Hyundai Problems

The trade-in price guide is $15,200 to $17,400, but with the low odometer yours should be at the top end of the range.

No, it’s not, but it does depend somewhat on the way it’s been driven. Diesel engines in trucks and taxis do a lot of kilometres, partly because they are running all the time and rarely cooling down, but a family car driven around town does a lot of sitting around not going anywhere, which means it regularly cools down and warms up again. That leads to engine wear, and lower engine life. I wouldn't expect 240,000 km to be an issue.

Were you able to demonstrate the problem to the dealer? If not go back and do that, so that they know what it is you are unhappy about. That way they might be better equipped to fix it. It could be a problem with the calibration of the computer controlling the transmission, or it could be an internal problem with a clutch or the oil pressure within the transmission.

It’s a toss of a coin, both are good cars and should give you a good run for the five years you want to keep them.

By all means you can try, but I doubt that you will have any success. The car is six years old, and the steering wheel is something that is subject to wear simply from being handled.

The Elantra is a reliable car and, barring unforseen events, there is no reason it won’t give you good service for the five years you plan to own it. If you have any doubts the warranty of five years with unlimited kilometres should give you confidence in the car.

You have clearly been given the run-around by whoever told you that. Talk to your dealer, and ask for a mechanic to go for a ride with you to observe what it is that is bothering you. That way they might be able to understand your complaint and fix it for you. If you feel very strongly about it, ask for a Hyundai technician to go with you.

They’re obviously not there to hold down heavy items, more to prevent the shopping from moving around.

 The GTi is a great car; the problem is the dual-clutch auto that has been a running sore for the company. I wouldn’t rule it out, but I would go for the latest model you can afford. If you aren’t sure go for the Hyundai.

Diesel-powered cars are more expensive to service than their petrol-engined counterparts. It’s mostly because they need higher quality diesel-specific oils, and better quality filters, such as fuel filters.