2006 Hyundai Elantra Auto 240k Kms Reliability & Costs

LThranrond on 20/09/2017 - 16:49
Last edited 20/09/2017 - 16:51

First time car buyer and P plater here with a budget of 4k. I know the general opinion is to get a Toyota or Mitsubishi but all of the ones I've seen under my budget have been an eyesore.

I found a 2006 Hyundai Elantra SLX auto under my budget (after some negotiation!) and am considering buying this car. I'm yet to have a physical look at it but it looks very well maintained inside and out. It has been regularly serviced and all service records will be sold with it. Only one previous owner.

How reliable would this car be at this number of kms? I assume I shouldn't have any problems if it really has been regularly serviced.

How are the servicing costs for Hyundai's like compared to Toyota/Mitsu? What about parts availability and costs?

Anything I should look out for in this car?

Automotive

Comments

  • altomic on 20/09/2017 - 17:00
    +4

    240,000 kms.

    It could die in a week. Personally I wouldn't buy it. It is a lot of kms. And you can get a whole lot more car for less.

    • Thranrond on 20/09/2017 - 17:07

      Any other car suggestions?

      • altomic on 20/09/2017 - 17:15

        Go to carsales put in location melb, max $4000, max kms 100,000 and go from there. A kia or Hyundai. Mazda 2 or 3.

        How much driving will you be doing? Heaps? Or here and there with occasional trip?

        • Thranrond on 20/09/2017 - 17:19

          You'd be surprised to know how many times I've done that. I can't find any that I like the look of.

          Around 300kms a week, suburban driving.

    • Forskin on 20/09/2017 - 18:03
      +1

      I disagree, I find high KM cars just as reliable as low-medium KM cars provided they have been taken care of.

      I've owned/own a:
      VN Calais (v6) from 215-250xxx KM. No dramas
      VY Commodore (v6) from 115-13xxxx KM. Only problem I had was the radiator cracked. Fixed in a day.
      VT Calais (factory super6) from 265-269xxx and counting. No dramas.
      VX Commodore SS (v8) 213xxx-230xxx KM and counting. No dramas.

      I'm a spirited driver so I haven't taken it easy on any of these cars and they all hold up fine.

      As long as you are on top of your servicing and preventive maintenance you should be just fine buying a high KM car.

      • OpayuOnam on 21/09/2017 - 12:51

        What all the cars you mentioned have in common is a big engine,
        The car op is looking at is tiny engine car.
        Strictly speaking about engine, bigger engine cars tend to have a better life compared to say 1.6L or 1.8L eco engines.
        Just saying.

  • inherentchoice on 20/09/2017 - 17:03

    Find out when timing belt was last serviced.

    Look for smoke in the exhaust.

    Actually probably watch these seven videos about buying a used car…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC8LbvYk6es&list=PLvKbarVtwh…

    I think that car is just like a Kia Cerato which you could get for $2500. I think I would rather go for a cheaper Cerato, and preferably with less km.

    Also consider a Hyundai Accent. Some are going very cheap.

    If it's your first car it's easy to upgrade later.

    • Thranrond on 20/09/2017 - 17:11

      Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

      I've been told by quite a few people that I should go for Kia Cerato's before 2009 (and the ones above are >4k).

      • Thranrond on 21/09/2017 - 00:20

        Sorry, I meant shouldn't.

        • ESEMCE on 21/09/2017 - 08:04

          Agreed… Recent Kia's are all good but 2006 Kia's were not at the level of a 2006 Hyundai

        • inherentchoice on 21/09/2017 - 10:43

          @scubacoles: Well I recently bought a 2005 Cerato and previously had a 2005 Hyundai Accent for 7 years. In what way would the Kia of that vintage not be at the level of a Hyundai? The Cerato's toolkit with the jack has a hyundai logo on it haha.

        • ESEMCE on 21/09/2017 - 10:59

          @inherentchoice:
          Maybe I'm wrong.. but as I recall it was only around then that Hyundai had started to up the quality and Kia, being the little brother was still a few years behind.

