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Honda Civic vs. Hyundai Elantra

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What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Sedan

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#11 of 1637 Good rip boltguy! by bluffhouse Mar 11, 2000 (3:14 am)
This topic sounds a lot like the Leganza topics. A lot of satisfied owners, and a doom and gloom Honda sales person or two. From what I can see, the Elantra is a cute little car. I can't speak for it's quality since I've never driven nor owned one, but if my Leganza's quality is any representation of Hyundai's, I'd say go for it. I can't see spending thousands more for a Civic and get a less fortified car. As a rebutal about the best warranty is one you never have to use, I think a warranty you have to use when needed is better than a warranty you don't have when you need one. If Hondas were that fool proof, what possible loss could Honda encounter offering a 200,000 mi warranty? What a concept, I don't think a 200,000 mi warranty is covering up for, nor indicating any weaknesses, do you?
#12 of 1637 . by scape2 Mar 11, 2000 (4:19 am)
The fact is Hyundia/Kia/Daewoo have had record sales in the last 2 years with no end in sight. Fact is their quality/reliablity/customer satisfaction has skyrocketed. FAct is they sell these cars for thousands and thousands less than a comparably equipped Honda/Toyota. Seems like the Japanese have had their sights set on over taking Ford/GM/Dodge and forgot to look back once in a while, if they had they would have seen a screaming Korean auto industry on on their tail. Man, I wish I would have kept that data showing and supporting my attitude change for Korean vehicles. Granted I don't own one, but now they are on my future list to look at as an option.
#13 of 1637 Should I buy another Hyundai? by dawinner Mar 11, 2000 (5:12 pm)
I was coming home last night from work and the engine siezed on my '92 Hyundai Excel. Funny, as I have been bragging lately that for such a "crappy" car, it has actually been quite good to me for almost 8 years. It has had its share of problems, but mostly cosmetic and annoying (the glove box latch broke after 2 years, the dimmer switch fell out shortly after, the overhead light never worked right, the gauges could never be trusted - and after 5 years, the odometer/speedometer died - I think I had almost 120k on it before the engine died last night. But overall, no major problems. The only money I ever put into was for normal stuff - tires, brakes, oil, etc. But I bought it right out of college because it was all I could afford at the time. I was never truly enamoured of it, but it got me from point A to point B ok. My wife hated it because it was "unsafe." I am now eyeballing the Hyundai Elantra as 1) A good value; 2) In my budget and 3) Reliabe. That is the key thing. Not only do I expect it to be as mechanically sound, but if things like knobs start falling off after a year or two, I would rather pay a couple thousand extra for a solid make. Has this gotten better all around?
#14 of 1637 Just stirring the pot, Boltguy! by isellhondas Mar 11, 2000 (6:32 pm)
And giving my opinion for what it's worth. I have driven late model Hyundais and find them to be a vast improvement over the earlier models. Sti,, I think they are pretty lackluster. I guess if a person is determined to buy a new rather than a used car, and initial price is the most important thing, they may not be a terrible choice. Still, we cringe when a customer wants to trade one in. As a used car, they simply don't sell! And, THAT is not my humbel opinion, it is reality! When we call the local Hyundai dealers for buy bids, they either don't want them or bid thousands of dollars below book. Same applies with Kias. I'm not here to bash anything, nor am I here to promote my own product. I am simply stating things from my perspective. I do respect Hyundai for surviving against all odds!
#15 of 1637 The Real Choice by csmarmot Mar 11, 2000 (8:55 pm)
A year ago I bought a 1999 Elantra base model, and is is a terrific car. I have 10,800 miles, have done some major road trips, and I'm completely satisfied. When I bought it, I wanted a Civic. But my realistic choice was between a *used* Civic or a new Hyundai. The price on my Elantra was $10,600, and that was with zero miles, air conditioning, AM/FM cassette, and the 60/100K warranty... that's all standard. For S10,600, I was looking at '96 model Civics with 30-50K miles! Hondas do hold their resale value, for sure, but if the choice is between a 3-year-old car with 30K and no warranty, or a new car... As far as considering a *new* Honda, a base 3-door with air ($1000 option) and radio ($250 aftermarket) would have run almost $11,500. A 4-door would run over $13,000. By that time, you might as well consider an DX/EX for $15,000+, which brings it into base Camry, Tarus, etc. range. If you're going to pay $16K for a new small car, why not go for a recent used BMW 318ti? The point is, nobody makes a base model car that comes remotely near the $11K Hyundai Elantra, period. If you were to debate the merits of the $14K GLS Hyundai vs. the $15K Civic DX/EX, then you've got a debate.... but that's no choice at all. Hyundai sells a base model that you can live with, Honda doesn't. -CSMarmot
