So far, no problems at nearly 60K miles. Very solid build quality, simple controls, decent stereo. But resale? Forget it. And maintenance gets expensive as these engines rack up the miles, as the timing chain must come off to adjust the semi-mechanical valves. This may be necessary at the 100K mark, costs more on the 6-cylinder models. Timing chain is generally replaced at that time.

“Instead, one of the automotive world’s greatest unsolved mysteries lives on: why is the leather on Hyundai steering wheels so slippery?”

its simple, they are one of the very few automakers (in fact, the only one that i know of, and ive worked with many) who uses split grain leather for their steering wheels and shift knobs instead of the more expensive top grain leather.

hope that’s one mystery solved.

Um…. just because you say things on the internet does not make them “facts”.

My Santa Fe’s suspension is bank-vault-quiet after 25,000km of driving, including trailer-towing over some of North America’s worst roads. This is the best set of wheels I have owned in my 25 years of experience with GM, Ford, Honda and Nissan products.

My world view is just fine, thanks :)

I can personally attest to suspension deficit disorder in the Sonata, Genesis, Azera and Veracruz. Consumer Reports remarks that the Santa Fe, along with the models I just listed, also suffers from undue and unpleasant suspension noise.

I’m not sure if Hyundai vehicles have suspensions that are essentially stable and tight for the first 5,000 miles, 10,000 miles or what interval, but I do know that the Hyundais I’ve either driven or driven in had between 7,000 and 20,000 miles on them, aside from the Genesis, which was a demo at a dealer, and the Sonata made embarrassing noises while the suspension on an ‘07 Azera rental I had behaved in a manner that I can only describe as ridiculous on even flat, smooth and well constructed, long sections of Nevada and Arizona highway.

Driving is not A to B.

I drive 130mi a day.. about 1000 a week.. and the last thing I want.. is A to B.

If thats the case… then any car of any price rage down to the lowly Aveo from Chevy *cough Daewoo cough*, Yaris from Toyota or an ancient Town Car from Mo Fo Co would do.. for meager and boring transportation.

So while I applaud Hyun-die for adjusting ride and handling, a looks pakage (small spoiler, redone front clip with small chin spoiler, some side details, even a different set of rims would be nice). Its just not enough.

A to B just isnt enough. At least make the car work for it…

If you’re buying a car in the U.S. with a ten-year warranty, you might as well keep the car until resale value no longer matters.

If you want to trade more frequently, you might as well lease. Hyundai Canada guaranteed a 42% residual value after 5 years on my 2008 Santa Fe. That’s BMW territory. End of discussion.

Finally, as the world wakes up to the Hyundai story, resale value can only improve. Even the most diehard Korea-bashers will eventually concede that 1994 is over.

Mercedes called. They want to know who stole there design renderings and stuck a crooked H on the logo. Todays car stylist are like todays musicians and movie makers. They either keep re-hashing or re-making older songs and movies or copying others ideas. Color me unimpressed.

I dont think ya can throw a GS / Maxima / E / 5 into a corner at 95 and enjoy the thrill of the ride.

I used to hunger for a GS… but its too big, heavy and fat to have any fun with.

*Im actually considering a smaller car, with a hatch rather than deal with the midsized game again

I dont think ya can throw a GS / Maxima / E / 5 into a corner at 95 and enjoy the thrill of the ride.

I used to hunger for a GS… but its too big, heavy and fat to have any fun with.

*Im actually considering a smaller car, with a hatch tha deal with the midsized game again

A stickshift with the 6 would be nice, but that seems to be going the way of the dinosaur. How many Asian imports offer such a combo in a midsize sedan? Honda? Nope. Toyota? Nope. Mazda? Not any more. Nissan? Not with the Maxima – their supposed 4 door sports car. Depressing, really.

Interestingly enough, it helps that I can identify with pretty much all of their varied opinions and points of view. So, I pretty much can say “just because he doesn’t agree with my assessment on XXX car or the type of car I like, doesn’t mean he isn’t a car guy”.

I pretty well enjoy cars, cars and cars. To be honest.

When I want to feel like boy racer, I used to go out on a track and enjoy borrowing my buddy’s Porsche 911.

