Hyundai Getz 1.3

...drove her down to the Hyundai dealer...

1) Looks : Cute, compact and modern. A body style which would not be outdated for the next 3 to 5 years. A blend of a pretty "baby car" and a serious vehicle that means business.

2) Exterior :
* Panel joinings are even, well placed and sound. The "knock-on-the-panels" test gives me the impression it has a tough little shell.
* Especially the pillars ...
...At least not the dreadful Hyundai quality you used to see on the Pony and Accent (pre-2003 models) However the same annoying metallic outside and opac inside paint scheme, as though the mechanic does not deserve to see a beautiful under bonnet paintwork... Never mind though, it' s OK for such a low price...
* The jet windshield washer nozzles are a complete novelty to me. I loved that.
* Tailgate / hatch washer and wiper work effectively. ... more

It all started when my sister asked me what wheels to buy. She trusts my judgment about cars and many other things, as she earns her dough at least as hard as I do, her burden being harder with a recent divorce and a 5 year old son to both mother and father at the same time.
Well after a serious survey I drove her down to the Hyundai dealer...

1) Looks : Cute, compact and modern. A body style which would not be outdated for the next 3 to 5 years. A blend of a pretty "baby car" and a serious vehicle that means business.2) Exterior :

• Panel joinings are even, well placed and sound. The "knock-on-the-panels" test gives me the impression it has a tough little shell.
• Especially the pillars A through C are made of very thick steel sheets and they sound like as though you knock on a solid and heavy oak table...
• Same applies under the bonnet when you knock on the engine carrier extension arms (or partial chassis is you please) Even the crumple zone right behind the front bumper is quite solid.
• Doors close and open with that assuring "thud" ; not the worrying "plopp" .
• Door and hatch lid gaskets are multi layer an not just one lousy strip of rubber. Good for sound and heat insulation.
• Light units such as headlights and taillight assemblies are sound and would not jerk or budge under the pressure you apply. That means good gasketing and fitting, hence hardly any condensation beads within the lenses.
• Nicely big wing mirrors for wide and good visibility. Could have been a little more oval for a little more modern looks. Overall streamlined with the general looks though.
• Sideskirts covered with a heavy layer of mastic gunk before finish layer painting. Very good. The worst area to worry you for corrosion is taken care of.
• Since it is a hatchback, it deserves my all-too-famous "half-on-the-curb-test" for checking the body rigidity. Nope; the body does not twist. the hatch easily opens and closes without any fuss. So do the doors.
• Paintwork ("lilac blue metallic") is quite good. At least not the dreadful Hyundai quality you used to see on the Pony and Accent (pre-2003 models) However the same annoying metallic outside and opac inside paint scheme, as though the mechanic does not deserve to see a beautiful under bonnet paintwork... Never mind though, it' s OK for such a low price...
• The jet windshield washer nozzles are a complete novelty to me. I loved that.
• Tailgate / hatch washer and wiper work effectively. Large wiper area. Good for visibility.

3) Interior :

• Spacious, roomy. Plenty of leg and headroom. Same applies for rear seats.
• Seats reasonably dosed, not too stiff for short trips and not too soft for longhauls... Headrests adjut fairly well. Good enough for even a 1.91' er like myself.
• Seat depth and seat cushion height adjustment knobs awkward though. A lever could have been much better instead. Lumber support is surprising to find on such a cheap little car. Both on the drivers seat only though...
• Pre-tensioned seat belts and airbags good for passive safety.
  Could have used a pair of curtain style or thorax airbags though.
• Plastics are at a quality and condition you would expect finding on a supermini. But not that "yucky shiny bug black" you would find on another supermini...
• The steering wheel is a little thin for larger guys and ladies. Could use a grip enhancer for the wheel. (Plush cover with panther spots ? uuggghhhh)
• Electric windows controls and mirror adjustment pad are superbly placed. Much better than much more expensive europeans. Electric window lock for children is a thoughtful addition. Could have added a central locking panic catch but you do it through the lock knob itself anyway.
• The passenger side airbag activate/de-activate switch is placed at a well known and standard area. (Side of the dashboard)
• Seat belts are height adjusted.
• Rear seats fold completely. Could have been assymetrical. Never mind though...
• Rear headreasts usually are missing on this class but the adjustable rests on this car are nice and high enough.

