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Comments
It is my wife's car and I am amazed how fast and easy it goes too. It is an automatic too. This is plenty fast for me. I would have a hard time keeping the 6 cyl on the ground, unless it is a dog as some reports say, but I doubt it is.
I saw this ad today and well, I liked it alot and made a webpage of sorts. It may also be considered as KIA standard equipment. Look at the traditional KIA engineering in the product. Here is the link http://www.geocities.com/tonykrapil/CI/handsfree.htm
See ya
Tony
Lets Go Mets!
I strongly suggest you follow the break-in procedures. All cars, from the most expensive to the least, require a break-in period. The first 500 miles are the most critical, but some manufacturers even have break-in procedures that stretch beyond 1000 miles. Follow it you must, if you care about the long term health of your engine. The break-in procedures are no hogwash - and it isn't only about ring seating either.
Then again, if you leased the car or are gonna trade it in after 2 years, then you may not care (though the next owner may not appreciate it too much :-).
We have a '99 4cyl 5sp Sonata and we typically get 25-28 city, 30+ hwy.
Sonatafan, I understand about the tiny controls and button. This is the main reason I've always been partial to Sony car audio product. IMHO they've always had the best ergonomically designed UI. BTW, I believe Sony is the parent company of Aiwa.
A good break-in will manifest itself in more ways than one, not the least of which is better fuel economy.
miles and it is great. But! my insurance company-FARM FAMILY-- is going nuts with the rate-- and it looks like ever since we bought another glspk13 for my wife in May, it has gotten worse.They just sent me an adjustment sheet that shows my 95 Montero going down by $550 a year and the gls going up by 1200 a year for a net increase of 770 a year with no accidents etc. to explain the change.
Does anyone know of a less expensive carrier?
I'm considering Sonata. How is it for tall person?
I'm 6'3". Did anybody notice the problems related
to the subject so far? I'm riding Pontiac
Bonneville '87 in its last days, very spacious.
Any comments? Thanks.
Ayrat.
About manual vs. auto. This is an intensely personal choice. We can argue till the cows come home, but it would mean nothing to you. I will say this though: Hyundai seems to have problems with their slushboxes in the recent past. Whether they've had them all worked out or not I do not know. The 5sp seems to be free of problems, but then again that may be because very few of them are sold here in NA.
Drive both and decide for yourself whether the auto is worth an extra $500 and a hit on fuel economy.
Was so much disappointed, since everything else I liked much including legroom also. Unfortunately
there is no pkg13 without moonroof
manual vs auto(to allezl): I think you do not need to worry about wear and tear on a clutch since, I guess, it covered by 10yrs-powertrain warranty.
1. The headroom with the sunroof is a bit tight, but can be overcome if you adjust the seat properly. No shortage of legroom, front or back.
2. Manual significantly improves acceleration. However, due to gearing differences, the automatic turns over about 250 RPMs less at highway speeds. Thus there isn't too much difference in highway mileage; manual should get better city mileage. In the manual both 4th and 5th are overdrives. Sometimes forces you to downshift to 3rd when you want a direct drive 4th. 4th should be direct. Have had no problems with clutch. Seems to be wearing nicely. Shifting was a bit too notchy at first but has improved. Still not up to Nissan/Infiniti or BMW quality. Is really easy to spin the tires or just get out and go with the 5-speed. Automatic really saps power, esp. for passing.
That said, the clutch should last at the very least 60,000 mile and typically much more. My last car's original clutch lasted 150,000+ miles. Now, if you use the clutch pedal as a foot rest and/or pull jack rabbit starts at every green light, you might have a problem sooner. :-) Otherwise, the 5sp manual gearbox is much more maintenance-free than a slushbox.
The only problem I've heard on the Sonata 5sp is winter cold start hard shifting.
Jeez---I hope they don't screw up the programming. This car's performance has been flawless. I'd prefer them to only do the re-route of the harness but Hyundai wants to go the whole nine yards.
I will probably take mine in tomorrow. I do have a drivers door lock trouble where it does not open all the doors, but that is not going to be touched. The window washer pump is not working. The relay operates but no pump effort. Could be pump or wiring from relay.
Let ya know how they do if I get it in.
Tony
Not even a thought of doubting MY wife on which button is REALLY the window washer button I go to he dealer at lunch.
He wants me to come back on Monday. I ask him if he has the parts NOW, so I dont waste my time on MOnday. While he is checking a mechanic comments 'nice car, we dont see many of them, is there something wrong?' I tell him and he says NO WAY, Hyundai's dont have troubles.... Gimmme the key he says.
He hopes in and has it spraying allllllll over the place. DUH, ya dont push the intermittent wipe button on the end, ya PULL the lever back to make it spray! I was their Friday Joke.
NOW, you guys know how to do it!! This is worse that the child proof locks!!
