Hyundai Sonata 2006-2007

manofsteel2k6

I believe the sound system is made by Infinity. There is 1 8in Sub mounted off center in the back where your 6x9s would be.

If your looking for earth shattering bass, you are not going to find it with one 8in sub. Plus there is no box for the wolfer, you can see the bottom of the sub in the trunk.

All in all the system sounds very clear, and the bass is about what you would expect for a factory system. Although maybe not one that comes equiped with a subwolfer.

Before I bought my LX, I test drove a GLS. Personally I thought the GLS system with the two 6x9s in back was just as good. Maybe even a touch better. 1 8in sub, and a handfull of door speakers is not a whole lot better than 2 6x9s and 2 door speakers.

Either way, for factory, both are very good sound systems. The 6 disc changer in the LX is really cool. my wife and I each chose 3 to put in, and havent changed any since we bought the car.

jason15

I am considering purchasing the 2006 Sonata. All my previous cars have been GM. Looking for comments from current owners about how well the Air Conditioning performs. Does it cool the car down quickly after being heat soaked?
Anybody measure the vent outlet temps vs ouside air temp (and at what speed and humidity)?

What about the "Solar Control" glass... does it make a difference in the interior temp after sitting in the sun?

danf1

I don't think the glass is going to keep the car cooler in direct sunlight. It is designed to block UV rays which will protect the interior from sun damage, not heat.

sol2

Hi,
How do you get the dealer to give/e-mail you a Price Quote?
I submitted a request for a quote through Edmunds and all dealers sent e-mail asking I call/contact them. I thought the idea of using this service was to save the consumer time, while providing a non hassle price, negotiating/comparative purposes. Any feedback welcome. :confuse: Thanks. from S.E. Florida

pat

Check out our Smart Shopper board for tons of tips on how to shop. There are many discussions that should be helpful to you, but two of them jump to mind: Internet vs. Traditional Car Buying and Dealers Too Busy For OnLine Shoppers.

Good luck!

mgaida

This is my first post and I have a question about how Hyundai can price the Sonata so much lower than Accord/Camry even though they are all manufactured in the U.S. (at least the V6 versions of the Sonata)? I can understand that the Korean manufactured cars would have lower labour costs, but in the U.S., there should be no difference between Hyundai, Honda and Toyota.

Also, can anyone confirm that the Canadian model Sonata GLS V6 Premium does not have the subwoofer and 6-disc cd changer? The description for the audio system on the Canadian website (finally updated to include the 2006 Sonata) is the same for all models. This may prevent me from trading my 2003 Accord EX-V6.

backy

One reason that Hyundai can price the Sonata lower than Japanese competition is that they have state-of-the-art, highly automated plants in both Korea and Alabama that reduce their labor costs. Also they still manufacture many of the components for the U.S.-built cars in Korea.

priggly

I agree. This would be a major and fatal flaw if the Canadian high-end model, the GLS V6 Premium, does not have the upgraded audio system.

Anyone know?

For anyone who has heard it, what does the upgraded system sound like? What is the wattage of the head unit?

Thanks.

pat

beluck please send me an email - pat AT edmunds.com - thanks!

kc206

Made in the USA is a loose term. Check out the sticker at dealers; 72% is Korean and 28% USA/Canada.

danf1

That is the percentage of parts content, not where it is actually made. Keep in mind that the Alabama plant is not just assembley, but manufacturing. They build the engines there from the parts that are sent. They stamp the body panels from rolls of steel. In many U.S. plants operated by import manufacturers, the parts come in whole and are assembled.

iluvmysephia1

strength. The fact that Hyundai is stamping the sheetmetal that comes in to the Alabama plant is indicative of their long-term commitment to the U.S. and their ability to sell shiploads of Sonata's and Santa Fe's.

What's more, those are shiploads of Sonata's and Santa Fe's that won't need to come in overseas on ships. This new Sonata is a great buy for $20,000-$25,000. Anybody paid more than $25,000 for your Sonata yet?

danf1

Nobody over $25,000 because the most expensive one is $24,895. We have sold a few at that price. So far we've sold 16 2006 Sonatas and only discounted one a total of $100. We will never use a bump sticker at my dealership regardless of the type or availability of the vehicle. Even a limited production car will not get marked up. It is simply predatory to do so, and we do not believe in doing it here.

