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Hyundai Sonata vs. Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry vs. Ford Fusion
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with Fords. But lucky with Honda. The main thing
I dislike about Ford is that they never took
reponsibility for design flaws and faulty cars
unless forced to by the government or a lawsuit.
On the other hand, Honda seems to go out of their
way to help their customers.
Like I said, I owned many Fords, more than you've mentioned. My daughter only owned one, destroyed
by engine fire. Her fault I guess. She shouldn't
have driven it. Ford did zip for her.
8 years, because of those experiences. They may have
had to change, but I haven't looked at them. Are you going to sell the new Camry at or below invoice? If you are,
let me know where you are located and I will come for
a test drive.
invoice.
Out of all the Hyundais I've seen the Sonata is the best, hands down. Azera, Elantra, even the Santa Fe are yawns. Hyundai needs to parlay the success of the Sonata with other offerings better than what they have out now.
Its probably their best shot at getting over the negative hump they've been behind from past troubles. I don't think it'll take ten more years - probably more like 4-5.
The Santa Fe is six years old--the all-new model is due out this summer. The all-new Elantra is due out this fall. The all-new big SUV is due out this year. The all-new crossover is due out this year. The all-new Accent 3-door is due out this spring. The all-new Accent hybrid is due out this fall.
Are you getting the picture?
And Hyundai isn't the only company coming out with new or updated models.
That's the picture I get. Mega competition is always good for the consumer.
Max out at 400,000?
They already sold 455,012 in 2005. The new Sonata only sold for half the year, and the new Accent and Azera came at the end of the year. In 2006, new Elantra, new Santa Fe, new Entourage, and new EN are coming, and in 2007, the BH.
In 2007, I can see their sales as something like:
Accent: 40,000
Elantra: 120,000
Sonata: 180,000
Azera: 40,000
Tucson: 50,000
Santa Fe: 100,000
EN: 30,000
Entourage: 45,000
Tiburon: 15,000
Total: 620,000
The Corolla is aged.. It's already 5 yrs into this Gen and is due to renew this time next year. But it sells like crazy .
This was all in response to one poster who stated categorically that Hyundai would blow by HonYota and all of Detroit an soon be #1 here. I am certain this is not likely in the near future for all the reasons in the last 30 posts. They might be a solid 6th!!
But for the people who find the seating position of the Corolla tolerable, it is a good little car--economical, smooth ride, reliable, peppy enough, good safety options available (side bags/curtains, ABS, even VSC). But "best in class" with the Civic and Mazda3? Sorry, I don't think so.
P.S. didn't the latest Corolla debut in early 2002, as a 2003 model--four years ago?
Well, Hyundai execs would roll on the floor if Sonata reached "only" 400k. That would make it the best selling sedan in the U.S.
sell the 2007 Camry for around invoice? I doubt it.
But then they have to build 3 or 4 more plants like that and max them all out to catch Toyota today.
It doesnt help me but it helps the owner. So if he says move all the Camry's and keep a 20 day supply the GSM will be all over that order. It also makes the process a lot easier and the customers a lot more relaxed and satisfied.
BTW just to be clear, Toyota doesnt give a whit of what happens with the retail prices. When the Camry is shipped they have their money. After that it's between the dealer and the buyer.
Toyota says that 85% of Camry sales are sedans.
85% of 431,703 is 366,948.
So Camry sedan sales in 2005 was about 367,000.
Guys this has just started!!!
I hadn't considered looking at things that way. It makes sense when you see the picture that way.
And what has just started? People wanting choices? The auto market is constantly changing. Look at Ford.
Let's see what Ford's doing lately...
Ford to cut up to 30,000 jobs, idle 14 plants
Struggling automaker seeks to reverse $1.6 billion loss in 2005
Click here
No recalls. No fires. Honda almost immediately pinpointed
the cause of the fires, and sent me a notice about it.
This would have taken Ford 10 years, and probably
20 or 30 deaths. Also, I believe Honda or the dealers
took responsibility for the fires, unlike Ford. There
is no comparison. Try googling Honda fires, then
Ford fires. If you want to see which has more. Remember
the Pinto?
They had about 8 of them in stock and had posted on the showroom glass their "no-dicker" prices for each, which ranged from $2k-$3k off MSRP. Fusion is priced right and I believe will be a big winner for Ford. Looks like you could get a V-6 version out the door for $20K plus or minus $1K or so, if you didn't go hog wild with the bells and whistles.
Too bad my Taurus is only just getting broken in, now at 5 years and 55K miles! I won't be in the market for another 4-5 years.
What were the package differences between the two?
I myself have driven two Tauri, a 1990 (good old Vulcan!) for ten years and 100K miles and am now on the sixth year of my 2000 Duratech equipped Taurus and both have been extremely reliable and did not and have not developed creaks and rattles as they aged.
I believe that American brands as a whole have some digging out to do, I'm sorry I picked on Ford, but that is the only relevant American brand in this forum.
My neighbors have a 1993 Taurus (vulcan 3.0l) that has 140,000 miles on it. Their daughter now drives it to school. I don't remember them talking about any major issues with it. It shouldn't, especially the recent vulcan-engined Tauri, since that motor has had 15 years or more to work out its kinks!
I have tested drove an Accord SE, and it's impressive, accept its price (I can get one at 21000 OTD).
Tested drove an Camry 06 LE with no side airbag, and like it power seat + the look is ok (I can get one at 19000 OTD). However, the handling is not as good as the Accord.
I have just tested drove an Sonata GLS today. The power seem to be a bit less compare to Acord and about equal to Camry 06. I like the long list of standard option that Sonata offer. (I can get one at 17500)
If you were me, with one would you buy?
BTW, we're now getting 26MPG city, 30 MPG hwy in our 06 GLSV6 Sonata, and really love the drive!
Callmedrfill wrote:
..Toyota, for one, will more or less sell you the same car, with similar quality for very different prices, just differences in styling, features, and power. Without "badge engineering" them. They have distinction. And seperate identities. And both have value in their classes.
As you probably know I sell Camry's, et.al. and I've driven them ( 4 ) nearly 500000 mi in 15 yrs. but I was shocked to see that the body panels and seams and gaps and paint color were identical on both the '05 ES330 and LE Camry. They were the same vehicle except as you say for features/power and some minor stylistic tweaks.
This confirms something I have felt for the last 500000 miles of driving; it wasnt just a 'base' Camry. It felt better built. Literally nothing ever went wrong and there were no odd creaks during turns or noises or rattles even up to 180K when I normally traded.
Seeing the the two side by side only confirmed my feeling.
In reply to backy above. This is one of the imponderables of why the Camry seems to do so well in the hands of the public inspite of it's mundane look ( til now ) and mediocre performance and relative poor comparos and relatively high price. It feels and drives like more than it appears to be.
No car is certainly perfect, but I expected more from Toyota, especially after hearing how fantastic their fit and finish is. Other than the noted anomalies, they were apparently assembled very well. But, I think they had a production and/or assembly problem is those areas in the Georgetown, KY plant.