The Next Best Thing?
Written: Jun 07 '05
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Reliability: |
 |
|
| Seat Comfort: |
 |
|
| Build Quality |
|
|
| Roominess: |
|
|
|
Pros: Good-looking model, good on gas, plenty of space...
Cons: Transmission kick is a scary sign...
The Bottom Line: Looks, room, miles per gallon, reliability and comfort, the Santa Fe has enough for everyone...
|
|
|
| lansky2000's Full Review: 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD |
This big bad sucker is the next best thing to lots of other vehicles, but when you combine their best-ofs, it's hard to beat everything this one has to offer. It doesn't climb like a jeep, or pack like an SUV, or drive like a cruiser, but it's got its advantages. If you're looking for a little bit of everything for this summer's trip, the Santa Fe may be your best bet.
I took my last major road trip last summer, having to drive down from Missouri to Texas to pick up the remnant of my belongings after the Big Move. I then left KC for Des Moines, cut across to Buffalo, then up to Niagara Falls and over to Montreal. I then cut down to NYC, through Philly, and then across the USA back to MO, all in a week's time. Incidentally, I had a few boxes of unclaimed stuff in my parents' home I had to take back, now that I had attic and basement space in my new house. This, of course, would have to fit alongside the week's worth of luggage that my wife and I brought along. So we're looking for great gas mileage, stretching room for the occasional rest stop cat nap, plenty of storage space, and reliability that the vehicle wouldn't have a cardiac attack averaging 80 MPH non-stop over all that real estate. The solution?
Yep, the '04 Santa Fe had all the answers. We made it to San Antonio from KC on about two tanks of gas, picking up a couple of heavy boxes of papers, a metal file cabinet, and a couple of bags of clothes, odds and ends. We made it back on two tanks, indicating that the extra weight didn't make any real difference. This was done, incidentally, hauling butt at an average 80 MPH.
On to Canada. That part of the trip is harder to gauge, as we crossed the border into the land of the liter. We hit Niagara Falls from KC on the first leg of the run on roughly a tank and a half, then crossed into Toronto and east to Montreal the second night. Altogether, I'd say we did another two tanks on that run. We then made it to NYC from Buffalo the next day on a little over a tank. In NYC we picked up a couple bags and boxes full of books and papers, our luggage adding to the weight. Again, it made little difference as we drove from NYC to Philly, then back to KC on about two to three tanks. This, like the earlier run, was done at an average 80 MPH.
You're not going to get this kind of speed, gas mileage, storage space or manueverability in your run-of-the-mill 'big car'. This baby had me thinking of negotiating for one. Only there was a strange kick that it gave when it pulled out of parking spaces that made me think transmission. Not a real good sign on an under-5,000 mile car. I've had tranny probs before, and something that new will give you panic attacks, especially under a $20,000+ paper weight.
If you have a connection who does trannies, then you've got a marriage made in heaven. If not, be sure and sit down with your dealer and discuss your options before getting into this deal. On a lease, this prolly can't be beat. I'm sure you'll be able to run it to 50,000 and turn it in with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.
Reliability, economy, space and luxury (yep, we even stretched out in a couple or rest spaces and slept soundly), the Santa Fe is a hard act to follow. Take it out for a marathon run of your own and see what I mean.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 34,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: 2WD
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
lansky2000
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Member: Johnny Favorite
Location: Kansas City, MO SHOW ME!!!
Reviews written: 665
Trusted by: 213 members
About Me:
"The Most Hated Man in Epinions", Broadway Turk Superstar...bringing enlightenment to the 21st Century.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.