Hyundai accent

spinybif_2

Girlfriend is looking for a cheap car, no more than £2000 to carry daughters stuff to university, current Fiesta has gone to the great scrapyard in the sky.

Have seen a couple of Hyundai Accents, 54 plate under 50,000 mls, one petrol one diesel. what do you think ?

many thanks


ps anyone know when the cambelt change is due ?

Kilty_2

They're solid cars as far as I know, and practically given away due to the badge factor.

jase1

Had one of these, good cars in the main. Clutches tend to be a bit weak so make sure it doesn't judder when setting off. Engines strong, other mechanicals fine, electrics a lot better after 2003. Tend to be quite basic spec and not much that goes wrong. Not the nicest of cars to drive -- the gearchange is a bit sloppy and the car is prone to severe understeer if cheap tyres are fitted.

Cheap, honest practical transport, will last well if looked after, but because they are cheap they're often neglected.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Agreed, good cars.

Looked after they can go on for ever like old Corolla's.

rev_henry

I have a broken one sitting on my drive. 1999, I've had it about 18 months and it was great. Didn't need anything doing to it. Until it broke. Not sure what's wrong with it but I think its a simple fix, I was just lazy and bought a new car.

Cambelt on mine was 4 years/48k according to my dealer, 5 years/60k according to the book and 3 years/36k according to honest john so take your pick. I had mine done a few months ago, cost £150.

Hammyman

BE VERY CAREFUL. The cambelt is due a change because of age and because of mileage. 99% of car owners think that its only the mileage that counts. Budget in a cambelt change when you're looking at it if its not been done.

jase1

Agreed re the cambelt. The tensioners on these engines are metal and don't generally fail as some cars are prone to, but one major problem with these is that the dealers don't bother changing the water pump and tensioner when they do the belt (this is a bad practice they must have picked up from Mitsubishi dealers -- the engines are Mitsu based).

So yes, budget approximately £200-£220 for pump, tensioner and belt. They're SOHC so it's not a hard job.

rev_henry

jase1 wrote: »

Agreed re the cambelt. The tensioners on these engines are metal and don't generally fail as some cars are prone to, but one major problem with these is that the dealers don't bother changing the water pump and tensioner when they do the belt (this is a bad practice they must have picked up from Mitsubishi dealers -- the engines are Mitsu based).

So yes, budget approximately £200-£220 for pump, tensioner and belt. They're SOHC so it's not a hard job.

Indeed, my Hyundai dealer didn't want to do the tensioner so I had an indie do it.

jase1

Also, IIRC the cambelt interval is 4 years/40,000 miles. IME this is a conservative figure as I know a few people who have run their cars to 2 or 3 times this figure without issue but it's still best to follow the proper schedule.