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Hyundai Sonata vs Honda Accord - READ ONLY

664 messages,  Last post on Oct 12, 2007 at 4:33 PM

You are in the Hyundai Sonata Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 17 of 67

#160 of 664 Re: More for Less [thegraduate] by colloquor

Sep 21, 2007 (10:44 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 18, 2007 7:04 pm)
I agree. To each his or her own, if one car or brand appeals to one more than the other, go for it.
 
In the majority of the Honda vs. Hyundai, and even Toyota, discussions here on Edmunds.com, most posters are strongly in one camp or the other, some even seriously bashing the other brand which is most unfortunate. I would put forth than the majority of those who prefer one brand over the other, or bash the other brand, haven't actually owned the "other brand," especially not concurrently.
 
Our family owns a Honda (2005 Accord LX Automatic), a Hyundai (a previous generation Elantra GLS Automatic , admittedly not a Sonata as per this forum), and a 2007 Toyota LE Automatic. We also own a couple of European cars. If you want one person's relatively objective analysis on the ownership experience with these, I will do so very succinctly, in an overview fashion:
 
The Accord has been quite trouble-free, although we had several warranty-related issues during the first year of ownership. It has low mileage, only 28K miles on the clock at present, but is enjoyable to drive. A bit too much road and surprisingly, wind noise, on the road, but acceptable. Enjoy the handling and excellent fuel economy. Dealership experience - Good. Overall quite pleased.
 
The Elantra has over 100K, and except for routine preventive maintenance, its only true corrective-maintenance repair was the replacement of an alternator. There were no warranty-related issues during the first year of ownership. It's been an excellent car, and still drives today as it did when we drove it off the dealer's lot. Nice mix of ride, handling, and fuel economy for such a small four door sedan. Dealership experience - Excellent. Very pleased with the car.
 
The Camry has been a love-hate relationship. Since it's rather new, it still has less than 7K on the clock, but has been in to the shop several times for the now infamous throttle hesitation issues. Several TSBs have been applied, but it still is afflicted with this problem. Nice car, rides very well, with little road or wind noise, and also excellent fuel economy on the road, but these DBW (Drive-By-Wire) bugs are driving my wife nuts. Dealership experience - Fair. Pleased, but with reservations.
 
Moreover, the build quality and fit and finish are equally excellent on all three cars, except the interior dash panel gaps on the Camry are not consistent unlike the Honda and Hyundai.
 
FWIW . . . This is just my 2 cents worth offered by a person who presently owns all three brands.

#161 of 664 Re: 2008 Accord [elroy5] by targettuning

Sep 21, 2007 (10:57 am)

Replying to: elroy5 (Sep 21, 2007 10:07 am)
Geez now that intangible "feeling" between cars extends to brands of sneakers. Simply unbelievable.

#162 of 664 Re: 2008 Accord [targettuning] by backy

Sep 21, 2007 (12:00 pm)

Replying to: targettuning (Sep 21, 2007 10:57 am)
I am thinking that since the last time the automotive press compared an Accord to the Sonata, the Sonata out-stopped it, so the Nike in the metaphor is the Sonata, as I expect it would "stop" you better on the court than the Wal-mart shoes.

#163 of 664 Re: 2008 Accord [targettuning] by backy

Sep 21, 2007 (12:10 pm)

Replying to: targettuning (Sep 21, 2007 9:51 am)
I've driven the Sonata (2006 GLS I4 AT with alloys and moonroof) and Accord (2006 EX I4 AT) back-to-back over the same course. The Accord had the superior handling, but not by much, and the difference was not very noticeable in the urban driving in my test and which I do almost every day. But the Sonata clearly had the superior ride comfort and quietness, which I value a lot. I've read that the 2008 Accord has improved ride comfort, so it's possible Honda has fixed this issue to where it wouldn't be a blocker for me.
 
I think if the Sonata is driven against the Accord over a course with lots of twists and turns, the Accord will come out ahead. (And that's what the car mags often do when they do a comparo.) Since I drive on a road like that maybe once a year, but do drive on rough roads every day, a smooth and quiet ride is much more important to me than how a car carves canyons.
 
