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Comments
I'd happily take the GLS V6 w/ Premium Sport Package.
Kudos, Hyundai.
~alpha
Compare that to the next gen Civic, which after several platform changes that barely nudged the marker now looks to be revolutionary.
~alpha
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Only thing I've seen is an article with company reference to the base (well, I assume because they put it as "a Sonata with stability control, six air bags and other standard equipment", hehe) will be "priced well below $20,000" I think $18,000 fits that description pretty well . . . where did you see/hear that?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
due out in the fall.
By what I've seen so far, I'm very interested. But I suspect, like the old model, you'll have to opt for the slushbox or forego the factory sunroof. I hope I'm mistaken.
Apparently, I'm one of a very small group that hates automatics but cannot live w/o a sunroof. Engine displacement is not my concern (I'm happy so long as I'm not being outpaced by cyclists on uphill grades).
Leather is not a must - just illustrating the difficulty of combining luxury items with a stick.
For example, when I was car shopping this time last, the ONLY midsize 4 door that I could easily find with a manual was the Mazda6. I found a few VW Passat with manuals, but they were GLS models, I think the GLX lost that option last year.
I ended up wanting the Altima the most and I just couldn't find one witha stick, so I took a 2.5S with Conv. Plus pkg and automatic..love it, but wish it was a stick.
Also, someone mentioned the Accord having a V6 with manual combo...yes, the Coupe can be found with a 6spd manual, but the sedan is automatic ONLY. and doesnt' have a manual shift mode either.
The Camry doesn't either...it did with the last generation, but it was only the LEv6, and leather was offered.
Sticks as a hold are just going out of style, and even in sporty cars, you are seeing more automatics. One salesman told me that in a couple of years, we wont see ANY manual midsize sedans...I of course, didn't believe him.
At least the 2006 Sonata will be available with a stick, in a well-equipped form--unless you have to have factory leather and a moonroof. Personally I'm not a fan of leather interiors, and I can live without a moonroof (have only had one in my life, and I do like it but it's not a deal-breaker).
P.S. The Passat GLX is supposed to be available in a stick, but I'll bet few are shipped over here. So much for VW's positioning as a car for enthusiast drivers.
To give you an idea I have 72 2005 Sonatas in stock. Only three are manuals, and none of them have a sunroof.
Kirstie I am not soliciting, just siting availability examples.
~alpha
~alpha
Fortunately, I have no problem with the stick only being teamed to the 4 banger. Actually, I'd prefer the 4 to the 6, that way when gas inevitably kisses the $2.50 mark this summer, I won't feel obligated to sell a kidney or give up driving altogether.
The Sonata fell off my list when I was last car shopping (in Dec. 01) because the stick was not available with the roof. I was told at the time it was because those who buy sticks are looking for stripped down models (i.e., no options). Well, apparently not everyone - I was able to get a sunroof in the Elantra and that's got a stick.
What made my last shopping experience so difficult was that I was (and still am) completely inflexible on three items: I won't buy an automatic or a vehicle with leather, yet a factory-installed sunroof is an absolute must-have (plus, I'm picky on color). That's right - I'm every salesman's worst nightmare.
It seems like half the automakers make you opt for the auto if you'd like the power roof, the other half lump it into a "leather package". Quite irritating...
Actually, I really wanted one of the new Subie Outback wagons (with the enormous double-wide sunroof) when they came out earlier last year, but you can't get the roof unless you get the Limited model, which, of course, has leather. Ugh!
All that said, the '06 Sonata looks to be a beautiful car in my eyes - but likely another beautiful car I won't ever be driving.
http://worldwide.hyundai-motor.com/movie/plaza/ads/nfsonata.mpg
Lets hope the keep fuel economy in a good level too, somewhere on par with the japanese competitors.
http://www.chicagoautoshow.com/showfloor/preview2.asp?MODEL_ID=33- 0
I can't get this link to post properly. Should be ID=330
"A five-speed manual is standard on four-cylinder GL and GLS sedans, with a four-speed Shiftronic automatic available."
Hyundai's website doesn't confirm this. Sunroof is available on the GLS.
Mark
~alpha
~alpha
He notes that the "Mercedes C-Class" headlamps are gone that were on the old Sonata(I agree, I initially liked them but not after seeing the car in person).
