Sedans with V8s under $40K
This discussion includes the Buick Lucerne, Chevy Impala, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Pontiac Grand Prix which all can come with V8s and have a sticker price under $40K.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
2007 Mercury Grand Marquis GS: MSRP $24,910: Hp 224 @ 4800 rpm
2007 Chevy Impala SS: MSRP $27,970: Hp 303 @ 5600
2007 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP: MSRP $28,745: Hp 303 @ 5600
2007 Dodge Charger R/T: MSRP $30,215: Hp 340 @ 5000
2007 Buick Lucerne CXL: MSRP $30,685: Hp 275 @ 6000
2007 Chrysler 300 C: MSRP $34,385: Hp 340 @ 5000
2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8: MSRP $35,320: Hp 425 @ 6000
2007 Ford Crown Victoria (base): 17/25
2007 Mercury Grand Marquis GS: 17/25
2007 Buick Lucerne CXL: 17/25
2007 Chrysler 300 C: 17/25
2007 Dodge Charger R/T: 17/25
2007 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP: 18/27
2007 Chevy Impala SS: 18/28
The Buick is starting to be out dated by cars like the Toyota Avalon.
The Charger and the 300 is really the same car underneath with little difference except for price making the Charger the better choice.
Also the Chevy and the Pontiac share the same engine. The Pontiac has a smaller interior and more expensive than the Chevy. Being that's the case I would go with the Impala. Also out of all these cars the Pontiac has the worst Government crash tests.
The Charger SRT-8, I think, is the most original and the worst gas guzzling out of the group. Too bad this sedan didn't come out 20 years ago. It would have had a great run.
Even though it has front wheel drive, I think the best choice would be the Chevy Impala. It isn't the fastest but it does have over 300 Hp and does return the best gas mileage. Also it has high crash scores and has a roomy interior and trunk. Not to mention has a more reasonable price.
If I'm spending that kind of money, I would want to get my moneys worth and maybe that's the answer. Maybe if Buick is unwilling to change the engine, it should lower the price of the car!
Now let me just say that I'm only comparing the engine because that is what this discussion is mainly about, the engine.
Impala has more Hp, better gas mileage, weighs less, a smaller turning circle, 40-60 folding rear seats, cloth seats, and has 8 way adj driver seat .
Lucerne comes with self leveling suspension, optional stability control, leather seats, rain sensing front wipers, 6 way adj driver seat, only rear center arm rest pass thru, rear heat vents, 2 driver seat memorized settings, electrochromatic driver's outside mirror, cornering lights, optional parking assist, automatic climate control, and slightly better warranty.
Lucerne does have more goodies but costs almost 3 grand more. Also Edmunds Editors' gave the 2006 Lucerne CXL V8 an overall rating of 7.2. This is what the Editors had to say,"Power is seriously lacking from this V8, and interior appointments do little to improve its overall perceived value. Average."
No Editors' rating on the 2006 Impala SS, but a Full Test by Edmunds John Pearly Huffman, Contributor says," What is important is how it(Impala) stacks up against the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry and most directly the rear powered, Hemi-Charger R/T." Also,"In the age of the $29,000 V6 Camry, we think that makes the SS a good value."
I'd like to hear from anyone on the Impala SS vs. Lucerne V8. Is the Impala much louder inside? Does the Buick "Quiet Tuning" really make much difference? I drove an '07 LaCrosse CXS and it wasn't much different than my '04 Malibu (sound & power).
What about the Buick Northstar vs. the 5.3L in the SS? Real world mileage much different?
Thoughts and opinions are welcome.
Wind noise scored 9 out of 10. Comment:This is a quiet car.
Road noise scored 8 out of 10. Comment:Cabin is serene at any speed.
In the article about the Impala, Huffman states, "But it(Impala) rides better(than the Charger R/T), is slightly quieter and is completely confident in everyday use."
less power then the Lucerne.I'm not A GM fan but the Lucerne
looks like the best Buick in A long time,and 275HP is not bad.
I'll have to drive one - but I feel the same way. 275HP is more than enough and if I go for the Buick, I gotta have the V8.
The Impala is much quicker but in quietness and NVH, it's got to be a touch less refined.
Anybody with driving experience in both?
As for the Buick, well, I'm 65 and I don't think I'm old enough to consider one of those for a few years yet!
As for the niceties, I'll add the high beams are awesome since all four headlamps are used. It's the best night vision I've had since my buddy's '81 Impala. There's nothing like four headlamps.
For those asking about real world mileage, I track mine religiously. The best I've gotten is 26 mpg at speeds between 65 - 70 mph. Once you get up to 75 or more, mileage drops off quickly because the DOD won't engage at the higher speeds.
Wind noise is modest but after 16,000 miles, the tires seem to be getting a bit noisy. I attribute that to the low profile 50 series tires and the fact that they are Goodyear...not a big fan.
Any other questions?
2007 Toyota Camry LE 3.5L 268Hp MSRP $24,160
2007 Saturn Aura XR 3.6L 252Hp MSRP $24,595
2007 Nissan Altima SE 3.5L 270Hp MSRP $25,115
2007 Hyundai Azera SE 3.8L 263Hp MSRP $25,195
2007 Pontiac G6 GTP 3.6L 252Hp MSRP $25,230
2007 Dodge Charger Base AWD 3.5L 250Hp MSRP $26,040
2007 Toyota Avalon XL 3.5L 268Hp MSRP $27,495
2007 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart 3.8L 258Hp MSRP $27,624
2007 Nissan Maxima SE 3.5L 255Hp MSRP $28,665
2007 Buick Lucerne CXL V8 4.6L 275Hp MSRP $31,435
All MSRPs include Destination charge ONLY.
Why would you buy a vehicle with a V8 when you could save a few thousand dollars buying any of the V6s above? The difference in horses is small and you get better gas mileage. Notice there are 2 under $25K! :surprise:
Why buy a V8 unless the difference in power is considerably higher like by 50 horses?
I might add that the Lucerne has a rebate of $1,250 till end of Feb. and the Maxima has a rebate of $1,500 till end of Jan. at least in my area(N.Y.).
The Charger without the AWD and 3.5 is rated 19/27.
Any comments on Impala seat comfort?
I'm not 60! I'm 34.
Let's stick to V-8's - the V-6 automobiles are all rather interchangable.
2007 Mercury Grand Marquis: 275 lbs-ft @ 4000 rpms
2007 Buick Lucerne: 295 lbs-ft @ 4400 rpms
2007 Chevy Impala: 323 lbs-ft @ 4400 rpms
2007 Pontiac Grand Prix: 323 lbs-ft @ 4400 rpms
2007 Dodge Charger R/T: 390 lbs-ft @ 4000 rpms
2007 Chrysler 300 C: 390 lbs-ft @ 4000 rpms
2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8: 420 lbs-ft @ 4800 rpms
Sometime next year....
Chrysler deliberately designed & engineered a brand new version of their famous
herispherical combustion chamber OHV engine as a marketing gambit. The valve train layout is not a drawback at all, being every bit as effective for street use as a 2-valve OHC (overhead cam) design & rivals 3 & 4-valve OHC engines in perfortmance.
Chrysler's 3rd generation HEMI V8 is a thoroughly modern, lightweight, low internal friction, low emission, high output engine. It easily outperforms 2-valve OHC competitors (& similar Chrysler stable mates) in every single performance parameter, including specific fuel consumption. It is even cheaper to build than a similar sized high-output OHC V8 (or Chrysler's own old 5.9L OHV V8).
For Chrysler it is a marketing triumph, not only blowing the doors off the competition performance wise, but re-establishing the iconic HEMI name in the modern world.
I briefly had a 426 street Hemi Roadrunner in my youth -- it was fast, furious & totally uncivilised. The modern engine is a pure silk purse in comparison to that massively heavy & fuel gobbling old brute, while being every bit as powerfull on substantially less displacement. Don't pine for another cookie-cutter OHC engine -- this one is the real deal.