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Comments
I don't care what make car my neighbor has, or even how old it may be as long as it and his property is not an eyesore to the neighborhood. As for the car next to you in traffic, who cares?
Unless someone is a celebrity and has tons of money and feels obligated to play a role, why would one be concerned about what others think of the type of car they drive?
If one prefers a car in their price range they should but it. If not, they shouldn't buy it.
Gee, I'm sure glad all the people that are important to me really don't seem to be extremely irritated that I now drive a Hyundai. You must have some mighty snobby neighbors & aquaintances.
Explain away to others? I just don't know what to say.
Do you fear buying an "off brand" vehicle that turns out to be a lemon, and being ridiculed by your neighbors and bellttled by your wife? Then you better do the research!
I would rather be a diligent researcher, choose a car very wisely, and ridicule my neighbors for paying $4K-$8K too much for theil car. Any car can turn out to be a lemon. It's better to have a $19K lemon than a $26K lemon!
Buy American! Get a Sonata!
Shoot, I drive a Sonata and have the neighborhood eyesore yard - the best of both worlds! (How bad is it? Stray dogs won't even relieve themselves in my yard...)
If your car improves your position with your neighbors then you live among snobs.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
People always want to have an IMAGE of the successful... Big part of a person investing money in buying a beautiful house, or in home improvement, or in a new car, or dress up nicely, or wearing a nice watch... is to have a good life, feel good about himself BUT ALSO TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION ON OTHERS.
Some people have the need to make others jealous, and some are just snobs, or they live in a snobish neighborhood... But the need to build an image, and make an impression -- is normal among people.
Nobody wants to be looked at as a loser. As someone who owns his small business, I WAS somewhat concerned that parking my old clunker in front of a client's office might not make the right impression about me as a businessman....
...On the other hand, years ago, when it was time to return my leased Camry and lease a new one, the salesman offered me a different color (the new car looked almost the same as the old one) "so your neighbors can see you got a new car" he said. And I replied "no, get me the same color, I DON'T need my neighbors to be jealous"....
People are concerned about their image. I think it's just NATURAL. Up to a point....
No one wants to be perceived as a looser.
I thought I was based in reality.
People always want to have an IMAGE of the successful...
Thats why Sam Walton always drove around in a beat up pick up truck.
I know millionaires that drive around in 10 year old Chevys. They will tell you they didn't make their money wasting it. Most of the people I know that have big fancy cars are barely making it and should be driving the 10 year old Chevy.
But lets get back to reality, we are not talking about the difference between a Bentley and a Chevy Aveo, but between two family sedans.
Some people have the need to make others jealous,
Yeah usually they are insecure.
Nobody wants to be looked at as a loser.
Thats why Sam Walton always drove around in a beat up pick up truck. Ah wait I said that before.... point is if you're secure in who you are what difference does it make what you drive, what difference does it make what others think about you.
I WAS somewhat concerned that parking my old clunker in front of a client's office might not make the right impression about me as a businessman....
I always meet clients with my 5 year old Elantra. One reason is that if I am going to talk to the about finances I don't want them to think that I am wasteful with my money. Another reason is if I show up in a $60k Caddy they may thing I am going to cost to much. So far it has worked for me.
I replied "no, get me the same color, I DON'T need my neighbors to be jealous"....
My reply would of been who cares what the neighbors think.
No one wants to be perceived as a looser.
Only the insecure ones.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
And while some super-famous, super-rich guys can afford driving ANYTHING, the average person out there WILL BE judged by what he/she drives. Or what house he/she lives in, or how they dress... It's just natural.
...But before this discussion is turning to philosophy and psychology... Let's just say we all agree that the new Sonata is the right thing to drive... It's well balanced between the $60k Caddy and and a 1985, though good, dependable but rusty Buick, the one I was driving, till starting my own business, years ago...
No not really, just that people pay me for financial advice and I should put some type of "Practice what you preach" into my presentation. If I really were concerned with an image I would show up in the Caddy.
the average person out there WILL BE judged by what he/she drives.
I don't judge people by their drives (well maybe the idiot with the hand painted Neon I saw the other day or speed racer wannabes with riced out Civics but thats by what they did to their drives), nor do I know anyone who has shown that attitude. If you judge someone by what they drive then you are shallow.
Let's just say we all agree that the new Sonata is the right thing to drive...
Can't really say that simply because not everyone is the same. A new Sonata may be good for one person, but not another.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
You don't judge people by what they drive, but you form a certain IMAGE of them (of course, when you DON'T REALLY know them well).
