Hyundai Elantra, what a piece of shit.

[we can do it]

Stuck with a rental, feels like it's going to fall apart. Sloppy suspension, shitty automatic.

[liberal N proud]

1. Rented one once, it howled as I went down the road

Reported it when I returned it, they said they all did that.

[we can do it]

2. It did that too! The headlights both look like the plastics failing.

Only 31,000 miles on it. The outlet/lighter doesn't work either. Just yikes,

[tblue37]

18. Maybe it was crying in shame. nt

[Calculating]

3. Econocars generally do suck

They're built to be as cheap as possible and little else. Fun and comfort are afterthoughts.

[we can do it]

4. It's supposed to be midsize. Huge trunk.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

26. I wonder if the problem with econo car rentals

is that those ones are made extra cheap.

I think Honda is the only major car company that does not do fleet sales (sales to the rental car companies). I sort of wish they did since I drive a Honda in real life, but what really irritates me as that I cannot rent a car with a stick shift. Only %#*@ automatics, which I totally despise.

[madinmaryland]

5. My wife had a Hyundai Sonata and loved it, until our daughter trashed it.

We replaced it with a Chevy Malibu which was an absolute piece of shit. We replaced that about a year ago with a Fiat Pop 500 which she loves. I have my 2012 Toyota Corolla which handles like a charm. My brother has my mother's 1993 Toyota Corolla and it is still running at 250,000 miles.

[we can do it]

9. My 2010 Subaru Outback Sport is home in garage.

Has 3 times the mileage and drives like a solid new car.

[malaise]

10. Toyota Corolla

my favorite car.

[gainesvillenole]

13. Love My Malibu

Sorry to hear about your Malibu.... bought my Malibu 6 years ago and still love it! 2011 model built in Michigan by UAW workers, looks like new and still runs like the day I drove it new off the lot! ❤️

[madinmaryland]

15. We bought a 2011, also. It was a POS, though some of the problems may not have

been the car itself. There was the fucking annoyance of paying $185 to get a headlight replaced. Most cars you just had to unplug and pull out the lightbulb, but the malibu you have to take the whole front end off to get to the lightbulb. Fucking idiotic design.

[mockmonkey]

21. Toyota Corolla

Room mate bought a 2014 Corolla. The low beam is LED and was out and one place gave an estimate of $800. Same issue, you have to remove the bumper. Luckily there was proof that the beam was out before he bought it so the dealer had to eat it.

LED is great if you buy it new they replace it but if it's used you're fucked.

[mucifer]

27. wow an $800 bulb blew out in 3 years? I would think it would last a lot longer.

[mockmonkey]

40. Lifetime

It's suppose to last the lifetime (whatever that is) of the vehicle so if you are the original owner and it goes out Toyota pays the cost. If you buy it used you're screwed. You have to replace the whole housing to replace the stupid bulb. You can buy a cheaper version on-line I'm sure but it still sucks. I see brand new cars with LED taillights that have a some sections not working anymore. Yeah they'll last ten years my ass.

[2naSalit]

17. My 1992 Toyota

4Runner just turned over 222000miles, still love it. Toyotas rule.

[hatrack]

41. Toyota Recalls 1993 Camry Due To Fact That Owners Really Should Buy Something New

TOKYO—Saying it was simply time for drivers to move on, Toyota Motor Corp. issued a recall of its entire 1993 Camry model line Wednesday due to the fact that its owners really should have bought something new by now. “We understand that the 1993 Camry was tremendously dependable, but, honestly, there’s just no excuse for driving a 22-year-old car at this point,” said Toyota spokesman Haruki Kinoshita, adding that, with all the advances in automotive technology that have taken place, no one really had any business driving a vehicle for more than two decades.

“We’re not saying you have to buy a new 2015 Camry or splurge on a flashy new hybrid, or even that your new car has to be a Toyota at all. But the bottom line is that you need to start fresh, however you choose to do so.” While Toyota is reportedly confining its recall to the 1993 Camry, it also issued a warning to owners of 1994 to 1998 models alerting them to the fact that they were really starting to push it.

