Short Review: The Hyundai Getz

[Famine]

The other week, my Mazda MX-3 V6 went for a little suspension check-up. I booked in advance to get a courtesy car. I figured the worst I'd get would be a Mazda 2 or 3, perhaps a 6 if I was lucky, or even an RX-8 (yeah, right).

Unfortunately, the garage also deals Hyundai. And I got this:

The 2003 Hyundai Getz.

First impressions are: Bleugh. Yes, it was THAT yellow - and bearing in mind I had to drive it to the school I work at, any other colour which didn't draw attention would have been good.

Second impressions were that someone had tried to create the impression of space, without actually making a bigger car. My last car, a 1.3i Ford Fiesta, is made to look like an Explorer inside compared to this.

Still, it's lighter and has more power than the Fiesta - 82hp compared to 63hp - and a tachometer reading a redline at 7000rpm is a good sign.

Then I turn the key. Bugger me! Has someone replaced this engine with a tractor engine? It sounds like any one of a number of early 1990's diesels - but it's definitely the 1.3i petrol model. Oh smeg.

Planting of the right foot does nothing, apparently. 0-60mph takes... err... um... oh. Braking is fun though - this object weighs bugger all, and planting your foot on the brakes stops the car. In fact, even looking at the brakes stops the car.

Still, it can't get any worse, can it? Can it? Oh yes it can...

Manoeuvring in a car park is assisted by the poky dimensions of the car (although I AM used to the completely glass construction of my own car), and visibility is good. But, what's this? Oh no... As I turn the steering wheel with my foot on the clutch I can feel the steering column turning against my foot. Oh sweet Jesus no...

In this day and age there is NO excuse for this. Imagine what would happen in a crash...


If you're thinking of buying one of these cars, don't. Take your £6000 and buy a used MX-3 V6. Or, if you don't want to give all your money to the insurance company, buy a 2001 Ford Fiesta. In fact, buy a boat - it'll handle better and accelerate quicker.

 

[Ev0]

who the hell would buy that? It looks like it has the room of a pop can inside

 

[Joey D]

Well its another European street cars that will never make it here thankfully

 

[daan]

That reminds me of the time my car had to go in the garage to get accident repair work done. I had a Citroen Saxo at the time and someone ran into me (not my fault!) So, I take the Saxo to the garage and the woman at the garage is writing down my details on the courtesy car form thingy. I'm sitting across the desk from her so I'm reading the form upside down. She gets to the bit where it says "make" and writes down an "S". Time now slows down at the is point as I go through all the car manufacturers whose name begins with S who make cars that I'm likely to get. My first thought is Seat. That's OK. An Ibiza wouldn't be too bad. The next letter she writes is a "K".

AAAAAAAaaaaarrrrgghh

Yup, you guessed it. My courtesy car, for a day or 2, was a diesel Skoda Felicia. I had to go to work, so I had to drive it.

I then got a call from the garage. They had ordered the tailgate/boot for the 5 door Saxo. Mine was a 3 door. They would have to order the 3 door one in again! I had to keep the Skoda for 5 days!! Woo, and indeed, Hoo.

Actually it wasn't that bad to drive. The diesle gave it good mid-range acceleration, but I was soooo glad to get me Saxo back!

 

[skip0110]

Originally posted by Famine
But, what's this? Oh no... As I turn the steering wheel with my foot on the clutch I can feel the steering column turning against my foot. Oh sweet Jesus no...

In this day and age there is NO excuse for this. Imagine what would happen in a crash...

Hehe i know what you're saying. I used to drive a '85 Civic wagon (it was 4WD, and with such a heap of junk i used to drive in the snow as if i was in a rally , but different story) and the angle of the steering column was such that when your foot was on either the gas OR the brake, you would have a nice greasy U-joint rubbing on the tip of your shoe. Not to mention that it was extremely easy to press the gas and the brake at the same time, they were so close. (My shoes aren't that big, a size 9).

I swear, these Japanese engineers have to get some American big and tall people to test their designs.