This is our third Philips DVD player and it is the best so far. It played anything we would throw at it and all with excellent quality. There are very few scaling artifacts when scaling DIVX to D1 resolution. It creates smooth picture with perfect edges, not blurry at all. I have not complaints about picture quality but I have not tried hooking it up to HD tv since I don't have one.
Menu system is intuitive enough and easy to navigate. Player supports disabling region code using remote control so it can play DVDs from Europe or Japan.
Remote control is very nice. It has a nice weight to it and it also looks good. Ergonomics are very good and you can easy operate it in the dark.
By far the best feature is USB2.0 support. Now you can just put your movies on USB Flash Drive or USB Hard Disk (formatted with Fat32) and play them directly from that media. No more wasting recordable DVDs to preview movie you just made. It plays flawlessly without any hiccups.
Of course this player is not without shortcomings. The biggest one is not supporting long file names. Even if it supports them it does not display them. To work around this problem I add a number in front of the video file so you can see which file it is.
Also player locks up on certain movies. The lock up is bad to the point that you have to disconnect power to get control of the player back. It only does it with certain DIVX videos but still. I hope Phillips releases new firmware to remedy this problem.
Startup time is also not too stellar. It takes a long time to read dvd and until it recognizes the disk USB is useless. I wish it could remember the last media it played from and came back to that media on power on.
Other than these shortcomings Philips made nearly perfect DVD player. It looks good and works good and it is cheap to boot. What else would you want?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
My Experience With Sonata
It has been 3 months since I am driving my new Sonata and I wanted to share experience that I had with it. Hopefully it will help some people decide whether to purchase the car or not.
*** Day to day
I still like driving it day to day. After the initial break-in period I started to drive it a little faster and my mileage suffers as a result. I still get close to 32 MPG on average but nowhere near 35.5 which I was getting earlier. Seem like the optimal speed for best MPG is 45-55 MPH. Unfortunately this is not very practical on CA freeways.
I found that white color is not as practical as I originally thought. It definitely stays cool in the summer but it get dirty and marks easily. Also somehow it seems that paint on the Sonata is very thin and chips off easy or maybe it is just noticeable on the white car. Ether way I need to get some touch-up paint to prevent any rusting. Chips are not big just noticeable more than on our silver Camry.
I have purchased a cargo tray for the trunk and it fits well and helps keep the trunk clean. If you like to keep your car clean I highly recommend it. We have it in all of our cars and it worth the expense.
*** Maintenence
I changed oil in Sonata for the first time. Although first oil change is not due until 5K I like to change oil twice during the first recommended interval. Clears out any metal particles from oil that may have been in the new engine.
The procedure was relatively painless. The oil plug is located in the back of the engine so you have to raise the car or access it blind. I choose the second option. There is an aerodynamic plastic cover under the engine which prevented my old oil pan from fitting under the car. I had to get new shorter oil pan. I did not like my old pan anyway so this was not a big problem.
I found that all of the service manual are available online from Hyundai just for registering. This is great if you like to maintain your car yourself.
The OEM oil filters are available on eBay for reasonable price but are expensive from a dealer (surprise). There is a Wallmart brand Super Tech filter which is around $2.30. Reviews online say that if it made in US it is relatively good. It is made by the same company who made Mobil1 filter and shares some of the components with it.
*** Day to day
I still like driving it day to day. After the initial break-in period I started to drive it a little faster and my mileage suffers as a result. I still get close to 32 MPG on average but nowhere near 35.5 which I was getting earlier. Seem like the optimal speed for best MPG is 45-55 MPH. Unfortunately this is not very practical on CA freeways.
I found that white color is not as practical as I originally thought. It definitely stays cool in the summer but it get dirty and marks easily. Also somehow it seems that paint on the Sonata is very thin and chips off easy or maybe it is just noticeable on the white car. Ether way I need to get some touch-up paint to prevent any rusting. Chips are not big just noticeable more than on our silver Camry.
I have purchased a cargo tray for the trunk and it fits well and helps keep the trunk clean. If you like to keep your car clean I highly recommend it. We have it in all of our cars and it worth the expense.
*** Maintenence
I changed oil in Sonata for the first time. Although first oil change is not due until 5K I like to change oil twice during the first recommended interval. Clears out any metal particles from oil that may have been in the new engine.
