The best buy ever, and most affordable car
Water pump broken at 320.000 kilometres.
Cooling fan not working at 352.000 kilometres.
Over heating under pressure since 354.000 kilometres.
That car is a fairly good runner, low on petrol, huge capacity, and goes forever.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 21st January, 2011
Good little car that lasts forever
The only major thing that has and still goes wrong, is the tranny goes into third gear fail safe, mostly when wet out. I have been driving like this for over 2 years; it kills gas mileage, but drove 500kms one day like this, and still kept going.
Wheel bearing is going on the front, and brakes are the worst design ever; rotors behind the hub, so not always a cheap fix. The usual rust around the rear wheel wells is always a yearly fix, and parts are not always cheap, and are getting hard to find.
Not the greatest fuel economy for an around town car, but amazing on the highway when the tranny isn't acting up.
A/C is the coldest ever in a car, and is still working.
Handling is awesome in the snow with winters, and it corners pretty good with the right rim/tire combo.
Stereo never lets me down. CD/tape still work.
RPM gauge good to have, been a great little car and still is, but starting to show its age.
Wish GM around that time frame actually took a look at Hyundais page and started building cars like these back then. Funny, in 1998, Hyundai was starting to do things right, while GM sat on its butt and started building unreliable crap (I have a 2001 Alero also, and the build quality is subpar to the 1998 Elantra, go figure). They never should have stopped building the wagons or GT Elantra hatches.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th September, 2010
If they still made'em, I would have bought a new one (Sorry Hyundai, bought a Suzuki Forenza wagon)!
Recent exhaust manifold crack (123,300 miles).
Gas gauge gets kinda wild at times. It will slowly bounce around from full to empty. This is very intermittent, though.
A tough, reliable car that has endured all driving conditions throughout the Midwest and Western states. It has taken on sub-zero (very sub) temps to straight-up mountains to desert heat and never waivered. Pretty much just changed oil and committed to 30,000 mile servicing.
Very responsive in acceleration and steering.
Modest cab comfort.
Hey, almost 124,000 miles and the back hatch door struts still work!
For a simple, inexpensive utilitarian vehicle, this has been a great used car choice. Highly, highly recommended, nab one if you can (if you can find one, I don't' see a lot around).
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 6th January, 2006
Just replaced the clutch @ 152,000 miles. A few months ago a tree fell on it and it only sustained a couple creases across the hood. Did blow the back window out, though, and since '98 Hyundai Elantra wagons aren't all that common, it cost me about $425.00 to replace it rather than an estimated $250.00 for a more common vehicle. Anyway, the suspension is still great, uses no oil, runs smoothly, all guages still work, can't complain. Still reliable and fun to drive!
Worked good for about a year
The 1st transmission went at 21,000 miles. The dealer replaced it as a defect, and then the 2nd transmission (supposedly brand new) went again at 42,000 miles. Since I was past the 5yr 60,000 miles, Hyundai wouldn't replace the transmission. I took it to a private mechanic and he replaced it for $1900 vs $4000 they wanted at the dealership.
Exhaust manifold is cracked and I still have less than 70,000 miles.
I'll never buy another Hyundai.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 5th July, 2005
12th Jan 2006, 21:42
I actually submitted this review, but evidently did not clarify that I still own and drive (daily) the Hyundai Elantra wagon. The Suzuki was bought for my wife and serves as the main "family" car when we take extended trips. But, the Hyundai is still running strong (after the manifold repair) and I plan on driving it till rubber bands and glue don't even hold it together!