About Used Hyundai Elantra

Used Hyundai Elantra

Questions and Answers

Is a used Hyundai Elantra a good buy? I found a used 2000 Hyundai Elantra for sale its a good price but my dad thinks that Hyundais are no good...I want to know if they last a long time and if they cause a lot of problems ofr the owner...answers from people with this car is appreciated =)

RoeB replied: "According to the year. At first Hyundai's fell apart driving down the highway. Now they have an above average reliability rating. Sometimes a much above average rating. Go to consumerreports.com for ratings."

oklatom replied: "http://www.hyundaiperformance.com/ will give you a lot about the car. But regardless of what you find out, or what others tell you, if dad thinks they are no good, you won't convince him otherwise. If you do get it, you'll get the "I told you so" no matter what happens from then on. Is it worth it?"

Jim K replied: "Can`t speak for a 2000 Elantra . A lot would depend on if it was well maintained . I have a 2005 Elantra that has been excellent in reliability and a very smooth ride . I feel more comfortable in this car than I did on the 2000 Altima I traded in on it ."

C7S replied: "The 90's Hyundai's are bad cars. The newer Hyundai's are great cars and last long. The 2000 Hyundai Tiburon was a reliable car and the Elantra is basically the 4 door version of that car since it had the same chassis, suspension and engine so it should be reliable too. But to be on the safe side, get one that is newer than 2001. They can still be found cheap for $4000."

I am thinking about buying a Hyundai Elantra a used one . Is this car any good? What are some benefits and disadvantages ?

Ginger replied: "The Elantra is Hyundai's best seller. Good gas mileage, minimal problems, decent space for a small car. Even though you are buying a used one, you will still have the bulk of the 5 year/60,000 mile warranty left (if it isn't over those numbers already). Many also find it worthwhile to supplement coverage with an extended warranty. Be sure to ask the selling dealer (if it isn't a Hyundai dealer) to make sure all the recalls have been performed. It won't cost them anything to have it done at a Hyundai dealership. If you want to verify what has been done through the warranty already, call a Hyundai dealer with the VIN and they can look up the warranty history for that vehicle. It will give you an idea of what problems have already been taken care of. The worst problems occur in harsh climates (NY, VT etc) where salt is used on the roads in the winter. It causes a few issues with corroded power steering lines and electrical problems in the doors with regard to the power mirrors and locks with the 02-05 models. But, if you don't live in these areas, you shouldn't have to worry about it."

Matt K replied: "If its used depends on year. try to stick too a 04 and up and look for one with low miles. Make sure it was maintained."

Sabastien G replied: "It depends on what year. Mostly 2004 and up are reliable."

Roderick T replied: "Its a solid car which will get you from point A to point B and it has a little "giddy up" if you need it to."

Julia V replied: "I bought an 07 Elantra. I loved it until two days ago. I was in a parking lot going maybe 5 mph and the car stalled out. It started right back up. I took it to Hyundai and was informed that the fuel pump is bad. A bad fuel pump after 6 months of owning the car. I called my Hyundai dealer to check on the status of my repair. I was informed that the 07 Elantra's are having fuel pump failures. According to the dealership most of the 07's are having this problem. Hopefully the 08's won't. Even with this one problem I have had, it's a great car. Great gas mileage, standard features and roomier inside than I thought it would be."

wednesday 69 replied: "For the love of God - DON't do it.....trust me I have owned 2 hyundais and they are crap....plus you will get alot of snide comments from people like "Are you on welfare?....mine just broke down for the last time...I'm getting something respectable!"

Jim K replied: "Newer Hyundais are very reliable . i have an 05 Elantra that has been excellent . great warranty if you should need it . Like most cars keep up with the required servicing and they will easily go 100 thousand with no major problems ."

mgronholm0520 replied: "I agree with the others. The Elantra is a very nice car, as long as it is fairly new (2002 and up - 2004 and up is better). The brand new one is especially good."

how good is the idea of buying a used 2002 model hyundai elantra gt? with about 100k miles...does this model run more than 150k miles? what about the reliability?

Staffie1 replied: "That is a lot of miles for a 2002. I would be OK with that year & make of car if the miles were about 60,000 which would be average mileage for a 2002 auto. Keep looking, have you tried Car Max?"

da_zoo_keeper replied: "They are decent running vehicles, but with 100K miles on it, be careful!!!!!!! You have no idea how hard it was driven and what the maintenance schedule looks like! Don't take anyones word on the fact that they changed the oil every 3000 miles! Take it to a mechanic and pay him to check it out! You may have to put more $$$ in it than it is worth. You may also have trouble financing it since it has more than 100K miles on it!!!!! Good luck, and don't forget to get a good mechanics opinion!!!"