The procedure was relatively painless. The oil plug is located in the back of the engine so you have to raise the car or access it blind. I choose the second option. There is an aerodynamic plastic cover under the engine which prevented my old oil pan from fitting under the car. I had to get new shorter oil pan. I did not like my old pan anyway so this was not a big problem.
I found that all of the service manual are available online from Hyundai just for registering. This is great if you like to maintain your car yourself.
The OEM oil filters are available on eBay for reasonable price but are expensive from a dealer (surprise). There is a Wallmart brand Super Tech filter which is around $2.30. Reviews online say that if it made in US it is relatively good. It is made by the same company who made Mobil1 filter and shares some of the components with it.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
2009 Hyundai Sonata Limited Review
I have been driving my Subaru Impreza Outback for 11 years. The Subaru was working well but I simply wanted a new car. We actually wanted hatchback or wagon but could not find one with good combination mileage and reliability. So we decided to go with a larger sedan.
After much research and test driving we settled on Hyundai Sonata SE. Unfortunately combination of color, style and 4cyl engine that we wanted is rare so we got Sonata Limited instead. I am not disappointed in this choice. OK may be just a little since I am not a big fan of leather and sunroofs. Other than that I am simply thrilled with this car.
*** Room
Sonata has plenty of room. It is as large as our 2008 Camry or maybe even larger. Trunk space is good and split folding rear seat make it even bigger. Trunk opening is large too. Of course this is not a wagon but I think it will do in the most cases.
*** Features
This car is loaded with features! Where do I begin? Telescoping steering wheel (not powered), XM radio, Infinity stereo system with MP3 and WMA playback. My favorite feature of the stereo is ability to play your music from USB drive. There is a USB jack in the armrest compartment in which you can plug your USB drive with music. Car stereo will recognize it and play it just like it would CD with mp3 files on it. Saves you from burning CDs especially if you are like me, like to listen to podcasts. I used to have small mp3 player just for that.
XM radio is very good as well. The car comes with 3 months subscription so you can sample the radio and see if you like it. I like it but not sure if I want to continue. Regular FM reception is great too.
There are 2 power jacks in the cabin - one in the center console and one in the armrest. I think modern car needs more of these, I'd say at least 4. So in this department Sonata is a bit short but few cars have more than 2.
Leather seats are comfortable but the leather is rather hard. Of course you don't pay for the luxury car so you can't expect top quality leather. Power driver seat is nice, controls are intuitive and work well. I have not used heated seats but looking forward to use that feature in the winter.
Another feature that will come handy in the winter is heated outside mirrors. It should improve visibility a lot especially when I leave work in the evening.
Auto dimming mirror with compass is a nice feature plus built in garage door opener adds to the long list.
Comparing to our 2008 Camry LE V6 which cost us nearly the same, Sonata is loaded with features.
One feature that I would like to have but it is missing from Sonata is rear window shade. Camry XLE has that as an option. I would like to have one even manual.
*** Ergonomics
Ergonomics are excellent. All control are where you expect them to be and work as you expect them to work. Clock is clearly visible during the day and at night. This was one of the problems with Impreza. Very good experience over all.
If you are like me, trying to maintain your car yourself, you will be pleased with the placement of the oil filter and all of the dipsticks. They are easy to access and when oil is drained it will not run all over your engine. You also do not need to jack up the car or put it on the ramps to access the oil filter (unlike Camry V6).
*** Build quality
Build quality is better than expected. Materials are high quality, all parts fit well. Car has expensive feel to it. Comparing to our 2008 Camry it wins hands down. Toyota's quality has been slipping over the last few years.
Door panels made plastic that feels and looks good. Leather wrapped steering feels nice. There is no large gaps in the panels (unlike American cars) and exposed edges finished well (unlike Camry). Excellent job Hyundai!
*** Peformance
Performance is very good. I have not had a situation where I would say that I needed more power. I drive this car to and from work, mostly on the freeway. Engine power has been more than sufficient. Maybe if I take the car to the mountains 4 Cyl engine will show its deficiencies but that is to be tested yet. Transmission shifts when you expect and it is very smooth. Since the car is new I have not pushed it much and in general I do not push my cars. I am more after comfortable ride then after performance and Sonata delivers there.
*** Fuel Economy
WOW! That is all I can say. Car is rated to 32MPG on highway and that is where I drive it. When the car was brand new I was driving it rather slow to break in the engine. I was getting 35MPG consistently and few times as high as 37.5MPG. My record per tank was 35.5 MPG.
