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Hyundai Sonata 2006-2007

7871 messages,  Last post on Aug 17, 2012 at 1:32 PM

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What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Sedan

Messages Page 713 of 787

#7121 of 7871 Re: Why is this car geting so much praise? [targettuning] by rastfox

Apr 05, 2007 (4:17 pm)

Replying to: targettuning (Apr 05, 2007 6:08 am)
I own a 2005 Sentra, My Loaner car is a 2007 Sonata V6 with around 7,000 miles on it.
 
The 300 watt Rockford Fosgate stereo with 6 disk changer, was part of the SE package. that also included 16" aluminium wheels, a spoiler, fog lights, a leather wraped steering wheel and shifter (automatic)it was a $500 option on the car. My car is fully loaded, power windows, locks keyless entry, AC cruise, ect. The only option I dont have is the sun roof. I paied $14,500 with 60 month finacing at 1%. I actualy do not like my Sentra that much it's had constant problems, has been into the shop I belive this will be the 19th time. Mostly lots of little things breaking over and over, I had 4 trips for the power window not going up and down, though Nissan tell's me that fails to qualify for the law.
 
Anyways With the seats all the way back the Sentra seems to have about the same leg room as the Sonata for the driver. However the footwell is much better, the center stack dosn't intrude into my leg space at all on the Sentra, and The pedals are pushed out a bit further from the center stack which I find more comfortable. The spec's would indicate that the Sonata has a lot more leg room than my Sentra, 43.7 inches vs 41.6 inches, However I fail to see the difference, I have driven a 350Z rated at 42.6 inches and it has considerably more leg room, The RSX with 43.1 inches had some of the best front leg room I have encountered. The 2005 Lancer I test drove is speced at 43.2" of leg room but it also felt like it had a lot more actual room than the Sonata. This is because in the Sonata my knees are mabey 3 inches from the dash, and I have to drive bow legged, Which is about the same case with my Sentra, I am 6'1" with fairly long legs for my height incase you are wondering.
 
As for the accleration, I timed about 8 seconds to hit 60 with the Sonata, My Sentra will do it in a little under 10 seconds so clearly the Sonata is considerably faster, however I have driven tons of cars that are faster. Heck I timed my moms last SUV at around 7 seconds for 0~60, a 2003 Nissan Murano, and her current car a Hybrid Camery also times around 8 seconds to hit 60, but feels a bit quicker than the Sonata.
 
The fit and finish inside are ok, the fit is excelent, but I have seen better finish from less expensive cars, If you don't belive me wander down to your Scion dealer and check out a tC, My only complaints there consisted of the door's feeling a bit flimsy in the area between the bottom of the arm rest, and the top of the door pouch, and the silly flip down visor thing for the Stereo. The soft touch materials feel a bit thin, and there are still plenty of hard touch materials to find, some of them like the rubberized feeling area around the controlls on the door's arm rest are actualy nice upscale touches. And I liked the padded arm rest as well, The finish is clearly a step up from whats inside my Sentra "all hard plastics" but it's hardly world beating or anything.
 
Again I feel the car has some potential, Hyundai just needs to iron out a bunch of flaws. And mabey hire some better interior designers.

#7122 of 7871 extended service plan by balthazarw

Apr 05, 2007 (5:48 pm)

Have a 2006 Sonata for a couple months and am considering purchase of extended warranty that takes most of car to the 10 year 100000 mile. Cost is $975 or so, as I recall.
 
Having spent 5 to 10 times this on repairs post-warranty and pre 10 year 100000 mile line for our 1999 passat I am really tempted.
 
Opinions?

#7123 of 7871 Re: extended service plan [balthazarw] by mamamia2

Apr 05, 2007 (7:33 pm)

Replying to: balthazarw (Apr 05, 2007 5:48 pm)
Extended Warranty is an INSURANCE policy. One car owner buys it and ends up NEVER using it, the other doesn't buy it and ends up spending THOUSANDS of $ in repairs...
 
I bought it (when purchasing my Sonata, at $700, a year ago) 'cause I thought that $700 covering 10 years is a small investment to make. After all, it's very easy to rack up HUNDREDS of $ in repairs... Check how much would an A/C compressor cost, or an Alternator, or a fuel pump...

#7124 of 7871 RE: The ESC question by rdillier

Apr 06, 2007 (5:00 am)

Soon all discussion of Electronic Stability Control will be moot.
 
I saw on the news last night where the federal government will require ESC on all cars starting in 2012.
 
So the Sonata (and other Hyundai models) is six years ahead of the game since ESC has been standard equipment since 2006.

#7125 of 7871 Re: Why is this car geting so much praise? [rastfox] by bobad

Apr 06, 2007 (5:42 am)

Replying to: rastfox (Apr 05, 2007 4:17 pm)
Because everyone has different taste in cars, and have different priorities. I place no vlaue on a badge, or on "resale vbalue", which is false.
 
