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SUVs Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Santa Fe 2007+
2966 messages, Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 1:40 PM
You are in the Hyundai Santa Fe Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Hi, everyone. I just took possession of my '08 Santa Fe two days ago. After owning 6 Honda cars, this is my first ownership of an SUV and of a non- Honda. So far I am quite impressed with the Hyundai but not too surprised since I had done all my homework long before buying. The Santa Fe is so suited to my exact needs (one being not priced like a Honda or Toyota)- especially compared to others in it's class. I will really miss having a sun-roof though. I was forced to buy a GL as apposed to a GLS or Limited because there is zilch head room - front or back - for someone of my size of a sunroof equipped SF. Too bad leather/power seats/sunroof is a package and not an option as it is the motor for the power seat that is the reason for the loss of headroom with sunroof as I found plenty of room passenger side. Anyway, this is a great forum - wish I had of seen it weeks ago. I do have a few questions I hope some of you SF owners can help with. I cannot seem to find a topic view tree though and my searches have been all over the place as I wouldn't be surprised if these questions have been asked before. Upon delivery of my new car...errrr, SUV, I had a 1000 mile trek straight north to my home in the NWT Canada (near Alaska, for all you south of 45'ers). During that journey, I noticed several minor things I want to rectify with the vehicle - if possible. First, I was disappointed with the fuel economy. I knew it was going to be worse than the published EPA and I also reminded myself I was going from a 4 banger car with a far more aerodynamic profile to a medium size 6 cyl SUV. But still, 20 mpg, 26 mpg imp. 11 litres/100kms?! After a 1000 miles, I still cant find a comfortable seat position but thats the drawback of being 6'5". I think it took just under 9 months to get comfortable in my Accord. So here is where I need some advice: Headlights. They look nice, but they suck. There are way too many moose, elk and buffalo up here to be without good headlights. My Honda's have always had awesome headlights - like a baseball stadium. I've been in a lot of rentals with my job and most headlights coming from cars from 'the big three' aren't much much better than flashlights. The SF seems to be somewhere in the middle. I didn't care for the way they were aimed either but I looked this morning and saw no place where the aim can be adjusted. While I was shopping, I met a guy with the same complaint who put some after market lights in his. But his e-bay lights - while being nice and bright - required a ballast and also killed his daytime running lights. They probably will kill his alternator much faster too. Has anyone here had success improving their night vision? Fog-lights: Same complaint as above. I installed some after market fogs on my Accord in the air scoop below the bumper and I have them aimed out to the sides. This helps immeasurably up here in seeing potential road kill ahead of time and I will need this ability on my SF. Although I do see a spot where I can put some after market fogs behind the grill on the SF, I'd rather find a way of brightening up the fogs, aiming them outward a bit and rewiring them so that they stay on even with the high beams. That latter is possible as I had a Prelude with fogs and same factory switch that shut of with the high beams. If I recall, I simply ran a wire from the fog light fuse to the parking lights but I am not 100% on that; it was a long time ago. Interior lights: Wow. What a beautiful dash etc.But, Wow! How bright is that? Even with the dimmer switch all the way down, the interior is still way to bright for me. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to turn them down even more? Only thing that comes to mind is to put a resistor in series with a wire running through the dimmer. Thoughts? I could use for a little more bass in the rear speakers too. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. MajBach Screen
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First, I compliment you on your good comprehensive composition. It made me want to reply. I too took delivery of a 2008 Santa Fe in Nov 2008. Hyundai's marketing strategy needs some refining. I bought the GLS with the standard Transmission as I ocassionaly tow the vehicle behind a motor home. Hyundai haphazardly distributes the Santa Fe with the manual tranny on a low volumn basis and the dealers cannot order the std tranny for a specific customer. Potential buyers are out there but they have no way of knowing where to find the vehicle. This is my fifth Hyundai and we still have all five vehicles. My first was a 1999 Elantra station wagon with standard Transmission. It regularily gave me 43 miles per gallon at 60 miles per hour. Next, I bought a 2002 Santa Fe GLS 4 cyl with auto tranny for my girl friend. It gives 30 miles per gal and she will not part with it. Next, bought a 2002 Elantra GLS with standard tranny for my son. It gives 43 miles per gal. Next, I bought a 2003 Santa Fe 4 cyl GLS with standard tranny and it gives 32 miles per gallon. Lastly my 2008 Santa Fe gls never gives me more than 26.5 to 27 miles per gallon. I carefully maintain all five vehicles and the quality of the 2008 Santa Fe which was produced in Alabama is noticibly inferior to the prior four that were produced in Korea. On the Korean producion cars each nut and bolt was inspected for torque and marked with paint dabs to verify inspection. It is also interesting to note the decrease in MPG for each succeding year as the American buyers demanded bigger engines with more neck snapping power. Now the trend to higher power is reversing and the Santa Fe will be offered with the 4 cyl engine again in 2010. Werner |
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Replying to: majbach (Apr 16, 2009 12:21 pm)  Hopefully your
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Replying to: steve_ (Apr 16, 2009 1:31 pm) "BRRR 2 COLD" "DIAMONDS" "MAPLE LEAFS" (why??) "-40 FOREVER" License plates are everywhere. I do not expect my economy to improve. However, I factored this in when deciding to buy a larger engine. After moving here, I NEEDED AWD at the very least. I have little use for the empty space of the back of a truck so that leaves SUV. I basically had to shop for what fit, not what I liked or could afford. Fortunately, the SF was all three. I also need something roomy enough for a 240 pound stature, 25 lb down parka, beaver hat, body armour and gun belt. I almost went for a CR-V as it was an awesome deal (I'll leave out the details). But, despite being Honda biased, I liked the SF much better. Plus, I wanted something that had depreciated a little already as I knew whatever I bought it would spend more time depreciating than it would on the road. That too was ultimately why the trade-off from good mileage of the CR-V to mediocre mileage of the SF was tolerable. I figured the price difference between the two more than offset the increase fuel costs b/c up here, I likely won't drive 5,000 kms per year (as opposed to 30,000 where I was from), so gas costs are not really significant.
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Replying to: majbach (Apr 16, 2009 1:54 pm) Enjoy the new ride! |
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I have a 2008 Santa Fe GLS. I wanted to purchase mudflaps for it and install them myself. Can anyone give me advice on how this is done? I wasn't sure if the mudflaps are mounted using the existing screw holes on the inside wheel well or are other modifications needed?
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Replying to: santafeking (Apr 19, 2009 11:38 pm)
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Replying to: denvertrakker (Apr 20, 2009 7:15 am) Good luck with your installation. |
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| I purchased from dealer module U8612-2B001.I installed it but cannot get lights to work. Have correct power and turn signal response from mutipin connector. The 2 pin connector has no power coming from vehicle,is there a fuse or something I am missing? | |
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Replying to: steve_ (Dec 10, 2008 8:04 pm) |
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