My casual car search has led me to multiple '05-06 5door Elanta GTs, 50-80k for $8k. All I know is that I really liked the styling when they where first launched(budget Saab), but when I looked at these things back then I wasn't too impressed with fit and finish. Usage, DD, spirited driving, autoX, snow belt.
Please fill me in on these things, the good, the bad and the ugly.
I nearly bought a blue '05 like your top pic, new with stick and sunroof. Good thing I didn't, it would've been repo'd about 8 times over by now.
My next door neighbor has owned an '06 GT hatch since new and positively loves it, stating that it has never once been back to the dealer for warranty work.
I have nothing constructive to add to the conversation, but still want that GT.
Other Q, will it fit 4 6' tall adults comfortably, or will I feel the back seat persons knees in my back?
My brother has an 05 auto gt. with the exception of being automatic, I like it better in every way than my protege5. It feels so much bigger and brighter inside and less claustrophobic. The hatch area is huge and I like the way it handles better. Gas mileage is a little better and tj rear calipers don't seize. He neglects his, and it has a cel on and is full of garbage, but I'd still rather take it somewhere than the p5. I've never tried having 4 6' adults in the car, but my brother says his friends all prefer to ride in the back of his car vs his other friend's saabaru.
[Homer] Marge, may I play Devil's Advocate for a moment? [/Homer]
I bought an '02 GT 5-door last August. It had the blown intake manifold gasket (common problem, cheap and fairly easy to fix). It also had been riced and abused to within an inch of its life by the PO. It has 107k miles, had 98 when I bought it. I've replaced the clutch, fixed most of the PO's hackery on the wiring harness, and generally fixed the stupid E36 M3 this kid had done to it. I still get a random CEL, and it's developed a coolant leak I cannot pin down (hits the fan and goes everywhere, only does it intermittenly, can't make it do it sitting in the driveway). I replaced the front rotors when I got it, and after less than 10k of highway driving (and I'm not hard on it), they're already warped again. The ebrake cables freeze solid, and now 2nd gear grinds unless I granny-shift it. The spoiler came off in my hands when I shut the trunk.
The seats are not as comfortable as they should be for long hauls, but seats are always a matter of personal preference.
It also does not get anywhere near the fuel mileage I think it should....all highway at 70mph gets me about 28 mpg per tank, when it should be more like 32-33.
As for upsides? It does look good. When mine runs right, it's pretty spunky. Brakes and handling are acceptable. The level of equipment you get is pretty nice for the price.
I'm not sure how many of mine's problems are down to the PO's hackery, and how much are due to poor design. I do know that this thing has put me off Hyundais.
neon4891 wrote:Other Q, will it fit 4 6' tall adults comfortably, or will I feel the back seat persons knees in my back?
Four adults fit comfortably. No complaints about the space inside. I dunno if the sedan is any smaller inside, though, if those are on your radar.
never had an elantra.. but I did have a tib. I think most of your issues Psteav are from the previous owner. Hyundai has a pretty good reputation right now for making a better (and better looking) toyota than toyota can
Ooo, Blue one dropped $800, but the silver turns out to be a slusher.
