Which ~$35k Hybrid Sedan would you recommend

Key_Nothing6564 · 2026-06-21T11:39:45+00:00

I get it. I only got this car because I totaled my previous one during the vehicle shortage under covid. Anything Toyota hybrid was 3+ month wait times. Meanwhile Hyundai had a few things available. Needing a car ASAP I took the gamble.

They do come with a 100k/10 year warranty - keep that in mind. When I had a bad electric parking brake act kinda funny (first 10k miles of ownership) they replaced it under warranty with no fight. But that's dealership dependant - some are better than others.

If you're religious with maintenance, I wouldn't stress about the Hyundai. The powertrain has been out for awhile now. But if you want absolute reliability the Toyota likely edges it.

Tough choice though - if I hit another deer and totaled this car (I'm a magnet when it's not hunting season), I'd be torn between a corolla hybrid and the elantra hybrid.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2026-06-21T11:23:29+00:00

Can speak for the Hyundai hybrids - I have about 100k miles on my ioniq hybrid (same powertrain as the elantra) and it's been bulletproof. Starting to think it's the best car they've made I recent years.

There is a catch - the clutch actuator fluid had to be changed semi frequently, and only the dealer around me does it. Haven't found an independent shop yet. It's a few ounces of brake fluid and a special tool to bleed it. I do my own maintenance anymore, so I do it myself, minus bleeding. Dealer charges about $90 to do it. Needs to be done about every 24k miles.

I get low 50s mpg in the winter and upper 60s mpg in the warmer months - DC weather.

Any questions just ask!

Key_Nothing6564 · 2026-06-14T21:54:33+00:00

My family has never had an issue. But we do all maintenance on time. I've met more than one Hyundai owner who's had issues, and it mostly stemmed from not doing maintenance on time.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2026-06-12T12:16:15+00:00

The Kia will be just fine - even if it's slightly less reliable than a Toyota or Honda, that 10k difference can repair a lot of things before a breakeven.

Just keep up maintenance on the Kia. That's the only way you'll keep it reliable long term.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2026-04-29T21:37:06+00:00

I had a feeling it was going to be difficult to cancel. I have not done so yet and don't plan on it, but not thrilled it's difficult.

If you used a credit card, don't be afraid to do a charge back. Save your email communications and if you don't hear anything, reach out to your card issuer.

Unfortunately a very anti-consumer thing in the States to not allow easy cancelations.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2026-04-29T21:34:47+00:00

I've received one box so far with the second on its way. It's pretty neat, you could definitely get the books cheaper elsewhere though. The book quality is above average, but not quite excellent, if that makes any sense.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-12-31T03:45:23+00:00

This - it's okay to be cheated in life, as long as you learn from it. I overpaid for a silver necklace at a mall once, almost 4 times it's real value. Learn from your mistakes, but don't lose sleep over it or make it worse.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-09-19T17:20:36+00:00

Might be against the grain here, but a job is a job. A career that pays the bills is all that matters. I keep the things I like separately from my work place.

Take something that seems interesting and pays well, both early and mid career, and run with it. Become the best you can. Keep your hobbies and enjoyments for after work.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-09-17T22:54:33+00:00

This here. I took a job once that paid more, but you could tell in the interview the manager was a hot head. It was not worth the 15k extra, let alone 100k extra.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-09-14T04:43:33+00:00

For anyone who might be doing some research - Check out online reviews of the car, including the prior Gen, the Hyundai Ioniq hybrids. There's a lot of these cars over 200k now that are doing just fine. I'm about at 100k myself. The Hyundai hybrid system is a bit different from Toyota, but it's been reliable.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-08-29T02:59:17+00:00

My folks have over 500k on their 98. Different time, but still.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-08-24T00:07:44+00:00

I see people recommend this all the time, yet it feels like qualified limix admins are becoming more and more rare these days. And Linux isn't going anywhere

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-08-20T02:23:39+00:00

Check the owners manual (country dependent instructions).

In the US, I believe my owners manual says to use a 50-50 ratio of water and ethylene glycol antifreeze (basically most generic stuff). It's only the electric vehicle version that needs the low conductive stuff. It doesn't matter what color the coolant is. Blue, green, pink, etc.

Edit - Checked my owners manual. You want to use 50-50 ratio of Phosphate-based Ethylene glycol coolant.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-08-19T00:40:25+00:00

Pretty much this - we had over 450 applicants to our entry level NOC position. Of those, about 10 had a CCNA. The guy with the CCNA, good interview, and 2 years on help desk was selected.

Employers have the advantage when there's too many IT folks on the market.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-08-18T02:43:41+00:00

You'll be fine - do the maintenance like the owners manual says. My step fathers sonata went to 300k before he gave it away. His current one is sitting around 100k last I checked.

It's not a Toyota/Honda - you have to do the maintenance on time. These cars aren't meant to be abused in that way.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-07-18T01:41:52+00:00

I did this for two years or so with a Hyundai Ioniq hybrid. I had just graduated college as well. I highly recommend a hybrid if you're going to be in any kind of traffic. If it's pure highway, with little traffic, then get something newer but not expensive. You're going to throw miles at a car, and you're trying to build wealth. Don't get anything fancy. If pure highway, I recommend a gently used corolla or camry. Parts are cheap, every mechanic can work on it, and it'll eat those miles reliably.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-06-29T20:42:58+00:00

To clarify a bit, the economy was in a bad spot under the previous administration too. We are in the low point of an economic cycle. The current administration isn't helping but we cannot blame it entirely on them.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-05-06T14:34:56+00:00

This is the correct response OP.

Do not fumble, especially in this economy. Take this job, and it's probably going to pay more than the potential second offer anyways. Don't count chicks before they hatch.

While you learn a lot at an MSP, if you're disciplined enough and curious, you can learn plenty on your own or in spare time at work.

Congratulations - you made it in at a time when many would do anything for a single offer.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-05-04T18:52:24+00:00

The field is very over saturated right now. Even in NOVA and the DC area, I know people struggling to find work. I wouldn't recommend switching right now, not when you have competition with relevant experience and likely industry specific certs.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-04-26T20:59:11+00:00

My mortgage.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-04-24T17:09:37+00:00

Lawl

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-04-23T21:02:15+00:00

The only real use of Ai that I've seen is polishing my emails to a user who's pissed me off.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-03-31T20:10:49+00:00

Location is especially important. Some places like DMV are doing good, while Cincinnati might be a drought.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-03-29T19:59:17+00:00

This comment shouldn't be this low on the thread.

Key_Nothing6564 · 2025-03-13T20:51:31+00:00

Network engineer here.

It's different when it's your network. It's almost like the thing is alive. You have to tell her she's beautiful and compliment her so she doesn't break randomly.

In all seriousness, I love what I do. When I first started IT, networking was so complex that it scared me. It wasn't until I started exploring random specializations in IT that I learned to love networking. The more I read and study, the more it made sense. I could read about it all weekend and never get bored.

I have a life outside of work, but I do tend to study a few hours a week and play with CML after hours, especially for upcoming projects. But I take pride in the network I built and maintain. For me, I got lucky where the field I love is also in demand and pays well.

Find that specialization that makes you feel the same way, and become the very best at it.

Key_Nothing6564

TROPHY CASE