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Comments
I've heard the design is so strong it doesn't need as many reinforcing welds as other car bodies.
A good example is the egg. If you could make a seamless metal egg, it would need zero welds, and yet it would be the strongest shape in existence.
I sense a rumble race... pink slips on your two Sonatas at the ready.... right??? :P
Otherwise, please just agree to be CIVIL to each other... I'm (FINALLY) getting close to buying myself one of these Sonatas... and I'm going to need checklists of "And this needs to be done: 1) Activate auto locking doors 2) Require a total detailing 3) ..." from all of the other Sonata owners based on their experiences... if I put it up front, no way they can charge me for it later, right?
147 mph! WOW.
Didn't hurt it a bit. As long as he didn't bash it into anything, the car is just fine. Owners are happily zooming it up to 115, 130, and higher just to listen to it growl.
While the reduction in the number of welds COULD make the car less safe, it can just as easily be the opposite... too many welds would cause too much structural rigidity, meaning that the car would "compress" from an impact, but would crush on structural supports. The reduction of welds and smaller, lighter structural supports is well known today as a major safety INNOVATION vice cars built in the 60s and 70s... they call them "Crumple Zones" because they allow the smaller and lighter structural elements to bend, absorbing energy, vice the rigids pushing energy into the passenger compartment (I know, for most folks, this is something you already know). Increasing the rigidity of the safety cage while reducing the rigidity of the outlying parts of the car is GOOD in a major accident. So, you have to ask, where are the missing 30%? In the crumple areas? In areas where a fewer tackwelds on corners vice many smaller welds on entire edge interfaces exist? (won't effect safety, significantly in most cases either way, but could make it cheaper to repair damage if you hang body panels that way). Or is it in the rollcage? (BAD!)
Without knowing, the 30% (already meaningless unless compared to an earlier version of the SAME CAR... ie., unless we're talking 2007 vice 2006 Hyundai Sonata) is even more meaningless, except that it means it MAY be cheaper to build.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The same can be said of any shape. Duh.
If Hyundai ever got it's design thumb out of its butt they'd sell a lot more of them. The Sonata looks as if it's wearing polyester flood pants and a wifebeater. Get with the times.
Do you really think the Sonata is the Automobile equivalent of Carl Brutananadilewski?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyway, and if a person buys a Sonata, or any other vehicle, he or she could care less what another person thinks.
The Camry's look is distinctive and leaves no doubt that it's a different vehicle from before. It's not intended to blend it but stand out.. like it or not like it. Either is OK.
The '06 Sonata leaves no doubt that it is a different vehicle than before. Personally I'd rather drive a car that has clean lines like an Audi. I think those kinds of vehicles stand out, but in a tasteful, understated way. The cars with the clean lines will look good five, ten, or more years from now (think Audi 5000 from the mid-'80s).
The new Camry is overall an improvement on the old one I think--nothing that a little Carmex on the top of the grille can't remedy.
So let me here it on what lights your candle. If none of the above, then some other stylish cars in the under $27K class.
Is it just me, or do others find it hard to decide between Sonata and Azera for looks - not other considerations???
-Loren
And so was the AMC Pacer... and the Delorean DM-12, the Jaguar K-Type, the 1963 Corvette Stingray... point is, MANY cars have a distinctive look. Whether that car is "pretty" is subjective, and really only matters to the owner.
After all, the ENGINEERING definition of pretty (and somehow, with most machines, it works well in the humanistic sense as well) is if it functions well for the designed operating criteria.
I like the Sonata... it looks attractive, without the "Hey, look at me!" of some other cars. I do NOT like the look on the new Camry... it looks very much like it will be extremely dated (ala the Pacer) in 5 years.
But go figure... I still like the hardlines and muscle bulges of vintage early 70s cars. :P
Won't be doing any towing with the Sonata, just using the hitch for an existing bike rack that we used on our Santa Fe. Will be using the rack for two single bikes or one single bike and our tandem bike. Didn't install any lighting adapter with the hitch so I have no idea how easy or complicated that would be.
If anyone is contemplating installing a hitch, check out the Draw-Tite model. Found it easy to install and I'm not a mechanic either!!
Can you give me a good reason to understand your behavior?
When I first start the car and put it in drive (if I'm pulling backwards, after putting it in drive to go forward) after it starts going forward for like 10-20 ft, it hesitates and makes a loud clunk noise that seems like it's coming either from the transmission or the engine. After that, the car starts running fine.
I just want to know if that's normal since both of my cars do that (GLS V6 2006 sonata). If anyone has any insight, please let me know. Thanks!!
However there is a self check test up that the 06 Sonata will perform each time it's started. From zero to 10 MPH, you might hear a noise, or feel it in the Brake pedal.
Initial Quality Report
-Loren
Does the Sonata offer ILLUMINATED controls for power window controls, power door locks and mirror? How about ignition key ring?
I highly doubt even the new survey will sway any die-hard Hyundai haters from their opinion, but it seems that Hyundai's commitment to quality and the excellence/value of the new models are creating conquest sales (me included).
http://jerrystout.us/media/hyundai/tsb/abs%20pump%20self%20check%20noise.pdf
My 2005 Accord EX-V6 made the same noise and I confirmed with technician that it was ABS self checking. Also my new 2006 Azera makes same noise but it is fairly faint. I think you don't have to worry about it.
http://jdpower.com/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2006082
Also,
2006 IntelliChoice Lowest Repair Cost
http://www.intellichoice.com/top10/Top_List/year/2006/list/Lowest%20Repair
Base Sport Hyundai Tiburon GT (Manual)
Compact Kia Rio (Manual)
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Large Hyundai Sonata GL (Manual)
Large Pickup Nissan Titan King Cab XE 2WD
Luxury Infiniti M35
Midsize Kia Optima LX (Manual)
Midsize Wag Ford Focus ZXW SE
Mini Van Honda Odyssey EX w/Leather
Near Luxury Infiniti G35 (Auto)
Small Pickup Isuzu i-280 Extended Cab S
Small Utility Mitsubishi Outlander SE 2WD (Auto)
Small Wag Suzuki Aerio SX (Auto)
Sport Infiniti G35 (Auto)
Subcompact Hyundai Tiburon GS (Manual)
Utility Mitsubishi Montero
2> Take your car to the dealer and request that they check the adjustment of the window tension against its seals when fully closed.
These cars are supposed to be (and generally are) extremely quiet at speed, but occasional "Monday" and "Friday" cars get built - even in Alabama.
(I don't have that problem with my '03 Sonata - there's so much road/tire noise I couldn't hear wind noise even if it was present...)
http://www.hyundaiusa.com/shoppingtools/byo/preview.aspx
Click on Sonata, then 2007 Model
My '05 (essentially the same as your '03) is so quite I can hear wind noise if either of the front windows are anything but completely shut...and I wear hearing aids.
The road/tire noise, in my experience, depends on the quality/type of road surfacing. On my drive to work I have a stretch where there is absolutely no road/tire noise (whith windows completely closed). Then I cross a town boundry line, on the same road, and there is a different type of pavement and some road noise (at 30-35 MPH).