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Comments
Hyundai has a dealer but with a bad reputation. My next door neighbor bought a 2003 small Hyundai and the dealer screwed her out of the 0% finance being offered...never told her about it...typical Hyundai dealer. She was 80 and liked living next to me because I would take her to the Hyundai dealer to get her car fixed. She was very vocal and the whole neighborhood knew what she thought of her new Hyundai as opposed to the 10 year old Toyota Camry she traded in. Senior citizens in Florida have been switching slowly from the Ford/Mercury/Buick behemoths to Hondas and Toyotas for reliability, quality and resale value. Since senior citizens are death on value, I doubt there are any seniors buying Hyundais, there are many Hyundai rentals and that is probably what you saw.
But I think you're right on about perception of Hyundai vs Honda/Toyota. Hyundai's got a tough hill to climb to get close to the respect Honda/Toyota has earned over many years.
Being a good car isn't good enough these days. Gotta win the hearts and minds over too. Getting a senior to buy foreign could be tough enough. Getting them to buy Hyundai..... good luck.
If anyone is wants to know the name of the dealer just reply to this post.
oh, and he used to be an accord owner
BTW while not familiar with the Gurnee dealer, I know the Aurora dealer, your friend was wise to stay away from the Aurora dealer. When my daughter tried to buy from them they actually tried to add the rebate back onto the price of the car (effectively stealing her rebate).
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
it's good to know to stay away from the aurora dealer...
Not quite. You forgot the most important factor: money talks in arranging for a J.D. Powers & [non-permissible content removed]. Award. Don't be at all surprised to see an award for the '07 Sonata next fall with the new model intros - even if a new category has to be invented for the Sonata. J.D. Powers & [non-permissible content removed]. dog & pony show awards have all the significance of parent entry fee-sponsored children's beauty pageant trophies.
Trying to decidce between 05' LX Accord AT ($17500) or a 06' Sonata GL or GLS....The electronic stability control is attractiv eon the Sonata and you can only get with a 6 cylinder on the Accord.
Like the reputation fo the Accord and my mechanci heavily recomends the Accord....
Any opinions?
Sonata vs Accord vs Camry
Edmunds came out decidedly in favor of the new Sonata in this comparison. Do your research and test drive them all and then make the decision that is right for you.
Is stability control a deal breaker?
Thought I needed the 6 cyl, but the 4 was very peppy and tight (altho I think the 06 V6 is a better 6 than previous versions) with plenty of power. Great gas mileage. Excellent resale value.
The stability control in a non-factor for 99% of your driving (unless you drive like the Fast and Furious).
Get the Accord. Yo'll never regret it.
Yeah if your a sheep. People are happier with the car that has more appeal to them.
Is stability control a deal breaker? It is if thats really what you want and/or if both cars are pretty much the same.
Stability control shouldn't be the basis on which you decide which car to buy. Reputation is.
Just remember many time reputation is undeserved. It is better to get the facts. Facts are just about every cars will be good to you if you are good to it. Don't do any maintence. at all on an Accord and you won't get 50k miles on it, keep up all the required maintence. on it and a Sonata should give you 200k+ miles.
Bottom line is get the car you like with what you want on it and you should do well.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The leftover equity of $5k ($2k loss in 12 months !) from that sale I then put into a 98 Accord LX, which I then rolled over to a 99 Accord EX.
Fast forward to fall 2002, and I had about $4.5k equity on the 99 EX which went into an 03 EX-L. Today, 3 years later, that equity is $7k.
Certainly part of each car payment goes towards the principal which, in conjunction with market values, car note APRs, etc., deliver a positive or negative ("upside down") stake on a vehicle.
Honda has its improvement areas, but for now it's hard to argue against its cars' benefit at trade-in time.
PS That's one reason I think we should be vocal about Honda's to-do list. If they don't do it, Honda cars will slowly but surely lose resale value, to its and our detriment.
Again on the Accord, increasing your equity by 2.5K in three years may or may not be good. If the car cost $24,500 starting out with a $4,500 equity means you financed $20k. With a 4 year loan at 8% you should have paid down over $14,000 of that loan. To end up with $7k in equity means the car lost close to $12,000 in the value of the car (or close to 50%). Of course depending on the miles driven and the condition of the car this could be good or bad.
Of course there is also the question of what you are basing your equity on. Is it trade in value, private party sale or retail price?
FWIW My 2000 Elantra Wagon with 130k miles has a trade in value a little more than 20% of its original cost, its retail value is 45% or original cost (per Kelly Blue Book)
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
guaranteed the kids will come back with tons of literature.
fuson is too new to have alot of posts. so many ford dealers allocated so few cars.
Because hope springs eternal?
More likely, because it is a new model, people are curious about it, it's the best mid-sized sedan Ford has built in ages, it's gotten some good press, and it isn't shipping in volume yet (still no I4 automatics, for example). So why put big rebates on it now? There will be plenty of time for that later, if sales don't hold up.
For a while I thought you were serious about your outlandish statements.
I see that you've taken your act from Del Ray to Iowa. Shouldn't you be going in the opposite direction at this time of year? Are you working on a routine about how Hyundai takes 3 minutes from 0 to 60 when there is 4 inches on snow on the road?
The Honda dealership guys don't have to run out on the lot when you drive in and accost you......
However, there are large Kia and Suzuki car dealers here, of course in addition to the Honda and Toyota dealerships. Plenty of Kia Amantis (JD Powers midsize car of the year) on the lot and looks like quite a bit of Kias on the road, SUVs, minivans, etc.
