Hey-Just picked up my 2013 Elantra GT this afternoon. It's Volcanic Red with Beige interior, & has the Style and Tech Packages. I stayed with the Automatic Transmission, like in my '11 Elantra Limited, which I traded in. I'll comment about some of the differences & similarities as I put some miles on it.
I just got an e-mail message from the dealership that I bought my car from. I bought it new in May '11. I had the free oil change done at 3K miles by them. So I get this e-mail today saying I have approx 4821 miles on it, which I don't. I have 4028 miles on it. They say I'm due for a 6 month maintenance. There is a printable cut out 15% off coupon for this service. Is this some kind of dealership "heave-ho" ??? 6 month maintenance, I've never heard of such a thing. Does this dealership think they are a dental office???? What is involved with a "6 month maintenance."??? Look at the car, check the fluids and say everything's fine, have a nice day, that'll be ???? $ minus your 15% off coupon???? Maybe this should be posted in the warranty section so any of you moderators out there can move this topic if you see fit. Any feedback would be welcomed. Thanks again, this is a great website for the Elantras.
Jason Torchinsky Ever have a really good waiter or waitress? Sure you have. There's a certain feeling you get when you encounter someone doing a really good job at something that maybe isn't the most important or exciting job in the world, but they've brought a level of competence and attention to it that just sort of makes you feel good about the whole experience.
The Elantra GT gave me a similar feeling. It's not the most exciting or interesting car, but it knows its job and it does it quite well. And, you don't have to tip it.
(Full Disclosure: Hyundai wanted me to drive the Elantra GT [i]so damn much. They flew me out to San Diego, even though I could have driven. They put me up in a non-filthy hotel and gave me a key to the minibar, which makes me wonder why I bothered filling the vodka bottles back up with tap water.)[/i]
The Elantra GT I think is the best of the entire Elantra family (which now numbers three members, and not the Elantra Pickup I keep pushing), which is sort of a shame, since the product planners told me this is the one they expect to sell the least. The GT is, essentially, a 5-door hatch version of the Elantra, and was designed more for European tastes than American, and it's in Europe that they really expect to sell these. We in the US just kind of got them as an afterthought. But it's this slight European sensibility that sets the car apart from its Elantroid siblings.
Second, the 2013 Elantra GT service information went live today at www.hyundaitechinfo.com, look under "ELANTRA GT(GD)".
I'm always worried that cool features won't make it over here, so I went looking at schematics and diagrams. I've commented on just a few things below. Since they're listed, I'm assuming all of the following will be available, though I'm not sure which may require the Style or Tech packages.
It looks like the US model will feature the both heated and power folding(!) outside mirrors, which is excellent. I didn't see any reviewers mention the power folding mirrors on the US version, so I was concerned we might not get them. (Body Electrical System > Power Door Mirrors > Power Outside Mirror Switch > Schematic Diagrams) and pins 8/9 for folding/unfolding. (Body Electrical System > Power Door Mirrors > Power Outside Mirror Switch > Repair Procedures) and at the bottom you will see mention of the operation of the heated mirrors.
Windshield Deicer: "Windshield deicer system prevent windshield wiper from freezing in the winter season. It consists of deicer in the lower part of windshield, switch and relay." Cool. The Elantra GT preview page mentions auto-defogging, but not the component description of a de-icing feature, which is great because I live in the northeast and we get snow . (Body Electrical System > Windshield Deicer > Description and Operation)
Auto defogging: "The auto defogging sensor is installed on the front window glass. The sensor judges and sends signal if moisture occurs to blow out wind for defogging." (Heating,Ventilation, Air Conditioning > Air Conditioning System > Auto Defogging Sensor > Description and Operation)
Rain sensing windshield wipers: "The Rain sensing windshield wiper system is a wiper system that, in addition to providing normal wiper functions off, mist, manual low speed, manual high speed, and wash, provides automatic control of automatic intermittent automatic low, and automatic high speeds." (Body Electrical System > Windshield Wiper/Washer > Rain Sensor > Description and Operation)
And lastly, I have been keeping my eyes open on the IIHS and safercar.gov websites for safety info, but none yet. Same goes for the fueleconomy.gov website for the EPA estimates, and MSRP. They have the MSRP for the Elantra Coupe listed as $14,995, so I was hoping they'd give away the MSRP of the GT before release too... the wait continues .
