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That is a very true statement. Price aside however, there are legions of Camry loyalist out there and for good reason. The Toyota Camry has one of the most reliable name plates and sells at least 30,000 plus units per month. In S. Florida where I live the new Camrys are already on the road. Contrast that to the Sonata which took several weeks to months to appear in significant numbers.
Many will purchase SE Camry without additional features already included with Sonata but that just goes to show you how much further Hyundai has to go to prove to a still skeptical consumer that they are as good as or "better than" the top name brands, Honda and Toyota.
I have been told that in FL the prices are "set?" high. So I didn't consider it at the time. I haven't been able to find anything much to compare prices with, does anyone out there have any solid info about the warranty? Is it worthwhile, does it not cover anything for the 1st 60months? I am confused about all of the warranty stuff. :confuse: :confuse:
The extended warranty kicks in when 5 years or 60k miles is exceeded, whichever comes first. So you could start using the extended warranty before 60 months if you drive a lot. Also, the extended warranty is transferrable, so it should add to the resale value of your Sonata.
IMO it is best to steer clear of the third-party warranties. If the company goes belly-up, you lose. Also Hyundai's warranty has no deductible (I think).
Something tells me that we're being duped again.
Does one buy a Kia expecting to use premium?
John
As far as I know, neither the Optima or the Sonata engines are superchargers or any other kind of High Performance engine.
The New Optima offers a very vague information, not even mention the V6 HP.
Regardles of the Octane you select you basically going to get the same performance.
Many high-performance engines are designed to operate with a high maximum compression and thus need a high quality (high energy) fuel usually associated with high octane numbers, and thus demand high-octane premium gasoline.
The power output of an engine depends on the energy content of its fuel, and this bears no simple relationship to the octane rating. A common myth amongst petrol consumers is that adding a higher octane fuel to a vehicle's engine will increase its performance and/or lessen its fuel consumption; this is mostly false—engines perform best when using fuel with the octane rating they were designed for and any increase in performance by using a fuel with a different octane rating is minimal.
High performance motors use higher octane, because the timing and computer sensors are setup for it. This gives you a fraction of a second quicker response time when you stomp on the gas and the motor will run without pinging under load. The Toyota Camry v6 that says you should use high octane are the ones being duped by paying a higher price for fuel that isn't necessary for a family sedan. Toyota can set the Camry up for regular gas and from 0-60 it would be less then a tenth of a second difference and save you a lot of extra money on fuel. Manufactures of cars spend thousands of dollars to rebuild and design motors to get an extra 20 or 30 horsepower out of them. If it was that easy to put a different air filter from the paper ones in to get 20 more horsepower like some people believe, then i'm sure they would do it, because more horsepower sells. Horsepower isn't the total picture when it comes to performance. You have to have the right gearing of the transmission and rear end, plus torque to really make the difference.
We also got a great deal, $9.99 oil changes for life (original owner) and free car wash during the service visit.
The manual says 5000 miles, but I go every 4000.
There's a reason for that.
Maybe Hyundai should change their name. Weak reputation.
You took the words right out of my mouth. Most people don't realize the majority of imports started out as bad cars with bad reputations, however they kept the same name. I am a salesperson with Kia in Lakeland, Florida and I am constantly having to handle that objection.
Donatello
Maybe Hyundai should change their name. Weak reputation.
The main reason is, they are not car savvy.
I don't think people dislike or distrust the Hyundai name. I think it's more about familiarity. Hyundai has an brilliant ad campaign on TV right now. One can tell by watching that they have 2 main goals. 1 is to SHOW THE CAR, which many car commercials neglect. The main purpose of the ads? To repeat the Hyundai name over and over to gain name recognition. It's working. 2 years ago when someone at work was getting ready to buy a new car, the name Hyundai never came up at the water cooler. Now, not only does it come up, but it's treated with respect. It's very clear that Hyundai's goal has shifted. Their goal appears to be doing whatever it takes compete directly with Toyota in sales, engineering, and quality. I think they will succeed in an amazingly short time.
People do distrust the name. Where've you been? Cause if they didn't Hyundai wouldn't have to run its damage control offensive along with buying market share with giveaway prices.
I fully realize that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," and everyone has a different opinion, but I just can't accept the looks of the new Camry. I will stick with my original decision to buy a new Sonata.
I've owned a Nissan, several Hondas, and a few Toyotas, but the Hyundai I own now was perfect out-of-the-box when delivered by the selling dealer, and as reliable as any of the Japanese marques. Some pople just don't seem to understand that the paradigm is always changing. I remember the time when people laughed at you in the early '70s for driving a Honda.
The more things change, the more they stay the same!
Does anybody know?
Example: Honda motors are usually after 5,000 miles
Its just that there are some closed minded people out there that won't consider them.
Test drive one and find out about them.
I am hoping to put 200K on mine, so far so good.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Ah people distrust the name, thats why their sales have been going up.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
People do distrust the name. Where've you been? Cause if they didn't Hyundai wouldn't have to run its damage control offensive along with buying market share with giveaway prices.
Name recognition is the second goal, as I stated.
You sound like a person who has never driven a Sonata. Do yourself a favor and go treat yourself!
