2011 Hyundai Sonata

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Comments

  • shabadoo25shabadoo25 Member Posts: 232
    I didn't call any of the colors geezer cars, though I could make an argument about the gold one (camel pearl).
  • swingmanswingman Member Posts: 54
    I know. I was responding to abigmutt.
  • m6userm6user Member Posts: 3,181
    Backy, did you ever make it to the auto show? Only a couple of days left.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Tomorrow! Waited for my son (the dis-inherited one) to come home from college to come along.
  • indianexpressindianexpress Member Posts: 1
    Love my new 2011 Sonata Limited but I have an issue with iPod playback that I can't seem to figure out.

    I have a 32GB iPod with about 3000 songs. When using the artist / songs / albums category selection using the head unit it is tedious to scroll through the various items at the speed the "Tune" button scrolls through them. Has anyone found a way to scroll through the categories faster?

    Thanks!
  • syitalian25syitalian25 Member Posts: 303
    I have a 30GB iPod as well and I have been trying to find a way to scroll faster with no luck - I don't think there is a way. The best way is to create a playlist, or scroll by artist/album since their are usually less on that list. Or just pop the iPod out and select the song, then reconnect. Not the most ideal way, but I usually leave it on random anyways.
  • shabadoo25shabadoo25 Member Posts: 232
    Speaking of iPods, any idea how you pause a song that's playing via the iPod cable?
  • phill1phill1 Member Posts: 319
    I love the old Geezer bashing......I was informed many years ago by an aging uncle of mine that getting old was a [non-permissible content removed]! But, considering the alternatives to die young or prematurely, it wasn`t all that bad! I ordered a 2011 Ford Fiesta (I know..wrong forum) yet I don`t fit the demographics of the market this car is aimed at! I just like the style, utility of the hatchback, 40 mpg etc. I ordered the vehicle"without" the Sync technology because I don`t download,upload, flashcard,mp3, bluetooth, social network, you tube,tweeter, face book, my space or anything else. I just like the damn car! I told the sales person I`ll take the $595 cash credit instead of the Sync because I already have all the (sinks) I need in my kitchen and bathrooms!
  • m6userm6user Member Posts: 3,181
    This is just a fantasy.

    2012 Hyundai Sonata Limited S (for Sport)
    Keep all the current Limited equip/options
    Add SE suspension/steering/wheels
    Add 240hp 2.0 Turbo I4
    Maintain or better the EPA mpg ratings

    Price: no more than $1600 more than current Limited to keep the price with all options under 30k.. I know this would be fairly expensive but street price would probably be closer to 26k or 27k, still expensive but think of the car it could be.
  • m6userm6user Member Posts: 3,181
    Questions for current owners.

    How is the bluetooth sound both from inside the cab and comments from who you're talking to? Is the microphone and sound quality good?

    For those with the backup camera. Does the camera kick in immediately upon putting in reverse or is there a delay? If so, how long? I've read of some competing cars where there is a substantial lag time and comments were that they actually just backed up the old way rather than wait for the camera to come up.
  • midas69midas69 Member Posts: 118
    No complaints from my wife regarding the sound quality of my calls. However, I did have an issue initially with the sound in the car. Even turned all the way up it was very soft. I was able to fix this by turning the sound all the way up on my phone. This is my 3rd car with BT and this is the first one that seems to have any correlation to the sound volume on the phone itself.

    As far as the delay with the backup camera, I think some of it has to do with the booting up of the entire system. I've noticed a little bit of a delay when the car is first started. But if it's been running I don't see any delay. According to the manual, the system starts to boot as soon as you unlock the doors. This is true. During my normal commute, I unlock the door and then have something I put in the back seat before I get in and start the car. The AGREE button is usually available. The one time I got in and didn't have that little delay, I had to wait for the AGREE button to come one. So the delay I see normally for the backup camera is probably a little less than most people would see.
  • meikmeik Member Posts: 63
    I am curious about it as well. I currently turn head unit off when needed, then turn it back on. It acts just like "pause". But, I would like to have pause "button" instead of turning a whole audit system off and on.
  • m6userm6user Member Posts: 3,181
    Thanks. So the call volume is good or great with the volume turned up on your phone? I mean could you hear the caller even with your window down or would that just be too much wind noise?

