RPM gauges are overrated. They are useless in automatics and pretty useless in manuals (if you ears function). I'd much rather have an oil temp, oil level and oil pressure reading.
This channel is probably the most original in the YT car review sphere atm. I love the late 80s-early 2000s car content. I'm getting tired of the wow let's review this brand new car no one can afford because of dealer markups and release the video on the same exact day as everyone else. You're finding the hidden gems and forgotten relics from the golden ages of affordable fun cars and bringing them to light. Great work!
This channel is so underrated, the cars I used to make fun of as a kid for being complete junkers I now love seeing on the road and this channel showcases those cars. I feel this channel is a more straight forward version of Regular Car Reviews, minus the deep rants about life and farts
funny thing is I found this channel after watching B Channel which also review cars that newest and latest to those almost forgotten existence , RU-vid algorithm understands what I'm looking for
The snowflake is the A/C! I know only because I ha do one for my first car. Mine was a 1990 and had the same snowflake. 4 speed auto and power moonroof too! Fancy!
I had a 1988 Hyundai Excel GLS 4 doors hatchback as my first car that I purchased when I was 15 years old back in 1998. The snowflake button you mentioned that is located on the right hand side of the steering wheel is the air condition function. Despite my Hyundai came with air condition, the engine would over heat when I turned on that function.
I bought a 1991 Hyundai Excel from a coworker for $1 since the transmission was bad. Swapped in another transmission and replaced the front lower ball joint’s. I sold it for $900. It had a very sweet Mitsubishi engine in it.
My dad bought a 1991 CXL new for 10k - bloody thing was sold to a wreckers with 377k on it - two clutch slaves and a 5spd trans (around 200k) and it wasn't even that rusted when it was scrapped in 1999. He bought it because his previous car, a 1987 Pony, was so reliable. The Excel surpassed it in mileage, but it needed more funds to get there. The Pony was a stronger car. And RWD.
Brings back memories. My dad had one of these. He kept it very well kept up and at one point took the whole motor apart and rebuilt it. Got 300k miles on it.
7:08 Proton (a join venture between Mitsubishi and the Malaysian government) had struck a deal with Malcolm Bricklin to import the Saga (a rebadged Lancer) into the US. But let's just say the higher ups at Mitsubishi weren't happy about it as Chrysler was already selling the Lancer as the Dodge/Plymouth Colt so having a 3rd Lancer based model in the US would create problems for Chrysler's existing partnership with Mitsubishi so the export deal was eventually called off
You're reviewed the rarest 80's small car ever. I really surprised this car is still alive and runs really great. Thank you for explaining my absolute dream car. You helped studying me.
I just love what a nugget this little car is. I CRIED because of laughing about that tachometer that said Hyundai instead of doing anything. Great work!
I remember when these came out in 1985. It was so popular that Mitsubishi rebadged these as the Précis and sold them also. Surprised you found a running base model hatchback. I haven’t seen one on the road for many years.
My Mom bought a brand new one in 89. Their promotion was a free Timex watch and the sales rep gave it to a 9yr old me at the time. Lasted us through 10 Canadian winters until salt won the battle. On ours their was a digital clock to replace the Hyundai badge on the dash. Still remember the orange backlight.
I will NEVER Forget!!! In the wake of the infamous Rodney King high-speed chase, l.a.p.d. spokesperson said, and I quote: "Rodney King was traveling at 115 miles per hour down (such and such) freeway." Very next day, Hyundai spokesperson said: "That's ImPossible! Our cars cannot Go That Fast!"!!!!!
Hyundai still terrible, they're just able to dress it up much better these days, there's a reason Hyundai/Kia give a 10 year warranty, it's not from the goodness of their hearts, that's for sure.
Some vintage Korean auto industry fun facts: Before the Hyundai pony, shinjin motors was the largest car manufacturer in Korea, they made Toyota models like corona and crown. Hyundai owned a professional baseball team called the Hyundai unicorn until 2007. Kia was a bicycle and motorcycle company before it made cars (used Honda motors) and before they were bought by Hyundai. They still own a baseball team the Kia tigers. The Hyundai excel was in the lyrics of a notorious b.I.g. Song.