That said the Sonata is a great car with a great price. I know everybody says that you can get a Camry or Accord for less, but not with the same equipment. Side by side the Sonata is still about $2000 less even at sticker price.

gogophers1

Au contraire. Perhaps a comparable Sonata windows at a couple less than a Camry or Accord, but as you stated yourself, the folks buying now are paying close to MSRP for the Sonata at your store. No one pays window for an Accord or Camry and the Camry has a plump rebate too. So actual out-the-door prices right now are very close, and the base Camry is probably the cheapest of the whole lot in terms of actual purchase cost.

I don't see much mention of it on this board, but the Mazda 6 represents a very good value in the mid-size class. I'm not sure if this is because Hyundai is more of a rider's car and thus viewed as a Toyota alternative rather than a Nissan or Mazda alternative, but that's my inkling. For the budget-minded shopper though (who doesn't mind a more involved driving experience), the Mazda strikes me as one heckuva bargain. A friend of mine just bought a fully loaded 6 hatch (with V6 and stick shift) for less than $20K!

danf1

I did some pricing on the Accord and Camry. Here's what I found:

2005 Camry LE 4cyl auto add side air bags and TCS and it stickers for $22,801.
In my market, they show no rebates for this car

2005 Accord EX 4dr auto w/o nav Lists for 23,500 and once again no rebates here.

2006 Hyundai Sonata GL 4cyl auto MSRP $19,395. Without rebates I find it difficult to believe that a Toyota dealer will discount the Camry $3,500. Honda dealer $4,000?

Keep in mind I chose these models and equipped them as close to each other as possible. Once you get into the V6 models, the difference is even greater. Add in the cost that you would incur to make the warranties the same now. This may not be the best car in its class. That is purely subjective, but it meets or beats these two in most categories.

We don't get much competition from Mazda in my market. I like the Mazda 6. I really like that you can get a V6 with a stick. It does seem to be quite a bargain, but again Hyundai outsells Mazda in the U.S. So they really aren't the target for this car. It is aimed squarely at the Accord and Camry. The difference in price is significantly less than last year, but the car is light years ahead of the old design.

mononeo

Right off the bat a GL Sonata is not the same trim as a Camry LE or Accord EX. EX would compete more with GLS with premium package Sonata and Camry XLE. The GL Sonata competes more with the Accord LX4 and Camry CE4 base model.

I thought that the Sonata was priced a lot more competitive than it was too. I went with a friend of mine the other day and we looked at Accords, and an Accord LX manual was $18,999...and that price included the $500 Honda tacks on for the mandatory Protection Package (mudflaps and other weird weather guards) in the Northwest. I know an LX is more inline with a GL, but considering that it is only $1000 difference, for a lot of folks that is not going to be enough for them to forget the badge on the front. I like the Sonata more than the Accord anyway, and I would pay more to have it, but that's just me.

All of the people that come on here and say that Camries and Accords have higher quality are mistaken. If you go into one vehicle (Accord let's say) and just accept that it is going to be higher quality, you aren't going to notice anything. If you go into another (Sonata) and come looking for things to nag about, of course you are going to find a few things here and there that you can proclaim to the world as signs that Hyundai is still the horrible carmaker you wish it would be... In the Accord I looked at, which was a 4-cyl LX coupe san marino red with tan interior I noticed a few things. First off, the noise inside should be considered a sign of quality. Secondly, the visors had too much padding on them and didn't fit properly with their connector/securer piece (i don't know what to call that, but the thing it clips onto when not in use). Also, when you close the doors with the windows down, the windows rattle really bad, but not on the Sonata. Yes, this was a two-door, but still, it was bad.

danf1

I'll give you that the LX Accord is probably a better comparison. Sorry I'm at work and didn't look at that model as I wasn't totally sure about its equipment. Does it come with Traction control? Stability Control? I can't seem to find it on the equipment list, but I can't say that it doesn't.

Now the Camry, I fully stand by my original thought. The CE4 has optional side air bags, keyless entry and security system. 15" wheels. No Traction control. No stability control. Put these options on and you might as well get the LE.

I'm not saying that the Sonata is perfect and the other two are not. The reason there are different cars is that people like different things. All that I'm hoping to point out is that with the same equipment, and in some cases more eqquipment, the price is still less. Warranties also have a value. That value is different depending upon who you ask. If you keep your cars longer, then naturally a warranty is more valuable. Personally I suffer from CCB syndrome and a 2 year warranty would be good enough for me.

chicagodrive1

The 06 Sonata looks too similar to the current Accord.. both in the front and back. I can understand Hyundai trying to emulate the Accord or Camry, but this looks like a blatant copy... kind of like those fake-Rolex's you can by from a street peddler in Times Square.

iluvmysephia1

cleanly blow the doors off of both Accord and Camry. Hyundai has not only caught Toyota and Honda in this car's class size they have beaten both of them. The Sonata has more safety equipment built into it from the start and the sleek looks of the Sonata are not matched by the two Japanese powerhouses. One would be quadruple-upping their neighbor by buying a 2006 Hyundai Sonata over a 2006 Toyota Camry.