When driving on the roadway, I prefer comfort (being just over 1/2 century in age, I’ve gotten to the point where commuting in heavy traffic is merely a miserable chore and I would rather at least be comfortable while doing a necessary chore).

Frankly, my very efficient Prius is wonderful, but the ride on the 2nd world near 3rd world northwestern Michigan roads is getting me down.

My wife’s Sonata (’07 GLS 4 cyl) is so much more civilized, I’m just about convinced to forget a future Prius and perhaps just perhaps, go with a Sonata hybrid (which hopefully will be here within a year or so).

Or given the math challenge of the extra hybrid costs, I may just go “Sonata”.

If money were no object? Genesis V6.

I’ve only had two Hyundais and actually prefer them to Toyotas.

Sat in a 2009 Toyota Corolla (new gen car) and was severely disappointed with the hard plastic new vogue interior. Just awful and uninspiring. Nah! I’d rather pay for a few more gallons of gas and be comfortable in our commute…

Plus now we have TWO big dogs (one Newfoundland and another Newfy/Irish Wolfhound mix) and they barely fit in the back of the Prius. They can both “just” lay down on the back seat (with the safety barrier up between us & them). I need to get another dog barrier if I’m going to have them ride in the Sonata.

Doh! Sorted.

The overall affect is much more upscale and stylish, and almost sporty.

As for as sporting intensions…
Camry isnt sporting in any intention.

And the last gen Accord could be goosed up with better tires, nicer and a more free flowing exhaust.

But the current one.. is such a fat ass. It gained so much over the 6th gen car, inaddition to a huge dash that the button-monster threw up on. Inaddition to the car still being teamed with an undersized 4cycl only pushing 177hp, when the weight is at least 3600lb. Totally inadequate. Not to mention.. trying to play with that.. is like playing with a Crown Vic and a jelly donut, roll baby ROLL!

And as for as the Sonata.. It has the interior of a RX imitation, tilted towards the luxury side of the midsized spectrum.. and ya put firmer springs and dampers on a car with luxury intentions..

The two dont and shouldnt ever meet.

I dont even think buyers of this… would have any clue as to what that means. All they are concerned about is that its got everything an ES has for cheaper. So its a value for people.. sporting intentions, should at least mean something, besides a TRIM level.

Least a sporting car should have is sizeable front and rear sway bars, inaddition to a nice dual exhaust and maybe even a throaty growl..

But firmer springs and dampers for the luxo set..

Umm no.

The exterior is just ugly. The front end looks like a ’90s era Pontiac. (Just imagine a double-kidney grille in there with an arrowhead on it.) The rear end looks like a previous Sonata that was put in a microwave, and now the decklid won’t close.

The interior is not bad, but it looks like it was “influenced” by the Saturn Aura. There’s nothing new here, but it least the Sonata isn’t ugly on the inside, too.

Not Hyundai’s best effort, IMO. I liked the old Sonata much better.

“What is the projected resale of this car? Is it as lousy as previous Hyundais?”

The Sonata? Crap, basically. Take a walk down to your local Hertz airport location and see what I mean. You’ll be competing with rental fleets dumping their unwanted wares.

GS650 – even in a sedan you like to have some sense of enjoyment while driving… And you want solid, predictable handling if stuff hits the fan. I was fairly disappointed with urgent cornering in the last Accord EX I drove – that car is just too big for it’s suspension and tires.

I may have read wrong, but the C class is not comparable to the 5 series. That would be the E class. Also… did you just say that the Camry has ’sporting notions’?

No.

Just no.

Sonata’s dont lead exciting lives.. they just grow up to emulate Accords and Camrys, which in the midsized arena is the equal of the 5 series Bmw, and its stable competitor the C Class.

Accords and Camrys arent the most exciting, but at least they have / had sporting notions.

Somehow and this is just me I dont see anything sporting in a car that bills itself as a better and cheaper CamCord.

Firmer springs and dampers…

I doubt people will notice.

As for great values…
Not everything at Walmart is a good thing — thats my take on it. Cheap stuff is just it, cheap stuff. Ya want the good shit, ya have to pay.