    Yeah, my application would be to jump in the car in the garage and back out so there would really be no "warm up" time like unlocking the doors. Unless of course one got into the habit of unlocking the doors as soon as going into the garage. It seems odd that these back up cameras would take long at all to come on. It seems like they should come up basically the instant you put the car in reverse. Oh well, can't have everything I guess.
  • shabadoo25shabadoo25 Member Posts: 232
    The backup camera comes up pretty quick, as long as the car isn't starting up in GPS mode. I switch it back to XM before I turn the car off to prevent this when I get back in.

    The bluetooth sounds great for everyone, but a normal conversation pretty much requires maxing out its volume. I'm not sure how well it would work with the window down, but mine is never down.

    FYI, Ed Voyles Hyundai in Smyrna, Georgia has 2 manual transmission Sonata GLS's in stock. One in Camel Pearl, one in black, both with tan cloth interiors.

    Finally, I saw the Indigo Blue today. Not bad and I'm partial to that color, but the car can look purple in the right light.
  • m6userm6user Member Posts: 3,181
    That's a good point about getting out of GPS mode before turning off the car. I can see where the system would be acquiring satellites etc if it was in GPS mode which could slow down the switchover to the backup camera. Since, I would probably be using the GPS mainly on trips, that's not much of a problem then. Thanks.
  • shabadoo25shabadoo25 Member Posts: 232
    Once I'm driving around and set on my radio station, I usually bring the map up just to have it on the screen. However, no big whoop to switch out of it before shutting the car off.
  • midas69midas69 Member Posts: 118
    Yea, I wouldn't try to have the windows open when using the BT. I'm typically one that keeps the windows closed most of the time, but I can't imagine that the wind noise wouldn't get picked up by the microphone.

    As far as leaving the unit set to radio rather than the map, I'll have to try that. The delay really hasn't bothered me, but it's still a curiosity.
  • fushigifushigi Member Posts: 1,459
    Those are interesting comments about the GPS & backup camera. My Outlander takes about a second to switch the screen from either the "entertainment system" or GPS to the camera view. It seems like internally they're different and all it's doing is switching the "video out" so to speak.

    And GPS is instantly available; no waiting for it to locate a satellite. My guess is the system simply assumes that you haven't towed the car after the last time you turned it off, which is a good assumption for 99.999% of the time.

    What takes the longest, but still just a few seconds, is for the hard drive to spin up when playing tunes off of it.
    2017 Infiniti QX60 (me), 2012 Hyundai Elantra (wife)
  • midas69midas69 Member Posts: 118
    Yea, it's not the satellite acquisition that takes the time, it's the booting of the system. It's just a computer and it needs to boot before you can use it. Most companies have a corporate logo that shows during boot-up but the Sonata just goes to the disclaimer screen with the AGREE button not active until it's done booting.
  • syitalian25syitalian25 Member Posts: 303
    lol well congrats on your new Fiesta, you obviously have different priorities in terms of size, power, luxury, and technology features than most of us in this thread. The Fiesta is in a whole different class, I don't think many people cross shop between that any a 2011 Sonata, but hope you enjoy the car! I'm skeptical about buying American brands these days, I'm sad to say.
  • syitalian25syitalian25 Member Posts: 303
    The sound quality on the blutooth has been excellent, I use it all the time. You can set the volume to automatically adjust when a call comes in, I like to keep mine around 17 or 18 on the highway with the windows rolled up, but the max is 35 so that's not that high. I also would not recommend opening the windows all the way, the wind noise would probably be annoying.

