Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

Lifestyle Bazaar Talk
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First, look at it here at this link:

http://www.canadiandriver.com/testdrives/06sonata.htm

Seen the ads? Does it do it for you?

I’m still meaning to wander down to a Hyundai dealer and see if it lives up the manufacturer’s hype, but from the pictures I’ve seen I’m sceptical.

First of all, the exterior styling fails to convince me. Whilst the front just about manages to look contemporary, the back lights look like they raided an old Honda Accord.

Secondly, the interior. Hyundai has sadly persisted in light trim colours and tacky fake wood. A dark interior with brushed metal highlighting would have worked better, together with more up-market looking LEDs. Perhaps blue backlighting, as per VW.

As is, it seems to still rank well behind the Accord or even the Camry for visual effect. I still need to visit a dealership to check out materials quality.

But for now… I’m not convinced whether the cost saving against an Accord or Camry would be worth it. The Sonata is visually too out-of-date, and stylistically questionable.

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

I will participate if it is a General threat opps thread.

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

I've been thinking of buying a car lately
I would never buy it Sciencedaan sahib, mostly cause people would think you are a clown driving a Hyundai
Waht do you think of the following cars
-Subaru Impreza - probly 2 yrs old
-VW Jetta - proble 2 yrs old as well
- Honda Prelude - last yr they made it was like '01
or I guess the Civic is always a good choice.

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

The Jetts is really nice, but VW has too many reliability question marks in the past couple of years. That's why I avoided the Jetts and you should avoid it too. Some people have great experiences with them but a lot of people do not.

The Impreza and the Prelude would be the better choices - as would the Civic.

The Subaru will be the best handling of the rest. How long are you planning on keeping the car for? Whilst Subaru generally is not too bad for reliability, a Honda will be more likely to last over time.

Between the Prelude and the Civic, what are your needs? If you're unlikely to need more than 4 seats, the Prelude will be a better drive. If practicality is a concern, then the Civic is for you.

I generally prefer 5 seat cars, simply because they are btter for your social life. I pretty often end up packing 4 friends into the car with me and going places, so I chose to buy a sedan rather than a coupe.

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

sonata looks very similar to accord - esp its rear

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

hmmmm .. nice But I rate** Cheverlet Lumina SS & Mitsubhi Gallant**as best cars among

  • Sonata

  • Maxima

  • Accord

  • Camry

  • Magna

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

you get so many option in low cost. Rides smooth and gives you comfort in drive.
I like it, but I wont buy it again! I have driven Sonata for 2-3 years, ... but my choice now again is only US cars, and SUV's.... no desi cars plz!

Why do Indian Muslims lag behind?
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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

Yuck! :yukh:

Crappy looking car. Even a person like myself who knows little about cars wouldn’t settle for a Hyndai. It’s a worthless piece of metal. Even the front looks copied. I can’t remember the name, but the front has also been copied and the rear is guranteed copied Honda Accord.

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

I test drove one over the wknd...its an end-to-end copy of the accord...the interior surprisingly doesn't seem cheap...its decent quality...and its very very roomy...bigger than both the accord and the camry from the inside...the ride was as good as a honda 2...but the pickup wasn't all that great...

i wouldn't ever buy one, but leasing it wouldn't be a bad option if u have a limited budget...the 4 cylinder with abs and sunroof was coming out to about $350/month including taxes on a 5 yr lease...not bad...much cheaper than what u'd be paying for a camry or an accord with similar features...

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

oh, and here are some ratings and other reviews for the sonata, accord and camry…just as a comparison…

2006 Hyundai Sonata

2005 Honda Accord

2005 Toyota Camry

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

hyundai stil has alot of electrical problems then any other japanese car....i have owned a sonata and excel in the past..and they are very reliable...other than their electrical problems i think its pretty good :)

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

Im thinking of having this car at least 4 yrs… Its my first car, before this I could always drive my parents, though its time to step uo now.
I didnt realize VW had reliability issues, thanks for the info.
I defn. dont need more than 4 seats, probably a 2 dr car is just fine. All my freinds drive, so its no biggie in thta sense.
You have a volvo right? How do you like that so far.
I think the prob with the Impreza is you cant find many used ones and Im reluctanct to by a new car due to the immediate depreciation. Preludes are solid, but then there is the issue they dont get made anymore so repairs will probably cost a small fortune.
I think the Sentra or Eclipse woul dbe cool 2.