Buy what you [general "you"] like and what suits your needs, but please don't wax poetic about how Accord buyers are the ones who love sporty cars, how they are true driving "enthusiasts", and Sonata buyers aren't. I see lots of middle-aged suburbanites tooling around in Accords, and I'll bet 95% of them have never taken their car on a twisty road.

#164 of 664 You take care of a car it will take care of you, no matter the brand by flc2006

Sep 21, 2007 (9:07 pm)

All cars need the same basic neccesities like oil, trans fluid, coolant, wheels and tires, suspension, I hear so many people complain about American and Korean cars, well did you know that Mitsubishi messed up Hyundai they supplied the engines, if people would follow basic maintenance in their cars they would last a long time, It is alot of men and women who know how to drive but do not change their motor oil and transmission fluid and wonder why they are stranded, any car will be unreliable if you do not take care of it.

#165 of 664 Re: 2008 Accord [backy] by thegraduate

Sep 21, 2007 (9:10 pm)

Replying to: backy (Sep 21, 2007 12:10 pm)
Buy what you [general "you"] like and what suits your needs, but please don't wax poetic about how Accord buyers are the ones who love sporty cars, how they are true driving "enthusiasts", and Sonata buyers aren't.
 
That wasn't my goal, and I'm sorry if I implied such. What it amounts to is that as a young guy, I wanted something practical as well as fun. I make road trips often enough (600 miles round-trip to the Gulf (4), 1600 miles round-trip to Oklahoma City (3), and a few 300-mile round trips to Atlanta (3) have all been had by me this year in my 06 Accord. I value ride-comfort and economy, but I want a "fun" car for when I'm tooling around away from the suburbs (say, towards a local river near my home).
 
The Sonata had the same demeanor a Camry had in my eyes. Obviously that's not a bad thing to a LOT of people. It just left me wishing I was back in the Accord every time I got in the Sonata. Was the Sonata BAD? Heck no! It just didn't suit me. The differences are indeed small, but as y'all have heard me say several times in the past, my two biggest criteria when car shopping were interiors and handling dynamics. The Sonata's interior design (not necessarily the quality, but the look of it) really put me off (while the exterior was at least as good looking as the Accord), and the car drove more like a Camry. It just wasn't what I was looking for.

#166 of 664 Re: 2008 Accord [thegraduate] by effect18

Sep 22, 2007 (8:51 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 21, 2007 9:10 pm)
Thats understandable. If I had to pick out one thing I dislike about my 07 Sonata(and the 08 since they havent redisigned it, except for adding an extra headrest in the middle in the backseat) it would have to be the interior. Its outdated and boring. The instrument cluster is wack, and looks budget, and i really dislike the green backlights(I hope they make it Blue for 09). But I think the exterior is just as good if not better than the Camry(kinda weird looking. Would have to be the SE w/spoiler to make it look right), Accord(boxy front, dont like the rear lights), and definitely the Altima(Front looks like every other Nissan, back lights look kinda feminine to me). When it comes to cars its to each its own.... but I love my Sonata.

#167 of 664 Re: 2008 Accord [thegraduate] by backy

Sep 22, 2007 (8:52 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 21, 2007 9:10 pm)
Sorry, I thought that by saying "general 'you'" I would make it clear that the last part of my post was not directed at you specifically, but was a general comment.

#168 of 664 Re: 2008 Accord [backy] by elroy5

Sep 22, 2007 (9:38 am)

Replying to: backy (Sep 22, 2007 8:52 am)
It also depends on what you are accustomed to. If your previous car was a large domestic car, say an Impala, you would probably find the Accord ride pretty harsh. I have become accustomed to the Accord's ride and handling, so I wouldn't have it any other way. One man's harsh, is another man's stable. Your own perception is reality to you, but not for everyone.

#169 of 664 Re: 2008 Accord [elroy5] by backy

Sep 22, 2007 (10:00 am)

Replying to: elroy5 (Sep 22, 2007 9:38 am)
I've never owned a large domestic car. I prefer small cars. I find the Accord's ride too firm regardless. But as you said, what you and I want in a car is not what others want. And if I drove on different kinds of roads than I do, I might not mind the Accord's ride at all.

Messages Page 17 of 67

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