So just as you don't want to drive a Caddy, because people might think you're a very expensive professional, and that's because your clients are NOT SUPER RICH, some other professionals who DO deal with the very rich, WOULD invest in a Caddy, so that their rich clients don't think them to be loosers...
And so would other people prefer to invest money into buying a decent car, get rid of their rusty old clunker (even though it drives great), so that they are not perceived (by their clients, or students, or bosses, or whoever) as poor, or loosers, or slobs, or whatever.
Admitted yes, cared no. There is a difference in knowing that someone might think something and really caring what they think.
You don't judge people by what they drive, but you form a certain IMAGE of them
No not really. I never really think about placing an image with a car. You might but I don't. I know many successful people who drive around in very inexpensive cars and I know many people driving around in cars they cannot really afford.
So just as you don't want to drive a Caddy, because people might think you're a very expensive professional,
I really don't want to drive the Caddy because its a stick and I would have to drive it in rush hour traffic. But then again I could because I don't care if they would think that. Remember knowing someone thinks a particular way is not the same as caring that they think that way.
some other professionals who DO deal with the very rich, WOULD invest in a Caddy, so that their rich clients don't think them to be loosers...
I deal with some very rich people who don't know I even have the Caddy. They don't care what I drive. FWIW one of them drives an old escort. You might see him driving down the road and think "what a loser" but guess what? He don't care. He doesn't need to impress you, me or anyone else but himself and he knows it.
And so would other people prefer to invest money into buying a decent car, get rid of their rusty old clunker (even though it drives great), so that they are not perceived (by their clients, or students, or bosses, or whoever) as poor, or loosers, or slobs, or whatever.
Again I know some very rich people who have the attitude that the best car in the world is one that runs and is paid for. But then again they don't judge me by what I drive they judge me by results.
Again if you judge someone by the car they drive you are shallow, if your car improves your standing with your friends and neighbors then your friends and neighbors are snobs.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Following your "image" requirement, wouldn't any newer car in decent shape be better than a rust bucket?
My post that started this sub-thread referred to someone who said he could not buy a Sonata, even though he liked it, because he was afraid others would criticize or look down upon him.
For some businesses, certain types of vehicles are preferable to convey a business image. i.e, not too smart for an insurance guy to drive a Viper; but a family type car from a Hyundai to an Infiniti or BMW would be OK. But, that's from a business image requirement. If a typical individual, employed by someone else, buys a car just to try to impress others then that individual has low self esteem and/or is surrounded by snobs. If the individual wants to pay $X more for a higher priced car because he likes it better and feels the price difference is worthwhile, he is doing that to satisfy himself, not to try to impress others who, for the most part, don't give a darn.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
-Yes, when I started my own business, I decided my old Buick was not a good idea do drive to my clients with. That's why I started leasing Camrys. Not Lexus, or BMW, just a good, decent car.
"Following your "image" requirement, wouldn't any newer car in decent shape be better than a rust bucket?" - Yes. Just as I stated above. Doesn't it sound logical?
"someone who said he could not buy a Sonata, even though he liked it, because he was afraid others would criticize or look down upon him."-- well, that's his perception of the Sonata, maybe. He thinks that Hyundai still has the same CHEAP image that they had (Hyundai can blame it only on themselves, of curse) for the past 10 years. That poster is wrong.
"For some businesses, certain types of vehicles are preferable to convey a business image." - Yes. And I say it applies for ANYBODY. Right or wrong, it is part of REALITY. People want to be perceived as successful, not losers.
So there you have this very rich guy who drives an old Escort. Of course, this guy is not your average rich person... And it does not change the fact that most average people are concerned in how they are perceived by others. Which can lead to an extreme of this poor guy who elects to invest all his savings in a Lexus (especially if he lives in an upscale neighborhood...). Yes, that happens too. Is he concerned about his image, maybe?...
...And I think I have communicated my concept well enough, to bring this discussion to a happy ending.
To me insecurity is when you have to blast another guy for stating his opinion and not just accepting his opinion. So trashing me and calling my friends snobs makes you feel better? Fine. Whatever. Nowhere did I say I thought the Sonata was a bad car. I mentioned my friends once chided me for wanting a Sonata. What? They're not allowed to have their opinion?
I would have never considered a Hyundai until I test drove one a while back. I was very surprised by Hyundai's latest offering. A good car. But there are other good cars out there. Yes I bought a TL. I love it. I guess everybody here thinks a TL is a waste of money. But I have the money. I've saved a lot and have tremendous equity in my home. I own my own business too. The Acura is a 'company car', and yes, does project an certain image. But I bought the car more cause I was sold on Honda/Acura for many years and I love the performance etc. of the car. I like the Azera too.