Hyundai also made CKD kits for Ford. Much of the Pony's (and Stellar's) running gear comes from it. I've got Cougar rims on my Pony, same bolt pattern.
@@the_kombinator the mid 90s Ford Aspire is Korean made. Partnership with Kia and ford. This was before Hyundai owned Kia and before Kia entered the US market
The Ioniq 5 is supposed to vaguely resemble the Pony, but I truly think it looks more like the Excels from the late 80s and early 90s. Learned to drive in a 93 Excel. Loved that little thing.
Hey Zack, gotta say you seem to have the best videos for slightly obscure hard to find vehicles that brings back a TON of nostalgia, so much so that you just earned yourself a new subscriber. Now I don’t want to be “that guy” lol but I do want to point out one little thing. This Hyundai actually does have air conditioning. That little snowflake button on the right side pod is the A/C button. Now it more than likely isn’t operational anymore, and if so you are correct in the car not having A/C lol, but this at least at one point did have air conditioning. I’m not so sure anyone else will notice this but just wanted to let you know. I can tell you are one that really likes these 80s and 90s cars just as much (or possibly even more lol) than I do, and the more we can share and learn about these good ‘ol gems the better Take care
Most cars didn't have cupholders until well into the 90's. The closest thing to cupholders in many vehicles (Ford, for example) were small cup-sized depressions molded into the back of the glovebox door (which laid flat when opened) - these were only usable when parked (or a drive-in theater), as anything placed there would fall over.
I had an 02 Hyundai Scoupe Turbo. I swapped a 4G43 into it with the FWD gearbox out of a Plymouth Laser. The 4G63 swaps into the Hyundai Scoupe and Excel
Owned this for about six years and it turned out to be one of the best cars I ever owned -- not nearly as good as the 2008 Corolla i've owned for 16 years, but still good with minimal repairs. I remember I liked the turning radius -- perfect for U turns on relatively narrow streets.
Believe it or not, the "Hyundai" logo blank panel where the tach would be was quite common back then on base model cars; this was true for my 1987 Nissan pickup truck and many other vehicles I've either ridden in or owned from that time period. VW's approach on the MKII Jettas and Golfs was to insert a tach-sized analog clock right next to the speedometer! It was ridiculous. Also, that "HYUNDAI" blank in the dead center of the dash was for an optional digital clock.
Oh god, that “you didn’t pay enough for a tach” gauge cluster… the Nissan hardbody could come like that too. No automaker would be bold enough to give the customer a middle finger like that, and I could never buy a car with something like that.
I don't understand? What use is a tochometer? You have ears. And in an automatic they are useless anyway. Most cars have them, but I don't understand why. I would trade it in for anything oil related (oil pressure gauge, oil level or oil temp).
Should have bought a Pony. My dad had one, 350k, not many problems. I have 4 of them now, and honestly, dead easy to fix the few times they do break down.
I nearly bought a brand new 1987 Hyundai Pony, but there was so much demand, the wait was just too long. I ended up buying a used 1981 Corolla which ended up being a great car. I did eventually buy a brand new 1991 Excel SE which was cheap and reliable and served me until 1998. I payed $9995 for it.
Damn, my dad bought a 1987 Pony new for like 6 grand. Lasted forever. He liked it so much he bought a 1991 Excel CXL, decent in its own right. Ponys are awesome because RWD. I have one with a body kit, larger brakes, and a 4G63 motor underhood.
I would love to have a brand new car just like this, only better quality, and A/C, because I live in Phoenix, AZ. It doesn't need anything else. I drove air cooled VW Bugs for decades, but they don't have A/C, and I have reached the age where I can no longer do without it. I absolutely love small, 2 door, very basic cars with manual transmissions. I love the fact that it's carbureted, I don't want any computers in my cars. I am currently driving a 1972 Ford Pinto woodgrain wagon, with a fairly new engine, 4 speed transmission, and mostly new steering, brake, and suspension parts, along with aftermarket A/C. Hyundai used to make cars, even if they weren't really great cars. Now they just make computers on huge ghetto wheels with no tires. You couldn't give me one, unless I could sell it and keep the money.
