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Comments
Maybe I'll have to look into getting an aftermarket muffler installed. As much as I'm learning to love the little 4-cyl, the sound makes it feel like a tin can. I know that the car is much more than a tin can, so the engine sound isn't really fitting for it.
I'm still happy that I bought the Limited, just due to all the other features it's got, but again, it surprises me that the Limited doesn't have the nicer exhaust system. Odd, is it not?
Cheers,
-Trevor
If HD Radio is important, check to see that your Sonata is a recent build. Some of the first Sonatas with navigation systems didn't get the HD Radio chipsets. (First dealer deliveries were in December 2009.) Since the cars are built in Alabama, it's a shorter supply line than other models out of Korea.
few more comments:
-gen coupe beat Camaro v6 in the comparo already. in the comparison genesis coupe was clearly superior in almost all areas.
-17/26 for manual 17/27 for automatic. mazda6 v6 17/25 with less HP, less torque and etc
-genesis coupe has nothing to do with luxury. it's an affordable RWD sports coupe. it's cross shopped against civic SI, mazdaspeed 3, GTI of the world even with RWD. and the most close comparison would be G37coupe in terms of performance.
-again i don't know why civic SI is mentioned in sonata's discussion, but it has better 0-60 because it's a civic Si! it's a fast little sporty coupe with 200hp and weighs under 3000lb. it's meant to have a faster 0-60 than a car that is twice bigger. i briefly owned 2007 civic si sedan. it's not a good or fun car. it's a huge disasppointment. it's definitely not a driver's car. i even like previous gen better. and GEN COUPE TURBO is much much better car than civic SI ever will be regardless of 0-60.
ON THE ROAD:
OK, guys, I've know I've been b**ching for several paragraphs now about the trim/hardware and interior, but here is where the b**ching stops. It's easy to see where Hyundai put the development money here.....chassis and drivetrain. This car, on the road, is a superb sports coupe, and here is where we get the payback for the car's other mediocre features. I enjoyed driving it even more than the Nissan 370Z several weeks ago....this car is a serious BMW-fighter in its road manners, and you can bet it will command some respect among enthusiasts.
Foot on the brake, start the 3.8L V6 with a proximity key fob and a start button on the dash...now common among upmarket vehicles. The engine fires up smoothly and not-so-quietly, with an audible but not loud exhaust tone. Throttle tip-in (a drive-by-wire system) is a little jumpy from rest under some conditions, other times smoother, so you don't want to be right up on the guy's bumper in front of you when you start up. Give it some gas under way, though, and the 306 HP and 266 ft-lbs, in this fairly light (3389 lbs, empty) RWD coupe give you a healthy shove in the back as you surge forward. It's not quite Corvette or Dodge Viper acceleration, but this engine will definitely get out of its own way. The maximum 266 ft-lbs, at 4700 RPM, is not enormous on paper (comparable to that of many competing V6s), but the torque curve feels quite flat.....the power starts coming on at low RPMs. And, again, the exhaust drone, though somewhat flat and nasal in tone, lets you know that you are in a sport-oriented vehicle, but not to the point of assaulting your ears.
The ZF 6-speed SHIFTRONIC transmission is also first-rate, being marred only by the afore-mentioned zig-zag shifter (which is usually not a factor on the road) and the somewhat awkwardly-mounted and hinged column shift-paddles that force you to pull them back on the bottom of them instead of the more usual top/bottom motion. But, in its sport-shifting characteristics, this is probably the best transmission I've seen since the superb VW/Audi DSG I've praised so much in other reviews. Sport-shift lever or paddles, the transmission responds instantly and with NO delay....flick a gear and you've got it right now, no nonsense. And the instant shifting is accomplished without any harshness or bumpiness....difficult for engineers to do a conventional, torque-converter automatic.
And, if the drivetrain is well-done, the chassis is even better (yes, on a Hyundai). Steering response is Miata-quick, almost to the point of being darty. Steering feel is nice, firm, much heavier than in any other Hyundai I've driven, and comes very close to the telepatic-feel of BMW systems (not quite, but very close). Cornering is sports-car flat, with virtually no body roll.....even when I gave the wheel some pretty sharp tugs. The turning radius, at low speeds, is short enough to give it good manuverability in tight quarters, too. Ride comfort, with the 18", 45-series front and 19", 40-rear tires (they can't be rotated front/back), is, as expected, somewhat on the firm side, but, like BMW, Hyundai enginers have been able to combine a reasonably smooth ride for the superb level of handling this car has. Road noise level, while audible, is not bad (the extra trunk insulation helps), and wind noise, despite the cheap window mouldings on the exterior, is not bad either.
