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Also why did the owners of 2001 Sonatas choose it over the Optima?
I did look at the Kia Optima and was aware of its shared heritage with the Sonata. There were several factors that moved me in the direction of the Sonata.
1) Styling. I like the look of the 2001 Sonata much better than the Optima. The front and rear treatments are more original and appealing, and I like the alloy wheels on the GLS much better than the wheels on the SE. On the inside, the gauge layout on the Sonata is nicer. Like the 2002 Sonata the Optima has the much improved trunk (with struts) and the new center console, which I like except for the excessive fake wood.
2) Price. To get an Optima similarly configured to my GLS Leather, I would have looked at an MSRP nearly $1700 more. (That includes the Shiftronic, not available on Sonata at the time.) None of the Kia dealers I visited wanted to move off MSRP, saying that the car I wanted was hard to find and in short supply. One dealer even had a mark up! Plus, the Sonata's 0.9% financing and $800 auto tranny rebate made it even more attractive.
3) Dealer. Of three Kia dealerships I visited, all three experiences were unsatisfactory. Two dealers tried to turn me to more profitable brands, telling me not to buy a Kia at all! The third tried to act like it was selling a premium vehicle and had the arrogance and condescension that goes along with that. Of five Hyundai dealers I visited, I walked out of two due to incompetence: either gross ignorance or outright lies on their part, I'm not sure which. Two tried to turn me to other brands and talked down Hyundai. The fifth one treated both me and the cars with respect, and they were willing to deal.
4) Affinity. This is hard to quantify, but I felt much more in tune with the Sonata. I felt like I belonged in it. I never felt this with the Optima, and not even with every Sonata I tested (like the 4 cyl or certain color combos). However, when I sat in and drove the Ebony Black/Beige GLS Leather with the moon roof, I knew it was the car. Of course, I didn't tell the salesperson or sales manager that until they came down $1500 and included remote keyless entry/alarm and spoiler for free.
BUT . . . .
The 2002 handles more firmly and the interior ergonomics are more convenient. The 2002 seat cushion design fits the body better - and holds the driver in place better than the previous design. The V-6 has just enough more push to give the car a nimbler feel, too. The interior also seems to be "tighter" and some of the compartments are now lined (with what, I have no idea) to deal with that "rattle" problem I have seen other people address here.
Overall, the '99 - '01 Sonata is *RELATED* to the new 2002, but there really are some rather specific, visible improvements on the '02.
Oh - and the automatic climate control is *AWESOME,* if yer one of the gizmo-loving crowd. It works in a very "Cadillac" or "Lincoln" fashion (ie. fast, efficient, unobtrusive, easy-to-use).
One of the biggest debates that seems to run here is the whole "quality" thing. On our 2000 Sonatas, the quality has really been superior - perhaps not quite Honda or Toyota (talkin' national averages here, not individual experience), but damn good. Far above our previous Chevrolets, without a doubt!
These new '02s Sonatas, however, are very much Honda or Toyota quality. In all honesty, I feel they're better: the interior design seems to be much more user-friendly and sensible compared to Japanese cars. And the "tight" factor feels nearly "Volvo-Saab-Mercedes" in nature. I was really damn impressed.
Without a doubt, I do have buyer's remorse. I very much like the 2002 Sonata as far as how the car "feels," drives, and behaves on the road. And, in the interest of being honest, I admit I have a bias to the Euro-Techno design cues, but I suppose I'm just weird that way (in other words, I like the new cosmetics *VERY* much).
In a nutshell, y'all who liked the new Sonata from '99 - '01 will really like the '02 if ya drive it (even if ya don't like the looks). For non-Hyundai types, the '02 is likely what will change your mind. It's not a Benz, Volvo, Jag, or BMW . . . . Don't mistake what I state as claiming this car is a performance machine.
It's not.
It *IS* an incredibly competent family sedan with fine fit-and-finish common to much more expensive vehicles (at least the LX is: it's the only model I drove).
Now, I'm gonna go make some extra money so I can trade up next year!
Happy driving!
Sonatabean
The list on my GLS Leather was around $20,500, including automatic, moonroof, mats, and mud flaps. I asked for spoiler, remote keyless entry/alarm, and etching, negotiated to $18,995, deducted the $800 auto tranny rebate and qualified for the 0.9% financing. I believe the rebate and 0.9% still apply to remaining 2001 models but not to the 2002s.
Because the big three and Cie are way overpriced.
People try to shun them in difficult times...
Hyundai gives you a $30,000 car for about $20,000 + the Warranty/Road service.
I don't think they can afford to go much lower... without jeopardizing too much their bottom line!
Qualified means: to be acceptable to buy on credit after CREDIT REPORT CHECK!
NOT TOO MUCH DEBTS or RISK!
.
Believe it or not, when I graduated high school (and I had one of those student credit cards with $500 limit) I tried leasing a car- and I got denied! And I was breathing.
Go here:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=105&STORY=/www/story/10-02-2001/0001583627
Depending on the last quarter, Hyundai has a legitimate shot at selling 350K cars in the US this year. It's been a long time coming.
As a happy Elantra owner I'm a bit perplexed by the new platform essentially breaking even with the last one. I believe it's a much better car. On the other hand I'm not totally convinced that the styling is better. Sort of like trading a Pontiac for a Malibu(side)/Impala (front). Also, the loss of the wagon, despite my love of hatchbacks.
Sedan, hatchback, and wagon. Hyundai would of been praised for it's long array of choices.
