Attention Getting Style But Needs Some Tweaking
I'd never heard of the Veloster until we saw one on the lot in 2012. The bright blue color caught my eye not to mention the unique three door design. We got manual transmission so it's a fun car to drive, and it always attracts attention. I love to go to estate and garage sales, and people are always amazed at what I can fit into the Veloster, thanks to the hatchback and fold down seats. At first, I was a little worried about the lack of a spare tire but after six years, I don't even miss it now.
There are a couple things I wish Hyundai had designed differently, though. I owned a Hyundai Accent prior to owning the Veloster so I was used to being able to change light bulbs when they burned out. In the Veloster, I was dismayed to discover that replacing a burned out headlight cannot be done at home. What should cost just a few bucks for a bulb turns into $50+ because the dealer has to remove the front of the car in order to change bulbs! A burned out brake light can be replaced DIY - with a lot of effort and at risk of shattering the light cover (especially trying to do this outside during winter). Even after watching videos of people changing the brake light, I found it very difficult to take off the cover.
Having a key fob was a nice feature until the battery died. Even after replacing the battery, the fob no longer works. I discovered that the dealer must reprogram the fob, and that's another $70 or so. Forget it. I'll use the key the old fashioned way.
After six years, I've grown accustomed to using the side mirrors to compensate for the big blind spot. My husband dislikes driving the Veloster for this very reason.