[Rado]

Reading here it was mentioned that if VIN starts with a K it was made in Korea !
So I went to the dealer lot to check their vins
Seems all start with a K !
So made in Korea\

Will there be a issue with getting parts ?
Like for routine service ?
One person had a issue with shocks, Was told different and there was a minor difference !

Planning on buying next week or 2, The Silver one I wanted is gone <( so maybe another will come in !

Thank you for any info

 

[RandyM]

Hyundai sells cars in about 160 countries. There are differences between countries reflecting local laws and tastes, but they have figured out the federally mandated supply chain procedures. A car built in Korea for America will be identical to a U.S. built one built for America.

You can't buy a gray market car (a car built for one country and imported into the U.S. by a private entity) unless that car is older than 25 years, so no worries there for a new car bought from a dealer.

For many decades there has been a debate about whether Asian built cars are better than American manufactured ones. In talking to mechanics and others in the industry the consensus is that Asian built cars are better. The work ethic is stronger there and the relationship between assemblers and suppliers is much more sane. U.S. manufacturers screw suppliers over at every opportunity to make a few pennies, leading to sub-par parts. In Asia, many parts suppliers have ownership ties (if not family ties) to the manufacturers. The consensus is that while Hyundai parts may have the same part number and be built to the same specification, Asian parts will consistently be better. That said, increasingly the supply chain is global. An alternator ready for installation on an Elantra assembly line could just add easily be sourced from Korea, Alabama, or even China.

I'm helping my sister look for a new Elantra. I'll take the Korean built one over a U.S. version.

 

[Rado]

Good explanation ! I am waiting on the next show storm to pass befoe I pull the trigger.. I may be trading my 2011 HHR and want to pull the Cooper Snows that are 2 y/o
But if snow are off and we get another storm I have my 4x4 Truck

Thank You

 

[RandyM]

I've been comparing the maintenance requirements for the Elantra to my sister's 2018 VW Jetta. Big difference in favor of the Hyundai. But here's the trick, in my opinion. Hyundai-Kia has long maintenance intervals that my mechanic thinks are unrealistic. 10,000 miles between oil changes (for full synthetic) are stretching the oil and oil additive's ability to clean and lubricate. Whether it is dino oil, synthetic blend or full synthetic, the same amount of combustion byproducts are absorbed by the oil. Cleaning that grit out early is a good idea.

I follow Hyundai's severe service maintenance recommendations, which means I pay a little more over the life of the car, but my cars last a long time and are more valuable at trade-in time. I owned a 2011 Hyundai Sonata with the infamous Theta II engine that typically grenades due to rod bearing failure between 75,000-100,000 miles (Hyundai lost a very expensive class action lawsuit over these failures). My Sonata ran perfectly for 10 years, probably because I changed the oil every 3,000 miles. Still see that car tooling around town with its original engine.

I read in a technical magazine that the alloy used in Hyundai-Kia engines is a touch softer than that in Hondas and Toyotas. Best to keep things slippery down there, I think.

Since I have a good dealer all of maintenance is done there. First, the dealership is going to have the correct OEM parts, oil and filter which is most likely better than what you buy at the auto parts store. Having all my maintenance records at the same dealership will be helpful if I have a warranty claim. Their free multi-point inspection is one more set of eyes that can detect a problem in its early stages. Since I watch for online coupons from Hyundai or the dealership, I usually get my maintenance at the same cost of the discount guys.

Keep us informed on your purchase and how well you like the Elantra. Curious to see if you like it better than the HHR. Going from a conventional transmission to a CVT may be your biggest difference. For me, it brought back slip-sliding memories of the old two-speed Chevy Powerglide transmission. But I don't complain -- I get 33 mpg in the city and 44 on the highway.

 

[RandyM]

Just thought of something else. Kias and Hyundais built between 2011-2021 do not have an engine immobilizer (where a transponder in the key fob communicates with the ignition and will not allow the car to start without the key fob present). You can steal a Hyundai-Kia of these years simply by pulling out the ignition and performing an old fashioned hotwire.

This was made famous by a TikTok challenge of about six months ago. Here, thieves were encouraged to video themselves stealing and wrecking Kias and Hyundais. Google "Kia Boyz" for background. Hyundai-Kia introduced a software fix that we hope will slow down thefts. Still, the number of thefts increased by more than 1,000 percent in cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis and others.

At least two insurance companies, State Farm and Progressive, will not write new comprehensive policies on affected cars in most areas. They are keeping existing customers, but at higher premiums.

The 2023 Elantra has an immobilizer, but the insurance companies are placing all Elantras in the same risk pool as thieves will still break out windows and destroy the ignition, even if the cars are not stolen.

So, check with your insurance agent before purchase to make sure you won't have a surprise. I've talked to other Elantra owners who haven't had the undue price increases that Kia owners have. Depends on where you live -- urban cores are hotspots for these thefts.

 

[tacthecat]

It's apparent that "some" insurance companies, and internet surfers, and "tic-tokers" have no clue what vehicles have an issue and react accordingly.