Used 2001 Hyundai Elantra Consumer Reviews
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A Great Experience All Around
This is my first experience owning a foreign car and so far, it's been a great one. My Elantra has been a ot of fun to drive. I have 20K miles on it and the only problem so far has been a burned out headlight which was easily replaced. I have the smooth shifting 5 speed and get great gas mileage. My friends call it the K Beamer (as in Korean BMW). Great looking exterior fit and finish, a very functional and well though out interior and a larger then expected trunk. My Hyundai dealer has also been a pleasure to work with. I plan to by the larger Sonata for the family later this year. Way to go Hyundai!
Excellent starter car
My parents bought me this car as my first vehicle. A lot more reliable and fun to drive than my sisters Mitsubishi Mirage. This car was bought with only 33,000 miles this past May for only 5,000. I've had no huge problems. This car is still under warrenty. Good gas milage, never under 30 mpg. Peppy on take off, but doesn't accelerate too great on hills. Tires worn almost out on 35,000 miles. A bit shaky when you hit 65, I think because it needs new tires. The tape player doesn't work and isn't covered under warrenty. Great feature of door handle in the trunk, so if someone is stuck in the trunk, they can open it.
- GT 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $2,290382 mi away
- GLS SedanMSRP: N/A865 mi away
Great car, best seats in the biz
Great car! We were looking for an "appliance" car for my wife to drive to offset the bad ride my Neon R/T was rapidly becoming. However, I refused to jump on the Honda bandwagon after seeing how decontented and bland Civics had become. We're very pleased. It's all we expected, and really fun to drive too.
What a piece of $@*# !!!!!!!
Four months after purchase: rattling noises, lost a lot of pick-up, and car kicking when going past 30mph. Dealer determined: "all components are functioning to factory standards." Brought car back 5 times and not fixed. Two weeks ago, car lost more pick-up, rattling strongly when in idle, lost almost all power going from 45 to 60mph. Went to my mechanic and asked him to check out. Mechanic asessed that there is something wrong with the fuel injectors and the trans and the air filtering system is not functioning properly (water seeping in). We'll see what the dealership says to that!
Buy one!
I haven't spent a cent on repairs, or had it in the shop other than for regular maintenance. You will have a hard time finding a better value for you dollar than this auto. On the highway I average 35 mpg and in mixed driving (hard) I average 25 mpg. The a/c and heating systems are the best in any car I have owned, including several luxury cars.
Loved My Elantra
Had my elantra for 8.5 years and had NO problems. Started up every time. Performed routine scheduled maintenance only. I bought it straight out of college. Would not have just upgraded, except I wanted 4 wheel drive after a bad winter last year. Was worth way more to me than trade in value. Gave it to friends in need of a car.
Elantra
We have had this car for two years. I think it is a great car for the money. It isn't fast but has enough power to pull 4 adults up a hill without feeling like you will not make it. With dual front and side air bags and a nice interior there is no reason to pay more for a Honda or Toyota unless you just like the name.
Great car
We had a 1 year old Elantra of the previous style and liked the redesign so much we traded. Extra safety was appealing. The air works much better than the older Elantra and power is better. Only minor problems so far: Dealer has replaced 2 passenger side headlights at no charge. Battery croaked and they put in a new one, again NC. Great car for the money. We are looking at a Scion XB now though.
great car for money
I have always driven honda's and chevy's..this car is compareable to the honda and much better than the cavalier. The safety features. and warrantee are outstanding. It could use disk rear brakes and ABS should be standard. Would not hesitate to buy a new one when time comes.
2001 Elantra GT- Zoom Zoom Zoom
Best bang for the buck! I do alot of traveling and the interior features are great. Good zip in 2nd-5th gears
Pleasant Surprise
After considering a few choices for compact cars, I narrowed it down to the Civic and the Elantra. I went with the Elantra because of price and given that it had received good reviews, I wasn't too worried. I was definitely surprised when I actually saw what it had to offer. Side airbags, 2.0L 140-hp DOHC engine, power everything, heated mirrors, excellent storage compartments, tilt height adjust driver seat, slick gearbox, etc. I bought mine with 31000 miles for $6,200. Similar civics were running around anywhere from $9-11,000. Obviously Hondas have better resale, but how much more can it depreciate from 6 grand? Great car, good build quality.
