Hyundai Pony - how miserable are they?

[theorganist]

I have made arrangements to go and view it tomorrow evening. It has a FSH and has had one elderly lady owner from new who has just finished driving and has always been a local car being sold brand new by the Hyundai dealer in Kidderminster.

[w00dy]

Miserable.

 

From the days when buying a Hyundai was for the tight-fisted punter who was prepared to suffer to save a few quid. Unlike today's models which are really quite pleasant.

 

Buy it. And then throw away those wheel trims.

[theorganist]

Miserable.

 

From the days when buying a Hyundai was for the tight-fisted punter who was prepared to suffer to save a few quid. Unlike today's models which are really quite pleasant.

 

Buy it. And then throw away those wheel trims.

That sounds just like me then!

 

Yes I agree about the wheel trims.

[tooSavvy]

I had the original shape Pony 1.5 auto 4dr. I was working at the police HQ, Ponteland, so had a Civilian police I.D. = a local plod hauled me over for doing 40 up Wallsend high street - just come away from the house/cold engine - I flashed my ID & apologised, claiming the choke had the engine revving to buggery and I didn't take enough attention of how fast it was causing the Auto box to spin up.... He bought it!

 

Close call

 

Had an electric boot popper!!

 

Mine was totally fizzing away in all body seams....

 

It was a nice, relaxed roller though

[Bren]

 

I thought it was one of these. Misery with an internal combustion engine.

[meggersdog]

A pony x 2 is £50 isn't it ?

 

Or is that short for pony and trap

[theorganist]

Rang Adrian Flux to get a quotation for insurance, bare in mind I have the Maxi insured with them and the Mercedes before that. 

 

Luckily I was sitting down, they quoted £710! I got a price half that on one of those comparison sites and that was for non-classic insurance which I might as well go for.

 

They did put me in touch with a company which specialises in Hyundai (who knew such a company existed) who are phoning me this evening.

[tooSavvy]

Interesting logic to 'risk=premium'

 

New £24k shit box, front end £1400 repair = they pay

 

AS clunker, bent wing [n l s] = written off @ £book

 

If I drove an old car (*cough) I would be looking at my driving risk but taking out multi £000 repair costs for a quote....

[theorganist]

I am probably going to the let the side down here, but I don't think I will be purchasing the Hyundai.

 

The main practical reason is that mum's Rollator won't fit in the boot without the backseat folded, which is okay when it is just us two, the wheelchair will just about. 

 

There is nothing inherently wrong with the car, the engine sounds great, it drives nicely and is a lot more pleasant that I was expecting, the seats are quite soft and feel comfy and it doesn't feel that low quality inside although some of the switches are a little flimsy. I don't doubt it will be a reliable car for someone it has obviously been well cared for. Both rear wheel arches are a little grotty although the rest of it is fine and seems solid underneath. There was an slightly unnerving whine which started up after a bit then stopped, then started again and finished with a little crescendo when the ignition was switched off, it went quiet when the throttle was blipped.

 

Apart from the practical element I think I have become used to and enjoyed the comfort and effortless driving of the Mercedes which made long journeys a pleasure and I can't imagine relishing a longer journey in the Hyundai, if I had it as my "classic" alongside a modern car it wouldn't matter. I don't care too much for speed and being flash as many will know but I do want one car which I won't mind driving 100 miles down the motorway.

 

I said I would sleep on it but I suspect I have made my mind up and if I did have it I suspect it would be for sale as soon as the Maxi was road worthy.

[wuvvum]

[gtd2000]

I had a 1986 MK2 Pony 1.5GLS in my student days.

 

It actually cost a tenner less than the asking price of this one at 6 years of age!

 

It was very cheaply built but totally reliable.

 

I'd assume that all of the Pony models would be able to use parts from various Mitsubishi lancers, Protons etc.?

[C1am]

What about this? Parking by touch but 11 months MOT, good history and spec.

 

http://www.desperateseller.co.uk/cars-for-sale/advert/50813106/115641/52

 

 

[theorganist]

What about this? Parking by touch but 11 months MOT, good history and spec.

 

http://www.desperateseller.co.uk/cars-for-sale/advert/50813106/115641/52

 

Thanks for posting that, it does look nice. Big wide doors too. I suppose these with have the usual HGF worries?

[C1am]

Well, its a K series, but I haven't had direct experience so don't know whether the 1.4 is less prone than the larger capacities. Providing its not pressurising on the test drive, how far wrong can you go at the price? 

[lesapandre]

No to other takers here? This seems a rare car now. Noted what what you say about Mercedes - you can make epic trips and get out feeling fresh. 

[Zelandeth]

280px-1982_Hyundai_Pony_GLS_(11868204214).jpg

 

I thought it was one of these. Misery with an internal combustion engine.

At first glance I thought that was an FSO Polonez... surely no common DNA between the two?

[theorganist]

Well, its a K series, but I haven't had direct experience so don't know whether the 1.4 is less prone than the larger capacities. Providing its not pressurising on the test drive, how far wrong can you go at the price? 

 

Absolutely, I shall look into it.

[theorganist]

No to other takers here? This seems a rare car now. Noted what what you say about Mercedes - you can make epic trips and get out feeling fresh. 

 

I would say from what I saw of it, if someone wants something different then it seems fine, nothing wrong with the car I could detect apart from some work needed on the wheelarches. I know he had had quite a lot of interest so I think he won't have trouble selling it.

 

If it had a split rear seat I would have had it but I need something I can get three people plus mothers wheelchair and/or rollator in and sadly it wasn't practical. I have just visited a website which tests cars out for wheelchair storage and a lot of modernish supermini's like the Clio, Punto, 206 etc have boots where you can stand a wheelchair in without encroaching on the passenger area and there seem to be plenty of these around, the hatch on the Hyundai was quite low and restrictive.

 

As much as a love driving old cars and don't mind long journey's in them (I remember an epic 8 hour trip in the Horizon) I feel that alongside the Maxi I would like something fairly modern and reasonably refined.