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

I really really like the Volvo, but it was very pricey. I had my own reasons for choosing to put a lot of money into a car. Sometimes I wish I had bought something cheaper, but then I sit in the car and get hit with a wave of happiness .

The Volvo sits 5, but the back is kind of cramped. It’s Volvo’s sports sedan and drives/feels like it … it’s fun to be on the road in this thing. The suspension is set up much harder than most american cars so you can throw it around corners and really attack on/off ramps.

I’m surprised you can’t find an Impreza. Are you looking for just a turbo only, or would you take a non-turbo model? Have you tried searching on www.autotrader.com for one in your area?

Edit: To give you an idea of how much I love the Volvo, I can’t wait until I leave work tonight because I have to drive to dinner all the way to one end of the Toronto suburbs, then drop someone off all the way at the other end, and then drive back home to a point halfway between the two. I can’t wait to see it, to touch it, to sit in it, to push down that pedal, and to turn the wheel. Can’t wait to turn the music up, the aircon on, and take her around the place…

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

LOL… Man you do love the Volvo… Well it is a hot car no doubt. Though it costs an arm and a leg…
Hey man, whats ur opinion on the Audi A6 Quattro
Yeah if I was in TO I could easily find a used Impreza, but out west its harder

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

I m sure its an awesome car mads :k:

elahi:

The Audi A6 quattro or no quattro is an awesome car. Especially the latest model. Just a bit expensive. But the whole car looks really agressive and powerfull. I really want one :smiley:

btw in amreeka there s a diff model of the accord?

in Europe:

http://www.autoimage.cz/Honda/Honda%20Accord%20Sedan%202.4%20European%20Version%202003%20-%20003.jpg

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

I thought about getting an Audi, but again I did a lot of research online and Audis designed since the VW takeover seem to need more maintainance due to component failures. They are very well built and don't rattle around unlike many used cars, but just be prepared to change bits around on a regular basis.

For a first car and where you need to sit mainly up to 2 people, the A6 is a little excessive. If your heart screams AUDI, think about the A4 perhaps...

Dutch_paki - the US Accord has the same interior as the European one but a different exterior. The European Accord is sold in North America as the Acura TSX - Acura being Honda's version of Lexus. The Acura TSX looks identical to the Euro Accord from the outside but has a different interior.

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

Thanks for the advice boys,,, Ill let you know what happens....
I wouldnt be surprised if I just end up with a Civic... such a safe pick

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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

If you plan to keep a car for just 4 years ... you might like to think about leasing then rather than buying.

Which country are you in?

----> TimePass
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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

Im in Canada bro... I dont know about leasing. Aint that just like renting. Throwing away cash

Khuda Ke Liye (threads merged)
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Re: Car Discussion Thread: New Hyundai Sonata

Almost. Basically, suppose the car cost 30,000, what will happen is you lease the car for, say, 4 years and then it is returned to the dealership's possession.

The vakue at the end of 4 years is fixed beforehand (with a limit on the amount of kms you can do). For example, the $30,000 car may be agreed to be worth $12,000 after 4 years on the assumption you do 15,000 kms per year, ie 60,000 in total.

What this means is that over 4 years, you pay just $18,000 rather than the $30,000 you would need if buying it outright.

In essence, you monthly payments are less. After 4 years, you return the car. If it's worth more than the $12,000, say because you only drove 40,000kms, you can then use the difference in value as a positive credit toward another new car at the same dealership.

So in essence, with a lease:

  1. Your monthly payments are lower because you only pay part of the value of the car
  2. You don't own the car at the end.
  3. You may get a positive credit towards another new car.

It's good for the consumer because it gives lower monthly payments
It's good for the dealership because there's a good chance you'll use that positive credit to give them repeat business.

The downside is that the guaranteed end value of the car is often a little lower than the value would be if you owned the car outright and tried to sell it at that age.