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Can we get back to something resembling a point? I seriously doubt anybody wanting to read about a Hyundai Accent cares much about a gas guzzling Crown Vic., not to mention it's a Ford, so who cares.
Good luck to the last commenter trying to get people to buy a Crown Victoria instead of a Camry, the best selling car in America 10 years running. I'll agree that if you plan to crash into people on a regular basis, the Crown Vic will do the job. The rest of us who would like something to keep over the years will do better with a Toyota, or even a Hyundai.
By the way, the Accent has a little over 4000 miles on it and is getting around 35 or 36 mpg every tank. I've seen nothing under 34 since the engine broke in, and got a little over 38 at best. I'm fully satisfied with this car to date. Still not quite a Honda though. Then again, neither was the pricetag.
My girlfriend's father just found a 2000 Civic hatchback with 175,000 miles on it. It's getting 39 mpg or better almost all the time. Over 40 regularly. If you're reading here with the intent of buying a compact car and want to spend a few thousand more than I did for the Hyundai, buy the Honda Fit. It's a Honda, enough said.
This is my review, and I can safely say that while this Hyundai is still not on par with Honda or Toyota, it's for certain a much better car than any of my domestics ever were, which is why I'll never buy another one. I've already given them enough money and gotten junk in return.
I wanted a Honda Fit, but didn't want to spend $4000 dollars more than I did for the Accent, although it probably would have been worthwhile.
I get so tired of domestic owners making comments about imports that aren't true or factual. Here's the news: Honda makes the best 4 and 6 cylinder engines in the world. Period. Ford, Chevy? Don't make me laugh. Not even in the same realm. And Honda's engines are only rivalled, maybe, by Toyota's; their 22re was and is legendary, and the 1.5 liter they put in the Tercels, Corolla's, and now in the Yaris is just as good.
Now that the discussion is above and beyond domestic garbage, I can continue.
The Hyundai I bought is impressive; the build quality is fantastic. This is a SOLID little car, as much as I can judge it in the first 4835 miles, (not like a Chevy, which feels like junk from minute ONE). Filled up today, last tank of gas gave me a shade under 36 mpg.
The new 4-cylinder GM compacts easily deliver fuel mileage in excess of 35 miles per gallon, and do it very smoothly, very reliably and with the peace of mind of a 100,000 mile warranty.
Even Hyundai, which is currently a far better car than Toyota, has a 100,000 mile warranty. It's hard to understand why cars that are supposedly so superior, such as Toyota and Honda, still offer very short warranties.
My best friend drives a 2005 Accent and it is a very good car. However, even he will admit that my 2001 Pontiac Grand Am is a limousine in ride and a Ferrari in power and handling in comparison.
Import owners who have owned one or two beaten-to-death used domestics are hardly in a position to pass judgement on the current batch of world-class vehicles from Ford, GM or Chrysler. I've driven a great number of new domestics and several imports. With the possible exception of the Honda Accord, no import has impressed me as being equal to the Fusion, LaCross or Malibu in build quality, ride and performance.
I would agree that Toyota and Honda are reliable cars, as are Chevrolet and Chrysler.
Nevertheless I do take the view that Hyundai & Kia are second rate whichever way you cut it.
11:57 Toyota and Honda are reliable cars. The most reliable in fact. This new Accent is much better built than any domestic, new or old though. Chevy's, and especially Chryslers are third rate at best. I've owned them all, and the only reason I switched to Hyundai after 15 years as a Toyota owner was price. The Accent was a few thousand cheaper, but I know that any Toyota is still a better car. Ford and GM won't ever enter my mind again as an option to buy. I've been down that road before and had my wallet emptied every time. No thanks. Toyota was making a better product 30 years ago than GM does today, and after 7000 miles in this new Hyundai, it's clear that they've far surpassed the domestics.
This is my review, and we're supposed to be talking about my car, and ones like it. Here's the deal - this new Accent is nothing short of being a great car. And since you guys want to compare it to other makes, here's what I know - it's light years ahead of any Ford or GM car. I know, I've owned them.
I can't say that it's as good as any of my Toyota's or Honda's YET, but I can say that it's only a half step behind in initial quality. When it proves itself as flawless over the years like my Toyota's have, I'll call it equal to them. Not yet.
But still, I am thrilled with it. Better than expected gas mileage every time, solid build, fun to drive, reliable so far.
16:57 The '08 3 door Accent I just bought does very well in the snow. I'm thoroughly impressed. My driveway is short, steep, and blacktopped; you have to pull in slowly when you turn in. This is my little 'test' when I drive a new car; whether or not it spins, or I slide back down with the wheels still moving forward, which has happened. The Accent has gone up every time without losing traction yet. No doubt the fact that Hyundai put good tires on it, and they have only 9000 miles on them, but the car is the best front wheel drive vehicle in the snow that I've had yet.
Again, this is my review, and I'm thrilled with my Accent, but I don't know where you guys are getting this stuff about Hyundai being rated higher than Japanese cars, because it isn't out there. Everything I've read, all major publications still have Toyota and Honda on top overall, by far. There are a few exceptions of course, but overall, Japanese cars still take the lead by far. I did read (forget which magazine, a big one) that my Accent was rated as the best subcompact on the market; best buy at least. And can we stop talking about Ford and Chevy? Those are junk and belong in another discussion among people who drive that crap.
