2009-2010 Hyundai Sonata

uggator

I know all that is needed to watch a DVD while driving (not for me, but passenger) is to ground the green wire that goes into the stereo navigation unit. However, I have not been able to find anyone who has directions on how to take apart the 2009 Hyundai Sonata dash to get to the green wire. Does anyone know?

tenpin288

Very true, but at least knowing the invoice price from Edmunds, KBB, etc, will give a buyer a point of reference and allow them to know if the dealer is trying to "artificially" inflate the invoice price, not that a dealer would ever do that! .

mtnman1

That's why I was asking backy. My dealer says their invoice for a Limited V6 without Nav is $24,303. I'm on vacation this week so I decided to go over and actually test drive one today. Just got back. They had a great selection of colors in Limited V6's. Had Willow Gray, Cocoa with Cocoa interior, Black w/Cocoa, Black w/Beige, Silver w/Gray, Slate Blue w/Beige, and Dark Cherry w/beige. The Internet Salesman, which is whom I met with, mentioned that he thought Dark Cherry w/Cocoa was the sharpest combination and I'm thinking that would look good. I test drove the Willow Gray which is also a very sharp color on this car. Drove both stop and go driving then expressway. Very impressive ride. Smooth transmission with a lot of kick from the engine. The only thing I couldn't understand was the Passenger front seat was not power. That would be a pain since my wife is 5' 9" and my sons are 6' 3" and 6' 4" and would require adjusting that seat a lot. I would be using this as my car for work which requires occasionally meeting with clients and taking them to lunch or just out into the marketplace. I can just see saying this Hyundai Sonata is their top of the line, but no the seat has to be Manually adjusted. Anyway, it probably wouldn't be a deal breaker if I decide to pull the trigger and buy one. Oh yeah, and I also got to see two Genesis on the lot. One had option group 2 and the other Option group 3, 35K and 36K respectively. Both were V6 which the Salesman said is 292HP which is more than enough. All I can say is WOW. Huge cars and they are absolutely beautiful. Maybe when I get to the point where I can no longer afford driving around our Mountaineer AWD V8 because of gas prices it might be something to look at. I tried to replace our Mountaineer a few months ago, but V8, Suv, AWD, 13 to 19 Mpg that makes it virtually impossible to sell and you get nothing on a trade. I hope the Genesis does well for Hyundai. Just afraid that price with a Hyundai badge on it won't draw people that are looking for something more upscale.

backy

Personally I don't have a problem using an easy-to-grasp control in front of the passenger seat to slide it forwards and backwards, and lifting a plastic lever to recline the seatback. Sometimes those power adjustments are so slooooow, I'd just as soon do it myself. The only time I prefer a power (driver's) seat is when the manual seat doesn't have adequate adjustments for the seat bottom height. Fortunately I think the 2009 Sonata GLS is OK on that score, but pre-2009 I thought I'd need to get the power seat for adequate comfort. I am spoiled by the dual manual height adjusters on my current cars, an Elantra and MPV. They provide as much adjustment as a power seat. I am sorry Hyundai is moving away from that design. I think only the Accent and maybe the Tucson have it now--perhaps the Tibby too but I haven't looked at it recently.

yitz

There is a lift button inside the front door of the 2009 that lets you open the trunk when the front door is opened.
Unless there is a switch somewhere that lets you make that lift button not work, anyone who open the door can get into the trunk.
Does anyone have a 2009 Sonata that lets you lockout the trunk once the door is open. The valet key is only good to lockout the glove box

2002slt

Does anyone have a 2009 Sonata that lets you lockout the trunk once the door is open. The valet key is only good to lockout the glove box

That would make sense, since there is NO key lock for the trunk on my '09.

bmwconvt

I've had my 09 limited for a month and like it very much. Last week the navi started acting up... when it first comes on, it looks like the "fuzz" you used to get when you couldn't get a clear tv station. When the map comes up, you can't see any of the options because the whole screen is white - you can still see the map, but because the background is all white, none of the lettering is visible. All the other graphics are gone. Going to take it in, but wondered if anyone else has experienced something similar.

geniekr

Has anyone here purchased the Platinum Warranty for their 09 Sonata? I did but am thinking about canceling it (I am within the first 30 days so I wouldn't have to pay the fee). When you read the fine print, it seems that it doesn't cover big items, and I was just wondering if others would like to comment on whether they think this is a good buy. The car itself has such a good warranty, and even though they discounted the one I purchased to $1500 (instead of $1950), that's still a lot of money. And I noticed that some things in the purchased warranty are covered until the 8th year, or 80,000 miles. I don't know enough about cars to know what could go wrong, and what some big-cost items might be. I've consulted my dad, who thinks either way I go is fine, since $1500 could cover repairs that the warranty doesn't, but what do others here think of the plan? Is this a "money-maker" for the dealer, or a good plan?

