Hyundai Sonata Breaks Into U.S. Top 10 Charts

[Guest Josh]

Hyundai Motor’s New Sonata was the seventh best-selling car in the U.S. last month, becoming the first Korean car ever to make it into the monthly top 10 there. Hyundai Motor said Tuesday sales of the New Sonata surged 46.9 percent over the previous month to 14,216 cars. A company spokesman attributed that massive jump to successful marketing and the model’s quality. Hyundai’s last noticeable success in the U.S. was in the 1980s with the small Excel, because it was cheap, he said. The company expects to sell some 20,000 Sonatas in December, saying the firm’s Alabama plant has been producing as many of them a month since October. However, some observers say the sudden sales boom is due to extravagant incentives the automaker is offering. The four best-selling models were all Japanese, headed by the Toyota Camry with 29,707 cars, followed by its stable mate Corolla with 23,718. Honda’s Civic with 23,695 and Accord with 23,548 were next. Chevrolet’s Impala came fifth with 20,357 cars sold and the Nissan Altima sixth. The Pontiac G6 sold 14,175 units in eighth place, followed by 13,507 Chevrolet Cobalts and 12,647 Chrysler 300s.

[Hudson]

Hyundai Motor’s New Sonata was the seventh best-selling car in the U.S. last month, becoming the first Korean car ever to make it into the monthly top 10 there.

I'd have to look it up but I think the Hyundai Excel actually made the top 10 in sales in the US back in 1987 (when it went on to sell 250,000 units for the year).

[aaaantoine]

Oh... That's excluding trucks and SUVs, then.

I was about to say, 7th place is quite an achievement. However, this pins it below below the Altima and above the Pontiac G6. Not so much of an achievement.

...So the Cobalt was the 9th best selling car last month. Ah well. It's good to be different. :)

[razoredge]

10/100,000 is a huge sales maker

[BuddyP]

Not sure of the significance of this post? Whey a press writeup on the 7th place car? I assume the Impala is 5th only due to fleet cars? If not, then I'm shocked!

[BlkHhr104]

I never see G6's or 300's around here, I think the Malibu should have had one of those sopts.

[CSpec]

The G6 outsold the Cobalt? That's surprising.

[The O.C.]

Not sure of the significance of this post? Whey a press writeup on the 7th place car?

I assume the Impala is 5th only due to fleet cars? If not, then I'm shocked!

[post="63765"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I think it's the significance of a Korean entry in the largest segment (midsize) making the top-ten alongside Accord and Camry......

[Clownzilla]

I think it's the significance of a Korean entry in the largest segment (midsize) making the top-ten alongside Accord and Camry......

[post="63798"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Makes sense. Hyundai will be the Toyota of the future. The car is much better (looks
and build quality) then it was a few years back. I think Korea is building better products. Actually, I would buy a Samsung product over a Sony product (I would not of said that a few years back). When it comes to cars, I would still have to go with GM.

[regfootball]

the new sonata is the best reskin of a 98 escort i've ever seen. the sonata has no originality. its success is only due to price and warranty. hyundai could crap on a unibody chassis and it would still sell to the walmart crowd. i give them credit for producing a good platform with decent if acceptable performance, but the interior sucks, and emulating the 98 escort as a design theme is flat out lame. In America, its all about price. Until you come into some money, then its all about name brand labels and import cache. The domestics cannot win in either scenario and since our culture has decided to evaporate the middle class, that market for the domestics is toast now as well. I hope those Hyundai owners still love their purchase decision after payment 29, 33, or 36, or 42.......that's when it will show how cheap they are slappin those things together.

[Hudson]

the new sonata is the best reskin of a 98 escort i've ever seen.

the sonata has no originality.  its success is only due to price and warranty.  hyundai could crap on a unibody chassis and it would still sell to the walmart crowd.

i give them credit for producing a good platform with decent if acceptable performance, but the interior sucks, and emulating the 98 escort as a design theme is flat out lame. 

In America, its all about price.  Until you come into some money, then its all about name brand labels and import cache.  The domestics cannot win in either scenario and since our culture has decided to evaporate the middle class, that market for the domestics is toast now as well. 

I hope those Hyundai owners still love their purchase decision after payment 29, 33, or 36, or 42.......that's when it will show how cheap they are slappin those things together.

You obviously don't give them full credit for the cars they build. These are excellent products especially when the price and warranty are added in. But even without those qualities, Hyundai is making excellent cars...and has been for a number of years.