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"Experienced marketing professionals know that 10% of the people like everything, and 10% of the people like nothing".
Your logic doesn't equate with market sales figures. More people bought Hyundai's and Kia's in the United States in 2005 than any other import other than Toyota, Honda and Nissan. I suppose that because Hyundai/Kia outsold Suburu, Mazda, BMW, Volvo, Mercedes and EVERY OTHER IMPORT, that 'People' distrust their name more.
'Buying market share with giveaway prices' - Your alluding to 'dumping', and since the FTC recently approved Hyundai and Kia's license to sell automobiles for 2006 in the US, it makes your analysis inaccurate.
'Buying Market Share' - Market share is always for sale
'Giveaway Prices' - Prior to the onslaught of Japanese dominance, the upstart Japanese such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan/Datsun, Suburu and Mazda were all blamed for 'giving away' their cars, which by the way were autos people chose to purchae and were not forced to purchase, to gain a foothold in the market. These terms were used in the 70's and 80's when marketshare was shifting and change was underway.
I don't think Hyundai is giving away cars. I think they decided to use the Sonata to attack that price bracket, which is positioned a tad higher than the compacts but lower than all the other well-heeled family sedans (mom cars). I believe they will keep the Sonata in that bracket permanently. I think the new billion dollar, super-efficient assembly plant in Alabama results in Sonata's low price, not any great sacrifice by Hyundai.
I love the Kia brand and I also am getting quite enamored with the Scion brand from Toyota. Keeping an open mind about cars is the smartest way to go. I'm glad I didn't stay in this funky shell buying American cars only.
That would have been tragic. And I would not have been Tragically Hip, either. Rock it boys!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
No real problems, though I have only put 2000 miles on it since I bought it in Nov. Just the items mentioned in other posts ( gas sloshing noise, suspension noises etc)I love the car however, and for the price it can't be beat. I still think it is one of the best looking cars on the road ( again, just my opinion).
Mine too... and that is why I am reluctant to trust service... any service... done by dealerships... aside from being exorbitant!
The reason why dealers over-inflate the tires is they are trying to prevent 'flat spotting,' where cars that sit for long periods of time develop bald, flat spots on the tires.
Make sure to check your tires!
Also, if the car has been on the lot for a long time - I'm talking many months - have them change the engine oil.
I heard that the main reason for 50 PSI is to help prevent the underside of the car from hitting the ground during loading and unloading by Transportion (Cargo) trucks!
LX vs GTS
1)Electronic Stability Control (not available on the Galant)
2)Side Head Curtain Airbag (not available on the Galant)
3)Automatic Locking Retractor
4)Air Filter (just optional on the Galant)
5)Electrochromic Mirror (not available on the Galant)
6)Homelink (not available on the Galant)
7)Cargo Area Power Outlet (not available on the Galant)
8)Subwoofer (not available on the Galant)
9)Front Manual Lumbar Support (not available on the Galant)
10)Second Row Folding Seat (not available on the Galant)
11)235 HP vs 230 HP
12)Fuel Economy 20/30 vs 18/27
13)MRSP $22,895 vs $26,999
14)Remote Fuel Door Release (not available on the Galant)
15)Shiftronic? Manually Interactive Transmission (not available on the Galant)
16)AT 5speed vs 4speed
17)Interior Dimensions (Sonata better on 9 of 10 areas over the Galant)
18) Aluminum engine vs cast iron
There no doubt you get a lot lot lot lot more for less money w/ the Sonata. The Sonata's Fit & Finish is by far more superior and much more comfortable and quite ride. Lets recap................much much more standard equipment, more safety features, faster w/ better fuel economy, better quality materials, better ride...........at a better price.
The Sonata is in the Camry/Accord league, while the Galant is fighting w/ the Ford/GM rental cars.
CARS? No way. If there is ONE Japanese auto maker I won't even consider, it's Mitsubishi. Just do some research... Check Consumer Report.... This is one comapny that has been accused too many times of cutting corners and building unsafe cars.
Solved by a good local mechanic who simply popped in new rotors and a heavier-duty brake pad (evidently the OEM Kia brake pads were a tad under-tough). Never had a brake problem. Really, the '99 Sephia was running like a champ when I traded in for the '01 Kia Sportage 4x4 in late September of 2001. I just traded it in because I could and the Sportage 4x4 has been a great little SUV to own and drive.
91escort, I'm curious, are you in the market to buy a 2006 Hyundai Sonata? Have you already bought one? Thanks for your upbuilding Kia comments. There are literally skads of us Kia-ites in America now but not everyone participates in forums like this and adds their input. Really nice to see, yes it is!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
My 19" Hyundai LD90 monitor is not chopped liver! I compared the pictures and prices to many top brands, and it won out by a good margin. It's been faultless for over a year. It had nothing to do with my decision to buy my 06 Sonata... or did it?
I noticed that the Endeavor also requires premium when I was shopping for an SUV a couple of years ago. It was one of many reasons I didn't buy one. Very cheap cheesy interior was another. Very odd placement of the Audio and Climate controls on Steering wheel. Very flat leather seats. I could go on, but I won't. If the Gallant is a cheap and cheesy, I say without a doubt go with the Sonata. Even if they were the same price it would be a no brainer for me.