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IntelliChoice Value Rating
The chart above shows the purchase price versus ownership cost for each car from a specific vehicle class. The cars with better than average ownership cost/purchase price correlations are the best values, and these best value cars are represented by the dots below the curve. (i.e. the cars that have a lower ownership cost compared to its purchase price.) Those cars, which are worse than average or poor values, appear above the curve.
One way to view the graph is to draw a vertical line through any purchase price. You may see several dots that fall on this line - each of which is a car with a similar purchase price. However, notice the difference in ownership costs of each car represented by the vertical position of the dot. Two cars with the same purchase price can have thousands of dollars difference in ownership costs. This is what separates "good value" cars from "poor value" cars.
What is a good car value?
A "good car value" is one whose cost to own and operate is less than expected. The lower the cost to own and operate a car compared to what is expected, the better the value of that car.
But how do we know a car's "expected cost"?
For each car in the class, IntelliChoice plots the car's purchase price against the total five-year cost to own and operate it as determined by IntelliChoice research. Each dot on the above chart represents a specific car. Generally, we find that as the purchase price of the car increases, the cost to own and operate that car increases. This is why the dots on the graph tend to rise upward and to the right. This phenomenon also makes intuitive sense - as the purchase price rises, financing costs tend to rise, as do insurance, depreciation, taxes, and most other car ownership costs.
This is an important concept. It's normal for car ownership costs to rise as purchase price rises. Therefore, we can't just establish one "average" ownership cost number for each class, since cars in the class have different purchase prices. (This is why the "Relative" shown on each chart is different for cars in the same car class.)
Using statistical techniques, IntelliChoice "connects the dots" to form a curve that defines, for this car class, the relationship between the car's purchase price and car's ownership costs. This curve is our "expected cost" curve. The curve defines, for any car in the class, the five-year ownership cost that we would expect to see at each possible purchase price. If every car in the class were an average value, then all the dots would fall exactly on the curve. However, it's rare that any dot is exactly on the curve. Some dots are a little higher or lower, and some are a lot higher or lower. The dots that are a little lower are better than average car values, while the dots that are a lot lower are excellent car values (A dot that is a lot lower than the curve has ownership costs much lower than expected for a car of its purchase price). Conversely, a dot a little higher than the curve is a poorer than average car value, while a dot that is much higher than the curve is a poor car value.
Value is a relative term, not an absolute term. It is performing better than the logical expectation.
So is a Mercedes-Benz E320 expensive to own and operate? Certainly in an absolute sense. Most other cars cost less. But, when its cost to own and operate is plotted against cars with comparable invoice prices, the E320 costs less. So the E320 is not expensive to own and operate - it is a good car value. The Mercedes does not have low ownership costs, but it has low ownership costs for its invoice price.
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Hyundai Sonata Recalls
| Recall Date: |
MAR 07, 2008 |
| Component: |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS |
| Model Affected: |
SONATA |
| Units Affected: |
4085
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
MAR 07, 2008
Model Affected:
2006 HYUNDAI SONATA
Summary:
HYUNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 4,085 REPLACEMENT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD FOR USE ON 2006-2008 SONATA AND AZERA VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ALIGNED PROPERLY AND FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence:
IMPROPER AIMING OF THE HEADLAMP MAY RESULT IN POOR VISIBILITY POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy:
HYUNDAI-KIA DEALERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR SUPPLY TO HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. NONE OF THE HEADLAMPS WERE SOLD AS RETAIL. AS A RESULT, AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WILL NOT BE ISSUED.
Units Affected:
4085
Notes:
HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC 080
| Recall Date: |
JUN 26, 2006 |
| Component: |
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS |
| Model Affected: |
SONATA |
| Units Affected: |
43301
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
JUN 26, 2006
Model Affected:
2006 HYUNDAI SONATA
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LABEL INSTALLED ON THE SUNVISORS HAD LOST ADHESION TO THE SUNVISORS AND HAD DISTORTED OR SEPARATED FROM THE SUN VISORS.
Consequence:
IF THE LABELS ARE DISTORTED OR MISSING, THE DRIVER OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WILL NOT HAVE INFORMATION AVAILABLE THAT MAY HELP PROTECT THEM IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUNVISOR ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 2, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Units Affected:
43301
Notes:
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY 076
| Recall Date: |
AUG 29, 2005 |
| Component: |
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER |
| Model Affected: |
SONATA |
| Units Affected: |
36000
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
AUG 29, 2005
Model Affected:
2006 HYUNDAI SONATA
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT MAY INTERFERE WITH THE MANUAL SEAT BACK RECLINER KNOB AND COULD CAUSE THE FRONT MANUAL SEAT BACK RECLINER TO INADVERTENTLY RELEASE.
