- #723 of 1003
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Fusion & TSX
by sandman46
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Dec 30, 2008 (2:05 pm)
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Look at the Fusion as I've read in these forums how nice it is. Can't beat the price also. Somehow I'd of thought that you would have checked out the Acura TSX...bit smaller of a sedan but looks neat and probably drives nicely. And for someone with no kids, I'd definitely check one out.
The Sandman 
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- #724 of 1003
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Re: What would you buy? [ylz]
by investingdad
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Dec 30, 2008 (4:41 pm)
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Replying to: ylz (Dec 30, 2008 1:20 pm)
Mine is black on black and is very sharp. The chrome package makes it sharper.
I'd suggest learning to drive stick and getting the MS3. It's not hard to learn and well worth the effort.
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- #725 of 1003
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Re: What would you buy? [ylz]
by backy
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Dec 30, 2008 (6:40 pm)
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Replying to: ylz (Dec 30, 2008 1:20 pm)
Why not the new Mazda6, rather than the 3? The new 6 is a great looking car, more sporty than the Sonata, has better handling than the Sonata, and for what you are looking to pay for a Sonata V6 Limited you could get a nicely equipped Mazda6i; there seem to be some good year-end deals on the 6 right now. The Mazda6 is a much closer comparo to the Sonata.
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- #726 of 1003
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Re: What would you buy? [ylz]
by chrrmurp
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Dec 31, 2008 (7:54 pm)
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Replying to: ylz (Dec 29, 2008 7:28 pm)
I have a 2009 V6 with Nav and I love the car. Mine is cocoa metallic paint with the cocoa interior (which is the "black" interior). It has plenty of power. On my way to work, I merge onto the highway and I gun it almost every day just to feel the push-back into my seat. It revs up, sounds great, and really picks up quick. I'm 26, have no kids, and do not feel like I'm driving around something my dad would drive. Well maybe we would, but I think he'd get something bigger. It's a classy car - not too flashy - and is loaded with standard features you won't get in a mazda. The Sonata has a nice deep sound when it picks up and has no vibration at high RPMs. Plus I would feel much safer in they Sonata.
If you're worried about quality, rest assured with the Hyundai warranty. If anything goes wrong with the Mazda, you won't be covered. One of my buddies had a Mazda RX8 and at 89,000 miles he had to replace the clutch and some of the other parts that hold it on and it was really expensive.
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- #727 of 1003
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Re: What would you buy? [chrrmurp]
by ylz
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Jan 01, 2009 (1:30 pm)
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Replying to: chrrmurp (Dec 31, 2008 7:54 pm)
Thanks for responding. I know the Hyundai warranty can't be beat but I'm not concerned about that. What I am concerned with is the general way the Sonata rides. Many people are talking about the loud noises they hear when going over uneasy roads. So that's not really covered in the warranty, as this is just the way it drives. Do you have this problem at all? Do you hear "thumps" or cracking sounds when going over bumps at all? When I test drove the Sonata, it seemed very smooth and powerful to me but I didn't take it over bumps at all.
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- #728 of 1003
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Re: What would you buy? [ylz]
by backy
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Jan 01, 2009 (2:47 pm)
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Replying to: ylz (Jan 01, 2009 1:30 pm)
FWIW I drove a couple of 2008 Sonatas yesterday, back to back over almost the same course, as I was looking to get one on a year-end closeout deal. While I didn't get a deal that was compelling enough (on a Sonata anyway...), I did notice that the first car I drove, which was not in great shape overall (the plastic rocker panel covers were loose or mis-aligned, and there was some other exterior and interior damage), there was a definite "thump" noise going over sharp bumps like expansion joints. Since it was a very cold day (about 5 F), the joints were higher than usual. This was NOT a tire slap noise but something else that came from the front of the car. Not real loud, but noticeable. I then drove another 2008 Sonata at another dealership. This one was in pristine condition except the rocker panel cover on the right side was broken at the rear end of it (which the sales manager seemed genuinely surprised and embarrassed about). There was no noise over bumps as on the first car, just a normal faint thump as you'd get from tires (cold tires at that). The cars were identical trim-wise and tire/wheel wise. Each car had about 40k miles.
This was the first time I have heard this kind of noise on a 2006-2009 Sonata. I know there were suspension changes for 2009. However, I think it supports the need to drive the exact car you plan to buy, over a wide variety of road surfaces.
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- #729 of 1003
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Re: What would you buy? [ylz]
by palok
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Jan 01, 2009 (7:24 pm)
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Replying to: ylz (Jan 01, 2009 1:30 pm)
You know all that extra money in my wallet does a more than adequate job of cushioning any bumpiness. It handles well and I don't drive it into any potholes either.
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- #730 of 1003
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Re: What would you buy? [palok]
by investingdad
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Jan 01, 2009 (9:42 pm)
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Replying to: palok (Jan 01, 2009 7:24 pm)
If I had spent closer to 20K, perhaps the thumpa-thumpa (as I describe it) would bother me based on my price point. But I spent 15K and it doesn't. I've found that with the stereo on at normal audio levels (6-8), I don't even hear it. I think it's being blown out of proportion, really.
Here are the new cars I bought and prices paid at the time I bought them (all BEFORE tax):
93 Hyundai Scoupe - $8500
95 Honda del Sol - $17500
99 Honda Civic DX - $13500
04 Nissan Sentra 1.8S - $11500
04 Nissan Altima 2.5S (wife) - $17500
04 Mazdaspeed Miata - $21800
09 Sonata GLS - $15050
Looking over my buying history, the Sonata is a screaming deal given the whole package of what you're getting. The suspension isn't perfect and the windshield frame flexing makes some squeaks in the cold if you hit uneven roads (the del Sol did this with the targa top).
Frankly, I think it needs to be put into perspective based on price and package.
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- #731 of 1003
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Re: What would you buy? [investingdad]
by loradora
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Jan 03, 2009 (4:27 am)
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Replying to: investingdad (Jan 01, 2009 9:42 pm)
I agree, we didn't pay a lot for this car and am trying to ignore the noise. The noise we are hearing in our 2009 Sonata, which has already had the entire right front suspension replaced--under warranty, is it sounds like when you have a blown shock or bad wheel bearing in the front end. We go over washboard surfaces, which with the truck traffic in our area it is hard to not have to drive on it, it sounds like you have a blown shock/strut or bad wheel bearing. Just a little unnerving with a brand new car.
When we test drove it, there wasn't that sort of surface around. Believe me, many lessons have been learned with this car purchase!
I keep waiting hoping that they get enough complaints that they look into WHY it is doing this...it's almost like the suspension needs to be "tightened up/stiffened up" some to help take care of the situation. I don't know.
Other than that, no complaints--just still not thrilled about the car yet--and it's been six months!
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- #732 of 1003
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by investingdad
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Jan 03, 2009 (6:41 am)
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Well, a bad wheel bearing is a grinding noise that you hear around turns when you load up the wheel with the bad bearing. I've had some in other cars, are you sure that's a good analogy?
I find the noise to be a sort of deep bass, rumble sound. It's common to all 4 corners and isn't THAT disruptive.
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