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Comments
Thinking it through now, like you did, it is obvious nearly the whole roof area would be compromised in headroom.
I remember when they started making the Jaguar XJ sedans with 2 different roofs. The cars with sunroofs were 2 or 3 inches taller than the cars without sunroofs. So, headroom was the same inside, but the exterior height dimensions of the cars were different. People with long torsos applauded that, no doubt.
From what I've read about other sunroof-related squeaks and rattles (like with some Honda products), the fix in some of those cases was to apply some Teflon tape on the inner edge of the car and then put some special lubricant/grease on the rubber seal on the sunroof itself. So, I'll ask the dealership about this (they may have a similar protocol for other Hyundai products, who knows?). I also wonder if the glass isn't properly fixed on the rest of the sunroof gearing/mounting. It's kind of like a rattle I had with the rearview mirror in my old Elantra (and even the rearview mirror on my new Sonata started to buzz a little until I gently squeezed the housing). Maybe the dealer will end up replacing the glass if worse comes to worse.
So, I've learned my lesson here. Sunroofs are great, but only if you can prepare to put up with some squeaking and buzzing from time to time. I guess when I hear it, it's my clue to open it up and/or turn up the radio!
Anyhow, now we can compare accord and sonata on a equal footings, 2006 model vs 2006 model. I am sure Honda made good tweaks into the 2006 accord that will give sonata much higher competition and look forward to seeing future Sonata updates to counterattack the ante upped by the Accord.
Given the design of the Sonata's radio installation, it probably won't be an easy fix as compared to a radio in a DIN slot.
John
Gas Mileage - According to the trip computer, she averaged 28.2 MPG over the 610 miles. The trip computer also shows average MPH, and that was 51 MPH. She stated that she generally drove between 60 to 65 MPH while on the freeway, except for on the Indiana and Michigan interstates where the speed limit is 70 MPH. She said she drove between 65 and 70 MPH on those roads.
Sunroof - no noises (squeaks, etc.) noted.
Rear suspension noise - I noticed a fair amount of rear suspension noise, especially when driving over rough roads. This comment's been mentioned before in this forum. Otherwise, the ride is very comfortable. The ride is more firm that the Camry, and the suspension noise is not as well isolated from the cabin as compared to the Toyota.
Steering - In comparison to the Accord and Camry with the Inline 4 cylinder, the Sonata's steering is weighted a little heavy in town. I've never driven an Accord or Camry V6, so I can compare "apples to apples." It almost reminds me of the larger Mercedes steering - a bit heavy (under-assisted) in town, but becomes more neutral to light on the road. Overall, the steering is very acceptable.
Brakes - The brakes are excellent, but sensitive. Of course, this is normal moving from a known entity (your own car) to one you've never driven at length. With familiarity, this would not be a problem.
Wind Noise - I noted a bit of wind turbulence around the front valence of the windshield (near the wipers) on a local interstate. No wind noise per se, but apparent turbulence. No wind leakage from either the driver's or passenger's front doors.
Control Layout - I like the overall layout, especially the HVAC controls. Personally, I don't care for the radio layout, looks, or location, but this is only my subjective viewpoint. It just seems a bit "too generic" looking. The AM section worked well in this sample, and the sensitivity and selectivity were fine. It would be nice to have a tuning and preset up/down control on the steering wheel ala' the Camry LE.
Seating - First of all, I think Hyundai should make the power driver's seat standard on at least the GLS series. Of course, it is standard on the LX, but some people simply don't prefer leather (my wife included!). My wife is small in stature and I'm 6'2", so whenever we drive, we have to change seat height/reach/rake. A power seat makes it much easier. Memories are not necessary. In sitting in the passenger's seat, I get the sensation that I'm sitting a bit "downhill" so to speak. Just an observation . . .
All in all, I think she was impressed, and pleased, with her weekend rental of the Sonata. The 3.3L V6 provides plenty of acceleration and is smooth and quiet in operation. I really don't see why anyone would want any more power in this car. I think the V6's available power is enough for the current chassis development.
