 | Hyundai Excel LX Sedan Sep 1994 to Dec 1997 Buying Guide
Cheap? Sure, but cheerful? Early Hyundai Excels were definitely the former but not the latter. The South Korean giant's formula was simple and effective: get an outsider (say, Giugiaro of Italy for the '86 X1 and '90 X2) to style an attractive body, making sure it was slightly larger than the segment norm, and then built it down to a price and flog it off at bargain-basement prices. Like a super-sized meal from a fast-food chain, the results certainly fulfill basic needs but there sure is a deficit of quality. Hyundai didn't really turn the corner until the mid-'90s with the J2 Lantra and its '96 Coupe spin-off, but the Excel lingered until the far-improved Accent arrived in mid-2000. The 2002 Getz, meanwhile, is a good thing, but that's jumping ahead of ourselves. The 1994 X3 Excel, also good looking and well packaged, was pretty woeful regardless in core areas, which makes its huge popularity here all the more disappointing, although the LX sedan is rare because it was just so expensive compared to the spunkier hatch. Durability of all X3s isn't a strong suit, nor is build quality. Flimsy construction and materials and low refinement and comfort levels are everyday Excel traits. At least the Hyundai performs better than any of its predecessors, and handles OK too. Don't be fooled by the vast numbers sold, there are much better used cars out there than this misnomer of a motor car. |
Our Opinion
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Our OpinionWe Like:Styling, power steering, cabin space, cheap We Don't Like:Not a quality small car, unrefined, bad image, sedan is not as attractive as hatchback
Hyundai was the great success story of the 1990s, establishing itself as one of the most popular makes on Australian roads. Originally imported into this country by a company owned by then entrepreneur Alan Bond, the early examples were rather basic but from 1994 there was a dramatic improvement in looks and quality - and the success story began. Cars from major Japanese manufacturers Toyota, Nissan, Mazda and Mitsubishi were steadily moving up in price due to the increasing value of the yen and the South Korean Hyundai company slipped neatly into the low end of the market. The model that brought success to Hyundai was the Excel. The 1994 Excel was cheap, attractive, well designed and backed by a three- year/100,000km warranty. It was instantly attractive to the young segment of the market. At one stage the Excel was the third highest selling car in Australia, after the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon. Young women in particular rushed to buy the car and it became the new status symbol of the upwardly mobile. The package was simple. A small, well styled, light and roomy four-door sedan with good performance and fuel economy, and a no worries three-year warranty. It succeeded beyond the dreams of the Hyundai importers and revolutionised the small car market. The Excel has a 1.5-litre, single overhead camshaft engine with three valves per cylinder, transversely mounted and driving the front wheels through a four-speed auto or five-speed manual gearbox. The engine has plenty of power and torque, and with an all up weight of only 945kg performance is good. Suspension is by MacPherson struts and coil springs at the front and independent by dual links and coil springs at the rear. Brakes are power-assisted ventilated discs at the front and self- adjusting drums at the rear, with a pressure control valve to stop the rear wheels locking. The rack and pinion steering is power-assisted. Tyres are 175x13 on five-inch rims. The body of the Excel is smartly styled with clean lines and rounded corners. A low bonnet line and raked windscreen reduce wind resistance and colour-coded bumpers add to the pleasing appearance. Inside, there is seating for four adults with cloth-trimmed seats, central console with rotary-type ventilation controls and map pockets in front doors. Boot space is excellent for a car of this size and there is a low loading lip. Extras include a radio/cassette player, remote boot and fuel door release levers, intermittent wiper with timer and a rear fog light. Lively performance, comfortable seats, reasonably low noise levels and well weighted power steering make the Excel a good road performer. The gearshift on the manual is a little vague and the suspension tends to be noisy and jumps the car around on rough surfaces, but the overall impression is good. Fuel consumption is quite low with average driving giving about 7.0L/100km. Due to the lightweight construction - which gives good performance and economy - the Excel should not be looked at as a long-term vehicle. The manufacturer hopes you will trade the car in after three or four years and buy a new one. Whether this strategy succeeds will depend on the ability of the car to hold its resale price, a point which is yet to be proven. The Hyundai Excel is a proven success in its market segment. Well priced with attractive looks and good performance, it has dominated the young female market, providing the right mixture of style and value. |
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Buy with Confidence
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Buy with ConfidenceBefore making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Australia and PayPal protect you. 
Know your purchaseCarefully read the details in item listings. Check the car's value and determine how much you want to pay. Use the Completed Listings search option to get an idea of how much a similar model has sold for recently. Check if the car is covered by eBay Australia's Vehicle Purchase Protection. Ask for a test drive or consider getting a History Check or a Vehicle Inspection if you can't inspect the car yourself. Read the description carefully. If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile. Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Australia (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Australia are not covered by eBay Australia protection programs. Classified Ads are not covered by Vehicle Purchase Protection.
Know your sellerResearch your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction. What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have? Cars listed by Sellers with a feedback rating less than 0 are not covered by a Vehicle Purchase Protection program. Some car dealers may have a low feedback rating because classified ads do not generate ads. But they will have a  icon next to their user name. Depending on the car, some car dealers provide a limited warranty. Do they offer a warranty on the car you are buying? What are the terms and conditions?
Buyer protectionIn the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, you may be covered by the Vehicle Purchase Protection program Vehicle Purchase Protection: When you buy a car online through eBay Motors, you may be covered for up to $20,000 of FREE Vehicle Purchase Protection insurance*.
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