Thanks for your opinions! :-)

backy

Unless this warranty is guaranteed by Hyundai itself, I'd steer clear of it. I bought an extended warranty on a used minivan two years ago. It was a five-year, bumper-to-bumper, zero deductible warranty. I got it because the van I bought has a history of transmission problems. I used the warranty twice for repairs, no problem. The third time I tried to use it, the dealer said the warranty company told them I would need to pay for the repair (about $550), and then the warranty company would reimburse me. In the past, they had paid the dealer directly. I found out later the warranty company, Ultimate Warranty, went into receivership and now it looks like I will never get reimbursed for the last repair, and my warranty is worthless for the remaining three years.

Keep in mind you don't have to buy the extended warranty now.. you can always get one later. It has no value to you until the Hyundai 5-year, 60k miles bumper-to-bumper warranty is used up, anyway.

fountainpen108

Took delivery during hectic week moving from Philly to Kentucky.Thought I would save some dole buying from Fitzmall,maryland.
2009 GLs 16200+change ,exl tax.
However noticed right rear passenger door not flush with rear fender / front wheelwell.
The driver's side rear door is flush.Told salesperson ,he noticed all the 2009 has asymmetrical degrees of "flush" between the rear doors right and left side.
We were in a hurry and he said he will follow-up with Hyundai to see whether there is a recall.Never did call back.Now we are in another State.
My daughter(who I bought the new car for) is not bothered by it.Has anyone noticed similar problem?

backy

It would not be covered by a recall as it is not related to safety. If you mean that the lip of the door seems to be sticking out a bit, it could simply mean the door latch needs to be adjusted. Or it could be something else. At any rate, IMO the salesperson's response left a lot to be desired.

You can take it in to any Hyundai dealer to work on.

mtnman1

I think it's a big waste of money. Put the $1500 into a CD earning about 4 to 5% and you will probably have enough if you keep rolling it over to cover any problems. Like backy said the Hyundai Warranty covers the first 5 years or 60,000 miles anyway. If you wait to purchase, say in 3 years, the price of the warranty may be higher. I know it's that way with Ford warranties.

audiogal

I am considering buying a 2009 Sonata Limited. Everything I read about it makes it sound like a good choice for me. Good mileage, good ride and some nice bougeois features for middle aged folks! I did read one comment about the A/C that troubled me; someone noted that it was noisy. My current car (2000 Malibu) has the noisiest A/C I've heard and I can't have that again. Any comments???
Comments about handling?? I've read mostly good but some so so.

joe97

Take a test drive and find out for yourself

backy

Yes, you really need to see (er, hear) for yourself because one person's "loud" may be another person's "quiet". But I've driven over a dozen 2006-2009 Sonatas, some in really hot areas like Texas, and I've never found the A/C to be noisy, or no more so than similar cars.

Compared to your Malibu, the Sonata Limited should be just fine for handling, but again, that is something best determined on a long test drive. If you prefer a crisper-handling car, try out the Sonata SE, which has a sport-tuned suspension.

moocow1

I think the air conditioning is actually surprisingly quiet. It only gets particularly loud on max fan, otherwise it's a very refined system. The only weakness is it takes a little while to get temps down, but I prefer that over wasteful overkill.

I had some fun driving over a hill recently and while the handling is certainly not top notch, but it's perfectly agreeable and I felt fine taking pretty sharp turns at 50+. The understeer and body roll were noticeable, but controlled.

gasaky

Wow, It's very cheap. But maybe it's no options. I want, too.

m6user

Last year when I bought a Mazda6, my other contender was the Sonata. One of the things about the Sonata that I liked better was the air conditioning. My wife and I drove them back to back on a hot August day and the air in the Sonata was definitely stronger and colder.

bargugl

Just picked up an 09 Sonata to replace my totaled 08 Kia Optima. My dealer sells both Honda and Hyundai so the Accord was sitting three car lengths from the Sonata. I have to say that the Sonata interior blew away the Accord. The Accrod interior was complete crap. Ugly and the materials used for the center console just looked and felt cheap with a mess of chintzy buttons. (People actually like that!?) The plastics seriously looked like low grade GM rejects. My wife refused to even test drive the Accord becasue she hated both the interior and exterior. (The exterior didn't bother me on the Accord, but I wasn't going to push the issue.) The interior on the Hyundai just blows away anything I have seen in its price range. My wife likes the car tons better than the 08 Optima and the interior is much nicer in my opinion (And C&D raved about the Optima interior in the Feb 07 camparo.) It shocked me in that in the March 08 C&D comparo, that they complain about all the buttons in the Accord and then proceed to give the Accord higher overall interior ratings than the Sonata. Having seen them both first-hand right next to each other, The Sonata clearly is superior in at least that area.

