Thinking About a Used Hyundai Accent Hatchback.

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Well, I am tired of spending $500 a month on gas, so I am thinking about a sexy used subcompact hatchback. I have narrowed it down to a mid 2,000's Hyundai Accent 2 door hatchback with a manual transmission, and A/C. Anything else is a bonus, but not needed (not even a radio as I can provide that). I have read a few reviews and they seem to be reliable cars. They can get 30+mpg city, which represents a $200+ a month savings in gas vs my Frontier pickup. I am wondering if anyone knows anything about them, besides that they are not too exciting to look at or drive ( although I kinda like the styling compared to the new one). Do they tend to have any bad or expensive problems? I don't seem to be able to find any significant negatives on cars built after 2003. Any other good, cheap choices? I am looking to stay under $6,000 and 60k miles. That way, I still have the balance of the factory 10 year/100k mile warranty should anything significant go wrong.

 

[andrewmp6]

If you want just a car hyundia and kia are good basic transportation only problem with them is the resell value is low but there great on gas my moms had 2 elantra's so far she loves them.

 

[midwestls]

Come on man a Hyundai???? That sounds like someone that should be making me a starter or something! lol Get a 4.3 G Body! j/k No gas milage there either, and, the damn pistons always seem to want to share the same holes! I do alot of work in the auto parts business and happen to know a little something about newer cars, actually more then my G to be honest and what I have figured out is that the people that buy Toyotas and Hondas, never seem to need any parts for um. I would highly recomend one of these, anything with a 4cyl from these guys seems to run like 250k without ever haveing to turn a wrench on um. Hyundai's, the newer ones seem to be alot better then before (dont forget from the 80's through the mid 90's these guys couldn't even build their own motors! They used Mitsubishi and I believe it was toyota or nissan, look up a 89 excel...1.8 mitsubishi,,, seriously) but are insanly expensive when they do break. Personally I would stay away from anything Korean (hyundai, dae woo, kia) and go to a japanese company.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Well, the reason I was thinking about the Hyundai is that the Japanese companies only make cars with huge engines by comparison with what I wanted ( I want nothing bigger than a 1.6 liter). They also weigh too much, and have no warranty left if I can afford them. If I could find a good 1991-1999 Sentra or 200sx with a 5 speed, or 92-95 Civic Coupe or hatch with a 5 speed for cheap, I would go there instead. Unfortunately, they are usually pushing 200k if they are cheap, and have had the snot beaten out of them with little maintenance. So, they are an iffy choice at best. Plus, the local U pull it gets early 2,000's Hyundai's some times, so parts should not be too bad. Funny thing is, you are more likely to find a 2001 Cavalier in the U pull it than an Accent! I dunno, I may just do nothing. I worry about my truck pushing 300k right now though, because if it breaks down, I can't work.

 

[midwestls]

Yeah, I hear you. And these cars usually do have lotsa miles by the time anyone wants to sell um. What about like a Galant or something???

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Way too big! I want a car that weighs 2,000-2500 lbs, is a subcompact hatchback with a 1-1.6 liter engine and a 5 speed. It has to get over 30mpg city and cost under $6-7k to be worth buying. If I was going to spend any more, I would just buy a new Accent as they can be had for around $11k with A/C and a CD player. By the time you pay the difference between new and used car financing rates, the price is the same per month. Plus, then I could be guaranteed my favorite color combo: White with a black or gray interior.

I also considered a Scion XB, but again, price. The Toyota Yaris is about the only other thing that comes close, but it is too expensive, too big and way too ugly. The Honda Fit is another consideration, but the price is too high. VW Golf TDI's are also excellent as far as fuel efficiency goes, but they have a spotty reputation, as does the Mini Cooper, and once again, price. Hybrids? Forget it. Too high a price for an unproven technology in this setting, plus expensive to repair.

 

[megaladon6]

vw tdi has a spotty reputation? since when? the gassers yeah, but i've never heard of problems with a diesel. especially the mk3's.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Well, I am not just talking about the engine, but about the more minor things that go wrong with electrical stuff and the like. I have read a lot of bad things about them, and can find many more complaints about them online than I can for my truck which probably sold in larger numbers. If I found one very cheaply, I would still give it a shot provided it had a manual transmission. I tend not to trust newer automatics because of all the electronics in them. I am still up in the air about what to buy, if anything. If I found a $500 1991-94 Sentra 5 speed, I would get it without question. I would even buy a dead one needing an engine at that price if it was mint otherwise. Cheap to fix, great on gas and very robust. Plus, they are still made for the Mexican new car market (Nissan Tsuru) so parts are plentiful and cheap. Anything else I am a bit leery about.

 

[megaladon6]

those electrical problems occurred on the 99.5 and newer mk4 models with electric windows and auto trannies. plus, strangely, they didn't occur in the diesel models. i don't know if it's just that the engines and therefore other parts were from germany instead of mexico or what.

 

[srercrcr]

Toyotas have high resale and extremely good reliability. I sold a 91 Celica with 200,000 miles, still like new. I had buyers calling for days.
My daughter has a 95 Civic 1.5, still gets 32 overall with 200,000 miles.
I'd go Japanese, no matter what it took.