You're driver #[an error occurred while processing this directive] to make this road-trip since 8/15/99

Econoboxing


1989 Hyundai Excel GLS
Engine: 1.4 liter inline-4
Transmission: Mitsubishi 5-speed manual
Traded: 1999
Yet another deal I couldn't pass up. I paid $650 for the Hyundai in '97. When I bought it, it ran well but the transaxle was seized up. I found that it had welded the 3rd gear to the mainshaft. I also found that I could only get parts from the dealership. Ouch!

After about $300 worth of gears, shafts, and seals, I had the "Haguar" back on the road. I never managed to get the input shaft seal to hold oil: I think the previous owner had replaced the clutch himself and let the transaxle hang on the input shaft. For as long as I drove it, the Hyundai used about a quart of 90-weight gear oil every 200 miles. Well, it was cheaper to fill it with gas and gear oil than to top up the 35-gallon tank of the Dodge!

It was interesting to have a car that I didn't give a shit about: I found that the little 1.4 liter had enough torque to chirp the tires in second gear at about 5500 rpm, and if the engine blew, so what?

Finally it was brought to my attention that the P.O. had left a couple of bolts off the alternator bracket -- 60 miles from home, at 10:00 pm, in the rain, on the side of the freeway. One broken field wire, $70 in towing fees, $120 in shop charges to fix the wiring, then it snapped the second clutch cable in two months. That was it: I bought a new car The sales manager was honest about it: "You can pay this price and I'll give you $200 for the Hyundai, or you can pay this price and take the Hyundai home." I took the $200 and ran.

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