Hyundai Sonata 2006-2007

nbrsguy

Can anyone tell me where to get wheel locks in the after market for my new 2006 Sonata LX with the 17" alloys, or at least a site that has the correct specifications. Never realized there were soooo many different specifications and styles!

averigejoe

First try your Hyundai dealer parts dept.

desertguy

They have a couple different sets at this link:

http://hyundai.autowebaccessories.com/index.php

njerald

link title

A lot of sheltered people around.

nace

hyundai dealer in my area put two out the door deals on the table. (1) basic gls V6, round figures of $16,900. (2)basic LX round figures $19,700. tomorrow evening i will choose one of those deals. any thoughts of which is the better deal, is appreciated. to me the look of the LX is sharper. however the $2800 saving with the GLS is also appealing.
thanks in advance for your opinions.

backy

You didn't say anything about the IIHS in your original post. There is a difference of opinion on this subject. Here is what the NHTSA says about comparing side impact tests:

Since all rated vehicles are impacted by the same size barrier, it is possible to compare all vehicles with each other when looking at side crash protection ratings.

http://www.safercar.gov/ncap/info.htm#iq8

perma88

Are both GLS & LX you menitoned both base trim with no additional options. If yes, then i'll take the GLS with 2800 savings over the LX. The MSRP on both base trim model is only 2000 difference taking the GLS get you the saving of 800 smackers......... If you really like the LX ask dealer to go down to $18900 this the 2000 difference add back into the LX.

tigercat21

This is a more comprehensive crash test site. Note that the 2006 Sonata is much improved over previous years.

http://www.informedforlife.org/

averigejoe

Thanks for the link. I'll bet lots of us will enjoy spending some time there.
It is a very interesting site which DOES allow direct safety comparisons between any car, truck, van or SUV to all others.
For the 2006 model year, Sonata and Azera are in the best (lowest risk) rating group. Honda Civic is not.
This site also reinforces the ideas in my previous posts.

cumptrnrd

I couldn't find an FM transmitter that didn't pick up static. I put in an Audiovox FMM-100A, but I cut off the L/R RCA jacks and connected the wires to a 3.5mm audio jack from Radio Shack so I could plug in anything I wanted. I installed the jack under the hazard light switch.

cumptrnrd

How come nobody has said black?? I have black and I love it! I guess it does show dirt, but looks great when you get it washed. I think it also looks a little nicer because the rain strips on the roof, the little triangle thing near the side mirrors, the grill, and that thing on the lower black bumper are all black... Nothing against the other colors though...

cumptrnrd

What about aftermarket rims? A lot of rims would look good on this car IMO

billward

Sorry, Joe, but Backy is right:
From The IIHS website
"NOTE: Side impact crash test ratings can be compared across vehicle type and weight categories, while frontal crash test ratings cannot. This is because the kinetic energy involved in the side impact test depends on the weight and speed of the moving barrier, which are the same in every test. In contrast, the kinetic energy involved in the frontal crash test depends on the speed and weight of the test vehicle."

It's the last paragraph before the ratings criteria.

[edit]Since I was only seeing discussion of SIDE IMPACT, I'm looking at just that. If you are talking about FRONT IMPACT, then... "Well, yeah! Duh! Can't compare a Suburban and a Fiat 850 Spider!" (Yes, I used to own one of those once, a long time ago... 850 was the engine size of the car... in CCs, ie., .85L, smaller than many motorcycles.

averigejoe

Ok billward, thank you.
I do believe side impact IIHS results can be compared across size categories. (and just minutes before reading your post I did discover that statement on the IIHS website)

But that does not change my advice in my original post. Why? Because rarely, if ever, do you get to choose the angles of impact in a car accident.
Again, here is the text body of my original post:

"Warning: Do not compare crash ratings of vehicles in one size class/type to one in another category.
In a real-world accident, a highly rated small car may be less safe than a lower rated large car. Don't be mislead or fooled into a false sense of security in a small car which has a high rating. Likewise, don't necessarily feel unsafe in a large car just because its rating is not as high as some small car's rating."

Consider it as a whole. It was good and accurate advice then, and still is now.

Here is a good website on vehicle safety ratings:
http://www.informedforlife.org/
Spend some time there. My advice is compatible with published results there.

Also, the Sonata and Azera for 2006 are in the lowest risk category, the Honda Civic is not.

