Comments on: Hyundai Sonata Test Drive Report from Oman

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 18:56:30 +0000

Hi all,

This new car looks so attractive to me, if I buy this car (Feb 2010), how much can I sell after 3 years cause I change new car every 3 years.

Currently, I am driving an Accord 2.4 (2008), i am offering my friend RM120K.

Please give me your professional advice, thanks.

By: lexus^is250^my darling

lexus^is250^my darling — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 03:05:15 +0000

well said thundercat n DC

By: namzir

namzir — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 07:36:48 +0000

I am worry on the maintenance. The parts may be cheap but Sime, on the other hand, may charge unreasonably high. I am currently using ford focus but now stop sending my car to sime autoconnexion for service or repairs as they charge really high on the parts price. Now, i bought parts directly thru website from UK and ask former ford mechanic to do the job. Save me almost 50%.

Therefore, in order for YF to hit the market, Sime not only has to sell at attractive price but the after-sale charges shall also be reasonable.

By: Road Thunder

Road Thunder — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:06:41 +0000

I agree with Alitstar. Check out Motor Trader Malaysia’s Top 50 car sales. Latest report for August 2010, Sonata’s sales is not even in the Top 50 models sold here. Means they can’t even sell 100 cars! Compare that with Camry and Accord’s sales.
Superior product + superb advertising+lousy aftersales service = Doomed
Mediocre product +superb advertising+good aftersales service= Success.

By: Alitstar

Alitstar — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:18:43 +0000

No bro, one must know well their subject… In that respect you can consider me a Salesman for Honda, Nissan and Perodua because the customer service and pacakages from them are better than the Hyundai.

By: Alitstar

Alitstar — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:05:18 +0000

Sorry to disappoint you. I was working with BMW for 22 years in both Sales & Aftersales. Prior to which was with Isuzu and in the last 5 years entirely in a different industry.

I have test driven and reviewed more cars than you can name, so I hope you dont mind my lenghty opinion. Dont take it personaly unless you are the one who designed, manufactured and imported the Hyundai. Brand loyalty is meaningless.

By: 1Malaysia

1Malaysia — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:33:08 +0000

Hyundai should also pay their salesman to write lengthy comment on car blogs like this guy from Tyt. Only then the resale value will go up..

By: Alitstar

Alitstar — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:45:53 +0000

Another lengthy article, this one is about “Why buy a car just to sell them later” to 1Malaysia, BKK and Mister M.

Well guys, with an exception to being a millionaire, most of you cannot claim the car you drive is yours, right? It belongs to the financier until we settle the full loan tenure and this maybe 5, 7 or 9 years. Our car is a liability in respect to road safety as well as an asset. It’s not at all close to being an investment to hold on the car we purchased to last for eternity.

The average car reaches metal fatigue just after 3 years. Some even after 1 year, irrespective to what the mileages are. Even with regular service, we can extend probably the engine and gearbox lifespan whilst the rest will be taken care by the way you drive (I’ve seen how you drive), climate and the excellent road condition we have here in Malaysia.

Most of us don’t have the cash to buy cars like millionaires do, so we need to dispose the ones we have to get another. Knowing that these cars (European, Korean or Japanese) are unlikely to survive time, we take the longest tenure, lowest instalments (save some) and plan to get rid of it after 3 years. Furthermore, by that time there will be new model with greater features to enjoy. Why keep an antique?
After the 3rd year, just after the warranty expires you will notice the trip to your favourite garages will increase, time spent will be longer and the money you cough-out for your loyal baby will escalate. Plot them on a chart, and you will actually see with your eyes how your wallet thins every year. You want to keep this sentimental scrap metal, be my guest.

That’s why most Malaysians with the buying power (the Uncles if I may) always consider resale value of the car they buy. And mind you, we Uncles so far have been successful in keeping a grip on which car has better resale while the younger goons continue to debate on the dawn of the uncle’s car.

But it’s fine if you were born with a silver spoon and actually thinks those unheard off cars are antiques, please go ahead. Cars that simply overwhelm you with its ‘torque’, monster BHP, SMART Gearbox, TipTronic, HeadsUpDislay, NightVision or simply for the Chris Bangle design, or the Bang Olufsen sound system and the facts and figures of the machine that matches your ‘character’ and success. Otherwise, you must be joking to say your Hyundai (or any other car) is for keep sake, which remotely has any of the latter standards.

Again its OK, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, fine. Enjoy yours and keep your opinion to yourself. Otherwise sorry to say that you guys, the NEW SCHOOL car owners will remain suckers for another 10 / 20 years and continue to make to make Malaysia a dumping ground for…more junks.

By: 1Malaysia

1Malaysia — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 10:30:16 +0000

Very obviously, the T or H of the rising sun is doing the brainwashing again here..

I don’t see any problem bringing my car to service on a saturday or even sunday. Not like you need to do that every single weekend.

On the resale value crap, I think it’s becoming a joke that ppl are buyin cars for ‘investment’ nowadays. If you like T & H so freakin much, why would u want to resell it even before you settled your car loan??

Give the ‘new’ car a chance.

By: mister M

mister M — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 08:16:37 +0000

obviously

By: mister M

mister M — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 08:15:33 +0000

just an opinion..
the reason Kia and Hyundai was having terrible after sales service was because they are not directly involved in it. Kia have to get thru Naza and Hyundai needed to get green light from Sime Darby, and this guys also wanted their profit + the high tax imposed by our government on imported spare parts. Because of low volume, bulk imports was out of the question. So its a logistcal nightmare + red tapes + embargo. Honda and Toyota hv good ASS(after sales service, hehe) bcause of Honda Malaysia, etc. they dont have to hv permissions from the local counterparts, but it still is expensive yet no one ever complaints.
So to summon it all, everything is based on our government policies. Protect Proton+Perodua = Protect jobs = Protect govt income(tax) = Protect people . Although we all know this is not necessary true.

By: mikechin

mikechin — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 08:17:47 +0000

Their warranty is 5 years.
Buy the Sonata after 3 years. Still got 2 years of warranty left.

Look at the Sonata NF. After 3 years, the price is half of the original!

Most Japanese and local car, their “half life” (meaning when the value is 50% of the original) is 5 years.

For Sonata it has alway sbeen 3-4 years.

My best advice is buy after 3 years. Why suffer so much depreciation?

By: 1Malaysia

1Malaysia — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:52:59 +0000

You are the one speaking like the Uncle who use to buys those British or German products, only different is u adore jap car. Same frame of mine as the ‘uncles’ but different generation. Jap car more prestige than the Korean-made vehicles, more reputable, blah, blah… Same mentality..

By: 1Malaysia

1Malaysia — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:14:23 +0000

Another 3rd world mentality.. Sigh.. I drove my father’s Merz CLS350 before I test-drived this model,I know the it’s totally different class, but I can tell you that the Koreans are really catching up..

By: 1Malaysia

1Malaysia — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:00:25 +0000

I bet even before you drive the cars, you have already set your mind; “this is jap car” and “this is korean car”. So jap car has to be better rite? That’s called biased experiance..

By: 1Malaysia

1Malaysia — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:47:05 +0000

Though not all, but majority of Malaysians are afraid to change or trying new things (eg. new car brand). This is what drives the resale value of T&H higher than newer competitor. They would rather pay more money regardless of it’s value for the T&H products. When they do have problems with the T&H product, they won’t blame the jap company, they’ll blame their luck for getting a problematic batch. Whenever, a hyundai owner got problem with their car, it’s definately because of the Koreans are not competent. I dunno how are we going to move forward with such mentality..

By: tilos

tilos — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:01:14 +0000

Alitstar has the point…
when i saw new sonata months back, i love it. design and spec wise, it make camry/honda looks like an outdated car, it remind me of my ride in Sonata III.

my dad used to own a sonata III and the car was wonderful, until it’s time for service, the night mare awaited him every time. No spare parts, or high spare parts price, outside ah beng workshop don’t know how to fix it, can’t find spare part in spare part shop, need to make appointment always on SC and expensive service charge..etc. the car was eventually sold off due to those issues and end up getting a Persona that can service everywhere. LOL.

but i miss the ride on sonata, really, it was fantastic, If Hyundai can mass produce their spare parts locally, i’ll definately get one myself.

By: bkk

bkk — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 05:29:50 +0000

sure if u love to drive old car and without the warranty.

By: bkk

bkk — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:52:15 +0000

Obviously u are working with toyota.

By: nas

nas — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:24:55 +0000

nice car.i like this car but i have kia forte already

By: mikechin

mikechin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:47:09 +0000

Be patient…wait 2-3 years and buy one second hand when it has seriously depreciated..it will still be under warranty….

in Msia, always buy Korean and continentals 2nd hand bcos they depreciates more than Japanese makes esp H and T

By: firefox

firefox — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:31:19 +0000

i saw this car at the showroom, and i am very dissapointed on it, coz 2.0 totoaly under power and quality wise bad, design is not bad, but ONLY outlook…ai….
if compare the same range and level and market $$, this car totally out if compare with toyota and honda too.

By: Silas Evenstarr

Silas Evenstarr — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:22:48 +0000

LoL ….. Malaysia car is tin cola …. several late friends of mine, unfortunately & horrifically, passed away in road accidents while driving the Malaysian made cars, in which case would not have happened if they drove Korean or Jap cars. No need to mention other imports.

By: Silas Evenstarr

Silas Evenstarr — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:20:02 +0000

@wahidjr All the best dude. The order rate is so high i don’t know if your car will be ready before raya. Mine will take another 2 months.

By: Silas Evenstarr

Silas Evenstarr — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:17:32 +0000

well said buddy.

By: Silas Evenstarr

Silas Evenstarr — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:13:14 +0000

Wrong pricing given lah!

By: Silas Evenstarr

Silas Evenstarr — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:12:12 +0000

Vios probably has about the same amount of legroom as a Kelisa.

By: Silas Evenstarr

Silas Evenstarr — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:11:11 +0000

Resale value comparisons need to be made with initial purchase price in mind and also the driving pleasure throughout the ownership duration. TQ

By: Silas Evenstarr

Silas Evenstarr — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:08:35 +0000

I drove and sat in the City then I quickly got out. Such a small car that my 5’9″ felt squeezed in it. The Forte was spacious and looks good. Priced good as well. Check out the resale value comparisons between Jap vs Korean cars in the next 3 yrs.

By: Silas Evenstarr

Silas Evenstarr — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:51:39 +0000

my family have a Civic. I used to think the car was awesome and it still is. But when the Sonata came about, after making price and quality comparisons, the Civic seems Chikai now. LoL