<p>My niece just got a Ford Fiesta. Definitely worth a look, especially this weekend with all the specials.</p>
<p>A friend who knows cars will always recommend a Honda. Especially as a used car.</p>
<p>Joan52 - be careful about depending on Onstar in upstate NY. It will only work when and where you have cell phone signals, and upstate NY is notoriously spotty.</p>
<p>I was so sure I was going to get a Honda this time round. Test drove a couple. Ended up with an Elantra. Absolutely love it. Probably my favorite car that I have had, and by far the most economical (both in purchase price and in running costs).</p>
<p>^^^^ Another Elantra driver here. I needed a car mostly for city driving, highway work commute, and occasional longer (3-4 hour) road trips. My 2010 model cost under $14K. It drives great, gets excellent mileage & has that great warranty. In the winter, snow tires allow me to drive it pretty much everywhere. Basically, my only gripe is that the car doesn’t like high mountain passes (I live in Colorado.) Then it behaves like a teenager forced to do chores - it performs - but very slowly & reluctantly. If a car can feel miffed, by Elantra does going uphill over 50 mph at over 9,000 feet :)</p>
<p>I live in a pretty flat area so don’t have that problem. I have a friend who hired an Elantra when she went to he daughter’s college graduation in a mountainous area. She liked it (and she drives a Lexus SUV in real life) but did have the same complaint about the Elantra’s performance on steep roads.</p>
<p>I had a 3.6 litre engine before so definitely expected to see a difference in performance. The only time I really notice it is when I want to pass on the road I commute on every day - I am more cautious as I know it does not have the quick acceleration of my previous cars. Other than that I don’t ever think about it on our flat roads. Doing a 100 mile round trip drive 5 days a week I sure notice a difference in my gas costs though. A couple of days after we got the car we drove it to see my son for the first time since he move 1400 miles away for his job. We put about 3000 miles on the car - the gas bill was awesome!!</p>
<p>Does the Elantra have a donut spare or just one of those flat repair kit things?</p>
<p>I don’t know about the 2011, but the 2010 has a spare.</p>
<p>The 2011 Elantra comes with a compressor and can of tire sealant.</p>
<p>[Hyundai</a> Elantra leaves me flat](<a href=“http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/05/hyundai-elantra-leaves-me-flat-tire.html]Hyundai”>http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/05/hyundai-elantra-leaves-me-flat-tire.html)</p>
<p>I have a 2006 Honda Civic and have been completely satisfied with it. No mechanical problems so far, just routine oil changes and such. My H has 2006 Scion XB (the one that looks like a box). He loves it, and it’s both practical space-wise, and very economical gas-wise. However, I think it’s underpowered, and it has very small tires that I don’t think would work in a snowy area.</p>
<p>Just went through a car-buying decision, helping DD figure out which car she would buy. Elantra won out after careful consideration of Hondas and Toyotas. It seemed like she got more for her money. My mechanic said they are great cars, but can be a bit pricey on parts – but the warranty takes you quite a ways.</p>
<p>[Hyundai</a> Elantra 2011+ Spare Tire Kit](<a href=“http://www.hyundaiaccessorystore.com/hyundai_elantra_spare_tire_kit.html]Hyundai”>2011-16 Hyundai Elantra Custom Full Size Spare Tire Kit)</p>
<p>Just bought a 2011 Elantra. You just buy a spare kit for $275. Fits right in the spare well. Not a deal breaker for us.</p>
<p>LOTS of 2011 models do not come with a spare. Mustang, Camaro, RAV4, Traverse, Focus, Cruze ECO, Cadillac CTS, BMW F10, Volvo S60 to name a few. At least the Elantra has a place for one. Some of these new cars have no spare and no space for one…</p>
<p>The advantage, as many have said, of getting a used car is that someone else has paid the first year(s) depreciation, which is usually a big hit. I have recommended when you look at cars, read the forums on the Edmunds website, and be sure to look at their “true cost to own” program, which also takes into consideration the cost of insurance, maintence, etc on the different models, etc</p>
<p>sunnyflorida - did you buy a spare? I haven’t yet. Not too bothered for driving locally. But if we drive to SC to see my son I might decide to get one.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link, sunnyflorida. I’m not comfortable with the idea of that little compressor and can of goo that comes with the 2011 Elantra, and it wouldn’t be of any use with a blowout or sidewall puncture. That spare tire kit is a little pricey, though, and it’s not compatible with the TPMS system. </p>
<p>I know the odds are slim that a spare would ever be needed but it sure would give me some peace of mind to have one.</p>
<p>I had a sidewall puncture about a month after buying my Elantra - that is when I discovered I did not have a spare. Well take ten discovered it. Luckily it was a very slow leak so I was not stranded on the side of the road or anything. I keep searching the internet for a cheaper alternative to that kit. There is an Elantra forum and a couple of people have put together their own spare and jack sets for much less than the kits. Wish I was a little more car savvy.</p>