Hyundai Sonata 2005 and earlier

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Comments

  • giowagiowa Member Posts: 599
    I wouldn't be overly alarmed at the ad. Hard to tell what it really means for resale. First, ad doesn't give mileage figure. Does it have 5,000 or 50,000 miles? Second, ad lists only base GLS standard equipment. Appears to be a stripped GLS. Third, and possibly most important, it purports to be a manual transmission. Try selling back a manual tranny family car to a new/used car dealer and they'll clobber you. Best to try private party.

    A base '00 Sonata GLS 5-speed with no options likely could've been purchased new for around $15K. Maybe the seller got $9-10K. Losing a third of its value is about par for Korean manufacturers in many areas.

    I bought a base (no options) '96 Infiniti G20 w/5-speed in '96. After putting on 18,000 miles, in 5/97 in a spasm of pre-middle age angst I traded it in for a bright red '97 Chevy Camaro. Window sticker was around $22k. I only paid about $17K for it. I got $12K in the trade. Did I get screwed? Hard to say. There isn't a huge market for 4-dr sedan 5-speeds and dealers don't know what to do with them. Something is only "worth" what someone will pay for it today, not what it stickered at or sold for yesterday.

    (I say anyone who wants to really enjoy the Sonata should snatch this V-6 5-speed up in a heartbeat. You'll love it!!! I love mine!)
  • jomorisinjomorisin Member Posts: 11
    Well, bought a 2001 top-o-the-line Sonata, pkg. 13, beautiful Silver. Custom alarm and keyless remote. No spoiler, its for children (no offense kids). Bought on 12/2, to be delivered 12/12. Yes, it was on the lot! I could have had it 4 days earlier but alas, duty called....

    But I digress. Bought some little add-on and thingamabobs for it here and there.

    But I'll wait till 12/12. Patiently I hope.

    In the meanwhile, I will ponder what to sell the 92 Corolla in good shape with 200000+ on it. Hmmmmmmmmm.
  • jomorisinjomorisin Member Posts: 11
    of course its an automatic.

    I wonder what CD's (yes, my first CD!) I will keep with me. And of course I can bring along some cassettes. Hope the speakers are good.
  • killerkkillerk Member Posts: 55
    Hi, guys. This forum's been great. I'm in a market for 2000 Sonata GLS in Northern NJ. I was wondering if you Sonata gurus could give me some tips on breaking in a new vehicle.

    I figured I should get a hand this info before I get a new car, right.

    Also, the dealer I stopped by last wk gave me $17,800 for a Slate Grey Automatic 2000 GLS w/ pkg 13, mats, mud flaps, sunroof wind deflector including advertisement & destination. They had about five 2000 Sonatas still remaining on the lot. What do you guys think about this price??? Thanks in advance.

    -jus
  • volfyvolfy Member Posts: 274
    Follow the manuf. recommendations. Simple as that.

    Other than that, try to vary your engine and road speeds. Cruising at a constant 45mph may be in keeping with the manuf. recommendations, but it doesn't let the engine break-in under various loading conditions and piston speeds.

    No panic stops. Don't opposite lock the power steering. Don't turn on the A/C before engine has warmed up (not a good idea even after break in).

    And most importantly, if you have fabric seats, lift one butt cheek when you have to let one rip while sitting in the car. :-)
  • onedog315onedog315 Member Posts: 7
    I just purchased the same GLS but mine is Napoli Blue with Leather seats. I agree with volfy..Let one rip while someone's riding with you and tell them about the way the seats "absorb the pounding of a good fart".

    When you test drive the car, try to find a bumpy road to see how it feels and if possible, get on an expressway / highway, turn the radio off and listen for any air coming thru the windows (a tip from my brother!!)
  • giowagiowa Member Posts: 599
    Given that the '00 year is over and the '01 year already well underway, the price quoted for the '00 doesn't seem too impressive. See if they have or can get a similar '01. Then offer to buy it. Compare price. The '00 has already taken a huge depreciation hit that the '01 hasn't. The price offered would've been decent if it was the beginning of the '00 year or early into it. Did they even offer decent dirt cheap financing?

