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Bought a used Hyundai Santa Fe V6 AWD as my first car in Canada

17th July 2022, 13:06 by Dev Shah

This car feels so big inside! With the middle row seats folded, two people can easily sleep together.

BHPian Sangwan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

How it all started:

Being an international student in Canada, one of the things which a "student" does is buy a used car and it is usually the one like Honda Civic or Accord, or Toyota Corolla or Camry or something cheaper, reliable and easy on gas but whoever have went overseas knows what I mean. With this post I am trying to help out my fellow overseas readers if they are in the same dilemma as I was and might reduce the headache which one goes through when buying a used car and hope it will surely help if you go in for a Hyundai Santa Fe.

The curious case of credit history and sales tax:

One thing which I feel is one should take his/her own decision and just go with a gut feeling and be done with it. Will save a lot of time; but we are humans and this isn't possible we have to double check and in order to make the best informed decision you ask for advice and then it is just tons of confusion with little useable advice.

I have great friends and I believe I am very lucky to have them even here with me. My original plan was to just buy a used car all in cash and just enjoy the ride but some of my friends suggested I should apply for financing and buy used but low on kms and with "today's" features. Being used to the cars back home, there wasn't much heart in buying something like 15-20 years old as that's what fitted in my budget (more on that later). Got in touch with various used car dealerships and the regular dealerships, wasted many days trying to find something nice which won't be high on EMIs, will be reliable and the result was the following:

2012 Honda Civic costing about $12,000+fees+taxes (tax is at 12%) : Low kms for its age, clean, silver in color. Loved it but couldn't get it financed as it was more than 8 years old. And here in Canada, a car which is more than 8 years old doesn't get financed.
2017 Kia Forte about $17,000+fees+taxes(tax is at 12%) : Absolutely mint. Only 45,xxx Kms on the odometer and just loaded with all the gadgets for example, TCS, Blind spot monitoring, heated seats, heated steering wheels you name it, it was a really nice car.
2016 Toyota Camry about $19,000+fees+taxes(tax is at 12%): 122,xxx Kms on odo. Clean, SE trim so the regular features but not as much as the Kia.
2019 Mazda 3 about $23,000+fees+taxes(tax is at 12%): 23,xxx Kms on odo. Clean, all the regular features but again not as much as the Kia.

There was a 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer AWD too it was with a used car dealership. really nice, drove well and I loved it right in first sight but $15,000 for the car with fees and taxes extra.

The reason for going to the finance way was to make a credit history but you need a credit score to get financed and you can make credit score only when you finance something. Go figure.

I already had a feeling being a banker that I won't get through but still tried thinking may be someone can charge me higher interest rate and I can start making some credit score. So, tried at some places not like a lot but enough where I had chance but that didn't happen as I had no financial record here in Canada. So, finally cash option it was going to be. And now since I was not financing anything I already had made up a list about must haves in my first used car:

It should be either a 4WD or AWD.
Should be of a reliable nature i.e. not high maintenance bills.
Should have clean interiors as I saw a fare share of dirty cars. I still keep on thinking how can people keep cars in such bad shape.
Shouldn't be 15-20 years old. No matter how well a car was kept and what brand it is, if it is that low there are pretty high chances that some major repair might pop up.
Must have at least Bluetooth functionality.
Must be less than 200,000 Kms. Ideally should be around 150,000 Kms. With the kind of budget I had and how hot the car market was, there was no way I would have found something less than 100,000 Kms.
Should be a clean looking vehicle from outside/inside with clean title and it can have regular scratches but not some major eyesore.
Would be really nice if it was in black color.

