Been Seeing More New Elantras On The Road

Odometer: 5435
Avg. MPG: 25.2

You know when you buy a new car, you are automatically on the lookout on who else has bought "your" car. I am no different. I even look at who's driving it...is it a senior citizen, a family guy, or a hot chick. (No hot chicks, yet)

From the time I bought the Elantra (August) to March, I would have been lucky to see an Elantra once a week. It bugged me slightly that I wasn't seeing more. It makes you doubt your purchase. What if this version of the Elantra turns out to be a dud? When I do spot one, part of me is excited that more people are discovering what a great little car it is. And you feel like you are part of some little club.

In April however I have been seeing more Elantras. Sometimes two in one day! It looks like the Consumer Reports award has brought the Elantra higher on new car buyers test drive list. Nice for Hyundai, but I am in no hurry to see a dozen of these everyday like I do with Civics and Corollas.

Driving experience: The acceleration/shifting pattern on this car has always been a little strange, especially if you tend to accelerate gradually. When you reach first shift point (point when the needle goes back down), the car seems to lose some pick-up there. This can be avoided if you gas it a little more to force that first shift to occur closer to 275 instead of 210.
These last few days it seems like acceleration (when done gradually) is even more sloth-like than usual. The engine sound is kind of off.... I think. it's all very subtle. Don't know if it is a transmission issue or not.

Consumer Reports' 10 Top Car Picks Announced

Odometer: 4530 miles
Avg MPG on current tank: 27.5

The 2008 Elantra got "Best Small Sedan" in Consumer Reports Top Picks survey. Though I like the car, that even surprised me. For the first time, Consumer Reports required its top 10 picks to have the anti-rollover technology, electronic stabililty control standard or an easily purchased option. That might have stacked the deck in the Elantra's favor, which has ESC standard on the SE model this year. (This was not even offered in 2007) The Santa Fe snagged the Best Mid-Size SUV. This is the first time Hyundai ever got any car in the Top Picks survey.

David Champion, the senior director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports said “If you look back in the early ’90s they were almost like the joke of the industry... They offer a very, very nice, competent car with all the bells and whistles for a very reasonable price, that’s going to be reliable as well.”

As for the popular family sedan category, the redesigned Honda Accord is the Top Pick for the sixth year in a row.

Here are Consumer Reports other Top Picks for 2008. For upscale sedan, the Infiniti G35. For luxury sedan, the Lexus LS 460L. For minivan, the Toyota Sienna. For small SUV, the Toyota RAV4. For green car, the Toyota Prius for the fifth year in a row. For top pick-up truck, the Chevy Silverado. And for fun to drive, once again the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

2008 Hyundai Elantra

Finally had some time to look at what they changed and added to the 2008 Elantra.

They got rid of the Limited model altogether so there is only the GLS and the SE.
The list price for the SE SULEV automatic is now $17,225. That is $330 more than last year.
That is not bad at all considering they added electronic stability control with traction control (a safety feature that is touted to significantly reduce single vehicle accidents) and a tire pressure monitoring system. I think they intended to make ESC standard on the GLS as well, but I guess they changed their mind.
As far as I can tell, they did not take any 2007 features away. So it seems the Elantra SE is even a better buy this year.