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(Using the "reply" feature really helps. I had no idea to whom you were responding because it wasn't linked as a reply to the original post.)
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Why doubt the price?
I spoke with half a dozen high volume dealers in Va and NC during my research and couldn't get a below msrp quote out of any of them. Maybe kco lives on the west coast where the hybrids have been at the dealers a while longer. Just curious.
Bogus comes to mind when a person joins a forum and makes only one post.
You might want to moderate the three redundant, negative posts about Bob Dunn Hyundai in Greensboro, NC. One slam by the same poster should be enough, IMO. My conversations with their managers didn't seem like those of a "bad"dealer.
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.ef040b2/7782!make=Hyundai&model=Sonata&ed- _makeindex=.ef040b2
Everyone has a first post in forums they join... nothing suspicious about it, unless of course they post a spam-tastic link.
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http://www.hyundaiofeverett.com/
Anyways, I traded my 2010 Prius in for it, Prius is a great car unbeatable fuel efficiency but the interior materials are horrible (weight savings?) the seats are uncomfortable and although the hatch is extremely good... its still a small car (corolla). I used to get roughly 46-54mpg on my Prius (average 50). The sonata I'm averaging 38mpg although I'm still recovering from Prius driving style, recently I've been getting 40-42mpg. My drive is extremely hilly although mostly highway.
2010/11 Prius drives more like a regular car compared to Gen 2 Prius's but it was still feels very low power. Although the 0-60 number is somewhat disappointing on the HSH, it feels fast, it feels faster than my 2007 Sonata 4cyl and only slightly slower than my 2008 Sonata V6. It's pure electric acceleration is very very good; on a full charge, I can EV to 60mph in roughly 12-14 sec on flat ground; pretty good for a non pure EV vehicle. I think the manual states max is 75mph EV... I've gotten much faster than that as long as I have a decent charge. Its nice accellerating up a slight incline at 80+mph on electric only.
No dealerships in the mid-Atlantic, from Fairfax to the Triad or
Raleigh-Durham, or Richmond, VA appear to be cutting msrp on the base hybrids; haven’t spoken w/ anyone who has sold a $31K loaded hybrid yet.
That makes the $1000 under msrp in the link for a Seattle, WA Hyundai dealer an outstanding value. The green vehicle market out west is usually pricey as we learned from research on used Highlander Hybrids.
It may be a difference in supply as the west coast ports are a lot closer to Korea where all the hybrids are currently being manufactured than SC or NJ where east coast units for the mid-Atlantic are dropped.
Anyways, I think the deal I got is impossible to beat. In June 2010, I bought my 2010 Prius II for about 22,400 (+6% tax + 300 tags etc = <24000) which is a few hundred above invoice. I put 25,000 mi on it. Hyundai dealer gave me 22,900 for it in May 2011. I got true invoice for my Sonata Hybrid + premium package. So the dealer made the $700 dealer holdback from me... If you discount the taxes, I actually MADE money on my Prius . On top of that I got a brand new model (first one the dealership received) at true invoice price!!!
The first fill up the Sonata’s trip computer indicated 42.6 MPG; calculating shows 42.79 MPG. 570 miles w/ about an 1/8th tank remaining. Drove the hybrid 2100 miles in first 30 days.
Best mpg was the 47.5 for 250 miles coming back from NOVA after vehicle purchase April 29th. The 2nd and 3rd full tanks yielded 39 and 40 mpg with the 39 the car reported being 36.95 via manual calculating while the 40 mpg reading on display ended up being just over 42 in calculation.
Had an oil and filter change at 2,600 miles yesterday and filled up again today; 40.3 mpg on trip computer.
We're using AC - its' 94 right now - and most of the miles are from a 75 mile round trip commute.
To be fair we had almost five years experience with an '06, 7 passenger Highlander Hybrid AWD; best mpg was 30 once on an 80 mile drive. It consistently got 26 mpg.
You have to have a very "light" right foot.
Would be curious to see how others are doing.
I believe the most accurate way would be to measure the fuel flow into the injectors, and return flow from the injectors, and subtract the latter from the former to show just how much fuel is used, but only cars with a return system will support that, and for the most part, the differences in fuel pressure may affect the outcome sine the input will be much higher than the output.
I tried to start the car by just pressing the start button and holding the start button in until it started. I did not put my foot on the brake pedal. It took about 15 seconds of holding the button in to get it to start, but it did start. Now 15 seconds seems like a long time when you want it to start. I check my watch so verify the time required to start the car. So next time don't panic just stay cool and try to start it by holding the start button in for 15 seconds.
