Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Midsize Sedans Comparison Thread
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
-Loren
-Loren
Which makes current V6s, with all their power and fuel economy, so much more attractive.
A V6 Accord or a Mazdaspeed3? V6 all the way.
Overpriced? A hatchback with 263 HP, LSD, and a sub-6 second 0-60 MPH, that retails for about $22,800? This car essentially is the proper GTI that even VW can't (and won't) build.
Overpriced? It's about $2300 cheaper than the WRX, which set the pocket-rocket class on fire when that first came out in the US.
As far as resale value is concerned, the used market for a standard-issue Mazda3 isn't cheap. The 3 as a whole has held it's value very well. It's hard to even find a used Mazda3, let alone one that's cheaper than a comparable Civic or Corolla.
The MS3 is a fantastic value for the performance-minded young buyer that is tired of the WRX, and even the STi/EVO. You may think it's overpriced, but I think you're just not the right type of buyer for the MS3. It's not perfect for me either, but at $23K, it's a steal.
Yes,they are. But my reading of the incentives here on edmunds was that you can currently get both the $1000 and discount financing (eg. 2.9% for 36 months). This could be an error, of course.
-Loren
I have a four banger now and want to go back to at the least a six, if not a V8 engine. Thinking of used '04 Stang. And if I had more parking space, would like to own an Eldorado. Could not afford one new, but would have the money to own a used one now. They don't make as cool a looking car these days. There is the CTS, which I think is a kick to drive. If I was to own a car for sport and practical transportation, it may be the ticket! In Japan makes, perhaps the Mazda6 V6 or the Milan. The Altima seemed like a good choice, but I would need another test drive. I have mixed feelings about the CVT one -- maybe the old one.
-Loren
It is standard on the Sonata and the Accord, optional on the Camry (standard on Hybrid and SE, available on LE and XLE I believe, I'm not sure about CE).
The hybrid has the Lexus VDIM system.
I will fully admit that Sonata is the best value in this class. If you are looking for "features" for the price that's probably the car for you, at least if you don't want extras like a sunroof, 6 disc changer, leather, etc. Once you start adding on the Sonata, you get into the $21+ price range and I think it loses a lot of its appeal. That's just my personal opinion, of course.
Its not worth much of an argument about styling--I loved the Camry's from the second I saw it because its so distinctive. I will admit that the chrome grille makes a big difference--the Hybrid has a full chrome grill, the XLE has a chrome frame. I'm not a huge fan of the SE body cladding or the blacked out grill on the Camry LE.
I like the Accord's sleek styling, I like the front 2/3rd of the Fusion but hate its rear end, and I don't care for the Sonata--I think it looks frumpy. Mazda6 doesn't look fresh anymore, and I like the Altima well enough but to me the redesign was "why bother?"
I've never been much of a fan of the CTS though, but I absolutely LOVE the STS. I'd buy one if I could afford it. The CTS just looks too short and stumpy and the interior is inferior even to my Camry. The Infiniti G35 looks great on the outside, I never minded the interior but I would if I had paid more than $30k for it. Acura really nailed the interiors of the TL and TSX, but both of them need a redesign at this point (which they are getting).
Its still funny to me that the Galant never even enters the discussion. Who buys them?
I've been meaning to say this on here too--I had a chance to climb all over the new Sebring, and I think its totally noncompetitve. I'd say the Fusion had to be the main competitor for Chrysler (domestic midsize), and it came up WAY short. Styling looks fine until the back end, but the interior is lousy. I saw a Sebring Touring with a sticker of nearly $25k and that crappy 2.7L V6 that gets beat by Honda and Toyota 4 cyls, at least in terms of refinement.
What was Chrysler THINKING?
I like it a lot. Looks way upscale than the current interior. Although still not as nice as the Accord's but definitely not far behind Camry's and better than Altima's.
They also have no steering wheel controls and still have the ugly cheap corporate cruise control stalk in the new Sebring. :confuse:
The devil's in them details and its like they never quite get it all.
Different cars different audiences. Note I'm referring to the STI variant, I'm not a fan of the WRX. I don't want to go to far astray, but let's start from the front and rear legroom. I seem to recall the WRX has a bit more legroom. From there one can talk about what people do when they track and mod both car. After which you can talk about how well the STI holds it's value (yes, it's residual and it's only a guesstimate). Don't see the Mazda3 on the list.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/115129/article.html
There is a huge market for the STI. I understand you are not a fan of them.
I see the Sebring everywhere here. Is it even selling well? If not, i guess the convertible will change ALL of that!
-Cj :P
I think you need to re-read my previous post...
All those cars were great! My fav was the corolla as it took us from miami to atlanta on 1.5 tanks of gas while spending a max of $30 in 1 direction!
The hardtop sebring cabrio should be a seller. Otherwise, i agree with you 100%. The avenger, WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY!