So, with the above criteria I went to all the usual websites such as FB Marketplace, Autotrader, Kijiji and started making lists. The first hurdle I faced was there wasn't many cars to look at because of my criteria and also the ridiculous prices of used cars. So, I made an adjustment that I will let go the odometer readings and then start looking at the options I have. This move paid off and I made a list of 30 cars which were all located in the Vancouver region either with the dealerships/private sellers. Sent that list to family and everybody gave their opinion on it. My list had the following cars:

2006-2008 Ford Escape
2007-2011 Hyundai Santa Fe
2003-2004 Nissan Pathfinder (Yes its almost 20 years old but more on it later)
20010-2012 Dodge Journey
2005-2007 Subaru Impreza

There were other options too like Nissan Morena or Kia Sportage but they never fancied me. The vehicle in the majority was Ford Escape and I loved its boxy design (the newer ones are not nice in looks IMHO) and talked to many people who were the current owners and they were happy with the Escape and I read about it over the internet about the common issues and found out that the 2008 model had cost cutting done, like the rear brakes were not Discs anymore. And when I was looking owing to the market conditions, the listings were coming and going so soon that it was kind of hard to decide which vehicle to see first because all the Escapes in my list were more than 200,000 kms and were almost the same price.

I would like to specially talk about one vehicle although it was rejected by my family owing to being really old and having high mileage; the vehicle was Nissan Pathfinder. Everyone has a liking to a car that you just like and no matter how wrong it might be to others but you just feel that this is the car and for me like in India it is the Fortuner and here when there is a ton of options to choose from but with the budget I had set I felt really happy whenever I saw a Nissan Pathfinder especially the 2003-04 model. In my list was a 2003 white Pathfinder. Below is the google image to show you which model I am talking about.

Source: Google Images

Read everything about it and turned out it is a super reliable vehicle too. There really wasn't anything wrong going to happen with this one but it was just really old. Its 2022 and so it was a 19 years old vehicle. But if it just up to me would have bought this one.

So, after discussing with my folks and reading about all the cars on the list I zeroed in on a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. It was with a private seller. Looked clean and had only 168,129 Kms on the odometer. Also with the private seller there are both pros and cons. Pros being that I won't be paying dealership fees, the tax on purchase can be saved but the biggest con is that you have to really make sure the car is ok I mean you can go to the mechanic shop get it inspected but then for that too owing to Covid you need to get appointment and what not. But I had a gut feeling and with my interaction with the owner that it was a good car. I thought this is the car which I will check first and if its not what it seems then I will move to cars which are near to me. But fortunately I didn't had to go anywhere else after seeing the Santa Fe.

So, lets talk about my 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe:

Price: $9620 or approximately INR 5,77,000 (After paying taxes).
Engine: 3.3L V6 (Yay!)
Odometer: 168,129 Kms
Drivetrain: AWD
Transmission: Auto
Bluetooth Functionality: Yes
Clean Interiors: Yes
Clean Exteriors: Yes
Extra Features: Nice sound system, heated front seats, huge space with and without rear seats folded and full size spare wheel.
Fuel Efficiency: getting 9-10 Kmpl till date.

Some more pics:

Initial Impressions:

After driving around for almost 800 kms these are my observations and it can be totally different for everyone and also I am not an expert so its just how I feel:

The gas pedal is very sensitive. I don't know if its just mine or its the same with the rest of the Santa Fe's as well but it is really sensitive. If I press it really hard then it just jumps and then that will affect the fuel efficiency as well but on the plus side it is super-duper fun and I mean it. When you really press it then you feel this thrust, you're pushed back into your seat and the sound; oh man the sound which comes is just awesome!
Excellent visibility all around. Well it is not as commanding as the jacked up pick up trucks and also the manually adjustable height also helps.
Ride is on the firmer side. The Canadian road structure is definitely better than our Indian roads so I wonder how will it feel back home but here I definitely felt its not soft but on the firm side.
Average is really great considering its a V6 and have that super sensitive throttle. My friend owns a 2019 Camry and we are seeing just 6.8-9 KMPL on the MID so compared to him I am really happy with my purchase. But more accurate figures will go once I use the car more.
It is really easy to work on I read few forums and watched videos on the maintenance and I feel it can be a great car to learn things and also the engine bay is having enough space so it doesn't feel cumbersome and you're at ease with your tools.
It definitely needs some detailing. The previous owner kept it in a good shape but I still feel much more can be done. I am hopeful that I will bring this car very close to its original glory.
The steering feels heavier and there is just a bit of body roll but nothing of concern.
This car feels so big inside! With the middle row seats folded two people can easily sleep together. There is a storage compartment in the boot area. I have already bought a big tv, a tv stand, all of my luggage in this car so I feel really happy that it can haul big things easily.