The speed at which Hyundai has moved from the Pony and Stellar of the early 1980s to the current Elantra, Sonata, and new Accent (not to mention the Santa Fe and Tucson) is amazing. This brand is truly competitive with the rest of the industry and anyone who dismisses them as anything less risks being left behind.

[CaddyXLR-V]

Makes sense. Hyundai will be the Toyota of the future. The car is much better (looks
and build quality) then it  was a few years back.  I think Korea is building better products. Actually, I would buy a Samsung product over a Sony product (I would not of said that a few years back). When it comes to cars, I would still have to go with GM.

[post="63806"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I have to agree with the samsung over sony comment. Everything I own from sony seems to stop working after a year, or less.
I think Hyundai needs to be watched closely. They are making about 1/2 Toyotas profits, with 1/4 the sales.

[Polish_Kris]

I have to agree with the samsung over sony comment. Everything I own from sony seems to stop working after a year, or less.
I think Hyundai needs to be watched closely. They are making about 1/2 Toyotas profits, with 1/4 the sales.

[post="63833"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

HaHa, I had the same bad luck with Sony, I always perfered either Panasonic or Samsung.

[Polish_Kris]

the new sonata is the best reskin of a 98 escort i've ever seen.

the sonata has no originality.  its success is only due to price and warranty.  hyundai could crap on a unibody chassis and it would still sell to the walmart crowd.

i give them credit for producing a good platform with decent if acceptable performance, but the interior sucks, and emulating the 98 escort as a design theme is flat out lame. 

In America, its all about price.  Until you come into some money, then its all about name brand labels and import cache.  The domestics cannot win in either scenario and since our culture has decided to evaporate the middle class, that market for the domestics is toast now as well. 

I hope those Hyundai owners still love their purchase decision after payment 29, 33, or 36, or 42.......that's when it will show how cheap they are slappin those things together.

[post="63817"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Ok, buddy, you bash anything that is not a GM, Ford, or Chrysler, people don't buy them based on warranty, the Koreans have improved a whole lot, in the past five year, faster than anybody, they imporved faster within 5 years than the Americans did in 10. However they are not perfect yet, like the Japs, but for the money, you are getting a decently built car. You say in America it's all about price, then since the Malibu is cheaper than Accord, and Camry, why are Accord and Camry still outselling them?

[boblutzfan]

If Hyundai sucks so bad - then how were they able to develop a completely new V6, Auto and platform when GM can't seem to do that for their high profile cars. The Impala is a great expample of a half baked new car. To many carry over parts that build a pretty good car - but not all new. I would rather have an Impala over a Sonata for a variety of reasons - but you must give Hyundai credit - they broke into the top ten with a very short history - GM has worked all of its big nameplats OUT OF the top ten except a couple... GM is headed for a turnaround - but right now we all need to take Hyundai seriously. I would imagine that the Sonata steals more Malibu sales than Accord/Camry sales.

[MyerShift]

Not many auto designs are entirely original anymore. When they are, they are usually afflicted with some grotesque details, like Audi's huge grille, BMW's designs period, the Pontiac Aztec, and others. The new Sonata, though not entirely original, is handsome. I have noticed more and more of them here in Southern Michigan. Though it's aged and not especially competetive anymore, the Dodge Stratus is still a fine looking automobile, and I would probably take it over the competition. For me, how the vehicle looks is more important than interior space, who it's made by, or how fast it is. However, I make the Stratus statement based on the current design, and if the Charger as the replacement for the Intrepid is any indication of what the next Stratus (or whatever it's called) will look like, then GM's designs may well become my favourite. I mean, just look at the Saturn Aura (Opel Vectra), Pontiac G6, the current SAAB 9-3, Cadillac STS, and the Buick Lucerne. Sort of like I dislike the WTF is it Caliber that is to replace the Neon. I still think DCX needs a small car of the proper format. And, oddly enough, my Sony Walkman that I purchased about three years ago seems indestructible (can't say the same for the headsets) but, perhaps the quality has fallen off. I've never been one to jump into the latest electronic fads and doodads, so even if I am not in the loop, I don't care. I mean, what other middle-class 19 year old doesn't have an i-Pod or MP3 player these days other than me, hehe.

[CaddyXLR-V]

I mean, what other middle-class 19 year old doesn't have an i-Pod or MP3 player these days other than me, hehe.

[post="63854"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I dont have either. But I only listen to music in my car, and in my room. My Laptop can play mp3s or whatever else I want, and my car has a 10 cd changer. That, and I'm saving for an intercooler, and most of my extra money goes to my car, or paying extra to bills.

