# I love my new car. (2012 Elantra.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 19, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711 "2011-12-19T04:55:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/21 "2011-12-20T01:21:54Z")
I don’t buy new cars due to depreciation, but I looked into the elantra (I was looking at 2003-2006 models though). I ended up not getting it because I read some reviews saying it had reliability issues, but I liked the mpg and the interior. but a 2012 is probably going to hold up a lot better than a 2005. FWIW, I actually liked the Sonata a bit better though. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/22 "2011-12-20T01:35:26Z")
**Wesley Clark** - my most wonderfullest mechanics in the world said Hyundais used to be iffy on reliability, but the later models are lots better. In fact, when I told him we were considering a Sonata, he didn’t laugh at me - he laughed about my husband’s Miata, but that might be for other reasons… We’ll probably buy new mostly because around here, cars rack up miles really fast, so getting a low-mileage used car is next to impossible unless you’re really lucky. But when we buy it, we’ll keep in for a long time - like the van we had for 231K miles. ---
**Author:** ![StephenG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/23 "2011-12-20T02:06:38Z")
I admire your taste, sir! I used to have a 2004 Elantra (real blue), and now have a 2007 one (wussy, sage green – but we bought used, in a hurry, so I had limited choice). I’m glad to hear the 2012s are still nice. **Wesley Clark** , I had the 2004 Elantra (with ABS, specially requested) for just a shade under 7 years, and about 80K miles, and never had any reliability issues. Just regular maintenance. Couldn’t have been happier. **Fairy Chat Mom** , my wife has a 2007 Sonata which she loves. She complains that my Elantra is too small, which baffles me since she’s 4" and 40 lbs lighter, but I don’t argue. Hers is also a higher trim level, so has more creature comforts (heated seats!), and the Sonata is more luxurious in general … but, as **RickJay** said, you definitely pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/24 "2011-12-20T02:46:25Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I never understand why people reply to “yay! I got a practical, toting the family around sort of car! And I couldn’t be happier!” by saying “its not a sports car.” > > Well, duh. Awesome insight there, bro. > And rather more relevantly to the OP, there is no place to secure a child seat that is not the front seat. No no no-- practical is good. I’m just saying in addition, maybe a car with zoom, someday as a treat to yourself. It’ll be a good incentive when it comes time to hand it down, too. Written medium fail, here, not trying to be a drag! The newer Miatas aren’t as pretty as they once were, true, but they’re far from ugly. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/25 "2011-12-20T03:53:14Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > What sort of MPG are you getting? It’s too early to tell, I’m still working off the initial milage; the car arrived with 290 KM on it because they had to drive it from a faraway dealer, and when I took possession the trip computer had an absolutely insanely terrible L/100 calculation. Since then, if my calculations are right, about 31-32 MPG combined, which is a bit below the promised 33 but it’s new and I’ve been driving it like a numbskull. I’ll know better in a month. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/26 "2011-12-20T04:00:50Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s too early to tell, I’m still working off the initial milage; the car arrived with 290 KM on it because they had to drive it from a faraway dealer, and when I took possession the trip computer had an absolutely insanely terrible L/100 calculation. Since then, if my calculations are right, about 31-32 MPG combined, which is a bit below the promised 33 but it’s new and I’ve been driving it like a numbskull. I’ll know better in a month. 31 - 32 isn’t a bit below the 33 promised? Huh? I’m like 20% below the “promised” and thought that was typical of the ideal conditions vs. real life driving scenarios. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/27 "2011-12-20T04:27:20Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s too early to tell, I’m still working off the initial milage; the car arrived with 290 KM on it because they had to drive it from a faraway dealer, and when I took possession the trip computer had an absolutely insanely terrible L/100 calculation. Since then, if my calculations are right, about 31-32 MPG combined, which is a bit below the promised 33 but it’s new and I’ve been driving it like a numbskull. I’ll know better in a month. What kind of gallons? Or what’s it in l/100km? ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/28 "2011-12-20T04:45:19Z")
I love my 2008 Elantra (I think I might have mentioned it a time or two on here before). It’s got 62,000 miles on it and still drives great, and I get 32 MPG in mixed driving with the 4-speed automatic. I might sell it before it hits 100,000 miles, just since the warranty runs out then. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/29 "2011-12-20T14:38:00Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > What kind of gallons? Or what’s it in l/100km? Wait, there’s more than one kind of gallon? Last I checked it was 7.5L/100, but it’s so early in the car’s lifetime that it changes a lot if I do a highway run or if I spend an hour driving around town. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/30 "2011-12-20T17:41:17Z")