beavanjb replied: "I agree with post #2, before buying any used car that is not a certified used car you want to have a mechanic look the vehicle over for needed maintainence and repairs. I'd check the owners maintainence records and compare with the recommended maintainence schedule. Since they were averaging 18K miles a year its likely they were doing alot of highway driving, which is easier on the tranny/engine, but harder on the suspension/axles/bearings. You didn't tell us the asking price, but I don't think the car is worth more then $4000. The car can certainly go to 150K and even 200K if you take care of it and something major like the transmission doesn't need replacing. Considering a new Elantra will cost you about $15K, even if this car dies at 150K, getting a car to last 50K miles for only $4000 is a huge bargin in this world...plus the Elantra gets good gas mileage and will be cheap to insure."

cjgt2 replied: "It depends on how well to car was taken care of. I have 130k on my 01' GT and and have no doubt it will make 150k. But, I took care of it. See if the seller can provide some maintenance records, run a Carfax report, have a mechanic check it out and test drive it. If everything is good and the price is decent go for it. The brand of car doesn't matter as much as the person driving it."

How do you tighten a cigarette lighter on a 2000 Hyundai Elantra? i just got a slightly used Hyundai Elantra (2000) Sedan and when i went to put in an ipod charger into the cigarette lighter it would barely come on, it would wiggle all over the place and i would just have to hold up on the ipod charger for it to charge. So if any one out there knows how to fix this problem it would be greatly appreciated

mobbdc replied: "you prolly need to change the whole plug out"

bulruq replied: "Get a lighter plug extension cord and see if it fits the socket better; if not bend the contacts on the sides of it out more until it grips securely. Then plug the charger into it. You don't want to be bending the contacts on the charger if it works fine in other lighter sockets."

New Hyundai Elantra or Used 2007 GLS Hyundai Sonata? I think I would be able to get them around the same price. Which one is better.

Steven R replied: "Sonata!"

Eddie replied: "Go for the new Hyundai Elantra. It is the top rated small sedan in Consumer Reports. It topped the Corolla and the Civic. If that does not tell you anything then I don't know what will."

LaTonja C replied: "If I were you, I'd go for the Elantra. In this day and age of high gas prices, the Elantra is cheaper to maintain than the Sonata. It has a 14 gallon tank and the Sonata has a 17 gallon tank and the difference between the two of them is about a $10.00 savings not much but every little bit helps. Plus,you'll have all the benefits of being the original owner which will help you in the long run. For instance, if you buy a used Sonata, the warranty will run out after 60,000 miles. But being the original owner the warranty will last for 100,000 miles. Enjoy"

cjgt2 replied: "I always lean toward new cars but the Sonata does have some advantages. As roomy as the Elantra is the Sonata is bigger so it will have more room. The Sonata has standard traction and stability control which are options on the Elantra plus it has more HP then Elantra. You would think the smaller Elantra would have better fuel efficiency but the engine in the Sonata is more advanced so the numbers aren't very far off, 25/33 for the Elantra, 22/32 for the Sonata. Warranty plays a part too. New Hyundai's have 10yr/100k but a used one, if it isn't "certified", will only have the balance of the bumper to bumper 5yr/60k. A certified used Hyundai will give you the balance of 10yrs/100k. IMO a new Elantra "SE" (higher trim) would be a better pick because it's closer to the Sonata in terms of equipment. A "certified" used Sonata would be better pick over a new Elantra "GLS" (lower trim) for the same equipment reasons. Keep in mind a NEW "2008" Sonata has a $3000 cash back offer going on now. With a little haggling you may get a new one for not much more over a used 2007"

CaptainCrunch replied: "I'd say Elantra. We had one for about a month after my Wife's car got stolen and written off ... The elantra is really nice and suprisingly roomy. The trunk is huge! Our baby seat fit in perfectly (not sure if that's an issue or not) and got decent gas mileage. It looks pretty good too."

Chris P replied: "I faced exactly the same choice a year ago, and I chose the Sonata. Particularly if the Sonata has the 6 cylinder engine, you are getting a LOT more car for the same money. You can also buy an extended warrantee out to 100,000 and you'll still pay less than the new Elantra."

jkim972 replied: "Sonata is better. It's lot more fun to drive and little bit more comfortable than Elantra."

RNuts replied: "Bite the bullet, get a 09 Sonata. You will not regret it."

used 02'Hyundai Elantra GLS? i want to buy an used 02'hyundai elantra gls ( fully loaded) with 50,00 miles max on it. how much should i pay? i live in montana. i found this on the net last night. though its in another state,beyond the reach, is the price way too up for this? just want to get an approximate.follow the link below. it should be 50,000 miles instead of 5000 mentioned above.

beavanjb replied: "Yes, that car is listed at about the same price that Nada quotes as a retail value. However, you should be able to bargin it down to $5900 or so. Please note that the cost in Montana may be more or less due to supply and demand, I doubt too many people there have Hyundai's yet. I did a search and couldn't find one within 100 miles of Billings and just 3 within 200 miles...all of which seem way over priced ($9000 for an Elentra with 111,000 miles, that's crazy)."