A comment on the horn . . . this one worked fine, but here in East central Illinois - Champaign-Urbana (the home of the University of Illinois) - I can go for literally months (or longer) without ever using a horn. Now, if you live on the East or West coasts, not having a horn may be a problem. When I drive on the LIE (Long Island Expressway) in NY, it seems like everyone is using their horns. And, if you wait 5ms after a light changes from red to green, you will certainly hear at least one horn beeping at you.
NICE review! By the way, prior generation Sonatas allow the front seat fore-aft rake (up-down) to be adjusted manually. I suspect the new ones do too.
johnjj,
There are three possible causes of your problem:
1. Loose connection between antenna and radio. You could receive local and relatively strong FM stations with loose or no antenna connection. But no chance on AM. So check out if you can receive FM stations from 50 miles away. If so, it is not the antenna connection. I am not familiar with the AM/FM antenna used in the 06 Sonata. Most cars now either hidden, rear glass antenna or small little short whip on the roof. If so, there are two connections between antenna and the radio: connection from the Glass pattern to the antenna module and finally between the antenna module and radio (coax cable likely). Any of these can pop out. If your car uses the good old whip antenna at the fender, then the connection is simpler: the whip to coax cable and coax cable to radio
2. Antenna module problem: electronic manufacturing problem
3. Radio problem: normally manufacturing early defect. Could be Tuner related, could be radio software hiccup and/or anything. Sometimes, with radio software hiccup, you can reset the radio by disconnecting the radio from the battery by removing the radio fuse and keep it disconnect for at least 2-3 minutes. If it does not help, your best choice is to have the radio replaced at the dealer.
So, good luck.
jt
John
John,
If the Service Department already replaced the radio but your AM problem is still there then the radio is not the culprit. Now you are left with two other possible culprits: antenna connections and antenna module.
For cars that use short antenna whip on roof (like Corrola and some VW vehicles) and Glass antenna (embedded in side glass or backglass like the Accord), there is likely an antenna module. This module typically boosts FM signal and pass thru AM signal to the radio. So This module may be defective.
The second culprit can be again connections: between the antenna and antenna module; between antenna module and radio. Since the dealer has replaced the radio, the most likely loose connection is between antenna and the antenna module. The module is typically located near the antenna glass pattern (C pillar of car). In the case of the short whip, the electronics is at the base of the whip and the connection is there as well.
So check out what type of antenna the Sonata has. If it has no fender whip, then your antenna falls into the category I describe earlier.
jt
jt
Trip computer this morning showed an average speed of about 42 mph. Miles per gallon shows 25.2.
My wife and I have been seriously looking at the 2006 Sonata for several months now. Interestingly, the vehicle we will replace is a 1994 Dodge Grand Caravan ES minivan with the 3.3L V6/4-speed auto. I typically get 25 to 26 MPG with the A/C on the road, and 18 to 19.5 MPG in town - not bad for a large and heavy "box" pushing through the air! And, that's with 153K miles on the clock.
Remember, when a car is stopped (like at a traffic light) the car is going zero MPH. Accellerating up to cruising speed is lower MPH than cruising speed. Decellerating on the highway, for traffic control or getting off an exit lowers MPH compared to cruising speed. The computer measures the car's average speed for every second the engine is running,
I've gone 10 or 12,000 miles and it still worked. If the car has several thousand miles since the reset, any short term differential doesn't show up because it reports a weighted average. (ex: if you go 4,000 miles and get 20 MPH, and then drive 100 smooth highway miles at a steady speed producing 30 MPG your average MPG is not 25. It is about 20.1 MPG). Chrysler also had "instant" MPG with 2 second delay.
On my commute, I could fill up & reset. The average MPG in the next 2.9 miles, with 8 traffic lights might show 15 MPG on the 45 MPH state highway. Then, leaving my office and driving the same road plus 6 miles at 40 MPH with only 3 additional stop lights, the average MPG would go to 20. Same car, same driver, same day. Different driving conditions. Over a tank of gas I'd get about 19 MPG, except when the weather was below 50* and then I'd get just under 17. This bore out over a 6 month period with or without resetting at every fillup.