It's been Great
This was my second new car purchase and I had been researching the Elantra for a while. I was really impressed with the standard features, reviews by other owners and the price. It has been reliable with no real problems. The only complaints I have are the drivers seat doesn't adjust very well. It seems to move with me like it is not latching very well. I haven't had a chance to take back for a check-up on that. My other is just about the dealership. Their selling practices are a little "high pressure". Other than that, I am very pleased with my Hyundai Elantra.
EXCELLENT CAR
Wow I could not believe how good of a job Hyundai did on this car when I had first got it. The car drove effortlessly down the road cruising at 65 mph. It handled bumpy and uneven roads darn well. The seats were very comfortable and supportive, plus they were easy to adjust. And I loved the audio system. Mine was equipped with the optional CD player, ABS, and moonroof. Yet I gaot the Elantra for right under $15,000! try doing that with a Civic. I had the car for 3 years. I can honestly say that I didn't had any problems with the car. I was shocked because I haven't had any car for 3 years without ANY problems!I never thought my 1st would be Hyundai!
Great Car, Excellent Value
Paid $10,745 out-the-door for a base model w/ A/T and mud guards. No problems in 15,400-miles. Get 32-MPG with my approx. 80% highway commute. Impressive number of standard features and nice interior (power w/l/m, adjustable driver's seat, plenty of storage compartments, padded armrests, hooks on the floor mats, map lights, overhead storage compartment for glasses, vanity mirrors on both sun visors, retractable cup holder for rear seat). Very good build quality. Nice styling. Powerful engine. Very good ride (easy to handle, easy to modulate brakes, soaks up bumps well, little engine and road noise intrudes cabin). Great car, excellent value.
Not worth it
Check engine light was on and had to take it to dealer 4 times for fixing. The canister was leaking (imagine, on a 1 year old car!). 1 month back the cassette player got screwed. Resale value really sucks. Major service required every 6 months. Spent almost $600 on service the 1st year!! If you consider all this and the fuel economy, buying a Honda/Toyota really works out cheaper. Do your math, find out the true cost. Buy this ONLY if upfront cost is really important to you. Even then, I would recommend buying a used Honda/Toyota instead of a new Hyundai.
COOL RIDE I would recommend it
I bought my GT with 30k miles on it amidst frowns from my friends. It has been an awesome ride and I have taken 500mile trips a couple of times with no problems. My RR wheel hub assembly has been replaced twice in this year under warranty, my manifold was replaced during my timing belt replacement. My headlamps go out every 3 months, whenever I go through a car wash water seeps in the rear seats right above the trunk. I have a very aggressive driving habit, but the car just compels me to drive faster and harder because it handles extremely great.
Love My Elantra.
This is by far the best value for my money. I bought this car on impulse and am so glad I did. I got a fully loaded, well designed, comfortable, great looking car. I have never had any problems. I put several miles on my car over and 8 month period and it never let me down. The brakes had a few problems but I did so much driving it was bound to happen. It handles so well even in the snow. For a 4 cylinder engine its quite peppy. Best of all I got everything I wanted for a very reasonable price. If your looking for a well desinged car with a ton of features for a great price, then buy the Elantra.
Great Car
I bought mine 2 years ago, and i been driving the wheels off the car, I have put about 70 000 miles on it making it 97000 total. I have to be honest, iam impressed on how well the car still runs. I bought mine used, so i dont have the benefit of the warranty but so far I had no problems with it. Ofcourse I have done all the regular maintenance myself oil change, brake change, etc., and its so easy to maintain, I can now change its brakes in 15 minutes. The only drawback was that mine didnt have a CD player, so I had one installed one 100 dollards, and it's poor mpg, but i do have a heavy foot.
Good on gas, not too much else
The dealership gave me an incorrect purchase agreement and it took me over a year to get the correct title and VIN.I have had extensive problems covered under warranty (broken seat frame,cracked manifold,etc).While they cover the work I am left carless and it often takes multiple visits to get the repairs done correctly.LCD panel on radio blew-not covered.Was part of a class action lawsuit due to "overstated horsepower" which is very noticeable when accelerating. Received terrible customer service at Rockland Auto Plaza (Nanuet, NY) and had it not been for the excellent service at Liberty Hyundai (Suffern, NY) I would have ditched the car long ago.We probably will never buy another Hyundai.
