Achieving "Funlist" Status
The Hyundai Accent is on my list of "fun" cars. Included on that list is the Toyota Echo Hatchback, MINI Cooper S, Mitsubishi
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| The Hyundai Accent is on my list of "fun" cars, which also includes the Toyota Echo Hatchback, MINI Cooper S, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, and BMW M3. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
Lancer Ralliart, and BMW M3 (duh) just to name a few. Now, it's not every car that makes it into this elite mirth-provoking category, because there is a lot of tough competition, so I've established a list of criteria that any vehicle must have in order to make it to the final round. First, the car has to bring out the best in me, meaning, I smile constantly when behind the wheel and am proud to say that it is my vehicle of the week. Second, it needs to bring out the crazy side of me. It must motivate me to push my driving skills above and beyond, and in order to do this, I must feel that the vehicle is safe, reliable, stable and able to take whatever I put it through. Third, it must look cool. The
2005 Hyundai Accent 5 goes three-for-three.
The Korean manufacturer's Accent GSi became a title-holder in the "fun" category in 2003, with my road test of the 2004
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| The Accent comes with a standard five-speed manual transmission backing up the 1.6L, 16-valve, DOHC I-4 engine. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
model, so the all-new 2005 Accent 5 had quite a name to live up to. But it did not disappoint. First of all, being priced at only $15,670 (the base GL starts at $14,245), it definitely put a big smile on my face. Not only does it come with a standard five-speed manual transmission backing up the 1.6L, 16-valve, DOHC I-4 engine that creates 104 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 106 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm, it adds air conditioning, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, power windows and doors, keyless remote entry and an AM/FM/CD changer with four speakers and integrated MP3 player. All the features listed are part of the Comfort Pack for an extra $1,300, included in the price stated above. Talk about value.