I had a 74 2.0 Pinto only had 15k miles. I had to get it tuned, decel valve, carb rebuild. It was due to nostalgic as a kid. My mom had a yellow 74 Squire. I sold it to buy my wife a ring. I have to say it was title slow, even as a manual. But I would love a 71-73 wagon. Add some headers, exhaust, etc. Leaving it other wise completely stock.
Nice that someone thought to keep and preserve a 1988 Hyundai Excel. I haven't seen one in years. Being in Canada, we got the antiquated Pony and Stellar. I had a 1985 Hyundai Pony "Plus" 1600 GLS. The "Plus" was in the price, lol. Compared to a Yugo, or that poverty model spec'd Excel, it was quite luxurious and also had a Mitsubishi (as well as Ford) lineage.
I drove one of these. It was called "Pony" here in Europe. A five speed. It was my father's car. I remember it being NOT involving you with the driving in any way shape or from. It was also NOT very economical. Whatever you did, you got 25 mpg, which for an economy car, manual 5 speed, is bad. On the other hand, it had no real downsides and it was reliable. The highlight were the seats. I drove 500 miles in one day, and no problem. I don't remember why my father traded it in after 120.000 miles. I think he wanted an automatic at his old age.
The GL model had an analog clock where the tach would be. GLS and GS had the tachometer. Then in the center where the Hyundai badge is, you would have gotten a digital clock. Those buttons on the sides would have also included the rear wiper on one and washer on another. We had an 89 GL 5 door hatchback, wasn't too bad but you sure didn't want to pull out in front of anyone, especially when you activated that snowflake. Lol
My grandmother bought a brand-new Excel in 1993, which was the updated (rounded off, slightly modernized, fuel injected) version of this car; This thing was an ABSOLUTE STRIPPED-DOWN example; no a/c, no power options, no stereo, and a four speed on the floor. Everyone gave her hell for buying this thing - even her nine-year old grandson (me!). The joke was on us, though - the car lasted eight years, 80,000 miles before the transmission case cracked when my uncle slammed it into a parking lot barrier. In all, it was the most reliable car she ever owned...
This brings back childhood memories. I remember riding in one with a friend to school who’s mother had one. I loved riding it and told my mom I wanted her to buy one. My friend’s mom had the 5 door hatchback version.
These cars were not built to be saved. They weren't built to last much beyond the warranty period. There's really no collector value in them unless you're assembling a collection of late 80s shitboxes. And yet, this one survived. Just goes to show how much Hyundai has improved. I had no idea Proton tried to sell cars here. Reading Wikipedia, Malcolm Bricklin brought a few over but they didn't pass emissions standards and the whole deal was quickly terminated. It too was based on an old Mitsubishi.
Oh you're going to need to come to Canada and try and find a Hyundai Pony as we got the Pony in the mid 80's then the Stellar towards the late 80's before Hyundai entered the American market in the late 80's, assuming there are any left that someone maintained. They tended to get used up and there are virtually none around anymore. Based on rarity, you're more likely to see a Countach up here in Canada than a 80's Hyundai!
I was 11 when these hit the street in America. Absolutely awesome automobile that took more of a beating than a ford eacort or dodge omni ever could . $ 3,995.00 no haggle price
I can't remember the last time I saw one of these. They used to be all over the place. I'm surprised nobody mentioned this car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro.