    (As for gas passing, not sure what difference it makes with cloth vs. leather seats or moving various parts of your anatomy up, down, or around. Only thing that makes a difference is opening a window or your sunroof.)
  • volfyvolfy Member Posts: 274
    The high concentration of hydrogen sulfide in human intestinal gas will discolor virgin automotive seat fabric. So lifting a butt cheek is definitely a prudent thing to do.

    Just be careful not to tug too hard on the steering wheel while performing this exercise, so as not to cause an accident.
  • killerkkillerk Member Posts: 55
    Yes, $17,800 is w/ 0.9% Hyundai financing.

    This price seems to be in line w/ Edmund's TMV, which is $17,345 (which is w/o $500 advertisement fee the dealer is charging me). I just wanted to double check w/ you guys. Also, is this advertisement fee a dealership fee? If it is then is it negotiable???
  • giowagiowa Member Posts: 599
    The prices paid wouldn't have been bad if you were buying these cars in Fall/Winter of '99/'00 at the early to mid part of MY00. But you're into MY01 trying to buy a MY-old car. You can get similar deals, price relative to invoice, with '01s. There wasn't that much of an increase in '01 pricing and the car will be worth a lot more over the next few years, should you decide to sell.

    Check out used car pricing guides to see how much your '00 will already have depreciated the moment you take possession. In essence, you are buying a new "used" car. At the prices being proferred for these '00s, I'd be buying an '01. If you sell your '00 in next 2-3 years, you'll take a bath on resale given the additional year of depreciation.

    However, the '00 might not be bad if you (a) can only get the great financing on an '00 (the 0.9% will save you thousands over the life of the loan) and (b) if you know you won't be selling for at least 5 years. Assuming you are getting the exact car, options/colors, you want with the '00 and might not be able to now for an '01. There weren't any significant differences between '00 and '01 Sonatas.
  • sonatavasonatava Member Posts: 75
    I have a question for those who've used the Hyundai "special financing" for the Sonata. When I purchased my Sonata, the dealership offered me the special financing of 5.9 percent for 72 months (the original term I was looking for, later went for 60), but they added $1,000 to the price, which is why I declined and went with my bank's loan. When reading the notes for the Hyundai financing for the Sonata on Edmunds.com under the Regional rebates, I noticed it said something about HMC "withholding" $1,000. At the time the dealership called it a "buy-down".

    Has anyone who's taken the Special Financing offer comment on whether the price was increased by $1,000, or why Hyundai would withhold that?

    Thanks
    Tom
    BTW, a family member bought a Santa Fe GL yesterday, they're really nice. After haggling at two dealerships trying to get them to come down off MSRP, she ended up going to yet a third, no-haggle dealership to pay the same MSRP for it.
  • ljjhljjh Member Posts: 2
    I had a dealer tell me this too. The dealer I bought from did not mention this. He gave me my price and the financing. You might get them to take $1000 off the invoice if you don't use the special financing.
    With most advertised special rates there are alternative rebates, so if you take the rebate then you don't get the financing.
  • sonatafansonatafan Member Posts: 171
    I don't like the new format at all. Now I have to go through and redo all my bookmarks! :-(
  • drimpledrimple Member Posts: 47
    I don't see any way to do bookmarks. Is there a secret way or are you just using Netscape or IE's bookmarks?
  • sonatafansonatafan Member Posts: 171
    I had each forum I visit bookmarked in IE. I found last night that you can't do it here anymore because when you try to use the bookmark, it won't show the newest posts.
  • amos7amos7 Member Posts: 6
    So, let's get to the bottom line. If a good friend was considering buying a new Sonata, would you recommend it or not?
  • tonykrapiltonykrapil Member Posts: 211
    Amos7. I am a good friend of mine and convinced myself it is a worthy car and yes, I would have no hesitation to recommend a Sonata. I have the base 00 model with auto. I dont know anything about the gls.

    Actually, the car sells itself to friends and neighbors. No verbal sales pitch required.

    Are you planing on getting one?