The V6 Sonata really excels when you compare it to any other $18,000 car. For that price, you get a very nicely equipped, roomy, safe, V6 Sonata. No other car in that price range comes close. For that price, you normally get a very small, uncomfortable car, steel wheels, no ESC, and 4cyl engine.
 
There's always a better car. You can easily spend $7-8K more for a car that has the same features and options. But wait! If you spend $25K, why didn't you spend $32 for a "better" car? It has to end somewhere. My search ended happily at $17600.
 
Obviously a Sonata is not your cup of tea. You are free to shop elsewhere.

#7126 of 7871 Re: Why is this car geting so much praise? [rastfox] by drdonrs

Apr 06, 2007 (1:30 pm)

Replying to: rastfox (Apr 05, 2007 4:17 pm)
I owned several (6) Acura TL's over the past several years before I took the plunge and bought my 06 Sonata LX6. I have never looked back. I am enjoying a car that is $1,000's less in price and has just about all the bells and whistles as well as a better engine, more safety features and a better warranty. What's not to like? How do you even begin to compare a Sentra? Liked the Sonata so much that when my 2nd TL came off lease I bought an 06 Azera Limited for my wife. Awesome car. I have never been afflicted with auto badge disease and so do my homework and recognize that Hyundai is "in the hunt". Read what John Krafcik,VP of development, etc. has to say about Hyundai's direction particularly with the concept car Genesis which will be in production sometime in 2008. I,for one, am listening and waiting. I think the other manufacturers, especially in Japan, are taking a long hard look and feeling the heat.

#7127 of 7871 Re: Why is this car geting so much praise? [drdonrs] by rastfox

Apr 06, 2007 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: drdonrs (Apr 06, 2007 1:30 pm)
I have seen Project Genisis, and I am aware of the progress Hyundai has made, I just seriously doubt that anyone in Japan is feeling much heat yet, I drive a lot of cars, I am very passionate about them when it comes down to it. Hyundai talks about benchmarking cars like the BMW 3 series, the Audi 6 series, Lexus offerings, ect when they design a new car like the Sonata. I have riden inside of a 3 and a 5, driven an A6, and one of my friends has a Lexus IS300. The interior design, quality of materials, and ergonomics on any of those cars feels 10 years ahead of the Sonata. The Sonata Feels well behind if you benchmark it agasint my mothers Camery Hybrid, which is more of a price competitor, Or agasint the Mazda 6 I test drove, another direct competitor, For $2000 less I can get a Scion tC which is not as large a car, but offers just as much useable front seat room from my experiance, as well as suprizing amounts of rear seat room (head room is lacking though) and tons of storage room because it is a hatch. And the interior fit and finish, are better in the less expensive tC than in the Sonta IMHO, by a wide margin.
 
Hyundai did a good job with the engine it dosnt feel cheap or lawnmower like at all. The interior is assemebled very well, tight seams, no buzzes or anything. But I feel they have a long way to go before anyone is feeling any actual heat. The Acura TL was another car I never liked, The RSX was about the only thing in their lineup that interested me, and it was basicly a very well done Civic with better seats, and high quality soft touch materials everywhere I cared to look. It was also very nicely priced, and I had intended on buying one before they did away with it.

#7128 of 7871 Re: Why is this car geting so much praise? [rastfox] by krika

Apr 07, 2007 (8:12 am)

Replying to: rastfox (Apr 06, 2007 2:17 pm)
Why in the first place are BMW's and Audi's getting so much praise. I have seen statistics from several automobile magazines that BMW's and Audi's have the least customer satisfaction in the long run due to mechanical failures, even engine failures. Read the latest Automobile magazine - their '4 seasons' team had had trouble with BMW's for the past 3 consecutive years - including 7 series, 3 series and M model. And the troubles are no less than total engine failure. When a magazine requests for a car to test, the company would choose the best among their fleet (if they can distinguish, I suppose). Even those best of the fleet ended up in the mechanics garage within 1 year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
A sensible person, not given to hype and prestige, only thinking about long term reliability and peace of mind (less trips to the mechanic) will definitely consider Sonata - why not? there is a 10 year powertrain warranty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#7129 of 7871 Re: Why is this car geting so much praise? [rastfox] by bobad

Apr 07, 2007 (12:48 pm)

Replying to: rastfox (Apr 06, 2007 2:17 pm)
"I am very passionate about them when it comes down to it"
 
There's your answer!
 
When you choose a car dispassionately and objectively, you can easily end up with a Sonata. If you are the enthusiast type that gets emotional about cars, you will probably never be satisfied with a Sonata. It's just a good, solid, competent car, with tremendous value. It's not a legend. Not yet.

#7130 of 7871 Re: Why is this car geting so much praise? [bobad] by backy

Apr 07, 2007 (2:09 pm)

Replying to: bobad (Apr 07, 2007 12:48 pm)
You mean an enthusiast type that gets emotional about cars... and has a lot of disposable income?
 
Actually, the Legend wasn't all that great a car.

Messages Page 713 of 787

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