-Cj
Where do you live? All I see showing up on people's driveways these days in my area are a lot of new Camrys. Hardly any American sedans or cars on driveways... plenty of trucks and SUVs though (and a few Corvettes!). None of these are fleet sales... we're talking homes in the burbs and Toyota runs the car show. :P
-Cj I ♥ CHOICES
Of course others may just fall in love with the look, so ya never know. The Chrysler company has made a lot of bold moves. I can understand how some may even like the strange looking Caliber, but this Sebring is just a bunch of lines and parts kinda welded together, IMHO. I may be totally wrong, but I think it will sell so few copies, it will be gone in a couple of years.
-Loren
Why not tell us how you really feel about the new Sebring...
Maybe you're just seeing all the rental cars in town for the Xmas/Hanukkah holiday.
Just in Miami-Dade/Broward/Palm Beach counties alone BMW probably breaks even for the whole US market.
Ford cars seem to be scorned.
Newer Toyotas may be higher tech, but I doubt they are better cars for reliability, and even looks given the odd looking nose on the little beast.
-Loren
Honda makes good engines - great race engines - good products in general - and decent cars. Nothing too amazing about the Accord though, it is a solid car. The Civic to me feels wrong just sitting in the Coupe. Kinda feels like I would be driving a video game - where's the hood?
-Loren
Stay tuned...
Nope, 10k miles is normal schedule for 4-cylinder Accords, with regular dinosaur juice (plain oil). Now, the maintenance minder eliminates the need for the schedule. I have 5,900 miles on this particular oil, with 30% showing on my oil life.
I'm not sure of other maintenance schedule of vehicles in this thread.
-Loren
You're telling me you can see the a lot more of the hood on the other cars here? I'm 6'4" and can't even do that in my Accord. Seeing more of the hood doesn't help if you can't see the actual corners of the vehicle, meaning all of the hood (like you might could in a mid-80s Crown Vic for example).
Have you considered Mobil1?
I have heard of long intervals between oil changes in Europe. Some GM cars have this oil monitor too? How about the Swedes? I imagine Volvo has it. Will look into this element of the car before buying the next one. Right now I have the one car, a PT , and it has a recommended 3K or 6K miles between oil changes. Kinda a rough sounding engine, so yeah, it ain't no Honda engine quality. I bet the Ford, Toyota, and other cars talked about here can go a good 7,500 or more between changes, if not in a severe use environment. My PT is not a state-of-the-art powerplant, but it gets the job done. :shades:
Loren
The split duty dashboard command center on the Civic spaceship is kinda cool looking - in practice, I guess it is workable.
-Loren
-Loren
I'm thinking about buying a Altima 3.5SE. That's 6-cyilinder as you all know. But My hubby worried about gas for that 6-cylinder and he wants to go with 4-cyilnder. Is it true that 6-cyilnder drinks the gas? Of course according to the mpg comparison, 6-cyil eats more than 4-cyil, but some people say that's not true in real driving. However, one of my friend who bought 4-cyil new Camry last month said she is re~~ally happy with economic fuel efficiency. She used to drive V6 Honda Accord (it might be an old car) and that was the car drank gas like a whale.
Please let me know if someone has an idea for real mpg efficiency. :confuse:
Thank you so much.
-Loren
I'm sorry, I won't extend my oil change intervals to 7,500 or 10,000 miles when I'm using my vehicle in a severe service environment - regardless who manufacturers the car. I will stick to a 3K/3 month interval. I've never experienced an engine oil-related failure in 40+ years of driving, and a couple million miles. I've seen the innards of too many engines that have been abused by extended oil change intervals - not pretty. I used to turn wrenches on European cars with engines that had extremely close-tolerance machining, and my experience tells me to stick to short oil change intervals - as well as a minimum of 24,000 mile coolant flushes and changes, and 24,000 mile ATF changes.
That's your choice, but why? You think you know more about these engines than the manufacturer? 3K is a waste of oil.
Considering the liability Honda would encounter by overestimating the miles between oil changes I'll go with Honda's recommendation over yours everyday.
As for other cars, the only one I have looked into this for is the Mazda6. IIRC, normal schedule was 7500 mi or 6 mo. For me the time limit will be the determining factor, as I only drive about 8000 mi. per year.
Cars I have driven and couldn't see the hood:
90' Acura Legend
97' Honda Accord
99' Toyota Camry
06' Lexus IS350
Also, I test drove the Acura TL-S, Infiniti G35 and BMW 335i last couple days and didn't remember seeing the hood either. I thought it's normal not seeing the hood while driving unless one's driving a SUV, minivan or pickup truck.
Wow that's low. A lease would probably be beneficial for you at that amount of (non)use.
No, I certainly don't know more about Honda's engines than Honda engineers, but I do have over 40 years of driving experience, and nearly that long as a master mechanic on some of Europe's finest cars, including some of the exotic Italian ones.
I repeat, I've never experienced any engine mechanical failures with my chosen oil change interval. To each his own . . . it's a free country, and you may do what you wish. I change my own oil (always have), and recycle it at a local auto parts store. I wouldn't ever consider taking one of my cars to a quick lube store.
The V6 engines in the current model Accords are much more fuel efficient. I get about 23mpg city, and over 30mpg highway. The old Accord V6 engines were not very good.