Tony
Just kidding, guys. We've all done something similar at sometime in our lives. Just today my keyless stopped working. Light would glow when buttons were pressed but nothing would happen. My wife's worked fine. Took me awhile to figure out maybe it needed to be reprogrammed. I was only minutes away from running off to the dealer for a quick fix. Haven't been able to test it yet but I'm hoping that's all it is.
You have read the owners manual EVEN after your wife identified a problem???? Are you nuts man?
Sonatfan and myself have encyclopedias for sale since we have gotten married. We dont need all them books anymore, we have a wife.
Tony
This is a long-winded way of saying I got LUCKY.
"Two trim levels will be offered: the base LX, which includes AC, PW/PL/PM, and intermittent wipers; and the top-of-the-line SE, which adds alloy wheels with Michelin tires, heated exterior mirros, FOG LIGHTS, moon roof, keyless entry with alarm, cruise control, premium stereo with cassette and CD player, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8-way power driver's seat and wood interior trim ... STANDALONE OPTIONS INCLUDE 4-speed automatic transmission, ANTILOCK BRAKES, cruise control, and LEATHER INTERIOR." (emphasis added)
So unlike the Sonata, the Optima buyer can get ABS without having to go to a Pkg 13. And they can get fog lights! Now why in the heck can't Hyundai do this??? And why won't Hyundai or Kia add a sport suspension and 16" tire upgrade as options? Too bad Hyundai isn't using Kia to address a different market, i.e., sports oriented.
When it comes to cars, you guys gotta put the pants on in the family. Wife and I have our respective spheres of dominance. She controls the house & yard while I control the cars. This division of labor works great. God intended woman to ride not drive; that is why there are illuminated visor vanity mirrors on the passenger side. They should be banned from the driver's side. (Just kidding!)
In short the car handles quite well in the snow--just as good as my Montero LS in 4 wheel drive--for on road snowey driving.
I remember test driving an automatic GLS w/Pkg 13. Had it up to 100 mph. Tried to drive it hard and fast over the same roads I normally do. She accelerated very slow. Even flooring from a complete stop it was hard to spin the tires. That tranny really saps power. So I can see why the TC might not come on much in an automatic. They just aren't as fun to drive and I doubt they get driven too hard. Buyers of manuals tend to wring more out of their vehicles.
2. Is t-h-c down again? I haven't been able to get into the discussion area for days. Computer says something about some problem accessing. I can get to all the other portions of t-h-c, just not the discussion area.
Enough already with the auto put-downs. You never miss an opportunity. Why is it that the auto owners NEVER feel the need to point out the downsides of manual trannys. Perhaps it is because they are able to give people credit for having a brain of their own with which they can make up their own minds.
For the record, the auto car you drove must have been one hell of a dog as I can make my tires chirp any time I want. All cars can be driven hard, no matter the tranny. It is a matter of personal choice.
What kind of personal insecurity drives you on this point? It must truly be a sore spot to keep the never-ending remarks flowing. You are a 5-speed fan. Great for you. End of story.
Jeeeesh!
Second, Car Insurance. I have a teenager that will be licensed any day now and have been shopping for insurance. I used to have nationwide and they have always had some good rates. I was looking at Edmunds site and noticed that had some on-line insurance companies so I took a look. My rate for two cars went from 660 for 6 months to 530 with some great coverage. You may want to check em out. eCOVERAGE is the name they go by. It was actually a pleasant experience to be your own agent. You can see the costs before you actually sign up. It gave me the same feeling as someone we know gets while shifting his Fisher-Price busy box transmission.
Thirdly, I was a bit bored the other day. I have read some reports that faulty spark plugs were the culprit on some Hyundai 'check engine lights' and have always been curious about Hyundai NOT advertising a LONG interval for tune-ups and long life plugs and coolant etc.
I got some Bosch Platimum+4 plugz and put em in my base model Sonata. It was a simple job and took all of about 30 mins max.
The old plugs looked fine in every respect, BUT I did notice BOTH spark pacs did not have fully seated control connectors. I am sure they were fine, BUT was able to push them together a significant amount.
Now, for the rewarding news. Wife called today from work and asked what I did to the car. She said it has a lot more power than usual. See surprised me as I didnt think she would notice a thing. Her comment made it all worth it.
See ya,
Tony
Have you driven a manual GLS V-6? If not, give it a try! If you are ever in Omaha, NE, or Des Moines, IA, or Kansas City, MO, let me know and maybe we could meet? I'd be happy to let you drive her!
What, pray tell, are the downsides to a manual transmission? I drive both types regularly and I know of only one: can't say I like parallel parking them on hills. But depending upon my mood, I either try or just find another spot. Other than that, as long as the clutch is light and the engagement smooth, even stop & go traffic doesn't bother me much. But I do know the serious disadvantages of automatics, regardless of how good they are. Add weight, complexity, reliability issues, cost, reduce performance, decrease fuel economy, etc. And in winter, the manual gives you so much more control and options than the automatic does.
