prospective buyer

I am highly interested in the Sante Fe LX. Can you guys tell me what you think about it; good and bad. I like the AWD, price, and warranty, but I am concerned about reliability and interior. It seems the leather in the LX is sort of cheap looking. What do you guys think?

hummm, have you bought it yet? haha, I think is a nice built SUV, and the price, is really cheap to buy. The interior is more than ok to me. I think it would be a good choice, also because is the bigger in its class (compact SUV) and has a V6 available!! :eek: Expect a model change for 2004.

I dont have the LX Santa Fe, but i do have the front wheel drive V6 Santa Fe. Have had it for over 2 years now with 10 k miles on it. No problems at all. Interior is nice. Handles responsively. No rattles. Nice soft ride cause its on a Sonata suspension. I love this SUV. Gets good gas mileage. I get alot of compliments. I paid $19250 for it 2 years ago. Its a 2002 model.

Git one !!!

I know im late, but im still wondering if you've bought it yet. If you haven't...I would recomend it.Not highly, but its a pretty good SUV. I have one,well its my dads, and i've driven it quite a few times...Its real smoothe, performs well...but my problem with it...is it's got a 2 second delay when u push the pedal! Its really annoying! I hate that about it. Honestly that small amount of delay can get u killed if your not carefull. Also, as I told a friend once, its got alot of bark but no bite! The engine roars beautifully, I love the sound...but hammer that throttle...2.5 seconds later the engine kics in...but your really not going anywhere fast!So if your willing to put up with that then by all means go right ahead. It really is a nice one(and im not just trying to be sarcastic)...but thats my beef with it!...and if anyone knows why that is, and how to fix it...PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!

Just to add a little more...its also really comfortable...and the trunk space is superb! Man, I hate traveling with my family...a one week vacation requires 6-8 big suitcases...three of which are my moms alone...but suprisingly...they actually fit! and the 5 of us can sit semi-comfortably while we trek to the airport! I don't know if they all come with this feature, but ours can switch from an automatic, to a manual quite easily. A feature I like but rarely use...its got Limited Slip Differential aswell...4WD..lets see what else....i could go on about this one, cuz i really like it...but its just that damned 2 second delay!

If i were you, id tell your dad ot get that delay fixed, at once. It is not normal for the SantaFe nor is it safe. I have the V-6 2.7 litre motor with auto trans, and it immediately takes off when the pedal is pushed hard or, at wide open throttle.

I examined all competing SUV's closely, and found the SantaFe to be of the best value for what you get. Especially the 10 year warranty/100,000 miles.

The only thing i dont like about Hyundais, is their fast depreciation ; but, i think this will turn around in a few more years after Hyundai re-establishes credibility from the disaster of their late 1980's - early 1990's cars.

Dave

If i were you, id tell your dad ot get that delay fixed, at once. It is not normal for the SantaFe nor is it safe. I have the V-6 2.7 litre motor with auto trans, and it immediately takes off when the pedal is pushed hard or, at wide open throttle.

I examined all competing SUV's closely, and found the SantaFe to be of the best value for what you get. Especially the 10 year warranty/100,000 miles.

The only thing i dont like about Hyundais, is their fast depreciation ; but, i think this will turn around in a few more years after Hyundai re-establishes credibility from the disaster of their late 1980's - early 1990's cars.

Dave


Hey Dave, thanks for the Clarification. I know its not safe, but I jus thought it was a Hyundai thing (how naive of me). However, its paid for by the company he works for so theres no point in him spending money on it...and as long as we dont try overtakin in a 3 second margin of space... :nono: ...we will be fine for the most part. but I will check to see if we can do something about it!
but it's great to hear your getting what you pay for plus a ten year warrenty...mabye i'll grab one myself when i get the chance!
Thanks again Dave

Ten Four good buddie....youll like it alot. The ride is incredible soft and very comfortable for me..and im 6'4" of rompin-stompin man !

Tell Pops to get the delay fixed before he gets seriously hurt in a crash.

