Thinking of an i30..

OREGATO

The gf is thinking of changing her current car, been looking at the likes of Toyota auris's and the like, but one car that's sort of caught our eye is the Hyundai i30.

Now I never would have rated the old Hyundai accents etc, but the i30 seems to be good value for money, however, anyone had any experience with them or owned one?

We are looking at the 1.6 diesel variant due to mileage (20k miles minimum per annum) anything to watch out for on them? Are they a nice place to be for long journeys? Are they reliable?

Any experience or recommendations of alternatives welcome

Thanks in advance

colm_mcm

My mother got one (below) from the UK in June 2012 and its been perfect mechanically. Needed a seatbelt buckle and a tyre pressure monitor sensor (both done under warranty)

Honestly, there aren't that many weak points on them, they seem to like their front drop links (still intact on ours, just anecdotal from a Hyundai garage) DPFs, turbod and DMFs aren't common failures and they're nice to drive (17s on hers make it a bit firm but handles quite neatly). Aim for the 115hp 1.6 diesel if you can.
They're not as cheap as they were 18 months ago, but money aside I'd have one over a similar focus/astra etc.

Premium is the spec to get, leather, sensors etc

OREGATO

Great post colm, exactly the type of information I was looking for.

Any idea on the 5 year warranty? Does it get transferred to the new owner if purchased from a main dealer? I assume all servicing and work carried out on the car will have to be done in a main dealer to keep the warranty intact also?

George Dalton

Coming from an Audi A3 an I30 will be a bit of a shock to the system. Hyundai have come a long way admittedly but they still have some way to go before they can put it up to Audi. I reckon you will find the I30 is a bit on the cheap and nasty side, particularly the interior.

colm_mcm

The above could be said of pretty much any non premium brand hatch to be fair.

Its nowhere near as bad inside as an auris for example

George Dalton

colm_mcm wrote: »

The above could be said of pretty much any non premium hatch to be fair.

Absolutely. The OP mentioned an Auris as well which I would put in the same category as the I30.

colm_mcm

George Dalton wrote: »

Absolutely. The OP mentioned an Auris as well which I would put in the same category as the I30.

But auriss rattle, the seats are muck, and its all shiney off silver stuff and hollow hard plastics. The cup holders break almost instantly and the gloveboxes are disgracefully flimsy

The i30 isn't all rubbery like a golf but its solid and not rattly and the seats are good.

OREGATO

Good point George. Hers is a 2005 and getting on a bit, mind you, it's still going very strong but it is getting older now and with the tax, insurance etc, it's just been an idea now to change it. With an impending mortgage and other expenses, we have ruled out a Scirocco, another a3 and golfs. Ideally looking to spend a maximum of 10k (that's with either selling the a3 privately or trading it in)

The i30 looks pleasing on the outside but you make a good point about the interior, hoping to go and test drive one at the weekend and just wanted to get some real world opinions before hand.

George Dalton

colm_mcm wrote: »

But auriss rattle, the seats are muck, and its all shiney off silver stuff and hollow hard plastics. The cup holders break almost instantly and the gloveboxes are disgracefully flimsy

The i30 isn't all rubbery like a golf but its solid and not rattly and the seats are good.

I think they are both sh1t to be honest :pac:

colm_mcm

:cool:

George Dalton wrote: »

I think they are both sh1t to be honest :pac:

That's fair enough tbh, sure VWs and Audis are your livlihood
I was raised on Jap stuff so the Korean stuff is a natural progression

George Dalton

OREGATO wrote: »

The i30 looks pleasing on the outside but you make a good point about the interior, hoping to go and test drive one at the weekend and just wanted to get some real world opinions before hand.

I will be interested to hear what you make of it. I would have no problem driving a 2.0TDI A3 every day, I think they are a lovely car but I wouldn't drive an I30, no chance.

