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2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I like that it has fog lights, the wheel's are nice. This model looks decked-out with a sunroof as well.
How much was sticker?
The Fusion looks great and I can build it almost exactly the way I'd like, but I have no desire to relive the Blue Oval ownership experience any time soon (after multiple visits to Ford service departments this summer to address sundry unresolved defects with my current ride). After the flawed launches with the 2012 Focus and 2013 Escape, Ford should consider buying back a stake in Mazda so that it can tap its engineering resources again. Ford has proven it can do styling well; it just needs a Volvo or Mazda platform upon which to build a quality vehicle.
As someone else mentioned, the fact that Car and Driver's test Fusion exhibited electrical gremlins should give any buyer reason to pause. Best of luck to anyone driving one of those off the lot w/a hybrid powertrain. :surprise:
I'd probably trade my clunky 2 year old Ford today for a new Accord if only Honda would make satellite radio available w/a stick shift. And seriously, 2 color options... what is this, the former Soviet Union?
Please, Mazda. Give us options!
2013 Suzuki Kizashi
I love these in silver, it's my favorite color for the Suzuki Kizashi. This is the exact car I would want, with the foglights and wheels like this. The automatic CVT transmission would make this car cost around $23,995. The 6-speed manual would only be around $22,000.
For what you get for that money the car is a great deal.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Nice discount ... which means they aren't selling very well .
I am glad I only can afford one car, or I would end up a hoarder or something. :confuse:
I believe the 2012 LA Auto Show will provide details about the NA Mazda6.
You mentioned to have also driven 2013 Altima, the new Altima was claimed to be Camry-level quiet, how does that Altima compared with your Sonata in terms of noises? granted the Sonata is a V6.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The Ford "My Sync" tech now owns you. Actually, I am surprised that part of the in-car tutorial informs you that "your a#@ is mine now buddy.
:lemon:
I think you have me confused with another poster who had a Few-sion too many!
-Chris
Now, the 2013 Fusion is a better car than the Malibu, and Ford still sells more trucks than anyone. However, the upcoming Impala is a better design than the Taurus, and the Sonic is better rated than the very good Fiesta. A new Silverado is just months away. Both companies will have to scramble continuously to remain in the fray. The Taurus needs incentives on the hood to outsell the Mercedes E Class, a much more expensive car. Meanwhile, Chrysler is gaining market share and also profitable again. Paid back those government loans and saved a ton of direct and ancillary jobs in the process. Chrysler may even save Fiat now.
But there is only so much market. To increase market share, someone else has to lose it. So companies will continue to rise and fall. Both GM and Ford may be healthy 10 years from now, but it is possible that both might be gone, or swallowed up by others. Ford can't seem to get a grip on the luxury market, even while some of their money-losing luxury cast-offs (Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo) seem to be making a go of it.
Another Ford cast-off, Mazda, will have a very competitive and pretty Mazda6 for sale in next year. The mid-size market is the most cut-throat of all now, as soon every entry will be a competient one. I believe the mediocre Avenger will soon be renewed or killed, and the Chrysler 200, the only other non-competitive model for sale, will soon be re-made and kicked up market. It's a great time to be in the market for a good new car.
I just bought a 2012 Toyota Highlander Limited 4wd and already the power liftgate has a problem where the entire tailgate and motor for the power liftgate must be replaced. I mean a new liftgate and motor must actually be ordered into the Dealership, Painted, and installed. There was a TSB issued for the problem but if your one of the unlucky suckers that are not still under the original warranty which is 3 years or 36,000 then you have to foot the entire bill. I have 3500 miles on it. All brands have their issues. Many people (expecially Honda, Prius, and now Volt Owners) will never admit they might have issures when questioned about their vehicles reliability. I think sometimes they feel as though they have to now rationalize their loyalty to a brand or model and why they purchased and continue to purchase. I have no loyalty to any brand. I buy what I like and don't base my purchase on so called reliability ratings of resale value. That is unless they are rated very unreliable. Then I might pause.
I like the looks of the Fusion, but quality concerns as of late and a particularly high sticker price for the equipment level I'd want leave me cold. I'll likely drive one soon enough, but the Ford dealer wasn't in the area where I was that particular afternoon.
You mentioned to have also driven 2013 Altima, the new Altima was claimed to be Camry-level quiet, how does that Altima compared with your Sonata in terms of noises? granted the Sonata is a V6.
I drove a 2012 Altima SL, not the new design 2013. It didn't stand out to me as particularly noisy. However, the day I drove the Altima, I drove a 2011 Fusion Hybrid. That car was such a trip (in a good way) that noise levels don't stand out to me on the Altima.
To Hyundai's credit/detriment, my V6 Sonata seems to have bested the comparable Camry in terms of isolation from noise and vibration, at least in comparison to the LE V6 I drove of the previous generation. As a result, it's pretty dull to drive, but very serene on a trip or my long highway commute.