For a 2010 year car, the Bluetooth functionality, sound system, connectivity to phone, heated front seats having controls on the steering etc. It feels really loaded, but I really miss the rear view camera and will probably add it in the coming months.

Clean Interiors:

Wooden trim for the first time in any car that I have owned:

Heated seats:

It is safe. It is having all disc brakes, traction control and airbags everywhere.

Now the bad stuff:

Like I mentioned earlier it needs a bit of detailing to get rid of small scratches all over the surface which is expected from a 12 year old car. But there are some other things which needs a little bit attention:

This is a weird one. So all the four doors have these rubber beadings all over them and I have seen them on other Santa Fes as well which is good as it prevents the doors from getting their paints chipped but it has also taken out the paint from the body of vehicle. These pics will show you what I mean:

The previous owner told me how the left outer tail light is a having a leak and water seeps in and its really easy to take out the light and throw out the accumulated water.

There is a dent below the outer left tail light. So, will need to take care of that as well:

A small crack on the front side of the bumper

The rear right door on the inside have a small cut on the interior. What can be done about it?

The wiper blades including the rear one needed to be changed (which I already did).

Upgrades planned for the future and help from fellow Bhpians:

I am no expert and I still have tons of stuff to learn so I have already started reading about the maintenance and changes to the audio system, but the following are things I need/want for my Santa Fe:

Tools for servicing it at home. I would like to know what budget friendly jacks I can use in order to make sure I am safe when I am under the car and it can easily do its job. The next service is due at 170,500 kms.
Upgrade the infotainment system to the current standards. I still have a lot to learn about it, I am particularly concerned about the Bluetooth functionality. Also, would love your thoughts on connecting the wires and stuff; like what would I need to keep them together using other methods instead of using manual connections and taping them. Soldering?
Putting a rear and front dashcam and also a rear view camera. Is it possible to add parking sensors as well?
Replace that leaking tail light. It really spoils the look of the car at night. And I also felt the inner left tail light needs replacement too. It looks fine during the day but at night there is a difference in the clarity of the lamps when left and right sides are compared.
The brake pads needs to be replaced. Will get those done at the next service.
The right license plate bulb wasn't working so I replaced it but I need this clip/rubber washer so that the other screw can be in its place. Any ideas where can I get one? Home Depot? Canadian Tire?

The rear license plate holder on the left side is kind of free. Like it needs a rubber washer at the bottom so that it doesn't rotate when I put the screw in. Where can I get this washer? and should I take this whole thing out and put a new one on the left side? I am a bit confused about what should be the right course.

The previous owner had toddlers and so do I and which has led to some spills inside the car and the rest of the area is clean but there are stains on the fabric of the seats. It doesn't smell or anything but it is an eyesore to me so any idea what can be used on them to get these stain out?

What's next?

At least till now I am really happy with my purchase. I plan to keep this thread alive and a document everything important so that anyone who plans to get one can be at ease and can work on his/her own as we all know how costly the labor is. I am going to try to do work on it as much as I can and also try to keep this for longer period as long as it doesn't keep on asking for repairs on regular basis.

I thank you for taking your time and going through this thread and will make sure I keep on added more data to this thread. Signing off with more pics of the Santa Fe.

Vancouver from Lionsgate bridge:

Friend having a go at it on the first day of purchase:

I just love how it looks, wish I had found it in black color but this one is growing on me:

With my friend's 2019 Toyota Camry:

Service updates:

Date: May 9, 2022

Cost: CA$ 44.80

Odometer Reading: 1,70,670 KMs

It was a regular oil change and not even the air filter was replaced as it was fine. The brake pads needed replacement but the mechanic said they will do till next service.

