Accord owner considering Sonata V6Lx-very nervous

[Robin]

To save money, I'm considering breaking away from the Honda Accord V6 ExL I have always leased (for 3 yrs) in the past (and enjoyed with no need for repairs other than regular maintenance). Now I'm looking to purchase a car.

I've always had the perception, not based on any personal experiernce of my own or that of anyone I know, that Hyundai is of low quality.

I've read the posts on this board, including the thread from the person who cannot express how happy they are with the car I'm considering - but the car is new.

I understand about the warranty, but am spoiled, and don't want a need to have to use it. I'm curious why you all have purchased your Hyundai with the reputation that is out there, and anything you can tell me to help calm my anxieties about this car. I'm not hard on a car, do routine maintenance, 80% city driving, 20% hwy, and if this is relevant, live in So. Calif (so Orange County).

I posted a request for feedback on a consumers newsgroup and you can imagine the feedback I got (friends and relatives who recently purchased the car that hate it, lists of repairs, that the car will die long before the warranty is over, no resale value, expensive costs of repair).

Will appreciate your feedback.
Robin

 

[Rob Rust]

To save money, I'm considering breaking away from the Honda Accord V6 ExL I have always leased (for 3 yrs) in the past (and enjoyed with no need for repairs other than regular maintenance). Now I'm looking to purchase a car.

I've always had the perception, not based on any personal experiernce of my own or that of anyone I know, that Hyundai is of low quality.

I've read the posts on this board, including the thread from the person who cannot express how happy they are with the car I'm considering - but the car is new.

I understand about the warranty, but am spoiled, and don't want a need to have to use it. I'm curious why you all have purchased your Hyundai with the reputation that is out there, and anything you can tell me to help calm my anxieties about this car. I'm not hard on a car, do routine maintenance, 80% city driving, 20% hwy, and if this is relevant, live in So. Calif (so Orange County).

I posted a request for feedback on a consumers newsgroup and you can imagine the feedback I got (friends and relatives who recently purchased the car that hate it, lists of repairs, that the car will die long before the warranty is over, no resale value, expensive costs of repair).

Will appreciate your feedback.
Robin

Robin,
You should carefully consider your impending move from Honda to any other manufacturer. I have owned a Honda Accord and more recently a 2003 Hyundai Sonata Lx (which my wife adores). In favor of the Honda I would say are the following:

bullet proof reliability
high resale value
solid ride and well engineered car

However, a Hyndai Sonata offers the following:

Vastly improved reliability (placining third on CR list of mid sized sedans after 24 months of ownership); Fantastic value Styling (that appeals to some) and Solid engineering

I think the biggest diffference is resale value. Providing you intend to hold your car for 7-10 years the difference in resale value as a percentage of original cost will be neglible. In short, if you are a only slightly risk adverse the Sonata is a better deal for the money. However, if you don't want to worry about it choose the Honda, pay the high cost and don't worry about it.

Just my thoughts!

 

[Briggs]

As others here have said, if you have ANY doubts, don't go with Hyundai. Any problem, large or small will only make you nuts. That said, in the past 20 years I've owned a new '82 Honda Prelude, 2 used Honda Accords ('85 and '87), a 4 year old '89 Acura Legend, and currently a new 2002 XG350. The Hyundai is my favorite car by far - even more so than the Legend. It's quieter, smoother, and feels more luxurious to me. I test drove an Infinity, a Sentra, a V6 Accord, and the day before I purchased the Hyundai, I also test drove a '02 Legend. I still preferred the Hyundai over all. Is it as good as a Lexus? Probably not. Has it been trouble free? No - there have been minor electrical problems along the way. I've had a battery replaced, a dome light replaced, an oxygen sensor replaced, and the air bag light has gone on twice. I still have no regrets. It helps that the dealer is 10 minutes away and is always responsive. The 10 year upgraded bumper to bumper warranty (which includes a rental car) and a review in the AAA magazine the year I purchased the car made a big difference in swaying me. If I had to travel an hour for service, or had a difficult dealer, that might be another story.

Good luck,
-L