Hyundai cars are not the most sought after things in the automobile industry. The same applied for the cars once they become old. Its only when one wants to buy a Hyundai and make it into some tuners delight workshop, that is when one aspires for a used Hyundai. In this case here, it happens to be regarding the tips on buying a second hand Hyundai i10. Used Hyundai i10 cars are a big rarity and finding one is the real difficult part. The Hyundai i10 is a car which has been publicly lauded by various automobile magazines and also by auto forums. The i10 set the balls rolling for the entire i series in India. Since the time it was launched in 2007, the i10 has received significant updates both to its looks as also the engine department. It was supposed to be a replacement for the hugely successful Hyundai Santro, however, that didn’t happen and both the cars sell side by side. Many buyers would flock to the i10 as a first car (will seem a contradiction to the earlier statements but it isn’t) but then would that many check out the i10 when it is in the used car market? Read on to know more.
For the exteriors, watch out for the moisture seeping into the head and also tail lamps. earlier i10 cars had this problem wherein there was a small gap between the head lamps as also the tail lamps and this caused easy access to moisture which fouled with the lights. Replacing them is a real pain due to the expenses involved. Other than that check for the uneven tread pattern in the tyres. Even if one of the tyres is bald or has given up the ghost, then the entire other three tyres would also have to replaced simultaneously. Though the exact reason for this was never known, Hyundai recommends doing it. Now, that is something which would definitely be on the minds of buyers of used Hyundai i10 cars. Lookout for evidences of shunt and substance. The i10 as also rest of the Hyundai cars have bumpers which are real expensive to replace. The paint quality is an excellent piece of work and should remain so with proper care.
In the interiors, the i10 is the best built and spacious in its class. It has got the light beige interiors, which though stain easily and are a pain to clean up, are a nice fixture. The dashboard mounted gear lever also liberates lots of space inside the cabin. The interiors don’t get old too easily and even for a well maintained 2007 Hyundai i10, they would definitely seem to be on the better side of things. However, it has been duly noticed that in most of the Hyundai i10 as also i20 cars, there is a steering rattle present. Unofficial reports say that for the cars produced from 01/07/2008 till 18/8/2009, for the VIN 124027 – 417500, this problem needs to be rectified by Hyundai for free. It is a known issue, however, not many dealers would readily accept it. But then a few threats of emailing Hyundai top brass would do the trick. It so happens that fixing urethane pads under the steering wheel yoke does the trick. Do take the car out for a spin and see if there is a rattle coming from the left side of the steering wheel. Ask the owner if it has been previously attended to at the Hyundai service center. If not and if the car is still in warranty, then get it done for free. Moreover, some of the i10’s also had a problem with the AC unit and it often gives a bad smell. Do checkout if the i10 that you are planning to buy has this problem. If it does, then you are looking a replacing the compressor piston at Rs 17k. Another giveaway would be a humming noise in the AC compressor. This can also be attributed to the same thing.
The suspension components need to be checked for any wear and tear, however most of the suspension components are sturdy enough for the regular driving conditions. The regulars like checking the wheel alignment and also the tendency of the car to pull into one side should also checked. Boot space is on the lower side though, but its to be expected from a car of this size.
As for the engine, the i10 underwent 3 engine changes and a facelift. Out of all these, the latest gen Fluidic one wouldn’t be available and would be a hard find. The 1.1 liter 66 Bhp unit is borrowed from the Epsilon family of engines, which is even used by the Santro. Next up is the Kappa engine which is a 1.2 liter unit putting out 79 Bhp. The third one is the Kappa2 engine which, as far as we have seen, is yet to hit the second hand car market. All the three engines are generally trouble free units and it is best that they be given a glance over by some technician from Hyundai directly. Expect fuel efficiency to be overall in the 15 kmpl range for given any engine type. The Kappa engine is the more preferred of the lot due to its enthusiastic nature as also responsiveness. NVH is also the lowest in its class and Hyundai has done good to ensure that it stays throughout the life of the car. Any unusual noises should be checked for immediately.
Hyundai’s service backup is second only to Maruti and this ensures that a peace of mind follows that you are buying a quality product with a good backup by its manufacturer. There is a fly in this ointment though and it is the service intervals which Hyundai recommends for this product. 6 months or 5k kms, the i10 requires a servicing. Now, that is too short considering that the VW Polo and other products barely require a 15k kms or 1 year service. As for the prices, a second hand Hyundai i10 price in India would be Rs 4 lakhs for a 2010 edition with the Kappa engine. For the earlier 2008 model, the price is Rs 3.2 lakhs. The Magna O variant or even the Sportz for that matter present the best value for money proposition and some models even come with ABS and airbags. Look out for these units as, even though initially, they may be expensive, in the longer run or for better safety, they are invaluable.
The gearshift quality in the i10 is the best in this class. It is also on the small cars to offer an auto transmission. The 4 speed auto variant would also be a hard find in a used car market. More or less, it would be available for a Rs 50k premium over the other models. Servicing charges, however, tend to be on the higher side and don’t expect Maruti like cheaply priced spare parts as well. Engine oil will cost Rs 800, oil filter would go for Rs 86 while the air filter would cost around Rs 230. Labor charges are Rs 1,325 per service and this comes to about Rs 3k per service. Expensive for a small car considering that the Honda Civic goes through a routine service and would be charged only Rs 3.5k.
