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By
EWAN KENNEDY
19 September 2005
This is a sporty looking little Korean machine that runs on
much the same platform as the popular Hyundai Excel but
provides a bit more style. Don’t expect a European style
sports machine for this sort of money, however the
‘Scoop’ does give a lot of fun for a minimum outlay.
It’s easy to drive and park, though the handling, steering
and general feel is more like a sedan’s than a genuine
sports car.
Hyundai S Coupe first arrived in Australia in July 1990 and
sold moderately well from the start. It was revamped to give
a sleeker appearance in 1993. Though the body remained
virtually the same from the windscreen backwards, the lower
front-end panels and headlights substantially improved the
looks.
Though some see the styling as somewhat on the bland side,
Hyundai S Coupe responds well to the installation of
aftermarket body kits, particularly if the suspension is
lowered and wider wheels and tyres are fitted.
S Coupe has a two-plus-two seating arrangement, although the
back seat is more spacious than in many others in the class.
Access to the rear seat, by way of the front doors, can be
as difficult as in any other two-door.
The boot is spacious for this type of vehicle but isn’t
particularly easy to load due to the convoluted shape of the
opening. The rear-seat back-rest has a 60/40 split to
further improve carrying capacity.
Power in most models comes from a 1.5-litre four-cylinder
single-cam engine that doesn’t exactly bring a big grin to
your face when you floor the right pedal. It’s necessary
to use the gearbox frequently to get the best from the
engine if you are in a hurry. Unfortunately, the five-speed
manual has a change action that can be sloppy and sticky.
The optional four-speed automatic transmission, though a
good unit in its own right, takes too much power away from
the small engine.
The Hyundai S Coupe Turbo, released in October 1992, has
better performance thanks to a 30 per cent increase in
power, but still doesn’t have the punch driving
enthusiasts might expect. It was only sold here until mid
1995.
The model range initially consisted only of the S Coupe S.
In August 1991 a minor appearance revamp saw the S renamed
GLS and a lower cost LS model added to the range.
The S Coupe is reasonably easy to work on though, like a lot
of small front-drive cars, there can be problems in getting
at some underbonnet components. Spare parts prices are
generally moderate, while the Hyundai dealer network is
large, though generally concentrated in the major cities and
towns. We have heard no major complaints about parts
availability.
Insurance is generally in the lower half of the scale, the
exception being the turbocharged model which may prove a
budget breaker if you are a young and/or inexperienced
driver.
Hyundai S Coupe was sold in Australia until March 1996,
however, the last of the line were all built in 1995, not
1996, so should be classed as a ‘95. The S Coupe was then
replaced by a slightly larger model, this time based on the
Hyundai Lantra and, with a nice touch of arrogance, was
simply called Hyundai Coupe. Later, the Coupe morphed into
the car we now call the Tiburon, but that’s a larger, more
expensive car.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Rust isn’t normally a problem, but it’s still
sensible to check all the lower areas of the body, doors and
bootlid, just in case. If you suspect rust has got in after
crash repairs it’s best to either forget that car and
start again, or have a professional after-crash inspection.
Look over the complete interior as quality control wasn’t
always good in some older Hyundais. If the car displays
squeaks and rattles, especially on bad roads, it could be a
sign of poor interior fit and finish.
Check the condition of the dash top and parcel shelf in case
strong sun has caused drying, even cracking of the surface.
If these areas look bad, also do a full check of the paint
condition on the horizontal panels.
A turbo engine that is noisy, smoky, or is slow to respond
to the accelerator, could be due for an expensive overhaul.
Neither the standard, nor the turbo engine should smoke from
the exhaust when the accelerator pedal is suddenly
depressed. Both engines should start easily and idle
smoothly even when cold.
A Hyundai gearshift from this era isn’t the best around,
but if it seems to be too bad steer clear of the car as
repairs can be time consuming. Feel for a slipping clutch
during hard acceleration, particularly up hills.
Listen for rattles in the suspension when driving on bumpy
roads as these could mean the shock absorbers are due for
renewal.
Check the brakes pull the car up squarely, even under high
pedal pressures.
CAR BUYING TIP
Coupes based on sedans can be cheap to own because of
their shared out-of-sight components.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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