Oh ok, if it was a 79 I was hoping it was sitting in your yard not running so I could take it off your hands.

Sorry to hear about ol' reliable but at least you were ok.

 

Here you go man, felt like I owed you after a premature @-@ on a '79 Corolla! A '74 SR5 hijacked from the net. Wish I had one...

 

Maybe im stating the obvious but isn't the turbo veloster more in line with the price of focuses etc?

 

No contest.

 

So my opinion, for what it's worth, is something like this:

I think Hyundai makes some nice cars. Lots of gizmos, good mechanical quality, very competitive price. I've driven the Sonata. Really loud, strong pull to the right under all conditions (apparently affects about 50% of them, it's normal), but aside from that pretty nice, and who doesn't like turning right, right? But a Hyundai will have poor resale value and look out of date pretty quickly. I frequently recommend Hyundais, Fords, and Toyotas to people who don't care too much about their car and just want something that goes.

On the Veloster, it's ... an Elantra with a buzz cut. Seriously It has somewhat less room, but the rear leg room is actually perfectly fine; it's the headroom which poses an issue. Aside from that, same engine and transmission. The suspension is sporty, supposedly, but gets poor reviews from drivers.

The best explanation I have heard is this: Honda didn't come right out of the gate making responsible midsize cars that handle like they're on rails. They entered F1 and promptly lost badly, but they learned; it doesn't happen overnight. Hyundai's test track has plenty of turns but it is built completely on on a flat surface, so there are no elevation changes to unsettle the car. Hyundai makes some nice cars, but good to drive isn't really a good description - more like "drives fine ... what's the difference between good and just OK again?"

I really do recommend Hyundais to people. I think the Veloster is a perfectly fine competitor to the Fit, depending on what you are looking for in a car. But I would not say it's comparable to the Mazda3 - that has a ride sensation comparable to a 3-series, which is to say, in a completely different league from the Fit. Even my Fit Sport is a bit mushy in the turns

 

Keep your foot in it and it's just fine.

 

I was on the fence for a Mazda 3--I drove two new ones and really liked them. I think the Skyactive tech on the new one kind of hurt the car though. I still think the veloster is more a competitor for the Mazda 3, Ford Focus and other compacts. I know the veloster is B-spec but it just doesn't have what I think of as a B-spec price tag--though the Mini is b-spec and 19,000+

*facepalm*

I give up...

 

Well said. Looking to manufacturers that have decades worth of motorsport history (with proven success) is often the right way to go. You can feel some of that heritage in even the most baseline models. It's no mistake the cars with this sort of pedigree get awarded by automotive publications year after year. Honda, Porsche, Mazda, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Ford just to name the ones that come to mind. The difference with the Japanese cars is their cheaper running costs and available entry level models.

Last time I checked Ayrton Senna didn't drive a Hyundai.


And when did they start pronouncing it "Hon-Day"
Back in the day it used to be pronounced more like it was spelled.
I'm sure there are plenty of car illeterates who don't know the difference between a Hyundai and a Honda. The badge is even similar.

I just can't wait until they start selling Chinese cars here.

 

hyundai resale values have increased dramatically in the past 10 years, and id expect they will continue this trend.

i dont know where you heard the V suspension was "mushy". the only complaints on the forum has been its quite the opposite...too much so. it feels very much like its on rails, but the suspension is quite the opposite of mushy....a bit harsh really. handling vs the elantra is night and day...as is the steering, which is weighted nicely and is far less vague than the elantra.

transmission wise, i will speak to the manual only. the gear ratios are different and the V's shifter is totally different...shorter throws and smoother action (like what some of my old hondas used to be).

they also have completely different engines. the veloster has the 1.6 direct injected engine, the elantra 1.8 non DI engine...the former being more fuel efficient in the real world by all accounts (i got 40+ in the v easily).

the interior of the v is vastly different, the suspension and shifting is different (very much so). they dont share the same engine.

id say calling the veloster an elantra with a buzzcut would be entirely misleading.

 

That's basically how I feel. I think racing pedigree does matter in a sense. I honestly think the influx of Korean cars to the US market is more about price than it is anything else. Really the Velostar is the first Korean car I have seen friends get mildly excited about. Consumer Reports did show that Hyundai's quality had improved in the last 10 years but it still isn't as good as Honda and Toyota.

One thing I've also noticed is there are virtually no 10-15 year old Kias or Hyundais here in Chicago. There are a lot more 5-7, and about half of them are falling apart. I don't know if that means these cars simply don't last 10 years or what. I will say my Dads 03 Tiburon is a piece though. He is @ 76,000 miles and the car is starting to rattle, the suspension is shot, and his brakes don't seem to work that well either. That car is a daily driver that he commutes in--not abused or anything. My old Mitsubishi was going at 120,000 miles and the suspension was fine--plus I drove the SHIT out of that car.

 

If you think that two cars of about the same size built on the same platform with the same engine are going to be more than slightly different, then I suppose it is misleading. I think it's about as accurate as calling the CRV a Civic that's been jacked up six inches and given 4wd, which is frequently how I described my car to people when I had one.

To be entirely accurate I said that the Fit Sport suspension was a little mushy, not the Hyundai. What little I have heard about the Veloster suspension is that, like many sporty cars made by people who don't have a lot of experience with the breed, the suspension is firm but somehow still doesn't feel like it controls body motion that well when pushed. I think it's probably not mushy.