John
1. Exactly what are the automatic headlights? Is it the same as daytime running lights?
2. Regarding the security system: Does it include an ignition cutoff? Is the alarm just for the doors or does it include the windows, trunk and hood? I've gotten conflicting information.
3. I'd like some opinions as to the color. It is difficult to judge a car's color from the little circle in the brochure or under the lights in the showroom. Some cars look better in certain colors. I would think that the Sonata would look better in a darker color. Steel gray? Deepwater blue?
Another way to try to explain it is to think baseball batting averages. At the beginning of the season a batter is 4 for 12. Batting .333. The next day the batter is 0 for 4, making his season average 4 for 16 or .250. Next day batter goes 4 for 4 making his average 8 for 20, or .400. Fast forward to Sept. The batter is now 125 for 400, average of .313. The next day with 0 for 4, the batter is now 125 for 404, average .309. Then another 4 for 4; now 129 for 408, average .316. The early season fluctuation is much greater than late season fluctuations.
Also note that batting averages are carried to three decimal places. If a car's trip computer only goes to one decimal place rounding becomes more significant. The three measures of the early season batting average would be .3, .3 and .4. The later season averages would be .3, .3 and .3
Sorry I didn't read your post #2180 . . . which is why is looks like I was basically plagarizing what you wrote. I was only looking at #2182 and #2183 when I posted #2184.
2. Don't know about the security system.
3. I have the Deepwater Blue. It is very dark, can be mistaken for black in low light. It has metallic chips and is quite dazzling in the sunlight. My first choice was the Dark Cinnamon, but I had serious time constraints on when I needed the car and had limited options (purchased on May 30). Since then, I have only seen a few on the road. I have seen the Cinnamon, and have now decided I like the Blue better. I have seen two of the lighter colors, and I don't think they look as good as the darker colors.
2. Not 100% sure about the security system, but here's my take on it: Hyundai's online wiring diagrams show an engine immobilizer circuit, requiring a key with a chip in it to be used for the car to start. When security system is armed, a sensor coil in the door lock checks for a key with the right RFID chip. There is mention of an option to allow any key that can unlock the door to disarm the system. My car apparently came with that option on. I can use the valet key, which is flat metal with no apparent place to hold a chip (unlike the regular plastic-shrouded owner's keys), to open and start my GLS after having turned the alarm on with the remote. The valet key would not be able to disarm the alarm if the option is turned off, nor would it be able to start the car, presumably. Just don't arm the alarm with the transmitter after a valet parks it and there would not be any problem, I suppose. As for the windows, they are powered only when the ignition is on, and for 30 seconds after the key is turned off and no door has been opened. So there's no way to roll down the windows manually, which is the usual way to trip off an alarm. Unless there's some sort of glass breakage sensor that I don't know about, I suspect that breaking a window will not set off the alarm. Opening the trunk or hood will set it off, as will opening a door. There are switches to sense when any of them is open.
3. Color choice is subjective. You like whatever you like. Mine is Deepwater Blue, which is metallic and looks extremely sharp in the sunlight. It is a very dark color and it does look as though it is black from a distance, especially in not-so-bright light. The bad thing is that it attracts dust and shows it, even soon after I wash it. Surprisingly, it does not seem any hotter inside on hot sunny days than light colored cars, though. The light colored (beige) interior and solar resistant glass are probably the reasons for that. I have seen Sonatas in all colors except silver and gray. The aquamarine and the gold ones have attracted my eye, and I might have chosen one of those colors if I could have. My local dealerships (SF bay area) did not have any V6 GLS's in early July. AFAIK, I got the first one, and it happened to be blue. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful car and I'm very pleased with the color, except for that minor dust thing. I just have had to wash it more often than I did my previous cars. Suggest you go look at them for yourself at various dealerships, outside, under clouds and sun, and also at night, if you can. One other thing to keep in mind: Dark cars are proven harder to see, are generally less visible to other drivers. Hope this helps.