I've done some searching on this. Seems like what I'm noticing is not uncommon. Car puchased new in May '11. It has 3500 miles on it, not 35k miles. It smells like coolant. There are no leaks anywhere. I've combed it all through out the engine compartment and underneath looking for drips. The coolant resevior is a bit over the F mark after driving it around and warmed up. No coolant smell inside from the air vents with either the heat on or just fresh air. No coolant smell inside with the windows up. Same with the AC on. No smell. You can really smell it at a stop light. Or driving slow with the windows down about half way. Come back home and park it and you can really smell it. Like from 10-15 feet away. Car is fine after long drives. But here around town for short trips it just smells bad. Taking a whiff from the air intake vent under the windshield on the passenger side is like huffing an open gallon container of coolant.
So is it my heater core? I seem to notice that after opening up the hood the smell is more pronounced back by the firewall. And if the heater core is at fault (some say small pinholes can create vapors without showing signs of leaks) how can I convince my dealership to get this fixed without them saying "We see no leaks despite pressurizing your system..." A new heater core is gonna cost them some labor and parts for sure..
Just wanted to see if any other '11 owners have had this problem fixed effectively.
Other than the visible changes, what's different under the hood from a 2007 to 2012 Touring? I know it definitely has a better feel to it when I drive but that's about it.
This tidbit I just found online gives a hint that a sports version of the upcoming Hyundai i30 (Elantra Touring here) is possible and it may be powered by a 200hp turbo.
QUOTE
A hot hatch version of the new Hyundai i30 is under evaluation. It would be based on the new three-door model, which is due to go on sale at the end of 2012.
Hyundai Europe boss Allan Rushforth confirmed the plan is being discussed, saying the car would likely be developed from the firm's European base and have sportier styling than the five-door hatch.
It is most likely to be powered by a turbocharged 1.6, as sister firm Kia has already said it will build a hot Cee'd with the unit, producing around 200bhp.
I know we've speculated about this, but this is the first time a Hyundai official has mentioned it. Let's hope it's true and makes it's way to North America!
Here is a photograph of my 2010 Elantra GLS Touring Sport taken a couple of months ago while I was photographing northern lights (aurora borealis).
The shot was taken after dark, at around 11pm. The daytime-like illumination came from an almost full moon. The slight distortion is from using an ultra wide angle lens.
For those who like tech specs: Nikon D700, Nikon 16-35, f/4 @15 secs, ISO 1600, tripod mounted.
Questions and comments are always welcome.
Cheers,
Ralph.
P.S. Tried to post the image but this is the error message I got. Sorry, dynamic pages in the [IMG] tags are not allowed Anyone know how to get around this?
P.S2 I am also assuming we cannot upload attachments directly to this forum?
This is one of the coolest videos ever and true proof of how far Hyundai has come. VW CEO Martin Winterkorn gave the new i30 the once over at the Frankfurt Auto Show. In the beginning of the video Winterkorn takes out a magnetic tool used in measuring the thickness of paint used on the liftgate. He then proceeds to walk around the i30 grazing his knuckles across the hood-to-bumper shut lines to check for evenness. Once seated in the driver's seat, the mood gets serious as Winterkorn investigates further. He calls out for VW design boss Klaus Bischoff.
"The lever for the steering wheel release makes no sound while moving. BMW can't do it, we can't do it, why can they?!" Bischoff replies, "We had a solution for that but it was too expensive to produce." Winterkorn continues, "You can't see the wipers." Then a tape measure is brought out, as Winterkorn is apparently measuring A-Pillar blind spot from the drivers view.
It's no secret that many companies are placing a huge target on Toyota's back. Toyota's Prius has become the poster child for the hybrid car movement and plenty of manufacturers have attempted to mimic its success. Honda has largely failed with it Insight and CR-Z in the United States, while Ford has had some success with its Fusion Hybrid and Escape Hybrid. Hyundai is taking direct aim at Toyota's new Prius Plug-in with an upcoming plug-in hybrid version of the new i30 (it's called the Elantra Touring here in the United States). The Prius was designed from the onset to be a hybrid vehicle, and achieves 50 mpg combined in hybrid mode. The Prius Plug-in can also travel up to 14 miles on battery power alone.
Hyundai's Elantra Touring Plug-in likely won't be able to match Toyota's lofty fuel economy numbers or its relatively meager battery-only range, but it will undercut Toyota's $32,760 price tag according to Auto, Motor und Sport.
I tried to post this yesterday but I was frazzled and had my title in the topic description box and it didn't post.