You should test drive one and report back to us .. I'm interested to hear. I think it's kind of a cool car personally, because Hyundai was willing to make it unique.

Also - you should buy what you want and afford. Don't let anyone's opinion on the Internet (or elsewhere) do anything more than inform you.

 

I am kind of impressed at the power and gas mileage. I think of the Veloster Turbo targeting the GTI, while the Focus ST aimed at the Mazdaspeed 3. Kind of hoping Ford releases the Fiesta ST in the USA maybe we see the trend like in the 80s of hot hatchbacks and the only hatchback Honda offers is the FIT.

 

I thought the Veloster was based on the Accent. Which now one of Consumer Reports top cars.

 

again, not the same engine in the elantra and veloster. the suspension makes the veloster feel like at any speed it will hold itself on a smooth surface. only the tires fail to inspire confidence. what is lacking around turns is a suspension that does not handle bumps in a confident manner.

i dont need to go drive one, as i owned one from november through march.

id say for the $18000 that i paid, it felt far more upscale than anything out there for the price.

sadly (or maybe not so much considering how much im enjoying my current ride) the veloster was totalled in late march. after much ruminating on the small car market, i decided to get a fiat 500. where the veloster was fun only when i really pushed it, the 500 is fun all the time. i also get better mileage with less effort.

its the first car that really brings me back to the days of my favorite car, a 1980 VW Rabbit....with the added benefit of this being infinitely safer and has some modern conveniences.

 

WHOA! Totaled after 4 months!!! What happened? Only if you care to share...

 

Well actually Ayrton was 99% skill and 1% car so that really doesn't add much to your statement.

Also, the guy narrating/speaking in the hyundai commercials pronounces it "Hon-Day" because most americans can't pronounce it properly. In korean tongue which is pronounced "Hyun-dae" not "Hun-dai" and not "Hun-day".

I'm not trying to force any "pride of nation" crap or anything but, in pure automotive manufacturer evolution, Hyundai has come such a long way since the days of the '88 Excel.

The poor reliability and bad... everything of the past has been replaced with an original design theme and advancements in engineering and still offering value to consumers. I have to admit Hyundai is not doing any calibration on the steering feel and throttle input for the US market. Korean (men) like their cars with a light steering feel and abrupt pedal response as alot of the folks in the city desire those traits when buying a new car.

I used to make fun of korean cars because they were of such poor quality and the designs were near identical if not knock offs of the japanese counterparts. I used to think the 10yr warranty was because people would rather throw their Hyundais away if in chance it had any drivetrain problems. This was my thinking for the longest time, right until they redesigned the Sonata and I got a glimpse of the prototype. I knew the Sonata at first glance with its features and drivetrain combo would be a huge success in the US. The design appeals to most, the features and base engine best the Camry and Accord.

I know for a fact all Hyundai and Kia cars and SUVs have minor flaws and tuning faults but, I can see them in the next 5-6yrs when the new models of the (current line of Hyundais and Kias) come out it'll give all of the japanese car makers a run for their money.

I heard the CEO of Hyundai is planning to do what Honda and Toyota did to Ford and Chevy in the 80's and do the same to Toyota and Honda.

To add one more thing, I'm a big fan of Honda but, their entire line of cars are getting uglier as each new model comes to market. I also read in Motortrend magazine that the new civic's design lacks consumer appeal that honda will update the design next year (1 year after it's release). I really hate the new civic's design and the cheapness that oozes from the exterior and interior. In my opinion hondas looked best from '88-'95, '96-'99 civics, all preludes, the s2000, and the only design I like currently is the Odyssey (which is really sad).

 

t-boned (the passenger side luckily). woman driving the offending xterra had been on her cell phone and stupidly told the cop "i didnt notice the light wasnt green anymore"......word for word.

im happy to be in the 500 so i dont get too upset about it. if this car got toalled id be none too happy.

 

Hyundai should be able to knock off Toyo and Honda pretty easily. Look at the model line-up. Also notice that Honda quality has been slowly but surely slipping. Toyo has been boring for a REAL long time. Drove one of their Camry's to San Diego...What a miserable, painful ride for everyone in the car. Honda needs some good designers, and a management that wants to build cars that people want. Toyo (Scion) is coming up with some neat stuff. so they may be a harder target to knock off than Honda or Nissan.

 

I will bash Hyundai. I owned a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe and from day one, we had minor issues (check engine light) to medium issue (oxygen sensor) to major issues (subframe rust). I didn't drive the Hyundai everyday which was ironic. We bought the car for the 10 yr warranty. Fortunately, all were fixed under warranty, but the nearest dealership was 15 miles from me and that was hard to always factor in. 4 weeks ago, it needed a $2k repair and it was out of warranty not covered under the 10 yr powertrain warranty. I donated it to charity and never looked back. I will get a tax write off for the value of the car.

I never once considered looking at any Hyundais after I junked my 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe. I had a friend 3 years ago, whose 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe transmission blew on him on vacation. He was forgiving and traded it in at a Hyundai dealership and bought a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. He has no problems with it so far.

While I have only own my 2012 Honda Fit sport for 10 days, it runs great. Note after owning the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe for a week, I got the "check engine light" and had to take it in for a repair.

I think Hyundai is overrated in my opinion.

 

Honda or Hyundai, they certainly can't touch Fiat for pretty design .. that is a nice looking 500!