New Spec Hyundai Getz 1.4 liter 16V

...week or two for the new version to pop into the market. As I asked her what the difference was, she handed me a "preliminary introduction booklet" which was meant for dealers only and asked me to read and return it. So with a nie cup of coffee offered by her, I sat and read it and decided on the spot to wait and buy that one...

Proved to be a good idea and choice...

1- Looks and Feautures:
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...the smell of a brand new car... Oh ! umm sorry... just got carried away...

* CD / MP3 / AM / FM stereo is a good, new and improved piece of electronics. Speakers do not speak this out yet though. A set of 4 Pioneers or JBL' s will be a good idea... (All the same size in all four doors; tweeters are non-existant.)

* Controls are easy to reach and easy to memorise. The fog lamp switches are at the same awkward places as ... more

Well after choosing the 1.3 version for my sister, I decided to grab one for wife to drive around as a grocery getter since she was practically unable to manouver our gigantic Hyundai Starex around in the mall lots and all.

So we hit the neighbouring Hyundair dealer. The nice lady advised us that we should wait for another week or two for the new version to pop into the market. As I asked her what the difference was, she handed me a "preliminary introduction booklet" which was meant for dealers only and asked me to read and return it. So with a nie cup of coffee offered by her, I sat and read it and decided on the spot to wait and buy that one...

Proved to be a good idea and choice...

1- Looks and Feautures:
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* The metallic black baby we decided to buy looks more modern with the stretched headlights, wider and more robust bumper inserts, wider and bigger door guars and all.
The dashboard has been changed as well as the gauge cluster.

* A basic level, multifunction onboard computer has been added. It shows the ambient (outside) temperature, the average consumption, daily and overall trip and distance to go before refuelling. Nice...

* The front looks are quite similar to those of the Peugeot 206 and 307 so this car is practically a mixture of them both: 206 headlights and a 307 grille. The rear end is unique an does not resemble anything else.

* Tyres are a misjudgement or misfortune at the least. I mean you have a 97 HP powerplant on this pocket rocket and expect to hold it on the road with 175/70x14 tyres ? Hmmm... Gotta go search for aftermarket alloys and a set of 205/50x15 tyres to go with...

* Basically the same body with the 1.3 so no need to scrutinise any further.

2- Interior :
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* Seats well sized and dosage of stiffness is perfect. Low fatigue on every measure of trips...

* Colors well chosen; not a clostrophobic environment but bright, cheerful and tasteful.

* High head and satisfactory legroom.

* Assymetrical and full folding rear seats extremely useful. However, provision to remove them altogether temporarily should be considered.

* Bootspace is unbelievable. I never thought such a small hatchback could take so many pieces of luggage !

* Mmmmmm... ooooooo... ahhh, the smell of a brand new car... Oh ! umm sorry... just got carried away...

* CD / MP3 / AM / FM stereo is a good, new and improved piece of electronics. Speakers do not speak this out yet though. A set of 4 Pioneers or JBL' s will be a good idea... (All the same size in all four doors; tweeters are non-existant.)

* Controls are easy to reach and easy to memorise. The fog lamp switches are at the same awkward places as the older version though. he steering wheel obscures them and you may forget them open as there is nothing to indicate they are open in the gauge cluster; only the rectangular LED' s on the switches themselves. You need to see the switches in order to see if they are on or off.

* The multi functional on board computer' s selector switch could and should have been on the wiper / washer selector arm, not on the gauge cluster' s side frame. It is awkward to reach over each time you need to change between functions.

* The spare' s place is just fine. The equipment and tools are of good quality and sufficient for basic DIY tasks. But do not expect to overhaul your engine on the roadside...

* VERY powerful ventilation. The aircon cools like mad.

* TOO Much condensation on windows and screens.

3- Engine and Mechanics :
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* Weird revving behaviour.You need to get used to it. It does not give you that "steady whine" while heating up. The engine revs up and idles eratically until it warms it up to it's equillibrium. I worried there was something dead wrong with the "brain" or the RPM controller but all proved 100% accurate when the car was hooked up to the computer at the dealer' s service station.

* Same applies when you change gears: The engine keeps it' s RPM eventhough you release the accelerator pedal. However this helps nicely by giving you better acceleration somehow. The fuel bill ? Ummm that is another story. But take my word for it, this baby does not guzzle gas.

* The gearbox is very well dosed, accurate and smooth. No clunks, clatters or screeches. It does not "fly" into gears like the older version. You have this soft "click" when you shift. Feels good and assuring though.

* Brakes kick in well and powerfully. The lack of ABS is weird but during my test, trials and tries I could not manage to put her into any spin or veer as yet. (Hope I'll or wife'll never manage doing that either.)

* The suspension is sound, superbly absorbing and steady. The balance between luxury and stability is placed very well an you do not suffer a kidney pulverising ride in return to a stable cornering or a "crazy car syndrome" in return to a comfortable ride.

* The pull and acceleration is superb. You can feel the engine pulling even if you budge your toe in the 5th gear. However do not expect to rocket away from 0 to 100 in 3 seconds. This tiny baby is exactly 1100 kilos unladen !! (Why and how ? Duh ! Search me..?!)

* No knocks, clatters or pings anywhere, be it interior or exterior.

* Good fuel economy. Tried out the car with a full tank. The overall trip was of 802 kms with an average consuption of 5.6 liters per every 100 km. Whoa ! Compare that with the 17,5 ltr/100 km of my diesel beast (Hyundai Starex 2.5 ltr. turbo intercooler diesel.)

**** Steady speed range of 80 to 90 km/h along with a steady RPM range of 2,000-2,500 RPM was observed and maintained as far as possible during this test.

4- Drive :
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* Easy cornering, thanks to the short wheelbase.

* Stable overall steering but be carefull in high speeds. The car has an unpredictable taste to "tramrailling" when it hits any uneven surface condition. The tyres elect to follow the edges of the seems in between the uneven surfaces and you may easily lose control. Wider tyres will not cure this but right on the contrary, make it much more severe.

* Observe the folowing distance carefully. Not because the brakes are weak (they are superb) but because you do not have ABS and EBD (and whatever abbreviations you can name) so better safe than sorry.

* The engine pulls out of incredibly low RPM bands in very high gears. But you' d best stick to the good old "downshift before you overtake" principal.

* The car tends to understeer. So Don' t try to impress your girl with a 100 km/h curve with screeching tyres. The last thing you' ll remember will be the thud and the hiss of the airbag...

FINALE :
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1 - Turn Ons:
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* Cheap and affordable

* Good Price / Performance Ratio

* Exceptional fuel economy

* Sound and sturdy

* Cute (Especially the metallic jet black and red colors)

*

2 - Turn Offs :
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* Looks a bit too much like a Peugeot from the front end. Could annoy some.

* No ABS

* Vapor discharge apparently not efficient since a lot of vapor condenses on the windscreen and windows.

* Versions and accessories limited to packages. No chance to choose and select on your own taste.

CONCLUSION
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I have gone for it. If you are looking for a cheap, affodable and eceonomic car with hearty performance, I' d suggest you go for it too. Paying approximately 2,200 GBP more you can get the ABS and sunroof in the same package. (The package my differ in the UK and Germany though)

Happy motoring folks !
 

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