i30N - ownership experiences?

[Limpet]

This has been an itch I've wanted to scratch since thoroughly enjoying the car at Millbrook last year. I've booked a test drive (mostly for SWMBO's benefit) in a couple of weeks, and if the deal is right, I'm very tempted to do it.

I can't find much on-line (outside of mag "long term tests") about what they are actually like to live with, what Hyundai dealer service/support is like if you're not driving a car they know is on the press fleet, and how well they stand up to the rigours of daily use/abuse. As with my M140i, this will be a daily, racking up 15k or so a year in all weathers and across all types of road.

Just wondered if anyone has any experiences they can share, and how they feel about the car after using it daily for a period of time.

[BenRichards89]

I've had mine a year (12k miles)

Here's my readers cars thread...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

There's also n-cars.net forums which covers things to look out for, parts & modifications etc.

Edited by BenRichards89 on Tuesday 27th August 19:18

[Limpet]

BenRichards89 said:

I've had mine a year (12k miles)

Here's my readers cars thread...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

There's also n-cars.net forums which covers things to look out for, parts & modifications etc.

Edited by BenRichards89 on Tuesday 27th August 19:18

A great read, thank you

Looks like an absolutely cracking car. Grey really suits it. At the Millbrook event, all the cars were in Performance Blue which I do like, but the grey is much less in-yer-face, and dare I say it, a bit more classy.

I love the customisable modes so you can have the noise without the harsh ride. The roads around here are all varying degrees of knackered, and I suspect something else would be pretty quickly if I ran it for long in full N mode. I recall the damping being much better than my BMWs though, especially when pushed. It has a level of composure and sophistication to the way it goes down the road that the BMW, much as I love it, just can't get close to.

Interesting to read about service costs. £170 is a lot more reasonable than the £320+ BMW wanted for the 140i's first service, although the BMW does stretch the intervals out a bit further than 10k which recoups some of that. It's good to see the Hyundai's fuel economy is reasonable on a run too. This was something I'd read as a big negative about the car, but it seems broadly similar to the BMW, to be fair. Perfectly good enough for me.

Sorry, I probably sound like a boring old fart banging on about running costs, but doing 15k a year, I do have to take them into consideration.

Let's see what the test drive and haggle uncovers. Obviously the other half has to like it as well - these things are always easier with blessing!

Edited by Limpet on Tuesday 27th August 23:12

[BenRichards89]

Glad I could help.

I was impressed too with £170, but its worth me mentioning that being a first service there wasn't a massive amount to have done. A quick check of the booking system on Hyundai's site suggests a Year 2/20000 mile service is currently quoting around £280, but I'm not due until around June next year.

For a full service I still think that's pretty impressive. I've no previous with BMW but I've previously run Audis and they were never cheap. More surprising/impressive perhaps is that the first service for the N was cheaper than a first service I had for an MG 3!

[Ajax Treesdown]

Limpet said:

A great read, thank you

Looks like an absolutely cracking car. Grey really suits it. At the Millbrook event, all the cars were in Performance Blue which I do like, but the grey is much less in-yer-face, and dare I say it, a bit more classy.

I love the customisable modes so you can have the noise without the harsh ride. The roads around here are all varying degrees of knackered, and I suspect something else would be pretty quickly if I ran it for long in full N mode. I recall the damping being much better than my BMWs though, especially when pushed. It has a level of composure and sophistication to the way it goes down the road that the BMW, much as I love it, just can't get close to.

Interesting to read about service costs. £170 is a lot more reasonable than the £320+ BMW wanted for the 140i's first service, although the BMW does stretch the intervals out a bit further than 10k which recoups some of that. It's good to see the Hyundai's fuel economy is reasonable on a run too. This was something I'd read as a big negative about the car, but it seems broadly similar to the BMW, to be fair. Perfectly good enough for me.

Sorry, I probably sound like a boring old fart banging on about running costs, but doing 15k a year, I do have to take them into consideration.

Let's see what the test drive and haggle uncovers. Obviously the other half has to like it as well - these things are always easier with blessing!

Edited by Limpet on Tuesday 27th August 23:12

Owned mine now for 16 months from new. Covered 13,000 miles in that time. The car has been faultless. I have a small family and the car does everything it needs to do without any fuss. Averaging 34.5mpg since i picked it up. Drive like an idiot or in stop start traffic and this will plummet but it's to be expected. On long trips on A roads and motorways, low to mid 40's mpg is easily achievable. It does get better the more miles you put on. Never used Eco mode as dont see the point. I drive everywhere in N Custom which is everything full N apart from suspension on normal. N suspension will basically rattle your fillings out it's so hard. Only place for that setting is on track.

Servicing is every 10,000 miles. I paid £133 for first service by using Hyundai's online service booking facility and got 5 prices from dealers then went to the local one who price matched the quote.

There have been faults with models. 5th and 6th syncro's have had to be replaced on a number of cars, steering rack's have been known to fail, the paint isn't the best and some cars have had panels which are so far out of line they look like they have been fitted blind. But don't let this put you off. All these have been rectified by warranty and have bullitens out for them. (Apart from the paint one) The Perilli's are soft. Some people have had them last less than 4000 miles but I'm still on the original ones after 13,000. I guess it's how you drive it! The car is a joy to drive. Don't expect it to be super fast as in a straight line it's not the quickest for 271bhp as it's quite lardy but get it on a twisty back road and it's great.

Interior isn't up there with the Golf/Audi etc but that's where the cost saving is coming from against those models. Most of the equipment is standard on the I30N. The only option available to me when I bought mine was the winter pack which gave me heated front seats and steering wheel. Everything else came as standard.


I am constantly looking at whats on offer on the market in car terms but this is the first time I cannot find anything I would change my Hyundai for.


There is a facebook group Hyundai I30N Owners Club (UK). Join there and have a search of topics or ask questions and you will find out as much information as you require.


Any questions you want answering feel free to message me.