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When someone presents a long list of issues with their car which was purchased new then I tend to think they owner is part of the problem for allowing needed repairs to accumulate.
The economics of a car replacement are everywhere on the Internet in the financial assistance sites. Logic tree using present value, replacement costs, repair costs, ownership duration,etc..
If you want to save your car you need to get onto Hyundai forums in the Sonata section for that model year and visit the tech section for sound information.
No mechanic who is capable will say something is "shot". You should have detailed estimates of what parts are needed.
So where are the Hyundai lovers I see every now and then in this forum subsection?
My best advice: trade the car in for a used Toyota.
Why people bother with these Hyundais and Kias and whatevers, I don't know. You're obviously unhappy with it, and that's all that matters. I don't blame you. Resolve that your next vehicle will have better engineering and will last a long while, and be cheap to keep.
Are you sure it's 56K, and not 156K, or 560K? I had a 2008 Sonata, and while there was a clunk from the right rear on heavy bumps I had no trouble with the car in the 77K I owned it. It was as utterly boring and reliable as any Toyota or Honda. BTW, that noise from the RR is apparently a a "feature" on these cars, the forums tell us they all do that.
As for when to swap it out, well if it's paid for and still running well, it's going to be hard to justify making payments again. Even if you spent $2K on getting the suspension done and a couple hundred on the window, that's just about a good down payment and then you'll be back to $350 or more a month plus the sales tax, increased cost of insurance and registration, etc. In the end though, only you can put a price on "I don't like this car".
I'd say trade it in on another Honda Accord. You're familiar with the brand and you had a good experience with your last car.
We've owned a Hyundai before, a 2007 as well in fact, and while the cars look and perform great when new, they also tend to fall apart rather quickly at around the 5 year mark. Long term quality/reliability just isn't there for Hyundai yet.
[At what point does the economics of a new car make sense?]
When reliability is a *must* - you can't afford to have break-downs.
One extreme might be a doctor - might need to rush to the hospital and must have a dependable car. The other extreme might be a retired person - all the time in the world to call a tow truck, etc.
Are you sure it's 56K, and not 156K, or 560K? I had a 2008 Sonata, and while there was a clunk from the right rear on heavy bumps I had no trouble with the car in the 77K I owned it. It was as utterly boring and reliable as any Toyota or Honda. BTW, that noise from the RR is apparently a a "feature" on these cars, the forums tell us they all do that.
As for when to swap it out, well if it's paid for and still running well, it's going to be hard to justify making payments again. Even if you spent $2K on getting the suspension done and a couple hundred on the window, that's just about a good down payment and then you'll be back to $350 or more a month plus the sales tax, increased cost of insurance and registration, etc. In the end though, only you can put a price on "I don't like this car".
Nope, 56k.
I agree with you that it's better to take the hit on having it repaired than to make a down payment then deal with car payments.
I did have written estimates done on the suspension. Last year. Right around the time I got laid off from my job. So, dropping a grand or two on my still-running car wasn't a priority for me; I think everyone here can understand that rationale even though they might not agree with it.
Even in this economy and this so-called "hot" local job market, it's taken me a year to get my feet back under me and into a relatively stable job situation (a contract that they want to convert to perm) so fixing the car is back on the cards as a possibility. I had plenty of savings, but I had no idea how long this bench period would last so I sequestered everything I could and scrimped everywhere possible to make my savings stretch so I could continue to pay my mortgage and my other bills.
I still have a year and a half of bill money saved, and I never touched my retirement...so I'm OK for now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MckinneyOwnr
I'd say trade it in on another Honda Accord. You're familiar with the brand and you had a good experience with your last car.
We've owned a Hyundai before, a 2007 as well in fact, and while the cars look and perform great when new, they also tend to fall apart rather quickly at around the 5 year mark. Long term quality/reliability just isn't there for Hyundai yet.
I think you're right there. The Hyundai was a good deal and had very good reviews, so I took a chance. I should have bought a Honda. I think when I buy another car, it'll be another Honda.
after you get your second million. It doesn't really make sense", but with that kind of money backing you up, you can afford to take the $10,000 loss, of full coverage insurance, required shafting by dealer maintenance and repair, etc.
[At what point does the economics of a new car make sense?]
When reliability is a *must* - you can't afford to have break-downs.
One extreme might be a doctor - might need to rush to the hospital and must have a dependable car. The other extreme might be a retired person - all the time in the world to call a tow truck, etc.
For individuals who need to be someplace at an appointed time on a regular basis, or who are subject to being called into action on a moment's notice (like your doctor example), reliability trumps economic factors, particularly if the individual does not have another vehicle at their disposal.
An older model vehicle with a lot of miles, even thought it may have a lot of useful life left, and even though repairs may cost less than a new (or newer) vehicle, is useless to an owner in the above examples, if it is sitting in a shop, awaiting repairs.
When you want to customize the car to your liking...
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