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Hyundai Elantra 5-door

4930 messages,  Last post on Feb 19, 2012 at 12:53 PM

You are in the Hyundai Elantra Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Elantra, Hatchback, Sedan

Messages Page 405 of 493

#4040 of 4930 Interference Engine by compensate

Jan 30, 2004 (12:01 pm)

Most Hyundai's have interference type engines. The current Elantra is no exception. Timing belt breaks, bye bye engine in most cases (level of damage can vary).
 
Someone mentioned that the reason for these types of engines is for increased compression, better fuel efficiency.
 
After reading the posts, I will likely NOT risk a timing belt failure, even if they can last 100,000 miles or so.
 
On our other car, a 1999 Mazda Protege ES, I had been misinformed on the engine type. A Gates manual said it was an interference engine, but I still let in go to 75,000 miles before having it replaced. When I found out later it was a non-interference valve design, I was a bit upset, but at least now I probably won't have to worry about the timing belt in our Protege until after 160,000 miles or more.

#4041 of 4930 etc. by jimbeaumi

Jan 30, 2004 (2:04 pm)

Just browsing here ... I understand both viewpoints on Hyundai quality, as I was also a skeptic when I bought mine, even a bit after doing all of my research. After nearly 40K miles I am no longer skeptical. I am enamored.
 
I like the 59K mile timing belt change idea. Fortunately, we will have the option of remembering this for other maintenance at 99K miles (just before the warranty expires). Smart!

#4042 of 4930 Any chance I could still score a 2003 GT Hatch?? by indomie

Feb 03, 2004 (5:19 pm)

I have just spent the last several hours catching up on around 600 messages. I bought my 5-speed 2001.5 Chianti GT in April 2002 for a steal and loved it every second I had it. All 24,000 miles.
 
Well, last weekend my wife swerved to miss a car that was coming down the center of the road in our neighborhood and crashed straight into a tree. Said she was going about 20 mph, but the car was declared a total loss. Her airbag blew and the engine dropped (as it is supposed to do). No injuries to humans, but I have to admit that I felt more than a twinge of sadness as I sat in the car that one last time to clean it out.
 
So, now I have a decent check from the insurance and almost 3k coming in from taxes (good timing!), and I need to replace the car. I have to admit, I seem to be in a minority that doesn't like the new features of the 2004 over the 2003 -don't like the small foglights, don't like the stick-out A/C buttons, don't like the weird new A/C vents, don't like the new look of the speedometer/tach/etc (instrument panel?). The new radio is nice, though. : )
 
So, my dilemma is as follows... Is there ANY chance of still finding a 5-sp 2003 GT 5-door? Anywhere???
 
I live in Jackson, MS, where there has only ever been one GT hatch (now in a junk heap - sniff, sniff). The three dealers w/in 100 miles have no hatchbacks in 2003 or 2004. I have tried searching the net for other dealers, but have had a monumentally difficult time finding them for some reason. Any suggestions??? Should I just give up & get used to the new design features? I would be fine to travel if I could find one, but after almost a week of searching am starting to doubt there are many/any left.
 
Man, I miss my GT!!! I need a new one! HELP!!

#4043 of 4930 Re 2003 GT by backy

Feb 03, 2004 (5:51 pm)

When I was in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago I'm pretty sure I saw ads for 2003 GTs, at very good prices. There seems to be a couple of large Hyundai dealers there, or at least they claim to be. I don't remember the names of the dealers. Maybe someone from that area could comment.

#4044 of 4930 RE: Any chance I could still score a 2003 GT Hatch?? by southpawboston

Feb 04, 2004 (6:58 am)

that's a tough predicament you're in. i've got a 2002 hatch and love it, and i share your opinions about the cosmetic changes to the '04 model. have you considered buying a used '02-'03? i got my '02 used and couldn't be happier (but you sacrifice the 10/100k powertrain warranty when you buy used).
 
however, if you go for the '04 and live with the cosmetic changes, you'll actually benefit from a few small technical improvements. the seat tracks were modified after the '01-'03 models fared less than perfectly during the insurance institute offset safety crash, and the '04 also has the new variable valve timing (VVT) valvetrain, which yields a modest (3hp) increase in power while polluting even less. other changes include minor improvements to things for which there were technical service bulletins issued for the '01-'03s (e.g., problems with door wiring connector corrosion, wind noise due to a faulty door seal, idle stabilization problems caused by a bad throttle position sensor).
 
so the model is improving technically, but at the cost of some cosmetic changes that some consider to detract fro the car.
 
i hope this makes your decision a more informed one!

#4045 of 4930 RE: 2003 GT by 5port

Feb 04, 2004 (9:28 am)

Southpawboston makes some very good points when considering an 03 vs 04. AFAIKT the door wiring connector problem seems to affect people who use the automatic car wash often. The high pressure water easily making its way in.
 
   For the record I'm not happy with the cosmetic changes either. I'd take that new Kenwood stereo though

#4046 of 4930 03 EGT by dovid2

Feb 04, 2004 (3:08 pm)

When I bought my '04 in late December, Jim Ellis in Atlanta had
a number of the previous models left. You might try Internet
searches of dealer inventories near you.
The '04 does have some nice tweaks, although maybe they were addressed in '03 and I just didn't hear. The funny thing is that
all the things that bother people don't bother me & the radio everybody loves is a pain to me with the tiny dim buttons and the heavily programmed settings. It's all I can do to change the stations
while watching the road.

#4047 of 4930 '03 GT by indomie

Feb 04, 2004 (4:27 pm)

Thanks all...
 
dovid2 - I will check w/ Jim Ellis. I have family in Atlanta, so I could kill two birds with one stone. I finally did a 500-mile radius search from my home zip and found around 100 dealers. E-mailed those who had websites and am waiting to hear from them.
 
Backy, southpawboston, 5port - I appreciate the tips on the benefits of a 2004 over a 2003. That will help if I end up having to get one. I may go sit in the '04 GT sedan at my local dealership again and see how "horrible" it REALLY is. : )
 
My coworkers think I'm nuts. They don't see why I would be willing to travel to buy this car. I laugh and tell them that I loved my old one, it is a steal of a deal, and I couldn't be bothered spending the hours and hours to research again when I would probably still come back to the GT.
 
Keep me posted if you see any in your area! I'm on the prowl...

#4048 of 4930 dovid2 by harlequin1971

Feb 05, 2004 (10:44 am)

I will trade stereos!
 
I would think they use the same plugs and all.
 
j/k of course...but I have thought about upgrading the OEM '03 stereo in my GT.
 
Anyone else having problems with their speakers? Seems like my driver side tweeter buzzs, but not at all volumes and not on all music, just certain songs. Would suggest that their is a resonant tone that is buzzing something else, but when it does it, it definately sounds blown to me.
 
Disappointing, in that the car is 8 months and only 7k miles old.

#4049 of 4930 Buzzing by compensate

Feb 05, 2004 (12:22 pm)

Are you sure the buzzing is coming from the tweeters?
 
Most of my experience with speaker buzz has been due to a torn mid/woofer cone, but I guess it could be a torn tweeter diaphragm. Should be replaced under warranty.

Messages Page 405 of 493

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