Hyundai Elantra!

2o6 · November 15, 2010, 01:13:54 PM

My new favorite sedan. Awesome specs, awesome looks. Hopefully decent dynamics, though, the current Elantra is a snooze to drive.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/15/2011-hyundai-elantra-revealed/

I thought they would put in the 1.6GDI as in other markets for better economy without any power loss, but this isn't the case.

The Pirate · November 15, 2010, 01:24:01 PM

I really don't like the scrunched front end that seems to be prevalent on FWD cars these days. The A pillar base being on top of the wheels with no hood just looks like ass to me, and make it harder to do even minor jobs on the car. Ever change the headlight bulb on current gen Honda Civic? It involves pulling the wheel off and reaching in that way.

I know why it's done, but I can't stand it. Going to have to start going older on my daily drivers...

CJ · November 15, 2010, 01:56:44 PM

Kevin, have you ever driven a current Elantra? We have one as a rental car right now and it's really not that bad to drive. It's nimble and peppy, as well as spacious. It's not a bad car at all.

the Teuton · November 15, 2010, 02:39:47 PM

It's boring as hell to drive. It's nice and quiet, but boring as hell. And the armrests are atrocious.

CJ · November 15, 2010, 02:54:49 PM

I didn't find it that boring, truth be told. More exciting than my dad's Camry, that's for sure. The armrest wasn't as bad as you'd made it out to be.

Vinsanity · November 15, 2010, 04:10:34 PM

I agree with Teuts. It's well-built, comfortable, and somewhat pleasant as a commuter, but it's so boring that it makes the last-gen Corolla feel sporty.

My biggest gripe is the electric steering. No feedback whatsover. And no indication of whether you are beyond the car's limit of adhesion until you are plowing towards the guard rail.

Vinsanity · November 15, 2010, 04:18:18 PM

As for this new one, it does look quite pretty, but I'm hoping for an extra dose of excitement here. Hyundai's been designating "SE" trims for cars with a firmer suspension, so hopefully there's a Mazda 3 fighter somewhere here. And heck, throw in the Sonata's 2.4 motor, and you have a GTI/Civic Si fighter on a budget.

SVT666 · November 15, 2010, 04:57:48 PM

That actually looks pretty good. Too bad about the center stack though.

MX793 · November 15, 2010, 05:42:23 PM

I think this design language works better on a smaller car than the larger Sonata. Not that the Sonata is necessarily unattractive, but this is, IMO, pretty sharp looking.

thewizard16 · November 15, 2010, 05:49:45 PM

That's a very happy looking car (albeit a bit strange) and the interior appears pretty nice... But for the love of all that is holy, why did they put the center vents in such a strange location and make the center stack melt around them?

2o6 · November 15, 2010, 08:53:49 PM

Quote from: CJ on November 15, 2010, 01:56:44 PM
Kevin, have you ever driven a current Elantra? We have one as a rental car right now and it's really not that bad to drive. It's nimble and peppy, as well as spacious. It's not a bad car at all.

Almost, but salesman said since I only have liability insurance, I can't test drive any of their cars.

CJ · November 15, 2010, 09:51:03 PM

Quote from: 2o6 on November 15, 2010, 08:53:49 PM

Almost, but salesman said since I only have liability insurance, I can't test drive any of their cars.

That's total bullshit.

2o6 · November 15, 2010, 10:21:09 PM

Quote from: CJ on November 15, 2010, 09:51:03 PM
That's total bullshit.

Which is why I walked out.

the Teuton · November 15, 2010, 10:24:09 PM

I will go into a dealership with a wad of $100 bills this weekend in my hand, ask to drive a WRX, and get permission with just liability insurance...

...I wish I had the time to try it, but I bet I could.

2o6 · November 15, 2010, 10:24:48 PM

Quote from: the Teuton on November 15, 2010, 10:24:09 PM
I will go into a dealership with a wad of $100 bills this weekend in my hand, ask to drive a WRX, and get permission with just liability insurance...

...I wish I had the time to try it, but I bet I could.

It's easy to drive cars. Express interest.

the Teuton · November 15, 2010, 10:32:22 PM

Quote from: 2o6 on November 15, 2010, 10:24:48 PM

It's easy to drive cars. Express interest.