Just the truth, men.

chicagodrive1

Buying a Hyundai isn't the kind of car I'd buy to impress the neighbor, unless he's driving a late-80s Hyundai Excel (if those are still around) or doesn't have a car at all.

I'm not crazy about the current Honda Accord styling, Hyundai should have copied a better looking car...

chuck1

2005 Camry LE 4cyl auto add side air bags and TCS and it stickers for $22,801.
In my market, they show no rebates for this car

In Los Angeles you can buy a Camry LE w/auto all day long for $18,000.00....... :confuse:

backy

They did. The main inspiration for the '06 Sonata was the Audi A6, which IMO is one of the best looking cars in the world at any price (at least, it was before it got its new nose job). This is especially clear in side profile, where it is clear the Sonata has nothing in common with the Accord. The front end of the new Sonata resembles certain Acura models moreso than the Accord, IMO. Also, if you look carefully at the rear end of the new '06 Lexus GS, you'll see it bears a remarkable resemblance to a certain Hyundai. Since they came out at about the same time it's hard to say who copied who. Maybe no one copied anyone. As I've noted before, there are only so many ways to bend steel and mold plastic for the front and rear fasicas of sedans aimed at the mass market.

backy

You can do that in my market too, but those don't have the desirable air bags/TCS option. And they don't have VSC, which is standard on the Sonata. What do Camry LEs with those features go for in your market? There is a $700 rebate on the Camry in my area.

bamacar

"2005 Camry LE 4cyl auto add side air bags and TCS and it stickers for $22,801.
In my market, they show no rebates for this car."

In Atlanta through Carsdirect this vehicle stickers at 22,020 and can be had for 19,042 with 1k rebate. Cheaper than the Sonata GL at MSRP.

"2005 Accord EX 4dr auto w/o nav Lists for 23,500 and once again no rebates here."

Accord EX does sticker at 23,500 and can be had for 20,353. As stated a more optioned than a Sonata GL but is 1000 more. The Accord LX auto stickers at 21,090 but can be gotten for 18,574. Less optioned than the Sonata GL but 800 less than the Sonata's MSRP.

For my dollars, the Sonata would need to sell for invoice or maybe invoice with a rebate.

jrock65

I'm pretty sure that the volume sellers are:

Sonata GL auto: $19,395
Accord LX auto: $21,090
Camry LE auto w/ side and side curtain airbags: $21,315

So, a LX or LE at invoice is cheaper than a GL at MSRP. However, the Sonata is only selling at MSRP due to supply issues. Once supply catches up in a few months, Sonata's will sell at invoice as well.

Also, the Sonata GL has quite a few goodies than the Accord LX and Camry LE lack, such as:

Stability control
Traction control
Front seat active head restraints
Leather steering wheel
Security alarm system
Heated side mirrors
MP3 player
Longer warranty
Roadside assistance

Add those up, and they're worth about $2000 in my book.

So the way I see it, not only is the Sonata GL about $2000 cheaper, it has $2000 extra worth of equipment, making the effective price gap about $4000 (once the Sonata starts selling for invoice like the Camry and the Accord).

gogophers1

Well, we can agree then that a Sonata at MSRP is more expensive than a comparable Camry at invoice.

chuck1

"So the way I see it, not only is the Sonata GL about $2000 cheaper, it has $2000 extra worth of equipment, making the effective price gap about $4000 (once the Sonata starts selling for invoice like the Camry and the Accord)."

Once the initial people who "have to be the first on their block" purchase the Sonata, the rebates will follow. History has proven this to be the case. The PT Cruiser is probably the most recent example. Chrysler dealers charged MSRP (or more in some cases) and now they are sold like any other car. Look at the Ford 500, Ford insisted there would be no-rebates, now there is a rebate. I say wait to buy if you are in the market and you will be rewarded for your patience!

sensation2004

check this out
http://www.bobaedream.com/board/data/data_view.php?code=national&No=51868&page=1&select=&c- ontent=

nortsr1

WOW!!!
That is a sharp vehicle and hopefully we will see them in the USA

backy

However, the Sonata is only selling at MSRP due to supply issues.