dgs4

I live in Dallas TX and the days have been averaging ~100 degrees. I can't turn the A/C past 70 degrees or it's too cold in the cabin. I usually put it 70 degrees and turn on the recirculate button and the cabin is ice cold within a few minutes of sitting outside all day in the sun. My windows are tinted and I use a sunshield in the front window when it's parked, but the cabin is still damn hot when I first get in. The A/C in the sonata is amazing, very powerful and gets the job done quick. It does get a little noisy when the fan is turned on full speed but what car doesn't? The A/C is no more noisy than any other car A/C and probably a good bit quieter.

I'm loving my 09 Limited more and more every day. The car is just flawless. I get excellent gas mileage out of the V6, the interior is so comfortable and quiet, and the nav system is amazing. Best car I ever owned. Resale value is a non-issue for me because I'm going to keep this car until the wheels fall off and the engine dies.

dulfelder

I'd drop it. Almost always a money maker for the dealer. If something goes wrong they'll battle you about the bill anyway. Just my opinion but $1500 buys plenty of gas.

mtnman1

I got a quote back today on an 09 Sonata Limited with no Nav from Towne. $21,461 which includes all rebates. I also got a quote from a local dealer $21,690. Obviously Towne is not as great as everyone perceives them to be in all cases. Definitely not worth a 7 hour drive each way or a plane ticket then a 7 hour drive back home. My total OTD price from the local dealer is $23,093 which includes Delivery, Taxes, Title, Document Fees and $2500 Rebate..

m6user

Obviously Towne is not as great......

You say Towne is not as great as everyone percieves them to be in all cases. Obviously Towne has better prices than your local dealer($229 less). Plus it's not a perception it is reality. I have not bought a car at Towne but to say it's not as "great" as everyone says is wrong. I don't recall anyone ever saying that one can't get a better deal in some areas than Towne is giving or in every case as you say. There probably are some better deals out there somewhere. It's just that Towne is offering a very good no-hassle price day in - day out. There are many, many areas where you can't touch their prices within even $1000-$2000. It is for those people that it may be beneficial to consider the costs involved in saving a the money on the car and make a financial decision.

If you're dealer offers that price to anyone willing to come and get the car and will offer that price up front, no hassle to everyone all the time, by all means post the dealers name so other people can take advantage of your deal. If your dealer isn't willing to do that than I guess the perception will persist.

mtnman1

Hey my friend, I didn't mean to come across like I'm criticizing you. Sometimes the written word comes across differently than a person may have intended it to be. And your right for some areas Towne probably is great. I suggest if you live in the midwest contacting Dennis Hyundai in Dublin (Suburb of Columbus, OH). The Internet Manager's first name is Ty. He is definitely giving you a good no hassle price. Another place in Columbus is Ricart which sent me a message that they will beat any quote or give me $1000 if they can't. I'm not too keen on Ricart though. I've dealt with Ty before he was the Internet Manager and I know he is one of the rare good guys in the business.

06sonata

Just started seeing the 09 Sonata on the road. The pictures do not do the grill change justice! It's so much more classy and domineering than the 06 that I drive (still love). I have one in Steel Gray, really like the new "Willow Gray" better. Oh, by-the-way the "new" dashboard, while very, very nice, was lifted from the previous year's Kia Optima,

m6user

I really didn't take it personally as, like I said, I've never bought a car there and have no interest in them personally(too far away for me) but I may have mentioned them once or twice on these forums. It's just that so many on this forum have gotten good deals and some have traveled to get that good deal because they couldn't match it locally. However, I guess I did kind of get the idea from your original post that you were kind of doubting all the posters on this forum that recommend Towne. It seemed like you were saying..."Look here, I got a deal that was almost as good as Towne so therefore Towne is not so good". Now I realize that really wasn't your intent. So, yeah you're right, reading a post without the benefit of hearing the voice inflection can give the wrong impression. Cheers!

