1st car was an 84 Saab. Which was 16yrs old when I got it.. My Hyundai could definetly go up against most cars on the road!

Handles corners well, comfortable ride, good gas milage with excellent air conditioning/heating unit.

Trunk a little small compared to Toyota Echo. Rain water drains to bottom ledge of back doors until opened.

Purchased this car because I had a 1993 Sonata and never had a problem with it. Liked the warranty, and feel car is very comfortable. Back seat has plenty of room for kids and car seats. Radio quality could be better, but had a panason1ic in my old car with CD player. For the price good car, handles corners like V6 engine. Miss the luxary of my 1st car, Elantra is more compact but just as nice.

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Good performance, Well equiped. Good value

Dealership service (Stevens Creek Hyundai). Build quality needs to be improved.

Performance is good, although below 3000 rpm there is a little engine hesitation. Well equiped and great value. Build quality needs to improve. Paint is not the best, some interior rattles, warbling noise from engine when hot, lifter noise when cold. Brakes sound like they stick if you reduce the breaking pressure just before you stop. Black tape lifting off on door frame. Intermittent squeak from clutch pedal. Problems with a car are acceptable to a degree, but they should be fixed if under warranty. This is where my dealer sucks big time. The car has been in for problems to be fixed, but they could either not repeat the problem, fixed it poorly (tape) or after telling me they would fix it 3 times (engine noise), told me it was normal. The dealer was good at sales, but is rubbish for repair and expensive for service. I am waiting for a reply from Hyundai USA about my problems, especially involving one where the dealer overfilled the engine with oil, drained it at my request and then did not tighten the drain plug correctly. On the highway, there was a loud bang and all the oil was gone. Hyundai needs to improve aftersales care through their dealers from what I have read and experienced.

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It handles nice around corners, and bumps.

Inconvenience of bringing back to the dealer to keep checking for problems.

Ahh yes, the Hyundai product. I purchased the elantra, and had it not even a week and already having problems with it. I took it on a trip, and the front end is in need of an alignment, the front brakes are squeeling, and i am getting a rotten egg smell underneath the car. What a start already. Dealers sell you on the warranty with the 10 year/100,000 mile waranty. I say look around first before you get sold on the warranty, with all my problems with my car, i should have known better from other people telling me not to buy a foreign car.