That's not correct, in general. Several posters in this discussion have reported buying a '06 Sonata at a discount. I saw the same three Sonatas sitting in my local dealer's lot (2 GLs, one GLS) for the past three weeks. It's not like there's none available and people are snatching them up as fast as they come in, ala the Prius or Mini Cooper. There are just too many other excellent alternatives available at big discounts, as mentioned earlier, for that to happen.

kc206

Most people don't want or intend to pay list. I got my LX for $1000 under list with no dealer add ons. I feel we both got a deal sice I got a new car and the dealer still got well above invoice plus his buy back. I called the dealer to make sure he was willing to deal before visiting his dealership. Dealerships are still moving '05's; which they still have plenty of. The '05's are great buys for the older generation looking to save money. While I'm part of the older crowd, I still wanted a more stylish up to date car with all of the safety features, but I wasn't willing to pay list. If need be, I was willing to wait till end of month Jan. or Feb. until lots are full and sales are slow. Once the younger generation realizes the styling, safety and value of the car I think it will be a big seller.

csandste

I paid $1K for an Elantra in 01. Both prices seem a lot more reasonable than the prices you're kicking around. A thousand under list doesn't cut it when I can get a car with better gas mileage and more leg room with six thou. knocked off-- and a ton of flexibility. I still think the Sonata will quickly come down to that level. Early 'Bu buyers were crowing about paying $20K for a $23 car.

I need to drive a Sonata before I comment further, but I'm bothered by this car's conservatism. After looking at it, I'm actually appreciating the Accord-- doesn't look nearly as plain jane as it did when I compared it to the last gen. Sonata. And, yes, I'm sure the new Sonata is objectively a much better car.

jrock65

That only proves my point, I guess. They've already started moving off MSRP.

But no one's getting these 06 Sonatas at invoices, YET, and they definitely will be able to in the not so distant future.

When comparing the Sonata GL to the Accord LX and the Camry LE, I was just surprised to find how much more equipment that the GL offers.

f111d

Friend told me his 2004 Sonata doesn't have one. He like to see one after riding in my 98 Mystique. Trying to find this info is one the hardest on most of the new releases.
TNX
Paul

maxamillion1

...to bad its an obvious chop deal..but it would be nice if it came here like that...

sandpaper

it was a GL in front of a costco - it was for sale.

first impression was that it looks very nice. however on closer inspection it felt a little 'cheap'. didn't get to see the interior much, but the dashboard designs seems much better than in the photos.. much more porportional.

however, the fabric of the seats had a 'cheap' design. and the color was extremely light.

seems to have great build quality on the outside however, some materials seemed 'cheap'. for instance below the windows there was a lot of black plastic.

i don't know, maybe i'm being too skeptical.

but perhaps i am being too skeptical as i have not been in the market for a midsize sedan and i cannot compare the sonata to the camry, accord, etc. the last time i went car shopping (1 year ago) i was looking at lexus's and acura's so perhaps i have been 'brainwashed'.

i really liked the photos of the NF sonata Korean version, though.. those seem to have more luxurious touches on the exterior as well as interior. for instance the korean sonata has chrome trims in the front and back bumper. as well as chrome side molding.

i hope to see an LX soon.

denp44

I have a deposit on a Sonata LX with moonroof and audio upgrade at a price of
23545. That is about $1250 under list. This car is IR (in route to my dealer) I am trading in a 02 Sonata. They have not held there trade in values as well as I would have wished, but looking at the prices of the 05's with rebates, it is no wonder it is down. Hopefully the new model, being more refined, will hold there value a little better. I have a deal with the dealer if I approve of the color, haven't seen the Dark Cinnimon yet. If I take this one, it will be the 3rd Hyundai I have bought from this dealer. I feel they have treated me very well. If anyone has the Cinnamon with beige interior, can they tell me what the upper dash color is. Is it a gray or is it a brown? Also what color is the instrument panel lighting?

wooks79

this is not a real.
this photo is made by photoshop.
and hyundai doesn't have a plan make a sonata wagon.
look at this. this is a 06 sonata korea version.
it's better than the U.S version.
link title
this is a azera. maybe we can see at fall
link title
thank you for reading

dudleyr

Even if it is fake that wagon looks better than the sedan, and it would have all that extra space too. I don't get why people choose sedans over wagons.

