Hello,
I am considering buying a 2007 Hyundai Sonata (V6 engine). I have
never owned a Hyundai but read positive things about their cars.
Here's my dilemma-
I would love to hear from owners about how a Hyndai Sonata performs
after it has a few years on it compared to how the car performed when
new.
I think most manufacturer's cars today drive well when new, but some
age sooner compared to the Japanese cars (IMHO).
Ken
We have two 2007 NF Elites in our fleet
I prefer the 4 as it is averaging 7.7 litres per 100 kM now is
coming into our hot weather here in AU
and consumtion up to about 8.9 per 100 KM
80% of driving on dirt roads
The car is the most dust proof vehicle I have ever driven Much better
than BMW & Honda
Given that it "flies" over heavily rutted roads at average of 100 KMPH
last month has 41000 KM on it since March 23 2007
Have tried hard but can not fault this vehicle the NF is a far nicer
car than any previous Hyundai all round.
Can not reccomend this vehicle highly enough .
The boss cleaned up a roo in His Holden Statesman at about 90KMPH
result $13000 damage ( no the airbags diid not deploy so the cost was
all panel & paint)
I had a "coming together" with an Even Bigger male red roo on dirt
road at about 115 Kmph on a sweeper bend with ore truck coming other
way so was a bit of a white knuckle change the undies moment .
Awful loud bang and CRUNCH sound
though oh here we go another 10+K off the budget ---------
Can send the pics of the Damage !!! $85.00 for crack repair to the
griill and under pan cracked so body repair just plastic welded it and
replaced reatining clips .
Truly AMAZING Vehicle
Only fault was on delivery day CD changer failed and they replaced at
first service and flew part to the bush ------- Hyundai Australia head
office followed up and even sent $ to replace chewed up disk !!!!
If you send mail to spamlister at gmail dot com happy to supply pics
I have yet to receive such excellent service from any other
manufacture of anything ( Intel and HP take note )
One complaint I do have is the fitment of OEM tyres to Australian
vehicles Dunlop SP 270 Series 225/50/17 European silica compound
They drive superb But wear like blazes front set chewed out at 18000
Kms (Australian dirt roads and tarmac temps of high 70 c ) test any
tyre
Replaced them with Kuhmos and Hankooks now no more Problems .
This Korean gear is as we say here " is the ducks Guts " Means in
Aussie speak top of the line .
Mate if you are unhappy with a 07 Sonata reckon you are bloody hard
to please
Strangely there are still those who knock Sonatas maybe bad
experiences or bias towards previous models (some of it deservedly so
_ )
Our fleet consists of Big Holdens Hyundais Mistubishi (yuk) many
Toyotas a couple of Volvos and Fords (called falcons here) and the
Sonata's running costs are the cheapest in the fleet .
The drivers (who when heard they were being put into them including
myself said dont want any of that Korean Crap ) well now apologise to
the make as they are truly OUTSTANDING given what we do to them and
driving conditions .
Common sense and company rules is that we check and blow out the dust
from the air filters end of each week is about the only non scheduled
service performed on the whole fleet ( red dust here is full of FE and
tests show 60.9 FE content of the dust) basicly powdered Iron and
more than one local has paid the price for being slack and ended up
dusting engines (stupid noddy some how put the air filter in arse up
and allowed unfiltered air straight into the engine = oops ! )
IMO you should have trouble free and very comfortable and safe
driving experience . The vehicles on these dirt roads get driven hard
and quick and are as sure footed as one could wish for (apart from
constant 4wd subi's)
Polen filters in air conditioning DO WORK and the seals etc keep all
the hot air and dust and other nasties out .
Windscreens here get broken regularly due to opposing traffic
throwing up rocks etc ----- either by luck or strength having copped
more than my fair share of rocks have not done one it yet only cars
witjout a history of screens are the 3 Hyundais ---we are still trying
to work out why this blip in the stats but not complaining
At night (here looking to find fault) the lights run out of road

so we slow down to 100 Ks ( wild life considerations) .
The ABS and dynamics of the suspension and handling mean that if you
prang one you have been driving like a clot . They handle far better
than they should for the price even in the rare instance of rain on
greasy muddy roads chewed up by road trains (see -
http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/image-files/gibb-river-road-pictures-11.jpg
&
http://www.framecraft.com.au/images/october/9b.jpg
&
http://www.framecraft.com.au/images/october/31b.jpg) for what a
Aussie road train is you may begin to appreciate just how we punish
our vehicles here.
The cars are so good for the first time when we turn these over (at
75000) I shall buy the one I am currently in for the wife ---------
they ARE THAT GOOD .
And I have noting to do with Hyundai I just drive the buggers into the
ground but heck they are hard to kill these things

Enjoy happy and above all safe motoring with one if you eventually
choose one
Cheers From Australia