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Honda Civic vs. Hyundai Sonata

151 messages,  Last post on Jan 16, 2009 at 7:50 PM

You are in the Honda Civic Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata, Coupe, Sedan

Messages Page 11 of 16

#96 of 151 Re: GO FOR HONDA [gpk] by targettuning

Apr 09, 2007 (6:05 am)

Replying to: gpk (Apr 09, 2007 4:42 am)
While they may list for $21K (plus or minus) depending on model options etc. they usually have rebates of a grand or so plus you can negotiate a bit. Try that with a Honda dealer especially on a Fit or Civic when gas is creeping upwards. You absolutely can buy a Sonata GLS with more everything (except fuel economy perhaps)for less than an EX auto sedan Civic if you check around. Resale on Hyundai products is going up as the good news spreads and people have positive experiences with them. It took Honda and Toyota for that matter quite a while to establish the perceived quality image they rightly or wrongly have right now. We have been a Hyundai "family" owning 4 (2000 Elantra,2003 Elantra, 2002 and 2003 Santa Fe) until I bought the 2006 Civic we now own. I was totally happy with Hyundai and now am less than happy with Honda. Do not be afraid to look at Hyundai they are not junk.

#97 of 151 It depends by flc2006

Apr 09, 2007 (8:47 pm)

In my opinion the Sonata is better buy than those Japanese compacts because the top of the line models cost as much as mid level sonata, if resale is your thing go with Honda, but if value is your thing go with the sonata with the V6, i was going to buy a Scion TC spec package even the sonata was 4k more than scion but it had a V6, front and rear Airbags,Electronic stability control with traction control, the sonata has my name written all over it, i'm glad did not settle for less

#98 of 151 Civic vs Sonata? The Elantra would be more fair. by rick2456

May 15, 2007 (7:15 am)

Seems to me that a comparision of the Civic with the Elantra would be more fair. I have owned both Hyundai's and Honda's and haven't had problems with either. But you do pay a premium for the Hondas and unless you trade in every year or so, you don't get it back.

#99 of 151 Re: Civic vs Sonata? The Elantra would be more fair. [rick2456] by backy

May 15, 2007 (7:40 am)

Replying to: rick2456 (May 15, 2007 7:15 am)
It might be more fair to the Civic to compare the Elantra to it, but since (as noted earlier) the Sonata can be had for about the same money or actually much less than a comparable Civic (e.g. advertised price in my town last weekend for a Sonata GLS was $13,998), buyers may compare the Civic and Sonata if they are looking for "most car for the dollar." Those looking for a small car with high fuel economy won't shop the Sonata of course.

#100 of 151 well by eldaino

May 23, 2007 (1:31 pm)

i still don't mind hyundai's,but having them being sold for so cheap isn't reasurring.

#101 of 151 well by backy

May 23, 2007 (1:51 pm)

Honda Accords can be had for less than a Civic LX too, but I don't lose any sleep over it. Nor do I lose sleep over the inflated pricing of Civics.
 
Prices of Hyundais have come UP overall in the past couple of years. Who would have paid over $30k for a Hyundai 2-3 years ago? They do now (Azera, Veracruz). Good luck finding a fully loaded Elantra with leather, alloys, AT, moonroof, ABS etc. for $13k as I did a little over 3 years ago. Incentives have dropped on the Sonata also compared to last year.

#102 of 151 SONATA VS CIVIC by lengalli

May 14, 2008 (5:38 am)

I AM a Honda dealer. I will not say one bad thing about the crooked H cars, as I find them quite enjoyable. However, some facts. One, the Civic competes with the Elantra, NOT the Sonata. LX vs same type Elantra and the REAL prices are $2000 apart when factoring in rebates etc etc etc. Still, the Honda is a better VALUE. For $2000 more, you get more reliability, more safety, and more economy (CHECK CONSUMER REPORTS IF YOU DONT BELIEVE ME). You get an ACE frame/sub-frame in the Honda, not avail in the other H. DRIVE them both, you will find the HONDA drives better, and FEELS better, and LOOKS better, (DRIVE THEM before thinking otherwise). Trade in. EVERY dealer is paying TOP DOLLAR for used Honda's, meaning, you CAN get KBB/Black Book on a HONDA. YOU CANNOT GET ANYTHING NEAR THAT ON A HYUNDAI. PERIOD. THERE IS NO MARKET FOR USED HYUNDAIS. PERIOD. The ONLY people buying USED crooked H cars are people with BAD credit, or "get me boughts". Dealers DO NOT pay the rediculous prices KBB spews from its webiste as "trade-in". FACT, dealers are paying THOUSANDS less than "trade-in" to buy used Hyundai's. You CAN check this out, by looking at what dealers are charging for used Hyundai's and when you do, you will see them priced retail - AT or BELOW WHOLESALE! This MEANS that they OWN the car for a lot less than that. (OFTEN $3,000 or MORE Less).
 
