Used 1997 Hyundai Elantra Consumer Reviews
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I will never purchase another Hyundai!
UNHAPPY, 09/01/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Wagon
4 of 4 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.
Best car I've ever had
elalove, 04/14/2012
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
4 of 5 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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See all 0 listingsGreat 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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
This car sucks...I'd rather have a Geo
Sweetlou014, 08/08/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is the worst car I have ever driven. I bought the car with 80,000 miles on it and since then have had nothing but trouble with it. The oxygen sensors went, and they are the most expensive I have ever seen. Diagnostic tests say that the oxygen sensor was the only thing wrong, but the car runs terrible. It skips in gears, revs incredibly high when idling sometimes. Overall, the only good thing I can say about this car is... umm... well... wait... nope, there's nothing good! K I'm done.
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.
Strong little car
Slick, 10/23/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car after I crashed my previous car as a quick fix,The price was right and I figured it was a nice enough looking car. After a few days of driving it, I must say its a very nice car. I look alot better in this than I did in my old car. It gets good milage and has enough power to get and go if you need it.
best of the best
KENJI, 10/25/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
best of the best
first owner
vivand, 01/01/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This has been a good reliable car so far....definitely under valued in the market simply because it is new...
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!
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.
Piece of Junk
dksm, 08/13/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car back in Apr of 02 and it seemed like a good deal for the price. Everything worked great at first but then I started having some problems. First I had to replace the water pump in Jun-02, then a few months later I had to replace the radiator because the original one leaked in about 4 different places. For about the next 7 months I had no problems so I was thinking that everything would be ok, but then in Apr-03 one of the radiator fans went out. About 3 months later the AC stopped working because of a leak in one of the hoses. The AC worked for about month and now it has stopped working again. There is leak somewhere else in the AC system.
Excellent Car
cdbluejr, 10/08/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is the best car I have ever had (I have had a few). Lasted 6 years without any major repairs. Needs engine work now (93,100). Heater quit working last year (summer, 2002).
Great Little Car!
ckn, 11/03/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is my 1st car right after college. I have driven the hell out of it (93,400 mi). I have lots of money to buy a new car but don't because this baby has never given me any real problems. Past problems have been a cracked gasket, broken door hinge, and the CD player laser sometimes messed up. Just now I broke my inside door handle and a fuse keeps blowing so I can't shift out of park (but you can override that). All these things are minor. I replace brakes every 40k mi. Gas mileage is between 25-29 mpg. Yearly maintenance/repair costs (for everything) are approx $500. Can't go wrong there! I saved lots of money w/ this car!
Happy
TMiller, 12/13/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought the car new. I had a problem with the overflow leaking. I think that it was the dealers b.s. though. Their has always been a problem when I fill the gas tank; it puts out a strong gas odor. I have brought it in and of course they don't know what it is. I have had 4/5 new gas caps. I too have a problem with the door handle. The car has been from NY to FL a dozen times and to GA a few too. I have another car now; (due to a growing family, it doesn't hold more than 2 car seats) but the elantra still bails me out in any snow storm. Or any other time I need it and is now driven on a more part time basis by my other half.
No Complaints Here
T-S, 02/19/2004
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought this car brand new in December of 1997. Car has run well and has 133,000 miles and still runs fine. The drivers side door handle broke at about 90K, and the windows fog very easily. The inserts for closing the door on both rear doors pop out often. Mechanically it has held up very well. Change the oil every 3,000 and other maintainance as needed. Overall I am very pleased.
Very Happy
MHnwd, 04/14/2004
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased the SE model new in May of 97, and have been very happy with the overall performance. It's great on gas and very dependable. I have 85,000 miles and it still runs great. It has a strong little 4 cyl and the 5 spd makes it fun to drive. No major problems, only routine maint. It has exceeded my expectations and I have got my money out it!
Good Car
Ech, 07/22/2004
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I had VERY VERY FEW problems with this car. It still runs well. It is a steal for the price.
Good for a while...
Abner11, 04/07/2005
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought the car used in January 2003 with 36,750 for mileage. Had no problems at all for the first year - plus, and I drive A LOT. In August 2004 I had to replace the pulse generator and oil temperature sensor because the check engine light was coming on and the car was racing a little bit off the line. Cost about $400 at the dealership. Then came Christmas 2004 and all hell broke loose. Brought it to the dealer because A) the engine started racing again and B) the exhaust was awfully throaty. Dealership told me I needed a new transmission, a new front pipe and a new manifold because the existing exhaust pieces were rusted. Also, oil pan rusted through and let go, and head gasket blew.
Cheap to Buy, Expensive to Fix
autumn, 03/18/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Car is comfortable and responsive, rides well, and looks good, but when it got to 70K it seemed to start falling apart piece by piece. Trans was replaced at 8,000 miles, then rebuilt at 83K. New battery: 68K. Starter replaced at 70K. Door handle replaced at 75K. Put on new tires after old ones wore out after 30,000 miles, new ignition cylinder at 85K. Speedometer cable and assembly now need replacing, too. Also, the trim surrounding the rear window is starting to fall off. I have been very diligent about maintaining this car as required, yet it still seems to need excessive repairs. I should have bought the manual trans version.
Elantra
ceceipe, 05/27/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Clutch had to be replaced after 60000 miles. Speedometer broke after 60000 miles. Seats are not comfortable. Fuel Economy is ok.
Good...could be better.
Pepe, 03/30/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought my 1997 Elantra in 1996. New model, was skeptacle but have learned to love it. Good reliable car for the money. Definitely not Honda quality, but getting there. Great price for what you get.
Comment
agliettipc, 04/14/2006
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
The car is exelent. It runs very well, confortable, economic, cheap parts