    I especially like that you can voice dial any of the names on your contacts list, which I use all the time. You can also stream stereo bluetooth - which I didn't care about until I got my new Droid phone with unlimited internet. Now I can get internet radio through Pandora or watch a movie trailer (when the car is parked) and the sound is full stereo through the car. Very high tech.
  • andyfromvaandyfromva Member Posts: 79
    I'm skeptical about buying American brands these days, I'm sad to say.

    I felt that way too before I began my car search, which eventually ended up with the 2011 Sonata, but I was impressed with the Ford Fusion and Chevy Malibu, especially the Chevy. Ford and GM are making much better cars these days. Chrysler, on the other hand . . .:P
  • midas69midas69 Member Posts: 118
    The sound quality on the blutooth has been excellent, I use it all the time. You can set the volume to automatically adjust when a call comes in, I like to keep mine around 17 or 18 on the highway with the windows rolled up, but the max is 35 so that's not that high. I also would not recommend opening the windows all the way, the wind noise would probably be annoying.

    Wow, I have mine all the way up to 35 and the volume on my blackberry maxed out. I wonder if mine is maybe defective. Which model do you have? Mine is the limited with NAV.
  • bobadbobad Member Posts: 1,587
    Heck, I don't even understand why they make this car in baby blue outside of North Carolina, but I'm sure they'll sell plenty of them

    The Sonata (and Camry, Accords) are mom cars, so you must have mom colors.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I got to check out a GLS with the camel interior at the local auto show today. As I suspected from looking at the brochure and seeing the SE's interior and the grey GLS interior, I like the camel cloth better than the grey cloth. But I think soiling will be a problem for some owners as it's a pretty light camel color. The camel plastic was just OK, and I think Hyundai made a mistake by using too much of it on the door panels. For example, I think having a different color on the flat plate surrounding the window controls would look more interesting--either black, or whatever trim material is used on the dash--woodgrain etc. The door panels look very plain (read "cheap") compared to cars like the Mazda6. I think that car has a much nicer tan interior than the Sonata's.

    The good news is the driver's seat was quite comfortable even with the manual height adjuster, so I could live with the base model, no options. I heard multiple people exclaim surprise over the car's $21k price, e.g. "This is ONLY $21,000? Wow!"

    It was ironic that the Hyundai exhibit was right next to the Mercedes exhibit, and they had several of their "4-door coupes" on display. Interesting comparing the Sonatas for $21k+ to the much more expensive Mercedes cars. Of course, there's a few differences... :)
  • syitalian25syitalian25 Member Posts: 303
    I have the SE with the base stereo, but as someone said before it might have something to do with the volume level on your phone. Try turning up the call volume a bit and see if that helps. I can't imagine setting mine all the way to 35, it would be uncomfortably loud.
  • meikmeik Member Posts: 63
    Just in case that you want to hear from different user/owner to compare to your case.

    I am using Bluetooth daily basis, windows are alway up, Bluetooth volume on my car sets at 12, my phone volume is maxed out. Sound quality is excellent and sometimes I feel it is a bit loud. I have a Limited w/o Nav.
  • midas69midas69 Member Posts: 118
    I have the SE with the base stereo, but as someone said before it might have something to do with the volume level on your phone. Try turning up the call volume a bit and see if that helps. I can't imagine setting mine all the way to 35, it would be uncomfortably loud.

    Yea, I was the one that mentioned setting the volume on the phone up originally. But the volume on the Blackberry is maxed out and the volume in the Sonata is at 35. It's loud enough but not loud. I'm not comfortable having no more headroom for when someone is a little on the quiet side.
  • meikmeik Member Posts: 63
    I just put little over 600 miles on mine a week after I picked it up.
    A week ago, a salesperson told me about break-in.
    1. don't go over 65 mph.
    2. don't drive at the same speed more than 10 minutes.
    3. try to keep 1 and 2 until I put 600 miles on the car.

