Well-equipped, low price, practical

Questionable reliability & workmanship, poor brakes

Went to test drive an Elantra GT automatic. Car door closes with a loud bang (on the inside), even if I closed the door gently. After I had started the engine, the Oil and Engine lights would not go off. I could not depress the brake pedal and shift to Drive. So I turned off the engine and restarted it, and finally I was able to get the car moving. Car ran OK, but it felt sluggish until the engine hits higher rpms, and then it accelerates well. Brakes were a little weak, and made a loud crunching noise when the pedal is you depressed almost all the way. The salesman said he'd never heard of that problem. The manager said that was not normal, that the car just needed to be prepped. Well, guess what? The salesman just told me earlier that the car had been prepped and was ready for delivery, but the buyer cancelled. I guess he/she found the same problems I did. And the radio knob was missing. Some people love this car, and others people have found serious problems with it. I think the quality is probably very inconsistent from car to car, so if you decide to buy this car, be sure to thoroughly check out the car you're getting before you take delivery. The warranty is not really a selling point for me; what if you had to take the car in for service every other day? So I'll look for my new car elsewhere.

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VW Jetta, Mazda Protege5, Honda Civic

Handling, Pickup, Comfort, Noise level, Mileage, and Features.

Defective paint and Hyundai's unresponsive attitude to complaints.

I bought my 2002 Elantra a few months ago and was initially very pleased with its preformance. However, now a problem has developed with the paint that is causing me to regret my purchase. In six or seven spots the paint is beginning to blister down to the primer, a problem which the dealership has chosen to blame on bird droppings and refuses to fix. I used to detail cars to earn extra cash when I was in college and I have to say that I have never seen a car with such a fragile paint job. My Elantra has been washed at least once a week since I bought it and I have already treated it to a hand waxing, so its not an issue of neglect. Hyundai America's stance is that they will back whatever the dealer says. I n all the 2002 Elantra is a good car; it handles well, its comfortable to ride in, it gets excellent gas mileage, and it hasnt had a single mechanicel problem yet. So I would say buy one as long as you dont mind it looking two years old two months after you take it home.

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Honda, Nissan, and Ford cars of similar make and model.

All the storage areas. Warranty. Child Safety

Brakes aren't really good. Sounds like they are rubbing the rotors when I go down a steep hill. Gas mileage.

I feel that you get what you pay for. Well, with this car, I feel that I got more than what I paid for it.

Value, options, power, handeling, $500 worth of tires are standard

I bought by new Elantra GLS with some reservations. I had been pricing one and two year old honda accords, the price for the used accords was higher then the new Elantra. I had read many reviews on the Elantra and they finally swayed me into the dealership after reviewing the fine print in the warranty. I test drove the car twice. I was and still am impressed with the power the car has for a 4 cyl. It handles very well and the ride is much more comfortable then I had expected. I added A/T, the keyless entry, alarm, CD, and wood grain trim ( this does much to improve the interior looks), and a few other options. After a bit of haggling I was happy with the $11,600 price tag. I have about 2800 miles on the car now and there is not one rattle. It has out performed the handeling and braking of my Ford Probe in emergency traffic manuvers and gets 33 mpg hwy and 24 city. It has been comfortable and quiet the one long hwy trip I have used it for. The cabin space is well set up for four. I am over 6 foot and have no problems riding in front or back. The only small problem I have had that keeps this car from being perfect is a front brake noise.

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Very responsive, steering excellent, cold A/C, styling nice, lumbar support good.

brakes could be a little better, stereo also

Walked into dealeship and said this is my price this is what I want, ready to but right now. They couldn't do it, but on the way out the door I was asked to come back. #0 minutes later I was signing on the line. We have only 5500 miles on the car, but we are extremely pleased with it. Purchased the GLS model. The wood grain option on the inside was well worth it. One gets the feeling he/she is driving a much more expensive car and looks so much better than plastic. No disappointments, so much value for the money. Lot's of neat things in addition to cruise, pwr windows and locks. Looked at Toyota Corrolla and Saturns, and no comparison value-wise with options and warranty. Ride is pretty quiet, automatic transmission smooth, power sufficiant, handling excellent. Can't say enough about the overall value. Safety rating excellent!

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Toyota Corrolla, Saturn LS.

Power, ride, handling, price, standard features, value.

Interior fabric design is weird. I don't like the styling as much as the 1999. Stereo could be better.

We purchased a 1999 Hyundai Elantra three years ago for 11,350. We now have 73,000 miles on the car and have only had to have it into the dealer for a broken interior door handle at 56,000 miles which was covered under warranty. We just purchased a new 2002 Elantra yesterday. I looked at and drove mazda protege, honda civic, toyota corolla, ford focus and taurus. I also drove a Hyundai Sonata and loved it. I considered buying the taurus or Sonata but just couldn't see spending several thousand dollars more even though we could afford. The Elantra has to be the best value out there. We payed under 11,000 with 5 speed transmission, keyless entry, cruise control, stereo, power windows, power door locks and mirrors, heated exterior mirrors, side air bags, and alarm system. The power is smooth and refined. Improvements over the 1999 Elantra include keyless entry with alarm (cool), engine smoother and seems to deliver power with less effort, more room, power everything, paint job appears higher quality than 1999 model. If the Honda Civic was the same price I still would have purchased the Elantra. I believe it's just a better all around car.

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Great looking

Sucks on fuel

Sucks on fuel. Great looking

The car is light enough that I usually can push it when it start acting up

Reliablity, dealer service, avaiablity of parts.

More problems with this car than the other three cars that I own. Just hope it runs long enough to get home from the dealer and back. Warranty work is a joke and never finished the first time.

I love the way this car handles, I like the pickup and I think the gas milage is pretty decent. We have put more than 48,000 miles on this car and this is the first major problem we have had.

With two adults and a car seat in the back, it makes a really tight squeeze. I really don't like the position of the drink holders unless I am the only one in the car! The dashboard rattles and the noise inside the cab while driving on the highway gets annoying sometimes. Have had persistant trouble with the brakes making noise on and off even with new shoes.The seats can be uncomfortable on really long trips.

I really love my Hyundai. We have had it for more than 3 years now and have had a wonderful time driving it. We bought this car because of the warranty, because of the listed milage an because of the roominess of the cab. My son is up to 6 feet now and can still sit comfortably in the back seat (but much prefers to drive!) The trunk is somewhat roomy and the heat, air, and radio all kick! Unfortunately, it is currently in the shop with a warped head. Don't know if this is a product defect or because our dealer didn't check it out properly when we brought it in earlier in that week. I had heard the engine knocking rather loudly and immediately stopped and checked the oil level. It barely registered in the dip stick. When I took it into the dealer, they told me that the oil light would not come on unless the car was completely out of oil!! After assuring me that my car was fine and the oil level was fine, I left the dealer. 4 days later I was sitting on the side of the highway with 3 kids waiting for a tow!! The dealer is doing all the repairs under warranty work and gave me a nice little stratus 4-speed as a loaner.

Warranty,price,standard equip.

Needs abetter stereo

I first looked at this car because of its price and warranty.When I drove it I could not belive how well it handled and all of the standard equip. that comes on this car.If you are considering a new car give this one a try.

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