        • inherentchoice on 21/09/2017 - 11:50

          @scubacoles: Well I like my Cerato for now but I will find out if it's no good I guess. Oddly a previous owner had to replace the clutch at 90,000 kms but maybe because they can't drive properly? Gear stick feels a little clunky. No leaks though and interior has very well designed little storage compartments.

  • whooah1979 on 20/09/2017 - 17:04
    +1

    $4k vehicle. Get a tiida. It's possible to find one for under 100kms.

    • Thranrond on 20/09/2017 - 17:08

      None that are automatic :/

  • resisting the urge on 20/09/2017 - 19:04

    Something your trusted mechanic knows would be good

    Automatic? If used, that's what you have to spend your time researching problems/symptoms/causes with and make sure you buy without any problems.

    People sell cars that begin showing intermittent trans issues. One bad trans will blow ur budget even if 3 years down the track.

    A falcon is proly better than a dore, reliability wise, but everything depends. Above all a well designed, ultra mass produced, maintained car will a good buy so long as your mechanic knows it.

    • Thranrond on 21/09/2017 - 00:21

      I don't have a trusted mechanic, unfortunately.

      • resisting the urge on 21/09/2017 - 17:54

        Find a mechanic, and take care to vet that they truly are good.

        You can really only afford a car with little value other than its condition (so you could start with one that is mostly dying off 2nd hand. It may look old, lack modern style and other things, but it will serve you more faithfully than the average abused turds other people might buy, and be simple (cheap) to repair when it needs something. Over the years it may even go up in value if you can get one that has some kind of passionate following.

        Try to buy a car that is in almost no way abused, deceased estate or from an older seller. Only buy one that is very very very well looked after. Very important is an ice-cold AC system that works well (recently overhauled is good as this work is often costly. Beware anything that was just 're-gassed', as this usually means it has a leak and will be needing costly work done i future.

        Whatever you get, treat it carefully, change all the fluids (engine, transmission, differential), also the coolant and brake fluid with quality, manufacturer specified product. Use Lucas additives despite the cost of them, and drive it smoothly and calmly. Buy several sets of new wiper blades, a set of spark plugs and multiple oil, fuel, cabin and air filters, once you can find them in bulk cheaply, (and anything else it might have in addition to these usual items that will need regular replacement).

        This approach will help you avoid trouble and costly failures.

  • Brucet on 20/09/2017 - 19:26
    +1

    240,000 kms.U better forget this car to avoid headache.

  • Brucet on 20/09/2017 - 19:27
    +1

    Hyundai not reliable car.

  • AdosHouse on 20/09/2017 - 20:40
    +2

    Reading this thread with people saying cars with 230k+ aren't reliable, and here I am with my 330k VY V6 Commodore which is running perfectly.

    Guess I just won the engine lottery. That and that I service it myself with quality oils and filters.

    • altomic on 20/09/2017 - 21:41

      a commode d'ore is a pretty sturdy vehicle mechanically.

      I wouldn't expect a Lada to get past 230k+,

      • resisting the urge on 21/09/2017 - 17:58

        Huh?

        Look on youtube, most of those Russian ones getting cleaned up by inter-stellar commuters traveling beyond the land-speed record on icy roads are >1,0000,000km and counting…

    • Daabido on 20/09/2017 - 22:21
      +1

      You won the transmission lottery by a long shot, unless it has already been replaced. 160k for the auto used to be the point at which issues happened.

      • AdosHouse on 21/09/2017 - 01:45

        Nope, factory, never rebuilt. I've heard the 4L60E are a very sturdy unit, since they were designed to sit in small trucks. They can take plenty of torque, but not a big fan of revs, or massive RPM changes.

    • whooah1979 on 21/09/2017 - 00:01
      +2

      here I am with my 330k VY V6 Commodore

      A sample of one makes any statistics look good.

  • Ahbal on 20/09/2017 - 21:16

    Toytoa or Honda. They are the top statistically for reliability. Also, kms are not everything. Because if the owner takes care of it and services it and drives it properly the care will last a long time. High kms with most owners though should be avoided unless they have documents proving they took proper care of it.

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