5,810 km - Affection grows for little Red Rockette

A few more runs into Toronto (with the windows closed) and I am noticing a fair amount of engine noise as the little four-banger drones away at 120 km/h. The air conditioner is very effective, however, having the interior down to fur-storage temp pronto.

And the radio? Well, let’s just say Harmon or Kardon won’t be losing any sleep over this one.

But in a ten thousand dollar car, that’s nit-picking. As my time with the Accent L draws to a close, I’m finding myself growing quite fond of this diminutive runabout. It really is a nice little car to drive. All the controls work in an easy, fluid way, and there’s nary a squeak, rattle or clunk as the Accent hammers over the worst the GTA has to offer.

In this Tango Red, it’s a cheery sight in my driveway every morning. I especially like the detail in the taillights.

In this time of the automobile being loaded down with more gizmos than you can count, it is strangely refreshing to manually operate the windows and walk around the car to ensure the doors are locked. A bit nostalgic, I guess I’m going to miss my little Red Rockette.

 

5,670 km - A bit thirsty in heat

Put 38.5 litres of regular fuel in the tank at  5670 km after traveling 481 km. That works out to 8.0L/100 km. Frankly, I expected better considering all the sweat (literally) I put into it.

Okay, the A/C is now  going on and windows will be rolled up. Good thing because it’s very hot and muggy today.

My wife took the Accent to work the other day and really liked the way it  drove, but said she would spend the extra $1700 for the next trim level with air, powered windows and locks. She thought this would be an excellent car for a young college student leaving the nest. Her only gripe, and I quote, “The radio sucks.” Tough crowd.

More driving impressions: While the scrawny 14-inch tires don’t provide much grip, the Accent is a zippy handler. Also, the brake feel is very good, although ABS is not available on the Accent hatch, no matter what trim level you specify.

For someone learning to drive stick, the Accent would be a great choice. The clutch is light, smooth and forgiving – likewise the shifter is smooth and foolproof.

5,568 km - Baby Hyundai goes to the THEE-ah-tuh

My time with the Accent coincides with a week of evening commutes from Oakville to the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, where I’m filling in for the bass player in the Dirty Dancing Orchestra. I’m having the time of my life ...

As a result, the Accent is racking up plenty of highway klicks. The little Hyundai is stable at speed and will happily follow the 120 to 130 km/h traffic flow. Although not fast, it never feels wanting for power. Much of this is due to the fairly high engine speeds on the highway (3000 r.p.m. at 100 km/h). Kenzie found the engine drone annoying on the 400 series roads, and I would too if I had the A/C on. But with the windows open I can’t hear a damn thing.

I’ll report on this and the sound of the radio when I break down (after the first fill-up) and put on the air.

Notable in this car is the driver’s seat with height adjustment for both the front and back of the lower cushion. How often do you see that in any car, regardless of price? The flip-down armrest is also a nice surprise.

My only real gripe is the armrest on the door whose plastic surface is harder than Chinese arithmetic. A minor distraction is the distortion in the rearview mirror, which slightly squashes the oncoming vehicles into sinister looking predators. Kinda cool, actually.

 

5,462 km - Shopped at No Frills (naturally)

This little red hatch is surprisingly good.

I have a soft spot for small fuel-efficient cars (my first car was a 1968 Austin Mini), and I’m finding the $9,995 Accent a fun and willing ally in day-to-day driving.

It feels very substantial – yes, the doors sound a bit tinny - but structurally it’s a solid little tyke. The 110 hp 1.6L engine is smooth and has plenty of urge. Keeping up with normal traffic flow is not an issue.

 

About the price. You probably know the aforementioned bottom line is a cash-only offer and doesn’t include air con. The Wheels brass broke down and got air, just so they could entice us spoiled journalists out of our Bimmers and Mercs.

But in the interest of journalistic integrity, I intend – and I stress the word intend – to do without the A/C so I can bask (or bake?) in the full-on ten-grand Accent experience. Plus, not using the A/C will more accurately represent the base hatch’s fuel consumption.

Luckily I have long arms, so I can reach over and roll down the passenger window.

Now here’s a question: On the highway, does the extra aerodynamic drag from all the buffeting with the windows down cancel out the fuel-saving benefit of not using the air conditioning?

Here's another question: When I accidentally left the key in the Accent's door while perusing the Mustang Club of America meet (doh!), was it still there when I got back because no one in Oakville thinks the Accent is worth stealing?

5,218 km - Audi R8 to Accent makes head spin

Happy Birthday to me. When Mr. Editor informed me I’d be picking up the Wheels Hyundai Accent long-term tester on my birthday, I was overcome with joy. This, immediately following an exciting week of driving the sensational Audi R8.

My first mission was to drop Mr. Editor and Mr. Assistant Editor off at Starbucks. After they exited the car, I laid a little patch of rubber for the boss. I think he was impressed.

Okay, it’s bit of a shock to the sensibilities jumping into this after the R8, but having just finished my drive from One Yonge Street to my home in Oakville, the twitching in my left eye is slowing down and I no longer feel the urge to curl up in a fetal position under the barbecue.

This is a very nice little car. It’s cheerful on the outside and well finished inside. It may be the most inexpensive car in Canada, but it doesn’t feel cheap. The shifter and clutch operate smoothly, and I didn’t have a problem dialing in a comfortable driving position. Decent ride too.

Plus I got my mountain bike in.

My plan is to eke the most mileage out of this car –- no jackrabbit starts, smooth inputs and lots of short shifting. Gotta make up for all the premium fuel I poured into the R8. Ouch.