2011 Hyundai Sonata “Challenge” - One day, 1,000 miles and just one tank of gas…

[xcel]

Hi Jeff:

Boy, CleanMPG would not be the same without any number of people behind the scenes helping to make event drives like these work as seamlessly as they do. The fact I was driving such a great car did not hurt either

And to your questions… On the highway while just "driving it", definitely. The 6-Speed AT is geared even taller than the 6-speed MT for an even more relaxed ride and the 6-speed MT is plenty relaxed already FE will be approximately equivalent with a little more loss around town where the MT’s are not fighting the Torque Converter as the AT’s do. The AT does not allow anything beyond a FAS at a light or longer term impediment and thus the almost 25% hair cut for the trip back. When someone can pull 50 + mpg from the Sonata on the highway, the super fuel misers (TDI's and Hybrids) worth diminishes in some regards. I am talking an all-highway driver. Take an AT in a non-hybrid into the city and you are going to feel a lot more pain at the pump.

As you probably know, I really do like the Jetta Sportwagen TDI and with the new larger platform for 2011, like it even more but… Maintenance issues and lack of amenities for the price make the 2011 Sonata a much better value even if it is slightly lower rated per the EPA. We will have to drive the new Jetta to experience the upgrade just to make sure but VW’s lack the panache of the 11 Sonata and I was driving the absolutely cheapest $19,195 base model with only a $100 floor mat option added. That should say volumes about the car itself by comparison to the Jetta which is and of itself a fantastic car!

Given most will not be driving the stick, my short time behind the wheel of (2) completely loaded up AT’s was just as pleasant with the added bonus that you never have to shift with a clutch. For some like myself, it is a detriment but in the heavy stop and crawl stuff, riding a temperamental clutch can work on the old psyche...

In any case, I am sure you will love the car as it is not only a good looker; it is an extremely solid value that the rest have yet to provide an answer for. And the seats… To provide as much comfort as they do while looking so spartan with an unusual flat looking back when you first see them is another check mark in the positive column. Get in and they fit like a glove. For most I will venture to guess anyway? The reason I say this is Karen has had a number of operations on her back and found the seats to be for lack of a better term, “dreamy”. In my 48 + hours behind the wheel, I never felt any discomfort or need to squirm around to get comfortable as I have in a few other cars in the past.

Regarding Canadian prices, Canada itself appears to tack hidden taxes or import duties to its cars because even with the Canadian $ near parity with the USD, Canadian's still pay way more for cars, clothes and food than what we pay here in the US. Even when some of these items are sourced natively too While I have no idea about the price and such, I do know the Alabama factory is running flat out producing Sonata’s as fast as the factory can build them while still maintaining QC so it may be a while before you will see deep discounts if ever.

Warranty… I am not sure why Canada does not receive the same great warranty that Hyundai offers here in the US. It was not that many years ago when Hyundai had a terrible rep here in the US and used the 100K to help promote its quickly improving quality. Nowadays, Hyundai’s quality appears to match everyone with a number of JD Power like awards to its credit including when compared to the top contenders in the Accord and Camry. This is imho and worth less than the price you paid to read this reply of course

Good Luck and I know you are going to love the all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata.

Wayne

[jeffer28]

I actually emailed Hyundai Canada inquiring about the difference in warranty in pricing. They replied with the fact that the car is still priced competitively in its class and that there were some features that were mandated for Canadian models that may not be required elsewhere. I can understand, for example, a $2000 price premium, but at least give me the same warranty, etc. The warranty difference is the powertrain warranty. In Canada, you get 5 years/100,000 kms (matches the factory warranty). In the US, you guys get a 10 year/100,000 MILE warranty. The VW Jetta up here is about $2000 more than in the US, but we get a 4 year/80000 km warranty versus the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty given in the US. I think it would be "Smart" (Hyundai's marketing slogan) of Hyundai Canada to match the US warranty and make the pricing closer to parity.

[MaxxMPG]

One advantage to the Canadian market cars is that they don't have TPMS. In the US, it is mandated because of the number of airheads who have never checked their tire pressure in all their years of driving, and a number of serious wrecks involving said motorists driving in swing-axle-equipped top-heavy overloaded FSPs.

The Hyundai TPMS is extremely sensitive to RF interference. In my wife's Sonata, the TPMS light sometimes blinks when she drives past certain police or fire stations. A quick check of the frequencies these radios use shows that it is about half the frequency of the Hyundai TPMS. And so the strong RF from the tower out-shouts the cheesy sensors in the wheels, the computer thinks it's losing communication with the sensors, and the light blinks. Drive more than 1/4 mile from the police/fire antenna and the system functions normally.

Now, what I need to do is find a hack that lets me transmit the right info at the right frequency to broadcast to the computer so I can install any wheels/rims I want without the TPMS light popping on. Hyundai sensors need to be programmed into the ECU at the dealer$hip (unlike the GM system that can be taught the unique numbers of each sensor), so adding winter tires becomes a very expensive proposition. Alternative - electrical tape over the light.

[JusBringIt]

Originally Posted by MaxxMPG

Alternative - electrical tape over the light.

I have a better one. Light bulb removal

[MaxxMPG]

Originally Posted by JusBringIt

I have a better one. Light bulb removal

Already checked into that. According to the manual, it's an LED And if it were a bulb, I'm not sure if the TPMS and its idiot light has to be functional for annual safety inspection - requiring annual removal of the dash cluster and light bulb swapping.

Another alternative, honoring the great Rube Goldberg - Considering the TPMS sensors need to be in motion in order to function, is to buy an old phonograph off of ebay, glue the TPMS sensors to the turntable platter, set it to 78rpm, and plug it into the lighter socket. Or better yet, glue the TPMS sensors to the end of each blade of a small windmill/fan and then zip-tie it to the wiper stalk so the air blowing in from the vent causes the blades to rotate and transmit sensor data to the computer.

I don't mind idiot lights - I consider them to be mood lighting, although a check engine light's yellow color makes me a look a little jaundiced. If it were my daily driver, I would install the snows without the sensors, and remember that TPMS stands for "Tread Pattern Meant for Snow". In the northern climates, it is a badge of honor to have the TPMS light glowing all winter long - it means you have the correct tires for icy conditions.

[JusBringIt]

Idiot lights irk me to no end. I figured the newer cars would foil the remove bulb solution. I doubt that would cause any problems with inspection. Look at it ad a "washer fluid low" type sensor. Tire pressure unless visually unsafe hasn't failed any inspection as far as I know. The correct pressure is recommended if it is deemed out of. "code".

[longo]

Jeffer, I have a Jetta TDI, and would seriouly recommend you walk on by these high priced problem prone vehicles.

The warranty compared to the Hyundai is pathetic, the VW service shedule costs will have you in tears when you look at the bill.

For all the dramma of ownng a Diesel these days, stick 'regular' grade gas hyundai and save yourself a lot of stink on your shoes.

The good old days of diesel engines outlasting their gas brothers are long gone so dodge that bullit too and go with what works.

[xcel]

Hi Longo:

In the case of the new super misers while running on gasoline (the 2011 Sonata and all-new 2011 Elantra come to mind ), I think you are makign a very good point and of course right on the "money".

And welcome to CleanMPG!

Wayne