Yep, the 850 Spider. A good friend of mine had one. Pretty much like a Beetle (and especially the Microbus), the front impact crash protection was your legs. Hahaha. Nader could have had fun with that one too.

(Go ahead Backy, if you want the last word, you can post it.)

(on this topic...) Peace. Over and out.

backy

All I have to add is that this is a good example of why it is not a good idea to be condescending to other posters and call them "wrong" when discussing opinions/advice. If someone is wrong on a matter of fact, it is good to politely correct them. The condescending stuff as in "can't you read?!" has no place here.

averigejoe

The Institute rates passenger vehicle crashworthiness good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in front, side, and rear tests (see below, "How the Institute rates vehicles"). The cars in each size group that earn good front, side, and rear ratings qualify as Top Safety Picks 2006 (gold). Cars that earn good front and side ratings plus an acceptable rating for rear crash protection qualify as Top Safety Picks 2006 (silver). However, don't compare ratings across vehicle size groups because size and weight influence occupant protection in serious crashes. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Top Safety Picks are the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories, but this doesn't mean a small car that's a Top Safety Pick affords more protection than a bigger car that doesn't earn the award.

m1miata

When I was a kid, I recall seeing those cool Fiat 850 cars in the showroom. They also sold SAAB. The Sonet was a cool car too!

For safety, the bigger car with the highest score is the likely winner. Not rocket science. The side impact test is an object hitting the car -- same size for all tests. So if the car does well in the side impact test it is a good thing. Don't see any debate on that issue.

Interesting that the Azera scored under the Sonata in crash test. Actually, aside of the mass of the Cadillac, a Sonata score in a crash test is better. If you get into the larger Caddy, the weight would really make a difference. But shouldn't those top line cars be scoring higher within their class too? I think the CTS should be scoring a bit higher. Now-a-days, most cars are at least a 4 star, and a heck of alot are 5 star. But in the 1990's weren't a lot of cars lower in scores. I drove an Achieva, so it only goes to show what a dare devil I was.

There are no bright red Sonatas available ???

-Loren

azera25

He was clocked speeding at 147 Mph.

Didn't know Sonatas could go that fast. Wow.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=66898

tigercat21

Yea, at those speeds he had "death" sitting right along next to him. The last thing the salesman told me when i bought my car (Sonata lx 2006) was becareful, this is an aluminum V6 engine and it will easily exceed speed limits without feeling like it. Its the first time a salesman ever told me something like that. He said it like he was required to by management or something. Good advice though.

By the way as you probably noticed, the speedometer goes to 160 mph.

tigercat21

Yes, your welcome. That site influenced my decision to get a new Sonata. I printed out the site in both the alphabetized and safety order. Its easier to study and show other people that way.

bobad

There are no bright red Sonatas available ???

2007 will bring "Rio Red". It's a medium red metallic. Sounds pretty!

bobad

He was clocked speeding at 147 Mph.

Some of the quote in that article are pretty ignorant. The Sonata is very stable at high speeds. He's right about the tires, however. They're only rated for 130mph, IIRC.

I doubt he was going 147, which was probably a lie to enhance news value. His real speed was probably 137mph, which is right at the rev limiter's maximum of 138mph.

Still pretty quick though! :surprise:

desertguy

If he was clocked at 147mph, they will have the computer print out and of course they must prove the speed clocking in court if challenged. I am quite familiar with the area mentioned and in fact was clocked at 85 mph and got a warning before they activated the system for real. Before they implemented the cameras, they were clocking 5 people an hour going over 100mph. The cameras have certainly slowed me down on that stretch of freeway.

lightfootfl

Don't know which tires he had,but my SonataLX came with 93V rating tires, which are rated for speeds up to 150 mph. :confuse:

lightfootfl

bobad
My tires on the Sonata LX are 93V rated.. which is 150mph.
Haven't tried it that fast yet though, and probably won't.

desertguy

Yaaah. Mine are V rated as well which is 149mph. So watch out Scottsdale.........147mph here I come.

jim101

Howdy,

18K miles to date, could not get past 25, 26 mpg no matter how hard I tried, then...