    Tony
  • giowagiowa Member Posts: 599
    Simply put, if you can get a Sonata at a good price and get cheap financing and plan on owning it for at least 3 years, then it can be a great car value. I bought my '00 GAS in May '00 and now have 12,000 miles on it. She has never been in the shop for any mechanical repair work. (She did go to the body shop after some idiot hit me but they did great work and she looks and drives perfectly.) Just normal tire rotates & OF. Compare that to my wife's '00 Lincoln LS8. It has been in the shop repeatedly for lots of small problems. Took em 4 tries before they found out what was causing the air bag light to stay on. Have had lots of problems with heated seats (she's been in shop for 2 weeks now while they figure out what is going on with malfunctioning heated passenger seat).

    I use my Sonata for business. I drive about 25,000 miles a year. I needed a dependable car with a great warranty that wasn't expensive to operate. My GAS V-6 5-speed I/Pkg 13 has fit this bill perfectly so far!
  • giowagiowa Member Posts: 599
    Disregard some spelling errors on my last post. This revised site isn't as friendly as the last one. I had it look at spelling, didn't make any changes, but when I posted it changed things anyway. GAS above should be GLS. OF is LOF.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Would anyone pick the new Kia Optima over the Sonata since they are basically the same car? How is everyone's cars holding up, what mileage with what engine, and how do you like it?
  • volfyvolfy Member Posts: 274
    I have very few complaints about our '99 Sonata and the load-crushing trunk lid C-arms is one of them. So I definitely dig the damper-rod hinged system in the Optima. The Sonata needs this, pronto!

    Styling is a toss up. The Optima is a more conventional design and quite handsome. It is certainly more inline with the styling of most cars in this segment (Camry and Galant comes to mind). Personally, I prefer the distinctive styling of the Sonata, particularly the graceful derriere.

    Since their DNAs are identical sans the cosmetic ones, the choice should be which styling you find more palatable. If they are priced the same, however. Curiously, Edmunds.com said the Optima is priced $1000 more than the Sonata. I wonder how this will play out in the market.
  • astrolastrol Member Posts: 312
    The main advantage with the KIA is in the option packaging. It is possible to get ABS and other useful items without having to option out fully, as with the Sonata. Having said that, I still would not hesitate to recommend the Sonata GLS to anyone in the market for a vehicle in this class. This car offers a near-luxury ride quality, decent performance and handling and a commendable warranty which goes a long way towards improving the reliability image.
    My wifes' GLS is purring like a kitten after 9000+ miles without any problems. My wife did run the battery down a short while ago due to the absence of a headlight warning chime but this episode should not repeat itself. I quickly installed the 3M Headlight reminder buzzer which can be found at Wal-Mart for around $7. I highly recommend this kit to all Sonata owners as it is extremely easy to install and works like a charm.
    The only blemish on our Hyundai experience, thus far, was the unresponsive Roadside Assistance which kept my wife waiting far too long without an explanatory call-back. I was able to handle the dead battery issue myself using our second car for a jump-start. We have informed Hyundai America about this matter and expect an apology soon.
  • astrolastrol Member Posts: 312
    Is it me or does anyone else get the feeling that there is lot less activity on this board since the changeover? I know they keep reassuring us that the posting and sign-on errors will get fixed but----who knows? I hope we are not losing members because of this. This is really a great forum and truly one of the best remaining now that T-H-C is either down again or gone for good. It's difficult to know with that site as the problems escalate almost daily.
  • herneherne Member Posts: 18
    Astrol, it is not your imagination.
    There has definitely been a reduction in the number of posts on this forum since the changes.
    In fact I thought that it was not operational at all.
  • tonykrapiltonykrapil Member Posts: 211
    If I had to guess, I would say it is the holidaze that is killing participation. It is a great forum, rather cumbersome style but ay know, the folks that design this stuff probably dot even participate in a smooth running layout.

    Only news here is I installed a cargo net and mud flaps on the 01 elantra today! A piece of cake and so functional too. More comments on the cargo net by the ladies than any other item in my Sonata!

