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2013 Hyundai Elantra GT

94 messages,  Last post on Apr 26, 2013 at 11:37 AM

You are in the Hyundai Elantra Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Elantra, Hatchback

Messages Page 6 of 10

#46 of 94 Re: Package annoyance [bpizzuti] by backy

Apr 08, 2012 (10:06 am)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Apr 08, 2012 5:40 am)
Guess we can hope there will be some non-package options...
 
Not likely except for stuff that can be added by the dealer like a Homelink mirror, mudflaps etc.
 
From what I've read, including your eyewitness report, it appears the GT will come with adjustable steering feel standard, but not the sport-tuned suspension. Which if true is... odd.

#47 of 94 Build-and-price is available now by backy

Jun 26, 2012 (8:25 pm)

on hyundaiusa.com. I priced out the GT with no options except floor mats, Volcanic Red with beige interior (yessss!), and the pricer said Total MSRP = $18,490 with the note, "Total MSRP includes freight charges and current customer rebate." However, it showed freight charge as 0 (also rebate was 0). Hmmm. I hope the total is only $18,490 including freight, that would be very reasonable for a car with its equipment level, which includes:
 
* 6 speed manual
* 16" alloys
* DSSM (driver selectable steering mode)
* fog lights
* remote keyless entry
* 7 airbags
* tilt/telescope steering column with audio and cruise on the wheel
* Blue Link telematics
* Bluetooth
* 6 speaker stereo with satellite radio and USB/aux inputs
* heated front seats (!)
* sliding center armrest
* lots more
 
So pretty much everything I need, except I wouldn't mind leather wheel/shifter and turn signals in the mirrors. Also noted something weird on the options: driver's auto up window is part of a $2750 package! C'mon, how much can that cost to add? Even my 2010 Sentra S has that feature!

#48 of 94 Re: Build-and-price is available now [backy] by bpizzuti

Jun 27, 2012 (6:04 am)

Replying to: backy (Jun 26, 2012 8:25 pm)
In order to get any of the option stuff at all you have to get that monstrous sunroof. Given how thin the shade is for it, it's not going to block any solar heating of the car. I want nothing to do with it, which means i won't be considering one. On the other hand, the Veloster isn't quite as bad about forcing the sunroof down your throat to get "stuff" and said sunroof is smaller anyway. Of course, there's a lot of glass area on the hatch itself...

#49 of 94 Re: Build-and-price is available now [bpizzuti] by backy

Jun 27, 2012 (9:00 am)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jun 27, 2012 6:04 am)
Well, fortunately all the stuff I really have to have is standard, so I don't need to worry about any packages. Can't wait until they arrive at dealers so I can drive one. Hopefully there'll be more MTs in the mix than for the sedans--those are impossible to find in my area. When I find one, it's sold by the time I can get to the dealership to drive it.
 
One thing I like is that the red/beige combo is available on the GT. That combo is not available on some other hatches e.g. Mazda3i.

#50 of 94 Took a test drive by bpizzuti

Jun 30, 2012 (4:28 pm)

Ok, two points of reference here: I currently drive an Elantra Touring that I need to redline to get any power, an with a transmission that sometimes likes to stop and think before it shifts. Before that, I drove a red 2004 Mazda3 with verve, passion, and quite a lot of joy. Supposedly this is Hyundai's target with the new GT.
 
They missed.
 
The car drives well enough. Shifts smoothly, takes corners reasonably flat, and Hyundai's getting better at putting feel in their steering. The engine is definitely short of torque, particularly at the low end, and you can feel it. You have to rev it up to get a quick power surge, and it's difficult to maintain some speeds on an uphill grade without downshifting. I honestly didn't notice any difference between the indy rear on the Touring and the torsion beam on the GT, which means they either did a good job on the GT, or a bad job on the Touring. Or maybe a little bit of both.
 
Is it more fun than the Touring or a Corolla? Yeah. Is it to the level of a Mazda3 or Focus? No, it's still far short. This one didn't have the upgraded "sport" suspension, but it would have to be a LOT more "sport" to make a difference. The car is competent, but if Hyundai wants to play in the zoom-zoom crowd they need to keep practicing. And maybe put in the 2.0L DI version of the Nu. Or even the 1.6L Gamma-T. But they need to find some low-end torque somewhere.

#51 of 94 Re: Took a test drive [bpizzuti] by backy

Jun 30, 2012 (5:42 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jun 30, 2012 4:28 pm)
I wouldn't be surprised to see the 1.6L Turbo in the GT pretty soon. It's a natural fit for the car, for folks like you who need more power and torque to go with the looks.
 