I slowed from 75 to 85 mph down to 62 to 64 mph and ka-zam it went up to 32mpg :shades:

If interested let me know and I'll put a picture in car space for you to see

Good day

feizhigao

1. If the trip-tech isn't accurate, then Hyundai didn't design it well. That could be listed as another problem with the car. This isn't a scientific experiment, but an estimate of the overall mileage. I think it's accurate enough for that purpose.

2. Of course cars get poorer mileage under these conditions. But I believe the Sonata is especially lacking in this area. After having driven a Saturn for 8 years and seeing rock solid fuel mileage in poor weather, hot weather, and frequent shut down/startup, I can say that the Sonata is much more affected by these conditions.

3. Of course a 6 cylinder uses more gas. But the problem is with the published EPA numbers, which are used by Hyundai in their official website and dealerships. They tend to be much lower for real-world mileage compared to other cars. You can check competing models on the website which shows real-world mileage vs. EPA rating and see that Sonata performs much more poorly than other vehicles when compared to the EPA estimate. Instead of 1-2 MPGs, its like 5 MPGs different for combined mileage.

4. Yes, most dealers play these games. But that doesn't make it right. None of them should be excused for them. Since I bought a Hyundai, I have a specific complaint about a Hyundai dealer.

5. Resale is debatable? I've had it evaluated by three dealers and CarMax, and all say 14,500 for a 2006 GLS V6 with 6000 miles on it. That isn't debatable to me, it's a fact. I've also looked on the private resale market, and the only car in my area with similar specs started out with the KBB price about two months ago and has been reduced steadily without selling until now- at 15,500. Let's see if he can sell it at that price.

Thanks, I do enjoy the car. But I have to wonder if there are a bunch of people working for Hyundai on this site. It seems that many people seem eager to speak well of this vehicle without talking about some of the drawbacks... something you don't see on other review websites. It happens for electronics, so I wouldn't be surprised if it happens with cars too.

An update: my windshield fluid dispenser is broken and will need to be fixed by Hyundai. They told me it is a common problem.

feizhigao

First of all, people over 55 make up a large percentage of the population. I can't say that I'm one of them, but regardless I'm not looking forward to a pelvic fracture. Have you ever been in a major accident? It takes away the "superman" effect of being young and immortal very quickly. The facts written in ink by IIHS remain: Sonata has a weakness in the side impact test. I don't know if being a heavier car helps in a side vs. front impact test, because it seems like the structure would be more important. The sonata structure doesn't get the highest rating as some other cars, suggesting that if you are unfortunate enough to be hit in the side, you may be less safe in it than some competitors which have the best ratings.

ykang

I'm really annoyed by people like you.
Why can't you accept other opinions?
Bunch of people working for Hyundai?

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bobad

Thanks, I do enjoy the car. But I have to wonder if there are a bunch of people working for Hyundai on this site.

You don't seem to like the opinions of others, yet that's exactly what forums are for. You know what you can do, and you know what not to let the door hit on your way out.

Anyone that buys a car and tries to sell it before it's a year old doesn't have car issues. He has emotional issues.

lightfootfl

Me-thinks you haven't been reading this website very long if you haven't noticed many mentions of "drawbacks" regarding the Sonata. Granted they are mostly minor, but they are there, and yes there is also a lot of inputs regarding the "benefits" of the Sonata too. Isn't that what this site is all about? PS, the windshield fluid dispenser, I think, has been mentioned before too. Keep looking, you may be surprised at what you find.

pat

need to be careful please -- there is no reason to make any of this personal... :confuse:

snakeweasel

First of all you are making a very poor comparison here. You seem to be saying that the likelihood of someone dying of a pelvic injury from a side impact in a Sonata is very high. Nothing can be further from the truth. Fact is the vast majority of deaths resulting (either directly or indirectly) from pelvic fractures are from those 70 or over. Many of them from falls. The odds of someone getting a fractured pelvis and dying from it in an accident is extremely remote (unless you have weak bones like many elderly do).

Have you ever been in a major accident?

Yes in high school I was broad sided by someone in a Camaro doing 90 in a 35 late one night. We ended up almost a half block away from the accident. FWIW we both walked away from it.

But that doesn't take away from the fact that a pelvic fracture is not fatal, what kills someone is complications from it and even then its those who are either in very poor health or the elderly that also have health issue and do not heal properly.

snakeweasel

You can check competing models on the website which shows real-world mileage vs. EPA rating and see that Sonata performs much more poorly than other vehicles when compared to the EPA estimate. Instead of 1-2 MPGs, its like 5 MPGs different for combined mileage.

