Hyundai Sonata 2006-2007

haefr

Then that does suck. At least with the previous dual knob arrangement, fore and aft rake adjustments were possible.

backy

Yes, it does. It means I'd have to pay extra for the power seat were I to buy a Sonata. I wonder where the photo of the seat with the dual knobs came from then--in the TSB on seat installation?

averigejoe

probably a misprinttt. They are human too.

averigejoe

I bet the new Elantra will be a good choice too for those of us who own one (or two) now. And maybe it will retain the two seat cushion knobs.
Oops! Wrong board.

fezzy

It is a system that monitors the pressure in your tires. This is being phased in by the NHTSA. If you look at your dash real good on the 06 Sonata you can see the tire and the acronym for the low pressure monitoring system. However, this system has not been installed on the current 06 models. However, after talking to Hyundai service techs the later 06's will utilize different computer set-ups which will be able to handle this monitoring system. For more on tire pressure monitoring system see the link below.

http://www.citizen.org/autosafety/nhtsa/tread/tpms/

gmctruck

The TPM system is nothing more than another expensive gimmick that we all have to pay for because some drivers are too lazy to check their tire pressure. The sensors mounted inside each tire are very expensive to replace and can be easily damaged by careless tire changers. The TPM system is in part a response to the Ford/Firestone problems on the Explorer a few years ago.

acurattle

" However, this system has not been installed on the current 06 models. However, after talking to Hyundai service techs the later 06's will utilize different computer set-ups which will be able to handle this monitoring system. "

Thanks for the info. The service manual (online at www.hmaservice.com) shows that the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) module and wiring are apparently already in place now. I noticed it while looking for something else a few months ago, guessed it was just not available in the US, maybe was being used in Canada or Korea. Did the service techs you spoke to indicate whether us current '06 Sonata owners could also simply have this feature activated? Or would an extensive (and expensive) mod be needed?

fezzy

He didn't mention anything about the system being able to be easily activated but I doubt that it would. I think that the cars interior was designed with anticipated changes in mind. The tech told me that a different computer system was in the works for the car. Not being sure on my end but I would assume the car was wired for the anticipated changes. Not saying that the changes can't be made I would assume that they would be expensive if Hyundai uses an entirely different set-up in regards to their computers.

buyasonata

Picked up my GLS a day ago. Went through the car exterior with salesman. Noticed some issue on the back bumper. Like scotch tape that stuck. It really now looks like some pitting and a small area that looks like the paint conjealed and something that almost looks like a screw popped, it is round in shape. I know bumpers are plastic.

This is the question, should I be expecting perfection. Is there an issue about bumpers, I thought I read this in the forum. Granted, it is minor, but, this is my first new car. Any thoughts out there?

buyasonata

Just picked up my Sonata. Have the same circular issue on the bumper. I am having salesman look at it. Anything new on your issue?

backy

It's easy: demand the bumper be repaired or replaced to your satisfaction, or alternately they can give you a replacement car.

xeo

For those of you out there with the GLS 4 cyl - are you happy with the performance or do you wish that you had gone with the V6?

averigejoe

Ask the customer satisfaction bigshot at the dealership for a cash apology. $300 or so might be about right. Or whatever it would cost to repair it if you ever decided to later.

haefr

C'mon, folks: sales and service are entirely different departments at any car stealership. The salesperson has no pull over the service department and is just as apt as not to give wrong information and advice. (When I bought my '03 Sonata, the salesman told me during the delivery walk-through with a straight face that my new car only required oil and filter changes every 7,500 miles in severe service. The '03 Sonata owner's manual states 3,000 miles for severe service.) It's the service manager who has the power to make things happen, so he's logically the person to talk to in the event the service writer tries to tiptoe around you. The next step up is the stealership's general manager. Niggling appearance problems are covered under Hyundai's general warranty during the first 12 months/12,000 miles of ownership - sometimes beyond on a case-by-case basis for specific problems. It pays in the long run to READ your warranty supplement booklet. Knowledge is Power when dealing with these birds. More than once in my 40 years of buying and owning cars I've backed a service writer or manager down by showing them the paragraph that made my point. (They hate it when you do that... ) The only reason these booklets are even supplied with all new cars is that they're required under the Moss-Magnusen Act. But it's up to the owner to take advantage of them.

pat

use the pejorative term "stealership" - we can make our points without that kind of insult ... thanks.

krika

I am new to automatic transmission , and I really need someone to teach me the tricks. Before my '06 LX, I owned a manual GEO prizm. I am doing fine with the LX, but I don't want to damage my new car due to ignorance. The first question is when changing the transmission between P, R, N and D its suggested to apply brake. What is the purpose of that :confuse: . Is it just to keep the car immobile or is it some kind of switch. Because the car manual (book) says - press the brake all the way down. Is it necessary to press the brake all the way down, I feel kinda hesitant . Next question later. Thanks for any suggestions.

[Deleted User]

There's a switch that will prevent you from moving out of Park (P) before applying the brake. This insures the car isn't accidently bumped into gear. You don't need to press hard on the pedal, just enough to engage the brake (you'll probably hear it click if you listen carefully).