What are your thoughts on a 2005 Hyundai Elantra? I am a college student, and my car recently got totaled in a hit-n-run accident. I am in desperate need to another car. I have about $6,000 to spend and would like a newer car (my previous car was a 2000). I was looking at a used 2005 Hyundai Elantra. I don't know much about Hyundai's, but I hear they are now made better. Does anybody have any advice for me? Or any other car suggestions?

Tahini Raving Weirdo replied: "They are indeed supposedly among the safest and most reliable cars under the sky these days. What would worry me is the resale value, which has been notoriously low for that brand. It may be a quick way of sinking a frightening amount of money if you decide to get rid of it in a few years. In that vehicle class, I always point at the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic first. Might as well go for the proven choice."

MB-n-KC replied: "I would not buy one. Get an older Honda for the same price"

Debberz! replied: "My aunt has one, she LOVES IT!"

Scottish Thistle replied: "Eeeeewwwww! Hyundai! Sorry but I prefer European cars. There are many used cars out there that you can get for $6000. Just look on carmax.com or an autotrader thing and see what you like the best. Then find one in your area. Cheers! And good luck with the car hunt! Thistle"

Donnie Iris replied: "hyundey is junk it is a piece of korean shit i am sick of these imports if you want a real car buy a Buick 442 or a Chevy Chevelle SS. BE AMERICAN BUY AMERICN"

nj2pa2nc replied: "we own a 05 hyundai elantra with 62,000 miles. the only real problem we had with it was a leaking strut, found and fixed by the hyundai service department under warranty. excellant car-highly recommend. Yes it does have a lousy resale but we plan to keep it for many more years. contrary to others-we had a 05 civic-nothing but problems-sold it-only good thing about it-the resale. My mom's accord is a high maintenance car-always something has to be replaced."

cjgt2 replied: "I have an 01' Elantra with 120,000 miles on it and still runs great. Good part about an 05' is that it may still be under warranty if it has less then 60,000 miles on it and if you are only the 2nd owner. Hyundai's are alot better now even from what they were in the late 90's."

Koda replied: "If you are looking for used car... then u have to be really careful on the wear and tear of the make.... (Hyundai is very poor in this category) This car comes with 138 @ 6000 rpm and it really does well @ this range..... But look out for options.... go for a deal.... things will work out and if u r looking for powered engine dont go with hyundai... they are not roaring type they are high running type... i mean mileage +"

Andy T replied: "The Elantra is a good car for the money. If the vehicle has less than 60K, it will have some warranty coverage left. If it has more than 60K, try to find out if it has had a timing belt. If you don't find out, be prepared to have it done-est. $350-$400."

Treebeard replied: "It sounds just right for someone in your situation... Hyundais are really reliable, unlike the Hyundais of yesteryear... they have bad resale value for now... but your 2005 Hyundai will not disappoint. And don't listen to that Donnie Iris idiot, an old muscle car will give you nothing but headaches, people only buy them and spent oodles on parts and repairs just to feel young again!"

Why would a check engine light come on with a 2006 hyundai elantra? I bought a used 2006 hyundai elantra and realized it didn't come with an owners manual. Does anyone have any insights onto why the check engine light would come on with this particular model and year?

salrobyn123 replied: "could be loose gas cap will take a day to go off if thats the case"

Kris W replied: "It could be anything dude. Take it to a shop and have the check out the code. But before you do that, check the fuel cap and make sure it is tight. If it is loose, tighten it up and have a shop clear the code for you."

pedro7of9 replied: "could be 100 different things from loose gas cap to major engine problem..owners manual no help...get free scan at any auto parts store.."

people are idiots replied: "The light would come on because there is a problem. Go to autozone and get the code read."

T. Y. replied: "you can go to autozone get them to retreive the dtc, then come back and ask your question in a more specific way."

keithhernadez replied: "there is so many things it could be with the emissions to misfire to other problems.,.go get it scanned and we will be able to further assist you"

baldie replied: "a lot of things can cause it. have auto zone or advance check it for you."

Luretta T replied: "I bought a used Elantra in West Virginia last year and saved a lot. I haven't had any problems yet. I'll never buy a new car."

Does the Hyundai Elantra 2009 use a timing belt or chain? I've considered other cars but have set my sights on the Hyundai Elantra 2009 car since it fits my budget compared to the Corolla and the Civic. I've tried looking up the answer but could not find it. Does anyone know if it uses a timing belt or a timing chain? Would you happen to know if it is expensive to maintain a Hyundai compared to Honda and Toyota? If the maintenance cost is too high it might make me reconsider and shell out the extra 3-5k for the Corolla/Civic. Thanks in advance!

Jeff replied: "its a timing belt and should be changed at 90k miles."

Ex Smoker replied: "It's a timing belt. Honda and Toyota tend to be more expensive to maintain and fix after warranty period expires. Hyundai have a much better warranty overall (10 year 100000 mile). Maintenance costs will never touch the price point difference. If you are going to sell it in 2 or 3 years then you may want to look at the residual values or lease plans."