EDIT/END

http://www.theonion.com/article/toyota-recalls-1993-camry-due-fact-owners-really-s-50480

[2naSalit]

49. Funny!

But I hope this is the last vehicle I ever buy. Had it since '04 at 105K miles. The paint is still shiny and I have only had a garage once for about a year since that purchase.

[hatrack]

57. My wife had a Corolla that she bought new back in the fall of 1992 . . .

When the end finally came (summer 2015) it was starting to rust through (no garage) on the undercarriage and lower door edges.

Because of a control cable failure at 60,000 miles, we could only estimate the precise mileage, but it was somewhere around 235,000.

Still started right up, though, winter or summer.

[SharonAnn]

23. I rented a Sonata after 9/11 and drove to TN. It was an awesome car and smooth ride.

[kwassa]

34. I love my Malibu.

2005 Malibu Maxx, very fun to drive, great off-the-line torque. Great handling, minor problems.

My lightbulb replacement cost me $15, the cost of the bulb. I did it myself. Just a couple of screws.
-

[sarcasmo]

38. Plenty of Corolla's made 250,000, Honda Accords too.

[JNelson6563]

39. My fiat is great!

I was originally going to buy a Chevy, a small one. I went to the lot, opened the door of one and it felt like an aluminum can. I went up the road and checked out the Fiats. Solid! Sooooo different! bought one and love it!

[Initech]

6. I rented one, gigantic piece of shit!

I rented a Chevy Cruze before that, much much better car!

[we can do it]

7. I'd have happily taken a Cruz instead.

[MichMan]

8. Just had a rental last week

I just had one as a rental last week; I thought it was OK for what it was

[we can do it]

14. Had a Nissan Versa before that was a good car.

Basic, but didn't feel like it was falling apart. And we drove the Beartooth highway and Yellowstone with it. One good thing, when we go to Glacier NP in August I will refuse any Hyundai junk.

[crazycatlady]

24. I had one of those as a rental

I actually liked the thing. Very no frills but it did the job.

[CanonRay]

11. I had a Sonata and really liked it.

Not great in snow, however.

[Equinox Moon]

12. Friend just leased her 3rd one.

[haele]

16. We just got a Hyundai Santa Fe used.

We rented one for a halfway across the country trip to see my Mom and loved it, so when our old vehicle got to the "do we overhaul, or do we replace stage, we researched and got one we hope will last another ten years - or at least a year or two after the payments are complete.
However, I have read where there are issues with the structural longevity of the body of Hyundai vehicles in general (they are manufactured with a lighter composite, not metal body), and as with all cars made within the past decade, quality assurance has been sacrificed for the bottom line profit margin.

Haele
(Edited as phone spell check wanted to throw an apostrophe before the s in a plural word...)

[Freddie]

32. DH is happy with his Santa Fe

Very sad how we got it, my BIL died suddenly last fall and since we needed a car (gave our wonderful old Camry to our son) we paid off the note to BIL's car so his widow would have one less thing to worry about. It's a great car, a 2011.
Some of the next generation of Santa Fe's (2013 and newer) have engine problems. Friend got a new engine from the dealer (on recall) for her 2013.

[haele]

35. Yes, ours is a 2010.

Apparently used as the family vacation vehicle (only 60k miles after six years and a pretty nice towing kit had been installed), so they took it to the dealership for regular maintenance twice a year. One owner, quite the deal.
If only it were lime green, it would be perfect...

Haele

[Warren DeMontague]

19. I don't know about the Elantra, but the Sonata is great in my experience.

Hyundai makes good cars, as far as I'm concerned.

[BSdetect]

20. We have two Kia Forte Exs since 2010

Zero problems other than one or two very minor recalls that were fixed promptly.

Still waiting for two Toyota Corolla recalls to happen though it runs great since 2007. Low mileage though.

[onethatcares]

22. wife bought an Accent

it has an accent on being a p.o.s. that can't get out of it's own way. So many blindspots that you take your life in your hands everytime you change lanes.

She was in a hurry an didn't want to listen to me.

btw. it has a can of fix a flat and an inflator as it's spare.

[mucifer]

28. My Prius is also has the can of fix and flat.

[SomethingNew]

53. My car came with neither.

It does have run-flats but still-I'd prefer a spare so I don't have to gamble that driving on a flat all the way to somewhere with the right replacements won't ruin the wheel.