-Ty

bhmr59

One other thing---when changing from reverse to forward or forward to reverse, be sure to bring the car to a complete stop before changing gear direction. I'm surprised at how many people I know who shift from R to D while the car is still going backward. This is true for any car with automatic tranny.

Even if the car is moving only 1/2 mph, that type of shifting puts an enormous strain on the gears which can lead to transmission failure.

zen2

Afraid so. I just got back from my daughter;s house, a 300 mile drive.
On the way down, I had to stop 6 times, my back and legs hurt so bad.
I didn't think I was going to make it. On the way back, tonight, I moved the
seat much more forward, and my back still hurt, but not nearly as bad
as the first trip. I am going to have to get some type of cushion for bottom
and back. Most uncomfortable seat of any of the 12 new cars I have owned,
including an AMC Hornet. :-)

Now for the good part - car ran perfectly. I have 900 miles, have not found
even a loose screw. No lag in transmission, or accelerator, no vibrations.
Gas mileage could have been better, 25.6, but I think that will improve
as the car is broken in, and I drive it more normally. Now, if I could just
get a seat from a junked 2000 Accord retro fitted into my Sonata.

If anyone has any ideas on a good seat cushion I would sure like to
hear about them. I plan on making the trip again for Thanksgiving.
Around town, or the 70 mile trip to the casino, the seat is bearable,
but at about 100 miles, you start to wonder if you should have gotten
an Accord.

Thanks for all the responses.

xeo

All you Sonata owners, which color did you choose for your car? (and what other ones did you choose between). I like Silver and Steel Gray.

dfocht

Couldn't be happier. This car delivers on all counts.

smith20

That's really unfortunate about the driver seat. I hope they go back to their previous design because the seat comfort of my 2004 Hyundai is exceptionally good. Hopefully they return to the dual knob height adjustment to allow for more customization of the seat orientation for the driver.

buyasonata

Sporty's Catalog has a lot of comfort products you may check out. Do a search for Sporty's catalog.

zen2

I didn't have much choice, but I got the steel gray, and I like it. I wanted blue,
but I think the gray is better for not showing dust. Also, the gray looks
great on a sunny day, and seems like everyone has silver. I think the beige is
a really nice color too, if you can find one. They had one at the dealership,
with a vibration problem.

dan42

I will be buying the pearl white. The color is awesome in my opinion. I am going to then tint the windows a dark bronze color. Most of the higher end luxury vehiches only have pear white as an option, was really pleased to see that it's available on the '06 Sonata.

averigejoe

A little latitude please? From the Azera board:

#291 of 292 Hmm delayed again? by keithl Nov 03, 2005
I stopped by a dealer last week as I am wiating on my next purchase until the Azera ships. Well he now says they were told it was pushed into January. The reason, too many XG350 left to sell. Well with all the Azera buzz do they think many will opt for a XG350? I gues if I was in a jam and had to buy now. He did say there was over $4000 iin rebates on the XG350.

#292 of 292 Re: Azera, Sonata or XG350? [keithl] by averigejoe Nov 03, 2005
The XG350s are really nice cars if you can get a new one around $18,000 or so. It has a nice smooth ride and power delivery. Has a lot of equipment too. Increase the air pressure in the tires to improve the mushy handling.
Go test drive one, but first ask the dealer to put at least 38 or 39 lbs into each tire (they'll safely hold 50).
Inside, the XGs look a lot like a 10 year old Infinity Q45 or a 15 year old Jaguar XJ sedan. Some of us still admire that style.
Outside, from the front you may see the Infinity I 35. From the back, a little like a Bentley. Overall it is at least unique.
Price-wise, a new XG should cost no more than a 4 cylinder Sonata GLS with the premium package. Compare those 2 if you are thinking of a new Hyundai sedan around $18,000.
There are dramatic differences. Find out which suits you best.
(But I am really anxious to try an Azera.)

tbear503

I love the steel gray; very good in the sun but also looks great at night in a well lighted parking lot! It hides dust pretty well, but does show smudges and fingerprints. To my eye, it seems to get more gray after a couple of months. I also framed the grill with chrome stripping from Autozone (it's sold as wheel well trim) that really makes the grill stand out. I'm hoping that K-Spec or someone comes out with chrome trim for the lower body sills.

johnap2

Personally, I am very happy with the I4 engine. I test drove both and decided it was plenty fast enough. It is faster than the vehicle it replaced (V6 Ford Explorer) and better on fuel. My wallet will be thanking me years to come!

johnap2

If you look back through the postings most people described the bumper issue as a "crinkle" or to that effect. I looked at mine after reading your message and did not notice anything significant. I would complain and try to get the issue fixed to your satisfaction. While I would not expect perfection for a $20k it should be free of such defects. Hope it works out okay!

