 I originally leased my 2001 Elantra when new and bought it out. Still love the interior/exterior styling. Fuel economy is good for a car with a 2 litre engine but not great. Good handling for a car at this price point, but slightly ponderous at low speeds. Brakes could be better. Body hardware has held up very well. Resale value could be a little better, too.  Haven't needed any major repairs - just new brakes and tires 36 months in.  Overall, reliability has been excellent, flawless winter starts. Time will tell whether the car holds up as a used vehicle.  The Elantra is a worthy car and almost fully competitive with Honda, Toyota, et al. Buy one, you'll be happy.