    Stay warm

    Tony
  • gonofurthergonofurther Member Posts: 5
    Have had our base Sonata 5 sp three months now with nary a problem. Still getting 23 mpg of 90:10 city/highway driving and feeling very comfortable about the price/value tradeoff. Very pleased with how quiet and solid our Sonata feels; we're nice and isolated with the windows up. We're itching to take it out on the highway for a nice road trip, but that'll have to wait until after the holidays, if then. Not too many Sonatas here in SoCal; most sedans are up-market.
  • astrolastrol Member Posts: 312
    Herne and Tony---thanks for the feedback. I was beginning to think all the regulars had disappeared. Agree about the Holidays and the cargo net---it will draw women like bears to honey.
    Have any of you guys tackled the missing chime problem yet? If so, please advise as to your solutions. Mine was in the earlier post #473.
  • sonatafansonatafan Member Posts: 171
    I just now figured out how to set frequented forums up in the "My Preferences" section as subscriptions. I tried logging out and disabling auto login only to find out I couldn't remember my password. So I think I've got it straight now.

    I wonder why T-H-C's account was disabled??
  • soyeltigresoyeltigre Member Posts: 3
    Hi all, I've been reading the postings here,as we are seriously considering buying a sonata GLS by the end of the year. Therefore, I hope the experts here can give me some insight.

    We are looking at the 01 GLS with cloth interior, and it is my understanding that it is not available with the power driver's seat. Is that true, and if so, is it something that can be added aftermarket? I'm concerned with the userfriendliness of the manual direction, What are your experiences, and is that something with which I should be overly concerned?

    If there are any 00 models left, I would consider purchasing one, depending on the "deal" we can get. I've gone to other sites, and see conflicting information. Is the keyless remote standard on the 00 model or was that in the 99?

    In regards to the warranty, are you required to have an ASE mechanic do the oil changes, brakes, etc, or can you do it yourself? Please advise on the restrictions associated with the warranty.

    The financing available is 4.9% for 60 0r 66 months and there are no rebates as I understand. In the last posting, I read about the $1000 added. That was to retail or invoice and just because of the financing?

    Thanks for entertaining the questions. Wishing you happy holidays and great drving in 01. .

    I
  • soyeltigresoyeltigre Member Posts: 3
    Hi again, forgot to ask - is the lumbar support standard on the 01 driver's side like in the 00. I can't tell by what I'm reading. THANKS AGAIN IN ADVANCE!!!
  • tonykrapiltonykrapil Member Posts: 211
    The lumbar support is NOT on the '00 base model BUT for what its worth it is on the Elantra

    Tony
  • drimpledrimple Member Posts: 47
    We have a 2000 Sonata GLS. Keyless entry is not standard on 2000 models, it is optional. Lumbar support is standard on all 2000 Sonata GLSs. As to not having power seats, my wife and I don't seem to mind. The knobs and levers are in good places that are not too hard to get too. The only thing I have trouble adjusting is the headrest!

    Whether you get a 2000 or a 2001 you will be getting a great car! Good luck!
  • soyeltigresoyeltigre Member Posts: 3
    Thanks for the responses to my previous questions. We are close to purchasing the 01 GLS w/cloth interior and keyless remote entry. The only thing I question is the ability to do my own tune-up. The spark plugs do not seem accessible. Anyone doing his/her own tune-ups? Please advise.

    The camry is our other option but with in comparing the 4 cyl to the GLS and then considering the financing, we save quite a bit fpr what appears to be a better ride.

    One last thing, the highest mileage I saw posted was a 90 Sonota with 128K miles. Anyone put more miles on than that? Please advise.

    In advance, thank you very much -- we're looking to settle this in the next day or two so your help is greatly appreciated.
  • greg_ggreg_g Member Posts: 9
    Purchased my 2000 Sonata GLS in Feb. 2000 with .09% financing. Does anyone know if Hyundai has any plans to repeat the financing offer this coming winter. I'm looking at the Santa Fe for the wife and children. I'm getting less comfortable having her drive the kids around in a car in the land of SUV's (long island, NY). We both love the GLS and plan on keeping it until it stops running. (a bit under 9,000 miles and running perfectly). Any heads up out there on the Santa Fe. It's a bit smaller in leg room than the Sonata but its roomy enough for the Mrs. At 6'2" its not all that roomy for me (but the price seems right.). Hope all had a happy healthy holiday.
    P.S. Avoid the spell check on this board at all costs (IT STINKS).
  • arskysarskys Member Posts: 3
    Hey
    I am thinking of buying a Sonata GLS V6 leather with package 13, which is $20,509.00 MSRP at Hyundai Web site.
    I do have a 7.25% financing available from an Internet loan service program covering about $25,000 for a new car purchase. (36 months to pay off)
    But since Hyundai provides 0.9% financing for Hyundai, I am considering opting dealer's financing over the 7.25% financing that I have.

