Thinking About a New Daily (in the New Year)

[gtd2000]

I've had a hankering for a Sonata for a year or so now and see that the last models are now sometimes available at below the 3K mark these days.

 

The type I'm thinking of is this one:

 

I did have a longer term rental in Washington DC with the 3.3L engine which is obviously going to be a lot more fun (it was pretty rapid) than the UK spec models. Overall I did like the car but felt the Camry (it's direct competition Stateside) was still ahead quality wise.

 

I've never driven a UK spec variant so has anybody here got anything to say about them?

 

The older model seems like a lot of car for the money but I'm not so keen on the styling:

 

I've seen loads of these new Sonata models driving round Florida since I got here in October which appear to be very popular. There are not bad looking cars in the flesh either but that's not what I'm here to talk about:

[Lukas]

Hi my friend!

 

I have driven the Sonata 2.0 CRDi and it was a very nice, relaxing drive, but I wouldn´t buy it. Not only it´s 4 times more expensive than a comparable UK-spec-one , but also because you can feel the cheap price everywhere. The paint is not that nice and everything under the bonnet or when you open the doors was not painted properly, the interieur feels very cheap (at least from the pictured pre-facelift-one), the diesel-engine is smooth and powerful but the torque-steering feels horrible in corners and at take-off, the car is just a boring everyday-car. And there are better examples of boring-everyday-cars out there!

 

What about a Camry or a late Xedos9? Boring everyday-cars too, but I bet the overall quality is better. A late Maxima should do the job very well too, but they are quite rustprone.

 

Lukas

[scooters]

given your lusting for all thinks from nippon...and if you don't mind a big engine and want something a tad retro then what about a Mk1 LS400 - I had one and loved it - the only thing to realy look out for is leaking powersteering pumps - notorious but if the job has been done it will be good for 15 years.

 

partridgesque uber luxobarge!

[AnthonyG]

I would try one when you are back in the UK and see what you think. Bear in mind most secondhand ones in the UK may have been ex mincabs.

 

Lukas are cars a lot more expensive in Austria? I don't see why an Austrian spec one would be '4 times' the price of a UK one?

 

The new Sonata is very popular in the US, fifth best selling in its class (behind the Toyota, Honda, Ford and Chevy) I have read.

[Lukas]

The depreciation in the UK is horrendous, compared to Euroland. A 2007 Sonata CRDi would cost around 12.000 Euro here, maybe 4000 Pounds or even less in the UK I´ve been told. So the differences are very big!

[AnthonyG]

I see what you mean - I have heard from several people who've lived overseas that the UK has probably the cheapest secondhand cars in the world - cheaper even than the US.

[Guest]

 

I've seen loads of these new Sonata models driving round Florida since I got here in October which appear to be very popular. There are not bad looking cars in the flesh either but that's not what I'm here to talk about:

 

Do you think the CLS is popular in Seoul?

 

To be fair that's not a bad looking car. FATHA_WAT reckons he can get a new CLS for £19k. I think the drugs are still addling his brain. He was offered an ex-lease Grandeur for £6k, but it's not his thing at all.

 

The depreciation in the UK is horrendous, compared to Euroland. A 2007 Sonata CRDi would cost around 12.000 Euro here, maybe 4000 Pounds or even less in the UK I´ve been told. So the differences are very big!

 

Out of interest, what does an average Volvo 480 go for in Austria Lukas? I am of course presuming that there are some that are as of yet still running where you are. I paid £280 (roughly 330 Euros) for mine and it's above average. 480s are near worthless here. Even a very nice Celebration or Turbo wouldn't see more than £1800-2000, and that's on a very good day.

[Timewaster]

A new Daily?

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Don't get Cavette started.

[Guest]

Don't get Cavette started.

 

I'm fairly certain I saw an explosion from his end of the M56 because of the very nature of that particular post.

[gtd2000]

Hi my friend!

