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Midsize Sedans Comparison Thread
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warning: views expressed in this post are solely the opinion of the creator and in no way reflect the opinions of edmunds, the public at large, or the gods above. don't try this at home.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I don't think this needs to be the case. I FEEL the 1992-1998 BMW E36 3 series cars had very good ride quality and they also had very good handling. They didn't have anything overly sophisticated (no magnetic suspension systems or hover crafts or anything), just a lot of time spent in tuning shock valving and spring rates.
Yes this car was expensive, but man, that was 15 years ago. You would think some of the other companies could have figured it out. I remember in the original Miata (pre-whale) they spent some incredible amount of time tuning the suspension with simulation and road time. They even spec'd the tire compound.
At a Chrysler test drive event last weekend, I drove a Magnum SRT, with something like 450 HP and 0-60 time of 5.5 sec. The course they had set up started with a long straight stretch where you could just floor it. Even with that much power and accelertion, the straight ahead acceleration just was not that exciting to me. The rest of the course with tight curves was a lot more fun to drive through.
I think it is definitely the case. Some cars have a very good compromise (of ride and handling), but no car has the "perfect" suspension. These Midsize sedans are totally redesigned every 4-5 years, so time is limited on suspension. You have to have a car first, before you can tune a suspension to it. And just because the suspension worked well on that Beemer, doesn't mean it would work on any other car.
Wow - do you really think the Accord feels like that? I drove one for years and never felt that way towards the suspension. I thought it was a precision machine and handled and felt great. Much better than any Sonata I drove.
How long did you own your Accord?
Plus I'm a 'professional reviewer' also. And there's my opinion. That'll be $500.
This doesn't make sense. These two car's suspensions are at totally opposite ends. Either you like a firm er ride (Fusion), or you like a softer ride (Sonata). The Accord would be the compromise between the two.
I would counter that a Sonata or Fusion has 'no' feel. No sense of being connected to the road. And I'd be right. And I'm still laughing about the Focus example. Good one.
Like a Focus has a comparable ride to any midsize car. :confuse:
Fusion :confuse: are you sure you did not mean maybe Camry or some GM product there?
and to elmo who put the suspensions of the altima and the 6 in the same category... the altima has been faulted by many because when it hits larger sharp bumps it crashes as though there weren't enough suspension travel, whereas the 6 absorbs these bumps much better. you do feel it for sure and you do know it was a big one, but the sharpness of the impact is absorbed much better than the altima. and it's not like the altima had good reason for this...body lean in turns was very high, almost as much as the sonata. if you're going to have firm ride, at least make it corner well and respond quickly to steering input.
many car mags seem to like the 6 because it does have an absorbant and forgiving suspension that is tuned to be on the firm side so that when the driver does get the chance to appreciate what a good handling vehicle can do they can without having to use the steering wheel as an anchor to hold them up. but then these reviewers of car mags tend to be people who not just love cars, they love to drive. and not just to drive to and from the grocery store in a mundane monotony, but they drive to feel the exhilaration of speed and g-forces combined with control and comfort.
there are those who can't afford a true sports car and a more practical daily driver but who like to drive spiritedly when they can. it's nice that there are choices in the class of midsize family sedans that appeal to this kind of driver.
Sorry about that, I should have said "firm" for the 6, and "harsh" for the Altima. Caught that huh? He should have gotten the point of the post though. I would probably like driving the 6. Not sure about the wife though (she doesn't exactly drive "spirited").
So I am a "Honda-basher" because I don't like a car where I feel every bump? I guess I was a Honda basher then when I bought those two Hondas I used to own. :confuse: Maybe the definition of a "Honda-basher" is "someone who doesn't think every Honda is perfect in every way, and who can actually appreciate other cars besides Hondas"?
Comparing the Fusion and Sonata, the Fusion is a little more to the "handling" side of the meter and the Sonata a little more to the "smooth ride" side of the meter, but both are a compromise IMO compared to cars like the Accord (way over to the "handling" side at the expense of smooth ride) and the LaCrosse (way over to the "smooth ride" side of the meter at the expense of handling).
To me the Mazda6 and Fusion, like the wife's Jetta, do have a smooth ride, but not a soft ride.
Regarding the Accord, I don't know...you seem to be pretty unique in feeling its ride is excessively firm.
And, if you get the Jetta, you have to listen to that engine moan all the way up to its not-so-rousing 5,800 RPM redline. If you get a Jetta, PLEASE get the 2.0T, or skip the car altogether.
yeah, but don't forget that volvo often has heavy incentives on them, bringing them down into the $20s for nicely optioned models. It is still more expensive than the Japanese and Korean mid-sizers ... but not as much as most people think.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
The Accord's ride may be firm, but that's GOOD! Its like calling blue cheese dressing funky or a Merlot's afertaste tart. Isn't that what you want? I do.
I doubt many folks test drive the Accord and say no to it because of the firmness of the suspension. I'd bet more say they'd buy it BECAUSE of the firm ride than the other way around.
Except maybe also those hundreds of thousands of people who buy smoother-riding cars like Camrys, Sonatas, and Buicks every year.
Have there been any comparison tests recently, aside from the somewhat odd one in MT?
Interesting note- owners of Accords, Camrys, Malibus, Legacys and Passats have a lower likelihood of injury than in the $60K Mercedes E-Class, all things being equal. That's impressive. (The Legacy, Passat, and Camry have greater structural integrety in this test, also).
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=703
~alpha
How about...you seem to be pretty unique in feeling its ride is excessively firm, compared to the fusion.
Honda doesn't believe in option packages, just models, so it doesn't fit in with their business plan, but the Fusion could certainly have a sport suspension option and a tender-bottom option. That might be good for Nissan as well to offset the "firm ride" criticism? they received.
The car needed new tires not long after I bought it (used), so when I changed them, I asked the guy if there was something that would help. With the new (non-sport) tires the ride was just right for my taste.
Eh, I don't think it had a whole lot to do with sport or non-sport, those Firerocks generally were considered sub-par in every aspect (dry traction, wet traction, snow, treadwear...). I had Dunlop SP5000s on mine and it was great, although very different then the Comp T/A R1s for track events.
Good point. I know I did when I bought an Accord. What's this 'feel every little bump' nonsense anyway? Hundreds of thousands of buyers every year are happy with the car's dynamics.
??????
If you roll a Mercedes at 120, you won't be doing anything else after that. :sick: (I think you meant to say than, not then)
i have a 2.3 zts which is a pretty fun car to drive.
i was just responding to what i feel are snotty posts (not based on actual experience).
So, you consider real world conditions to be rolling a car at 120 MPH over having a crash at 60 MPH?
Apparently Birmingham, AL isn't the real world, because I've never see an chance to drive anywhere close to 120 MPH here in central Alabama.
I'm just happy that you had the good sense to put the all-important "IMO" at the end of your post .