Hyundai vs Honda

[rogwar]

For a Civic or Elantra Sedan? Honda costs a bit more but really looking at that price style range. Looking for a new car for the wife in the next two months or so that could be passed along to our daughter for college use in four years. I can do maintenance and also know some very good mechanics that do home work on the side. Maybe looking for a reliable 14-15 year car.

This is to replace a 1994 Saturn SL2 that we bought brand new and certainly got our money's worth.

Also considering Ford, Toyota and Mazda equivalents in economy sedans. No GM or Dodge for small cars.

Also researching as much as possible from a variety of sources. Any ideas or input?

Of course I'd rather buy American but heck some of these foreign named cars have more American in them than American cars.

[CAP1]

For a Civic or Elantra Sedan? Honda costs a bit more but really looking at that price style range. Looking for a new car for the wife in the next two months or so that could be passed along to our daughter for college use in four years. I can do maintenance and also know some very good mechanics that do home work on the side. Maybe looking for a reliable 14-15 year car.

This is to replace a 1994 Saturn SL2 that we bought brand new and certainly got our money's worth.

Also considering Ford, Toyota and Mazda equivalents in economy sedans. No GM or Dodge for small cars.

Also researching as much as possible from a variety of sources. Any ideas or input?

Of course I'd rather buy American but heck some of these foreign named cars have more American in them than American cars.

 between honda and hyundai.....stick with the honda. also, give the ford fusion a look......customers of mine are  very happy with theirs......and the new focus is pretty hot too.

[eagl]

I like Honda.  They seem to drive better, at least by my preferences.  A bit firmer suspension and a more positive control feel.  Even my honda minivan drives "tighter" than the small toyota sedans.

The last hyundai I drove had understeering so bad I felt like I wanted to get out and push.  Or just walk.  Maybe they're better now but I know that I really like how most honda cars drive.

I would say test-drive both.  If the honda you like is too expensive, find a cheaper used one because they are generally very reliable and not terribly expensive to maintain.

I just sold a civic...  Very very nice car, sad to see it go.  If you can handle the extra cost, get one with the GPS nav.  The GPS in our civic saved our butts countless times.

[Ardy123]

I've had several Honda's. Out of all the cars I have owned they have the lowest cost of ownership...

[zack1234]

Look at reliabilitie and Honda is very good
Japanese cares gave the best reliabilitie

[MrRiplEy[H]]

For a Civic or Elantra Sedan? Honda costs a bit more but really looking at that price style range. Looking for a new car for the wife in the next two months or so that could be passed along to our daughter for college use in four years. I can do maintenance and also know some very good mechanics that do home work on the side. Maybe looking for a reliable 14-15 year car.

This is to replace a 1994 Saturn SL2 that we bought brand new and certainly got our money's worth.

Also considering Ford, Toyota and Mazda equivalents in economy sedans. No GM or Dodge for small cars.

Also researching as much as possible from a variety of sources. Any ideas or input?

Of course I'd rather buy American but heck some of these foreign named cars have more American in them than American cars.

If you're looking for 10+ year preowned Honda, look out carefully for rust. Especially early Accords and Preludes were infamous for having mostly paint left keeping the rust together

[Rob52240]

Japan still trumps south korea in nearly every product they produce.  South Korean products might be more economical, but you get a better product from japan 99.99% of the time.

[rogwar]

If you're looking for 10+ year preowned Honda, look out carefully for rust. Especially early Accords and Preludes were infamous for having mostly paint left keeping the rust together

I meant a car to own for 15 years.

[CAP1]

If you're looking for 10+ year preowned Honda, look out carefully for rust. Especially early Accords and Preludes were infamous for having mostly paint left keeping the rust together

 i haven't seen a rusted out honda newer than about 1989.

[RngFndr]

Both are pretty good cars..

Honda and reliability are synonymous, since the CB750..
But they were never without some weak point.. All cars have them..

The Hyundai has improved in the last ten years a great deal..
I remember reading that Hyundai gets tech support from Suzuki in
Japan now, some kind of partnership thing, there ya go..

I wonder if cars are even designed for 15yrs of service any more..
Gettin pretty disposable.. 

[rogwar]

We would definitely buy this car new because we plan to keep it for a long time. I want to make sure all of the routine maintenance is done correctly and on time from the beginning.

We paid off the 1994 Saturn in 3 years. Note that is subsequently 15 years of no car payment. It provided reliable transportation. That was a great deal.

This is why we are going through all of the due diligence.

[jollyFE]

When the wife killed her Liberty we went SUV shopping.......Looked at the Honda CRV, Toyota RAV 4, Subaru Forester, The small Volkswagon SUV and the Chevy SUV.  We drove all of them (each of us) and kept our opinions to ourselves so we wouldn't influence each other.  We wrote our choices down and the Hyudai topped our lists.  We were surprised at the results.  We went and drove the Hyundai Santa Fe again and I knew as soon as the wife got behind the wheel and said oh sh&%, we had found our winner.  We had owned a Hyundai back when they first came out and I have to say that they are light years ahead of where they were back then.  We have been completely satisfied with it in the 2 years + that we have owned it.  In my opinion Honda seems to have declined in the past few years (almost like they lost their way...I own a 2007 Ridgeline).  the Hyundai 10 year 100,000 mile warranty is also a plus.  we got a sunroof installed in here SF and the dealer gave us an Elantra as a loaner for free, have to say I didn't mind it as much as I thought I would.

I think alot of folks still have a bad impression of Hyundai from when they first came out over here.


any ways thats my 2 cents.

[CAP1]

got an 03 elantra that the guy hit a small pothole. the car dam near killed him. the p/s lower control arm was rusted. rusted enough that it bent just inboard of the ball joint. it nearly broke off there. he was lucky.
 got an 06 elantra sitting in the lot right now. the guys son went over a speed bump a little too quick. he thought the kid bent a control arm. he didn't. the engine cradle(front subframe assembly) is rusted on the passengers side. rusted so badly, that it broke at a seam, and twisted. again, he was lucky.

 that kind of stuff is enough to keep me away from them. there's no way a 9 year old car, or a 6 year old car should be rusted in such critical places as to nearly kill their owners. it would lead me to believe that there are substandard materials being used in the construction, or assembly of at least some of the parts........

[Debrody]

Both are very good cars quality-wise, check the fuel consumption and their price if that counts for you. The Hyundai improved a LOT in the last 3-4 years. The cars they currently sell in Europe are in par with any Japaneese product. The earlyer ones are much worse tho.

Also, my secret favourite, the Skoda Octavia, if its sold in the states. Its the same as the VW Golf/Jetta but 15% cheaper (here).
Good luck!

[Shuffler]

If I was forced to get something like your looking at I'd get a Honda.