Suspension

[MAGNA2D]

I have the base model GT. The "styling package" option lists sport tuned suspension as one of its components. Does that mean my base model does not have it?
I must say, the handling of this thing could be better for something called a "GT"

[stanjo]

Suspension is definitely sub-par. It wasn't obvious when I test drove it around the dealership, but after putting 4K miles on it, I can say the suspension sucks - it's my only gripe with the car.
I have no problem with the handling (I don't expect a Porsche), but the ride is very unsettled - hard and harsh, and at the same time wobbly and twitchy. There is a good deal of bobbing inside the car while every minor road imperfection is amplified and reverberates through the chassis. I guess the stock Hankook tires don't help either.
I wished it were softer like the Elanta sedan at least for comfort.

[newtmaker]

Originally Posted by stanjo

Suspension is definitely sub-par. It wasn't obvious when I test drove it around the dealership, but after putting 4K miles on it, I can say the suspension sucks - it's my only gripe with the car.
I have no problem with the handling (I don't expect a Porsche), but the ride is very unsettled - hard and harsh, and at the same time wobbly and twitchy. There is a good deal of bobbing inside the car while every minor road imperfection is amplified and reverberates through the chassis. I guess the stock Hankook tires don't help either.
I wished it were softer like the Elanta sedan at least for comfort.

Wow, exactly the opposite of my experience. Must be the way I drive or my expectations are different. I went from a 12 Elantra sedan and liked it very much. But I loved the styling of the GT and traded when the dealer made me a deal I couldn't refuse :-)

I really can tell a difference in the GT vs the sedan and I much prefer the GT. To me it is much more comfortable and quieter. The steering is noticably more precise and the car tracks very straight and true even on rougher roads. Maybe you need to take it by the dealer and have it checked out.

Walt

[talkingrat]

Originally Posted by MAGNA2D

I have the base model GT. The "styling package" option lists sport tuned suspension as one of its components. Does that mean my base model does not have it?
I must say, the handling of this thing could be better for something called a "GT"

The base model does not have sport-tuned suspension. That comes with the Touch & Go, or the Style packages, which also have 17" wheels. I'm still waiting for the official word on how base and sport-tuned suspension differ.

[Bartacus]

Originally Posted by stanjo

Suspension is definitely sub-par. It wasn't obvious when I test drove it around the dealership, but after putting 4K miles on it, I can say the suspension sucks - it's my only gripe with the car.
I have no problem with the handling (I don't expect a Porsche), but the ride is very unsettled - hard and harsh, and at the same time wobbly and twitchy. There is a good deal of bobbing inside the car while every minor road imperfection is amplified and reverberates through the chassis. I guess the stock Hankook tires don't help either.
I wished it were softer like the Elanta sedan at least for comfort.

I second this. Great description of exactly how mine feels. It doesn't inspire any confidence in the car when you hit a slight bump while changing lanes at highway speeds. I just hit 3600KMs on mine and it's my only gripe too. What version of Hankook Optimo's are you using? Mine are the H426's, and I find them awful. The loaded GT I test drove (on 17's) didn't exhibit this behavior. I'll be putting snows on soon, so I'll see if that improves it.

[markjenn]

Pretty subjective subject, but I've owned a lot of cars (including a lot of sports cars, a few which I've raced) and my opinion is that the GT suspension (even the base) is pretty good for the type of car it is. Not great, but pretty good and a nice tradeoff between handling and a decent ride. The base with the 16" should be more comfortable than the 17" package.

The biggest handling drawback is the rear suspension. The rear end of the car does not like bumpy corners taken as speed. I wish it had the suspension of the i30.

Granted, if your expectations are that the Elantra GT is going to be a GT like the Ford GT, Porsche GT, etc., then you're going to be disappointed. The car does not deliver on its GT name.

Tire pressures are critical. Always check them on a new car - many MANY cars are delivered with 45 psi+ tire pressures, never having been adjusted down from the factory "avoid flat-spotting" pressures during a non-existent PDI. The recommended pressures are a pretty good compromise, but I think you can go down a couple psi if you want a better ride and up 4-5 psi if you want better handling.

- Mark

[LeMeez]

I'd have to side with newtmaker here, the ride is a very nice compromise of smoothness and agility in a very quiet ride for a compact car. I also agree wih markjenn, to bad we didn't get he i30 rear suspension, but other than it's squirrelly at speed over bumps, it's ok.

[stanjo]

Originally Posted by newtmaker

I really can tell a difference in the GT vs the sedan and I much prefer the GT. To me it is much more comfortable and quieter. The steering is noticably more precise and the car tracks very straight and true even on rougher roads. Maybe you need to take it by the dealer and have it checked out.
Walt

I think you misunderstood my complaint. I have no problems with the steering and handling - it's at least as good if not better than my previous Ford Focus ZX3.
It's the ride quality I'm bummed about - it's a hard suspension that transmits every road imperfection, yet bobby and jittery. I think "unsettled" best describes it - it's always busy.
Maybe the 17" tires + "sports" suspension package is just stiff and not bobby, but the standard with 16" doesn't know what it wants to be - it's too harsh to be supple and too wobbly to be stiff - worst of both worlds.
My previous cars were a 1st gen Ford Focus ZX3 which had an amazingly smooth ride and before that a Nissan 240SX Fastback which was stiff and planted, but not harsh.

When people comment, please, clarify whether you have the base 16" or the 17" + "sports" package. Maybe it makes all the difference.

I will have the dealer check the alignment at the next oil change, but I doubt it's off - the car keeps a straight line.

[stanjo]

Originally Posted by LeMeez

I'd have to side with newtmaker here, the ride is a very nice compromise of smoothness and agility in a very quiet ride for a compact car. I also agree wih markjenn, to bad we didn't get he i30 rear suspension, but other than it's squirrelly at speed over bumps, it's ok.

Do you have the base 16" or sports + 17" ?

[octavian]

Originally Posted by stanjo

Do you have the base 16" or sports + 17" ?

If you look under the user's name to the left, I see he/she has "SE" listed in the model name, so I assume that the poster has the Sport Edition which comes with 17in wheels by default. The naming is a little different between Canada and the US, but the "SE" designation I believe applies to both. I am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong

I have the SE, and I find the ride to be smoother than the 2010 SE Touring I just upgraded from, but the Touring certainly handled 'sportier.' Cornering and hard turns are terrible, but I am thinking its due to the crappy Hankooks (my tires 'skip' when making hard turns). I'll be taking them off for winter tires in a few weeks, and when spring arrives I'll opt for some Continentals I liked instead.

So yes, I agree that the car does not have the best handling ever, but with my limited driving (only about 500kms total so far, about 20kms on the highway) I suspect I'll get better handling with some new tires.