[Croc]

Ok, buddy, you bash anything that is not a GM, Ford, or Chrysler

[post="63845"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I stopped reading your post after this...because you lost all credibility. Reg is not a cheerleader for the domestics. Never has been, never will be. Go back to Temple of VTec.

[Matt276]

Malibu sold 14 076 units. It should be ninth and Cobalt tenth.

[frogger]

I stopped reading your post after this...because you lost all credibility.  Reg is not a cheerleader for the domestics.  Never has been, never will be.  Go back to Temple of VTec.

[post="63867"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Maybe not a cheerleader but he sure finds time/enjoys taking pot shots at just about every car in this forum section if it isn't a mitsu.

[razoredge]

Well guys, none of this is hard to figure out.

You have the Korean and Japanese economy < then you have ours

It not hard to improve quickly when you have pheasant or slave labor. Just look at how "great" the south used to be.

We all greatly appreaciate the vast American public for supporting these economies :unsure: Edited December 28, 2005 by razoredge

[razoredge]

They all doing the Detroit breakdown Motorcity shakedown

[frogger]

Well guys, none of this is hard to figure out.

You have the Korean and Japanese economy < then you have ours

It not hard to improve quickly when you have pheasant or slave labor. Just look at how "great" the south used to be.

We all greatly appreaciate the vast American public for supporting these economies  :unsure:

[post="63937"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

What do Japanese or Korean autoworkers have to do with slave or peasant labour?

[regfootball]

You obviously don't give them full credit for the cars they build. These are excellent products especially when the price and warranty are added in. But even without those qualities, Hyundai is making excellent cars...and has been for a number of years.

The speed at which Hyundai has moved from the Pony and Stellar of the early 1980s to the current Elantra, Sonata, and new Accent (not to mention the Santa Fe and Tucson) is amazing. This brand is truly competitive with the rest of the industry and anyone who dismisses them as anything less risks being left behind.

[post="63829"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

my sister still regrets getting rid of her focus and getting an elantra. my brother in law says its a pile of crap in comparison. this newest sonata is the first hyundai (along with the tiburon) that can't be looked on as bargain basement crap, but the new sonata is still deficient in overall desirability. why anyone would buy a sonata over even an accord is beyond me. my neighbor across the street who works for Dodge in some form says all sorts of folks are buying hyundais abnd finding out how they don't have much value beyond 4-5 years. He says they need everybit of warranty they have on them. The salespeople at the mits dealer i shopped at when i had my diamante even wondered why so many people bought the older sonatas and stuff when the galants were much more solid and reliable.

i don't doubt that hyundai has their sht together with this new sonata, but still it comes to market as a desirable PRICE, not a desirable CAR.

[pow]

It's not as good as an Accord, but it's a lot, lot cheaper and perfectly usable as daily transport. A local dealer here is selling all their Sonata AT base models for $15,999 ($13,999 for MT and Hyundai owners), which is compact pricing for a midsize car with side curtain bags and stability control. I'd have one and save $3,000+ over an Accord.

[regfootball]

I stopped reading your post after this...because you lost all credibility.  Reg is not a cheerleader for the domestics.  Never has been, never will be.  Go back to Temple of VTec.

[post="63867"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

i guess i really just don't like cars that are overhyped for what you get. Cars like the Honda RL, car and driver puts it on the 10 best and its just a tarted up AWD accord with no back seat. I mean, c'mon. Can't you get an Audi S4 for the same price?

There are tons of Import cars I like a LOT but what i don't like is cars that are overhyped, like the Camry. The Accord I can fathom to some degree because it is a great PERFORMER for the dollar, mostly. It also has pretty good build quality. Its styling is a notch ahead of the Camry.

Passat, another example. The four cylinder with some options is a GREAT car. FUN, I'm not keen on all the styling of it, but you cannot argue against that combo for the value it brings. A loaded v6 Passat? NFW.

The Mazda 6 gets all sorts of accolades. I happen to think its an average to mediocre car. Unless you need the manual transmission, you'll like the Galant much more as far as driving and engine power and space. To each their own, and the Mazda is cheap, but its not the great savior car they've made it to be.

Nissan's products I am hot and cold on but in almost all cases I think their build quality needs work and their interiors have been horrific on some models.

I'm not a Chrylser fan at all but i cannot eny they have struck a chord in the market.

I have a soft spot for Ford and drive one again now, but aside from the Fusion I cannot proclaim them to be saviors.

I bang nothing. I like lots of GM cars. I fail to see the passion in Toyotas products and the bulk of what they sell is snoozeville. They make reliable cars. I won't say they make solid cars. They are precise and delicate. i wonder if they really survive well rust happy salty cold climates and pothole encrusted roadways.

I think true domestic products are more solid, even if some more things break down from time to time. I don't think import brands build cars that have as solid a sheetmetal, glass, frames, chassis, suspensions. I thnk doemstics are built to better withstand most crashes.

i like what i like. The only significance the U.A.S. Hyundai Sonata brings to market that other cars don't have is more features for price, and a lower price. a longer warranty. no one would buy hyundais if it weren't for the warranty. its hyundai's 'incentive'. its built into the cost of the car, much like GM's marketing incentives are built into their MSRP's.

The sonata is not class leading in any category, it simply does well in all, but leads in none. in many aspects of desirability (gotta have it as car and driver would say) the sontat is completely and utterly mediocre. i guess that's what america wants.

take away price and warranty from this car and you have a really good camry wannabe. that's it. no one will rememeber this car in 10 years, much less five.

[Polish_Kris]

i guess i really just don't like cars that are overhyped for what you get.  Cars like the Honda RL, car and driver puts it on the 10 best and its just a tarted up AWD accord with no back seat.  I mean, c'mon.  Can't you get an Audi S4 for the same price?

There are tons of Import cars I like a LOT but what i don't like is cars that are overhyped, like the Camry.  The Accord I can fathom to some degree because it is a great PERFORMER for the dollar, mostly.  It also has pretty good build quality.  Its styling is a notch ahead of the Camry. 

Passat, another example.  The four cylinder with some options is a GREAT car.  FUN, I'm not keen on all the styling of it, but you cannot argue against that combo for the value it brings.  A loaded v6 Passat?  NFW.

The Mazda 6 gets all sorts of accolades.  I happen to think its an average to mediocre car.  Unless you need the manual transmission, you'll like the Galant much more as far as driving and engine power and space. To each their own, and the Mazda is cheap, but its not the great savior car they've made it to be.

Nissan's products I am hot and cold on but in almost all cases I think their build quality needs work and their interiors have been horrific on some models.

I'm not a Chrylser fan at all but i cannot eny they have struck a chord in the market.

I have a soft spot for Ford and drive one again now, but aside from the Fusion I cannot proclaim them to be saviors.

I bang nothing.  I like lots of GM cars.  I fail to see the passion in Toyotas products and the bulk of what they sell is snoozeville.  They make reliable cars.  I won't say they make solid cars.  They are precise and delicate.  i wonder if they really survive well rust happy salty cold climates and pothole encrusted roadways.

I think true domestic products are more solid, even if some more things break down from time to time.  I don't think import brands build cars that have as solid a sheetmetal, glass, frames, chassis, suspensions.  I thnk doemstics are built to better withstand most crashes.

i like what i like.  The only significance the U.A.S. Hyundai Sonata brings to market that other cars don't have is more features for price, and a lower price.  a longer warranty.  no one would buy hyundais if it weren't for the warranty.  its hyundai's 'incentive'.  its built into the cost of the car, much like GM's marketing incentives are built into their MSRP's.

The sonata is not class leading in any category, it simply does well in all, but leads in none.  in many aspects of desirability (gotta have it as car and driver would say) the sontat is completely and utterly mediocre.  i guess that's what america wants.

take away price and warranty from this car and you have a really good camry wannabe.  that's it.  no one will rememeber this car in 10 years, much less five.

[post="63975"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Hey, I respect that, noone is shoving anything down your throat, I from personal experience know that Domestics have thicker and tougher bodies, but in the enginerring department, there is allot of room for improvement. The Koreans are doing what Honda does, by making tissue-paper thick bodies, which dent easily. I could tell you that the body of the Camry I own, i far tougher and more solid than my mom's Accord. Although we had a Caravan before the Sienna came along, the Caravan's body panels were think and tough, but not put together with precision like the Sienna. Also, despite the tough steel, the front shock housing rusted through, because salt got trapped under there, due to lackluster design, and many people reported these problems with Caravans/Voyager/T&C's... I know people who spent 1500$ to get the entire front shock towers rebuilt, thankfully, our neighbour is a mechanic and did it from us for very cheap. Domestics are a thousand times better, than twenty years ago, however they still have a long way to go to catch up with what the imports have established. However, you are right, when you are a buyer, a GM vehicle is an awesome deal. Like I know people who picked up '01 Aleros and '02 Cavaliers for $4000 privately, because of it's poor resale value. However, my '97 Camry is worth about $7000, so it's win-lose situation, if you are a buyer of a used Toyota, you lose, but you win as a seller, and vise-versa for the domestics.

[Polish_Kris]

I stopped reading your post after this...because you lost all credibility.  Reg is not a cheerleader for the domestics.  Never has been, never will be.  Go back to Temple of VTec.

[post="63867"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

What are you talking about, I never post on TOV, I said it before, if you don't like what I write, don't read it, or don't come on to the Asian Marques section.

[ponchoman49]

Look out Toyota! It won't be long before your blah boring Camry, especially in the frumpy dull 07 iteration, will be unseated by the Sonata. Add a much better warrenty, a bigger interior, much more std features and more hp and people will really start to notice the Sonata. My dad and I drove one and were extremely impressed overall. I think this car will climb further up the sales chart.

[Hudson]

It not hard to improve quickly when you have pheasant or slave labor. Just look at how "great" the south used to be.

Is that their secret? They've figured out how to harness "pheasant" labor? Damn those Asians are good.

[Hudson]

my sister still regrets getting rid of her focus and getting an elantra.  my brother in law says its a pile of crap in comparison.  this newest sonata is the first hyundai (along with the tiburon) that can't be looked on as bargain basement crap, but the new sonata is still deficient in overall desirability.  why anyone would buy a sonata over even an accord is beyond me.  my neighbor across the street who works for Dodge in some form says all sorts of folks are buying hyundais abnd finding out how they don't have much value beyond 4-5 years.  He says they need everybit of warranty they have on them.  The salespeople at the mits dealer i shopped at when i had my diamante even wondered why so many people bought the older sonatas and stuff when the galants were much more solid and reliable. 

i don't doubt that hyundai has their sht together with this new sonata, but still it comes to market as a desirable PRICE, not a desirable CAR.

Yes. you'll find these stories but I can find stories that tell about how they love their Hyundais.

I agree that resale values on these cars are low, but that comes with selling on price as they have for the past 20 years. The current Sonata, last generation Sonata, current generation Elantra, current generation Tiburon, Santa Fe, XG300/350, and Tucson will continue to push resale values higher. It'll take quite some time, but it'll come.

As for buying used Hyundais, they're great buys for the price. Mitsubishi products have a similar reputation to older Hyundais and there's no reason to buy a more expensive used Mitsubishi over a depreciated used Hyundai. But the Mitsubishi dealer's not going to tell you that.

[Flybrian]

Is that their secret? They've figured out how to harness "pheasant" labor? Damn those Asians are good.

[post="64193"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

No secret. They just put the pheasants under glass.

[razoredge]

Oh gee, you got me on another quick spelling era....tee he he he he figure it out !

[Hudson]

Oh gee, you got me on another quick spelling era....tee he he he he

figure it out !

Not to worry, I got it immediately. I just like the "pheasant" labor" idea better. How do they do such great work with all of those feathers getting in the way, not to mention the lack of an opposable thumb?

[razoredge]

Not to worry, I got it immediately. I just like the "pheasant" labor" idea better. How do they do such great work with all of those feathers getting in the way, not to mention the lack of an opposable thumb?

[post="64222"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

best thing about them is they cant weather the northern winter :D

[RBB]

Not to worry, I got it immediately. I just like the "pheasant" labor" idea better. How do they do such great work with all of those feathers getting in the way, not to mention the lack of an opposable thumb?

[post="64222"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Well, they do work for chicken feed...

-RBB

[Northstar]

I'm not surprised the Sonata is in the top ten in sales for cars. It's not a bad effort, though I certainly wouldn't buy one, and when you can get one for $14k plus 10yr/100k it's hard to buy a compact for the same money.

[Cory Wolfe]

That doesn't surprise me... The Sonata is a good midsize vehicle, better than the Camry and Malibu. I think we all need to keep an eye on Hyundai. This, the Azera, new Santa Fe, Tiburon... all good cars that I don't think anyone without a bias would hate to own. Are there better cars? Definitely, but they're good efforts compared to their predecessors.

What is surprising, though, is that the G6 outsold the Cobalt... I think it's good enough too, but sales haven't been spectacular since its introduction. I mean, even the clearly worse Malibu has outsold it so far this year.

[sciguy_0504]

Look out Toyota! It won't be long before your blah boring Camry, especially in the frumpy dull 07 iteration, will be unseated by the Sonata. Add a much better warrenty, a bigger interior, much more std features and more hp and people will really start to notice the Sonata. My dad and I drove one and were extremely impressed overall. I think this car will climb further up the sales chart.

[post="64186"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Damn, this new Sonata is more exciting to look at than a Corvette! :blink: :rolleyes:

[CaddyXLR-V]

The Cobalt really dropped. Wasn't it recently selling 20,000+ per month? Or was that only with the employee discount? I think they could get some more sales if they fixed the styling of the sedan.

[Hudson]

What is surprising, though, is that the G6 outsold the Cobalt... I think it's good enough too, but sales haven't been spectacular since its introduction. I mean, even the clearly worse Malibu has outsold it so far this year.

Did you notice the high levels of fleet sales on the new Malibu?

[Cory Wolfe]

Yeah... I keep forgetting that, but sales still haven't been where they deserve to be, IMO.

[Hudson]

Yeah... I keep forgetting that, but sales still haven't been where they deserve to be, IMO.

And I feel that Malibu sales are undeservedly high...and that the Hyundai Sonata is getting overlooked (or looked down upon) because of memories of the 1986 Excel.

[Cory Wolfe]

Same here...

[ConceptVBS]

Well guys, none of this is hard to figure out.

You have the Korean and Japanese economy < then you have ours

It not hard to improve quickly when you have pheasant or slave labor. Just look at how "great" the south used to be.

We all greatly appreaciate the vast American public for supporting these economies  :unsure:

[post="63937"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Wow, your an idiot. Both countries are developed countries just like the US.

[Bimmer325]

It's a shame to see Cobalt sales dropping off, but it was expected with the release of the new Civic. I'm surprised to see the G6 outselling the Malibu. That really says something.

[razoredge]

Wow, your an idiot.  Both countries are developed countries just like the US.

[post="64882"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Thanks ! Everyone knows that, step to the back of the line please

Let me ask you a few questions, Ill go cheap and conservative here to avoid any chance of era or exageration, while the reality of the American cost of living is far larger than I will show.

So I take it your trying to tell this idiot that the Koreans are paying 250,000 American dollars for a home......or more

So I take it your telling me, Koreans are spending 1500 per year on auto insurance ?

So I take it your telling me the Koreans are spending 200 + per month to drive to and from work ?

200 a month to heat their homes ?

So I take it your telling me Koreans are spending 2500 + per year on property taxes ?

:unsure:

[Flybrian]

Thanks ! Everyone knows that, step to the back of the line please

Let me ask you a few questions, Ill go cheap and conservative here to avoid any chance of era or exageration, while the reality of the American cost of living is far larger than I will show.

So I take it your trying to tell this idiot that the Koreans are paying 250,000 American dollars for a home......or more

So I take it your telling me, Koreans are spending 1500 per year on auto insurance ?

So I take it your telling me the Koreans are spending 200 + per month to drive to and from work ?

200 a month to heat their homes ?

So I take it your telling me Koreans are spending 2500 + per year on property taxes ?

:unsure:

[post="64891"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

The average Korean probably makes less, too.

In any case, this has nothing to do with the topic, which is the Hyundai Sonata.

[Petra]

I remember about 5 years ago, when the Santa Fe and the Elantra and the XG were just new and Hyundai was undergoing a complete makeover of their lineup. A lot of people back then predicted that Hyundai would soon be a major player in the automotive world. But then things got quiet at Hyundai as all their shiny new models started to age, and everybody forgot about them. Now, 4 years later, Hyundai is all the buzz again, with a rejuvenated lineup including an all-new Sonata, all-new Azera, all-new Tucson, all-new Accent, and with updates to the Santa Fe and the rest of the lineup coming very soon. I now see that Hyundai is taking the same route as Toyota: Incrementally increasing their market share, until, one day, they're a major player. We're just going to wake up one day, and read that Hyundai is selling a million vehicles a year. It will happen. And I don't think there's anything that can stop it.

[regfootball]

The Cobalt really dropped. Wasn't it recently selling 20,000+ per month? Or was that only with the employee discount? I think they could get some more sales if they fixed the styling of the sedan.

[post="64296"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

big reasons cobalt on't sell.......
-cheap aveos
-small back seat

the G6 started slow because of the new name. i fully expect the G6 to continue to increase as more and more yunguns find out about the new name. now that the 4 cylinder and GTP are available it will increase more. Once the GXP and manual 4 cylinder versions come on line we'll have a fully rounded product line.