And, does this car stop as well as it goes? You bet......and then some. Like the transmission and steering, the big, red-caliper, Brembo brake package (standard on Track models) hauls the car down from speed like a battleship anchor tossed out of a canoe. Pedal response is literally instantaneous, quicker even than on many German sports sedans I've tried, including some BMWs. There is no detectable sponginess at all, though the rotor/pad feel, while extremely smooth, is not quite as smooth as on some Audis I've driven. The only thing I didn't like about the brakes was where they placed the pedal...it is too high and close to the gas pedal for my tastes, and I had to be careful not to get my big circus-clown size 15 shoes hung-up under the brake pedal when lifting off the gas. And the gas pedal itself is too close to the console for my tastes, too.
THE VERDICT:
Well, guys, you can tell, from my review, that I took a lot of notes while doing the interior/exterior static reviews (many of them, of course, negative), but then got one of the surprises of my life when I started it up and actually drove it. Hyundai did skimp somewhat on trim and hardware, but, in return, has given us a serious BMW-fighter. This is, without a doubt, IMO, the best sport-oriented vehicle, stock from the factory, ever to enter the American market from a Korean manufacturer. That they can do so for only 32K makes this car an even more remarkable buy...but, of course, that reflects some of the trim and interior cost-cutting (you can't have your cake and eat it too).
Of course, I reviewed.....and drove.....the top-of-the-line 3.8 Track model, which is clearly the most sport-oriented of the various Coupe models. While I did not drive and compare the lesser Coupe models (indeed, I couldn't, for almost none were available), it's probably a safe bet to say that one should not expect quite this level of performance with the lesser.....and less expensive......versions. Still, my guess, based on what I've seen with the 3.8 Track, is that even the lesser versions won't have much, on the road, to apologize for.
Congragulations, Hyundai, for a superb sport-coupe, at a reasonable price.
FYI, I've got some new pictures coming, and some more video (720p) of both the interior and exterior of the car!
Cheers,
Trevor
My $0.02 worth.
Also I found another review on AOL Autos which was very positive, check it out.
http://autos.aol.com/article/2011-hyundai-sonata
If I were you, give them a try. Be ready to bargain hard for your deal. I'm sure you'll leave there satisfied, hopefully with a new Sonata. :shades:
Another telling sign that this review was hurriedly and carelessly written is that the author makes no mention of the 2011 Sonata’s best-in-class safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Sonata not only aced the more stringent crash safety tests, it also exceeded its more stringent roof crush test by surpassing its rivals by a Michigan mile.
While I'm not expecting every review to be gushing this one was beyond hysterically nit picky. No thank you.
I asked the local dealer about it a week ago but he could not tell me.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/2011-hyundai-sonata-watch-out-camry-accord-2010- -02-27?reflink=MW_news_stmp
but i doubt it's that fast. when i drove it, it felt faster than last gen and camry, but i didn't feel like it's a 7 second car. but what do i know.
I can get a Cadillac CTS for $380 per month, and the CTS has an MSRP that's about 20k more than the Sonata Limited.
How is the Sonata Limited lease "special?"
I do plan on driving it (after only sat in a GLS), but I'm seeing so much hype that I fear Hyundai's efforts are going to fizzle out when the masses start driving their cars in the real world of pot holes and traffic jams.
Well you put about $3300 more down than he did. As a rough estimate, on a 3 year lease you can figure about $30 per month for every $1000. So with a comparable down payment your cost would have been about $259 a month instead. The extra cost of the Limited over the GLS makes up the rest of the difference, about $4K = $120 per month more.
It is not smart to put down a lot of money on any lease. You should have read post #150 in the sonata lease forum. The thread moderator "carman" backs up my claim with his own words:
" I always advise consumers not to make large down payments on leases vehicles. Those who make them risk losing part or all of them if their vehicle is totaled in an accident or stolen and never recovered. "
Hyundai is subsidizing the new model with attractive lease rates:
For 36 months and 12k miles per year, pre-tax numbers
GLS, 60%, .00048; at 20060 sell price comes to 239/month (msrp 21050)
Limited, 58%, .00095; at 25000 sell price comes to 328/month (msrp 26150)
Zero down, 595 acq fee built into the lease. Some dealers are beating these numbers at least for now.
It is not smart to put down a lot of money on any lease. You should have read post #150 in the sonata lease forum. The thread moderator "carman" backs up my claim with his own words:
" I always advise consumers not to make large down payments on leases vehicles. Those who make them risk losing part or all of them if their vehicle is totaled in an accident or stolen and never recovered. "
Exactly right. In addition to risking losing all of the money you put down on a lease, you are losing the opportunity on the money, whether that may be 1.5% in a money market or 20% in a business investment (per annum)...