I did too until I bought my Sonata. In comparison, the Honda has loads of road noise. Was a good car though!
LOL LMAO.
10) ACURA ILX 2.4 6 speed manual (200 hp, and yes it is a gussied up Civic) Price? $25k!!
9) Mazda Miata MX-5. Love everything about it, except that I can't fit in it. We all want what we can't have, and I CANT!
8) 2000 Acura Integra. Drove like it was on rails. Really. Fantastic, light, Civic-based gold standard for handling in a sleek, sexy package. Price? $19,999. 2 door, black, tan interior, and with the wing on the back. 5 speed manual only of course. The 4 speed slushbox killed it's direct control charm. It is also a Civic underneath...not a bad thing...just a footnote. Acura made a fortune on them.
7) 1995 Mazda RX-7. OMG. Fast, direct, screamed like a banshee, Engine has ONE moving part. ONE!
6) 2007 Shelby Mustang GT, (Nuff said)
7) Camaro SS 305 HP LT1 Awesome! (until it breaks down)
5) Firebird Formula (same as Camaro + a beluga whale as front clip) fast though!
TBC tomorrow!
Accord 28,349 +25.5%
Altima 24,623 +12.8%
Sonata 16,773 -8%
Optima 12,948
Fusion 12,690 -29.9%
Malibu 9,629 -6%
200 8,758 -22%
Passat 8,355 +65.8%
I'm surprised at how close the Accord is to the Camry....Just a fluke? Don't know....
Also interesting: Hyundai/Kia together nearly beating sales of the Camry!
I think once the new Accord catches on it will overtake the Camry. At least it should if there is any justice; Camry pales in comparison to the new Accord in so many ways. Toyota needs to be sent a message: mediocre isn't good enough any more.
As far as Sonata/Optima almost as many sales as Camry, I'd be more interested in a YTD number as one month can be a very incomplete picture. There may have been a large rental fleet buy, may have been a lot of incentives for some reason, new model introductions, sale prices by dealers, etc. Any number of things can greatly influence a monthly sales number so, though somewhat interesting, not all that meaningful.
I do have to say that the mid size (though IMO some of these have breached the barrier into full size!) category has a ton of strong choices. I am not planning to ever be looking in the class again though, so hopefully it trickles down to the C class too.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
But the sales rep also said sales of the new Altima had been strong, held down by lack of V6 cars. He said early adopters tend to go for the high-end trims and low-end trims, so they were selling a lot of V6s right now. I sat in it and it looks like a fine entry to me--tons better look/feel wise than the Camry. Rear leg room was more than I expected based on some reviews. I didn't drive one because I am not in the market for that big of a car right now, but did drive the new Sentra--review elsewhere.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
With production held to 300,000 a year, the Fusion will never catch the likes of the Camry, Accord, Altima, or even the Sonata/Optima cousins in sales volume.
What happened to the sales figures? No offense, but I am into stuff like this, especially on a car that I own! (12 Optima EX). They had to add hours to their shifts in the West Point Georgia assembly plant to keep up with demand. The are other plants producing various versions including turbo-diesel and several small petrol engines not offered in North America.
Thanks! -Chris
BTW, for the last 20 years, I have often bought the first model year of a redesign and have never regretted it. Cars are and have to be good out of the gate these days. If you look at recalls, they are just as likely to happen on models that have been out a few years. Buy what you like when you are ready to buy.
But it should be noted that Toyota, Ford, GM, Chrysler, and to some extent Hyundai/Kia also get significant sales volume for mid-sizers from rental fleets. I see lots of Camrys, Fusions (not new ones yet), Malibus, and Avengers/200s at Hertz for example.
Usually the D.O.T. (dept of trans) buys these vehicles by the trainload in order to maintain and repair our roads. Also they are used for snow removal, search and rescue, forestry services and....the US military built to spec.
Most states already have the infrastructure to maintain a certain brand of vehicle...so changing over to chevy or dodge would be mega expensive.
Just fyi.
WHen I was taught to drive (in 1986) it was on a 72 Pinto with a 4 speed manual. It had power NOTHING. I was taught how to drive the car...not how the car drove me! The interior was swathed in "Rich Corinthian Vinyl" LOL.
(The Pinto was sold in 1984 to buy the very first production Dodge Caravan, in silver, no pass side mirror, no tape deck, no tinted glass. Just an automatic trans and a 4 banger. The A/C was great though.
Today almost all cars are vastly superior than most cars were in the 1970's or '80's, but I still think a kid should be taught to drive a stick. I am 42, so please excuse my dementia!
What is this I hear about a "quality" problem with Ford of late? What is up with that? After doing so well for years their quality is falling? What do you guys attribute that to? Is it gibberish? Is it real?
I find it all hard ta believe. Fill me in. What is the cause of it and it is really real?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick