Hey folks,
I’m on the hunt for a budget-friendly first car and came across a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. I’ve heard mixed reviews and wanted to get your take on it. Is the Sonata a reliable option for a first-time car owner? Any specific issues I should be aware of?
Also, if you have any other suggestions for affordable and dependable first cars, I’m all ears…TIA 
I got lucky and got a 2012 sonata gls with a rebuilt engine. 120 k miles and runs like new, doesnt even burn oil
Make sure the engine is in good shape and get a history report. It might have been replaced with a new engine because of a recall, or it could still have the original one. I have a 2013 model with serious engine problems and 161,000 miles on it, but I didn’t take the best care of it, so some of that is my fault. I really love my car; it’s great, but you should check that it’s working well. I recommend getting something a little newer because this one is pretty old, but as long as it runs, you should be fine. It’s hard to know how long it will last since there are a lot of factors to consider.
I wouldn’t recommend it but if you’re knowledgeable about cars or are willing to learn it could be a good first car. They require some extra maintenance to keep running assuming it doesn’t fail from the manufacturing debris issue.
If you’re in the US I would avoid any 11-19 Sonata. They like to lose their engines
Just keep up with the maintenance, and you’ll be fine! I just hit 88,000 miles on mine! 
The Sonata is a good choice, but keep in mind that Hyundais from that year need regular maintenance. You should stay on top of oil changes (use full synthetic oil) and change all other fluids and belts on time. If you do this, you can get a lot of good use out of it.
Probably not due to theft risks, it does depend where you live though
It’s 11 years old, there’s a huge risk it would just be a money sink.