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Used 1997 Hyundai Elantra Consumer Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
26 reviews
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1.88 out of 5 stars

I will never purchase another Hyundai!

UNHAPPY, 09/01/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Wagon
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

I would not recommend this car to even my worst enemy. The transmission has failed twice. All of the paint (original paint) is chipping off. It makes horrible banging noises when turning and no mechanic (not even Hyundai dealer mechanics)can figure out why. The steering column shakes (another "feature" thank no one can seem to fix). We have done all we can to no avail. I will never EVER buy another.

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5 out of 5 stars

Best car I've ever had

elalove, 04/14/2012
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
3 of 4 people found this review helpful

I've owned my 1997 hyundai for 5 years-- I bought it with 116, 000kms on it and it's at 270, 000 kms right now I originally paid 2500$ for it. This car is manual and I replaced the clutch in the first year because I was a new driver and I burnt it out and it only cost me 600$. In the winter I get through heavy snow that trucks can't even get through. Everyone who calls this car the little tug that could or a trooper is RIGHT! This is the most reliable, sweetest little car of all time. I'm SO SO SO depressed that my baby is at the end of it's life. in 5 years I've had ZERO engine repairs (it's a 15 year old car). I adore this thing!

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4.5 out of 5 stars

good litte cheapie

den, 04/18/2008
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Bought from an older gentleman 6 yrs ago some just general maint. Both my power Windows had to be fixed the car now has 61k and still works good don't know how long I will keep it the trade value is poor to say the least so as long as I can I will keep it.

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3.63 out of 5 stars

Good all around car

Nathan Toke, 06/12/2007
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I bought this as my first car in graduate school and it has served me well for three years and 20k miles. It has been reliable and easy to drive. The interior is really crappy as was the case with 1990's hyundais... many plastic parts are wearing down on the interior. The window motors start to die at 80k. Some of this could be enhanced because of sitting so long in the desert (phoenix) sun. The outside of the car is nice (although the paint has worn on the grill and the hub caps look pretty poor these days. The visibility in this car is supreme! which makes this car fun and easy to drive. It is better to drive on the highway at speeds between 60-75(33mpg) than the city (21mpg).

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3.75 out of 5 stars

Almost my last

CloseCall, 02/12/2010
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

This car pretty much drove me from high school through the Navy and nearly 6 years of DC area drivers. Its made long trips from Virginia to Texas and back. It spent good stretches just sitting parked for months at a time and nearly daily trips verging on 70 miles both ways. At 130,000 miles I had to finally get the transmission replaced after having let it sit nearly a year without getting the oil changed. I would still be driving it today if that where possible, but alas snow/ice/and a plow truck combined to take it away from me in rough wreck. It was good. not always comfortable or good looking but it served well.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

fun little car

mike, 09/14/2005
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I bought this car with the idea of getting a couple of years work out of it. I've now owned it 4 1/2 years and 140,000 miles later i plan to keep it until it breathes it's last breath. The car had 20k on it when I bought it. I took it down and had all engine/trans fluids changed to Mobil 1. A great ride, precise handling and enough power to make this car a joy to own. I am teaching my daughter to drive and now she wants one like mine. I think I'll buy her a 2000 Elantra so I will have the warranty. The only problem I've had is a switch in the auto tranny. After that was fixed , no problems. I average 33 mpg hiway and 28 city.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Great Little Car

Richard135, 07/27/2008
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Bought the car off of Ebay, (after examining it), and did some repairs as expected. This car is a trooper. It has never failed me and even when it needed something replaced, it STILL got me where I needed to go. When I bought it the windows were darkly tinted and believe that has saves the interior, which is in real good shape as well. I did get the 5-speed, as I love manual transmissions, even in the city. I get an average of 33 mpg to which I am thrilled with. This includes using the a/c half of the time.

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4 out of 5 stars

Little Tug That Could

Kao, 01/09/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

It's second hand and WAS in great condition. Great value. I highly recommend Hyundai's 1997+ Elantra and Tiburon- no experiences with their other cars. Even got 35mpg cruising at 75-80mph. The alignment was slightly off due to my brother's excellent driving into a truck. DEFINETLY NOT a mountain racer- sad to say, even my mom's 1992 AUTOMATIC Corolla handles better overall! I've tried emergency lane changes at 40mph. The rear kicks too hard; damn physics and weight transfer! Now if the car was lowered 1.25" with stiffer springs and anti- sways, slap some 16"x7" wheels . . . Just a great car, really!

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3.88 out of 5 stars

Gets me there

Runabout, 10/03/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This car has transported me to and fro and never broken down on me. Its got responsive trans (manual) goes pretty fast and gets good mileage. Too bad it depreciates quickly. Only problems were with a recall for fuel tank vacuum pressure that took the dealer a while to diagnose/fix properly.

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4.25 out of 5 stars

Nice for the Price

Phredd in CT, 02/02/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

It's the SE edition, with driving lights, spoiler, alloy rims...Bought my car in 2000 with 23k on it. Was just declared a total loss due to a hit and run on Christmas eve... The car now has 67,000 miles on it, and, besides a shorted out wire harness 3 weeks after I bought it, I have had no problems with it.

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