Consequence:
THE INADVERTENT RELEASE OF A FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL SEAT BACK RECLINER KNOB(S) FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Units Affected:
36000
Notes:
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY 072
| Recall Date: |
JUL 07, 2005 |
| Component: |
SUSPENSION:AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL (ASC) |
| Model Affected: |
SONATA |
| Units Affected: |
1970
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
JUL 07, 2005
Model Affected:
2006 HYUNDAI SONATA
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.3 LITER ENGINES AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), THE ESC MAY HAVE BEEN PROGRAMMED TO BE OVERSENSITIVE TO THE ONSET OF OVERSTEERING WHILE DRIVING ON BANKED CURVES, CAUSING INADVERTENT APPLICATION OF THE FRONT OUTSIDE BRAKE WHEN ESC ACTIVATION MAY NOT BE NEEDED.
Consequence:
THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SLOW AND MAY AFFECT THE PATH THAT THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESC ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ESC HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Units Affected:
1970
Notes:
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY 070
| Recall Date: |
MAY 22, 2006 |
| Component: |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS |
| Model Affected: |
SONATA |
| Units Affected: |
463
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
MAY 22, 2006
Model Affected:
2006 HYUNDAI SONATA
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INNER BEZELS OF THE HEADLAMPS WERE NOT PROPERLY ASSEMBLED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE TURN SIGNAL LENSES TO BE IMPROPERLY POSITIONED.
Consequence:
AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED TURN SIGNAL LENS MAY REDUCE THE INTENSITY OF THE TURN SIGNAL ILLUMINATION, REDUCING ITS VISIBILITY TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Units Affected:
463
Notes:
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY 075
| Recall Date: |
APR 10, 2008 |
| Component: |
AIR BAGS |
| Model Affected: |
SONATA |
| Units Affected: |
393714
Recall Details
|
Recall Date:
APR 10, 2008
Model Affected:
2006 HYUNDAI SONATA
Summary:
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 393,714 MY 2006-2008 SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM WHICH FEATURES AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE OCS IS TO DISABLE THE RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT FRONT AIR BAG WHEN IT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM OR SMALL CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG IS DISABLED TO PREVENT INJURIES TO A CHILD THAT MAY RESULT FROM A RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG INFLATION DURING A CRASH.
Consequence:
MISCLASSIFICATION OF A SMALL STATURE ADULT AS A CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAY CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG TO NOT INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT MERITS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE OCS DOES NOT PROPERLY RECOGNIZE A PROPERLY SEATED ADULT OCCUPANT. AFTER VERIFICATION, DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND SHIP IT TO AN EVALUATION AND REPAIR FACILITY. THIS FACILITY WILL EVALUATE AND REPAIR OR REPROGRAM THE SEAT CUSHION AND OCS AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Units Affected:
393714
Notes:
HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC 083
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Auto Recalls for Hyundai Sonata, Fords
Recalls on the Hyundai Sonata and various Ford models slams both automakers struggling in the worsening auto market....
06/18/2008 | 17:06 PM
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Hyundai Sonata, Elantra, Tucson, Entourage are Ideal Winners
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 09/05/2007 Automotive research and consulting firm AutoPacific announced today that Hyundai...
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Hyundai Sonata, Azera, Best In Class Winners For 2007
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 03/05/2007 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance named the Hyundai Sonata GLS and Azera Limited...
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2007 Hyundai Sonata Goes Platinum for 20th Anniversary
Has Hyundai been selling cars in the U.S. for twenty years now? Apparently so and the Korean automaker has announced...
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Hyundai Sonata Music to Parents of College-bound Children
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 08/27/2007 CarMax, Inc. has named the Hyundai Sonata as one of the top 10 cars for college...
08/28/2007 | 13:08 PM
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Hyundai Sonata... say WHAT?
Has the world gone mad? The 2004 Hyundai Sonata was the most reliable vehicle in 2004, with two problems per 100...
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Hyundai Sonata pricing
Hi everyone,I'm looking to purchase a 2008 Hyundai Sonata V6 Limited. A local dealer (MD)quoted a price of 25,347. This...
02/23/2008 | 23:02 PM
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2006 Hyundai Sonata engine idle vibration
Either the model has standard solid motor mounts versus hydraulic, or the idle speed is sent too low. You should have...
01/09/2006 | 19:01 PM
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Hyundai Sonata - Most Reliable Car
Hmmm I wouldnt have thought it naturally. That said Skodas had a terrible reputation till a few years ago but they're...
06/04/2007 | 10:06 AM
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Upgrading question?
So the stock rims on my 04 hyundai accent are 14's and the tires are 185/60/14. I'm upgrading to 16's, not 17's because...
06/07/2006 | 18:06 PM
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2009 Hyundai Sonata
The Sonata gets a major overhaul for 2009. Power and fuel economy increase for both the four- and six-cylinder engines.
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2005 Hyundai Sonata
For years Hyundai has struggled to grab the attention of sensible sedan buyers. The new Sonata shows why Hyundai's someday is t
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