"Amoore100" (amoore100)
06/08/2016 at 22:59 • Filed to: Generation Gap, Hyundai, Sonata
4
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"Amoore100" (amoore100)
06/08/2016 at 22:59 • Filed to: Generation Gap, Hyundai, Sonata | 4
| 28 |
Welcome to Generation Gap where we ask you about your favorite generation of a certain multi-generational car nameplate. Then, explain why your choice is right to the rest of us uneducated folks.
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In a first for Generation Gap, this week we will be comparing the seven generations of the Hyundai Sonata as well as all of its facelifts in between. Not since the Japanese came to America in the ‘70s has the U.S. seen such a dramatic increase in the amount of low-cost, low-interest motoring, albeit the rise of the Koreans has provided quite welcome alternative to the droves of Camrys here in my opinion. Which Sonata, though, is your favorite? Is it the handsome but plain fifth edition or the way-curvy and controversial sixth edition, or perhaps one of the more adventurous early creations?
Here are the options:
First Generation [1985 - 1987] Y
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Second Generation [1988 - 1993] Y2 and facelift
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Third Generation [1993 - 1998] Y3 and facelift
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Fourth Generation [1998 - 2004] EF and facelift
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Fifth Generation [2004 - 2009] NF and facelift
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Sixth Generation [2009 - 2014] YF and facelift
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Seventh Generation [2014 - Present] LF
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MLGCarGuy
> Amoore100
06/08/2016 at 23:03 |
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This is a situation in which I don’t like any of the choices. I have a 7th generation Sonata SE and it is awful.
CB
> MLGCarGuy
06/08/2016 at 23:06 |
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What’s so bad about it, if you don’t mind me asking?
Alfalfa
> Amoore100
06/08/2016 at 23:07 |
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Not exactly enamored with any generation of Sonata, but I have an NF that’s okay so there’s my vote.
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Amoore100
> Alfalfa
06/08/2016 at 23:08 |
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It’s the least worst as Clarkson would say.
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Amoore100
> MLGCarGuy
06/08/2016 at 23:09 |
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Echoing CB here, the Sonata seems decent for what it is, are there any egregious issues that make it worse than, say, an Accord or Camry?
Wobbles the Mind
> Amoore100
06/08/2016 at 23:12 |
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Fifth Gen, pre facelift. However, I personally think the Camry and Accord were at their best during that time too (excluding paint). I didn’t realize the facelifted 3rd Gen pretty much has Hyundai’s current grill shape. I doubt it’s intentional, but neat nonetheless!
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MLGCarGuy
> CB
06/08/2016 at 23:13 |
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Hyundai isn’t quite up to Honda’s level of power train engineering yet, IMO. The 4 cylinder in mine is noisy, and additionally, it feels a lot more sluggish than my dad’s Accord, which features the “same” horsepower and torque ratings. The gas mileage is around 24 mpg, which is sad compared to the Accord’s 29 on average.
Other gripes: the interior feels cheap, and it’s harder to see out of. Additionally, it doesn’t have a backup camera (but the 2016s do). When it’s raining or there’s water on the trunk, opening the trunk results in a cascade of water to fall in.
Pluses? I think the small screen in the instrument cluster is quite cool (it shows tire pressure, digital speedometer, trip info, etc), and it has LED DRLs. But the LED DRLs on 2016 SEs are gone.
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MLGCarGuy
> Amoore100
06/08/2016 at 23:18 |
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See my response to CB.
FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
> Amoore100
06/08/2016 at 23:19 |
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I don’t have much experience with anything older than the 5th gen. I had a 6th gen as a rental once and I hated it so much I went back to Enterprise and asked for a different car. Only time I’ve ever done that besides once when I was given a car with expired tags that I noticed the next day (that one was another Hyundai - a Tucson). The current gen is just meh. So I’m voting for the 5th because I had a friend in grad school that had one and have good memories of him shuttling our drunk asses around in it. (And one terrible memory of puking out of its window with a terrible hangover somewhere on the Canadian border in upstate NY.)
Svart Smart, traded in his Smart
> Amoore100
06/08/2016 at 23:41 |
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My favorite is the fifth gen (NF). It came after Hyundai figured out how to make a good mid-sized car, but before windswept styling got in the way of a useful windshield and greenhouse. And I rented one (two, actually) in the mid-aughts, so I’m basing my opinion on experience, not just external appearances.
fintail
> Amoore100
06/08/2016 at 23:50 |
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I’ll pick the first one, as it was a rebadged Stellar, and “Stellar” is a great 80s name for a car.
