Still Own It

The Elantra is over 7 years old now.
Just went over 50,000 miles a couple of months ago.
MPG: 26.2
Changed the tires this year to some cheap Falkens.
Car still runs well.
I did get rear ended again last year. Hit and run.
What is it with this car that it gets hit so much?

New 2011 Hyundai Commercials

Odometer: 26,300 +
MPG: 24.5

If you are sick of the Kia commercials with the aliens and the Aztecs (gosh they must've spent a ton of money), Hyundai launching their Accent with a couple of commercials. Nothing super attractive about the commercials themselves, though a extra long (and extra cute) "Save The Asterisks" commercial (shown at the New York Car Show) which emphasizes that their 40MPG figures has no special "qualifications" and "buts" attach to them. They will have 4 models getting 40MPG highway this year. For the Veloster, Accent and Elantra you get 40MPG no matter what trim you buy...not some special Eco or Hybrid model. It is a little over the top I think, but if you are better than the competition for realz you better say it loud in this market.

Elantra Recalls - Two This Time

MPG: 24.5
Odometer: 25,745

This is the second recall notice I've gotten for my 2007 Elantra (actually 2 and 3), since they grouped two different problems on one piece of paper. I got this notice on April 25. I found out that it was officially released to online sources Mar. 15. They say possibly the job can be done while I wait. I am thinking recalls like this are on the rise, since cars are getting much more complex than ever.

Recall ID# 20613
Recall ID # 11V143000 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
Recall Date MAR 15, 2011
Part Affected AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
Model Affected ELANTRA
Potential Units Affected 188697 Get Details
Recall Date
MAR 15, 2011

Model Affected
2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

Description
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2008. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS IN THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A WEIGHT SENSOR DESIGNED TO DEACTIVATE THE RIGHT FRONTAL AIRBAG WHEN OCCUPANTS OF CERTAIN WEIGHTS OCCUPY THE SEAT. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE, BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE CONNECTOR COULD BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MALFUNCTION SUCH THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT.

Consequence
THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY IN CRASHES IN WHICH IT SHOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG.

Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONNECTOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTING TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Potential Units Affected
188697
===================
Recall ID# 65223
Recall ID # 11V179000 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
Recall Date MAR 15, 2011
Part Affected AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
Model Affected ELANTRA
Potential Units Affected 95783 Get Details
Recall Date
MAR 15, 2011

Model Affected
2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

Description
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH AUGUST 29, 2007. THE DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSOR DETERMINES THE SEAT'S FORE AND AFT POSITION AND ALLOWS THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG TO DEPLOY AT THE PRESSURE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT SEATING POSITION, WITH A LOWER PRESSURE DEPLOYMENT IN THE MOST FORWARD SEATING POSITIONS. THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE MAY RECEIVE AN UNSTABLE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM THE SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSOR SUCH THAT, IN A CRASH THAT REQUIRES DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY AT THE HIGHER PRESSURE THAN INTENDED IF THE SEAT WAS POSITION IN ONE OF THE FORWARD POSITIONS IN WHICH A LOWER PRESSURE DEPLOYMENT IS INTENDED.

Consequence
A HIGHER PRESSURE DEPLOYMENT THAN INTENDED INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY RESULTING FROM AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTING TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Potential Units Affected
95783

Groovy Girls Singing In Their Hyundai Accent

Don't need no expensive or pretentious car to enjoy yourselves....

Just hit 25000 miles on the Elantra!

Hyundai Asks You to Snap Out It

Hyundai 'Snap Out Of It' LA Auto Show from Dylan Osborn on Vimeo.


The Super Bowl is coming up this weekend and I was looking for any previews of their ads on the internet. They are playing it close to the vest this year, but I am excited to discover that at least one of their ads is for the new Elantra. The campaign theme is "Snap Out Of It" asking for the car buyers to rethink what they've come to expect of compact cars (mainly bad things, bad, bad things). There will also be tie-in online content.

The above video is not the commercial, but a kinetic video played during the L.A Auto Show that with an early interpretation of "Snap Out Of It".