Not Worth the Money
I would steer clear of this vehicle. Since day one the car vibrates excessively and makes loud noises when driving at speeds of 55 mph or higher, regardless if A/C is on or off. Took it to dealer where I purchased and they told me "All of the Hyundai Elantra's due the same thing". Have also been told it's because it's a 4 cyl, yet other 4 cyl vehicles I've had ride a lot smoother and quieter than this vehicle. Not to mention the exterior "looks at" something and gets a dent. Save your money. Not worth the annoyance.
LEMON!
If only I could go back & turn back time. What an AWFUL experience with this car. It took almost 3 months to get, because I wanted the ABS/traction control in a certain color. Then, after only 6 months the car started dying after being filled with gas. I finally said THAT'S IT & went to the BBB Autoline & took it to arbitration. The arbitrator decided in my favor & it's being repurchased by Hyundai. I can't wait to see the look on the faces of the people at the dealership. They treated me as if I were crazy that the car died. Back at em & beware of purchasing one of these vehicles!!
Hyundai experiences of a large man
I am a large man. The Elantra was one of the few small cars that would fit me with head room to spare. For a small car it has been surprisingly comfortable. But long trips require that I stop every so often to stretch.It has good pep when merging on the freeway and in California that is important. My only complaint is that the brake pedal depresses to the same floor level as the gas pedal.Because of my size and large foot (size 12),I have more than once hit both at the same time resulting in my car lurching forward when I was trying to brake.An older person might lack the ability to size up the problem quickly enough to avoid an accident.
Watch Out For Faulty Airbags!!!!!!
Though we loved our GT, we've had problems with the front/passengar airbags twice (dealer had to replace module once, then the connector). AND, when we got into a front-end collision at 35mph (hit a truck t-bone), our airbags failed to deploy. Dealership is giving us the runaround as is Hyundai corporate. Just watch out.
Glad i went for it!
I was if'y about buying a Hyundai i will admit.Mildly put the Excel was JUNK! I have owned every Jap vehicle known and loved them all but i took the chance and after 21/2 yrs am still happy with my decision. My GT runs flawlessly! I have with a few tweaks here and there acheived 37mpg on a trip and have never got less than 30!! You couldnt touch a Honda or Toyota with all the accessories for under 20grand and some options arent even available from them! You do hear complaints but remember Toyota and Honda in the 70's? Look at them now! Personally the worst vehicles are American sadly...Look at the recalls!,After 100yrs or close to, We still cant get it right
Over 2 Years and Still Doing Good
Bought in early 2001, this car has been a good affordable ride. Good gas mileage, and everything has gone well....except Hyundai's warranty isnt truely 10yr/100k miles...look in the manual, because some items in the car are only cover until 1,200 miles. I had to pay for a repair within the first month....idle sticking when starting! Outside of that there has been no problems though.....Good car Overall. Now have 25k miles on it.
excellant valu for money
only problem I've had was tires wore out after 24,000 miles,.
my favorite car
I did a lot a research before I bought this car. I had been pretty well decided. Then I test drove it, bought it the same day and have never regretted it. Most of the problems I've had have been very minor and taken care of to my satisfaction by the dealer. The only bigger problem, and I use that term with hesitation, is something called a TCM. I don't drive much and according t the service people that causes the TCM to "learn" to shift sluggishly. I've taken it in and had it reset a couple of times. It works fine after that for a while. It does not affect my driving experience in a huge way.
Great Little Car, Better Dealer Service
I have 47,000 miles on car with no problems to date. Have enjoyed car so far. But the best part seems to be the excellent dealer service. Dealer will get car in and out quickly, and will provide a loaner car if my car will not be immediately available! With the new JD Power survey results (Hyundai is number 2 for quailty), I'm hoping that the resale value will start to hold better. As for me, I will drive this car for at least another 100,000 miles or more(unless I trade it for a new Sonota).
Very User Friendly!