Warranty, if you want a REAL warranty, get HONDA CARE (LOOK IT UP). It is VERY inexpensive, covers the WHOLE VEHICLE, is transferable (UNLIKE the Hyundai warranty) AND if you do NOT use it, get a refund !!!!!! HONDA, not Hyundai has the BEST warranty. And, lets not forget - the company with the real BEST warranty is the one where you NEVER have to use it. (Check consumer reports reliability ratings, HONDA is #1, NOT Hyundai).
 
BUY AMERICAN, take a look at where your CAR is built. CIVICS are built in the US, by US workers making them a more US car than MANY "domestics".
 
While the Hyundai is guaranteed to get you where you are going. The HONDA does it so much better.

#103 of 151 oh, i forgot by lengalli

May 14, 2008 (5:57 am)

One more thing. ALL CARS DO NOT AGE THE SAME. One thing I love to do for "cross-shoppers" is this. I show them what a 3 or 4 or 5 or older year competitor vehicle looks like, vs a Honda from the same period. I do this because, 5 and even 10 year old Honda's look, AND DRIVE, just like they did when they were NEW. The competetion doesnt even come close. Consumers have this weird thought process going on when they read that so and so car manufacturer is "getting better", or "most improved". Its almost like they think of the car like a person, which is what the car manufacturer wants. Fact is, whatever car you buy, is NOT going to IMPROVE at all, its not going to GET BETTER, if and when someone makes a car better than HONDA, your car will NEVER be THAT car. Those words simply give HOPE that ONE day things will get better. Thats NOT how cars work, they are not students in high school that 'could' do better 2marro.

#104 of 151 Re: SONATA VS CIVIC [lengalli] by backy

May 14, 2008 (8:55 am)

Replying to: lengalli (May 14, 2008 5:38 am)
Thanks for saying up front "I am a Honda dealer." That explains a lot.
 
It helps to stick to facts though. For example:
 
* Some people buy the most car they can with their budget. That pits the Sonata against the Civic, whether you like it or not. Size-wise, the Civic does compete more with Elantra, but the Elantra enjoys a big advantage in real-world price and interior room (mid-sized). The Accent actually has more interior room than the Civic. Also, CR named the Elantra SE their Top Pick in the Under $20k sedan class, over the Civic. Check CR if you don't believe me.
 
* As for reliability, the Sonata is one of the most reliable sedans according to CR. Civic is reliable also. A wash.
 
* More safety? Civic has an advantage in the IIHS side crash test (Good vs. Acceptable), but Sonata has standard ESC on all trims. I'd say that's no worse than a wash for the Sonata.
 
* More economy? Sure. You get higher fuel economy on a compact car with a 1.8L 140 hp engine than on a full-sized car with a 2.4L, 175 hp engine. That is the tradeoff in driving a much larger, smoother, quieter, more comfortable car. The Civic gets better FE than the Accord too--so what? (And the Sonata gets better FE than the Accord.)
 
* Feels better? Again you are trading off crisper handling (on a much smaller car) for considerably better ride smoothness. Yes, I've driven both. Have you?
 
* Looks better? That is totally subjective. I think both cars look good outside, but I much prefer the looks of the interior of the Sonata.
 
* There is no used market for Hyundais? That is a laughable statement.
 
* Warranty? Honda Care costs extra, correct? Hyundai also offers an extra-cost extended warranty that is fully transferrable and provides 100k miles of bumper-to-bumper protection.
 
* Buy American? Did you know the Sonata is made in America, by American workers?.

#105 of 151 Re: oh, i forgot [lengalli] by backy

May 14, 2008 (9:01 am)

Replying to: lengalli (May 14, 2008 5:57 am)
You've never owned a Hyundai, have you? I've owned two--a 2001 Elantra that is now nearly 8 years old, and a 2004 Elantra. The 2001 is owned by my sister now. She loves it and says it still drives and looks like new. And it has been very reliable. My 2004 Elantra also drives and looks new, and the biggest problem it's had in over 4 years is that I had to replace the headlamp bulbs--covered under warranty. And these Elantras are a fairly old design, not nearly as good a car as the current Sonata. Hyundais are getting better with each generation.
 
The day when someone makes a car that is better than Honda has already arrived. Examples: CR's Top Pick in the economy sedan class is the Elantra, not the Civic. CR's Top Pick in the mid-sized SUV class is the Santa Fe, not the CR-V or Pilot.
 
I recommend you take a close look at what you are competing with. You might be surprised.

Messages Page 11 of 16

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