1999 Hyundai Accent GL review from North America

Nothing has mechanically malfunctioned with the car as of 20k miles, 9/12/01. It has all original parts (brakes, tires, etc). I'm sure this will change as time progresses..

Besides mechanics, the frame build and plastics are terrible. The thing has so many noises when you drive it, you may be legally insane after a long road trip.

The doors rattle, the dash board has noises from 4 distinct locations with cracking, rattling, and creaking noises.

The speaker grills even rattle. The transmission makes this whistle that's really high pitched. There is also a squeal from the left side of the engine compartment (alternator?).

Even the steering wheel creaks when I hang a left or right to turn onto another street.

I can see these noises occurring in an old vehicle, as I've experienced it in my old Toyota with 250k+ miles. But at such a young age and with so few miles, this is definitely a bad sign for its foreseeable future.

The interior is real cheap and it won't take a beating, apply that UV protectant often.

It seems like everything about this car is made with the least amount of materials possible, if the metals and plastics were any thinner the car would implode.

I hope the core mechanics will keep on going as the frame shakes on top of it.

Does anyone know if the 1999 Accent's engine is home grown in Korea or is it made by Mitsubishi? Hyundai has used Mitsu components in their cars before..

OK, enough bad mouthing Hyundai. As for the positives, the gas mileage is exceptional. The last I checked the car is getting 38MPG in the city. This MPG unusually higher than other Accents I've seen. Are the oil changes every 2,000 miles paying off?

The engine is rather peppy in first gear and it can get past the trendy SUVs with ease. The gears can get hard to shift if you engage them at the slightly wrong angle. The clutch engages the transmission smoothly.

I am trying to baby this car as much as possible so it can last at least 100k miles before I break down and buy a real car (Honda, Toyota, Nissan here I come!).