Do they maintain good working order as long as you stay up on maintenance or do they start to fall apart pretty easily? I’m at 90K now and wondering if I should brace myself for the impending doom of 100K and more…

 

I snapped my timing belt at 144k due to neglecting to change it with no real issues issues. Replaced engine (cheaper than repairing bent valves) and now chassis is at 170k miles. Still going strong. I wouldn't worry.

 

Theres people here nearing 200K with no issues. Take care of your car properly, and it should last you for many years and miles to come.

 

Ive got an elantra with 140k sitting outside. It was doing great up until I parked it.



A few things went wrong right around the 120k mark, but neither were major.



Boot on the CV went, started clicking (cheap)

Alternator took a crap on me (cheap)

 

I've had some experience with the Alpha, and a decent amount with the Beta - Engine and trans wise, they're pretty hard to kill.



As for older Hyundais, let's just say my Stellar (4G63) got a new timing belt 21 (155K KM) years after it was assembled, and I routinely race with the smaller 4G32 engines without major problems - Aside from the last one, which I blew up like a mad-overrevving boss



The bodies seem to go after 10ish years in the rust belt - I've seen 10 year old tibs and elantras (not to mention accents) get into a pretty bad way if not sealed with oil.

 

I failed to kill an X3 with 150k on it, and that was a car that had been neglected all its life.



I'm restoring an s-coupe GT with 155k on it, that definitely has lots of issues, but to be fair it is a 19 year old car that has been very abused.



I wouldn't be worried at all, just give it a tune up and don't miss changing your timing belt!

 

Mitsu engine, or distributor Alpha?

 

Distributor alpha.



Jed, do you know what the deal is with s-coupes in korea? My understanding was that the series one (grilly tail lights) only came with the 4G15, and that the series two (slimline tail lights) only came with the alpha. However, on a korean used car site, I saw this?















Was there an overlap period in korea? I saw this turbo model and an NA model - both had the series one exterior but had a dizzy alpha.

 

I have not seen a scoupe, indeed, I only saw two Excel X2's, and a 1990 Sonata from the same period (all in relatively good shape) - I'm sure eventually there will be a car forum I will join and meet up (when my Korean is at least passable) but for now I know nothing!

 

Just a heads up, I'm going to start picking your brains so hard over mundane Korean cars