HEY FLORIDA GUYS! 2010 Hyundai Sonata- Can we help CWH's widow?

As many of you know, GRMer CWH passed away recently.

Link to CWH's memorial thread

One of the things he left behind was a 2010 Hyundai Sonata.  122K miles.  His wife Jane doesn't drive any more, so the car needs to go.  It's in Port Richey FL.

I've never seen the car, but it appears it would make a pretty decent basic commuter , or maybe $2000 Challenge car.  It has some body cosmetic issues.  

Kelly Blue Book says it's worth between $1600 and $2400 (Maybe we can help her and do better?) Jane says she'd take quite a bit less to get it moved quickly.   She needs it gone ASAP.  Even if it moves to someone else's place waiting for a sale. (anyone in the Port Richey FL area?)

Jane's description:

The car is a 2010 and has not been garaged.  There is a small amount of damage (from us being backed into in a grocery store parking lot); the passenger side mirror works, but the housing is cracked; the passenger side back door handle fell off; it needs a paint job (some spot rust-we bought her at CARMAX, they didn't do such a great job painting, as it faded recently); the upholstery is okay, but needs covering; the vinyl on the dash is cracked; the plates behind the outer rims need cleaning & painting.  She's been checked out recently but is due for an oil change.  Front passenger tire appears to have a nail in it.

 

The running condition is and has been very good.  Mileage about 35 MPG open road, 28 MPG in local traffic. Chuck was the car guy, not me, for sure, so I wouldn't know how to price her to sell, so I am open to any suggestions and help in selling it you have to offer.   

I'm not a Hyundai guy, and FL is not my stomping ground, so I need a little help.  Thanks!

Interior pics:

I'm in PA, so not much help in the physical sense.

I'll pass this along to some FB car groups and see what I can come up with.

I'm assuming it's an auto?  is it the 4cyl or the 6cyl?  If Jane doesn't know, a shot of the bumper (single exhaust = 4cyl, dual exhaust = 6cyl) should easily tell.

In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :

Jane's words say, "...Mileage about 35 MPG open road, 28 MPG in local traffic."  Given this and the generally low options like steel wheels, I'm gonna solid guess 4 cyl.  

EPA says:
4cyl: 22/25/32
6 cyl: 19/22/29

Hint of automatic in this picture: 

I feels like its been years since I've seen Karl La Follette here on the board but he's up on that N. W coast of Fl.  

If I hadn't just bought a POS civic, I'd probably be all over this in a way that's irrational and baffling to just about everyone.

if someone does end up attempting to make a challenge car out of it, I have some hard-earned experience and advice to give.

Happy to help if I can. She is just north of Tampa. About 2.5 hours from me. 

sleepyhead the buffalo said:

I'm assuming it's an auto?  is it the 4cyl or the 6cyl?  If Jane doesn't know, a shot of the bumper (single exhaust = 4cyl, dual exhaust = 6cyl) should easily tell.

Obviously reasonable questions.  Not sure why I blanked out on asking those.

It's a basic commuter, so I am assuming auto 4 cyl, but I will check with her.

I'm not far from NPR, I just don't know what I could do to help. If someone buys it and she needs it gone I can store it for a little while. I think a fly and drive would be good for it! I'll pick anybody up at Tampa or St Pete/Clearwater airport. I have a lift for a once over before your adventure home.

In reply to SV reX :

I'm reasonably confident in the 4cyl/5A pre-identification that John's done.  The good news are: it's 175hp (up from the 2006-2008 164hp);  those Theta's didn't have the same "issues" that the next generation had;  it has manu-matic shift selecting; and ~2inches more rear leg room than a 2005-2009 Acura TL.  The not-so-good news is mainly from a "GRMChallenge perspective": it's  a ~3250#s curb weight.

Less well known is that it's riding on front double wishbone, rear multi-link.  Modifying that for performance gets a little tricky (and that's where I've got some thoughts/feedback from my own bumbled forays with the chassis.).

Not that anyone would... but, with the auto... it's actually reasonably close to "SundaeCup" 25:1 lb/whp weight-to-power ratio TimeAttack class that GridLife has.

I'm in north Florida and am looking for a car like this.  Unfortunately our bonuses don't come out until February.  But I would be interested in it.  If she really needs it gone before then pm me the details and I will see what I can do. 

In reply to Nick Comstock :

Did you move without me realizing?  I swore you were out west like Texas way.

In reply to Stampie :

Yeah,  got divorced sold everything that wouldn't fit on the motorcycle and ended up in North Florida. Completely started over.  Been here a couple years.  

In reply to Nick Comstock :

Thanks Nick. 
 

I responded to your email. 

In reply to SV reX :

Post it on eBay as Dave Grohl's uncle's car & some crazed fan will overpay for it. 

In reply to jgrewe :

There may be a LOT you could do...

If you were willing to store it, it would solve her immediate problem. 
 

Plus, you could stick it on the lift and give it a once over, just so we would all have just a little better idea of the condition and value. 
 

I'd cover the interim costs if there were any. 
 

Would you be open to something like that?

I'm up to help as well. I'm about an hour from the car. I have room to store it. If there's something else, let me know. 

In reply to SV reX :

Immediate, like this week, would be a problem. I'm just finishing a shop move today and the lift isn't even set up yet.  I have at least a couple weeks before I can get it set up. 

If someone here is trying to piece together a plan that may take a month or so I'd be more able to help with that.

In reply to jgrewe :

Thanks for the clarification. 

I'll just chime in here. I'm probably 15-20 minutes away from the car. I have ZERO interest in it and really don't have the room to store it right now but if push came to shove I could sit on it for a month or so if need be to help out.

Just looked at the car.  Looks good mechanically.  A little rough cosmetically.  Looks like a solid car.  I made an offer and she's willing to wait but first come first serve I guess.  I'm going to see what I can do to expedite things on my end. 

In reply to Nick Comstock :

I just spoke to Jane. She is a very happy lady. 
 

You sir, are a hero in my book. 
 

(I know you guys still have some details to work out)

In reply to SV reX :

Nah, we do what we can to take care of our own when we're able to.

  If I hadn't been on short term disability for the last three months I'd have bought it today.  

She seems like a fighter,  my bet is she'll be back driving again soon and I can give it back to her. 

Temp tag and insurance is procured.  I will be picking the car up Sunday.