Dav

have your dad check with the dealer or by calling the 800 customer assistance number and see if it has the v02 or v01 recall on it. its possible if its a 6 cyl, the recall involves reprogramming the ecm, this may help your problem, as hesitating is one of the complaints. hope this helps, i havent seen any in my dealership doing this, so its not normal

have your dad check with the dealer or by calling the 800 customer assistance number and see if it has the v02 or v01 recall on it. its possible if its a 6 cyl, the recall involves reprogramming the ecm, this may help your problem, as hesitating is one of the complaints. hope this helps, i havent seen any in my dealership doing this, so its not normal

hey thanks for the advice...but unfourtunatly...we're in a country that can't accecss 800 numbers. Were in Jordan, the Middle East.And its only for a short term, one mor year out of two, to go! The next thing is we had it shipped from Korea...but there is a Hyundai Dealership here so we'll have to check it out! But i checked it out again the other day just to be sure...on startup its pretty much fine! She purrs along nicely...but on the open highway, going about 90-120km/hr, when u kickdown, to overtake for instance, it's like she was sleeping and then after the delay she wakes up and starts moving! But i have to say though...other than that, im sold on this baby! I love the way she responds to a little turn of the steering, and how smoothe and comfortable the ride is! Never ridden in a vehicle like it...this is the second Hyundai i've felt this way about, and i wasn't really to fond of them before....damn it sounds like im talkin about a chick dosen't it! :rofl: ...but im seriously considering getting one...once i can afford one that is!

I am looking at a 2004 possibly 2005 Santa Fe. Does anyone know if the resale value has improved, or is it too early to tell. No one talks about the 2WD 4 cylinder model. I test drove one of those and it handled fine on the freeway for a short distance, getting on and off. My husband drove an automatic and didn't get much oomph when the pedal was down all the way. (He drives an Eclipse.)
How does the 2WD handle in the snow? The more I read regards Hyundai, the better I feel..but I still have some reservations. I TLC all my cars and don't drive like a maniac.

Welcome to the AF family and the Santa Fe Section. :smile:

Okay lets start one by one..

Resale Value
Its all about perception. Looking around on many local used car lots for used Santys and if anything, you will find maybe one. Either the used lots don't pick them up because they don't sell or they can't get their hands on any because most don't trade them in since the owners like them so well to give them up. Resale value is actually two values, actual and percieved. An example of what I mean is lets say a diamond ring. The actual value of a 1 carat diamond is probably about $800 US dollars after its been cut, and polished. It sells for over $2000 US, Why? Because of all the hype we've been fed and the demand that has been created. Automobiles aren't that different. A vehicle is about $12-13,000 worth of materials and labor (which includes advertising, product liability, etc) selling for about $25,000. The executives and stockholders at each of the major auto companies reap the rewards. You may ask what does this have to do with resale value. Well the korean-made vehicles have more value for the dollar than any other in the market, including Japanese makes. But they still suffer from the perception that they are second rate vehicles. The actual value (the fact that they provide reliable transportation from point A to point B) and have more options included at the same price eludes all but the most logical car buyers. The perceived value is that they are not up to par with American, German or Japanese ones.

The resale value of a Santa Fe is not low. The following are a couple of screen shots from Edmunds comparing like mine a 2002 Santa Fe LX 4WD (fully loaded) and a 2002 Ford Escape XLT 4WD (with matching options).

For the Santa Fe....
http://www.santafemods.com/images/Other/Compare01.jpg

For the Escape...
http://www.santafemods.com/images/Other/Compare02.jpg

As you can see a 2002 Escape with the matched options has a much noticable lower resale value across the board. So taking into account the private party sale difference above of $2063 and $3000 that the Escape costed more than a Santa Fe back in 2002, I would say someone who bought the Santa Fe in 2002 over the Escape is about $5063 dollars ahead of the game. :smile:

Looking at the other years the results are similar, the resale value holds very well. So I am sure that the Santa Fe will continue to hold its value well. Oh btw, consumer rating for the Escape is an 8.2 compared to a 9.0 for the Santa Fe. Plus Hyundai has won numerous awards soem recently from JD Power and Associates which are highly regarded.

The 2WD 4cyl model.
While I have the 4wd 6cyl 2.7 L model I have numerous friends that do have the 4 cyl. And yes its not as preppy as the 3.5 or even the 2.7 but It gives good mileage and handles well enough for them. I wouldn't compare it to the Esclipse of any sport car for its different types but according to my friends it fine. Here in the northeast we get our share of snow and it handle well for them as well as did mine.

If you take care of your cars with TLC as you say you should have no problem. Just keep it well maintained and everything should be fine. I would suggest test driving all three engine types and see if the 2.4 is indeed fine for you. I myself prefer the 2.7 for the best of both worlds (gas mileage and HP) but everyone is different.

Hoped I helped and hope you get the Santa Fe.
Keep us posted.

TS out.