I bought this car almost brand new. It had only 6,000 miles when I got it in 2001. I have driven this car all over the USA, putting close 90,000 in the 5yrs I have owned it. I have never had mechanical problems out of this car. I can say it has been good to me. The car is very very reliable and the gas mileage is great also. The only major downside is the resale value. You better never try to sell it coz you will be SHOCKED!! The car depreciates at an alarming rate.
The best car I've tried yet.
I'm work full-time, and I'm a full-time college student. I commute an average of around 500mi per week, so I had to find a car that was reliable. I looked at the Honda's, but they're too expensive, and over rated. The Elantra is an amazing value. It's confortable for any size driver or passenger. It has tons of storage space, and gets good gas mileage, I average around 400mi per tank of fuel. They only way you're going to believe me is if you test drive one, so go try it, stop believing the Honda myth.
"Honey" the Hyundai
I bought my 2001 Elantra on an impulse while out looking to replace my gas guzzling Cadillac. It caught my eye on the lot and I wanted to drive it but didn't think it would be in my price range. I test drove it and noticed it only had 45,000 miles on it & it felt tight like a new car. The seats were and remain firm yet comfortable and it had surprisingly strong acceleration. I've had it for 2 years now, and had 2 probs. One was a sensor that was fixed under warranty. The other was a wheel/hub bearing that cost $400.00 to fix. Other than that it has been great! Now when I look at or test drive other cars and get back into the Elantra I find myself asking why I am looking at other cars.
Good overall Deal
There is a recall on the Lower control arms due to salt in given states. Look it up. Mine failed at 137K miles. Dealer fully covered it. 5 SP GLS
Nice Car, Horrible Company
While I enjoy driving my Elantra, and I cannot come close to saying the same for the company.7 months after purchasing they had made 7 attempts to fix it.The company paid me no attention until I filed for Lemon Law arbitration.The car was fixed another time between them contacting me the week before arbitration and offering me a settlement.The light recently came on again, #10, and now it is like pulling teeth to have them at least honor their agreement.Nevermind the fact that they will now be able to resell my car to another poor customer and make more profit off of it, they are now trying to make me pay for the scratches on my car which is being replaced.
Can't Beat It!
I originally leased my 2001 Elantra when new and bought it out. Still love the interior/exterior styling. Fuel economy is good for a car with a 2 litre engine but not great. Good handling for a car at this price point, but slightly ponderous at low speeds. Brakes could be better. Body hardware has held up very well. Resale value could be a little better, too. Haven't needed any major repairs - just new brakes and tires 36 months in. Overall, reliability has been excellent, flawless winter starts. Time will tell whether the car holds up as a used vehicle. The Elantra is a worthy car and almost fully competitive with Honda, Toyota, et al. Buy one, you'll be happy.
Some issues, but a good car overall
Had my GT for 2 years and have 18k miles on it. Overall very pleased. Reasonably powerful and rides nice enough. Minor issues like sporadic engine racing at idle, clock stopped, and flaws in paint. Interior quality is surprisingly good and the parts seem to be good quality. Some cost cutting is obvious. The protectors that cover the bottom frame of the doors seem to be nothing more than thick pieces of tape, not plastic like in most cars. The heel of my shoe scraped right through one of them to the paint. Since the resale value is not up to par with Honda or Toyota, make sure you plan to keep it for a while. For the money, though, this is a nice car!
Fun wore off
I really liked this car when I got it because of the price, lightweight body, peppy motor, 4 doors/roomy back seats, and leather interior. Now that I have had it a bit, I am unhappy with vibration in the steering wheel at 75+mph and am unhappy with the extreme vibration of braking the car when at modest speeds..esp on downhill slopes - very unsatisfactory. I also don't like that the US version engine is dialed back esp. in the lower power band. This car needs a mod-chip to reclaim that low-end power.
Buyer beware
I have never had a car with so many problems in my life. The headlights have gone out simultaneously 6 TIMES, which the dealer claims is a coincidence. The car has been at the dealer and mechanic more than my husbands 1991 Ford Escort. As soon as one thing is fixed, another goes wrong, many things over and over again (like the air bag for instance). I have a friend who bought the same car at the same time and she is having some of the same problems.
