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2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
If my daughter did that, I would take the car away and never give it back!
Impressive range though.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Go read the full version on "buying & selling." I think you'll take my iPad & cell phone away too:)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
range pushers are an alien life form that I just don't understand.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
But - no low fuel warning light on that car. I wanna say it was a Sebring convertible.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
They really slammed the new 200 though. It got a little higher score than the old 200, but they didn't find much to like about it.
The new Sonata has been widely seen as a step backwards from the previous one - slower, less interesting looking, boring. Will be interesting to see what Hyundai does if sales start to slump after the new wears off.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Toyota has sold lots of Camrys to buyers looking for a solid, quiet, roomy, smooth-riding mid-sized car. "Boring" wasn't an issue there.
I have not tried the new one, or even gotten to sit in it, so will have to reserve judgement on it until I do. I will look at one before the end of the year to see if it should go on my consideration short list!
I have noticed a few dealers advertising aggressive lease deals and big discounts on the 15s already, so that might not be a good sign.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
You are correct, this is directly from the Hyundai website:
5-YEAR/60,000-MILE NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY
Covers repair or replacement of any component manufactured or originally installed by Hyundai that is defective in material or factory workmanship, under normal use and maintenance.
The following components are covered for time and mileage limits indicated:
• Radio and audio systems (i.e., radio, compact disc player, DVD player, navigation system, and Bluetooth®): 3 years/36,000 miles
• Paint: 3 years/36,000 miles
• Battery: 3 years/unlimited miles (100% covered 2 years/unlimited miles; after 2 years and within 3 years, 25% cost of battery and 100% labor cost covered)
• Air conditioner refrigerant charge: 1 year/unlimited miles
• Adjustments: 1 year/12,000 miles
• Wear items: 1 year/12,000 miles (e.g., belts, brake pads and linings, clutch linings, filters, wiper blades, bulbs, fuses)
Still the best warranty. I'm assuming Honda, Toyota, Nissan cover wear items for 1year also?
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
but, they listed the offsets to more sedate styling. More room, especially in the back seat, and better visibility. Which seems like a solid trade-off to me!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Thank-you @Mr_Shiftright
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
In other news, I have been sick with Pneumonia, and as a bonus I am passing a kidney stone. No fun at all. The pain is unbelievable.
As far as fuel economy goes, I changed my driving style. I no longer dig deep on the gas pedal, and in general I stick to not more than 7 mph over the speed limit, and I use the cruise control constantly. I am amazed at how much better my F/E has been. I am at 23.8 mpg. That is right on the 24 mpg city that is on the Monroney sticker. So, the problem was not so much the congestion.... the problem was the driver. It is really hard to change and drive slower, but after getting 2 tickets in one week, I am now a quick study on keeping it from happening again,.
Eventually got rid of the Excel in favor of a Ranger with stick, 4.0L, and limited slip rear end. What a difference! And that one would do 23 on the road, as I recall.
There are a lot of exceptions in Hyundai's 5yr/60K "bumper to bumper" warranty. Paint is only 3yr/36K miles. Radio/Navigation/Bluetooth systems are 3yr/36K. Adjustments are covered 1yr/12K miles. A/C refrigerant level is covered for 1yr. Battery is covered for 2yrs for 100% replacement, 3yrs prorated, then not covered at all. Light bulbs, etc are 1yr.12K miles.
I now have 61,200 miles on my 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Aside from 5 recalls, I had to have the thermostat and thermostat housing in the engine replaced under warranty. The car has its quirks and I am not sure it could go past 75,000 miles without some sort of major problem. The transmission shifts rough sometimes, the engine is burning oil at the rate of 1qt every 1000 miles, and the number of odd mechanical and structural noises is growing quickly.
When the right deal comes along in the next few months, I plan to trade it in.
Response-
My A/C died on my Optima that is 3 year old and has 30k on the odometer. They refilled it and added dye to make sure they can track a leak at my next oil change. The oil change and the A/C service are free of charge. They also replaced my battery when it failed the charge test, also free of charge. I bought the extended b2b warranty for 10 years 100k. I know some of you don't believe in them, but I think it was $900 well spent even if it is just for POM. Ryster, I wonder if it is just your dealer nickel and dining you. I know a neighbor with a 2012 Sonata and he uses the Hyundai Store that also owns my Kia store. He has not paid for any repair either.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
For my new 2014 Cmax Energi, I am leasing for 3 years, but if I decide to buy I will get the extended warranty. There is just too much electronics on these vehicles to take the chance.