If that car was available here with the 4-cyl and a manual transmission it would be number one on my list. As is the Sonata will have a tough time keeping me from a manual Camry that is just a little over $16,000 (look at darcars.com).

Still waiting for the first affordabe, efficient (4-cyl), fun to drive (manual transmission), family wagon. Tons of tippy SUV's to choose from but not too many wagons. Subaru is close, but not very efficient and on the small side. Accord Camry or Sonata would all fit the bill if they made a wagon.

dc_driver

In my area (Northern VA), they are selling 06 Sonatas at or near invoice:
www.fitzmall.com

So, they are definitely cheaper than the Accord and Camry, and have more features. The only things that would make me wait are:
- Safety. Although the 06 Sonata has a deep list of standard safety features, Hyundai has traditionally not done well on IIHS side crash tests (even on cars with side air bags). I am anxious to see if the 06 Sonata reverses that trend.
- Reliability. I would wait at least 1 year to see if there are any major issues. Overall, reviews mention how well built and engineered this vehicle is.
- Price. I am sure this car will be selling 1-2K under invoice in another six months. Seems like a no-brainer to wait a few more months and save some cash.
- Future Honda/Toyota/Nissan cars. It will be very interesting to see how the next gen Camry, Accord, Altima vehicles stack up against the Sonata. From what I have seen, the new Camry looks very hot (they went a little sportier).

csandste

Chop or not, that's nice. Doesn't suffer from some of the styling clumsiness of my Maxx. All I had to chose from was the Maxx and the Mazda6. A decade ago both the Accord and Camry had nice wagons.

This is a lot better than the Sonata sedan which I think is too conservative. Sllllliiiiiccccckkkkk... :surprise:

carguy58

Everybody says they copied Accord. I own an Acura and I;m going to be fair about my opinion:

The exterior tailights do look like the current Accord but remember Honda ripped off of early 90's Buick Skylark or Mazda 929(take your pick on that one.) But the rear of the 06 Sonata is more square than the current Accord. The current back end of Accord has a slanted off bubbly shape where as the Sonata has a more square shaped back end. The shape of the current Sonata back end actually resembles the shape of the 1998 Accord exterior if your really think about it. So to sum it up Hyundai took styling for on the last 2 generation of Accords and melted them together. I actually think the rear of the 06 Sonata is done alot better than the rear of the 03 Accord in terms of execution the design itself.

I am actually excited to see the new Sonata. I'm 25 and I have owned a 1998 Mazda 626 and 02 Acura CL so I have a very mature taste in terms of cars for my age. I like the way the rear looked in some photo's for the Sonata and the front of it but I have to really see it in person. It could be my next car you never know.

As for the Altima, Camry, Accord, and Mazda 6. Never count Japanese Car Companies out. The current Mazda 6 has sold alot better than the 626 I leased back in 98. IThe Mazda 3 is a hot seller for them. I think the current Accord Honda went way too conservative with the exterior. They should have gone back to the mid 90's look Accord's(94-97) to keep pace with the sporty exterior's of the current Altima and Mazda 6. Instead they went the other way and went into complete conservatism. I knew when I first saw photo's of the 03 Accord I knew it wasn't what Honda's audience wanted. The Coupe is selling like it i supposed but the sedan the design team rushed the exterior design or something. Honda missed the boat on the exterior of the current 4dr Accord and they usually don't miss the boat that bad.

As for the Camry I just saw the photo's Toyota actually took a chance with the styling with the next generation Camry. I;m pretty shocked. Will it top Generation 3 in terms of looks?The 95-96 Camry's are great looking cars.

As for the Altima Nissan is on a hot streak and they don't need another reception of a model like the 1998 Altima had. Styling is key to the Altima. If the design team doesn't style the Altima like they are supposed to do Nissan headquarters will be kind of shaking their heads if the market doesn't recieve it will.

Anyway back to the Sonata, the interior is clean looking, kinda reminds of the current interior theme in the Toyota Corolla but more upscale looking which I like. The interior room is there is to compete with Camry, Accord, and even Altima. Overall this car is not a Mazda 6 or Nissan Altima fighter but more direct competition for the Camry and Accord. The car might be too big for my tastes. I think the exterior well the with the Sonata I can't call it bland. To me it just looks funky. To sum it up it probably will be a Camry and Accord fighter and will probably sell better than the current generation Sonata but I don't think its going to sell 350K-400K like the Camry and Accord do.

