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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 490 of 493

#4891 of 4930 Re: visibility in back [tsgeisel] by doohickie

Jul 06, 2006 (4:11 pm)

Replying to: tsgeisel (Jul 06, 2006 12:19 pm)
Yeah, when I moved up to the Elantra from the Ford Aspire, I had the same feeling.

#4892 of 4930 Re: elantra mileage [4ruth] by jvenezia

Jul 10, 2006 (5:26 pm)

Replying to: 4ruth (May 17, 2006 6:23 pm)
I have an 05 5-door GLS Elantra and I typically get 31-33 mpg with just myself in the car, warm weather, and air conditioning sometimes running. I drive rural roads between Michigan towns in the farmland, so about 80% of my driving is highway at about 62 mph.
 
A couple of weeks ago, I went from the Thumb of Michigan to Chicago and back with three adults and one teenager and a trunk load of luggage. Drove mostly interstate at 75 mph, but got stuck in lots of construction in Indiana and Illinois...crawling along at a snail's pace in hot weather with the AC on. After all that, I still managed 28 mpg.
 
At the 4,500 mile mark, about a year ago now, I changed out the oil for a full synthetic 0W50 oil, as well as a higher-grade air filter and oil filter. My mileage went WAY up by about six or seven mpg. I also dumped the OEM tires that came with it (Michelin Energy somethingorothers) at 420 miles (soon after getting the car) and put on some BFGoodrich Traction TA/H tires which have more rolling resistance since they have a much more aggressive (and effective) tread. So if I had kept the Michelins, I would have seen an even better improvement in mileage.
 
All I can recommend is this: get a PREMIUM grade of at least partially synthetic motor oil (I'm using Amsoil 2000, although I'm by no means trying to sell you on it), swap out the air and oil filters for high-flow products (like K&N or Amsoil) and keep the tires properly inflated. If that doesn't get you around 30 mpg in warm weather with one or two passengers and a not-too-far-over-legal speed, then you have something out of whack in the engine. Could be vacuum, EGR, timing, computer settings, transmission, or something else that's robbing your engine of power. See the dealer again about that.
 
Good luck!

#4893 of 4930 Rearward visibility by jvenezia

Jul 10, 2006 (5:36 pm)

Just chiming in with the discussion about rearward visibility. I also noticed it as soon as I got my '05 hatchback and I just got into the habit of a) cranking my shoulders, neck, and head backward to look behind me when backing up out of my driveway (I have a couple of obstacles that I have to make sure I clear), and b) adjusting my side mirrors properly, as mentioned earlier. I told my daughter, who is 15 and learning how to drive, that the proper way to adjust the side mirrors is to angle them outward so that you can see the sides of the car only if you really lean out. For the driver's side mirror, that means practically resting your head against the door glass. For the passenger's side mirror, that means leaning out over the center console. I didn't learn that when I was first driving and I've come to greatly appreciate a proper mirror setup while avoiding some high-speed interstate turf-wars.

#4894 of 4930 Re: Rearward visibility [jvenezia] by jlflemmons

Jul 10, 2006 (6:40 pm)

Replying to: jvenezia (Jul 10, 2006 5:36 pm)
I feel your pain. I have a 15yo son I am doing parent-taught drivers ed with.
 
When he gets his regular license, the insurance goes up $96 a month!

#4895 of 4930 Re: Rearward visibility [jlflemmons] by doohickie

Jul 11, 2006 (7:47 am)

Replying to: jlflemmons (Jul 10, 2006 6:40 pm)
Been there, done that; he totalled a car a month after he got his license. The second one is about to get his permit.

#4896 of 4930 hatch availability by dadickie

Jul 11, 2006 (9:27 pm)

Hi,
I live in Philly, and I've been trying to purchase a black GT with the premium package...all the dealers here are unable to locate one. Anyone know how to get this car? It seems crazy to me that there isn't one at any dealer in the region.
thanks!

#4897 of 4930 Finally! by dovid2

Aug 14, 2006 (9:52 am)

Well, after owning a 2000 GLS and an '04 GT sedan, I finally got a GT hatch! I picked one up for the little wo... I mean, my wife. It's almost the same as mine: both black, same year, same mileage, except hers is automatic and mine's manual. It's in great condition except for some acid rain spots. So for this week, we're a 3 Elantra family. Thursday we'll give the GLS to my stepdaughter, whose Cavalier gave up the ghost.

#4898 of 4930 132,000 Mile Update - 2001 Elantra GT 5-Speed by compensate

Sep 19, 2006 (7:19 am)

It's been a while since I posted anything, so I thought I'd give an update.
 
The car has been very good overall. The only real issues have been:
 
(1) Front brake rotors that need to be replaced everytime the brake pads are replaced. I usually have gotten at least two brake pad changes per rotor change from other cars I have owned for long time periods. This isn't a major problem, just annoying & extra expense.
 
(2) A very small oil seal leak on the manual transmission that has been around since around 60,000 miles. I check the fluid levels every 20,000 or so and have never noticed a significant drop in gear oil. This one is not a big problem either.
 
(3) CD player goes through moments of tracking errors from time to time. It sitll works fine, just that some minor road bumps seem to annoy it more than others.
 
(4) Both vanity mirrors fell off the visors within 2 weeks of each other once I passed 130,000 miles. The failure occured at the small plastic tabs on the back of the mirror assembly that were intended to hold it to each visor. I am considering gluing them back, using silicone sealant, since the small tabs are broken. It was kind of funny that they both fell out so close in time!
 
(5) Manifold and first catalytic converter both failed around 98,000 miles and engine became very noisy, especially when cold. I was able to get warranty coverage on this, fortunately.
 
(6) The engine has just recently become very noisy when cold. Sounds like loose belts, but mechanic said the belts should auto-tension (not sure if that is accurate at this point in time). All serptentine belts were replaced around 95,000 miles, just before timing belt replacement at 97,000 miles (approx.). This issue is still quite the enigma right now.
 
Good things to report:
 
(1) Gas mileage is still very good. I tend to drive closer to 80 on the interstate highway system (85% of my mileage) and still get about 32 mpg combined mileage.
 
(2) I still have the original alternator, which is a rare thing at 130,000 miles (compared to other cars I've owned).
 
(3) I still have the original struts, although they are just now starting to feel a little worn. My car was the early production model (2001.5), so it has the "comfort" suspension, not the sport suspension that most GTs have.
 
(4) There is very little rattling and other structural noises that many higher-mileage cars develop. Car still seems well-built overall, inside and out.
 
Enjoy your Elantras!

#4899 of 4930 Re: 132,000 Mile Update - 2001 Elantra GT 5-Speed [compensate] by 5port

Sep 19, 2006 (9:00 am)

Replying to: compensate (Sep 19, 2006 7:19 am)
Great report. Thanks!

#4900 of 4930 Side Mirrors. . . by compensate

Sep 21, 2006 (10:41 am)

Haha! I just read some of the comments about other peoples' wives setting their side mirrors so they can see each side of the car.
 
I had to post to say that my wife does the exact same thing and will not do it any other way. I also explained that the real blind spots are not right next to the side of the car, but decided not to press the issue since she was getting defensive about it.
 
I don't know if her being really short has anything to do with it . . .

Messages Page 490 of 493

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