It will change as the engine breaks in. And ethanol content in fuel. And altitude. Basically don’t bother. > **[Consumer group cries foul on Hyundai's 40-mpg claim - Autoblog](https://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/02/consumer-group-cries-foul-on-hyundais-40-mpg-claim/)** > > Right when it looks like Hyundai can do no wrong, we have this: A consumer protection group is asking the United States Environmental Protection Agency to look into claims that the Elantra has exaggerated fuel economy numbers. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/31 "2011-12-20T18:33:10Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Wait, there’s more than one kind of gallon? > > Last I checked it was 7.5L/100, but it’s so early in the car’s lifetime that it changes a lot if I do a highway run or if I spend an hour driving around town. US gallons are smaller than Imperial gallons. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/32 "2011-12-20T22:18:00Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > US gallons are smaller than Imperial gallons. I would be absolutely gobsmacked if **Rick** didn’t already know this. I really hope that was a whoosh. ETA: A whoosh by **Rick** , I mean. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/33 "2011-12-20T23:21:20Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I would be absolutely gobsmacked if **Rick** didn’t already know this. I really hope that was a whoosh. > > ETA: A whoosh by **Rick** , I mean. Of course, but I don’t think anyone counts MPG in imperial gallons. Not on this side of the pond, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/34 "2011-12-21T00:14:53Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I would be absolutely gobsmacked if **Rick** didn’t already know this. I really hope that was a whoosh. > > ETA: A whoosh by **Rick** , I mean. Well, I haven’t been around long enough to get a handle on who’s who. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/35 "2011-12-21T00:17:23Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > Well, I haven’t been around long enough to get a handle on who’s who. After 5 or 6 years it’ll start to come together. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/36 "2011-12-22T01:42:17Z")
I have a 2004 Elantra and love, love, love it. It has nearly 119,000 miles and aside from a minor glitch here and there (thermostat went out at about 113,000 miles) and basic upkeep (had the timing belt replaced when the thermostat went out), I haven’t had any problems with it. I’d buy another in a heartbeat. I’m hoping this one holds out for at least 200K and I can buy a new one. (Fingers crossed.) ---
**Author:** ![soxwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@soxwing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soxwing)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/37 "2012-01-10T20:05:24Z")
got my Elantra in October and absolutely love it. It’s a whole lot of car for the money. The only complant of any kind that I have is the handling at highway speeds and particularily if its even slightly windy. Though normally tight and responsive when driven on an open highway in gusty condition I find it fairly twitchy and requires a solid grip with both hands on the wheel. ( can be border line scary) Curious if anyone else has experienced the same? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/38 "2012-01-10T20:10:05Z")
I just saw that the 2012 Elantra was just named Car of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show. [Link here.](http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/09/autos/elantra_car_of_the_year/index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![old\_joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/58956e/32.png) [@old\_joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/old_joe)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/39 "2012-01-11T16:13:03Z")
> [@soxwing](#): > > got my Elantra in October and absolutely love it. It’s a whole lot of car for the money. The only complant of any kind that I have is the handling at highway speeds and particularily if its even slightly windy. > Though normally tight and responsive when driven on an open highway in gusty condition I find it fairly twitchy and requires a solid grip with both hands on the wheel. ( can be border line scary) > Curious if anyone else has experienced the same? Yep same here. I find the steering to be way too touchy especially at highway speeds. I asked the dealership and apparently it is a variable speed electric motor. It is supposed to tighten up the faster you drive but mine doesn’t seem too. Its great in the parking lot but i hate it on the highway. Other than that its a good little car. Funny tho, my wife loves it. ---
**Author:** ![soxwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@soxwing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soxwing)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711/40 "2012-01-11T19:34:37Z")
> [@old\_joe](#): > > Yep same here. I find the steering to be way too touchy especially at highway speeds. I asked the dealership and apparently it is a variable speed electric motor. It is supposed to tighten up the faster you drive but mine doesn’t seem too. Its great in the parking lot but i hate it on the highway. Other than that its a good little car. Funny tho, my wife loves it. thanks for the info Joe, kinda thought it might be related to electric steering. Wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a recall for adjustments in the near future [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-new-car-2012-elantra/606711.md?page=1)