    Yes, I exactly followed his instruction. Also I took 2 as "don't run your engine at the same RPM for more than 10 minutes" so I tried to use local instead of highway if possible.

    Today, I looked at on the back of my owner's manual and found this print "Driving tips for first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) ...... 1-5"

    On the page 1-5:
    1. it says "first 600 miles", not "1,200 miles" as on the back.
    2. do not race the engine.
    3. while driving, keep your engine speed (rpm, or revolutions per minute) between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm. :surprise:
    4. do not maintain a single speed for long periods of time, either fast or slow. Varing engine speed is needed to properly break-in the engine.
    5. avoid hard stops, except in emergencies, to allow the brakes to seat properly.
    6. don't let the engine idel longer than 3 minutes at one time.
    7. don't tow a trailer during the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) of operation.

    I believe that I kept all from 2 to 6 except 3 (not 7 yet. my ODO reads only 613).
    Now I am wondering....... what I have done is correct. :confuse: :confuse:
    Because to keep RPM between 2,000 and 4,000 "manual shift" has to be used and final gear (6th) is almost useless. I have never used "manual shift" yet and I believe RPM has stayed below 1,700 most of time while driving, except when gear shifts up automatically.

    Does any other user notice what Owner's manual says? Any comments or advice for "Dummy for a new car" (me)?
  • andyfromvaandyfromva Member Posts: 79
    Hmm. I'm going to be driving to New Jersey and back in a couple of days - a 400 mile trip. I was going to keep the car under 65, but I wasn't planning on varying my speed - pretty hard to do on the highway. Maybe I ought to reconsider.
  • midas69midas69 Member Posts: 118
    I believe #3 is impossible unless you rev your engine when stopped at a light.

    I doubt this car is any different than any other car with regards to break-in. Basically avoid hard stops if possible, vary your RPMs, and avoid WOT.
  • shuale_ejsshuale_ejs Member Posts: 115
    I am getting the LTD w/nav and I have a Droid. How do you stream the internet radio and movie trailers through bluetooth? I was thinking about subscribing to XM after the promotion period is over but maybe I won't have to now.
  • shuale_ejsshuale_ejs Member Posts: 115
    What is WOT?
  • shabadoo25shabadoo25 Member Posts: 232
    Well, I'm around 300 miles with mine, and I had it up to 75 today for a short freeway trip. Any idea if that's going to be a problem?

    I also have the nav package, and I use the Bluetooth with the volume maxed out, or just slightly below. The volume on my phone doesn't seem to make any difference.
  • shabadoo25shabadoo25 Member Posts: 232
    I believe it's a menu choice under the phone setup.
  • midas69midas69 Member Posts: 118
    What is WOT?

    Sorry, it means wide open throttle.
  • meikmeik Member Posts: 63
    I went on 200 miles round trip once right after I picked it up. I drove at between 55 mph and 65 mph. I mostly drove around 63 mph and once a while coasted down to 55 mph and hit gas pedal to go back to around 65 mph. I saw tacometer was moving, down a bit while coasting down to 55 and up by about 300 while accelerating then down to what it was at 63-65 mph....

    Even though I put about 600 miles on mine, I am thinking of following Owner's Manual for another 400 - 500 miles, with manual shifting. In that way, I can keep RPM over 2,000 on the road most of time. I probably use up to 4th most of time.

    I am wondering if my transmission would "learn" some wrong, because it is not how I drive usually .......

    Any advice? Should I just ignore the owner's manual as some said?
  • napsfannapsfan Member Posts: 23
    I am getting the LTD w/nav and I have a Droid. How do you stream the internet radio and movie trailers through bluetooth? I was thinking about subscribing to XM after the promotion period is over but maybe I won't have to now.