I'm pleased to report that my less than stellar fuel efficiency previously (35-40mpg) was probably due to my poor driving style (although I used to get 52mpg consistently on my Prius 2010). During my drive this morning, (120mi 80% highway 20% suburban, very hilly, 65-75F, w/o AC) I got 47mpg (computer) which equates to roughly 45mpg using CRUISE CONTROL. Previously I've only gotten roughly 35-38mpg on this route w/o AC w/o CC. These are the sort of numbers I was expecting to see from this highway cruiser!!!
Never had issues with starting the car. Only time it didn't fully start was because I didn't depress the brake enough or tried to press the start button too quickly before the brake was depressed.
Also, the Sonata trip computer only appears to be off by 1-2mpg consistently, not so much as the F350... My previous 2007 (4cyl) and 2008(6cyl) Sonatas were also only off by 1-2mpg. Always overestimated.
In any case, I think all my local dealers have at least one premium in stock. Some of us were able to get well below MSRP... perhaps make a drive to another state to get the premium?
Toyota Prius 4,340
Hyundai Sonata 1,422
Honda Insight 1,021
Ford Fusion 969
Honda CR-Z 966
Ford Escape 826
Linc. MKZ Hybrid 483
Toyota Camry 449
Honda Civic 418
Lexus RX450h 413
This in only the SECOND full month of nationwide availability.
Its similar to a boat getting up on a plane. Even vehicles with so called "shift" points have this "side effect."
Having driven a 1st gen Toyota Highlander hybrid for almost 5 years, I should know. While the Hh was a great vehicle, I won't miss the booming, elasticized drone of its CVT.
IMO, the Sonata driving experience is way, way better than the Camry Hybrid or any other hybrid vehicle built by Toyota.
This is why Ford and Toyota use CVT transmissions in their Hybrids, to get the most out of city, not highway driving. It also is a reason the engines are limited in horsepower, the CVT is not as strong as a geared transmission, so even with a V6, the horsepower is not very high, it would tear the CVT up. If you look at non hybrid models that use/used a CVT, the horsepower is low, and Ford, even though they got great MPG in the 500, pulled them from production, they are just too weak at this point to be reliable in anything but a hybrid. A few years down the line though, you may start seeing them being used more as they design stronger units.
NOVA to my carport is just over 250 miles.
On the other hand, the Sonata will really scoot down/up an on ramp.
Significantly quicker in the 50 - 80 mph range than a Prius or Camry h.
As was our Highlander - it had a V6 w/ 260 hp AND TWO electric traction motors.
Stomp the accelerator @ 60 or even 70 mph and hold on!!
But lots of torque steer and tranny drone from the CVT.
I beat my brother-in-law in an eighth-of-a mile, standing start street drag w/ the Hh; he was driving a Grand Cherokee V8!
I had a Prius for a couple of days as a loaner and have driven several Camry Hybrids too. Neither is nowhere near as much “fun to drive” as the Sonata.
So the best of both worlds - great mpg and loads of power on tap. Not to mention the way better interior and unique hybrid styling of the Hyundai.
im just wondering if anybody got a better deal than $24,359 excluding ttl. It came with wheel locks and carpet floor mats. bought it with cash and got $10,000 on my trade in..
-Ben
Just brought home a black base hybrid for 24.5k. I leased in order to get the 1.5k incentive plus customer loyalty for a cost of 22.5k. Surprised when dealer added back about 900 in lease fees. Dealer has policy of nearly 300 doc fees which I got out of but expect folded into the 900 lease fee.
Drive away with first payment of 325 and change.
On test drive drove from son's work to home about 2miles at 99.9 mpg. No it is not all down hill :-) more realistic driving for 30 minutes around town had in 40s to high 30's.
Dealer did not have any loaded versions. I bet the moon roofs are nice.
"Wife & I drove the new Sonata Hybrid yesterday. We both felt that our vision was very limited. I am 6'1" & couldn't see any of the entire lane next to the passenger side of the car. Vision started with the second lane over."
Hmmmmmmm . . . . . . I can’t see the road beside my Venza’s passenger door either. However, in both the Venza and our Sonata I can see the road just ahead of the right fender perfectly.
Numerous automotive journalists have reviewed the Sonata and I cannot find one that discussed the supposed “poor visibility” on the right side of the car. The passenger seat is somewhat low but that contributes to the overall safety of the car, IMO.