Go to: http://www.hyundaiusa.com/
http://www.geocities.com/sonatafan/index.htm
Nick has a lot of interesting things there. I suggest you try Focus Hyundai in Canada for the fogs. The Hyundai owners parts site is:
http://members.home.net/davefjeldsted/itmidx1.htm
I will personally never buy another Korean car, not until they make vast improvements in quality and engineering.
I just hope I can trade my car in without losing my shirt, which I seriously doubt. I guess the warranty is the only thing going for this car. Kinda sucks to have to take it in every other week for repair however.
Well, hope others have better luck with their Sonata than I have.
Cheers.
To update my Sonata experience, my '01 V6 5 spd. has 8K miles and has not been to the dealer for any complaints, problems, or repairs. However, if I could get them to do it, I would have Hyundai replace every component in the suspension. They really missed the mark on bushing stiffness, spring rates, and alike. Too bad, for this is a very pleasant vehicle to drive. And it will cruise at 90+ in total silence. It is the quietest car I've owned. And it will get 28 mpg at these speeds, too. That's impressive! Too bad the V6-5 spd. combo is history. At least someone (Nissan) continues to offer family oriented vehicles with 6 cyls. and a clutch.
Sorry to hear some of you have had poor luck with your Sonatas. Virtually nothing has gone wrong with mine. This must be purly a subjective thing. I have a friend who purchased a new Toyota Tercel a few years ago and had the engine management computer fail twice, leaving him stranded each time. Things happen. But one thing is for sure - Hyundai would be out of business if they offered a warranty as their current one on substandard, unreliable vehicles. My quess is their product is a good one. And they seem to get better with each effort. I keep cars for at least 10 years. I will update you periodically on the service of my '01 Sonata. But it's my quess that ownership of this car will be both pleasant and uneventfull for the long run. I feel good about this vehicle. And I do not question its quality.
Frankly, if I had a car that had to be taken in for service every other week I'd get rid of it. First, try the manufacturer's mediation process. If that doesn't work, use your state's lemon law. (If you're outside the US, I wouldn't know if your country has such a law or not.) If that doesn't work, file a merchantability lawsuit against the company. No one should have to keep a car that requires biweekly repair at two years old.
I had an experience with a Nissan Sentra GXE that was a totally unreliable car. There was much to like about it, but its constant mechanical failings were serious. I had to go through all three steps above, but eventually (at the inception of the lawsuit) Nissan replaced it with another Sentra GXE. At that point, I resented Nissan but I took the car, and it worked quite reliably. I know a lot of people are loyal to Nissan (or Honda, or Ford, or whatever), but I don't want another one.
I am totally happy with this, my second Hyundai, but that doesn't mean you have to be or that you should give it another chance, any more than I'll give Nissan another chance. Still, it's pointless for me to disparage Nissan cars to loyal Nissan owners or to disparage Japanese cars in general because of one car.
So, from my ownership perspective, Korean cars and Hyundai vehicles have engineering and quality that I respect. Maybe there were some QC improvements in the 2001s. Maybe I'm just lucky to have a vehicle that has better than normal quality. Or maybe I'm just living on borrowed time and the car will start giving me fits as well. In that case, it'll be 1) manufacturer arbitration, 2) lemon law (if applicable), and 3) merchantability lawsuit.
Best of luck whatever you do with your vehicle.
Anyhow just a question for Sonatafan, I can't seem to get to anything on your site for some reason....was hoping to see the cabin air filter thingy. My owners manual says if the car doesn't have one it can be easily installed and I want to see if it is something I can do or if it is something I have to have the dealer do. I am assuming that the air system in the '02 is similar to the previous models. Whelp..think I am going to go and sit in my new car some more!
Ian...(sick of all them stupid civics out there!)
Can you beleive that the chump at Big Ten Tires here in town has stripped a lug stud off while supposedly REMOVING a hand tightened lug!!!
Day before I rotated my tires as I always do with every oil change and I use a hand lug wrench. The idiot says it was way over tightened. In all honest, he must have had the gun set to tighten the lug nut, not remove it.
The only problems I ever have with my cars is when someone touches them. The safest place for a car is on the road moving and as far away from so called mechanics.
Thanks,
Tony
I believe the site you are looking for is:
http://www.hmaservice.com/webtech/
Let me know if it is not the one and I'll try and shoot you another.
Thanks for the link, now to see what needs to be done.
Cya
Tony
Ian..(oh yeah, they doubled my downpayment as well, a whole $500!)
Ian..
My Sonata and my 01 Elantra do not do as yours does.
good luck with it
tony
Ian..
Ian..
retail price of a 2002 Sonata in Canada?
I wish to buy one but do not want to
overpay the dealer.
Thanks a lot in advance.
Thanks
It was no secret that competition among competing brands was fierce, especially for Audi, a company trying to rebuild its reputation in this country. Frequently we would have a new design element or new component described to us as Lexus-like or Seville-inspired or early Corvette-styled, etc.
The performance people would talk about out-Jaggin Jaguar or giving maturity to a premature Renault-ism or underdeveloped concept from Chrysler.
I know it's easier to accept that the inexpensive marques like Hyundai might borrow from premium builders, but that is no more true than the other way around. The next time you see an old Dodge Shadow, try to imagine what design influence that had on a premium brand a few years later.
And yes, the next time you see a '99-'01 Sonata, with its feline looks and occasional Jag-isms, you can imagine there was a designer somewhere in Hyundai who was intentionally or unintentionally giving homage to Jaguar. Don't believe for a minute that someone at Jaguar design didn't notice, and if he/or she felt that there was a further refinement to be made, he or she would make it in a heartbeat.
thanks
Jerry