Faults:

During 3 years of ownership, I had two occasions during which the car was crank no start and two occasions in which the car started, but would only go about ten to fifteen miles per hour, just enough to drive it to the car repair shop.

Like many other posters, I had issues with the driver-side front window motor. When the motor started going bad, I could hear popping noises in the door. In order to put the window all the way up, I had to push the button briefly, give the window a few minutes to recoup, then do it again, rinse and repeat. I got the motor replaced at a car repair chain.

The windshield wiper motor broke as well. I got that replaced at a car repair chain.

The crank sensor went bad at about 70,000 miles.

The crank sensor went bad again around 74,700 miles. At that point, the timing belt went bad, too. That's when I traded in the car.

General Comments:

Good:

The 2000 Sonata was a cheap buy.

The cabin was roomy and comfortable.

Bad:

Cheap, but you get what you pay for.

The transmission had little power. I didn't notice it during the test drive. I did notice it when I drove it home from the dealer. After I hit the gas pedal, it felt like the car had to think (for a bit) of what it was supposed to do.

The car was unreliable.

Faults:

Since this is a review on a used car I have just purchased recently, there have been no problems yet. I bought it from a Hyundai dealer though and before I came to pick it up they put in a new battery, replaced a fan belt and replaced break line for me at no charge.

I was lucky to be able to see the full history of the car as the dealer had all maintenance records. It was a one owner who did all the scheduled maintenance which is crucial info to know when buying a used car. Best of all, it had the timing belt replaced just before I bought it!

General Comments:

I knew I wanted a used car for a good price, but didn't want to settle for some cheap econobox. I think the Hyundai Sonata is a lot of car for the money and of very high quality. The good value comes from the fact that people still think Hyundai makes unreliable cars so their value depreciates rapidly. Their loss and my gain I guess.

From the outside, the Sonata definitely looks unique. It has some elegant curves that give it a larger, classy look. It has it's own style rather than being so bland like other mid-size sedans. The car also sits quite low to the ground which is something I personally like, but maybe not others. I think that even the 07 Accent sits higher than this 2000 Sonata.

The interior doesn't quite live up to the standard of the exterior styling although it's pretty good overall. There is just too much gray and plain black colors for my taste. The interior lights have a slight green tone to them which is kind of cool.

Luckily the seats are positioned high in the car and there are many adjustable settings. Console is easy to read and operate and the gear shift is big and hefty with a nice shiny chrome base.

The seats hold you in place well, but are a tad too stiff, but legroom and side-to-side room is great.

The Sonata has superb handling. It is just the right balance between precision and comfort as far as the suspension goes. While driving straight along a roadway the car slightly bounds over rough areas without barely noticing and it feels so smooth. But when making turns, the steering is very precise and predictable. Good road feel despite a soft suspension which is great. I can't tell you enough what a wonderful feeling it is driving this car around, it is that comfortable.

But just because it is comfortable doesn't mean it has no guts. This is a pretty small and light car for a mid-size so that V6 under the hood can really rocket you fast to anywhere you need to go in a hurry. But it is very quite and smooth. The transmission is nearly perfect, shifting just when it needs to and without any shock.

The Sonata is an incredible car even 6 years after its debut and I woudl argue that it drives just as nice as any newer car for a fraction of the cost. If you're ever in the market for a used car, definitely look this one up. Just make sure you know it's history and the car will treat you well.