#16 of 1637 O.K., I understand that reasoning... by isellhondas Mar 11, 2000 (10:02 pm)
And provided they have solved the reliability issues of the older ones, and assuming you plan to hold on it it long enough so that the resale isn't a problem, they might be a good choice. But, just thinking, why not do one better, and buy a used Hyundai instead? These things take such a terrible depreciation beating in the first couple of years, that a 1 or 2 year old can be bought for a pittance! Now, that, in my opinion would be a much better value! Some dealer would probably be tickled to sell a slow mover at a distressed price.
#17 of 1637 Oh what a clever remark, Mr. Honda seller by bozse Mar 14, 2000 (6:04 pm)
I had one of those "old Hyundais" you all are talking about. A 1989 Hyundai Excel. It was a great car. It's true that little things would go wrong, thermostat, rubber valve failing. But overall, a very reliable car. I went cross country twice in it, from New York City to Seattle and back. The "back" trip the long way, loaded down with a Sears carrier on top and my bike on back. I was so loaded down, I was only a few inches from the ground, and my car was so full inside I could only drive with my seat straight up. But we climbed several mountains, went through the desert through Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah Colorado, and on to Ohio. 4500 miles and no trouble. And would you like to know about safety?? The end came for my dear car when a 1964 Chevy Impala, coming toward me at 70mph on a 35mph street, spun out, hit me and totalled my car front to back on MY SIDE and I walked out of the accident without a scratch. Now I have a Honda Civic, 1990. True, it has more power than my old car, but the reputation for Honda's lasting forever is overrated. I have had to spend at least a couple thousand dollars in repairs, and it's on it's last legs at 160,000 miles. I'm going to let the old girl die with dignity, but my new car will be an Elantra. Frankly, I just can't afford a Honda. True it may be a better car, but you can't always afford the best. Hyundai's are a very good second choice, especially since you get so much for the money. Look at Saturns too. They won't even give you air conditioning unless you buy the highest S model. If Hyundai's have improved since 1989, that's good enough for me since I was happy with my old car. And by the way I have a theory about the old Hyundai's. They were cheap cars, so people treated them as throw away cars. I treated mine like a Cadillac, so it treated me back the same way.
#18 of 1637 isellhondas by bri70 Mar 15, 2000 (2:00 am)
You mentioned that the Hyundai you drove was "pretty lackluster." How so? As for Hyundai surviving against all odds. It is doing more than surviving it is breaking its own sales records. Some months sales increases have been 100% over last years.
#19 of 1637 bozse, bri70 by isellhondas Mar 15, 2000 (11:49 pm)
bozse, I'm glad you had good luck with your Hyundai. I'm sure many others would agree with you. I don't think they were horrible cars. I think though they reflected the low prices they sold for. In 1989, they were pretty crude when compared to other cars. Consumer Reports blasted them for poor reliability and listed them as a car to avoid. You made a good point, though. Maybe the low price attracted buyers who skimped on oil changes and skipped important service visits. bri70, Yeah, I think lackluster sums it up pretty well. They just don't do much for me. If you can please forget the fact I sell Hondas, I would MUCH rather spend the same amount and buy a used car I really like instead. I feel the same way about Saturns. Buyers pay full MSRP for a car that isn't much more than a glorified Cavalier. Please folks, I'm not here to promote Hondas or to slam Hyundais. I'm only stirring the pot by stating my opinions. Given past reputation and the fact that they are SO hard to sell used, I just think there are better choices. But...That is my humble opinion and I respect the fact that some will disagree with me!
#20 of 1637 And... by isellhondas Mar 16, 2000 (12:12 am)
It's a good thing their sales have improved. They came close to extinction awhile back. ANY increase would be a big improvement.

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