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Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Hyundai Sonata Prices Paid and Buying Experience
6602 messages, Last post on Nov 08, 2009 at 1:38 PM
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I have a 02 Sonata GLS V6. Brought it brand new. The engineering and the quality of that thing did it for me. I'm looking for a replacement and although tempted by the good looks and the inexpensivenss of the brand, I am very reluctant in purchasing another one. Two incidents prompt me to look for the replacement: 1. Was driving on the interstate one day and hit a ice storm. Pulled over on the shoulder and parked (mistake: parked on an uphill). After salt truck came by and sprayed the salt, attempts to get back on the road were almost futile. Sat spining the wheel for about 10 minutes before getting a bit of traction (while other cars front and behind pulled out and away they went). Realized that traction on this vehicle was poor. 2. About 2 weeks ago, the temperature was below 0 and the wind was strong, sometimes up to 40 mph. The wind was blowing from the west. While driving southward Interstate 43 on a high rise, going less than 50 mph in a 55 mph zone, a gust of wind blew the vehicle sideway. I attempted to correct the vehicle by turning the wheel the other way and that started the fishtailing sequence on the freeway. Luckily no cars were around as we (wife and 6 months old baby) and the car were sliding all over 3 lanes. After what seemed like forever, I finally lost control and the vehicle began sliding backward. In slow motion, I was watching in horror at the median as the car kept on sliding toward it with the side where the baby in the carseat was situated. I still remembered that in panic I stomped on brakes and the wheel screeched. Luckily the car came to a complete stopped with the front facing the median. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw 3 lanes full of cars approaching. The thought of 'OMG what if they couldn't stop' came to mind. Fortunately they must have seen me did the little dance and the whole traffic flow came to rest about 5 yards away. Regaining my composure, I backed the car up a bit and started to drive down the interstate again, this time really slow and aimed for the very next exit, which was about 100 yards away. Sure enough another gust of wind came and gave me the sensation that the vehicle was going sideway again but this time no fishtailing. I was so glad to get off that freeway and made it home safely that day (going westward against the wind the rest of the trip home). The car had 1 year old all season tires and I am not an inexperiencd driver. So what gives? I guess it must be the crosswind stability which my Sonata lacks and this is due to the suspension engineering. So poor suspension + poor traction = shaken confidence in the product. Not to mention that 1) Power radio's antena made clunking sounds and now wouldn't go down completey (dealer fixed it at 58K under warranty and sure enough it failed again after 60K which is beyond the bumper to bumper warranty) 2) paints peeled off the door handles (all four) and again at 40K which is barely beyond the 36K for paint warranty 3) brake components' tendency to rust and 4) the well-known hard shifting of the auto transmission when cold. I take good care of all of my cars because I tend to keep them for as long as I can but I'm surprised at the low quality of Hyundais. I guess you get what you pay for. It's time to part with my Sonata soon and too bad b/c it is the first Hyundai that I wanted to give the brand a try but it will be my last Hyundai. Good luck with your Sonata.