Good auto for the money
Was a great car to drive. Gas mileage could be better.Trunk lid did not open high enough and would always hit my head on the latch. Another weak point were the front disk brakes. Had to turn rotors 3 times in 60000 miles. Had to replace rotors and calipers. Had to replace the radio twice and needed relacing again when I sold the car at 73000 miles.
workhorse
Have had the elantra for 2 years, driven it over 60,000 miles, and still love it. PROS: Comfortable quiet ride, 80 mph no sweat, drivable and good handling, has a "bigger car" feel when driving it, especially does well on express way. CONS: Although car has plenty of pickup once you get going over 25 mph, the first 0-25 mph is sluggish, some of the inside trim is cheaply made.
Good Deal
My review is plan and simple. I'm a big commuter. I'm talking 2,400 miles a month. I've had this car for one month now. I'm very satisfied with it. I bought it used, (second owners still get 5yr/60,000 coverage on the drivetrain). Try gettting that from Honda. At anyrate, the only flaw with these vehicles is the front seat track locking mechanisms. They have a tendency to move if they're not fully locked in. You have to put some large force into them to lock them in. The seat movement is why their crash test score isn't as high. Just push your seat hard until it clicks twice and you're fine.
I LOVE This Car!!!!!
This car may be a 4 cylinder but it has get-up-n-go when you need it. It's a classy lil car. My aunt has a Mercedes and she says my Hyundai rides just as smooth....how about that!!! Hyundai's will always be in MY future plans!!!
A True Believer
This is our family's second '01 Elantra. Our daughter researched and bought the first one a few months earlier. The dealer was a one-price no haggle store. While not a $40,000 Bimmer, for under $12K, it's tight, fast, economical (33mpg suburban driving). I am bothered by back pain, more so in the Elantra than in my Mercedes SUV. But the warranty coverage, maintenance costs and requirements make the Elantra a much better vehicle. Love it, love it, love it. Finally, there is a l
Not Bad for the Money
I'd have to say overall I love the car. I have 30,000 miles on it, drive it very aggresively and haven't had anything go wrong with it. Resale value sucks though. Gas mileage could be better, only average about 26 with a 5 spd, but I do drive aggressive. I think performance and handling are great for a car in this class.
cheap car, good warranty but need it
Bought the car brand new. Only a couple of minor problems in the first 6 months. The sun roof quit working. After that major problems. We blow all the lights every 6 months. The car has had 2 new computers, a couple of wiring harnesses, sunroof completely inop and will not replace it, mulitple plugs, wires, and coils. Spent 3 months straight in the dealership 2 years ago with no loaner. It is a nice car and has been really well maintain but has severe electrical problems no seems to be able to figure out. It completely dies and won't run or runs and dies and an hour later will start just fine then die again. Dealt with for 3 years. Only compensation 100,000 mile full warranty.
Over a year
Great car. 15 months old and now clicking over 30,000 miles. No problems. Oil changes, filter changes and tyre rotations is about it. Lifted the hood about two months ago to check something and realized I hadn't looked under there since we bought it.
Your Money's Worth PLUS
I wanted a reliable, fuel-efficient, 4- dr sedan with a sporty look, but could not afford a Honda. I found the that the Elantra had comparable features but priced much lower. I bought the Elantra with 64K miles (& an extended warranty - just in case) and I don't regret my decision, it runs like like a dream. So far its been an excellent car - no work necessary. Its roomy enough for my 6'2 boyfriend to drive comfortably. I get about 26 mpg (highway & city mix.) It handles metropolitan rush hour traffic very well and it looks good doing it. I would definitely consider another Hyundai when I am looking for my next car.
Looks sharp, performs well
The car is laied out well with simple yet ample controls. It is loaded with standard features and the extras are nice too. Has a lot of zip for a 4 and corners well too. Fuel economy was about 35 highway and 21 city. Doors sound solid when closed. Hatch is nice and roomy. Stereo good, but audiophile will want aftermarket sound.
Live and Learn
I thought it was a good purchase for the money. They Hyundai has treated me better than my last car (Saturn) but the costs in maintenance and repairs has become too much. I will not purchase a Hyundai again. Too many issues with this car. Spend the extra money and get a higher end vehicle.
Great car for the money.
Have had only one problem when I brought the car. Alternator did not function properly. The dealership ordered the part and it was replaced within a week. Car is always on the road.
01 Elantra
Great Car, rides great. Great gas mileage. Roomy interior for family of four.