George Dalton

colm_mcm wrote: »

:cool:

That's fair enough tbh, sure VWs and Audis are your livlihood
I was raised on Jap stuff so the Korean stuff is a natural progression

So what you are saying is that you are just as biased as I am

colm_mcm

George Dalton wrote: »

So what you are saying is that you are just as biased as I am

Of course, everyone's biased. I worked for a garage that did Hyundai before, saw them in for servicing/warranty etc, and that's what influenced the mothers car. Not the usual 'I have one so so should everyone else'
I don't have one myself or anything.

Old diesel

If it were me - id keep the A3 until it breaks.

You never know - she (the car lol) might keep gong for a while longer yet.

i30 is definitely a lot more appealing then an Auris though - and the one Colm posted pics of - isn't a bad looking car at all - and its nice enough inside.

bazz26

What about a Honda Civic OP? This one is sold but you get the idea:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Civic/**SOLD**/37713814125940510/

JohnBoy26

George Dalton wrote: »

I think they are both sh1t to be honest :pac:

The Auris might be "sh1t" but those i30s are decent cars. Yes the interior might look a bit on the cheap side but it's solidly screwed together like the rest of the car.

shawnee

Was almost buying one of those 130s last year. It was a second hand model with around 70k on the clock at a main dealers. The drivers seat which is supposedly half leather was completely frayed and just gave me an idea of cheap materials used in the interior of these cars. They are very light , tinny and plasticy and I do believe that the warranty is what is selling them. Mind you it is a superb warranty and the cars do run well but it was not for me !;);)

colm_mcm

shawnee wrote: »

Was almost buying one of those 130s last year. It was a second hand model with around 70k on the clock at a main dealers. The drivers seat which is supposedly half leather was completely frayed and just gave me an idea of cheap materials used in the interior of these cars. They are very light , tinny and plasticy and I do believe that the warranty is what is selling them. Mind you it is a superb warranty and the cars do run well but it was not for me !;);)

the pic i posted earlier was at 4.5 years old and 60000 miles. Its now nearly 6 years old and at 72k and still as new. Maybe the full leather is more hard wearing?

Old diesel

colm_mcm wrote: »

the pic i posted earlier was at 4.5 years old and 60000 miles. Its now nearly 6 years old and at 72k and still as new. Maybe the full leather is more hard wearing?

The one you posted earlier does look nice in fairness - I take it your mums happy with it.

ronnie3585

My girlfriend replaced her bag of sh*te Auris a year ago with a new i30 - the 115hp 1.6 diesel.

My opinion about Hyundais has completely changed since she got it, I was extremely surprised by how good it is. She has put almost 20,000kms on it in the last year and it hasn't missed a beat. It's well equiped, the interior, while not as nice as a Golf, is far superior to that of a Focus and in a different league to the Auris. It has a lot of soft touch plastics, no creaks or rattles - everything is put together solidly. It drives nicely, for a diesel, it's economical and the warranty is excellent.

If I were buying something in that category I'd have an i30 in a heart beat.

discombobulate

I had a Kia C'eed as a rental a couple of weeks ago and found it a nice little car to drive. Probably the easiest drive car i've ever been in. Seemed to have a few nice bits like a USB port and bluetooth as standard too. 7 year warranty also.

colm_mcm

Old diesel wrote: »

The one you posted earlier does look nice in fairness - I take it your mums happy with it.

She loves it, she had Toyotas and Mazdas forever but their current offerings aren't a patch on what they did before. I love getting a spin in it when im up!

Old diesel

colm_mcm wrote: »

She loves it, she had Toyotas and Mazdas forever but their current offerings aren't a patch on what they did before. I love getting a spin in it when im up!

Nice one - sounds good - hope it keeps doing the business for her.

OREGATO

Some good info on this thread lads, thanks for the advice.

Hopefully going to take a look on Saturday morning if they're open, will report back with what we find.

Kind of strange for us looking at Hyundai's, I used to hate them, the Getz, Accent etc, they were woeful cars IMO but when I see some of the newer models like the i30/i40's, I can't help to think how far they've come.

