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Post by hjr on Jun 29, 2004 1:33:44 GMT -5
I liked the looks of the Scoupe, and really liked the 01 Tibby(even the first generation looked decent). Current one is less curvey and less "original"looking(some say weird; the 97-01 models). Although sales are OK for current model, they are behind last years sales, and still a bit behind the 01-02 year sales(for curvey Tibby). In other words, Hyudnai expected sales of 27,000+ per eyar of Tibby, and they got 24K first year(03), but last eyar they were I think under 20K units, and look to be at 16-18K units this year? Will have to look at sales charts Friday when they come out. Think monthly sales are under 1,400 per month avg). They gained some sales, but lost some( wife said she does no tlike current Tibby and does not even want to look at it. sales were about 50/50 for men and women for last model, I believe. Current one may have a few more men, but lost some of the ladies who bought them, so sales remain virtually the same for the past 3-4 years, if you avg them out. no 27,000+ units per year sold yet, as expected). OK, enough about that.
99 Sonata was cool, and current one is really sharp.
If they have had the 99's rear section on today's sonata, it'd be "perfect"(or the front fascia of 04 on 99's body).
The spy shots of next gen sonata reminds me a bit too much(IF they are real) of a Honda/Acura. Nothing wrong with that, but it looses it's"Korean-ness", so-to-speak(Uniqueness, jag lines, as I call it).
I'd rather have a car that has lines that remind one of a Jaguar, rather than of a Honda(no offense to Honda fans).
Cars I hope they do make; HCD-8, because it sort of looks like the first generation Tibby, to me.
I don't know. Seems the next generation of(most) Hyudnais are going to try for even more mainstream, which may mean some sales gains. I just wish they'd stick with their past 8 years of"copy stuff, but it still looks unique", not"Me, too" copying, like Sonata=Honda/Acura?
If I could, I'd maybe fix up the Elantra (a bit sporty looking) and drop in that V6 I spoke of in another post(say 160-170HP 2.7 liter, If it'd fit, if not, fix up the 4 cylinder to 160HP for elantra, and the 2.4 up to 180 for the sonata).
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thejoyof6
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Post by thejoyof6 on Jun 29, 2004 1:43:15 GMT -5
Designs i like: 2nd gen elantra over current 04 sonata over 00 model tho i love the grille on the 01? model santy 98 sonata 04 xg tucson nf sonata so far 1st gen elantra Dislike: accent, all years excel first and second gen sonata scoupe PONY! Of course i love them all in a certain way.
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Post by hjr on Jun 29, 2004 1:53:52 GMT -5
the scoupe was slow, but I had seen 3 yellow(used) and one white, 4 years ago, like an "explosion' of used Scoupes! A guy who owned a pet shop near Union City Indiana got a used Scoupe for his daughter for college.
They seemed to like it ok.
The looks were decent for 92-93 time frame.
I have seen a few excels still running around Ohio, 2-3, and one for sale a few years back, black, and 53,000 miles. Looked ok, no rust. I drove one in 1990, and man, that steering wheel was as difficult to turn as the old trucks from the 70's. We thought about buying one, but they would not sell us a car w/o a co-singer(I read recently a lot of people started to bail out on the payments of Excels, so i guess they did not want to take the chance with us). Anyhow, gflad I waited, since that car may have made us dislike Hyundai, and we would have missed out on the good cars they now have.
1998 sonata was decent looking. Tried to talk my mother in law into buying one, fdully loaded, for 12,000 dollars!! (That'd be like buying say a GLS , with sunroof, mud guards, too, for around 14K today!).
She did nto get it becauser she was anti-Hyundai, due to her hisband. He finally admitted Hyudnai builds good cars, and he was wrong!
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Post by Brian Gluckman on Jun 29, 2004 19:54:14 GMT -5
"The spy shots of next gen sonata reminds me a bit too much(IF they are real) of a Honda/Acura."
I REALLY agree! Finally someone else who knows! The new Sonata front is like that of say, the Acura TSX, or the 1998-2002 Accord!
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Post by hjr on Jun 29, 2004 21:57:29 GMT -5
yes, that Honda design is almost enough to make me consider a tC,( or maybe an Elantra), as the next "family" car we buy! They go thorugh all of the troubles the past decade or so to have styling cues of other comapnies, but they usually aspired to have Jag or Mercedes lines! You do not go "backwards" and copy looks of 25-30K cars when you had the looks and styling cues of 30-40K cars, know what I mean? Not bashing Honda, people, just saying that most people who see a Sonata think Jag or Benz, not Honda Accord. What's next, XG looking like the new Malibu?
