Current generation Hyundai Elantra.

[SentraSE-R]

Originally Posted by tjts1

Considering they both roll off the same assembly line with the same components from the same suppliers, I would be surprised if there is any difference in quality today.

??? Hyundai's Birmingham, AL plant assembles Sonatas and Santa Fes, and will assemble Elantras this year. Kia's West Point, GA plant assembles Souls and Sportages, and will assemble Optimas in 2012. There's no duplication there. If you have proof of your claims, how about sharing it?

[PaleMelanesian]

Wayne at CleanMPG got 65 mpg out of a review Elantra manual. That's without his usual "max mpg" segment because he had to return it early. It would have been even higher with that segment included.

Sounds like a winner to me. I have no doubt the Accent will be equally / more capable.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by SentraSE-R

??? Hyundai's Birmingham, AL plant assembles Sonatas and Santa Fes, and will assemble Elantras this year. Kia's West Point, GA plant assembles Souls and Sportages, and will assemble Optimas in 2012. There's no duplication there. If you have proof of your claims, how about sharing it?

On the contrary, you need to prove your claims. They are for all intents and purposes the exact same car. Claiming that the Hyundai is somehow better is pure fantasy not supported by any facts.

The Sonata and Optima are so incredibly different I can't tell them apart. I bet one is brilliant and the other is garbage.

[SentraSE-R]

You made the claim "Considering they both roll off the same assembly line with the same components from the same suppliers, I would be surprised if there is any difference in quality today."

The Hyundai Sonata and Elantra roll off Hyundai's Montgomery AL assembly line. The Kia Optima is made in some plant in India or South Korea, until next year, when it will be assembled in West Point GA. You made the false claim they roll off the same assembly line. Unless you have some facts proving otherwise, you're dead wrong.

I made no claims I have to prove. I simply said I'm not convinced Kia reliability equals Hyundai reliability.

[RobertM]

Originally Posted by cookie96civic

Any hard data on Civic 5spd auto vs. 5 speed manual? Not counting coast or EOC...just plain highway results please.

I think that in general, the 8th gen manual Civics do better in the city, whereas the automatics have a taller final gear which gives them the advantage on the highway.

Originally Posted by SentraSE-R

Nonetheless, your 33.9 combined mpg shows the limitations of relying on highway averages.

My current 33.9 is my average since purchasing the car which only has 3k miles on it right now. In addition, I have yet to log any tanks with the use of my new SGII yet. Right now, my tank average is about 38 MPG which has been over my daily commute (mix of 70% hilly highway [2-mile long, 5% grades] and 30% windy, hilly country roads with some city).