Now on to the Fusion. First of all, I have driven and drive fast. I like the Fusion at 221hp but will like it more at 250hp. But I wouldn't have a problem with the 221hp. Sorry folks, not everybody likes to drive a missile. The 221 is adequate and I think to MOST Americans it is very comparible to the rest in this category. I doubt people leave a test drive saying that "oh the Accord is VASTLY faster". Anyhow. I like the Sonata, but I place it behind the Fusion. I have sat and driven in both and the Sonata's interior is definitely cheaper feeling. My girlfriend compares it to a beautiful woman with no brains.Yes the Sonata is bigger but is the room difference significant? What do I mean by that. Okay a limo has a cavernous interior. But is that space significant to what it will be used for? Also I like the looks of the Fusion much better than the rest. I have to love the look of it first, to even get me in the car. I am not all about practicality and possibility. That isn't what life is about. If you live life based on the should ofs, would ofs, and could ofs, you'd never leave your house. I will give you that the Fusion should be safer though.
As I said before, my car purchase is probably 2 years off. I am not a Ford lover and as you can tell from my ownership history I have no loyalty to a brand only to great product. I wouldn't touch a Fusion until manu-shift is offered but that is just me. After all I drive a Mazda6. And let me clear something else up real quick, my car is at least 90 times more fun than my brother's. Much of the 2 year wating period is because I want to see what the next Mazda6 has to offer. I at least owe Mazda that. In an Edmunds test last year, the Mazda came in second and the reviewer said it was the only one out of a group of I believe 8 or so that they'd find an excuse to go drive. If the Fusion is the same as that, give it to me. The Accord might eat me in the open road but I live in the conjestion of the city anyway, and I'll catch him in the corners.
Its nothing NEW in this segment. I love how the media makes it out like the Fusion is some great revolutionary styled car or something. It's got prelude front headlights, a CTS grille, and Altima/Altezza like rear taillights.
I find the Mazda6 more attractive. I even like the 06 Accords better.
The Interior of the Fusion, while and improvement over say the Taurus, can't touch the Accord or Camry IMO. The design is lacking and some of the materials don't look all that great (especially on S and SE models)
Though the SEL with the Piano blk looks better. The Beige interior really lacks substance, even on the SEL.
The universe changes in a few thousand miles from point A to point B. But some things remain constant: the earth is still flat and the sun revolves around the earth.
My problems - 5 ft 4 in, short arms and bad back, bad wrists, getting older. And 45 mile freeway commute - need a comfortable commute car. Want to keep it in the $20,000 range.
I've recently test driven 4 cyl Accord LX, Camry LE, Hyundai GL, Mazda6 (felt cramped), Nissan Altima (dislike its looks), and today a 6 cyl Ford Fusion (very nice looking car).
I like the 2006 Camry as far as ease of steering and comfortable ride. But I couldn't seem to find a comfortable position in the Camry. Wish it had a telescoping steering wheel. 2006 Accord had comfortable seat and driving position, but found the Accord steering too stiff feeling for me. Drove the Fusion today - really liked the dashboard - much easier for me to reach than the others. Seats didn't seem quite as comfortable as Accord & Camry and steering felt stiff, though not as stiff as the Accord, I think. I'm leaning toward the 2006 Sonata - the steering seemed midway between the Accord and Camry, the seats seemed fairly comfortable, I dislike that gear shifter where you can't just drag it straight back but think I could learn to live with it. Sigh, none of them make me enthusiastic. I'm going to try a Chevy Malibu next, in spite of my bias against American cars - read it had a telescoping steering wheel. My local dealer had none on the lot - are they that popular?
Last month our top sales guy, by himself, almost outsold the whole Ford dealership next door...ouch.
Hard to believe the Ford dealership is hurting. Unless they don't participate in this huge F150 sales number. Absolutely huge. But beyond that, what sells at a Ford dealer now? Gas prices have ebbed but I think its spooked many potential buyers. A dealer here advertises "take $10,000 off the sticker price" on Explorers (prob the 05s). Gimme a break.
I like Fords and will give them a chance. But the Fusion was no winner over the CamCord IMO. Maybe over the Malibu etc. but Ford still does the plasticy interior.
If you want a discount on the Fusion, you will probably have to wait until next spring.
Has anyone seen the quality ratings on the Ford 500. They came out stellar. I am so happy but the truth is Consumer Reports gave them a stellar quality rating for last year. And in every category. Hope this is on all things to come out of Ford. Then I may see the stock rise again.
Anyone who owns a Toyota, cannot tell me about exciting interiors nor body styling. Give me a break and check out the Fusion or Ford 500 with your eyes open.
Look forward to your responses.
Also drove the 500 on the same excursion (pardon the pun). Decent interior, but was slow and handles like a boat. Maybe when I'm 75 I'll like that disconnect with the front end. Not yet tho. Fusion BTW handles well.
Backy mentioned a VERY IMPORTANT point here. I'm sure many are already familiar with this research, but apparently there still are some people here that do not realize the significance of vehicle stability control.
This kind of statistical difference (35%) is simply huge. Compare that to, for instance, the ABS. There has been no conclusive research that ABS reduces accidents or fatality that I know of. On the other hand, the VSC is very likely to become the next best thing since the airbags.
In short, no, VSC is NOT just for the fast and furious. (In fact, it is a pain for those that want to have fun with their cars.) That is just like saying you'll NEVER get into an accident as long as you drive safely.