...with liability insurance? You've seemed to have had good luck so far with the exception of Hyundai.

2o6 · November 15, 2010, 10:36:50 PM

Quote from: the Teuton on November 15, 2010, 10:32:22 PM
...with liability insurance? You've seemed to have had good luck so far with the exception of Hyundai.

They don't check, and insisting on it is rude. It could cost them a sale. Driving cars is not hard, I don't know why you're making it seem as if it's so hard. Cars are products, and salesman are salesmen, so they want to get you into a sale any way they can.

And it was only THAT Hyundai dealer.

the Teuton · November 15, 2010, 10:44:14 PM

Quote from: 2o6 on November 15, 2010, 10:36:50 PM

They don't check, and insisting on it is rude. It could cost them a sale. Driving cars is not hard, I don't know why you're making it seem as if it's so hard. Cars are products, and salesman are salesmen, so they want to get you into a sale any way they can.

And it was only THAT Hyundai dealer.

I was only going off your statements...

ifcar · November 16, 2010, 05:39:28 AM

Quote from: 2o6 on November 15, 2010, 10:36:50 PM

It could cost them a sale.

But it didn't.

Any dealer that lets a non-customer drive is doing them a favor; it's not something you have the right to expect of them.

2o6 · November 16, 2010, 07:08:53 AM

Quote from: ifcar on November 16, 2010, 05:39:28 AM
But it didn't.

Any dealer that lets a non-customer drive is doing them a favor; it's not something you have the right to expect of them.

True, but they don't know that. When I come in, I act as if I were to buy the car.

ifcar · November 16, 2010, 07:56:33 AM

Quote from: 2o6 on November 16, 2010, 07:08:53 AM
True, but they don't know that. When I come in, I act as if I were to buy the car.

"Those people are jerks because they saw through my lie." Wrong attitude.

2o6 · November 16, 2010, 08:08:43 AM

Quote from: ifcar on November 16, 2010, 07:56:33 AM
"Those people are jerks because they saw through my lie." Wrong attitude.

No..... that particular dealer does that for EVERY customer.

I didn't see a single demo car on the lot.....they'll happily show you cars in the showroom, but actually driving ones is a different story; nearly none of them wanted to go out back and hunt for a manual transmission Hyundai.

Colonel Cadillac · November 16, 2010, 10:22:57 AM

I rented an Elantra (I think it was an Elantra, whatever the cheapest model is) and it was slow of course, but fine around town. Oh the highway it would not drive in a straight line at all. 85 MPH actually felt like 85 MPH. I didn't venture above that (but also cuz there were people in my car).

sportyaccordy · November 16, 2010, 10:48:33 AM

Curious about this. Looks good outside; not crazy about Hyundai's "funhouse of mirrors" interior stylings though.

Hopefully they do a 1.8T or something here too, along with legit support mods (stiffer springs/dampers/rollbars, LSD).

Vinsanity · November 16, 2010, 10:52:22 AM

the cheapest model would be the Accent.

Colonel Cadillac · November 16, 2010, 11:02:26 AM

Quote from: Vinsanity on November 16, 2010, 10:52:22 AM
the cheapest model would be the Accent.

Ahh, that's what it was. I guess that shows how much I care about shit cars.

CALL_911 · November 16, 2010, 12:06:35 PM

Quote from: Colonel Cadillac on November 16, 2010, 11:02:26 AM

Ahh, that's what it was. I guess that shows how much I care about shit cars.

We can't all be rolling around in cars like yours. If we could, no one would care about "shit cars."

sportyaccordy · November 16, 2010, 12:07:36 PM

Quote from: CALL_911 on November 16, 2010, 12:06:35 PM
We can't all be rolling around in cars like yours. If we could, no one would care about "shit cars."

Vinsanity · November 16, 2010, 12:11:34 PM

Quote from: Vinsanity on November 16, 2010, 10:52:22 AM
the cheapest model would be the Accent.

damn, I wasted my 6,000th post on that

Cookie Monster · November 16, 2010, 12:24:27 PM

I really like how that looks.

Hyundai Elantra!

sportyaccordy

sportyaccordy