Believe it or not there are many people who have a negative image of Hyundai. Just stating a fact. My opinion of Hyundai definitely changed when I test drove one. I'm sure others' opinions will change when they do the same. That takes time.
I predicted what would be said about me after my post and it looks like I was exactly right. Its OK to have money and want something other than a Sonata.
Buying something with the best image generally does get you the best product. Of course, it might be the best in an aspect that's useless to you...
This is kinda like the SUVers who thought that was what they needed, and then came to realize what they got themselves into, and are now taking a bath to get out of these behemoths. A minivan could have served their purposes so much better, but the big SUV that towers over your car is a power trip to many, even tho they can't manuever 'em in parking lots.
But image is what was purchased.
As someone posted earlier... what does all of this have to do with the '06 Sonata? We don't have to knock others' choices of vehicles to talk about the Sonata, do we?
n.
1. One who tends to patronize, rebuff, or ignore people regarded as social inferiors and imitate, admire, or seek association with people regarded as social superiors.
2. One who affects an offensive air of self-satisfied superiority in matters of taste or intellect. --from Webster.
Believe it or not there are many people who have a negative image of Hyundai. Just stating a fact. My opinion of Hyundai definitely changed when I test drove one.
The point was, if you think any car is the best value, buy it and don't worry about what others will think.
Sorry I missed your prediction; and yes, it's fine to buy whatever YOU want. It's not too prudent to buy what you think someone else wants.
Huh? What's that supposed to mean?
I like the Sonata too. But I like lots of other cars as well. Image, to some degree, is a part of all buying decisions we make. Hyundai still has to overcome its older image of trouble. I think its done that. I think leadfoot was stating the same thing to some degree. People are people and if they don't know about Hyundai's progress there's one way to educate them, and its to tell them about it. I think this snob BS is silly. Now that's insecurity.
Thats why Sam Walton always drove around in a beat up pick up truck.
I know millionaires that drive around in 10 year old Chevys. They will tell you they didn't make their money wasting it. Most of the people I know that have big fancy cars are barely making it and should be driving the 10 year old Chevy.
Better not tell that to all those owners of Bentleys, Rolls, Ferraris, Bugattis, Aston Martins, Mercedes SLs and S-Class, BMW 7 Series, AMG models, Lamborghinis, and Maybachs. Or Paul Allen who spent the size of a small country for a yacht or all those with those G9 personal jets, or those who are buying up those small manmade islands that are supposed to look like a mini model of the global map. Trust me, rich people "waste" their money more than anyone else.
I think I remember hearing Bill Gates house has automatic doors. When you make it rich, meaning $500M to a million or so in taxable income a year, what is a $150K car financed over 3 years. Bill probably has gourmet peanuts that cost more.
Let's get back to the Sonata.
Well, here's what you have to do: Research the car thoroughly, look at many, many large customer satisfaction and reliability tables. Chances are, your neighbors and friends didn't do that. Regardless of what you buy, you will most likely be glad you did. Your friends and neighbors are taking pot luck, so you will probably look the best in the end.
No it doesn't apply to anybody just to those who are vain or insecure. Others don't really care what someone else thinks of them.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I don't think I trashed you or your friends, All I said was that if someones opinion of you is based on the car you drive then they are snobs. Now I am sorry if they are like that but all I did was make a statement not based at anyone in particular.
Its OK to have money and want something other than a Sonata.
I never said it wasn't.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Because someone was worried about the image it would give others if they bought a Hyundai. Thats why all the recent talk about image.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
This would be a good discussion for News & Views maybe... "Are We What We Drive?" or something like that.
I was replying to post 4014.
4014 comes before 4020.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Meanwhile, let me let you know that further posts about that subject will be removed.
Sonata, anyone?
- The 2006 Sonata is getting rave reviews from just about every auto journalist on the planet. And the reliability rating just keeps getting better.
- The car feels solid. The doors close with a reassuring thud. The fit and finish are excellent.
- The list of options is amazing: Comfortable, supportive heated leather seats (8 way power diver's seat); Sunroof with one touch open, tilt and close functions; Auto dimming rearview mirror with compass and homelink; MP3 stereo; Tilt and telescopic leather wrapped steering with with audio and cruise controls; 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESC with traction control; Auto climate control with air ducts for rear passengers; Fog lights; Great rear seat room; Shiftronic; 17" rims; Sliding (adjustable arm rest); Adjustable pedals;
etc.