Would you like to give some examples or are we just to take your word for it?

bimmer4me

Yes in high school I was broad sided by someone in a Camaro doing 90 in a 35 late one night. We ended up almost a half block away from the accident. FWIW we both walked away from it.

Ripley's Believe or Not

feizhigao

How ironic! You attack me for not accepting other's opinions when they replied with rude or personal comments about my own opinion. Then you make a personal attack by saying that I have emotional issues. How do you know that I don't have a perfectly valid reason for selling the vehicle? Are you God almighty, all-knowing?

feizhigao

You are right, the windshield wiper problem has been mentioned. But I wanted to reiterate it to possible future buyers of the Sonata so that they know it is not unique to one person. I'm curious to know if others also report this and other problems so that current and future owners can recognize it as a systematic error and have it properly addressed by the dealership before the 60k warranty period expires.

I have reading the thread for months, and I know there are some negative comments. I'm not claiming that it is set up for the purpose of good publicity. I just wonder why some people got so defensive about the car when I mentioned some of the drawbacks...

feizhigao

I wonder if anyone knows how the california gas additives affect the mileage?

feizhigao

As a consumer, I can only look at the IIHS for guidance. They say that the pelvic protection for 2006 Sonata is poor, and the safety cage as acceptable but not excellent. It also says this: "Rib fractures and/or internal organ injuries would also be possible." Also note that the IIHS head/neck front rating for the Sonata is acceptable, not good. Then I compare that with other vehicles that achieved all "good" ratings for side and front impact. It seems that the IIHS is saying an accident in the Sonata is more likely to result in these injuries, right? I'm not going to take issue with the IIHS ratings; that is for an expert engineer or biomedical person. Perhaps you are and I'm missing something obvious. But as a layman, I believe these are legitimate points that need to be considered when comparing it versus other cars.

bobad

How ironic! You attack me for not accepting other's opinions when they replied with rude or personal comments about my own opinion. Then you make a personal attack by saying that I have emotional issues. How do you know that I don't have a perfectly valid reason for selling the vehicle? Are you God almighty, all-knowing?

I certainly did not intend my joking reply to sound like an attack. I also do not support rudeness even if the rude remark is correct. I was not trying to sound personal about you wanting to sell a new vehicle, just making a general remark. You have to admit that it's unusual, and not normally advisable for well-known economic reasons. I don't pretend to know why you want to sell the vehicle. It sounded like anger to me, but I guess I misinterpreted it. Apologies if my post sounded harsh. It was intended to sound tongue-in-cheek.

snakeweasel

If you are talking about adding ethonal it will reduce your mileage by a few percent.

snakeweasel

As a consumer, I can only look at the IIHS for guidance.

Same here but I don't give them as high as a priority as others will. I won't pick a 5 star over a 4 star rated vehicle simply because it has a higher rating. That is simply because the likely hood of me getting into a serious accident is slim. I would be more interested in how the car would help me prevent an accident.

jason15

I went for a Sonata test drive and was thoroughly impressed. The Salesguy told me corporate sent a letter that Hyundai's assembly plant was going to be featured in a June released Modern Marvels "Assembly Lines" episode. I went to the website and found this video preview. Very informative inside look at Hyundai's facility.

Jason

seniorjose

Hyundai brags that they have reduced the number of welds in the Sonata by 30% as compared to a Honda or Toyota...the absence may indicate severe structural faults as compared to quality autos...you build them cheap, you sell them cheap...not a rocket science project!

bhmr59

Maybe the Sonata doesn't need as many welds.

m1miata

Never heard of that one before. Where did you see that?

Sonata is doing as well, if not better, in all the crash testing compared to just about any auto. Compare it to the Volvo S40. As for welding, I would like to see the article, as in the rest of the story. I know VW bragged about using a continuous weld as compared to spot welds.

-Loren

m1miata

LOOKS good to me
http://www.safercar.gov/NCAP/Cars/3754.html

-Loren

billward

Darn! Now there is NO chance that I would buy a demo Hyundai Sonata.... I live in Virginia Beach, Virginia... where this one is from.

147 mph! WOW.

snakeweasel

Where Honda and Toyota uses two pieces welded together maybe Hyundai creates one solid piece.

Anyways do you have a reference to that fact?