What do you think of Korean cars?

Question

The other day we rented a brand new Hyundai Elantra, I was so disappointed by it's acceleration "pick up" why is that, and are all Korean cars "lazy" like that?

Answer 1

Not all Korean cars are lousy. You must look at the model. Elantra is consider low end.
Just like Ford, it also have low end model. What car are you comparing Elantra to?

Answer 2

korean cars have come a LONG way in the last 10 years. I would highly recommend looking at hyundai for cars now. Theyve really put out some good ones in the last few years. Kias still a bit shaky, and daewoo (dont think they sell em here anymore) never was that great. Hyundai is seriously catching up to the japanese, and for the cost (and wicked warrenty), i would give them a serious look.

theyre kind of like diesles. They got a bad rap from their old incarnations, but are actually very nice now.

Answer 3

I just purchased my first NEW car a 2006 Hyundai Elantra GLS. I'm following break-in procedures. Therefore I can't speak to pick-up speed other than normal operation, which I find is good - seems to have plenty of get-up-and-go while getting onto the interstate. Then again, I'm not going over 55 MPH either, nor am I revving more than 4000 RPMS.

This is not a high performance vehicle and I wouldn't expect it to perform as such.

Answer 4

Don't let any rental sway you one way or the other, although I think most rentals away towards bad than good. Rentals are just pretty much mid-range or lower-end for any model, without must of anything in options.

I personally think Hyundai and Kia (both same company) will be strong players in another 10 years. The U.S. auto-makers are going to have a tough time trying to stay afloat in another ten to twenty years with Japanese, Korean, and soon to be Chinese automakers coming to market.

In ten years, Japan will probably remain number one of imports, with Koreans being where Toyota and Honda are now, and the Chinese where Hyundai was five to ten years ago...

Answer 5

as far as the elantra it self it gets good gas mileage looks ok ,its a cheep car drives soso pretty dependable,ok don't ever run one hot if you do look for a engine . i just replaced mine ,on the upside the engines are cheep also i got a 12000 mile one for 300 bucks,pretty easy to replace if you pull the tranny with the motor all went back easy , and runs great. on the down side the transmission are kinda week don't jerk it around unless you want to make another trip to the salvage yard. the elantra in a 97 mod. has the same engine as the tiburon. its not a race car its a get around cheep car if only you take care of it ,change the oil like you should don't jerk it and it will run you way over 100000 miles.

Answer 6

They have come clear out of the wood work with some spectacular things to offer. If you rented a V4 engine that explains why the dissapointment. There cars a known more for recent workmanship and a great warranty to boot and you get a lot of your money. They have improved tremendously and are actually giving Honda and Toyota a run for their money. I agree that there is not a whole lot of pep in the engine and I would not recommend for someone to get one if they are looking for speed.

Answer 7

They are great if you are living on the Korean pennisula. Seriously. Too many foreign auto mfgrs. don't give American drivers what they need and want in cars because they don't spend the amount of time in their cars like we do.

We average over 15,000 miles / year and that's enough to get you around all of Europe, or the Korean penninsula, several times in a year. They don't drive as much.

I have always driven American made cars and I am biased toward them. And I have been in a lot of import cars as rentals. and I am just more comfortable in; familiar with control layout and arrangement; and confident that I can drive from the midwest to either coast in a couple of days or so without being all cramped up and feeling like I just pushed a sardine can down the highway for twelve hours a day.

I also do most, if not all, of my own preventive maintenance. It really bothers me to go purchase air or oil filters, or other service parts for a car, or other engine, and be required to pay three to four times more than you know what you could / should be paying for the product. Import service parts are way too expensive. Regardless of where they are coming from.

My wife has wanted a European luxury import, I won't mention the name, for several years now. I have been the nemesis in her life over the issue. In part because it took me over six months to find air and oil filters for a Japanese imported generator set in our motor home. After ordering them from a local dealer, they cost me over $50.00 for the pair. Outragious. But you got the machine. What you going to do? Bend over and take it.

I am an American. I like American. I buy American.

Thanks.

Answer 8

Korean Government owns Hyundai. They recently also purchased Kia, another Korean brand.

Korea makes cars that are considered "throw aways". They are not meant to last long, be sporty, peppy, etc. Just basic transportation from point A to B.

They have about the worse resale value as well. Depreciate very fast compared to all other manufacturers.

Answer 9

Elantra has 135hp, right? I have a Nissan Altima and it also takes forever to get up to speed too. And it has 150hp. Almost all 4 cylinders are like that.

If you want some oooomph, get the V6 instead.

Answer 10

My car, a 2006 GLS Hyundai Sonata. It is really nice. The car has a good pick-up, and it is the family car of the year, it is nice.