I wish I would have found this video when it was originally released. I reached driving age just as these cars were released. Something misspoken is when the car received a 5 speed manual. They always had that available from day one. You're driving the base model in this car, and it had zero frills. This could be had in 3 and 5 door hatchback models. The 1989 model year did finally bring the 4 door sedan into the base trim. The mid level trip was given a GL badge on the back. Bumpers became body color, the 5 speed manual was standard, and a 3 speed automatic became an option, Where that blank is on the left side of the cluster, an analog clock would occupy the slot. If the anemic AC was added, that blank button by the snowflake label is where the switch to turn it on and off would go. A rear wiper was also added to the GL trim, which would occupy a couple of the blank spots on the left side of the cluster. The seats were full cloth in front, and vinyl on the back. GL trim also allowed you to spec a 4 door sedan. If you wanted to be fancy, you would spec the GLS trim which gave you the nicest interior, a tach on the left of the cluster, a digital clock in the center of the dash, and a silver grille in front. You also received fancier hubcaps or could spec for alloy wheels. 1988 Also brought the GS model for the hatchback version like you were driving. It came in a select couple of colors, a body colored grille, decal badging, and highly bolstered front seats of their own style. There is way more detail that can be put into the four trim models and the differences between the four model years the car ran. Every year received small enhancements that gave them the ability to be identified each model year visually. 1986 had a big black egg crate grill surrounding squared sealed beams. 87 brought the two piece grill insert and the halogens like this one. The 3 speed automatic also gained a lockup torque convertor. The silver grill that year also sported the GL trim. 1987 also had a one time run of an SE trim model that evolved to the GS the following year for the hatchbacks. 1988 saw the front grille get a cosmetic change, and the cars go to all red taillights. 1989, the final year for the first gen car, saw the return of a one piece grill, that was black on the base, and body color on the GL, GLS, and GS trim cars. Interior content remained pretty consistent all four years. Mitsubishi actually rebadged these cars for a couple of years as the Precis. I'd love for one of these in the mid or top trim to show up at my house. I to this day, have a soft spot for these back in the day, terrible little cars. People viewed them as disposable transportation, and treated them accordingly. This is why they're virtually extinct in the world.
On the "Cars that make sense commercial" - the narrator is Fred Gwynne - Herman Munster/Judge on My Cousin Vinny actor. The rebadged Corolla was sold as a Chevy Nova. It was built in a NUMMI plant in California, which was jointly owned by Toyota and GM. The plant later produced the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix and eventually was sold to Tesla. This car sold because it was almost as cheap as the Yugo (an old Fiat Design imported from Yugoslavia), but a much better car - hard to believe. The next version of the Excel plummeted in sales - probably due to reputation, and Hyundai almost didn't make it here.
My uncle had a 92 with a 5 speed.. i remember the battery hold down breaking on my way home from the beach and having to jam a flipflop under the hood to keep the battery from grounding out on the hood.
My 1989 was the same color but mine had the tachometer and boot around my shifter and my tail lights were all red plus mine came with nice wheels and a sun roof, loved my little car and drove it for several years
I learned to drive in this exact car. it was a GL model. my mom got it used in 1993. Automatic and it had A/C and an analog clock where the RPM gauge should be. We fit a freakin riding mower in the back of that thing one time 🤣 The original stereo was a Panasonic and it was a decent stereo with a tape deck. Even though it was a cheap ass car it was a step up from the plane jane K car we had before that. it had AC, bucket seats AND a tape deck! what luxuries lol
Growing in the 80s and 90s I remember the Hyundai Excel X1 and X2 people forget they're basically a re-skinned Mitsubishi Mirage/Lancer from the 80s. Hyundai is an industrial power house that makes ships, locomotives/rail cars, etc so it was only a matter of time before they would be able to engineer their own cars without help from Mitsubishi. It is good to see an Excel X1 still on the road most of them got used up and thrown away in the mid 90s.
My supervisor in the Air Force had one and it rarely ran. But for $10,000 you could buy the new Hyundai Scope that came with keyless entry, power sunroof, power windows locks, and sporty two door. They looked pretty good but tell me the last time you saw on one the road in the United States? And many people I talk with have never heard of the Scoupe. I would like to see that car on the channel. If you can find one. They sold a lot to military troops here in the US. (Made from 1988-1995)
I'm so glad to see this kind of car in America. It's a car that's almost gone in Korea. Also, I can't imagine old cars moving around because Korea changes cars so fast. These days, 2000 cars are almost disappearing
I can tell Zach isn’t old enough to realize the tach/analog clock position and that the car is equipped with AC. I turn 33 in a few days and I remember my parents 87 Excel GL vividly.
One of my neighbors in the late 90s when I was a child had one just like it. It was crashed in the front. He kept driving it. One day it caught on fire.
Bought my 3(st) car in May of this year, the Veloster. I love the weird, chimera like character of the thing. Would totally rock a 4 door version of the Excel.