Some folks would rather take chances. I'd rather have the peace of mind. Also, whatever is not used of the warranty is refunded if I sell.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I also agree if your buying a reliable model Pass on the Warranty. My cars are owned only 3 to 6 years. The money I have saved over the years not taking these extenders is overwhelming. When I was younger and my kids were pre teen to teens I keep vehicles 6 years. Remember the Dodge Caravan in the early 80's, nice ride but American garbage. Vehicles like theses' needed a warranty. My dodge with 45k needed full front end work, A trans, A/c compressor, Condenser Alternator, Electrical problems and yes many rattles and squeaks. I'm sure there were more vehicles like this back then. Not so much Now.
Consumer Reports proved by surveying 8,000 owners of five and six year-old vehicles that had been covered by extended service plans. 75% of those surveyed said they spent significantly more for the contract than they got back in repair-cost savings. Respondents said their extended warranty cost them $1,200 on average while providing an average benefit of $700. That means the average loss was $500. A big reason: almost 50 percent of extended warranties were never used, in most cases because the vehicle didn't need repairs or the standard manufacturer's warranty sufficed.
Another reason people were dissatisfied was because the repair was not covered. Clichés about reading the fine print are especially appropriate when talking about extended warranties. The brochure may present the service plan as "comprehensive," but the contract will likely have numerous limitations, such as requiring documented service at in-network shops and covering only certain parts, rather than whole systems. A good Example of this is Hyundai and Kia's Limited extended warranty. Read the fine print. Still the best warranty out there for free.
Rather than invest in an extended warranty, buying the most reliable car that suits your needs, budget, and taste and taking good care of it. Sometimes, this can mean spending more upfront, but the reward is typically lower ownership costs and even better resale value. But, if you're heart is set on a model known to be unreliable, an extended warranty can provide some protection. Just approach with caution, negotiate the price, and be aware that if you roll the cost into your financing, you'll be paying interest on it for years to come.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
If you want to gamble that's fine - you might win a few times. But at least recognize it's a gamble that's not in your favor.
As for not paying anything out of pocket - where do you think the cost of the warranty came from in the first place?
A single repair of an electronics module can easily cost several hundred dollars (I know, I've had it happen, except I didn't pay - the warranty did).
As to "roulette", insurance is always based on the odds, based on the probable payouts. They would not be selling if the company did not think that they would be better for them over the long run. And they wouldn't sell if there were not folks like me who prefer to have one known payment and not to have to worry about covering repair costs while paying the car payments. I don't particularly care what CR says - this is the way I roll, and so far the "roulette" has gone my way by a big margin.
And FYI - zero deductible anything is a waste of money.
If I were to get an extended warranty on a used car again, my preference would be to get the extended coverage offered on CPO cars, since that's backed by the automaker. Or the "powertrain warranty for life" coverage offered for no charge (well, the charge is built into the price I'm sure) on used cars by well-established dealers.
I kid. It's true, insurance is intended for uncertain catastrophes. Maintenance and care (home, auto, or health) are not "insurance". You don't expect your car insurance to pay for new tires, nor your homeowners insurance to pay for mowing the grass, and you shouldn't expect your health insurance to pay for... well, I'll step back from that ledge before I alienate the entire forum.
Does a buying a $750 warranty for maybe $2-3K worth of repairs, maybe $0 worth of repairs, make sense?... Not really. Which is why I declined it three times before the marginal monthly payment increase was so small I briefly lost touch with my left brain and went for it. And ya know, I'm still glad it's there. Though I have the savings on hand to handle a transmission or electrical problem, when you begin to think in terms of $15 a month, your inner Dave Ramsey gets the boot. They are very good at selling the stupid things. And don't we all upsell something in our jobs? If I couldn't talk people into bells and whistles now and then, my kids would be hungry.
Also, don't you think that the relative cost of an extended warranty (comparing 3 different brands for instance) reflects the confidence the underwriter has in that particular car's reliability?
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Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
Or they have a lower profit margin.
