Hey scotty and the car community! I Just bought a 2004 hyundai XG350L with 112k miles on it. It is a very clean car inside and out and underneath. The carfax report says everything checked out. Shifts smooth as butter. Runs strong. Solid well maintained car so far. I have had bad luck with buying used cars lately and have gone through 5 lemons in the past 18 or so months. Yes i did say 5, and yes i did also say less than two years. I paid $3,500 for it and so far after a month or so of driving 50-100 miles daily it has been great and reliable car. My question is: how long can i expect this to last, considering how well the car has been taken care of and driven delicately? And second question is what are some common issues to look out for and how much money should i expect to be putting into it in the next couple years of moderate driving? Are there major common issues with this car around the 120-130k mark? Is it worth keeping Or should i try to sell it while the market is hot and get something a little more reliable for certain like a civic or corolla?
Much thanks to all who answer! Im trying to avoid the massive frustration of another car flop!
Who knew a single F could change the context, dramatically!
😂😂 i just saw what u meant i had to look for a minute but LOL
Hyundais of that vintage were better than the ones sold today but it is 18 years old. That car will have Hyundai's old cast-iron 3.5 liter V6 engine that has a timing belt. If you don't know how old the belt is I'd say replacing it is the first order of business, along with the water pump if driven by the timing belt.
Thank you for ur input it helped a lot! Car fax says the timing belt was replaced at 106k by a 4.8 star shop not far from me, which means its practically brand new… correct? If it is accurate to the “newness” of it is there anything else to look out for? And how long can i expect to keep it on the road?
How long has it been since the timing belt was changed? Time counts at least as much as mileage. I believe Hyundai recommends belt replacement at 48 months or 60,000 miles whichever comes first. Other than that it's keeping up with normal maintenance. Given the car's age you might want to have critical rubber parts examined and replaced if needed. (Fuel hoses, brake hoses, vacuum hoses, fan belt.)
Sounds good the car fax says that the timing belt and the o2 sensors were done in june of 2021 the engine looks very clean and fresh including the rubber but i didnt check the brake hoses or belt. Thank you for that knowledge!
have gone through 5 lemons
Well, it works better when you get advice BEFORE buying not after.
if you still can, ditch the Hyundont.
Unfortunately you can't get much for $3,500 these days, but like Scotty says all the time (like in today's video) try get a reliable car that's got some cosmetic issues like peeling paint or hail damage.
Always have the car inspected before you buy. Sure it may cost you a hundred bucks now, but it'll save you thousands later.
Check out our buying guide in the FAQ.
Absolutely thank u for the input. I did actually have the car inspected and all of my cars in the past have been checked before purchase by mechanics and a couple even came from some mechanic friends of ours checked out by other mechanics! Most of them pooed the bed for weird reasons like flywheels cracking non stop for some odd reason or rotted and hidden by plastic under coats in an attemp to scam… is there any particular reason u say this specific car is bad or is it just bc its an old hyundai? Like i said it was incredibly well taken care of and has relatively low miles for the age. Puts out steady strong power and shits super smooth. AC blows cold heat blows hot windows work not an inkling of dust in the fuze box or under the hood…
Toyota and Honda make the most reliable cars that last the longest. The second tier so to speak is Hyundai and Kia. Not quite as good but lasting around 100K or ten years. They cost less. Even I would say your living on borrowed time with an 18 year old Hyundai. For $3500 if it works drive it till it drops. If you can flip it for more money go for it. Just make sure you have something already lined up. My wife's car blew up over the summer and it took me 6 weeks to replace it. It's hard to get any car at any price right now.