I have to say I noticed the point about unimpressive gas mileage gains brought up in the video above. In the past couple of years, gas mileage of mid-size cars were almost catching up with compacts. The highway MPG on the Sonata was practically the same as on the Elantra, even if the engine was bigger and the car heavier. How does this happen. It's been over almost 2 decades since the sub-compact Geo Metro acheived 50mpg. Even with all cars getting loaded with more options that older cars didn't have and just getting bigger, why hasn't there been any sub-compacts with similar MPG's in the last 2 decades? So with this Elantra, they are going for 40mpg-----extremely impressive for a car that has more room than an Acura TL. Now what can they do with the upcoming Accent, can they hit 45mpg? That would be something.

Update: I spoke too soon. A couple of videos did appear in the AFC Championship Game which I did not catch. Here they are. Wish they show the car a little more. It's a beaut. I found one that does show more of the car, but it isn't part of the Super Bowl campaign.

2011 Elantra Spec Improvements Addresses Most Of Its Perceived Shortcomings

Odometer: about 23,000
Back in June when the new Avante was unveiled for the Korean market, it was not known whether the US would get a new Elantra in 2012 or 2011. In recent months, it has been confirmed that it will be 2011...perhaps as early as January.

I haven't been keeping up with news in the summer. I come back and the official press release is up at hyundainews.com, the page is up on the official consumer site, and it has debuted at the LA Car Show and is now at the SF show as I type.

Hyundai is aggressively designing and marketing this to not just be a "car to be considered" in the compact segment, but to be the class leader. Especially with no redesigns from the Japanese brands, Elantra has a good chance of doing just that in 2011.

Note the killer specs:
- Economical pricing as expected
- Feature-filled
- Roominess
- Safety
- Sleek styling that no one can say is boring or anonymous
- 40mpg highway (that is a huge engineering feat for a car this large-- this is not a tiny Fit or Fiesta) (up from 33 hwy)
- 6-speed transmission with a "Nu" engine (up from 4-spd AT)
- 148 hp (same as Mazda3, 10 more hp than last year)


Hyundai already had the first 4 nailed in the 2007 re-design; it addresses its most talked-about shortcomings with the last four points. The only thing we don't know about is ride quality: Does it still ride a compact Buick or does it have some sportiness like the Mazda3 and Civic?

This killer makeover as well as Hyundai's brand reputation skyrocketing led ALG to name the 2011 Elantra, its top pick for its 2011 Residual Value Awards.

"Hyundai’s win of the mid-compact segment highlights the growing reputation of the brand, as well as its impressive new product push,” said Raj Sundaram, Senior Vice President, Solutions Group and ALG. “The all-new 2011 Elantra shines with standard luxurious features and a modest price tag, and it’s expected to be a favorite of young drivers like the VW Jetta and Mazda3 before it.”

So for the first time (maybe second), people are betting on Hyundai to do well, instead of just being shocked by it.

It is really tempting to trade up, not only because it looks like a great car on paper, but it is a shining achievement for a brand I've been looking closely at for over 3 years. I just got another invitation to turn in my 2007 to the dealership I got it from. In it they didn't mention this new Elantra though. I don't want a Sonata (too big for my needs/wants) and I don't want a 2010 Elantra either. But this 2011 is really tempting me to screw with my long term plans for my car.

Seeing Elantras Almost Regularly Now

You know when you get a new car, you kind of have an eye out to see who else has gotten one. It's just some weird thang. Over a year ago I found this blog in SE Asia where this dude camera-phoned every Elantra/Avante he saw and he saw lots.

Even just 8 months ago, it was difficult for me to spot another late model Elantra. Spotting one was like seeing a rainbow. I know it has been selling decently, but because of the lack of sightings, I thought the Bay Area still wasn't giving Hyundai respect.
But in the last 4 months or so, I have been spotting an Elantra or two almost every other day. Yesterday I spotted an Elantra, a Genesis coupe and a new Sonata on the same morning drive into the City. The only Hyundai that still being shy so to speak is the Elantra Touring wagon. I might've seen one on the streets so far. But it seems that seeing an Elantra sedan no longer can be classified as an unusual experience and more and more Californias are opting for one over a Corolla or Civic.