The Gold family goes Hyundai
I'm visiting my folks in Arizona for the holiday, and the big news from my family -- car-wise, at least -- is that they are now Hyundai owners. My father and stepmother were on their way to look at a used Toyota for the winter place here in Phoenix and passed the Hyundai dealership on the way. (Three of their last four cars have been Toyotas.) Remembering some local dealer ads touting Hyundai's excellent JD Powers Initial Quality Survey results (Hyundai came in third, just behind Lexus and ahead of Toyota and Honda), they decided to stop in -- and walked out with a year-or-so-old four-cylinder Sonata with about 20,000 miles on the clock. My father was impressed with the Sonata's space and safety features. And while Dad steadfastly refuses to tell me what he paid, I'm sure the Sonata was a great deal less expensive than a similar-vintage Camry would have been.
The Sonata has been the source of debate around these parts; we've had three reviewers who loved it and one who couldn't stand it. Feel free to peruse our 2006 Hyundai Sonata reviews:
- Affordable perfection by Colin Hefferon
- Nickles and dimes by BJ Killeen
- Base model? Who you callin' base model? by Philip Powell
- So-not-a so good by Jason Fogelson
If you have a Sonata in your family, or you know someone who does, I'd love to hear about the ownership experience -- click the "comments" link and tell us what you like and/or don't like about the car. -- Aaron Gold
Photo © Aaron Gold
“JD Powers Initial Quality Survey”. I’ve always wondered just what that is supposed to mean. They asked some people who just bought one? Nothing fell off on the way home?
If Russia was still exporting the Lada I’m sure that this commercial rating company could come up with a good rating for it; eg., “Best Russian Export Car” …
Sorry but I dont put any stock in their ratings even though dealers love to.
Jason nailed this car exactly in his review. My exact impressions when I rented it for several months.
IGB, I also think Jason nailed it. I drove a Sonata and an Azera when we were looking for car for my wife. Nice cars for the money, but you feel the corner cutting when you drive them if you have a feel for good handling cars. They make Camrys and Accords feel like precise handling cars.
Very nice car for the money, The wife can find no problems, after driving a Impala on a trip, I would have opted for it, but they did not offer the 100,000 mile warentee till two weeks after we bought our Sonata. I still prefer the “feel” of the American car !
Traded my 10 year-old Camry with 225,000 miles for a 2003 Sonata in 2003. The price ($12,000) was right and the drive was similar to the Camry. I had been so in love with the Camry that it took me a while to trust this car, but so far, no complaints. My headlight recently burned out and it was replaced for free under the 5 year warranty that came with the car.
There are four Hyundais in my family and I must say that they have given us outstanding service. The only downside may be resale value.