Check out what the Automotive press and various testers have said about the Sonata 4-speed automatic. C&D, 9/99: GLS "Lows: slow-to-react transmission... drivetrain is hobbled by a fuzzy-logic four-speed that is fuzzy about which gear to select. Deep stabs into the gas are required before downshifts snap to." Or Bob Geffen, Arizona Republic, 7/17/99: "Compounding this problem, the automatic transmission seemed reluctant to downshift unless I pressed hard on the accelerator...I would have much preferred the available stick shift." Daniel Heraud's ROAD TEST 2000: "CONS:... Transmission. The automatic is balky and shifting can be jarring at low speeds. Kickdown is far from instantaneous and drivers have to allow a delay to take advantage of engine braking or to accelerate."
All I know is I verified these attributes myself when I took an automatic GLS V-6 out into the empty rural countryside for a lengthy and demanding spin (e.g., had her up to 100 mph and slammed the brakes, floored it from stops, etc.). I knew quickly that the automatic, just like the one in my wife's $39,400 Lincoln LS8 Sport, isn't up to a decent manual tranny. They are fine for some, but I say go with what gives you maximum driving pleasure and performance (and saves you money up front and at the pumps). I immediately special ordered my manual. It was worth it!
We are not going to tell you how to think and what to think about...... however, your transmission [non-permissible content removed] is starting to really stink.
Drop it already.
The one thing you don't argue about is the serious degradation in overall performance of the automatic transmission Sonata GLS V-6s in comparison to manual transmission.
I'd like to see Hyundai improve the breed and offer more choices. And I think owners should know what they are getting into with the car, not unrealistically assessments. Why not be honest with people who read these posts? The V-6 automatic transmission's performance has been routinely panned by many, many reviewers.
The performance figures generated by automatic models haven't lived up to what a 6-cyl car in this weight category should produce. 9/99 C&D comparison test, Sonata GLS V-6 auto tied for second-to-last place 0-60 mph w/4-cyl auto Altima at 9.9 secs and only better than the 4-cyl auto Camry (10.5 secs). It had the worst 30-50 mph top gear time and third worst 50-70 mph top gear time. C&D's 4/99 test had 0-60 in 9.5 secs; MT's 5/99 test in 10.3 secs; Heraud's '99 Guide in 10.0 secs; and Heraud's '00 Guide in 9.1 secs. Regardless of how you slice it, that's pretty much 4-cyl performance in a 6-cyl. Shouldn't a 6 perform like a 6? And yes, I know, performance figures, including 0-60 times, aren't everything. But Hyundai does charge a lot more to get the 6 cyl. Buyers should get a commensurate increase in performance. The automatic lets the buyer down.
I like rowing gears too, but everyone's needs and wants are different. There's no need to beat everybody's head bloody preaching the virtues of a good 5sp.
I just came back from a 12-hr road trip that should have taken 9hrs max - all because of a 15-car pile up over a bridge on I-35 south of Denton, TX. My still spazzing left thigh is currently twice the size of my right one.
Like the Porsche commercial says: "Even Heaven has its moments of Hell." :-)
Chill out, giowa.
Sounds like you're "on a mission from God". Please cease this personal 'Blues Brothers' routine. There are always going to be valid reasons why manual trannys will simply not do for some people. Ever heard of of arthritic knees? Ankles? Ever considered the fact that ANYONE who can drive can operate an automatic? In an emergency? Ever heard of people just getting tired of all the kinetics involved in daily bumper-to-bumper commutes? I know I have.
I am very glad that you have the vehicle you want with the tranny you desire. I have said this before and it bears repeating. Now, please show the rest of us the same courtesy.
I understand your concerns about performance. All engines are not equal as all trannys are not equal. Some manuals have horrific action and continuously detract from the driving experience, performance or no. This 2.5 V-6 is certainly no stoplight winner with either tranny. Engine-wise there is a torque hole which can be managed only through proper gear usage. Much of this has to do with the final gearing of both trannys. It is deliberately relaxed in the auto for EPA numbers. A 3.36 final drive ratio is not going to help a torque bereft engine no matter what tranny it relates to. I know you will agree.
As to personal experience, I find no problems with this autobox that cannot be managed to my satisfaction. As you know, I like to shift my autos for better performance and therefore will agree with you on the vagueries of 'thinking autoboxes'. For most of my cut and thrust driving I prefer to control the action leaving the 'D' out of the picture until suitable road and speed conditions are attained. This is just my personal preference. I make no demands upon other autobox drivers. They may drive as they wish.
You know full well that the trend is against you. I do not blame you for 'fighting the good fight' as you see it but must you do it at the expense of your fellow forum buds. The proper place for your concerns would be better directed towards the manufacturers. They are the ones who are trending against your desires. But they see the writing on the wall. The future is in the automatic transmission...5 speeds and tiptronic control. This may be a sad fact to you but it is likely a happy one to the rest of us.
Peace brother.