    Follow the manual to set up Bluetooth the first time. It is easy. Then anytime you hop in the car, your Droid will automatically connect to the Sonata. So if you play mp3 files with your Droid music player, or if you play your Pandora or Slacker streaming internet radio, they just play automatically through the Sonata's audio system. Simple as that. (Note that internet radio through your phone will not be as high of audio quality as XM, since the streaming audio applications for phones have to down-sample the bit rate to make it suitable for over-the-air delivery to phones. XM doesn't have to worry about that. So your iPod, or mp3 files on a USB memory stick, or XM radio, or HD radio, all have better audio quality than Pandora or Slacker. But those still are not "too bad".
  • Jason5Jason5 Member Posts: 440
    While I think it's probably sensible to read the "break-in" ideas; they tend to be very similar. I've been told by several "master mechanics" and two automotive engineers that modern cars don't require a specific break in period. In fact, in the old days most manuals said "brief periods of full throttle acceleration contribute to a good break-in". I suspect that any Sonata that went out for a test drive already violated break in rules before it had 30 miles on the odometer. Again, I'm not saying don't follow the rules, but I doubt they are as significant and necessary as they once were.
  • cmunizcmuniz Member Posts: 604
    I agree. As far as the comments from previous posters, I don't think any harm was done. I would say the most importants things are no hard accelerations or stops and vary speed as much as possible.
  • syitalian25syitalian25 Member Posts: 303
    Follow the manual to pair the phone to the car audio system, then on the base model you just hit the "Aux" button again and any audio on the phone will play through the car. Some applications like Pandora have an option for regular or high quality, and the high quality is very similar to the XM. I am not planning to renew my XM subscription when it's up, between Pandora and my 30GB iPod I have more than enough music.
  • midas69midas69 Member Posts: 118
    On my blackberry I had to choose bluetooth within the Pandora application. If you're not using a dedicated app then you'll likely have to do no configurations.

    And saying Pandora high quality is similar to XM isn't saying much. Wow, XM sounds like crap now. I remember it sounding great 5 years ago. I doubt it's the radio because my MP3s sound great and those aren't even recorded at the highest quality.
  • lancep97lancep97 Member Posts: 36
    Anyone have any guesses to what (if anything) Hyundai will add to the Sonata with the turbo option? Dual exhausts? LED lights? Panoramic Sunroof?...
  • jsmit86jsmit86 Member Posts: 116
    I am in the process of getting a 2011 Sonata Limited. (Hopefully this week!)
    I know that you can play MP3 files from a USB stick. Many of my iTunes files are in m4a/aac format. Can anyone confirm if the Sonata can also play those files?
  • shabadoo25shabadoo25 Member Posts: 232
    It will stream songs from your iPod and/or iPhone.
  • jsmit86jsmit86 Member Posts: 116
    Thanks, but I already knew that. ;)
    My question is .. if I leave the iPod at home, and copy the files to USB, can the Sonata (Infinit w Nav) play the m4a files, of just the MP3's?
  • shabadoo25shabadoo25 Member Posts: 232
    I'm not sure how that would work. I thought iTunes's format was proprietary and wouldn't work other than through an iPod/iPhone.

    You might have to use WMP to convert the files to MP3 before loading them onto the stick.
  • vgl6061vgl6061 Member Posts: 3
    Can someone tell me if smart key is standard for every 11 Hyundai Sonata? Does the navigation package in the limited comes with rear view camera? If not, how much?
  • napsfannapsfan Member Posts: 23
    I know that you can play MP3 files from a USB stick. Many of my iTunes files are in m4a/aac format. Can anyone confirm if the Sonata can also play those files?

    m4a format does NOT work. I put some of those on my USB at first and the Sonata did not recogize any of the files. I'm not sure what all formats it recognizes, but I've used mp3 successfully and m4a was not successful.
  • jsmit86jsmit86 Member Posts: 116
    In reply to

    Can someone tell me if smart key is standard for every 11 Hyundai Sonata?
    Not on GLS, Standard on SE and Limited


    Does the navigation package in the limited comes with rear view camera? If not, how much? Yes - Limited with Nav has the Backup Camera
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