4) Luxury(ies) and Controls :

• The aircon is ncely put with a push on / push off switch.
• Heat selector, ventilation and direction knobs are large and easy to adjust. Well laid out.
• The emergency flasher switch is at a very convenient location, right at the middle of the center console.
• Ventilation ducts are fully controllable. Not those you have to plug with tissues or rags in cold weather... You can fully close or open them. Direction control is excellent, almost unlimited.
• Blower power is reasonable. In interior circulation instead of outside air intake, the fan increases power and gets really serious.
• Does not take too long for the aircon to kick in and start cooling.
• Gauge cluster is nicely laid out, plain and easy to read.
• Tank filler lid has an opening lever from inside. Why not the hatch ?
• The shelf underneath the steering column is unforgiving during an accident could have been omitted. One can live happily without it. It is practically useless anyway.
• The rear fog light switch is another easy push-on/push-off switch but placed at a location which is obscured by the steering wheel. Could easily be left open inadvertently and cause stress and nervousness on the following traffic; worse yet impaired visibility when not needed.
• Wiper, headlight controls ever so standard, like any other car, van, bus or truck.
• Stereo (CD player with 4 speakers) has ample power and sound quality. Nothing special though. Not a boombox...

5) Engine and drivetrain :

• 1.3 liter SOHC 8 valve powerplant.
• Reasonable performance. Not a shattering "pocket rocket"...
• Economical fuel miser. (6.0 liters / 100 km under test drive conditions.)
• Response to accelerator pedal is from wary to poor. Do not expect this tiny thing to shoot like a bullet as soon as you budge your toe.
• Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes for ever. But heck, isn' t this a 1.3 liter grocery getter after all ??? If you want a mind numbing 4 seconds, go buy a Ferrari !!
• Gears do exactly what they are meant for: provide economic linkage from the engine to the wheels. The ratios are meant for pure economy. This baby is no sprinter... Be VERY CAREFUL during overtaking. Shift down first and then attempt to leave your lane.
• Brakes are reasonably dosed for the performance level of this car. However the lack of ABS and EBD urges you to leave a hearty gap in between you and the traffic you follow, especially in poor road conditions.
• Clutch lacks feel but serves well its purpose.
• Gears fly well and fast. But rev bands are awkward first and needs time to get used to the reactions of the car to different gear selections at different engine loads. However the engine pulls out of incredibly low revs without stalling and rattling the whole car... I got her out of approx. 1,100 rpm on 5th and she did not even tell me she was unhappy with it...
• Transmission and wheel noise reasonable. Engine noise successfully supressed.

6) Drive charateristics :

• As said before, reactions are slow and sluggish. However not a bad indication for such a car in such a class.
• Braking stable but requires getting used to by means of determining distance and braking power. Easy though.
• Cornering sharp and responsive due to short wheelbase. However the standard 165/79*13 tyres do not supply the desired grip. Be careful with sharp corners in high speed as understeer is the typical result. Slow in / fast out cornering should be your mastered skill with this tiny beauty.
• Requires leisure driving habits. Absoloutely not a dasher.

--- End result :
aa) Excellent value for money.
bb) Immobiliser and built in remote controlled central locking and alarm system helps further discount the already very low insurance premiums.
cc) Fun to drive.
dd) Good fuel economy.
ee) Versatile, durable and reliable.A good buy.

So good that I bought a brand new new-spec 1.4 DOHS 16V 97 HP Getz for my family (2 weeks ago) after driving my sister' s Getz a couple of times. That is another story. But I need to try out this baby first. (The new spec is much better than the 1.3 and has smashing peformance...

Safe days folks...

 

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