The powertrain warranty will cover all components of a powertrain system that are submerged in fluid. So, the water pump is covered because it's submerged in fluid, but an E.G.R. valve is not likely to be covered. I know on Honda and Toyota they are not.
An important warranty that everyone should know about is the extended federal emissions warranty. This covers just a few emission components for eight years or 80,000 miles, mainly the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) and the catalytic converter, but very few people know this warranty exists and that it covers two very expensive repairs. This warranty is only good at an authorized dealership. So be sure to ask before paying for either of these repairs. I know several people who spent over 1500 dollars to Replace these parts not knowing they have 8yrs/ 80k.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
And FYI - I disagree with your zero deductible statement.
You'd have to make several claims on a single vehicle to recoup the up front cost difference.
Get the highest deductible you can afford.
styling, that is definitely different. front end is iffy, back and sides nice improvement IMO.
did not drive it, so can't comment on the reported improvements to steering and driving dynamics.
Price seems to be up slightly, but hard to compare exactly the way the shuffled standard equipment and options packages.
I think it is silly that they did that big a redesign, and the XLE still does not have basic blind spot monitoring or keyless entry/start standard. A 21K Mazda 3 has that.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
can't wait to get a real highway stretch. But better watch out. This is deceptively fast. crept up to 70 on a 4 lane local road and felt like I was doing 30. Cruise on the highway will be a must.
very, very well done IMO. I sat in a 2015 Camry limited this week (did not drive) and honestly there does not seem to be any comparison in style or feature content to the Sonata.
very nice upgrade model. Highly competitive in the class I think.
only have 45 miles on it. I will post impressions once I get more time in it.
A Sonata, with heated/cooled seats up font (heated rear). Even has a heated steering wheel. What is the world coming to?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Anywho, I've been web comparing the 2015 Sonata, Passat, Camry, Legacy and Malibu as they seem to get good reviews for the things she's looking for.....mainly solitude on the freeway. Looking for comments on specific likes and dislikes between these models if someone has done some recent comparing or test drives. I will probably be test driving all these models in the next week to boil it down to two or three for her to test drive. On paper I"m kind of liking the Sonata Eco Sport so far. And yes I've considered the others but have ruled them out for one reason or the other so I'm really looking for info on the ones I mentioned. Tks.
Passat: Had a 2012 base model rental recently and put on about 300 miles. 50K on it. overall, a nice enough drive. Huge car though (at least perception wise). Good seats. the 2.5L was kind of coarse, but that is not an issue. I have a lot of wheel time in a new Jetta with the 1.8T, and it is a nice powertrain, that gets good MPG. Downside, if you are in for a long term relationship, it is a VW. Overall, I think of this as a good highway car if you don't want overstuffed isolation.
Camry: did a couple of test drives. I liked it more than expected. On local streets it seemed to handle fine, but I never tried hustling it. Seats did feel good, and as typical for a Camry, it was serene. I sat in a new style 2015 (no drive). interior seemed very similar. Reportedly the steering/handling dynamics have been improved. Seems to lag on features unless you really blow the budget.
Legacy: Maybe NYC will wander by (since he just bought one) but from his reports, his has been a fine commuter car on the highway. I test drove a couple of times, and thought it was a very nice package. especially attractive if you want AWD. Quiet, comfortable, but still some "feel of the road" and driving involvement. Probably a good choice coming out of a Mazda.
Sonata: I got to try it on the highway today on the way home from the dealer. On a bombed out stretch of I95 through Philly (they are rebuilding that stretch) it drove very well. nice steering, solid handling, seemed to have good road feel, controlled buy comfy ride. excellent seats. And very quiet (just don't hear traffic noise).
I got the 2.4 model Sonata, and it has plenty of power I think. Certainly on par with your current car. I would have considered a 1.6, but they are not actually out yet. Plus I don't think you can get some of the fancier goodies on it (moonroof, nav). I would expect it to drive similarly. It does have 16" wheels instead of 17", so maybe a softer ride?
Overall, I like all your choices. Basically my short list (with the Mazda too) after I decided that the Accord EX just did not quite work for me. With the Camry the outlier (there more for $ reasons).
Sonata won with Legacy probably 2nd and Mazda 3rd. $/feature content really tipped the scales, but it stood out on it's own dynamically. I actually thought the Sonata and Legacy were very similar, the way the interior was laid out, styling and driving dynamics.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.