Granted the points regarding the interiors, but the aesthetics of the outside are very nice and I think they look better than some of their rivals in the same category. Either way, the test drive will reveal all, she'll be mainly doing motorway miles on it anyway and I've my own daily so performance etc. isn't that high a priority for this one.

Any known/common issues to be aware of when we take a look?

ronnie3585

OREGATO wrote: »

Any known/common issues to be aware of when we take a look?

I don't think there are that many. I did a lot of research before my gf bought, spoke with Hyundai mechanics and trawled the internet, and I couldn't come up with much.

The most the honestjohn.co.uk has to say is;

What to Watch Out For

24-6-2013: Report of cruise control of 1.4CRDI jerky when descending hills.
27-10-2013: Reports of repeated electrical problems from Hyundai i30 Diesel 1.6 Crdi Blue Drive Style Nav purchased in May 2012. On start-up various warning lights came on, the speedometer failed to function and, most worryingly, the steering became very light; this latter effect giving rise to one or two near misses. Despite attempterd remedia actuon, these faults have continued until October 2013.

Enjoy the test drive!

OREGATO

So just to update this thread, we went out to ep mooney on the long mile road yesterday to take a look around some i30s, they only had a 2010 one which didn't have many extras, actually, it only had the iPod/USB. We were hoping to see a comfort model, with the half leather and cruise control but no biggy..

Salesman was very helpful, spent a good 45 minutes with us discussing the options etc.

As for the car itself, obviously compared to the Audi, the interior isn't as nice, but in saying that, it's not a bad place to be, driving position is good, loads of room in the back and a big enough boot for our needs. Radio and heater controls looked a bit cheap but they do their job. Starting it up, it's about the same noise level as the Audi, nothing inspiring, just tractor noises gear changes are smooth and it potters along nicely, bit more cabin noise than the Audi. Going up the gears, we approach a slight incline and where the Audi would have just gone up without down shifting, the i30 stutters a little so changing down is a must. A good 15 minute initial test drive and we seemed happy enough. Obviously not as refined as the Audi but still, it's a nice place to be and will get you from a to b without drama.

We are weighing up our options now, possibly going to take a look at a few other cars such as a BMW Mini Cooper D, Polo Tdi, Kia Ceed and maybe a few more.

The i30 though is fine for what it is and would do the job, just want to see what else is out there.

Old diesel

OREGATO wrote: »

So just to update this thread, we went out to ep mooney on the long mile road yesterday to take a look around some i30s, they only had a 2010 one which didn't have many extras, actually, it only had the iPod/USB. We were hoping to see a comfort model, with the half leather and cruise control but no biggy..

Salesman was very helpful, spent a good 45 minutes with us discussing the options etc.

As for the car itself, obviously compared to the Audi, the interior isn't as nice, but in saying that, it's not a bad place to be, driving position is good, loads of room in the back and a big enough boot for our needs. Radio and heater controls looked a bit cheap but they do their job. Starting it up, it's about the same noise level as the Audi, nothing inspiring, just tractor noises gear changes are smooth and it potters along nicely, bit more cabin noise than the Audi. Going up the gears, we approach a slight incline and where the Audi would have just gone up without down shifting, the i30 stutters a little so changing down is a must. A good 15 minute initial test drive and we seemed happy enough. Obviously not as refined as the Audi but still, it's a nice place to be and will get you from a to b without drama.

We are weighing up our options now, possibly going to take a look at a few other cars such as a BMW Mini Cooper D, Polo Tdi, Kia Ceed and maybe a few more.

The i30 though is fine for what it is and would do the job, just want to see what else is out there.

Good idea to look at the other options - helps make a more informed choice - at least if you decide to still go Hyundai - you will do so having driven other cars as well.

bazz26

What about the Seat Leon:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/SEAT/Leon/1.6TDI-S/37713779522932550/