    Assuming that I am qualified for the 0.9%, is there some disadvantages getting dealer's financing??

    If anyone who has gotten the 0.9% financing, please let me know it's something you would recommend. Any response would be appreciated!
  • arskysarskys Member Posts: 3
    I've talked to the Hyundai dealers in Dallas, TX, where I live. They said the 0.9% only applies to Sonata. Currently, no other cars have any special financing program. On top of that, Santa Fe seems to be quite popular down here in TX, so less reaons why Hyundai would provide a special financing for the SUV. Hope it helps.
  • onedog315onedog315 Member Posts: 7
    Whew..I FINALLY made it back into this chat room. When did the Forum change, and a better question would be WHY did it change? Anyway, I've had my Sonata for 1 month and so far, so good. It's holding up very well in this Chicago weather.
  • northtexnorthtex Member Posts: 2
    Good Morning Everyone,
    I have been following this site for a few weeks now, but this is my first post. We picked up our new 01 Sonata GLS/L package 13 last night. All-in-all a pleasant experience. I did all the online research and got a price from an online locator. I went to the local dealer and test drove the car. My wife and I were both impressed. The salesman said the MSRP was approx. $20,800 and he would let us have it for $19,400, I told him I priced it online for $17,900. He was polite, but basically told me there was no way that price was legitimate. I thanked him and went home and placed the order. The price indeed was $17,900 plus TT&L, no mention of advertising fees, etc. The only negative was the color, I wanted silver, and they could only find green. I told the rep to order the car and I would pick it up the next day. She told me she didn't work on Saturday, But I could pick it up on Tuesday, th 26th. Guess what, on Tuesday morning the salesman from the dealership called and asked how we made out, I told him we were picking the car up that afternoon. He called me back 5 minutes later and said the manager decided to match the price and they could get my color. If the online rep would have come in on Saturday I would be driving a green Sonata now instead of the Really Great looking silver. I love this car. Sorry for being so long winded, but everyone should shop around, there are great deals out there.
  • tonykrapiltonykrapil Member Posts: 211
    Good deal! Hope you love it till the wheels fall off of it! How did you get out of the deal with the on-line agency? Wasnt there some commitment?

    Will you soon be driving a GREEN and SILVER Sonata? I hope not!

    Great story!

    Tony
  • lawrence10lawrence10 Member Posts: 6
    How does one find this online locator? I was looking at a 2000 Sonata gls v6 leather sunroof etc.What do you think I can get this car for at the dealer? Lawrence victor_d_21001@yahoo.com
  • sonatavasonatava Member Posts: 75
    My 3-month old GLS received its first dent from what looks like someone's shopping cart. It didn't scratch the paint, just a small dent about one inch near the passenger side mirror. Has anyone had small dents like this repaired on their Sonata? Do they still pull dents nowadays, or have to replace the whole panel? I think I'll wait for a few more dings, since my deductible is at $500. What about getting a good color match?

    RE: tune-ups. I was considering switching to the Bosch +4' plugs, but I read in the manual that the original spark plugs are platinum tipped, so I'll wait a bit before switching.

    Just did my first oil change at 3mos/2685 miles, using a Hyundai filter ($6) and Mobile One synthetic. Procedure was pretty easy. My Sonata is used mostly on weekends, so I'll probably stick to every 6mos for the warranty.

    Tom
  • tonykrapiltonykrapil Member Posts: 211
    I changed my plugs out on the base model with the Bosch +4's and am glad I did. Not only have the plugs provided more power and mpgs, BUT I fouund two loose connectors that lead to the spark paks.

    Sonatafan also noted the loose connectors on his. I am more glad to have found the potential problem than anything else. A while ago folks had reported engine error codes pointing to the spark plugs which made me curious. The plugs surely do not need changing.

    I am not sure you can easily get to the back plugs on the gls without some major undressing of the motor.

    The plugs have done soo wel in the Sonata I placed them also in the new 01 elantra asap.