[Cairycat]

25. Husband had an accident in an Elantra

he let it drift to the left and lost control. The car snagged on a mileage post and flipped over. He and our son had some cuts from the broken windshield, but that was all. (This was on the highway, BTW)

So he bought a Sonata to replace it. It gets great mileage. Not the very best in snow, but okay. It is great for his daily commute and longer trips.

I drive an Accent. It gets decent gas mileage, and works fine for my limited commuting.

I had a Nissan Versa as a rental a couple years ago. It was much louder than my Accent, and did not feel as solid or handle as well.

[MedusaX]

29. Earlier this month I Rented a 2016 Elantra in Phoenix to drive to Prescott

Ride was Nice & smooth...

80mph was the highway sweet spot...
anything between 50 & 75 was ok but had to be careful because easy to be back at 80 before I knew it.....

Drove Phoenix to prescott & back plus a couple of days worth of short commutes from hotel to ERAU while in Prescott

Readout showed 37mpg avg and used just shy of 1/2 tank of gas....

I was pleasantly surprised ....

wouldn't buy one....
but not due to performance ......

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

30. The only really bad rental car I ever had was a Mustang.

OMG it was awful. I picked it up at the Portland OR airport and had it for a week. I was driving around much of the state, and I wish I'd stayed in Portland so I could have exchanged it for something else. I know longer recall exactly what was so terrible (this was ten years ago), but one day in rural Oregon I pulled into some sort of store, and two guys in a genuine beater next to me looked at it admiringly and said, "Nice car." I told them that if I owned it I'd swap it on the spot for their car but alas, it was a rental.

And a comment on buying cars: I'm sometimes amazed that people don't pay attention to much when they test drive a car before they buy. I was once buying a car, and the absolutely most fun car to drive was the PT Cruiser in a stick shift. I only drive a stick. Anyway, I'd have bought it but it had really serious blind spots on both back sides of the car. Really too bad because it was genuinely fun to drive. Oh, well. At least there are lots and lots of makes and models of cars out there.

[we can do it]

31. I drive a 2010 Outback Sport (Impreza) 5 speed.

I love that car. Solid, safe, good visibility and handling. Honestly this piece of crap rental drives worse than any of my college clunkers, most of which were 10-15 years old.

[opiate69]

33. Well.. it is a rental..

Not like the rental companies spring for all the bells and whistles, and one can just imagine how many hard miles previous renters have put on them.

[appleannie1943]

36. We have a Sonata and we love it. Comfortable, good on gas, easy to drive, lots of power, no problem

[Atman]

37. Generalities about rental cars are worthless.

You don't know what other drivers have done to the cars or how they've been maintained. We recently bought our third Hyundai, this time a Sonata. Our '06 Elantra still runs great with 150,000 miles on it. No major repairs, just maintenance. Our '07 Santa Fe has 200,000 miles on it, still looks and runs great, also with nothing but maintenance. Since they're both paid for, and we thought it we wise to have a new car just in case, we went for the Sonata 2.0T Limited/Ultimate. One of the nicest cars I've ever driven. Drives like a dream. Our "luxury car" owning friends agree is it much nicer than their Infinitis. Just saying. Oh, and the Sonata is rated at our near the top in pretty much and major new car reviews for mid size sedans (Elantra is not considered a mid-size except by rental car companies).

[OriginalGeek]

42. Just adding to the Sonata love

My wife's car is a 2011 we bought 3 years ago. They even extended our warranty to the full 10 year 100k miles as if we bought it new. It's been a great car so far. Smooth comfy ride, speedy enough for Florida highways and good gas mileage. We like it so much that I hope the rumors are true they are thinking about getting into mid-sized pick-up market. I use a pickup for work and will be wantIng to replace in the near-ish future. Chevy Colorado is also in the game but I'll seriously look at a Hyundai pickup if they start making them.


The funniest part is we test drover a Hyundai in the late 80s when they first started showing up here and it seemed like such a POS we said we'd never get one of those. They've come a long way since then.

