Hyundai Sonata, Do I want one?

July 30, 2010

Trawling through ebay at work (again) and came across this;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-HYUNDAI-SONA ... 3caf86c32d

Not far from me and seemed to fit the true shiters profile, emailed the seller, a dealer in morecambe and it would seem that this fully loaded bucket of toys could be mine for my current shite (A rover 25) and about a five twenty quid notes,

It does seem a lot of car for the money but should I part with the only Rover 1.4 that never overheats and runs perfectly for a potential moneypit that makes me look like Huggy Bear's less cultured cousin?

Any advice/opinions most welcome

4.8k · July 30, 2010

Dad had a 95 Sonata 2.0 (N139 WNF) as a company vehicle when new which was a good car. I can't see the eBay listing from work but I'm presuming this to be the subsequent model with the odd shaped headlights & looks like an Accord or Daewoo Leganza from the rear. We had no trouble with ours, apart from a glitch with the immobiliser once or twice. Wouldn't know what they're like as used cars though. Sonata's have always been quite stylish.....well since the mid nineties anyway!

14,334 · July 30, 2010

Sounds about as good an example as youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re likely to find, with the cam belt having been done and a yearÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s MoT. If you can live with the added thirst and the potential that, come the next MoT, you might have to scrap it if thereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s some expensive/impossible to find part required for the MoT then go for it.

1,396 · July 30, 2010

He's only giving you Ã‚Â£600 for your 25 which I'm sure you'd be able to easily get - particularly given you've done the head gasket - privately.

Why not try bunging the 25 in the Freeads for Ã‚Â£800 or so, then waving Ã‚Â£600 cash from the proceeds under the Sonata seller's nose? I'm sure it will still be there...

27,997 · July 30, 2010

Don't accept his first offer, he's a dealer so he's custom built to start low when offering cash. Just the way they work! I'd reckon you could get closer to a straight swap, or as said flog the Rover privately and buy the Sonata with cash. Just watch out for Sod's Law which states the Sonata will be sold to someone else approximately thirteen seconds before you close the deal on the Rover.

But that's a lovely, shite car. It's done all it's depreciation so all you have to do is wallow around in the heated leather, electrically defrosting your windscreen through the winter whilst having to explain over and over again what it is. Nice. Like you say, sort of a Tesco Value Pimp ride. I'd hit it certainly.

132,032 · July 30, 2010

The Ã‚Â£25 thing is an old dealer's trick where they don't want to jump at the p/x offer as it'll make them look too keen so they ask for a small, random amount to make it look like they're not desperate.

No clue about owning/driving one of those Hyundais but a lad at work bought one about 6 months old from a main dealers and when he went to part-ex it 4 months later they refused to do any deal on it at all as they didn't want it.

July 30, 2010

Thanks for the advice, will go and have a look at the beast tomorrow morning, tbh I thought the Rover would be harder to get rid of than VD, nobody seems to want them which is why I finished up with it!!

Checked insurance etc, an increase of Ã‚Â£38 (oh the benefits of being old) suppose the sensible thing is to keep the newer, more economical car with good parts availability rather than a thirsty over complicated rarity but, where would the fun be in doing that??

5,968 · July 30, 2010

I always chortled when the IT director chose a Hyundai Sonata company when the rest of the directors chose Porsche 911 Turbo's, BMW M3's and Audi RS4's. His wife had a Hyundai Coupe - bit of blind, brand loyalty there for you.

July 30, 2010

I like those Sonatas, I would quite happily own one.

The only problem is when they fill with poisonous gas (9 minutes in): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF0C08WDT4s

July 30, 2010

Sonata's have always been quite stylish.....well since the mid nineties anyway!

I always prefered the Mk3 Granada shaped ones -

Any Sonata is incredible VFM

WIN!

8.5k · July 30, 2010

I do quite fancy an Sonata. Perhaps at the next major cabinet reshuffle. Great for motorway om nom noms.

5,968 · July 30, 2010

I like those Sonatas, I would quite happily own one.

The only problem is when they fill with poisonous gas (9 minutes in): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF0C08WDT4s

Well, that's a design flaw.

1,169 · July 30, 2010

Yes, you DO want a Sonata. Good cars, once you look past the swathes of cheap looking plastic and wood-you-believe-it trim. Parts shouldn't be a problem either - try this place:

http://www.blueprint-adl.com/

There's loads of Sonatas here in West Cumbria, as the Hyundai dealer does well and has plenty of loyal customers. Anyone owners I've spoken to have raved about them as cars - the only problem has been the crippling depreciation. Past the point of worrying about that by now though, at that price.

5,968 · July 30, 2010

I think all the aftermarket parts I got for my Starion were Blueprint. Sonata 2.0 shares the same 4G63 engine.

July 30, 2010

That looks like a winner to me and they are usually pretty reliable anyway so, in answer to your question and if you can handle the running costs then the answer is YES (better than the Rover anyday )