So this will be a little long, and it might be too much Hyundai love for some, but here we have it!. This is my 15+ years in the making Hyundai story. 
i've had a Hyundai (or two) at any giving time. There was a time/extremely rough patch were every 9 months to a year with the deer in upstate and back roads, (plus a tree) that totaled not 1 not 2, but 4 different Hyundai's out!. The higher power did not want me in a Hyundai around years 15-18 But i keep at it! The list goes something like this, and time frames may not be exact but everything is close enough going off of memory.
Started out with a 2002 Elantra and a 2005 3.5L XG350L. I traded both on these cars in around 2010 and from 2010-2015 owned a few old buicks/oldsmobiles/saturn sl2/taurus/SE-R nissan, and was missing the Hyundai's.. So i went on the look for a turbo Hyundai and found a KIA Optima Turbo SXL in 2015 as a 13. Drove it for about a year until a deer took out the whole left side.. traded it for a 2015 Sonata Limited 2.0L Turbo now 2016, 6 months later totaled out because of another deer. Got a great deal on a yet another 2015 Limited 2.4L non turbo. one year later another deer now its about 17 ish. Decided i was losing too much money on total loses, and wanted to go "cheaper" if this was going to keep up., Found a 13 SE Sonata with about 40K miles on it. Bought it but a tree fell on it 6 months later!. Now we are in mid 2018, and i found yet again, a totally MINT elderly owner garage queen. It was a 2013 Sonata with only about 1,945 miles on it.... ( under 2K miles) in late 2018 ish... At this point. bought it on the spot, and here we are today!, It has 55K miles on it currently. I only replaced tires twice, brake upgrade(drilled and slotted with ceramic brake pads), NGK iridium sparkplugs, Engine oil/transmission fluid/brake fluid and coolant flushes. Also replaced the cabin air filter, and engine air filter. I use Mobil 1 5W30 Synthetic, and a factory OEM filter every 6K miles.. It gets 93 ethanol free fuel. The Sonata has been rock solid reliable and average of 34 MPG under normal driving. the 2.4L has giving me no issues, and does not burn or leak. The transmission with the fluid changes is also fast, smooth, and reliable. It engages fast, shifts smooth and it's always eager and ready to be in the right gear with any jab on the throttle. While the 13 is not as nice as the newer limited and turbo models ive had, but I actually appreciate the basic layout now. to note, its a NY car, but it has zero rust. even the exhaust is factory new clean with stickers, and paint pen marks on the bolts. I do car wash often esp during winter, so its paying off. To note, the 2011-2015 2.4L and 2.0L turbo engines "can" be troublesome, but ive had a few different years sonatas with the 2.4L and 2.0L turbo engines, and never had engine trouble with any of them.
That brings me to the 2.0L Elantra now.... its a 2009 GLS/SE "fully loaded" - no leather and for some reason, did not come with rims but hubcaps that i replaced instantly but it had every other option. It has 117K miles, and has also not giving me one ounce of issues. I did a lot of maintenance when I bought it and it's been a great car since the first day even before all the maintenance. (it was sitting for probably 15 + months, in a field and under 5 feet or more of snow the whole winter, jumped the battery, and drove it away! I just wanted to get up to "perfection". The parts list for the Elantra goes something like this. Drilled and slotted brake rotors and ceramic pads, Brake fluid flush, all swaybar links, tires, synthetic engine oil and OEM filter, synthetic transmission fluid 3 x 3 method, new front exhaust flex pipe, OEM 02 sensor, AEM lifetime dryflow engine air filter, NGK iridium sparkplugs, 4 premium spark plug wires, MAF/MAP sensor cleaned, cabin air filter, LED license plate light, LED interior light, new factory OEM radio (cold solder issue) For being a 10+ years old NY car, it has zero rust. The undercarriage looks factory new, the exhaust is still silver and has stickers on the suspension/ and other parts of the sub frame. It also does not leak or burn a drop. I average around 30 MPG, because its a 4 speed with OD automatic. The Sonata has more power, weight, 6 speed auto, and is nicer to drive, plus gets 34 mpg, but the Elantra is using older tech. (maybe more reliable in the long run who knows)
The timing belt and all accessories were changed out in 2018 ish, right before it was parked in the field.
On both of these Hyundais, they are on factory engines, transmissions, suspensions, CV axles, wheel bearings, exhaust, paint, Pictures are most recent, 2021/22. They also pass inspection every year without issues, and on both of these Hyundais, i have never gotten one error code, or light on the dash. All interior electronics on both are also original, and have never been worked on minus the Elantras radio that i swapped out in 15 mins.
That's a quick recap of my Hyundai story, and while not everyones cup of tea... These Hyundais IMHO are just as good as the top 3. (they just total out after any real accident or because of part availability and expenses on labor i assume.) but its that way with any car now. Yeah i also know they are "low mileage" esp the Sonata but time does not stop, and they are now "old" lol, and have proven to be %100 reliable. Not one of the Hyundais have EVER been on a tow truck because of a "break down". And this is since 2004, and a ton of different years, and models.
Picture time! Ive posted a picture here and there on this forum of the Hyundai's, but i will post them here.
And the Elantra...
This is what the Elantra looked like after just a power wash, no soap and a year plus of sitting in the field. It did not even come with a check engine light!, and to this day am using the same OEM Hyundai battery!. It just started the car in -5 degree temps yesterday and it fired up like it was 75 out. It also passed NY inspection the very next day after purchase and after i put a few miles on it!.... The shop said it passed "with flying colors" and that was using year plus old gas, oil, and i still had to wear the rust off the brakes!.. to this day, knock on wood, but the Check engine light never lit up!. (it works lol) piston slap that some might remember went 95% away after i changed out to OEM oil filter and M1 HM 5W30.
