SouthernGorilla
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- Joined
- Mar 28, 2022
- Messages
- 124
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If you are looking for an economical (but not boring) daily, a "fun" (but not dangerous) ride for your little hellion, or maybe just something with a bit more cargo space for those occasional thrift-shop binges (but not an SUV) I very highly recommend looking for a '13-'17 Hyundai Elantra GT. I'm specifically talking about the 6-speed version, not the automatic. I will never recommend an automatic to anyone. Automatics are the work of the devil.
My wife and I bought her '13 brand new and it's been a phenomenal car. Hyundai is not generally talked about in the car community, but having now had two wives with two Hyundais, I can attest that they are right up there with the best of the imports as far as reliability. Outside routine maintenance, I don't think we've spent $1,000 in repairs over the course of nine years.
Anyhow, what makes this an overlooked gem?
1) Did I mention it's a 6-speed? The factory shifter is smooth, light, and accurate. I can literally lay my arm on the console and shift with 2-3 fingers flicking the stick back and forth.
2) Peppy enough to put a smile on the face of a guy who knows what it's like to drive cars that get sideways. But only ~130 HP, so you can let l'il Billy drive it without worrying too much about him Paul Walkering all over the place. Hyundai nailed the gearing on this thing.
3) Rear seats fold nearly flat to provide tons of cargo space. Those same seats actually fit adult humans when not folded.
4) Selectable electric power steering. Yup, it makes a very noticeable difference in the feel of the steering. I prefer the "hardest" setting, but I don't usually mess with the button since it's her car.
5) Heated seats. Who doesn't love butt warmers? Especially in an "entry level" kinda car.
6) We didn't get the backup cam. It was available, but may have been part of the upgraded stereo or some other package her car didn't come with. We didn't custom-order so I don't know how the packages work. Just mention it because it is possible to find.
7) Total lack of street cred. Your insurance company won't even blink. It's nearly invisible to cops. Nearly.
8) Complete lack of aftermarket support. Plenty of replacement parts, but no zoomy bits to lure one down the path of temptation. It just can't become an accidental project.
9) Plenty of room for bigger dudes. I'm 6'2", 360 and I am perfectly comfortable behind the wheel. You can't say that about a lot of compacts.
Basically it's a little 6-speed go-kart with a big trunk. Can't go wrong with that.
My wife and I bought her '13 brand new and it's been a phenomenal car. Hyundai is not generally talked about in the car community, but having now had two wives with two Hyundais, I can attest that they are right up there with the best of the imports as far as reliability. Outside routine maintenance, I don't think we've spent $1,000 in repairs over the course of nine years.
Anyhow, what makes this an overlooked gem?
1) Did I mention it's a 6-speed? The factory shifter is smooth, light, and accurate. I can literally lay my arm on the console and shift with 2-3 fingers flicking the stick back and forth.
2) Peppy enough to put a smile on the face of a guy who knows what it's like to drive cars that get sideways. But only ~130 HP, so you can let l'il Billy drive it without worrying too much about him Paul Walkering all over the place. Hyundai nailed the gearing on this thing.
3) Rear seats fold nearly flat to provide tons of cargo space. Those same seats actually fit adult humans when not folded.
4) Selectable electric power steering. Yup, it makes a very noticeable difference in the feel of the steering. I prefer the "hardest" setting, but I don't usually mess with the button since it's her car.
5) Heated seats. Who doesn't love butt warmers? Especially in an "entry level" kinda car.
6) We didn't get the backup cam. It was available, but may have been part of the upgraded stereo or some other package her car didn't come with. We didn't custom-order so I don't know how the packages work. Just mention it because it is possible to find.
7) Total lack of street cred. Your insurance company won't even blink. It's nearly invisible to cops. Nearly.
8) Complete lack of aftermarket support. Plenty of replacement parts, but no zoomy bits to lure one down the path of temptation. It just can't become an accidental project.
9) Plenty of room for bigger dudes. I'm 6'2", 360 and I am perfectly comfortable behind the wheel. You can't say that about a lot of compacts.
Basically it's a little 6-speed go-kart with a big trunk. Can't go wrong with that.
