Faults:

The dashboard clock is one of a few problems with the car. The clock will fade on and off. Sometimes the clock would show and sometimes not at all.

Airbags are a problem, I took it in for the recall which they didn't even do much since the airbag light remains on.

Headlights burn out so fast. I don't know why this is.

General Comments:

Excellent car. I had gotten this car in June 2008 with 146,800 miles on it from a Toyota dealership. I picked out this car because I could not find another 4 door car with power door locks, and windows for or under $5,000. I have driven 10,000 miles on it and those 10,000 miles were driven with pride.

For being a Hyundai this car has great acceleration. I use to drive a Mazda Protege and was very sluggish. I have driven Honda Civics and were also very sluggish, unlike the Elantra.

Smooth ride. Rough roads don't give the Elantra any trouble. Will fly through the streets smoothly.

The cabin is okay. It could use more backseat space.

Stereo is great also as in the speakers, I put in a JVC Cd Player with Aux input and the stock speakers are great. No fuzzy noises nor rattling.

Plain looks but stylish at the same time. The Elantra has a different look to it.

Owning this car for almost 6 months has been great. Everything about it is awesome. I got it for a real good deal. Will be taking a 6 hour road trip to Arizona sometime in 2009 in the 01 Elantra.

Faults:

Nothing out of the ordinary.

When purchased, I switched over to synthetic oil. Changed over to Platinum-tipped spark plugs. Swapped out air filter for K & N hi-flow unit.

I had the headlight bulbs replaced all at once (L low-beam and R hi-beam burned out within hours of each other. How weird is THAT? I replaced them all, and kept the good ones for emergency spares.)

- Replaced clutch @ 110,000 kilometres. (purchased parts on-line)

- Timing belt will be done soon (along with water pump. Why wait?)

General Comments:

The car drives and handles very well (especially with a good set of snow tires!)

I installed a light duty hitch for a small utility trailer I tug around, and the car has no trouble at all with it.

My only real complaint with it is that it is a little underpowered for my liking. At highway cruising speed the motor seems like it is working a little hard (it is only a 2.0 L!)

At 6'2" I'm a little tall for the car, but there's not much I can do about that! My sister recently purchased a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. I'm now jealous of her headroom!

General Comments:

When I first got the car out of the dealership, I had problems. I test drove a different car, but wanted a silver one. The car raced when the car was stopped at a light, and you couldn't kick it down. It took them six months to fix it, and countless times at the dealership garage. It was extremely annoying to buy a new vehicle and have this problem.

But regarding the car not starting: I have a 5 speed 2001 Elantra. One day it wouldn't turn over; zip, nothing. I had it towed to a garage where I knew the mechanic. All it was is the sensor on the bottom of the clutch pedal. If you have a five speed and your car does not start, slam the clutch pedal down a few times and the car will start right up.

From my experience in Albany, NY and Alcoa, TN, the Hyundai dealership garages are a complete rip. Find another garage and mechanic you can trust. That is the reason I will never ever ever buy another Hyundai, it's the dealership garages.

My car has 150,000 miles on it now, and I have to get both axles replaced and a water pump or a thermostat replaced too. Not positive which one or both yet.

I've had the right ball joint replaced. I also had a timing belt put in, but that is regular maintenance. A mechanic told me my clutch is slipping too.

My A/C went recently, but that may be because of the water pump, not sure.

I recommend buying a Mazda. Mazda is much more respectable and better built. :)