2002slt

Oh, by-the-way the "new" dashboard, while very, very nice, was lifted from the previous year's Kia Optima

In what way? I just checked out the 2008 Optima's dash and saw no resemblance to my '09 Sonata Limited's. :confuse:

moocow1

Yep I see no resemblance either. Which makes sense, this was an interior redesign based in america and at least partly inspired by the veracruz's interior.

bargugl

As someone who just owned an 08 Kia Optima, the dash in the Optima is nothing like the 09 Sonata. The Sonata dash is much nicer and higher end. The Kia dash is closer in similarity to the old Hyundai dash, although the Kia was an improvement over the old Sonata design. I'm curious to see how the 09 Kia dash will compare when it is released. I know the Kia exterior change is slighly more extensive than what was done with the Sonata.

Edit: I just found a picture of the interior update. Pretty much the same design as the old with new gauges and some new materials. Not the best picture due to the coloring but you get the idea.
http://www.kia-world.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/kia-lotze-interior-1.jpg

mtnman1

Got home and Towne sweetened the deal by offering an additional $300 off which brings the price about $500 less than my local dealer. I'm going to buy locally I think if I buy at all. If I lived in Pa or Maryland it would maybe be tempting to travel. I also was contacted by the internet Manager with Ford to tell me they have added an additional $1000 rebate starting today on the 2008's. That brings their rebate total to $2500. He gave me quote of 23,800 out the door for an SEL V6 with Leather, Heated Leather Seats, Sync, Rear Spoiler, Moon and Tune, and Rear Sensing along with all the standard features the SEL comes with (it's Ford's Limited version) which is almost as good as the Sonata Deal. I like the ride of the Fusion though road noise was a bit more than the Sonata. The Stereo was better than the Sonata and it had passenger power seat. It's going to be a tough choice for me.

m6user

Yeah, you buy local unless it's just a no brainer and you're going to save at least a $1000 or more IMO.

I assume you're talking about a Fusion and that sounds like a great price on that car if it's brand new. The MSRP on that must be something like $28000 or something isn't it?

06sonata

Then look at an 07 or 06 Optima, they are one and the same. No criticism. just smart marketing. My brother often rented Optimas and they are the same! You do realize for every Hyundia excepting the soon to be released Genesis there is a twin Kia. B-T-W, I, even then liked the Kia (updated Sonata) better!

backy

Actually, the 2006 and 2007 Optimas are totally different cars. There was a redesign for the 2006.5 (!) model year (or half-model year anyway). Not sure what you are trying to say here.

Anyway, your statement about every Hyundai being a twin of a Kia is incorrect. The only cars that are similar in platform are the Accent and Rio, and Tucson and Sportage. But they have totally different bodies and interiors, and different suspension tuning. Hardly twins. Sonata and Optima do not share platforms (that is a common misconception), exteriors, or interiors, but they do share the 2.4L engine (Optima has an older version of it now, but for 2009 will get the same 2.4L mill as the 2009 Sonata).

bmwconvt

I've had my 09 limited for a month and like it very much. Last week the navi started acting up... when it first comes on, it looks like the "fuzz" you used to get when you couldn't get a clear tv station. When the map comes up, you can't see any of the options because the whole screen is white - you can still see the map, but because the background is all white, none of the lettering is visible. All the other graphics are gone. Going to take it in, but wondered if anyone else has experienced something similar.

stephen987

I just saw my first ever Genesis. More accurately, a truck carrying six of them, plus a used C-class and a used GS300. Gotta say, the Genesis didn't look out of place. I couldn't get close enough to see inside, but the car looks very substantial and high quality. If the '09 Sonata is built nearly this well (haven't looked at one yet), Honda and Toyota may already be behind.

mtnman1

I think it's actually about $26,800 with the options. I've been talking to two different Internet Managers at two different Hyundai Dealerships in town the past few days. The low quote from Dennis in Dublin, Ohio has stayed the same, but the guy at the other dealership that I first started talking to and I actually took a test drive with, really disappointed me. His original quote on the price before rebates was only about $120 above the other guys. I sent him an e mail Friday asking for his out the door price and he sent back "V6 Limited Package 1 the MSRP is: 26,525 Your internet price before rebates is: $25,200. Your out the door number with taxes and fees with the rebate is: $24,693.38". I e mailed him back to point out that the price before rebates is $900 more than his original quote! I asked him if he had me mixed up with another customer. I haven't told either dealership that I've gotten quotes from another yet. I want to see what he does.

maxamillion1

Are they available yet?

bmwconvt

I leased my Sonata Limited V6 (with everything) from Columbia Hyundai in Cincinnati - the Sales Mgr (John) was great to work with - direct and honest. You might try them if anything just to get another quote.

igozoomzoom

When I build a new Sonata SE 4-cylinder on the Hyundai website, it is only showing it with a 5-speed manual transmission. Only the GLS 4-cylinder shows both manual and automatic options. I get the same result when I build it on Edmunds.com- no automatic option on the SE.

