Traded my '05 Corolla CE for '08 Sonata GL...

Minou · Jul 2, 2007

Hi everyone,

Back after a long break. Anyway, here are a few pics of my newly acquired 2008 Sonata GL 4 cylinder 5 speed (a rarity in this segment). I couldn't resist the $4000. rebate off MSRP for it (cash deal). I also missed the comfort and refinement of an intermediate car after the Accord DX I had prior to the Corolla. The Sonata has that comfort and refinement I want and is also fun to drive with a nice 4 cylinder and manual transmission.

[image]

[/image]

[image]

[/image]

The stable. 162 willing and well mannered horses residing in here.
[image]http://

[/image]

Minou · Jul 2, 2007

Pablo · Jul 2, 2007

Yeah for the manual. I saw a beautiful 07 GTI in the lot, so I walked over and peered in the window.....AUTOMATIC....who the heck would buy an auto GTI? We are truly a sinking ship....

Sorry. Carry on. Pretty car. What size is the engine?

Minou · Jul 2, 2007

Quote:

Yeah for the manual. I saw a beautiful 07 GTI in the lot, so I walked over and peered in the window.....AUTOMATIC....who the heck would buy an auto GTI? We are truly a sinking ship....

Sorry. Carry on. Pretty car. What size is the engine?

You're right. The other day at work, I walked to examine a brand new Mazda MX-5 (Miata) and to my astonishment, it was an automatic!

My Sonata has the new 2.4l World Engine block shared by Hyundai, Chrysler and Mitsu.

Pablo · Jul 2, 2007

Quote:

My Sonata has the new 2.4l World Engine block shared by Hyundai, Chrysler and Mitsu.

Perfect size for the car, and MT!

What kind of mileage to they promise? (And post later with actuals)

rshaw125 · Jul 2, 2007

I really like the looks of these cars. I read a review in one of the auto mags. The only negative was the gas mileage.

addyguy · Jul 2, 2007

Nice car...I like these too. Great choice on the manual transmission....shifting is a lost art for most.

What will you be running in it oilwise....?

Minou · Jul 2, 2007

Mileage is claimed at 24/34 MPG with the manual which is comparable to Accord and Camry with 2.4l engine. I'll report my actual numbers later.

Oil wise, the Owner's manual is clear; Use 5W-20 if you seek maximum fuel economy. If not, 5w30 and 10w30 (above -16C) are the recommended grades.

Since my stack still contains 8 liters of XD-3 0w30 and 2, 4.4l jugs of Motomaster full synthetic 5w30, I think I'll run this with OEM filters for now. Any objections or comments? If I recall, Hyundai's OEM filters are of good quality for the price?

A few things I want to make sure though;
-Manual states 4.52 US qts (4.3 liters) with filter for the 4 but one owner reports he needs a full 5 qts (4.73 l) to bring the level to full.

-Wix' Website has the 51334 oil filter equivalent but says 2351cc engine which is the old 2.4l iron block that had Mitsu origins. The aluminum World Engine 2.4 is nominally 2359cc. So just to make sure that the filter remains the same for the new engine.

addyguy · Jul 3, 2007

I'd be careful using the XD-3 - only SL rated, and may cause warranty problems - the MM Full Synthetic sounds like a good idea!

Minou · Jul 3, 2007

Quote:

I'd be careful using the XD-3 - only SL rated, and may cause warranty problems - the MM Full Synthetic sounds like a good idea!

You're right, my XD-3 is SL and the MM is SM. But my Sonata's Owner's Manual states; "SJ/SL or above". So I should be OK.

One other thing, where can I chose if I want to be e-mailed when someone answers my post? I don't find the option anymore.

PRND3L · Jul 3, 2007

Quote:

One other thing, where can I chose if I want to be e-mailed when someone answers my post? I don't find the option anymore.

click on "My Home", the link to edit that option is on that page.

Minou · Jul 4, 2007

Quote:

Quote:

One other thing, where can I chose if I want to be e-mailed when someone answers my post? I don't find the option anymore.

Click to expand...

click on "My Home", the link to edit that option is on that page.

Checked but it's like I have to make it a favorite topic or something?

PRND3L · Jul 5, 2007

Yes, exactly.

The Critic · Jul 5, 2007

Quote:

Checked but it's like I have to make it a favorite topic or something?

Yep.

simple_gifts · Jul 5, 2007

Minou, still got that great looking cat?

Minou · Jul 5, 2007

Quote:

Minou, still got that great looking cat?

You have good memory. Unfortunately the minou passed away last December. She was 17, that's 85 in cat years. But she remained mostly healthy and in good shape til the last couple of weeks. I'll post a picture of her again soon. I miss her very much, she was a great cat.

And that's not all. Her mother and I decided to split up the month after!

Quattro Pete · Jul 5, 2007

Quote:

Her mother and I decided to split up the month after!

I'm lost here.

wavinwayne · Jul 5, 2007

I like your new Hyundai. It looks like it has everything you need & nothing you don't. Nice car.

FWIW, I designed the tooling that produced some of your Hyundai's FWD components. I hope they never fail you.

And Pablo.........I have a GTI with a 4-speed automatic. If I had to do it over again, and I knew what I know now about cars, I wouldn't have purchased the auto GTI. In fact, I probably would have passed on VW. I think I would have been happier with a 5-speed Civic or Accord.

Minou · Jul 5, 2007

Quote:

Quote:

Her mother and I decided to split up the month after!

Click to expand...

I'm lost here.

Yeah, the thing is that I wasn't the "real" father of the minou. We were a "reconstituted" family so to speak and the minou's mother (also owner of the 2006 Matrix XR) also decided to leave the house.

Minou · Jul 5, 2007

Quote:

I like your new Hyundai. It looks like it has everything you need & nothing you don't. Nice car.

FWIW, I designed the tooling that produced some of your Hyundai's FWD components. I hope they never fail you.

Indeed, for a base model, it has most of what I want like, power package, AC, cruise, good radio, 6 speakers, good sized tires (Michelin Energy MXV4 215/60-16 treadwear 440AA), bolt-on wheel covers, etc. Little attentions to detail are everywhere in this car. It's not flashy but seems to be very well put together. It's very comfortable, rides well and smooth and the 4 banger is surprisingly zippy with the manual transmission. The gate is well defined and shifts have good mechanical feel. The engine is soft just off idle and is easy to stall if you don't give throttle when hitting the clutch friction point but otherwise this World Engine works really well.

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/world-engine.html
BTW, if part of the drivetrain and FWD components are built in the US, what about the engine? Chrysler's versions of it are built in the USA but are Hyundai's versions of it sourced from the same US plants that provide Chrysler or if it comes from Korea? Also, Chrysler is using double VVT to get 173 HP but with same 10.5 compression ratio and regular fuel while Hyundai claims 162 HP for it's copy of the engine but it's not clear if it is only a single VVT or double? Or is somebody lying about horsepower figures? Hyundai for one, paid dearly in the past for inflated horsepower figures.

My car comes from the Alabama plant as identified in the door jamb sticker and with the Serial no beginning with "5". I thought that only V6's came from there at first? I get that many components are now probably sourced from the same suppliers that supply US assembled Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans, Mazdas plus cars from the Big 3.

Traded my '05 Corolla CE for '08 Sonata GL...

Similar threads