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thejoyof6
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Post by thejoyof6 on Jun 29, 2004 22:15:07 GMT -5
Well all we have seen so far are photochopped and test mule vehicles so perhaps the final production model doesnt look as much like a honda. ((fingers crossed)) Copying is the best form of flattery...such as the Noble M12 supercar which uses the sonatas tail lights and no one is complaining about that.
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Post by Brian Gluckman on Jun 30, 2004 15:17:35 GMT -5
I am not mad at Hyundai. People will like this design, especially Honda-lovers! ;D
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Post by eCkS on Jul 1, 2004 0:39:29 GMT -5
Copying is the best form of flattery...such as the Noble M12 supercar which uses the sonatas tail lights and no one is complaining about that. you noticed that too..at first i thought it was some sort of hyundai supercar...but then i read noble m12 on car and driver magazine...
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Post by Titandan on Jul 1, 2004 5:44:33 GMT -5
Sorry, but I will have to differ in opinion from most of you. All this talk about taste in cars is subjective ofcourse.
Here goes....
99 sonota was the best model IMO. The current one only looks brilliant at night when the headlight is on. I really don't care too much for the connected circle/headlight. Either separate or form one circle/oval. I think it is a step forward to design somewhat like a honda Accord. I actually wish they took some cues from the current Evo or Saab fronts. Either way, I think the next sonota will fit in better an look less like an imposter Benzish car.
The current elantra facelifted model is bar-none the best model so far. I especially like the gt's back lights and back design over all. I think taking cues from and improving on the saab vehicles was a good call by hyundai.
The accents they have out now are cute. They should always keep their accents cute. So far so good!
I like the XG's. The first time I saw one, I thought it was an newer model Infiniti. I was pleasantly surprised with the designs from Hyundai.
Santa Fe is truly original and the california art student who created this design should be hired by hyundai if he isn't hired already. I think when the Santa Fe came out, that's when Hyundai was on it's way up. What a refreshing car in the midst of all the boring automobiles of that time. Tucson looks crazy.
Tiburon. I like the original Tib. 98 or 99 I believe. When it got its integraish four eyes headlights, I thought it was pretty ugly. Never thought integra was all that! In my opinion, the current one is just perfect. The best looking sports car out their below 30 k's. Although it looses some of that personality, I think it looks sharp. I would say it looks better than the previous two tibs. What looks to be the next generation tiburon(hcI or whatever it's called). It came out in a yellow picture at an auto show or something. I really don't like the way it looks. The headlights with the thousand(exageration) little wierd bulbs and the slanted eyes(headlights) look really stupid in my opinion. Hope they will change it and make it radically headed toward a different direction.
All in all, hyundai has come a long way. And although the newer design cues will frustrate some of the hyundai cult followers, I think hyundai is headed towards the right direction.
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Post by Brian Gluckman on Jul 1, 2004 9:41:19 GMT -5
Very easily-read and well put, titandan.
Those are some good points! Good to know where we are all at! You are all some knowledgeable car-fans!
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Post by Brian Gluckman on Jul 1, 2004 9:42:18 GMT -5
PS.
In what way does the Noble M12 use Sonata lights???
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thejoyof6
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Post by thejoyof6 on Jul 1, 2004 21:29:14 GMT -5
The noble m12 is a kit car made in south african as you probably know andrew. and the sonata tail lights are used in the m12 as are a few other types.
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thejoyof6
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Post by thejoyof6 on Jul 1, 2004 21:30:33 GMT -5
yea yea i could have just edited my last post but i want my cost count higher.....i will look for a pic of the tail lights and post them. ;D
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Post by hjr on Jul 1, 2004 21:31:08 GMT -5
I posted hyundai sales for June and YTD, and the current Tibby sales are down over 2003, by a few thousand+ units, If I recall correctly.
That is not good. Like I said, lotta people seemed to like the "little" version better(and smaller price?). Now they have tC to contend with, also, in the 4 cylinder catagory.
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thejoyof6
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Post by thejoyof6 on Jul 1, 2004 22:24:17 GMT -5
Hyundai needs to add more content and features to the tibby, standard a/c, cd player, and side airbags will only get you so far.
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