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Replying to: smithw14 (Dec 28, 2008 7:22 pm) 2009 4 cyl Limited, w/PZEV engine - which in RI means Hyundai must provide a 15 year, 150,000 Emissions Warranty. With Nav and Voice Command (a feature worth more than they're charging, IMHO). With every available option, including carpet mats, all-weather mats, cargo mat, cargo net and even cargo tray (all weather tray). And all servicing included for the first 15,000 miles. Price: $19,989. Now that's what I call a Good Deal. {s}
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Replying to: milwaukeeguy1 (Dec 29, 2008 3:46 pm) Hmm, and what kind of tires did you have? What was the tread depth? To say it's the car's fault in this kind of situation seems rather ridiculous to me. Do you have an Auto or a Manual? Even a 4x4 with crap tires isn't going to go in ice. You spun the wheels? That means you melted and refroze the snow/ice you were on. I'm sure you didn't move and I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts your tires were shot. |
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Replying to: awriter (Dec 29, 2008 4:32 pm) 2009 4 cyl Limited, w/PZEV engine - which in RI means Hyundai must provide a 15 year, 150,000 Emissions Warranty. With Nav and Voice Command (a feature worth more than they're charging, IMHO). With every available option, including carpet mats, all-weather mats, cargo mat, cargo net and even cargo tray (all weather tray). And all servicing included for the first 15,000 miles. Price: $19,989. You didn't say what your sticker was. Using the info on Hyundai's site, I'm guessing around 26000. Your final price represented a 30% discount. My GLS with 5MT was 19500 and I paid 15050. A 29.5% discount. I'd say we negotiated with roughly the same end result. |
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Replying to: ellisda1 (Dec 14, 2008 7:07 am) My final negotiations involved Omar at Johnson Hyundai in Cary, NC and Lee at Bob Dunn. Overall, both were very good to deal with. Omar was very personable, knowledgeable, and was not high-pressure. However, once in the final stages of making a deal, he did attempt to use what I believe to be a dealer-directed tactic to bad-mouth/cast-doubt-about the competition (Bob Dunn); this put me off somewhat and I quickly informed him to refrain from continuing to use this tactic with me which he did. Lee was straight-forward, continued to ask for my business, did not comment about the competition, and was especially responsive via email. Although I live 9 miles from Johnson Hyundai, I made the 150 mile round-trip drive to Bob Dunn because I got a significantly better deal than what is indicated in the original post. My car-buying experience with Bob Dunn was excellent and there were no hidden surprises whatsoever in my deal with them. Johnson is a shiny new dealership in Cary with lots of amenities. Bob Dunn is an older facility without the frills. I suspect Johnson has much higher facilities overhead than Bob Dunn, thus the use of the bad-mouth tactic to turn business away from Bob Dunn.
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Hello All - I had been wanting a newer Elantra to replace the 2003 Elantra I smashed up a couple weeks ago. But the Elantra SE trim level wasn't available used, and the GLS didn't have all the little things I wanted like a trip computer, traction control, etc. I was going to settle for a 2007 Elantra GLS at what seemed an amazingly low price of $9966 with 36k on it, cheaper than any other Elantra within 100 miles. But then yesterday morning I checked Autotrader.com again and saw a 2008 Sonata GLS 4cyl for $9995 with 41k. It had a free Carfax report which showed it was previously a rental vehicle. I went to the dealer to check it out, and decided I liked it enough to buy it. It's Deepwater Blue with the PEP pkg and sunroof. I wish I could have gotten an SE or Limited with leather seats, but I decided I could live without them (even though my last four vehicles in 10 years have had leather seats). I bought it from Snethkamp Chrysler Jeep in Redford, MI (near Detroit). $9995 + tax title etc; $10834 out the door. I decided it was a good enough price not to haggle over it. The salesman was very professional and courteous, did not give a hard sell and while he did offer an extended warranty, he didn't push it. I did not have to deal with a "business manager" or anything else, and I paid cash for the car. He explained that the car was priced so cheaply because they are working with a new marketing company who is using this strategy to try to get more traffic through the dealership. Seems to be working. So far, so good. I expected better fuel economy with the 4 cyl, but it is a lot of metal to move around. Will know more after I go back to work and log more highway miles. I love the color, and I'm still getting used to the seats. I especially like that the headrests have fore/aft adjustment. XM radio subscription is inactive, not sure if I'll activate it as I've already put in my FM transmitter for my iPod. Seat cushion is a bit short and soft, I may try to de-trim it and add some memory foam. I'm hoping to check in on the carspace forums to see what mods are available. 
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Replying to: peacefrog_0521 (Dec 30, 2008 8:32 pm) If I can't find a great deal today, I'll wait until next year. I'm in no hurry (yes, I am a dealer's worst nightmare). I might even wait until next fall or winter, when used 2009 Sonatas should be widely available. |
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Replying to: smithw14 (Dec 28, 2008 7:22 pm) |
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Purchased a 09 GLS with PEP & floor mats at Fairfax Hyundai for $16,391 OTD. The price quote was ~ $600 lower than they have on their website.. I had to drive 165 miles to pick up but over $2K lower than local dealer. On the way home the computer said avg of 37 mpg with speed 45-60 mph.. Happy with the car & the deal.
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Replying to: lmvine1 (Jan 02, 2009 2:04 pm) Can you please post breakdown of the OTD price? Also does PEP has moonroof? I am trying to buy same car in NJ and need some idea. Thanks in advance. |
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