- In my opinion a strong and quiet engine
- Sound tranny
- This car comes in a very neat and classy package. The lines are well laid out and nothing is over done. References to some other (ahemm) car's tail end... whatever. The Sonata's looks way better, period.
- As far as the price goes, that's a no brainer. Saw my sales guy in the grocery store and he said that Hyundai Canada has raised the price by $900.00Cdn for the month of February. Even then it's still the deal of the century.
Just my $0.02
You live in Canada?
How much did you purchase your car for?
I'm assuming you took the GLS V6 premium, since all the features you listed are on the top model.
His car is substantial..even more so than previous Hyundai offerings and this car competes soundly with anything on the market.
After taking the vehicle for a 5 mile spin my only complaint was a dead-spot in the acceleration when you hit the accelerator hard. Having owned Nissans and Hondas, I could feel this dead spot immediately. This is a minor correction for Hyundai engineers but I am surprised they let this tranny leave the factory before they addressed it. This is not an isolated issue as I read a comment from an auto journalist who experienced the same.
2006 sonata is the most important korean vehicle ever produced. hyundai will sell almost 200,000 sonatas this year. it makes sonata top 5-6 selling sedan in america.
and people will mention hyundai in a same sentence with a toyota and honda sooner or later. maybe not yet, but within next 5 years after hyundai brings the complete line up, and continues to grow like my 14 year old nephew. all of sudden my 14 year old nephew will be taller than i'm, i'll be thinkin, what's been eating?
i just bought a samsung A900 phone, and it's much much better than Razr. did samsung produced quality stuff 15 years ago? no. nokia was better. motorolla was better. but now samsung is like sony. their TV's are as good as sony's if not better. it didnt take 30 years for them, it only took few years.
we don't live in 80's anymore. things change dramatically over night. i know many koreans and they are fiery people and they work hard. i mean all the koreans i know are workaholics. i admire them. they have this beautiful competitive nature and they don't like losing to japanese.
anyway, it's a fact some people who drives bimmers and audi bashs not only hyundai, but any other family cars. my friend who drives A6 would never drive a camry because he thinks it's a boring old man's car. i had an accord coupe and he even says it's just an accord. these people are helpless. and i'm sure some of those who drives benz s600, would say same thing to that A6 my buddy admires. 'it's just an audi'. it's endless.
however, we educated people shouldn't bash those who drives 3 series, TL, and A4 because it's their freedom, and they are driving brilliant cars. and not all of them looks down on camry's or sonatas. they did over pay imo, but it was their choice.
i love what hyundai is doing, and sonata is a brilliant car. if i was shopping for a family sedan, i would definitely consider sonata over accord and camry because of it's value, warranty, exterior, and etc.
-Actually you don't have to accelerate hard... I noticed it right from day one, a slight "gap" between 1st and 2nd gear...
Has anyone else noticed it? I have a 10 day old GLS, 4 cyl.
not be typical of all V6's. And I've owned Accord V6's
and Ford V6's and Turbo Charged V6's. I assume you are
talking about the V6.
BTW, the Ford turbo V6 did have a slight dead spot,
but still was the fastest accelerating V6 I ever owned,
and I've had 4 now. 2 Probes, Accord, and the Sonata.
from Hyundai, for 35K, I would expect something
approaching a 50K sedan from one of the "prestige"
companies, and I'm not talking Honda or Toyota.
When my wife drives it for a week when i'm away, then it takes a day or two to realize that it's time to move out when that pedal goes down to the floor.
Getting second-hand info isn't always reliable, the reality may have been far different than what actually occured. I doubt that a serious problem w/ a new Sonata wouldn't be handled by the warranty (unless it was obvious driver abuse). If the car wasn't covered they should have taken the problem straight to the top (I know I would!). As far as reliablity, being a 1st year model built at a brand new factory there's no long term data yet. I will tell you of all the new cars we've bought (we usually trade out every 3 years and have had about 8 new cars thus far) we really are impressed w/ the Sonata package, a very tight & solid car (comparable to my dads' Audi) and the value is hard to resist. I haven't heard of any ongoing problems, every make of car will have a few problems w/ their vehicles, but I'd recommend taking the Sonata for a long test & see what kind of impression you have of the overall package. Get back to us and tell us what you ended up with
I have found over the years that once the warranty is up to have a very good and honest mechanic to repair your vehicle. Most of the time it is cheaper and dealers charge for every little thing they do and find excuses to make more money.
I spent all of 15 minutes waiting for it to get fixed.
It did take me quite a while to find a comfortable seat
position, but I wouldn't call that a quality problem.
In the first 4 months, I have had less problems than
both the Accord and the Civic I have owned. I will
report again after the first 12k miles.