Date: July 4, 2022

Cost: CA$ 800.00

Odometer Reading: 1,74,250 KMs

This service's bill was the second most expensive bill I had in my life. The first one was of my Triumph Street Twin but it was all covered under insurance unfortunately that wasn't the case this time. As mentioned earlier the brake pads had to be changed and lately the braking wasn't really confidence inspiring. I was planning to use these old pads till the next service but couldn't wait any longer as with everyday the urge to get them replaced grew. Bought few service items from Canadian Tire:

Front Brake Pads Part Number: #MMX1432
Rear Brake Pads Part Number: #MMX1439
Cabin Air Filter Part Number: #CF11664
Air Filter Part Number: #CA10881
Oil Filter Part Number: #CH10855

On arrival at the service station, after my turn came the chief mechanic told me that the rotors need to be replaced too as fitting new brake pads won't suffice and vehicle might shake a bit on braking. Like I said earlier I am not that knowledgeable with all mechanical bits so took his word and he showed me the new rotors and there was indeed a difference between the conditions. So, he got the rotors and I provided him with the rest of the service items. I am just curious how long in general the rotors last? or seeing the mileage on this car they have lasted enough?

We both smiled when I asked him about the bill and he told me the final amount, although there were different reasons behind our smiles

I had my son in my arms so couldn't take any pics during the service. Next time if I am alone I will try to take as many pics as possible. Next service is now due at 182,000 Kms.

Take on Santa Fe after more than 3 months of ownership:

It is spacious, feels very roomy and I am not finding it really comfortable to drive.
Excellent visibility but I sorely do miss reverse parking camera or at least parking sensors would be nice.
Excellent space management by Hyundai. I have hauled my best friends TV, suitcases, bags with my son and him with me and the Santa Fe just took everything in without any issue. Also have been to few tourist spots with other friends and even with child seat in place, two healthy adults can sit comfortably in the back seat.

Fuel consumption is now between 8.5-9.0 KMPL and I hope it will stay there because you just want to keep on pressing the gas pedal, the feeling is so special.
I haven't been able to visit any distant places with the Santa Fe owing to my studies and my son being small. Once he grows a little bit more I will try to pen down my experience with Santa Fe on long distance drives.
This color is growing on me with each passing day and it looks best when it is almost evening, then the car looks smashing.
Brakes now feel solid and at least for now everything is working as they are meant to be.
Santa Fe is being used by my wife and my best friend for getting their Canadian Driving License. It is covering a distance of around 260-320 Kms every week.
When it comes to headlights, the low beam throw is adequate but high beam throw is fantastic.
It is having Kumho Tires for now and they are new tires, the previous owner bought them and they have a lot of life left and they do their job but it is not confidence inspiring. They do spin sometimes when I am still and accelerate all of a sudden, don't know if it is the power of the car or the tires aren't that grippy. Lets see how they hold up in winters.
Purchased this Black Decker wireless vacuum cleaner for the interiors

I haven't been able to do any changes which I wanted to do as mentioned in the previous post owing to other commitments but in the coming months I will surely change that leaking light and get the car's infotainment unit updated.

After spending couple of months and having covered some distance one might think do I still think it was the best decision in the given circumstances? I have to say Yes not because it is my decision but because overall it is a great vehicle and I see more Santa Fes here compared to Tucson. If I had gotten it for a lesser amount then it would have been truly VFM but it is still a great buy. But and there is always a BUT, the 2003-04 Nissan Pathfinder still keeps on attracting me towards it. What a nice looking car!

Question for the reader:

Now as the car will be serviced at 182,000 Kms. Do I need to get something particularly checked? Because everything feels fine, its not leaking from anywhere and all the fluid levels are normal. Experts please let me know if I need to keep an eye on anything and I will make sure it get checked/done.

Parting with few more pics of the Santa Fe: