"komobu" <curranpg@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1165436032.206251.16250@l12g2000cwl.googlegro ups.com...
> Not a rental...Ran a experian car check on the vin and everything
> turned out right. So again, I am looking at 15,500 for a used Sonata LX
> versus what ever the 2007 model is going for. The used one was first
> registered in Sep of 05 so it is currently 14 months old.
>
> Pat
>

Pat,

I bought the same model (also took delivery in 09/05, mine now has 21K on
the clock). Bottom line is that if I had a need for another, I would buy
that model at that price assuming everything checked out. Is there someone
that you know/trust who could check it out for you prior to purchase? You
can buy a base 07 GLS 4cyl for roughly the same $, but having owned the
other, I'd personally rather have the LX with the bells & whistles. I'm
averaging 27.5 mpg these days and am happy enough with that (65%hwy 35%
other)

KW

 

joep1000@yahoo.com wrote:
> Mike Marlow wrote:
>
>><joep1000@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>news:1165375698.765582.40450@l12g2000cwl.googleg roups.com...
>>
>>
>>>One year old car, it's probably a rental as many one year old Sonata's
>>>are, 14K miles on a rental = 100K miles on a normal car.
>>
>>Interesting thought. What is it that makes you believe this? I've owned a
>>few rentals over the years and have found no such thing to be true of them.
>>Being one of those guys who likes to de-bunk things like this just for the
>>hell of it, I've done things like check the oil in my rental while having
>>it. I've never found a rental with dirty oil or any other indicator of poor
>>maintenance.
>
>
> Dirty oil is the least of my worries, it's the only thing the rental
> car companies can control, it's all the other stuff they can't control
> that concerns me

Such as?


> I travel a lot and rent a lot of cars. I wonder - how much do
>
>>you rent cars?
>
>
> I rented for 426 days last year, I was working offsite and had various
> rentals all year long, sometimes I would have two rentals when I
> traveled to other sites (one at the airport parking lot), sometimes
> three rentals at once (two sitting at the airport parking lots).

Wow, you rented 426 days out of a 365 day year! How DID you do that? :-)


>>Have you ever owned a rental?
>
>
> No. I always buy used and can spot a rental 10 miles away at the
> dealership. Without even considering the potential mechanical issues,
> the cosmetics of the exterior and interior turn me off immediately
> (with all the rough luggage induced dings/dents/scratches) as not to
> even consider buying it.....

Interestinting, both of my used minivans were in pretty good shape
cosmetically and mechanically (except for the aforementioned scrubbed up
bumper cover). Given that both were meant to haul kid around, I
actually wanted something with some damage at the outset so I didn't
have to worry about that first scratch or ding! :-)

Matt

 

Mike Marlow wrote:

> <joep1000@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1165437624.424915.194770@f1g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
>>Mike Marlow wrote:
>>
>>
>>>So, what are these other things that you are concerned for?
>>
>>Abuse I can't see, I treat rentals like I treat my own cars because, I
>>guess, I'm older, but I know many people who don't, it seems to be a 20
>>something age thing, at that age they seem obligated to shift in
>>reverse at 60 MPH, leave it in 2 second gear at highway speeds, go over
>>speed bumps as fast as possible, continuous redline while fully loaded
>>and climbing mountains, all things I personally witness while in the
>>passenger seat....
>>
>
>
> Like you, I'm older and I treat the rentals as if they were my own. The
> things you suggest above are not possible though. You can't redline a car
> these days. The computer will prevent you from doing that. As well, the
> notion of shifting into reverse at 60mph is more fantasy than reality. I
> guess if you say you've witnessed these things I won't say you're lieing,
> but I'd like to see it myself. Go out to your car and try to hold the
> throttle so that the engine over revs continuously. You'll notice the
> computer take control and cause the engine to "misfire" so as to keep it
> under redline conditions.

I haven't tried it to very this personally, but I've been told by auto
engineers that the new electronically controlled transmissions will not
let reverse engage if you are moving forward at a speed that would
damage the transmission. Likewise, downshift your new automatic (new
being anything less than about 10 years old) into 1 or L at say 70 MPH
and see what happens? Hint: it won't shift into low. It will shift
into 3rd or maybe 2nd and not into low until you have slowed to a safe
speed. It is much harder to abuse modern cars than it was in the 60s
and 70s.


Matt

 

"komobu" <curranpg@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1165478791.065419.280450@j44g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> >probability.......Drive it. If it fits you literally and figuratively, go
>> >from there,,,,what additions and improvements are there for '07?
>
> Thanks for the reply. I really dont know if it will fit or not...I am
> in Korea and the Car is in the US. I will return to the states in early
> January. I will need a car immediately upon arrival.

I think you'll be happy with it. If you had asked me last August if I'd buy
Hyundai, I'd have laughed at you, since I recall the first models from the
late '80's. In September I bought on. 6000 miles and I think it is a great
car.

I was in Las Vegas last week and drove a Grand Marquis rental for a few
days. Heading out to Death Valley, I was wishing I was driving a Sonata.
It took two hand on the steering wheel to keep that soft sprung sofa between
the lines on a curvy road at the speed limit, let alone at the real driving
speed. Sonata would have just cruised right along.

 

"Bob" <fweem1974@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>
> You can get a brand new 2007 Sonata GLS (4 cylinder)for $15,691 from
> carsdirect.com

How do you make it into a V-6 LX though?

 

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> "Bob" <fweem1974@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
>>You can get a brand new 2007 Sonata GLS (4 cylinder)for $15,691 from
>>carsdirect.com
>
>
> How do you make it into a V-6 LX though?
>
>
Add $3380. The V6 is $19071. But it's a 2007 and brand new. Full 10/100
warranty, etc. Tough call, maybe the used is a better deal, but I'd buy
new. I'm done with used cars after all the bad luck I've had with them.

 

"Bob" <fweem1974@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>
> Add $3380. The V6 is $19071. But it's a 2007 and brand new. Full 10/100
> warranty, etc. Tough call, maybe the used is a better deal, but I'd buy
> new. I'm done with used cars after all the bad luck I've had with them.

It comes down to drawing a line someplace in the checkbook. The OP had the
line at about $15k. The choice it to buy a basic model at the price (still
a good value) or buy the fancier model with all the fancy equipment, but
used. There is no right or wrong, but a matter of personal preference.
I've always bought the top model of a given car than the stripped down model
of the next notch up at the same price.

If you hit the right used car, you can get a fantastic value. I fellow at
work bought a new Hyundai LX for his wife. While they liked the car, it was
"too fast" for her so they traded it in on a new Camry 4 cylinder. Whoever
gets the LX with 5,000 miles get a phenomenal value. If was not even 9
months old.

 

Bob wrote:

> Add $3380. The V6 is $19071. But it's a 2007 and brand new. Full 10/100
> warranty, etc. Tough call, maybe the used is a better deal, but I'd buy
> new. I'm done with used cars after all the bad luck I've had with them.

I am not sure where you came up with the 19071 number. I was not able
to find one for cheaper than 21k. The LX model for 2006 was replaced by
the Limited model for 2007. I called a few dealerships and one in Ohio
that specializes in Internet Cheap Sales. I think a lot of places quote
cheap deals, but then they add a lot of stuff to it...Dealer prep and
so on. The place in Ohio quoted me the best price of $20,380, and they
weren't adding sales tax because that will be paid in my state.
Carsdirect.com was more at 21,202. On Cardirect.com they ask for your
zip code, so perhaps your area made the 2100 dollar difference.

Pat

 

> How do you make it into a V-6 LX though?

LOL...:-)

Ed;

I always appreciate your posts here and elsewhere like Alt.Home.Repair.
You always add a fresh common sense prospective. Thanks and Take Care.

Pat

 

Bob;
I found your 19701 number. I entered the zip code for Moraga California
into Carsdirect.com. The trim model you were looking at was an SE
which has the V-6 engine, but cloths seats and is no where near as nice
as the LX. The SE version for 2007 is the same as the GLS version for
2006. The LX version of 2006 is the same as the Limited version for
2007 and that is going for 20,702 in your area on carsdirect.com.

That is 5200 more than I am currently paying. The extra 5 year warranty
is only for the power train, and it is rare that vehicles need a new
engine. Thus I am gambling that I can replace an engine or trans for
less than 5k. I am a mechanic and will do the work myself so I feel
quite confident in my gamble.

Take care
Pat

 

"komobu" <curranpg@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1165715311.645534.218920@j72g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>
>> How do you make it into a V-6 LX though?
>
> LOL...:-)
>
> Ed;
>
> I always appreciate your posts here and elsewhere like Alt.Home.Repair.
> You always add a fresh common sense prospective. Thanks and Take Care.
>
> Pat
Thanks. I'm glad someone reads them!

 

komobu wrote:
> Bob;
> I found your 19701 number. I entered the zip code for Moraga California
> into Carsdirect.com. The trim model you were looking at was an SE
> which has the V-6 engine, but cloths seats and is no where near as nice
> as the LX. The SE version for 2007 is the same as the GLS version for
> 2006. The LX version of 2006 is the same as the Limited version for
> 2007 and that is going for 20,702 in your area on carsdirect.com.
>
> That is 5200 more than I am currently paying. The extra 5 year warranty
> is only for the power train, and it is rare that vehicles need a new
> engine. Thus I am gambling that I can replace an engine or trans for
> less than 5k. I am a mechanic and will do the work myself so I feel
> quite confident in my gamble.
>
> Take care
> Pat
>
Yes. $5200 is a lot more. I was confused over the LX name change to
Limited. Sounds like you've done your homework and are getting a good
deal. And you've got the 5/60000 warranty if you need it. Enjoy!