    As for the dings, there are some methods used today which use dry ice and suction cups and tools which look like they belong in a ladies ONLY doctors office. They are shaped in some pretty weird angles allowing the techs access to the dent.

    Good luck,

    Tony
  • sonatafansonatafan Member Posts: 171
    I have created a Sonata forum as an alternative to T-H-C's. I don't know how many people who visited there also visit here but Tony, Volfy, Drimple, Giowa, Astrol and everyone else is welcome to come and post. You can link to it from my website.

    http://members.nbci.com/sonatafan
  • langmllangml Member Posts: 3
    I bought a Daewoo Leganza, and I didn't even look at the Hyundai Sonata.
  • langmllangml Member Posts: 3
    After the last Hyundai I had in the 80s, I don't have the power to even test drive the car. I really don't care what anyone says about how it has changed. The fact hasn't changed that Hyundai has a lot of re-establishing to do.
  • rammit2000rammit2000 Member Posts: 27
    What would you say to a person who wouldn't test drive any Japanese car today because of the quality of their cars in the 70's. Or wont buy a computer because they cant program their VCR. On this side of the coin your post sounds pretty ignorant. Your mistake was made jumping into a pool without testing the water as what you did when you purchased a Hyundai in the 80's. For those who did buy, it was most likely due to the low price, not the quality. Hyundai has in fact changed there quality workmanship, and the price shows. The car is no longer cheaper than all Fords or Chevys or even Hondas and the quality shows. Buying a Daewoo well, sounds like your going to make the same mistake twice.
  • astrolastrol Member Posts: 312
    Northtex---sounds like you got a winner. I know because my wife and I got the same car back in July. Same color too. Good Luck!

    Sonatava---go to the discussion topic here at Edmunds under SEDANS titled 'door ding prevention.'. There is a lot of info. there which I could not duplicate here. Basically, each ding runs about $50-$75 U.S. The price is lower if there are a number of them on the same panel.

    Langml---have to agree with rammit2000. What the hell are you doing posting here anyway? You remind me of those people who go to online rating sites and give trash reviews of things they know nothing about. Give your brain and your fingers a rest. This is a serious site for serious Sonata owners.
  • northtexnorthtex Member Posts: 2
    Tony,
    I'm not quite ready for a fleet of Sonatas. I just waited for the online person to call me back, it was after 3pm when she finally called, and told her that the dealer matched her price and got my color. To be honest, I was expecting a bit of a fight. But she said ok and canceled my order. There was no comittement on my part at that time.

    Lawrence,
    I used carsdirect.com. They seemed to be reputable. The only negative was that the "Hyundai Specialist" does not work on Saturday. I can only surmise that she is not on commission. I was ready to do the deal with her right then, but by putting me off she gave the dealer time to match the price and get my business. In my case it worked out better since I got the color I wanted.

    By the way, my 2001 has a lights on chime. It was the first thing I checked when I picked it up. Hyundai must monitor this sight and saw the complaints.

    Happy New Year Everyone
    NT
  • sonatafansonatafan Member Posts: 171
    Post #492: "My 3-month old GLS received its first dent from what looks like someone's shopping cart. It didn't scratch the paint, just a small dent about one inch near the passenger side mirror."

    Sounds suspiciously like the dents a few of us here have encountered. There is no obvious point of impact or any damage to the finish. They seem to run along the upper part of the bodywork where it bulges out. Take a look on my website, I have taken a picture of the dent that appeared on mine and see if it looks anything like the one youv'e noticed. If it does, then there's a chance your dent may have been caused by something manufacturing related. I personally have not had mine to the service dept (bodyshop) for this dent but others have commented on dealers saying this is not an isolated thing. The only problem is trying to figure out what the relationship these cars have is ie, color, build date, steel supplier, lunchbreaks, etc.
  • dunn3dunn3 Member Posts: 29
    horrible, just horrible; what the hell were the edmunds people thinking????? My Silver Sonata with 8600 miles is purring perfectly; and I finally have a radio that works properly without making funny noises. I just wish the chasis was a little bit more rigid and hope that I can put my fog lights on soon (I have to order them).
    happy new year everyone!!!!
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