I haven't seen any 06 Sonata's yet on the road and I live in NJ. There is a Hyundai dealer about 5 minutes from my house and they still have ads running for 05 Sonata's.

smith20

Just to chime in, I like that fake Sonata wagon as well . . . I like it a lot actually. If they come out with something like that for 2007 or 2008 model, there's a very high chance we'd assume ownership of one. Someone should forward that to Hyundai!

csandste

the Korean web site has a lot of very new material on it, sometimes a year or more before it's picked up by other sites.

smith20

I was mainly just following others' assessments, but I do notice that it says, "by Kim *un" ( * = I don't know what that first letter is) in the lower right corner, which makes me think that person created the picture. I'd be happy to find out otherwise, though! I definitely agree with you about that website for Korean car pictures / info.

jobikay

Hi - just got back from my dealer here in Kentucky. Fully loaded dark red cinnamon sonata lx 2006 addition with a spoiler to be added - just off the truck from alabama (truck was still there unloading) - invoice priced several thousand below MSRP at 22,285 - $600 delivery charge - i am not paying the $500 national advertising fee they are sneaking in.

jojo6

Finally got a chance to drive a GL yesterday - 4 cyl, 5-speed manual. This was my preference for a drivetrain because of mpg. I'll be brief, but I thought that the handling and brakes felt great, and the car was very quiet, no complaints on that account. However, I was expecting a bit more acceleration from the 162hp, I put it even with my current '99 626, which is 125hp and only a bit lighter. I would put this as my main disappointment. Exterior fit and finish looked good, and that trunk is amazing! The interior however: seating position is a bit high if you are used to Accord/626, etc. but seat comfort is good. The seat fabric is a bit cheap looking, but I could live with it. Two things that just yell out CHEAP: the trim which divides the upper and lower dash on the GL looks like cheap metal with a bad silver- finish paint job, I guarantee if I buy I'll remove and refinish it. Also, the spindly manual shifter with a cheaply made leather? boot looks like crap! Also, reverse is up and to the left - hate that! Now I'm thinking to forget the manual and go upscale, but I'm also back to 6s and Accords again.

killerk

Yes, it is. I read the comments on that link and it's a Photoshop work.

nodaclu

...an Aquamarine '06 Sonata GLS, 4cyl, AT, no additional options. Got it at $1250 off MSRP.

I wasn't expecting much before my wife and I test drove it. Unlike the post aove, I was actually pleased with the amount of torque from the 4cyl. It is true that it ran out of breath rather quickly, but at least it moved from a standing position rather quickly, unlike the Mazda 6i I was comparing it against.

I'm not expecting Hyundai to be Honda or Toyota. I'll be satisfied is it does a good Mazda, or Nissan impression from a reliability, and fit and finish standpoint. To that end, I was impressed with how well this thing seemed to be screwed together. And quiet!!! It's the quietest 4 cylinder interior I've ever been in. (And my parents bought an '05 Camry 3 weeks ago, so I had something to compare it directly to.)

No car is perfect though, and there are some things that give me pause. Doors and door handles felt "thinner" then on the Japanese counterparts. Steering is a bit more numb then I would like (yes, I know, it's a family car). Considering how smooth and quiet the interior was at idle, I was shocked to open the hood andd quite a bit of vibration from the engine. And oh my God....the smell!! Someone else here mentioned the awful glue smell found and every new Hyundai, and this one was no different.

I liked the car pretty well after the test drive, but I didn't really appreciate it until after driving the 6i. With equal horsepower, and less torque, the better driving dynamics of the 6 were completely negated by the fact that I kept waiting for someone to rear-end me as I struggled off the line at a stoplight. Fit and finish on the Mazda was similar. I prefer the more cockpit-oriented dash of the 6, but the materials actually seemed cheaper to me then on the Sonata.

All in all, I liked the Sonata GLS slightly better than the 6i, much to my amazement and astonishment. Add that to the fact that I got the Sonata, comparably equipped, with side curtain air-bags, and traction control (extra on the 6i), for $2,100 less then the best price I could get on an '05 6i, on top of the amazing difference in customer service between the two dealerships. (Props to Henderson Hyundai in Las Vegas for being courteous, respectful, and fair.) All that made the choice a far easier one then I anticipated when we started this process.

I baby cars, but my wife is really hard on them, and she'll be driving it 80% of the time. Hyundai's improved reliability will be put to the test. :-)

boltman

Anyone know when the 2006 Sonata's will actually have XM as a standard option? I believe the current ones don't have it yet even though they are 2006 models.

If I get one I would like to have XM if it is going to be included free.