It seems illogical to offer the SE as manual-only as there are so few mid-size buyers interested in a manual. To add to my confusion, Motor Trend included the Sonata SE 4-cylinder with automatic transmission in a comparison test in this month's issue.

Anyone have a definitive answer for me?

m6user

Everyone seems to be a little in the dark on this issue. Apparently Hyundai is going to offer an automatic trans with the 4 cyl SE due to them supplying MT with one for their comparo. It would shock everyone if they created a "one of a kind" for a magazine to test. The big question still remains is when is Hyundai going to have them in the pipeline and when will all these websites be updated. Nobody seems to have the answer that I've seen.

backy

I think it's interesting that you got "build your own" on hyundaiusa.com to even let you build a 2009 SE I4 of any kind. When I try to do that, all it allows is the SE V6, with AT of course. Could you please provide the link to the page where it lets you build a 2009 SE I4?

FYI, for 2008 the SE I4 was available only with a stick. For 2009, every indication is that the SE is only available as a V6... so far. There's a page that compares the Sonata trims that shows the I4 as standard with the SE and the V6 optional, but I think that's a typo because the base price they show on that page for the SE is that of the SE V6.

m6user

For 2009, every indication is that the SE is only available as a V6...

Every indication except for that MT comparo it seems

samnoe

The new Sonata is already out for months, but you can not get a brochure of that car. Not by mail/dealer, nor to download. Why does it take so long for them?

backy

My local dealer had a 2009 Sonata brochure when I stopped in there a few days ago. It was not as big as some other brochures, but it was there. Fact is, I get more info on the Web these days than from brochures. Although I find car brochures make pleasant browsing while I am sitting on the.... er, in my "private reading room."

tle2

Does anyone have any pictures of a Sonata with a trailer hitch (very light load capacity)
I am looking for a hitch that is LOW profile and very un-noticible.

tenpin288

I just got this reply from Hyundai corporate about the 09 brochure...

Thank you for contacting Hyundai Motor America.

We would like to advise that we have put you our waiting list, so once the 2009 Hyundai Sonata brochures become available you will receive one by mail.

moocow1

I've been seeing far more 2009 sonatas in my area now. Just saw 2 within 20 minutes recently. Guess it's starting to get popular It's fun how you can tell from the different XM antenna and also the recent cali plates.

bargugl

2006.5 Optima-on acutally uses a heavily modified version of the same Sonata platform. The Optimas on this platform use a different rear suspension set-up and is fractionally smaller in most dimensions than the Sonata (It gives up 1 cubic foot of interior space and 1.5 cubic feet in the trunk as a result). The Optima and the Sonata do have quite a few similarities and having owned both, they are clearly related (they do share some corporate switchgear as well, but you see that similarity between a Sonata and Elantra as well), but they are also very different cars. There is enough modification in the platform where they can not be built on the same asembly line and it goes well beyond sheet metal stampings. I've heard some people say that the reason why Kia doesn't offer the 3.3 liter and instead offers the old V-6 is because the modified platform is slightly smaller it doesn't allow the room for the larger V-6. The fact that many expected them to offer the 3.3 with the 2009 revision of the Optima and they ended up not doing this does support this theory, albeit weakly. The pre-2006 days of the Optima and Sonata being identical are over.

Having driven both cars extensively, I can tell you that they are also tuned a bit differently, with the Sonata being noticeably softer. Also, the steering for the Sonata feels completely different. The Sonata is much, much lighter, but also more numb as well. My wife liked it better, but I actually preferred the more weighted, more direct feel of the Optima.

By the way, on the topic of brochures, my dealer as well has brochures for the 09 Sonata, but they are extremely abbreviated from a full-length brochure. They are only 6 pages long and pretty much the only info is a list of standard and optional features and a list of what's new for 2009. It didn't even have color swatches in it.

allthatblue

Correct.

Even though Optima and Sonata shared Engines, they do not share platforms. the platform used to develop Optima came from Elantra, Believe or not, it's true. this is the reason Optima looks slightly smaller than Sonata especially in width.

And this is why Optima has a fairly different driving feel from that of Sonata. Optima has more responsiveness in handling, quick and agile feel in driving. Sonata somewhat lacks of these feels.

backy

Unlike the previous Optima, this vehicle no longer shares its platform with the current generation Sonata (NF) nor Hyundai Elantra (HD). It instead uses a global platform, unique to Kia, designated "MG," shared with the the Kia Carens/Rondo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Optima

Can you point us to a reference that confirms that the Optima is based on the Elantra platform? I've never seen anything other than supposition to that effect.