[Red Rumbler]

Hi all - I need to get a car shortly and the i30 has popped up on my radar...

I want to ask owners about reliability, specifically compared to benchmark cars like a Corolla which is known to be a reliable car.

I grew up in the days of the Hyundai Excel which was frankly an undesirable car. I know a lot has changed since then and I just wanted some honest testimonials from owners. Would you say a 2010 i30 is a better choice than say a 2010 Mazda 3?

Thanks

[wbm00]

I've been disappointed with the reliability of my Hyundai i30 and will not be making the mistake of buying one again. Feel free to look through my past threads for details of issues and the poor responses from Hyundai.

For my next vehicle (assuming I don't get a lease/company vehicle) I'd look primarily for for a Toyota or Honda where they have a heritage of reliability and care for customers.

[Red Rumbler]

Thanks for your opinion.

I should mention I was looking at getting a FD 2.0 petrol engine hatch, as there are so many different engine and body configurations.

I may call my trusty mechanic too, as it is literally his job to sort out troublesome cars.

[josh1990]

My 2015 diesel i30 has been the most reliable car I've ever owned (over 30). My wife's 2003 corolla and inlaws 2008 corolla (so many water pumps) had a lot more issues around the same age mark. I sell a lot of spare parts - Toyota right up there behind Holden and Ford. Hyundai and Honda not so much. Mazda is so so around the middle with Nissan. You're always going to get the horror stories on the internet, I suggest joining a few of the FB groups for the models you're interested in (much greater audience) and getting feedback there (you're in a place where most are either going to be pro i30 or have had the lemons). You will need to sift through the responses either way.

[PiL]

Josh, how have you found "premium" brands like merc and bmw?
My wife wants a merc and with 5 year warranty thinking i might give it a go, but wanna prepare myself for heart ache.
Id prefer bmw but 3 years is a little short...

Sorry for the hijack.

[PiL]

Ps. My gde diesel's drivetrain has been flawless.
Starting to feel guilty though about the lack of dpf and white smoke when giving the revs a bit.

[josh1990]

Generally, peeps with new mercs and BMW are getting the dealer to do the work, you get the odd oil top up for newer bimmers but yeah people seem to be scared of them. Older ones not common for parts either, just service items. We hired a merc e300 for our wedding and would have another in a heartbeat if I had the budget to be fisted by the dealer. I love working on my own stuff so that's not going to happen anytime soon.