A number of motoring journalists have, while reporting on well-received new products from Hyundai, stated that when the company first arrived with its products in South Africa, they were cheap and nasty, even unreliable.
This cannot go unchallenged, as it is blatantly incorrect. Although I had nothing to do with the world of motoring journalism back in 1994, I remember inspecting the bodywork of Elantras and Accents, especially the panel gaps, and being very impressed.
Definitely not hastily assembled somewhere in Botswana, that’s for sure. This first impression was followed by a decade and a half of owners of these fine cars reporting practically no hassles.
A friend bought one after asking for my opinion back then and I nervously hoped that he would be happy. Well, he’s still got his Elantra 1,8 GLS and couldn’t be happier. They seem to go on and on and never die. I don’t have much information on the larger and more luxurious Sonatas (the one that changes its styling so frequently that it should be renamed the shape shifter) but I’m sure owners will tell the same story.
So don’t let anyone put you off. They were good back then and still are now!