Hyundai Santa Fe opinions please ???

Macker1

Thnking of buying a Santa Fe in the next month or so. Looking at a 2004 2.0 diesel for around 26,000.


Seem to be a nice vehicle but I would appreciate any input good or bad.


Thanks in advance:)

jimmycrackcorm

i can only say that I was in one a few weeks ago, a 2004 diesel and was mightily impressed. I would love the new model myself.

Macker1

Good or bad points please

colm_mcm

The diesel is a wee bit underpowered. the 116bhp is much better suited to the lighter Tucson. The 130bhp unit they fitted to the Tucson is a cracker and although the Tucson is smaller than the Santa Fe, it's a better package.
There are a few problems, the keys sometimes drop the immobiliser code, so you have to get them re-programmed. release bearings on the clutches are tempremental too. Also with all Hyundais, the stereos are irresistable to thieves.

cantdecide

a guy who works down our yard has a '04 commercial and it recently p*ssed all it's oil out all over the yard. okay, it was 2yrs old, 30k miles and had never been serviced!!!!!!!
i actually like them though. though they really do have puny engines. can you chip them???

colm_mcm

The 2.0 petrol is even worse. the Santa Fe is just too heavy for the engine but the new Santa Fe 2.2 CRDI is a cracker

Lex Luthor

all those problems that are mentioned are minor with their 5 yr warranty...I don't like the old shape but love the new one in black.

bazz26

Lex Luthor wrote:

all those problems that are mentioned are minor with their 5 yr warranty...I don't like the old shape but love the new one in black.

Are they offering a 5 year warranty here in Ireland? I know they do in the UK alright.

Owen

I drive a lot of different cars in my job. Perhaps 20 cars a week. We had a Santa Fé in recently, and it scared the crap out of me. I've never been in a vehicle as poorly designed. It rolls more than a ferry crossing in high seas, and the brakes are non existent. And I mean non existent - I had to literally stamp the anchors hard to have any effect, and as I did, the front wallowed up and down like a pogo stick. Add to this, the poorly designed interior (The centre console is about 15% of the width of the dash, and looks ridiculous with all the buttons squeezed into such a small place) and you've got one hell of a waste of money.

Stephen

They only offer 3 years warranty in Ireland.

colm_mcm

ned78 wrote:

I drive a lot of different cars in my job. Perhaps 20 cars a week. We had a Santa Fé in recently, and it scared the crap out of me. I've never been in a vehicle as poorly designed. It rolls more than a ferry crossing in high seas, and the brakes are non existent. And I mean non existent - I had to literally stamp the anchors hard to have any effect, and as I did, the front wallowed up and down like a pogo stick. Add to this, the poorly designed interior (The centre console is about 15% of the width of the dash, and looks ridiculous with all the buttons squeezed into such a small place) and you've got one hell of a waste of money.

Never found the brakes or handling any worse than its rivals.

Owen

Then drive a few ;-) It pales into insignificance next to the likes of the Freelander (The new one), and the Ssanyong Kyron (Much as I loathe Ssanyong). It's just a badly designed car.

colm_mcm

The old Santa Fe is around for years, and compared with anything else from that age, there's nothing unusual or substandard about it.

Also the new Santa Fe is a far better machine than the Kyron.

Owen

Not to get into a shouting match, it is substandard. It is a very ordinary car. If I was to spend 30k+ on a car, I would want it to set the world alight, not scare the crap out of me when I want it to stop.

colm_mcm

Any SUV isn't going to be great to drive compared to a saloon car.

Do-more

Macker1 wrote:

be large enough for a large family of 2 adults & 4 children.

The Santa Fe has only seatbelts for five!

Buying one would be what they term in the States "reckless endangerment"

Owen

colm_mcm wrote:

Any SUV isn't going to be great to drive compared to a saloon car.

Ever driven an X3?

Anan1

ned78 wrote:

Ever driven an X3?

A 3 series saloon will be a better drive. An SUV will always be compromised on-road by its higher centre of gravity compared to a car.

Owen

Anan1 wrote:

A 3 series saloon will be a better drive. An SUV will always be compromised on-road by its higher centre of gravity compared to a car.

I've driven both a 3 Series extensively, and an X3 Sport, and the Sport drives every bit as well as a standard 318i.

smash

be aware that with the new model out now the old ones will loose a lot of value.

Anan1

ned78 wrote:

I've driven both a 3 Series extensively, and an X3 Sport, and the Sport drives every bit as well as a standard 318i.

You're not comparing like with like. The point colm & myself are making is that an SUV's handling will be compromised on-road by its higher centre of gravity compared to a car. It's simple physics. Have you never wondered why F1 cars are so low?