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Hyundai Santa Fe 2007+

2993 messages,  Last post on Feb 28, 2013 at 8:00 PM

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What is this discussion about? Hyundai Santa Fe, SUV

    

Messages Page 119 of 301

#1172 of 2993 Reality check for the 2007 Santa Fe by vegito1971

Aug 06, 2006 (8:17 pm)

I have been following this thread for a while now and am quite disappointed on a few points. The 2007 Santa Fe is a feature-packed SUV and a great stride for Hyundai. However I do not understand all the negative views toward the previous body (2001-2006). I owned a 2002 Santa Fe GLS AWD for 4 years and experienced only a minor issue with brake noise from my left front caliper. The caliper was promptly replaced by the dealership without hassle and the issue resolved. All-in-all this vehicle obviously made a very good impression on me since I have since purchased a 2005 Elantra GLS sedan for everyday work driving. As for my 2002 Santa Fe, after 47k miles it has been replaced by another Santa Fe. The 2001-2006 body enjoyed a distinct style that made it easily identifiable. The only possible "clone" that could be mistaken at a glance would be the Lexus RX300. Given the Lexus prestige, I think this is actually a compliment. When I first bought my 2002 there were very few on the road and I constantly had compliments and inquiries from people. Hyundai should also be complimented because of their continual improvements made across the 2001-2006 run within the same bodystyle. Every year they made improvements and added more bells and wistles to the package with negligable cost hikes. To cut short, the 2007 might be a fresh entry into the next-generation Santa Fe; but, don't knock the original for getting them there. It really was/is a praise-worthy vehicle too.
 
One could easily be argue that the new body takes a "me too" approach in styling. It bears striking resemblences to the VW Touareg, 2007 Toyata Rav 4 (minus the spare tire), and even has a front-end hinting at an Acura MDX.
 
My other gripe is the bashing of some of the other auto manufacturers. Obviously I have become a Hyundai fan myself solely based upon my satisfaction thus far with their vehicles. Like many I have owned a wide variety of vehicles from various manufacturers. Personally I would never again consider anything from Ford, GM, Dodge, or any of their affiliates. I have not personally owned a Toyota but their reliability is quite legendary. Honda too has earned their place in the realm of quality and reliability. Also note that in the 2006 Indianapolis 500, ALL of the engines were Honda. My only gripe with these two giants is their pricing. My 2005 Elantra is replacing a 1990 Honda Accord 2-door that retired with 303,862 miles on it. This thing still ran like a champ even though the body was certainly showing its age. Over its lifespan it suffered some obvious mechanical wear-and-tear fixes, but none major. I can only hope that my Elantra can live up to this bar set by my Accord. So far the Elantra is at 22k without ANY problems and adding 400-600 miles/week, making me a happy camper. Give Toyota and Honda some credit because they do make reliable vehicles. There will be some competition from Hyundai owners/scouters but don't discredit yourself by saying Honda and Toyota are junk. You may as well try contesting that Michael Jordan should never have played basketball too then.
 
Hyundai is certainly a company on the move in a positive direction. But bear in mind that they are also still learning along the way. I still give praise to the 3 that I have owned without gripes. By the way, my 2002 gamble paid off for Hyundai since amongst my parents and older brother another 4 can be tallied up (2003 XG350L, 2004 Sonata LX, 2006 Elantra GLS Hatchback, and 2006 Santa Fe GLS FWD). They too were previously Honda-loyalists who turned away because of pricing incentives. So far no gripes from anyone on any of the vehicles.
 
Obviously there are preferences but let's also be open and realistic.

#1173 of 2993 Re: Reality check for the 2007 Santa Fe [vegito1971] by subarufan1

Aug 06, 2006 (8:24 pm)

Replying to: vegito1971 (Aug 06, 2006 8:17 pm)
i think the pre 2007 santa fes have a great following and showed hyundai could engineer a loveable, reliable,competent suv and i still think it represents a great value but having said that, the new santa fe is a leap ahead of it without question. huyundai is doing big things and hopefully their expansion will continue and hopefully they will continue building quality cars at prices the everday joe can afford and not stray too far from their established base of consumers in their quest to move the brand upmarket.

#1174 of 2993 Re: SF-Saturn Vue comparison ? [berniedg] by arumage

Aug 07, 2006 (5:41 am)

Replying to: berniedg (Aug 06, 2006 6:23 pm)
The Vue (and all Saturns)has suffered alot of fit and finish issues, along with that serious suspension issue (wheel tucking under during a near rollover situation)a couple of years back. That being said, I'm sure Saturn has atleast fixed those problems, and the Honda engine is pretty nice. The review are fairly favorable for the 2006 Vue, but ABS brakes are not standard. Also, stability control is not even offered.

#1175 of 2993 Re: SF-Saturn Vue comparison ? [arumage] by lasberry

Aug 07, 2006 (7:37 am)

Replying to: arumage (Aug 07, 2006 5:41 am)
I test drove an 07 SF and an 06 Vue on the same day. I am a long time fan of Saturn because of their durability. After driving the two, I have come to the following conclusions:
 
1) They are classified in two different size categories. The vue is a CUV. The SF is now an Mid-size utility vehicle. I agree that the 06 SF is a more accurate comparison.
 
2) Performance in the Vue seemed peppier. This is because the Vue is lighter, and the GLS has the 2.7L (smaller) v6 than the two. A SE or Limited SF comparison would have been a preferred control. Also, I liked the feel of the Vue's steering wheel better than that of the SFs. That's very minor though.
 
3) Wind noise in the Vue was irritatingly more audible than in the Santa FE GLS I tested. My wife even went so far as to mention it to the Saturn salesperson. He failed to substantiate the road noise. The Santa Fe felt like a silent cocoon. Nice!
 