On another note, I just got back from a roughly 1500 mile, 5 day round trip, and ran this little car at between 4 and 5000 rpms all day (80 to 90 mph) on the major highways running with traffic. No issues. That little engine just sang the whole time. I have only one complaint so far about this car... anyone at Hyundai reading??
THIS CAR NEEDS ANOTHER GEAR. BADLY. I have no doubt that the engine is sound and can handle it, but they should take a cue from the Nissan Versa and put six speeds in it. If for no other reason than it makes a LONG trip when you have to hear the engine buzzing over the radio for 12 hours straight. This is the manual shift of course. The automatic runs at a different range.
Very happy with the car, it just needs another gear, not only for noise, but in fact this car gets worse highway mileage than it does in the city due to the high rpms. If you drive at 75 or 80 mph that is. I suppose if I'd wanted to take all day to get there and gone 60 mph it would have done better. I usually get 36 to 38 mixed city/highway driving, and got about 30 on this trip.
I wrote the review, and now have about 12,000 miles on the car. Still perfect.
I am impressed with this car more and more as I put the miles on it. Hyundai really did their homework when it comes to design. They've managed to make a very inexpensive car, yet cut corners only where it doesn't matter. Absolutely nothing frivolous, but still lacks nothing for a compact car, in my opinion.
For $11,000, I have a car that gets between 32 and 40 mpg, is loaded with airbags, has a comfortable interior, which by the way, can carry a lot stuff with the seats folded down; I've had two mountain bikes stuffed in there with the hatch shut... a very good stock sound system, and the build quality is nothing short of excellent. I've owned much more expensive cars that were less fun to drive and less comfortable.
Let it warm up for 30 seconds in cold weather and it makes good heat, the A/C is good, the rear defroster in the hatch window works nicely.. this would still be an impressive car for a few thousand dollars more. The various compartments and cupholders are arranged nicely.
After owning 3 consecutive Toyota's, it takes a LOT to impress me and no other car (other than a Honda of course) has been able to get my attention. I was ready to go straight to the Toyota dealership and leave in a new Yaris, but I researched Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda, and for the price, the Accent is as good a buy as the other two. If it manages to simply never break down, like all my Toyota's, I'll be able to rank it right up there with them... if, like my previous Toyota's, the engine still sounds and runs like new at 175,000 miles... time will tell.
A bit of advice on the Accent (which applies to most all cars). My best friend's Accent starting running rough at 60,000 miles and the "check engine" light came on. A diagnostic came up "misfiring on several cylinders". I asked him how often he put injector cleaner in the tank. He said "Never". I told him to buy 2 cans of high quality fuel system cleaner and 1 can of 104 octane booster and pour them all in the tank with it about half full. It worked. The car runs as good as new and the engine light is off now. It is very important to keep the fuel system clean on all late model vehicles. It will keep the car running good and save unnecessary and expensive manual injector cleaning or replacement.
I have a question for other '08 Accent owners. I hope someone can help.. has ANYONE figured out how to disable that annoying chime that goes off when the doors are open or the seat belt is not on?? I can't stand that thing. My last few vehicles simply had an indicator light, which I like. I do not enjoy listening to that stupid little chime. Yeah, I know I can put tape over the pin on the door jamb to stop it, and I do wear my seatbelt, but it's annoying, and with the cold weather, I haven't bothered to work outside long enough to find out where it is and bypass it. Has anyone done this?
Just an update... about 16,000 miles on the car and one very minor problem... the dome light has stopped working in the 'door' position. It turns on when you turn it on, but will not light up when the door opens and closes now. I'll get around to taking it in eventually. Other than that, no problems.
The car returned 38 mpg last tank, since the weather has been warm enough that I'm not letting it idle for a few minutes before driving it every time.
Other minor complaints... I know this is an economy car, but it really should come with mudflaps. You can wash it, but the first dirty puddle you hit sprays the whole side of the car.
Minor complaints, but it runs great, smoothly, quietly, good gas mileage, good heater A/C, good radio, very nice controls for an economy car, loaded with airbags.
Good car. The manual shift needs another gear, it needs mudflaps and that's about it.
This is a post addressing the high RPM at 60-70 mph. Hyundai put in a poor quality air filter in the car as the stock filter. I have noticed a 400 RPM drop after changing the air filter. So at 60 mph I get about 2600 RPM instead of the 3000 RPM I got when I first used the vehicle, so there is nothing wrong with the engine or itself, just the disposable air filter.
The very FIRST thing I do with any car I buy, new or used, is switch to a high-flow K&N air filter. This not only improves fuel mileage a very tiny bit, but it improves power a tiny bit too. They last forever (1,000,000 miles) and all you have to do is clean them every 5,000 miles or so. It is well worth the extra cost (usually $45-$70).
I also put in a K&N air filter right away. However, it was explained to me that while it does for sure boost horsepower, it actually decreases gas mileage. Makes sense to me. It allows more air flow, and the car's sensors compensate by feeding it more fuel. Which is where the hp boost comes from. I may switch back to the stock filter and see if I gain anything.