This reminds me of our 2005 Hyundai Sonata. But somewhere between modern, and old, like the Excel. The Sonata is nice, it's like a go-kart. Not very good build quality, but janky and fun.
This was my first car back in the 2000’s. Mine was not able to get up to 55mph. The fastest I ever got my excel was 40mph going downhill with a back wind. I remember the back passenger side tire blew out and I didn’t discover that until I got out of the car at home.
The Excel and the Yugo were sold as such in the United States. I never even heard of a Proton because it never was sold in the United States as such. Upon investigating, I found that the Proton was known as the Dodge / Plymouth Colt in the United States. It was only known as the Proton in Malaysia and the United Kingdom. Nice way to get us thinking Zach. Also, Veh-lah-stir.... not Veh-lahs-sitter
Hyundai had Mitsubishi to thank or to blame for the engine! Not only a back seat, but THREE LAP BELTS! I wonder how often three people sat in the back seat (and how old they were). When did cup holders begin to become a thing? I have the impression they started as a Mopar minivan feature, but I don’t whether that is accurate.
I drove a mirror image of this car, even the same color, a couple of times when I was dating a girl in 1988, whose dad bought her a new one. My car at the time was an ‘87 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R so when we occasionally took her car, I was just blown away at what a pile of garbage it was. Fast forward 40 years and we just bought my wife an Ionic five which is hands-down one of the most amazing vehicles I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned a lot.
@@the_kombinator chassis suspension brakes engine. Transmission. And mitsu sold it as the mitsu precis. Yes the body bla blabla. But even the first scoupe was using a sht load of mitsu parts. Lol.
I am in Canada and owned 1986 Hyundai Pony back 30 years ago the worst P.O.S. car i ever drove nothing but bad memories so you guys in USA got lucky that you have missed it.
No! Sorry sir for your slight misunderstanding of the first US sold Hyundai Excel in the United States! It was actually 1st sold in 1984-1985! I remember this car when it was brand new!
I think these were the first car that were new in my lifetime that completely disappeared. Like none of them were around after say.....95 or 96? These things just disintegrated.
the 1986 Hyundai Excel and the Yugo nowhere fast were the cheapest car you could buy at the time the Hyundai was retailed for $4995 I don't remeber what the Yugo sold for
Been there, done that, got the T shirt. Worst two years. Got it new in 88 and traded if for a new Camry in 90. Always buy quality and never buy a Hyundai.
That car came out along with the Stellar, in high school that was my friends first car, and they were a piece of rolling garbage, cheaper than cheap. Hyundai has come a long was since, but it’s hard to give their cars any respect when remembering their output.
I retired a 1987 Stellar CXL in 2016 after 10 years of owning it (it was a free car). I think (with a replacement 4G64 engine and KM132 widebody Starion 5spd trans) that car cost me $3,000 to run. That's $300 a year. And I put 100k on it. And I wasn't particularly kind to it. Took me to Long Island from Toronto more times than I want to count. Great highway car, 0.6 OD gear was perfect for cruising at 75 at 2,600 RPM. I have a 2005 Sonata, and I find it has a lot in common with the Stellar.
I'm in Australia and owned a 1992 Hyundai excel hatchback and payed $3000 Aussie dollars for it in 2003 and did 50 thousand kilometers in it then got a 1997 excel and I had that from 97 thousand kilometers to when it was hit and written off with 210 thousand kilometers Hyundai is more reliable than my current 2012 Ford focus that only has 80,000 kilometers and has had many problems.
You paid 3 grand for a 10 year old Hyundai? Damn son, I never paid more than $1,500 for any Hyundai. Or actually, any car. The one I currently have cost me $1200 (05 Sonata) and before that I paid $600 for an X2 Accent, sold it for more than I bought it for. And I've had about 12 Ponys (still have 4). Hell, I even got a free 1987 Stellar that I put 100K on in 10 years. Is that normal pricing there on the other end of the planet?
was this car marketed as Pony in Canada? anyways, saw these cars all the time in the late 80s. Did not embarrass themselves in the sea of other econo boxes
remember looking at one and test driving it in 93 as a used car am pretty sure there was no muffler left acceleration was non existent decided to soend more for a civic