I am able to get the supplier discount on Hyundai vehicles and many others, so I will only purchase, but even if I didn't, I would not lease any vehicle any ways, unless the lease deal was extraordinarily subsidized by the manufacturer and/or dealer.
I am waiting until the initial media buzz about the new Sonata dies down, and will then test drive it when normalcy returns. I am not overwhelmed by the interior of the GLS that I sat in, and this may be a function of "the greater the hype, the bigger the letdown."
Having said that, I am willing to give it a fair shake and see how it drives compared to the 5 cars I've already test driven before making my next purchase.
15k miles is an absolutely amazing deal.I've seen nothing like that in the ads. The current cts lease "special" is 369 for 39 months with $5844 down and tax title fees extra. That would add an additional $200 plus to the payment. making it $569 plus fees. Looks like you got an additional $7000 from the dealer. Must be a relation.
my interest in the lease deal wasn't serious -- still have 18 months on my murano. The salesman showed me the sheet. Would certainly do a bit of grinding if I was ready.
Now, to the reason for this post. I purchased the 2011 Sonata Limited yesterday. I had previously asked for input on whether to buy the GLS or the Limited. Well, I was not impressed with the cloth seats in the GLS. I paid $23,000 for my Limited which had a MSRP of $26,155. I think I got a helluva deal.
I only have 180 miles on it, but so far I love everything about it. It is very roomy. I cannot touch the firewall with my toes when in a comfortable driving position. I think the power is very good, as is acceleration. The sound system is impressive. I was amazed at the roominess of the trunk. All in all, for the money, I don't see how anyone could choose a Camry or Accord over the Hyundai, but then, that's why they make chocolate and vanilla.
My dealer cannot keep them on the lot, they are selling like hotcakes! He had to trade a Tucson in order to get a GLS, as most shipments are the SE and Limited.
If you're BUYING, getting an internet quote is the only way to go.
I got the lease info from a local dealer here in OH. Then, it was validated by "CARMAN" on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Lease forum. I use my own lease spreadsheet to do the calculations (pre-tax, no license or doc fees). See post 149 there:
"Pegasus17, here is the information that you're looking for. Hyundai Motors Finance's current buy rate lease money factor and residual value for a 36 month lease of a 2011 Sonata GLS with 12,000 miles per year are .00048 and 60%, respectively. Car_man, Host, Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum"
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.ef9da1e/149
A new 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited for 23000! Where, how, can it be repeated? Did you have a trade that they lowballed? Best I can do is 2000 off MSRP and i thought that was amazing. Did you have any other rebates or discounts (loyalty, military, supplier)?
BTW, 0-60 times are posted for most (if not all) family sedans. Obviously family sedans won't be breaking any power records and there are more important aspects of the car than speed off the line but it can come in handy for passing or merging onto the interstate. So a good 0-60 time is useful regardless of what class of car you buy.
When I go shopping this summer, hopefully I can get that kind of deal on a limited should I go that route. How did you get that kind of a deal? Just what they quoted over the internet?
I've seen some reviews comment about lack of knee room. Have you noticed any issues with knees feeling crunched?
Now, let me tell you the rest. I went to the dealer yesterday to see the GLS with cloth seat, didn't like them and decided to go with the Limited. I asked for the internet mgr. but he had not come in to work yet. Another salesman said he could do the same thing using his notes. When he asked me what price I was quoted, he almost choked when I told him. I told him he could call the IM if he did not believe me, which he did. He told me he was selling it below their cost, but I doubt that. Now let me tell you the best part.
I was turned over to the "paperwork guy" to complete all the forms. When he handed me a form to sign, I noticed that it had a $299.00 administrative fee. I told him the IM said $23,000 plus title and taxes, no fees. He responded that the fee could not be waived. At that point, I picked up my file folder and checkbook, stood up, and said "That's a dealbreaker,so I'm leaving." He quickly changed his tune and reviised the figures to eliminate the fee.
Bottom line, I have a new 2011 Limited and paid $23,000. You can believe it or not, I don't care, I have the car and love it.
On my way home from the dealership i was able to get the Sonata up to 110 on the tollway; It was smooth as glass, quiet and was still pulling in 5th gear. I could have gone faster, but didn't want to chance passing a cop. I researched and test drove many cars before deciding on this one. I think I got a good deal: 21,500 for the car 4,500 for my trade(2006 KIA Rio w/ 35K miles) and 3000 down 2.9% for 60 months and $275 a month payments. This car is awesome. The black is beautiful and very elegant. I will try to take some pics tomorrow and post them. i have a feeling that Hyundai will sell a ton of these, it is the best/most car for the money at the price point.
LOL