Here's where this car is unique(besides it's great handsome front and rear styling). This new car has six airbags(dual front, front side and front/rear side curtain), electronic brake force distribution, stability control and traction control. The car will have all of that for under $20,000!!
The stability control will help watch fishtailing, plowing(understeer)and lateral slide by braking individual wheels to assist in bringing the car back in line with driver intent. The Sonata will be the first car under $20,000 to offer all that safety as standard equipment. Remember how cool this rig looks while you ponder that!
As for power, the offerings will be a 2.4 liter, 160 hp I-4 or a 3.3 liter, 220hp V-6. The former can mate to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. The latter gets a 5-speed automatic only.
More standard equipment on the base GL will be MP3/CD sound equipment, power W/L/M's, 16-inch wheels, air and cruise control. The GLS and LX models add to that.
Here's production news: it will begin next month at Hyundai's new U.S. plant in Montgomery, Alabama. No information was given as to when it will hit stores here. Looks really sharp, eh?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
The new Sonata looks really sharp, and should go a long way to improving Hyundai's presence in the North American market. It is one of the vehicles I am considering to replace my 2002 Elantra GT sometime in the next year or so.
Both of these cars are on my shopping list (likely to replace my 02 Elantra in the next year), time will tell which will suit me better - just don't know until I get the opportunity to examine both up close and drive them. That said, I'll only be looking at the 4cyl. versions - I need the stick shift.
It's all about perception. When I read that the Fusion's V6 engine will produce "only" 203hp, it makes me a bit concerned about performance. True, until I actually drive one, what is printed on paper should be taken with a grain of salt. But still, it is difficult to ignore the printed word. In many cases what you see in print can enforce preconceived notions about a car.
The Ford Five Hundred is a perfect example. The March issue of Car and Driver tested an AWD Limited, timing the 0-60 run in 8 seconds. In my book, that's decent performance from a large car. Yet in the title of their article, Car and Driver states that the Five Hundred has "room enough to be a cop car, but not enough motor." I've seen similar articles from other automotive sources dissing the Five Hundred for its lack of power. This "bad" press could be having an impact on sales, because of the perceived notion that the Five Hundred is underpowered even though it really isn't.
Will the same scenario happen to the Fusion? I don't know, but it doesn't help that the car is coming into the market with a disadvantage in printed horsepower compared to its competition. The new Sonata is taking advantage of the numbers game right from the start, and that may be enough to sway potential buyers to consider the Hyundai even if it initially wasn't on their radar screen.
Yes, many Americans are willing to choose one car over another in the same class based solely on engine specs! Who knows, I might be one of them
I read the article on the 500 AWD too, and was likewise confounded. 0-60 in 8 secs. just doesn't seem slow to me. Of course, my Elantra with a 5spd takes somewhere around 9 secs., and I've never really felt there was a power shortage - even when I was moving back from Spokane and had it packed to the roof with stuff and headed up into the Rockies.
I test-drove a FWD Montego with the 6spd auto a few months back, and that felt plenty quick to me. Ultimately, you've got to separate the numbers and notions from actual performance. My Elantra has been very reliable, no matter what others may "feel" about Hyundai reliability. And 0-60 in 8 seconds is "fast" IMO for a heavy full-size car with AWD. I think the auto journalists might not be so harsh on the Fusion and Milan (vs. the 500/Montego) as they will likely be about 400 pounds lighter.
If performance in terms of acceleration is your game, you can't just single out one number - horsepower. You've got to include gear ratios and curb weight too. We know the Sonata won't have as favorable gearing with the 5spd as the Fusion with 6 cogs, but I'd also be willing to bet the Sonata will tip the scales at a couple hundred pounds more. Time will tell which will be the better performing car, but I'm guessing the Ford will be slightly quicker than the Hyundai. Keeping with precedence, I suspect the Ford will have better steering feel (a very important part of performance IMO that cannot be easily measured) than the Hyundai as well.
That said, which V6 is a half-second faster 0-60 is much less of a concern to me (I'll only be looking at the 4cyl versions anyway) than steering feel (I don't care for the numbness in my Elantra), fuel economy, option availability and purchase price.
Everyone's got their own "thing", but I think you're cheating yourself by playing the numbers and notions game.