4) A nit-picky issue I noticed was that the SF does allow you get a sunroof with the DVD entertainment package while the Vue does not. I'm getting an SUV as a family vehicle and want to my kids to be entertained in the backseat.
 
It is not fair to compare the SF to the Vue. The Saturn Outlook due out in the fall is a better comparison but will ultimately match the class of the Hyundai Veracruz. I hope this review helps someone out.

#1176 of 2993 Re: Santa Fe - Highlander - RAV4 - Pilot (Re: What to do? [arumage]) [daves by jvenezia

Aug 07, 2006 (4:33 pm)

Replying to: lv2drv (Aug 06, 2006 4:08 pm)
Lv2drv,
 
Many people ought to budget for a new set of tires right away when they buy their new vehicle. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tires that most vehicle manufacturers buy in bulk for their models are typically lousy. I learned a while ago that the new vehicle buying experience also (for me) involves swapping out the tires before the rainy/snowy season so that my expensive investment isn't wrapped around a utility pole because of a lack of grip. For the 07 Santa Fe, the Bridgestone Dueler H/T D684 II tires that it comes with have mixed reviews. My expert source for all-things-tire is Tire Rack, a very reputable and well respected company that reviews, tests and sells a huge variety of tires at great prices. If you check the reviews for the Bridgestone Duelers, you'll come across such phrases as, "These tires hydroplane terribly and spin off a dead stop almost at all times." (a Saturn VUE driver), "These tires are awful. I work for a Saturn retailer, and we see them coming in worn all of the time." (another Saturn VUE driver), and "They perform great in all conditions especially in mud and snow." (an Isuzu Trooper driver).
 
The reviews are all over the map...you'll have to try them out and be prepared to replace them right away if necessary. After all, if you're going to invest $25,000 or $30,000 in your vehicle, you should consider spending a few hundred more to make sure that it has the best "shoes" to keep it and yourself and family safe.
 
As for me, if/when I purchase a Santa Fe, I'll definitely have a new set of replacement tires ready for it in my garage when I bring it home. I'm looking at a set of Avon Tech ST 255/55-18 all-season light truck tires at $105 each or Pirelli Scorpion A/T 235/60-18 off-road light truck tires at $152 each, without shipping (which is $18 per tire for my zip code) or mounting and balancing (which is $12 per tire where I live). For winter-only use, I'd recommend the Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow 235/60-18 at $148 each.
 
In my garage is also a set of Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus tires that came with my 05 Elantra and that I swapped out for some much better treads after 420 miles of driving. I'll place an ad in my local paper to sell them and I'll recover most of the cost of the new tires which were quite a bit less expensive than the overpriced, underperforming Michelins.

#1177 of 2993 Re: Santa Fe - Highlander - RAV4 - Pilot (Re: What to do? [arumage]) [daves [jvenezia] by lv2drv

Aug 07, 2006 (6:47 pm)

Replying to: jvenezia (Aug 07, 2006 4:33 pm)
Please don't laugh when I ask this question because I don't much about tires and buying cars. Why not have the dealer replace the tires with the ones you want? We are paying a lot of money and having to replace tires right away. Is this just not done?

#1178 of 2993 Re: Santa Fe - Highlander - RAV4 - Pilot (Re: What to do? [arumage]) [daves by jvenezia

Aug 08, 2006 (4:05 am)

Replying to: lv2drv (Aug 07, 2006 6:47 pm)
Well...it's just not done for the masses. If you were purchasing a very expensive vehicle (think Ferrari), then the dealership may give in and find, purchase, and mount/balance a specific set of tires to sell you that car at MSRP or higher. I've never heard of the dealer doing that for us, however, unless the tires were Firestones and were involved in a recall. It definitely costs the dealer money to get after-market tires (that's a modification) and then they'd also have sets of unused tires piling up around their shop.
 
A lot of people think that because they're paying a lot of money for the vehicle they can make certain requests for modifications (radios, remote starters, security systems, tires, paint, coatings...) and the dealer would just eat the cost. But for most vehicles, the margins generated from the sale just can't absorb much beyond a few dozen dollars and still take care of the salesperson's commission, a piece of the dealership costs, and some profit. I always hear about how people can talk the dealer into throwing in certain items, like floor mats, into a sale. Yet those are typically items that the dealer already paid for one way or another and throwing those into the sale is no loss to them (just a lost opportunity for profit). But tires aren't among those items since it costs money for the purchase and shipping, and all the labor involved for acquisition and installation.
 
Now just wait...someone will pipe in and say he was able to get the dealer to get the tires he wanted at no cost

#1179 of 2993 What's tire do u get on ur new Santa Fe? by benben2006

Aug 08, 2006 (9:35 am)

Any comments?

#1180 of 2993 Re: What's tire do u get on ur new Santa Fe? [benben2006] by new2diesel

Aug 08, 2006 (11:33 am)

Replying to: benben2006 (Aug 08, 2006 9:35 am)
Bridgestone Duellers. I like mine. No complaints. I'll drive 30-40k out of them then think about what I want. Still lovin my Santa Fe! Just filled the tank and logged 24.2 mpg for the tank. That was mixed driving mostly a hilly rural state road (55 speed limit) and a daily 5 mile climb up a mountain. The onboard computer calculated the MPG exactly the same as the miles divided by the gallons used method. With 1000 miles on the odometer I know I will be getting better mileage as it breaks in.

#1181 of 2993 Re: What's tire do u get on ur new Santa Fe? [new2diesel] by lv2drv

Aug 08, 2006 (12:39 pm)

Replying to: new2diesel (Aug 08, 2006 11:33 am)
Thanks for the info. I can't wait to purchase my SF.

Messages Page 119 of 301

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