Now I am driving more inline with the traffic with speeds between 60 and 70 MPH. I am getting 33 MPG without even trying. This car exceeded all of my expectations in the fuel economy department. I think having computer that monitors MPG helps since you see what you are getting and you can adjust your driving accordingly. It would be nice if Hyundai added instant MPG readings but even average is a big help.
*** Ride
Ride is very nice. Car is quiet but there is some engine and road noise. Nothing bad though. You can comfortably talk and listen to the radio. Comparing to my Impreza it is a HUGE improvement. Car behaves predictably on the road and over all is a pleasure to be in.
We love our Camry ride which is very quiet, probably due to very powerful V6. Sonata does not fall far behind even with 4 Cyl engine.
*** Shortcomings
- Gas tank easy to overflow and spill during top off. Somehow it is constructed in a way that if you try to top off it will spill pretty much immediately. Just need to remember that and do not top off.
- You cant turn on or off audio from steering controls but have to use a power knob on the radio. Not a big deal but Camry can do this with half the buttons.
- Few too many buttons on the radio controls. You do not need all these buttons. Mute? You can just turn radio off. It should be safer with less buttons. This is not a big deal since you can just not use them.
*** Over all
I am very happy with my Sonata, save for a few minor details. If you are on the market for midsized sedan and do not mind how Sonata looks, I strongly urge you to give it a try. Sonata exceeded my expectations in all aspects, especially for the price. Our family tends to keep cars for a long time and long warranty should help us there.
Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have a worthy competition and should be worried.
After much research and test driving we settled on Hyundai Sonata SE. Unfortunately combination of color, style and 4cyl engine that we wanted is rare so we got Sonata Limited instead. I am not disappointed in this choice. OK may be just a little since I am not a big fan of leather and sunroofs. Other than that I am simply thrilled with this car.
*** Room
Sonata has plenty of room. It is as large as our 2008 Camry or maybe even larger. Trunk space is good and split folding rear seat make it even bigger. Trunk opening is large too. Of course this is not a wagon but I think it will do in the most cases.
*** Features
This car is loaded with features! Where do I begin? Telescoping steering wheel (not powered), XM radio, Infinity stereo system with MP3 and WMA playback. My favorite feature of the stereo is ability to play your music from USB drive. There is a USB jack in the armrest compartment in which you can plug your USB drive with music. Car stereo will recognize it and play it just like it would CD with mp3 files on it. Saves you from burning CDs especially if you are like me, like to listen to podcasts. I used to have small mp3 player just for that.
XM radio is very good as well. The car comes with 3 months subscription so you can sample the radio and see if you like it. I like it but not sure if I want to continue. Regular FM reception is great too.
There are 2 power jacks in the cabin - one in the center console and one in the armrest. I think modern car needs more of these, I'd say at least 4. So in this department Sonata is a bit short but few cars have more than 2.
Leather seats are comfortable but the leather is rather hard. Of course you don't pay for the luxury car so you can't expect top quality leather. Power driver seat is nice, controls are intuitive and work well. I have not used heated seats but looking forward to use that feature in the winter.
Another feature that will come handy in the winter is heated outside mirrors. It should improve visibility a lot especially when I leave work in the evening.
Auto dimming mirror with compass is a nice feature plus built in garage door opener adds to the long list.
Comparing to our 2008 Camry LE V6 which cost us nearly the same, Sonata is loaded with features.
One feature that I would like to have but it is missing from Sonata is rear window shade. Camry XLE has that as an option. I would like to have one even manual.
*** Ergonomics
Ergonomics are excellent. All control are where you expect them to be and work as you expect them to work. Clock is clearly visible during the day and at night. This was one of the problems with Impreza. Very good experience over all.
If you are like me, trying to maintain your car yourself, you will be pleased with the placement of the oil filter and all of the dipsticks. They are easy to access and when oil is drained it will not run all over your engine. You also do not need to jack up the car or put it on the ramps to access the oil filter (unlike Camry V6).
*** Build quality
Build quality is better than expected. Materials are high quality, all parts fit well. Car has expensive feel to it. Comparing to our 2008 Camry it wins hands down. Toyota's quality has been slipping over the last few years.
Door panels made plastic that feels and looks good. Leather wrapped steering feels nice. There is no large gaps in the panels (unlike American cars) and exposed edges finished well (unlike Camry). Excellent job Hyundai!
