Hyundai Gets It

MG_Bryan wrote: Isn't it a second generation Aveo?

As much as the Cobalt is a Cavalier.

This Bob

1.8, or 1.4 turbo with 6 spd

WHat's it weigh? If they follow the typical new GM route it probably weighs 2800lbs.

Stealthtercel wrote: My son and I were impressed with the preview Sonics at the Toronto auto show in February. Fun fact: they have a sunglasses holder over the driver's door (where other positions get a grab handle.) This strikes me as an answer looking for a question, but it's certainly different. And possibly handy. I guess.

Joey48442 had to deal with me sitting in every position of every car at the Detroit auto show. I liked the Chronic, err Sonic, I got stuck in a Velosterd (I was actually worried that I had broken a rib getting in and out of the back seat!). The three door is a horrible idea for someone with 2 kids, if you have one in a carseat the other would have to climb over everything to get to his seat.

I am a big fan of the new Elantra, Sonic, Jetta and have just seen pics of the Next Beetle and like the stying as well.

4 doors + front wheel drive, they don't get it.

<--- No kids, DINKS = more fun cars. W.I.N.N.I.N.G.

There's no disadvantage to drums on the rear. Being that their pads typically do last longer than disc's (at least in the rear). That being said I do prefer discs over drums as they are easier to do with less dismantling.

Bobzilla wrote: Here's the real reason Hyundai "Get's it" Lightest weight, more power.... what is there to not love?

WOW!!! At my local roundy round FWD class you would have to ADD weight for the Hyundai to compete legally!

So maybe the Kia Forte win at Barber in ST wasn't a fluke.

Great, now I'm shopping for Accents.

I've always liked the look of the latest gen. Looking at pics of modified ones is not helping. They only look better with a drop, some tint, and some wheel.

Zomby woof wrote: Great, now I'm shopping for Accents. I've always liked the look of the latest gen. Looking at pics of modified ones is not helping. They only look better with a drop, some tint, and some wheel.

This is how the sickness starts. First it's an accent, just wheels, springs and tint. Then it's Intake, Exhaust, cams.... Next thing you know it's gutted with a cage and you're running it a VIR. Now since the Accent is no longer a driver you have to buy an Elantra for the family....with wheels, tint and springs....

So what can you tell me about those 1.6 motors? Do they respond to the usual stuff? Can you make a little power with them? Are the trans any good?

I don't know if it would be a deciding factor, but a new car with rear drums would have a strike against it.

Service-wise... I prefer discs. Which is good since on my Mk IV, it looks like I'll replace the rear brakes 3x for every front set, which I've read is fairly common for Mk IV's that do a lot of highway driving and light braking.

Zomby woof wrote: So what can you tell me about those 1.6 motors? Do they respond to the usual stuff? Can you make a little power with them? Are the trans any good?

You're talking the current Accent, not hte new? THe old Alpha's are indestructible. No lie. They like Intake and exhaust, expect to bump that 110fwhp to 120-125fwhp. The trans is better. Keep the fluid changed with the right stuff and you'll be fine. Early cars had issues with the synchros taking a dump (like my 190+k mile version). IIRC, Hyundai even sells a B&M Short shifter for it.

Ian F wrote: I don't know if it would be a deciding factor, but a new car with rear drums would have a strike against it. Service-wise... I prefer discs. Which is good since on my Mk IV, it looks like I'll replace the rear brakes 3x for every front set, which I've read is fairly common for Mk IV's that do a lot of highway driving and light braking.

Yep... Discs will do that. My rear drums have lasted 2 sets + of fronts. The Elantra wasat 126k when I changd them, the Accent at 139k. No mess, no fuss. Pop the drum off when you do a service and adjust 2 clicks slap it back on and enjoy. Much cheaper, just as good and less fuss.

Zomby woof wrote:

MG_Bryan wrote: Isn't it a second generation Aveo?

As much as the Cobalt is a Cavalier. This Bob 1.8, or 1.4 turbo with 6 spd

As I understood it, Sonic is just a name used in the North American market to distance it from the previous generation chassis. Not that it matters all that much as it's new chassis either way.

Yes, the latest gen Accent. I was even looking at new, as they hold their value really well here, and noticed the dealer has exhaust, cold air intakes, short shifters, and a few other things. Of course, they're priced dealer-accordingly, too.

Is it worth buying a sport, or buy the base, and do your own wheels, and suspension (is the 'sport tuned' suspension any different)?

Interesting stuff. That Sonic looks slick too... As for the rear brakes... Drums are not "sexy"...
In my personal fleet I have 3 cars with 4 wheel disc and 2 trucks with rear drum... Not that that means anything...

If I was buying an Accent I would get the SE. The suspension is a lot better than the base.

Iron Balls McGinty wrote: I've had the opposite experience with rear discs. They seem to last forever. My wife has 90K on the rear discs of her Pilot. The front disc pads "only" made it to 78K.

Must be different brake bias from the MDX. Those usually last in the 40-50k mile range for the rears... fronts about 70k. Don't get me started on their sedan's.... 30-40k as "normal wear" for rear brakes is not acceptable to me.

You ladies do remember when brake pads and shoes were replaced every 12K miles... right?

John Brown wrote: You ladies do remember when brake pads and shoes were replaced every 12K miles... right?

...and drums and rotors were cut, and rarely replaced...

For a DD, I see nothing wrong with disc/drum particularly on these little wussy FWD cars.

The Trooper has 4 wheel disc and that was a big plus in my book, much less likely to overheat when towing. The J-H is disc/drum, it's pretty light (~2300 lbs) so it doesn't punish the brakes. The racecar is 4 wheel disc, I want all the advantages I can get when it comes time to go time trialing (one of these days...).

Someone mentioned rotor runout retracts the pads, um no. The caliper piston seal grips the piston tightly and stretches a small amount as the piston goes out, it acts like a return spring and retracts when pressure is released and this action gives the 'venting clearance'. If that didn't happen, the pads would stay in contact with the rotor even when the wheels are not turning. That's why you can instantly turn a rotor by hand as soon as the pressure is taken off of the brake pedal.

I'll take the rear disks from a ease-of-maintenance standpoint. I've trifled with too many rusted up rear drums to think otherwise.

While I have experienced a rear drum rusting up and immobilizing a car, I've also experienced sticking calipers on a certain Japanese make (name looks like a brand of ramin noodle). I had the drum rust up once, the caliper sticking an 2 different examples of that brand of car.

So the only way I see rear discs as a maintenance advantage is because they last longer. On a low line/4 cylinder car? I can take or leave rear discs. But on a V6 or V8 sedan or truck? I could see that it would be a deal breaker. Interesting, that Ford put rear drums on it's 1999 to 2007 Taurus SEDANS, but discs on the slightly heavier wagons.

Duke wrote: I don't care if they work better or not - they are easier to maintain.

Sorry, have to disagree. Rear disc are a waste of money that requires more maintenance than drums. The only place they would be of benefit is if you are doing repeated hard stops and heat dissipation is an issue.

I can apreciate the cool factor of disk, but they bring zero to the the stopping game and will not last as long as drums. When they need replacing, the added complexity of the e-brake on a disc set-up adds even more espen$e.

yes and no. I happen to like how most german companies handle the hand brake with rear discs.. Inside the hat of the rotor is a small drum brake that is used ONLY for the handbrake.