Feel free to post a picture of your Hyundai, a story, positive, (or negative) history with it!, a memory, anything. That's all folks.
i've had a Hyundai (or two) at any giving time. There was a time/extremely rough patch were every 9 months to a year with the deer in upstate and back roads, (plus a tree) that totaled not 1 not 2, but 4 different Hyundai's out!. The higher power did not want me in a Hyundai around years 15-18 But i keep at it! The list goes something like this, and time frames may not be exact but everything is close enough going off of memory.
Started out with a 2002 Elantra and a 2005 3.5L XG350L. I traded both on these cars in around 2010 and from 2010-2015 owned a few old buicks/oldsmobiles/saturn sl2/taurus/SE-R nissan, and was missing the Hyundai's.. So i went on the look for a turbo Hyundai and found a KIA Optima Turbo SXL in 2015 as a 13. Drove it for about a year until a deer took out the whole left side.. traded it for a 2015 Sonata Limited 2.0L Turbo now 2016, 6 months later totaled out because of another deer. Got a great deal on a yet another 2015 Limited 2.4L non turbo. one year later another deer now its about 17 ish. Decided i was losing too much money on total loses, and wanted to go "cheaper" if this was going to keep up., Found a 13 SE Sonata with about 40K miles on it. Bought it but a tree fell on it 6 months later!. Now we are in mid 2018, and i found yet again, a totally MINT elderly owner garage queen. It was a 2013 Sonata with only about 1,945 miles on it.... ( under 2K miles) in late 2018 ish... At this point. bought it on the spot, and here we are today!, It has 55K miles on it currently. I only replaced tires twice, brake upgrade(drilled and slotted with ceramic brake pads), NGK iridium sparkplugs, Engine oil/transmission fluid/brake fluid and coolant flushes. Also replaced the cabin air filter, and engine air filter. I use Mobil 1 5W30 Synthetic, and a factory OEM filter every 6K miles.. It gets 93 ethanol free fuel. The Sonata has been rock solid reliable and average of 34 MPG under normal driving. the 2.4L has giving me no issues, and does not burn or leak. The transmission with the fluid changes is also fast, smooth, and reliable. It engages fast, shifts smooth and it's always eager and ready to be in the right gear with any jab on the throttle. While the 13 is not as nice as the newer limited and turbo models ive had, but I actually appreciate the basic layout now. to note, its a NY car, but it has zero rust. even the exhaust is factory new clean with stickers, and paint pen marks on the bolts. I do car wash often esp during winter, so its paying off. To note, the 2011-2015 2.4L and 2.0L turbo engines "can" be troublesome, but ive had a few different years sonatas with the 2.4L and 2.0L turbo engines, and never had engine trouble with any of them.
That brings me to the 2.0L Elantra now.... its a 2009 GLS/SE "fully loaded" - no leather and for some reason, did not come with rims but hubcaps that i replaced instantly but it had every other option. It has 117K miles, and has also not giving me one ounce of issues. I did a lot of maintenance when I bought it and it's been a great car since the first day even before all the maintenance. (it was sitting for probably 15 + months, in a field and under 5 feet or more of snow the whole winter, jumped the battery, and drove it away! I just wanted to get up to "perfection". The parts list for the Elantra goes something like this. Drilled and slotted brake rotors and ceramic pads, Brake fluid flush, all swaybar links, tires, synthetic engine oil and OEM filter, synthetic transmission fluid 3 x 3 method, new front exhaust flex pipe, OEM 02 sensor, AEM lifetime dryflow engine air filter, NGK iridium sparkplugs, 4 premium spark plug wires, MAF/MAP sensor cleaned, cabin air filter, LED license plate light, LED interior light, new factory OEM radio (cold solder issue) For being a 10+ years old NY car, it has zero rust. The undercarriage looks factory new, the exhaust is still silver and has stickers on the suspension/ and other parts of the sub frame. It also does not leak or burn a drop. I average around 30 MPG, because its a 4 speed with OD automatic. The Sonata has more power, weight, 6 speed auto, and is nicer to drive, plus gets 34 mpg, but the Elantra is using older tech. (maybe more reliable in the long run who knows)
The timing belt and all accessories were changed out in 2018 ish, right before it was parked in the field.
On both of these Hyundais, they are on factory engines, transmissions, suspensions, CV axles, wheel bearings, exhaust, paint, Pictures are most recent, 2021/22. They also pass inspection every year without issues, and on both of these Hyundais, i have never gotten one error code, or light on the dash. All interior electronics on both are also original, and have never been worked on minus the Elantras radio that i swapped out in 15 mins.
That's a quick recap of my Hyundai story, and while not everyones cup of tea... These Hyundais IMHO are just as good as the top 3. (they just total out after any real accident or because of part availability and expenses on labor i assume.) but its that way with any car now. Yeah i also know they are "low mileage" esp the Sonata but time does not stop, and they are now "old" lol, and have proven to be %100 reliable. Not one of the Hyundais have EVER been on a tow truck because of a "break down". And this is since 2004, and a ton of different years, and models.
Picture time! Ive posted a picture here and there on this forum of the Hyundai's, but i will post them here.
And the Elantra...
Feel free to post a picture of your Hyundai, a story, positive, (or negative) history with it!, a memory, anything. That's all folks.