Did you drive the automatic or stick? It appears it was the automatic. The stick might provide more responsiveness.
 
How much feel did the steering have on the highway? That is a problem with electric steering on many cars.
 
How was the ride? How did it handle bumps and transitions? Floaty or buttoned down on the highway?
 
What options if any were on the car? Or was it a base model, no packages?
 
Did you check out the rear seat? How was the leg room and head room?
 
Me, I'm mostly after the FE, utility, and a nice interior. IMO the GT's interior is light years ahead that of the Mazda3's, from photos at least. Plus the fold-flat rear seats for lots of hauling room. But the Mazda3 is a blast to drive, especially with the stick.
 
BTW... any car would be more fun to drive than a Corolla.

#52 of 94 Re: Took a test drive [backy] by bpizzuti

Jun 30, 2012 (6:25 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jun 30, 2012 5:42 pm)
Yeah I don't drive sticks. For one thing I spend too many mornings stuck in rush hour traffic to put up with a stick. For the second, I tend to do 1.5 miles on the treadmill before driving home, and I have enough trouble getting one leg to work then, two is out of the question.
 
This model was a complete base setup, no options at all. Worse, it was white, which means I wasn't going to buy it anyway. The steering was accurate, but didn't have any feel, even when dialed into sport. It had heft, but no feel, definitely 100% disconnected from the road. The suspension felt mostly buttoned down, and not really floaty (thank god), but I could feel the back end not liking some bumps. The disconcerting thing was having to downshift on a 5 degree grade at 35 MPH, it couldn't hold speed in sixth.
 
I had checked out the rear seat at the NY Auto show, it's about as roomy as the Dart's, give or take, depends on what notch the front seat is on. I found both to be tolerable, but not as roomy as an Impreza. But one thing really bothered me: the highway part of the test drive, I could NOT get the instant MPG meter to show more than 35 MPG, even drafting a semi at 65 MPH. At a steady 70 MPH the engine was turning 2500 RPM, but was showing 33 MPG. After break in it might do better at 65, but people who do 65 on the highways here get nasty looks at best.
 
I agree, the interior is excellent, though I generally prefer a 3 spoke wheel over a 4 spoke (I'm used to steering from the bottom with my right hand just off center, can't do that on a 4-spoke). The cargo area is why I usually hold out for hatches, the Dart is the first car with a trunk that I've even considered in a long time (not counting the leftover Cruze one dealer tried to throw at me). At least the Dart and Cruze have pretty big trunks but given how short the decklids are I wonder why they bothered, and didn't just make them hatches anyway.
 
Bottom line, it's a decent car but I don't think it's the right one for me. My next car, I want grins like the ones I had with my old 2004 Mazda3.

#53 of 94 Re: Took a test drive [bpizzuti] by backy

Jun 30, 2012 (8:37 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jun 30, 2012 6:25 pm)
The disconcerting thing was having to downshift on a 5 degree grade at 35 MPH, it couldn't hold speed in sixth.
 
And that surprises you?? I'm amazed the car would even go into 6th gear at 35 mph. Think about it... you wouldn't even TRY to put the car into 6th gear at 35 mph if it were a stick. Fourth probably, maybe 5th depending on the gearing... but 6th? Never.

#54 of 94 Re: Took a test drive [backy] by bpizzuti

Jul 01, 2012 (5:05 am)

Replying to: backy (Jun 30, 2012 8:37 pm)
They should be able to lock out 6th below a certain speed. Of course, city mileage might take a slight hit...

#55 of 94 Re: Took a test drive [bpizzuti] by backy

Jul 01, 2012 (10:24 am)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jul 01, 2012 5:05 am)
They should be able to lock out 6th below a certain speed.
 
They can... or actually, you can. It's a shiftable automatic.
 
But this is one reason I am looking for a 6MT in my next car. Automatics are getting too "smart" in a way. The focus is all on fuel efficiency, not responsiveness. Although I think even on the Elantra's automatic, it's a "learning" box so if you tend to drive more aggressively over time, it will change the shift points. Not sure about that, but I know prior Hyundai automatics were like that. On a short test drive, I doubt the automatic would be able to adapt to the driver.
 
And of course the MT is more fun, unless one has to fight heavy traffic every day which it seems you do. The Mazda3's 6MT is really sweet. The GT's will need to be pretty great to match it.

Messages Page 6 of 10

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