 

I have driven the Sonata 2.0 CRDi and it was a very nice, relaxing drive, but I wouldn´t buy it. Not only it´s 4 times more expensive than a comparable UK-spec-one , but also because you can feel the cheap price everywhere. The paint is not that nice and everything under the bonnet or when you open the doors was not painted properly, the interieur feels very cheap (at least from the pictured pre-facelift-one), the diesel-engine is smooth and powerful but the torque-steering feels horrible in corners and at take-off, the car is just a boring everyday-car. And there are better examples of boring-everyday-cars out there!

 

What about a Camry or a late Xedos9? Boring everyday-cars too, but I bet the overall quality is better. A late Maxima should do the job very well too, but they are quite rustprone.

 

Lukas

 

I did think that the Sonata felt a bit cheap compared to the US Camry at the time....but it wasn't too far behind really - perhaps there is some variation as the local Sonatas are all US built I believe?

[gtd2000]

given your lusting for all thinks from nippon...and if you don't mind a big engine and want something a tad retro then what about a Mk1 LS400 - I had one and loved it - the only thing to realy look out for is leaking powersteering pumps - notorious but if the job has been done it will be good for 15 years.

 

partridgesque uber luxobarge!

 

I have considered this option but the thought of a V8 engine might be pushing the fuel economy somewhat for a daily? I usually do around 350 miles a week, if I could find a good example I'd possibly review it though.

[gtd2000]

I would try one when you are back in the UK and see what you think. Bear in mind most secondhand ones in the UK may have been ex mincabs.

 

Lukas are cars a lot more expensive in Austria? I don't see why an Austrian spec one would be '4 times' the price of a UK one?

 

The new Sonata is very popular in the US, fifth best selling in its class (behind the Toyota, Honda, Ford and Chevy) I have read.

 

Yeah that's an aspect where I'm somewhat uncertain about the quoted low mileages of the cars for sale on eBay. There seem to be an awful low of very low one owner FDSH cars...and no sign of any high mileage ex-taxis?

 

Cars are much more expensive in most of Europe - roughly twice the price. An Austrian colleague of mine has bought two cars from me because they are so cheap - relatively speaking. He also bought an S Class for what he considered to be 25% of the Austrian price.

[gtd2000]

The depreciation in the UK is horrendous, compared to Euroland. A 2007 Sonata CRDi would cost around 12.000 Euro here, maybe 4000 Pounds or even less in the UK I´ve been told. So the differences are very big!

 

Are you still sticking to this point - it's normal here and expensive in Europe!

 

You should tell be telling people about the car taxes and insurance in Austria - that will be an eye opener for them

[gtd2000]

I see what you mean - I have heard from several people who've lived overseas that the UK has probably the cheapest secondhand cars in the world - cheaper even than the US.

 

Used US car prices are mad today!

 

I saw a year 2000, 120,000 mile Hyundai Tiburon (Coupe) for $5500 yesterday....

 

It's quite common to be able to buy a new car cheaper than a 1 to 3 year old car in the States....they go on the monthly payment over here rather than paying cash and knowing exactly what they are shelling out.

 

A friend of my GF's, bought a mini Cooper a few years back. She had a Cadillac that was worth around $10,000 at the time.

 

She got a great deal - traded it in for a 2 year old Mini Cooper and had to pay $26,000.

 

A new Mini Cooper at the time was $25,000.....one born every minute as they say.

[gtd2000]

Do you think the CLS is popular in Seoul?

 

To be fair that's not a bad looking car. FATHA_WAT reckons he can get a new CLS for £19k. I think the drugs are still addling his brain. He was offered an ex-lease Grandeur for £6k, but it's not his thing at all.

 

The Grandeur or Azera as it's known over here in the US was sold for not much more than the bigger engined Sonata. It seems to be pretty much the same thing with a bit more luxury.

 

Prices in the UK seem to be pretty strong in the used market for some reason though...I've never seen one in the UK on the roads actually!

[gtd2000]

A new Daily?

 

Jolly good