johnap2

Is the term "stealership" really that insulting? Car dealerships use a customers lack of knowledge as leverage to exploit a higher price than is reasonable and fair. While it may not be stealing in a literal sense it is only a different shade of gray, so to speak. Since this is not the focus of this particular forum it may be inappropriate to discuss it at length, but to call it insulting is a bit off base.

johnjj

I received a letter from Hyundai today. My 2006 Sonata has been recalled. "The front seat belt may interfere with the manual seat back recliner knob and may cause the front manual seat back recliner to inadvertently release." Apparently they are going to replace the seat back knobs. This recall applies to 2006 Sonata's built between 4/14/05 & 8/18/05. You may want to check with your dealer to see if your car is recalled.
John

pat

It is an insult no matter how you apply it and this is not the place to get into this. Email me if you want to discuss it further.

dresskov

That recall is the stupidest one I have ever heard...! Some idiot was playing aroung with his seatbelt and wanted to see if it could fit between the seat lever and seat back. Well it does....Just like every other car. It is recalls like that one, that give good cars a bad name. :surprise:

tbear503

There is a quite complimentary video road test review of the Sonata at researchcars.com. It is by Motor Week and really confirms my decision to get this car.

pat

let's let this discussion stay on the Sonata. If anyone has other comments to make, please email me - thanks.

reysonata06

I upgraded my 2002 sonata to 2006 and after a day I was so
disparate that I heard squeaking maybe down under the engine or the brake system. I brough it back to the dealer and the fix it a little bit, because I hear again but my squeaking is not so loud. Now November 3 my the squeaking is louder than the original problem and not only that I notice that my fog light is not working. Maybe I not lucky enough to get this car right, but LAMAR HYUNDAI I guess is not working hard enough to trouble shoot the problem.

pat

Hey gang, check this out: Honda/Toyota: you might want to look over your shoulder!

Edmunds has launched its new blog pages. This is an article in the Car Tuners - http://blogs.edmunds.com/cartuners - section that you'll want to read and then you can make your responses to the author right there!

You'll probably want to explore the other blogs also - have fun!

zen2

Have you actually driven a 2006 Sonata? I cannot find
this delay you are talking about. Whether at 0 or 60
mph, acceleration is immediate.

zen2

After not driving my CRV for a week, I got in yesterday
to go to the store. I was amazed at how comfortable
the seats were compared to the Sonata. Difference?
The CRV seat is more than an inch longer, at least an
inch wider, and much, much higher. Also, the padding is more robust in the CRV. The killer is that
I got the Sonata because I wanted a more comfortable
car for long trips. I am going to get the Obus seat
cushion, as it is 21 inches long, and see how that
works.

johnjj

Does anyone have a copy of the Hyundai Financing contract, that was used to get their $1000 financing rebate, that they could send me? Of course I would want you to black out your personal info. I just want to read the terms of the contract. Please email me if you can help me.
TIA.
John

danf1

What terms are you looking for?

haefr

Has there ever been a "Motor Week" review that wasn't complimentary?

johnjj

I may be financing with Hyundai, and before I sit down with the business manager at the dealership, I'd like to review the terms and language of the contract to be better prepared. One important piece of info would be if I could pay off the loan at anytime without penalties. Other terms of concern would be the interest rate, length of loan, minimum amount to finance to receive the $1000 rebate, etc.
John

averigejoe

I found Motorweek site but can't find Sonata review.
Please post a link, ok?

backy

Why not call your local dealership, ask to talk to the finance manager, tell him/her you are interested in buying a Sonata but need some information. I'm sure they would be glad to help you, maybe even fax you a copy of the contract. If not, that would tell you something about the dealership!

tenpin288

MotorWeek Review

danf1

The minimum to finance to qualify for the bonus cash is $10,000. Loan terms from 12-72 months are available. Interest rate will vary depending upon your credit and the term of the loan.

As far as prepayment on the back of the contract it states:
"Buyer may prepay this contract in full or in part at any time. Any partial prepayment will not excuse any later scheduled payment until buyer pays this contract in full. Buyer may obtain from seller or the insurance company named in buyer's policy or certificate of insurance a refund of any prepaid, unearned insurance premiums."

In English, you can prepay without penalty.

thekid

I ahve a GLS 4cyl with 3000 miles on it, and around town, I'm averaging 24mpg

johnap2

John,

I used the Hyundai Finance Company strictly to qualify for the $1,000 rebate. I paid it off within a week. There is no penalites for early payoff....and you still get your rebate! My loan was in the beginning of September and was a bit above 7 percent; not as competitive as online lenders, but I did not care what is was since I was paying it off immediately.

netscorer

This is hardly the news.
Evofusionusa has been selling this and other kits for over a month now. They still have to order it from Korea but the prices are OK considering things.
Check out this URL: Hyundai Sonata
Korean Body Kit Group Buy
I personally prefer Ixion kit, even though the grill on Studie looks better.
One thing to remember if you are planning to equip your car with this kit, is that kit is made of fiberglass which tends to be very fragile, so you would need to be extra careful not bumping your car into anything (this includes snow for those of us living up north).
Cheers,

netscorer.