*** Peformance
Performance is very good. I have not had a situation where I would say that I needed more power. I drive this car to and from work, mostly on the freeway. Engine power has been more than sufficient. Maybe if I take the car to the mountains 4 Cyl engine will show its deficiencies but that is to be tested yet. Transmission shifts when you expect and it is very smooth. Since the car is new I have not pushed it much and in general I do not push my cars. I am more after comfortable ride then after performance and Sonata delivers there.
*** Fuel Economy
WOW! That is all I can say. Car is rated to 32MPG on highway and that is where I drive it. When the car was brand new I was driving it rather slow to break in the engine. I was getting 35MPG consistently and few times as high as 37.5MPG. My record per tank was 35.5 MPG.
Now I am driving more inline with the traffic with speeds between 60 and 70 MPH. I am getting 33 MPG without even trying. This car exceeded all of my expectations in the fuel economy department. I think having computer that monitors MPG helps since you see what you are getting and you can adjust your driving accordingly. It would be nice if Hyundai added instant MPG readings but even average is a big help.
*** Ride
Ride is very nice. Car is quiet but there is some engine and road noise. Nothing bad though. You can comfortably talk and listen to the radio. Comparing to my Impreza it is a HUGE improvement. Car behaves predictably on the road and over all is a pleasure to be in.
We love our Camry ride which is very quiet, probably due to very powerful V6. Sonata does not fall far behind even with 4 Cyl engine.
*** Shortcomings
- Gas tank easy to overflow and spill during top off. Somehow it is constructed in a way that if you try to top off it will spill pretty much immediately. Just need to remember that and do not top off.
- You cant turn on or off audio from steering controls but have to use a power knob on the radio. Not a big deal but Camry can do this with half the buttons.
- Few too many buttons on the radio controls. You do not need all these buttons. Mute? You can just turn radio off. It should be safer with less buttons. This is not a big deal since you can just not use them.
*** Over all
I am very happy with my Sonata, save for a few minor details. If you are on the market for midsized sedan and do not mind how Sonata looks, I strongly urge you to give it a try. Sonata exceeded my expectations in all aspects, especially for the price. Our family tends to keep cars for a long time and long warranty should help us there.
Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have a worthy competition and should be worried.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
2009 Impala LTZ Review
I happened to rent Impala LTZ for a week and wanted to share my experience.
*** Room
Impala has enough room in the front seats but back seat is not large for the car of that size. If you carry large adults in the back I would go with another car. Hyndai Sonata had more room in the back although front seats probably not as roomy.
Trunk space is especially ample. We could fit large stroller and 2 suitcases in the trunk without any problems. Very happy with that, since that is why we rented a large car.
*** Ergonomics
Suck big time. Especially bad is placing all controls on one nob on the left side of steering column. It is not intuitive and hard to control. I prefer two knobs on both sides of steering column.
Climate control is a joke. There are two small levers which move in very fine increments and are impossible to adjust in the moving car. Radio has convoluted controls. Hyndai radio for example has more functions and very easy to control.
Fan output control has 2 steps for every picture and you are not sure if you selected the right output since the indicator is pointing to the same picture.
One thing that I liked was on board computer. It has a lot of information and even tire pressure in each tire. I did not play with it too much but it had lots of options. Radio played MP3s but would take extra long time to read the content of CD. I had to power it down and up several times to get it to work.
Keyless remote had engine start button but the feature was missing from the car. They should have remote without extra non working buttons.
There are 3 outlets including one in the center console, this is good since most cars only have 2.
*** Build quality
Build quality is mediocre. The fake wood panels look out of place. Over all this is typical American car that lacks refinement of Camry or Accord. Black rectangular radio in the wood-like frame looks ugly, especially because frame is different shape from the radio. Ford had same problem with their radio.
Leather on the seats is nice quality. Although seats are not that comfy. My 2009 Sonata has more comfortable seats but leather isn't so nice. Both front seats are powered which is nice.
*** Peformance
No complaints there. My car had 3.9L engine with plenty of power. Transmission was shifting smoothly and downshifting on time. If you are after performance car this may be the car for you. If you are willing to sacrifice in all other departments.
*** Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is bad. The car is rated to 27 MPG on highway. I do not know how they rated it. I think it will get 27 MPG if you drive it at 50 MPH on the flat road. We took it to LA from San Jose which is 360 miles ride on the flat road with some mountains at the start and at the end. Fuel economy was 23.8MPG according to on-board computer. I did not speed but went around 75MPH on flat area of HW 5 and around 60 in the mountains. I think the transmission needs another gear or two to improve fuel economy. The turning off cylinders does not help a lot and mileage drops to single digits as soon as you press on accelerator. The price of the gas for round trip was around $110.
We have rented Ford Crown Victoria before that had better mileage with V8 on that same trip. I was expecting around 27MPG at least with my driving. My Sonata is rated at 32MPG and I get 35MPG out of it as a rule. Sometimes even 37 if I only drive on highway.
*** Ride
Ride is noisy for the car of that size. I could not hear our kid from the back seat. This is not a whisper quiet Camry or not even Hyndai Sonata, which is reasonably noisy. Maybe they wanted more sporty feeling, not sure. Handling is ok in my book, but I am not race driver.
*** Over All
There is not much to like about this car. I would not buy it or recommend it at all. GM definitely has a long way to go before they build a car that can compete with Camry or even Hyundai. I have not driven Avalon which would be in the same class as Impala but our V6 Camry is much better in all aspects although Toyota is starting to cut corners as well.
*** Room
Impala has enough room in the front seats but back seat is not large for the car of that size. If you carry large adults in the back I would go with another car. Hyndai Sonata had more room in the back although front seats probably not as roomy.
Trunk space is especially ample. We could fit large stroller and 2 suitcases in the trunk without any problems. Very happy with that, since that is why we rented a large car.
*** Ergonomics
Suck big time. Especially bad is placing all controls on one nob on the left side of steering column. It is not intuitive and hard to control. I prefer two knobs on both sides of steering column.
Climate control is a joke. There are two small levers which move in very fine increments and are impossible to adjust in the moving car. Radio has convoluted controls. Hyndai radio for example has more functions and very easy to control.
Fan output control has 2 steps for every picture and you are not sure if you selected the right output since the indicator is pointing to the same picture.
One thing that I liked was on board computer. It has a lot of information and even tire pressure in each tire. I did not play with it too much but it had lots of options. Radio played MP3s but would take extra long time to read the content of CD. I had to power it down and up several times to get it to work.
Keyless remote had engine start button but the feature was missing from the car. They should have remote without extra non working buttons.
There are 3 outlets including one in the center console, this is good since most cars only have 2.
*** Build quality
Build quality is mediocre. The fake wood panels look out of place. Over all this is typical American car that lacks refinement of Camry or Accord. Black rectangular radio in the wood-like frame looks ugly, especially because frame is different shape from the radio. Ford had same problem with their radio.
Leather on the seats is nice quality. Although seats are not that comfy. My 2009 Sonata has more comfortable seats but leather isn't so nice. Both front seats are powered which is nice.
*** Peformance
No complaints there. My car had 3.9L engine with plenty of power. Transmission was shifting smoothly and downshifting on time. If you are after performance car this may be the car for you. If you are willing to sacrifice in all other departments.
*** Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is bad. The car is rated to 27 MPG on highway. I do not know how they rated it. I think it will get 27 MPG if you drive it at 50 MPH on the flat road. We took it to LA from San Jose which is 360 miles ride on the flat road with some mountains at the start and at the end. Fuel economy was 23.8MPG according to on-board computer. I did not speed but went around 75MPH on flat area of HW 5 and around 60 in the mountains. I think the transmission needs another gear or two to improve fuel economy. The turning off cylinders does not help a lot and mileage drops to single digits as soon as you press on accelerator. The price of the gas for round trip was around $110.
We have rented Ford Crown Victoria before that had better mileage with V8 on that same trip. I was expecting around 27MPG at least with my driving. My Sonata is rated at 32MPG and I get 35MPG out of it as a rule. Sometimes even 37 if I only drive on highway.
*** Ride
Ride is noisy for the car of that size. I could not hear our kid from the back seat. This is not a whisper quiet Camry or not even Hyndai Sonata, which is reasonably noisy. Maybe they wanted more sporty feeling, not sure. Handling is ok in my book, but I am not race driver.
*** Over All
There is not much to like about this car. I would not buy it or recommend it at all. GM definitely has a long way to go before they build a car that can compete with Camry or even Hyundai. I have not driven Avalon which would be in the same class as Impala but our V6 Camry is much better in all aspects although Toyota is starting to cut corners as well.
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