My brand new car got rear ended today at a red light. It was a good jolt and we both pulled off to the side of the road. I walked around to the back expecting the whole back end to be crushed in and NOTHING! There is a SLIGHT dimple on the bumper but you can only see it if you bend down in the right light and then you still have to look for it. I'm still going to get the car checked out this week when they put on the rear visor and tint the windows but I still can't believe there was NO damage as hard as he hit me.
Whatever they are doing with these bumpers, it's working!''
I'm buying a 2012 Elantra Touring in the morning. I bought an Elantra GT for my son in 2005 and I always loved that little car. He's still driving it but he lives about 4 hours away now. I need the room of the Touring to haul grandkids (different son), my husband's golf clubs sometimes and my photography equipment when I'm doing location work. I know it's not the same outline of the Elantra sedan but it fits my needs. Any input on the Touring model? Any problems to watch out for?
Hyundai just released the first pic of the upcoming i30 hatchback. I believe this will be the Elantra Touring replacement here in North America. We'll get more details at the Frankfurt Show in September.
I've searched every sub-topic here for mods but can't seem to find what I'm looking for as far as add-ons go. I know there are roof rack cross bars for the Elantra Touring SE that bolt on to the roof racks. What I'm concerned with is roof protection, like some type of peel and stick strips that go onto the roof so whatever you strap down on the roof won't scrape up the paint. Anyone out there that can suggest something like this??? Or, at least point me into the correct sub- topic forum here???
Hi everybody, first post here. I will get my brand new Elantra Touring GL 2011 tonight. Though I did 2 road tests before buying, I would like to know what rpm range you're getting at normal highway speed.
I am planning to buy a 2011 E Touring SE and need to pick the color of the leather interior: black or beige. This would be my first ever Hyundai and my first ever car with leather so I am trying to figure out which color is better. I live near Washington DC so summers are hot and humid so I am wondering how much hotter I would expect a black interior to be compared to the beige one after being parked outside. At the same time, I have kids and so maybe dark interior will withstand them better. The dealer is offering some type of leather protection package (Zurich something) for $500 and I am wondering whether I would benefit from it. I am buying the car for the long haul, i.e. I am planning to use it for many years rather than swapping it for something new in a couple of years.
Hi all, I have JUST purchased an Elantra Touring GL (Canada) and have been trying to get a few accessories for it. Namely the trunk tray and the cargo screen. But us Canadians seems to get hosed on all prices even if the Canadian $ is higher. But anyway, I was able find a place in the US that seems to sell them at a reasonable price. But I am not sure if these would fit my canadian model.
Does any know if there are any interior difference comparing the Canadian GL mode vs the US SE model?
Does anyone know if a new 2011 Elantra Touring can be equipped with a HEPA-rated cabin filter? We have allergy sufferers in the family and live in a very allergenic area of the country so any help filtering out bad stuff is important. I talked to a dealership and sent an email to HyundaiUSA.com but their answers were of the form "we don't know if one exists but if it does you can certainly install it". Not very informative...
In the absence of crash test data for the 2011 Elantra sedan, I'm getting ready to purchase my Touring. However, I'm seeing some color options on local dealers' websites that are not listed as options on Hyundai USA's site. Specifically, Regatta Blue Pearl, Carbon Gray Mist, and Quicksilver. What gives?
Well, I've been able to get 7 weeks of driving on the Korean Rocket, so now I have a more accurate feel for how this car works for me. These are my feelings thus far:
PROS:
- The heated seats are quite the bonus! They are a luxury I will never again be without. - We haven't really had much snow yet, but the one storm we had was no problem for me, with the four winter tires on. - Lots of room for hauling stuff around. With the seats folded down, I think I have almost as much room as my old Forester. - Quiet, smooth ride on the highway. I was quite surprised that I don't have to downshift while climbing hills. - 6 speaker stereo has great sound quality - the 5 speed shifts well - I have heard complaints about the Hyundai manual tranny's, but this shifts smoothly and finding gears is easy. - As an added bonus, the seats are easy to clean dog hair off of! I have always had problems getting hair off the seats, but I can simply wipe them off. As any dog owners know, that is HUGE! - Gas mileage is acceptable for me. The Trip Computer is showing 9.2L/100km, with mostly city driving in rush hour. I'm sure it will improve over time.
CONS:
- The only thing I've found is that the rear pillar is a HUGE blind spot - I really have to take a second look before changing into the right hand lane and backing up.
I'm more than happy with my purchase and am quite glad I picked the Touring over the Golf Wagon (which was 10K more).