Car in question is a '99 Hyundai Grandeur, I know, I know, it's a Hyundai

Car backfires quite a bit when you open up the throttle below 3 thousand RPM, settles down to almost normal at high RPM. Loss of power through out the band, and also loss of economy (although it is being driven at higher than normal rpm, doesn't account for it all ).

Anyone else think it's the MAF sensor that's either dead or extremely dirty ? I disconnected it tonight on the back from the servo, and besides a little hissy fit when starting, it exhibited no new problems.

Idle is rock solid, it's just when you open up the throttle to attack hills/overtake you notice the backfiring, loud pops from up near the manifold/just before the catalytic converter.

Thoughts and opinions desperately sought after, since tomorrow I'll either be getting a new ignition coil (which sits above the front bank of spark plugs, one is ticking more than the others), or a new MAF sensor.

Cheers people.