[rufus dog]

43. I bought a 2011 Elantra for the kids

First daughter drove it, then turned it over to her sister, has about 70k on it right now. No real issues. Some cheap plastic interior parts but nothing has broken. A dog going up the hills but hey they were/are HS and College girls so they shouldn't be driving fast.

Oldest daughter got a 2016 after graduating, improved interior and horse power. My comment, for a 17k car, not friggen bad at all. The newer model also has improved gas mileage even with the improved horse power.

[cwydro]

44. Sorry bout your rental.

My Elantra is a great car.

It was a gift, so I didn't choose it. But I've had a lot of cars in my life, and this is one of the best. A little gem with nary a problem, and I drive a lot.

[lovemydogs]

45. I had a Hyundai. They are crap. I love my Kia Soul

I hated the Hyundai. After it fell apart my husband got a sporty ford focus that has run like a top.
I got a Kia Soul. It is a fantastic and fun little thing.

[RockaFowler]

46. I've had 2 Elantras

Love them both

I just traded in my 2013 for a 2017 and I love all the new upgrades.

They fixed a few things that bothered me about the 2013 and now I just love this car.

Plus I do a ton of driving. The MPG is AWESOME!

[cwydro]

47. I drive a lot too,

Only problem my car has given me is the damn check engine light - seems to come on right before inspection time every year.

Otherwise, it's a great little car.

[Lee-Lee]

48. The US Government has been buying the Hybrid Hyundais

Sonatas mostly for the GSA fleet. Everyone I talk to about them gives marginal reviews at best.

I don't get why they went with an import over domestic models.

[jmowreader]

58. You can blame my father for that one

He was a Government Employee. He got drafted to serve in the Korean War (he was a surgical technician in a MASH unit - yes, he loves the show). After he got out of the Army he went to work for the Bureau of Public Roads and eventually got promoted to Surveyor. When the BPR closed down, he moved to the Forest Service's Engineering department, was made a Road Locator, and designed logging roads until he retired.

His two main tools in the locating business were a trail bike and a chain saw. At the time, the government had a very strict rule: If a US firm makes a particular item, it must be bought from a US firm. Trail bikes were no problem: no US manufacturer made them, so the Forest Service was free to buy Japanese ones and they bought Honda Trail 90s. Chain saws were a different story: at the time, there were only five brands of saw available in the US - Homelite (a US brand then), McCulloch (also a US brand), Stihl (a German brand), Husqvarna (Swedish) and Jonsered (also Swedish). Homelites and McCullochs were terrible and Dad didn't want one, so he visited both the chain saw dealers in town and learned Stihl had built a factory in the US. So...he wrote this nice flowery letter of justification and the government changed the rule: any company that has established a US subsidiary and a manufacturing plant in the US qualifies as a US manufacturer. (He got his saw too. And from the day he got it to the day he retired, he kept it in his office when he wasn't in the field so no one would steal it.)

Dad's rule has been picked up by the Defense Department, which is why Our Troops can go to war with Belgian machine guns, Swedish bazookas and Italian pistols.

So if you want to blame someone for the government buying Korean cars, point your finger at a Forest Service employee from Idaho who wanted a chain saw that would start when it needed to.

[okieinpain]

50. im a nissan person. n/t.

[CountAllVotes]

51. 2001 Honda Accord

Still driving my car. Have had one repair since I bought it new in 2002!

[underpants]

52. Those are just about the perfect car

I have a Honda hybrid (knocks on wood) and it is a really good car.

[CountAllVotes]

55. It works well for me

As a disabled person, I sure use the cruise control on it a lot. The fix I had to have done was an oxidizer (part of the smog system) that went out on it about 5 years ago.

It now has only 51K on it.

I really like the moon roof on it and it can sure carry a load. It gets about 25 mpg with is just fine w/me being I don't drive much any more. I do keep it up. The place I bought new tires from rotates them for free as often as you like which I just had done this past weekend. indeed!

I'm hoping it to be the last car I ever own!

[joeybee12]

54. That's my rental right now...it feels cheap

The insurance company is covering it because of my accident. Ironically, t he guy who hit me was driving an Elantra.

[Hawaii Hiker]

56. I often rent Sonata's from Budget when on trips

I like the Sonata - good gas mileage, fun to drive, perfect size car...