1998 Hyundai Excel GX review from Australia and New Zealand

Spark plug leads were replaced under warranty. It was causing the engine to hesitate.

The handbrake would go out of adjustment every few thousand km's since new, fixed at around 90,000 km. Several dealers failed to find the fault.

Front driver's side swaybar bush shed from lower control arm at around 80,000km.

Due to my backside being placed on the drivers seat at least 7 times a day since the day I bought the car, the cloth has started to fray only slightly.

Main problem is stone chips. After 100,000km, bonnet, front guards and bumper have a 'sandblast' effect.

There is a groaning noise coming from the front left suspension. Two dealers were not interested in finding the noise under warranty.

At 95,000km front passenger side brake pads wore prematurely on 1/2 of the pads, therefore rubbing metal with metal.

It has been an excellent first car and has and still is very economical where $35 of fuel can get me over 600km of mixed motorway and stop/start traffic a week.

The engine is the best part of the car. It may not be a refined engine, but it performs more than adequately, keeping up with the average falcodore.

However, the handling of the car is pretty average. Too much bodyroll and understeer at all speeds, but hey, it was only a cheap econobox after all, and a thicker rear swaybar made a huge difference as you can steer and adjust your line with the throttle. Twitchy at times though.

On anything, but smooth roads, the ride can become a touch choppy and unsettled.

The exterior dents way too easily, and the paint scratches easily as well. Panel fit when new was surprisingly good, as was paint finish.

The interior is roomy considering the car is small. The boot is extremely spacious and fully carpeted. Interior ambience leaves a lot to be desired though, with cheap plastics with a 'muddy water' look. The upside is full cloth seats, cloth on the doors, tachometer, CD player and power windows. The seats are small and uncomfortable after even 30 minutes.

There are a few rattles which do annoy me a little. A rattle just below the A pillar in the dash which only goes away if I turn on the heat on the outer vents. The tailgate rattles as well, but to be fair this only happens on rough roads. On smooth roads it's fine.

The car has it's on and off days. One day there would be no rattles, the next day none.