Your boy, BJR
> Amoore100
06/09/2016 at 00:00 |
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Ugh I had a 2012 and so did my sister. Her engine blew at 23k miles. Mine would occasionally pop out of gear (manual). Interior had rattles within weeks, and parts would fall off at random inside. Engine was noisy (not in a good way; in a “is it broken or something???” Way. Hyundai warranty are the worst people I’ve ever had to deal with, and I know people with mob connections. They dragged their fucking feet for 3 goddamn months on my sister’s engine replacement, then had the engine on “back order” for another 4 months. They also crashed my car after I turned it In at the end of lease and tried getting me to pay them $8900 to cover the damages, saying the timestamped pics I took of it right after handing the keys back to my salesman weren't good enough. Also parts are really expensive. I lost a set if keys (non smart key) $250. $1500 for a new radio. Fuck hyundai.
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Your boy, BJR
> CB
06/09/2016 at 00:00 |
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http://oppositelock.kinja.com/ugh-i-had-a-20…
nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
> Amoore100
06/09/2016 at 00:04 |
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So what you’re saying is the Sonata is the South Korean Camry?
Although Google churned up the below which makes me think it’s actually the South Korean Accord.
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Amoore100
> nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
06/09/2016 at 01:36 |
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Except that the Accord used to be (and to some degree still is) a relatively interesting alternative which managed to be both reliable and somewhat involving compared to the numb box of boredom which is the Camry.
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Amoore100
> fintail
06/09/2016 at 01:38 |
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Plus the original Stellars were RWD! Granted, a RWD 1.6L sedan of this size is not going to be exciting, but hey, same slow appeal as the Volvo 240 (just with less safety, less heritage, less quality, etc.)
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Amoore100
> Your boy, BJR
06/09/2016 at 01:46 |
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Wow. Goddamn it. That sounds awful. Yeah, no Hyundais for me. How does an engine blow at 23k miles?! That’s old GM levels of crappiness.
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Amoore100
> Wobbles the Mind
06/09/2016 at 01:53 |
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Why pre facelift, out of curiosity? I personally think the three bar grille of the facelift made the car much classier since it took cues from the contemporary Genesis.
The third gen facelift may have prophesied the current styling language but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t ugly as sin.
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Amoore100
> FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
06/09/2016 at 01:56 |
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I think the staid Camry-esque appearance of the fifth gen has dated itself better also, compared to the (IMO) hideous sixth gen which looks like melted cheese in a wind tunnel.
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Amoore100
> Svart Smart, traded in his Smart
06/09/2016 at 01:59 |
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Totally agree, although I am basing my opinion on experience lmao.
Still, I think 2000 to about 2009 was a golden age for cars in general when manufacturers figured out reliability but things didn’t get taken over by technology yet (which I still think is a useless distraction in cars). Just don’t ask the Americans how they were doing then.
shop-teacher
> Amoore100
06/09/2016 at 06:59 |
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5th gen. That’s when they figured out how to make them not crappy, but before the ugly 6th gen. I damn near bought one with low miles and a stick a few years ago. Kinda wish I had.
B/Xmrrmvr
> Amoore100
06/09/2016 at 07:06 |
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Sixth gen YF. It’s the one that finally showed that Hyundai was getting serious. Also the 2.0T was detuned 2014 from 274hp to 247hp and I’d rather have ~30 more HP than 2-3 more mpgs.
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FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
> Amoore100
06/09/2016 at 07:33 |
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Agreed. I thought the 6th gen looked kinda cool for a midsize sedan when it first came out but man did it age quickly. Also you can't see out of it.
mazda616
> Amoore100
06/09/2016 at 07:55 |
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I vote 5th gen, because of this:
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/the-147-m…
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Amoore100
> mazda616
06/09/2016 at 10:57 |
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Haha, I remember that!
Ross Kraz
> Amoore100
06/09/2016 at 12:20 |
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In the 6th and 7th, I can’t un-see that little strip of chrome that goes back from the taillight between the fender and hood. I hate it. It looks awful in person. It’s out of place and kills continuity. It’s weird to draw attention to a panel gap.
RT
> Amoore100
06/09/2016 at 15:02 |
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Technically the 7th gen is the best, and the 5th gen has the cleanest styling.
But, I do like the 2nd gen. It’s a cut price Mitsubishi Galant and even came with a 3.0 Mitsu V6 motor. Also designed by Giugiaro apparently.
It’s the poor man’s Galant VR-4.
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Amoore100
> RT
06/10/2016 at 15:20 |
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That’s pretty impressive! It makes the 2nd gen infinitely more appealing, although it’s hard to say whether having Italdesign as the stylist was much of a bragging point back then...
