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2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
He bought a WRX about 10 years ago and pushed it hard (he had the wagon version...I thought it was super-ugly). Until I drove it. Wow! It sticks to the road like glue. Anyway, he never wrecked it, had two kids, and bought (was forced to buy by his other half) a Grand Cherokee V8 (04).
I had a 99 Grand Cherokee V8 by sheer coincidence. Never wrecked it.
So my dear mid size friends, the Grand Cherokee was a nice driving, powerful, safe family truckster. .
So why am I talking about SUV's? Well, I am really talking about AWD/4x4 and how much safer I felt with it. I believe it made a difference in having or not having an accident it seems. So, I would really like AWD on my next car, but I have grown up a bit in 10 years.
So, If I was to buy a AWD mid size it would have to be the Legacy AWD, the Fusion 2.0T AWD, and thats about it.
However, I would really like some advice on a sporty car ,my wife and kids can put up with.....but I think I already found it. The Optima Turbo.
I almost forgot. The Celica GT (3rd generation 1983) I rode in with a neighbor was the first car with a 4 cylinder that felt like a V6 (from the seat of my pants as a older teenager. It made almost no exhaust noise, and felt like it had a ton of torque.Maybe that engine was the precursor to all these high power 2.4 and 2.5 engines. Made for cars that could be outfitted with 6 cylinder models, but really didn't need them. I have 200 HP. Sometimes it feels like 150, other times 220. All I can say is that my mother, kids, and wife were not in the picture....that blaish-green Mustang with the track pack would be sitting out front. 310 HP for $27k? 320 lb ft of torque? Geez the thing only weighs 2400 lbs.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Not only did the Camry SE finish last, but the Accord EX finished 8th!
Also, I think it's interesting that all the cars met or beat their EPA overall FE estimates in the test, except the Accord and Malibu.
Here's the link:
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2014/11/whats-the-best-midsize-sedan-for-27000.html
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
CR said the Legacy has the best ride of any car in its class (rating it excellent). This report has it ranked near the bottom.
I give this report no credibility. Just a bunch of really strange nit picks.
The scoring categories were Worth the Money (i.e. Value), Handling, Acceleration, MPG, Ride, Interior Quality, Comfort, Tech, Trunk & In-Cabin Storage, Noise, and Child-Safety Seats. I don't see how any of those are "nits" for a family looking for a mid-sized sedan.
Honestly - there is no objective way to measure this stuff that's realistic and accurate. So much of a car experience is subjective and subject to individual preferences that any kind of ranking based on such things is pretty worthless.
Just take the actual comments with a grain of salt and as one viewpoint when compared with others. Even if every reviewers says something is bad you may not care about it or you may feel differently.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I would not deride anyone buying any of these cars. To each their own.
Bean
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I just rented one and the rental company labeled it as mid size.
I feel it could be considered sporty but "under radar". Remember those first Audi Wagons V8? or the first WRX? Nobody suspected what is under their hood.
Anyways, Corolla has no power of V8 or the handling of WRX
but when I hit the red line 6500, I actually forgot what car I am driving.
Who would suspect this car can zoom by a V6?
My car had a 4 speed Auto so just down shift to 2 or L, and rev it up, not sure if you can do that with a CVT.
I was also surprised how it keeps the line, never had the feeling it will flip over.
the steering is kind of sporty stiff almost thought it doesn't have power.
The suspension could use some stiffer springs but I think there is a model S with sports suspension.
So overall your wife and kids would enjoy the comfortable and spacious ride,
once you drop them off and hit 5-6000 rpm, I could feel like in a sporty but affordable sedan.
Rental car companies have their own "unique" definition of size. Surprised they didn't consider it a full size!
but actually, a number of the compacts today are pretty close to the mid size class of a few generations ago.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
There is a 4-speed automatic variant of the current Corolla that is most likely aimed at fleet use.
2015 Hyundai Sonata
2015 Subaru Legacy
2012 Volkswagen Passat
2014 Mazda 6
2013 Chevrolet Malibu
2013 Ford Fusion
2015 Chrysler 200
2013 Honda Accord
2013 Nissan Altima
2012 Toyota Camry
Ever since the US auto makers woke up and started making decent cars and Hyundai started doing the same thing competition has heated up quite a bit. Is it any surprise the newer designs are 1-upping older ones? Just give it a few years and I bet the Camry and Passat will be on top for a year, then Honda and Nissan will do their redesigns... and so on.
From what I've seen about the 2016 Passat, it wouldn't surprise me to see it on top of the class when it comes out.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Even though you weren't responding to me, yes. Price, AWD, & Reliability were very important factors (probably the 3 most) in my decision. I had a budget of less than $27K. I ended up buying my Legacy for $23,800 plus tax. I'm happy with the car and what I got for the price I paid. I do wish for some more power though;)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Anyway, she wants to drive them all one more time before she makes a decision but she ranked them so far Camry SE, Legacy Premium, Accord LX. We drove both the Accord Sport and the LX and we both(I sat in back) found the LX to be much quieter and I assume the main culprit is probably the 18" tires vs. the 16" on the LX. Also it's possible the dual exhaust adds a little more engine growl but it was definitely lounder. She also didn't think the radio sounded as good in the Accord vs. Camry and also didn't ride as smooth. She wants a smooth, quiet ride and ease of use. She found the controls on the Camry to be a little more intuative FOR HER and she actually really liked the way it looked. The Legacy radio system confused her quite a bit although she liked the sound. She doesn't care about the AWD at all. She's been driving in Chicago for 40 years with either RWD or FWD and doesn't have a problem as long as her tires have good tread.
I know the Camry is hated in here and sometimes I think it gets to the extreme and a little childish actually. It's called piling on in football,. It really isn't a bad car at all. I personally would chose the Accord for a number of reasons one of which is that is somewhat familiar as I currently drive an Acura. These cars are all appliances and I don't mean that derogatorily and it's possible the Camry is a little more "appliance" than the others. But, it seems to have a lot of the things that people that just want a quiet, dependable commute to work want. That's pretty much what my wife wants. She doesn't really like to drive all that much.
Funny thing happened when we drove the Legacy. We took it out by ourselves and I asked her why she had the driver's seat so low as it looked like she was sitting in a hole. She said it was alright. After a couple of miles I again said she should adjust her seat. She admitted she didn't know how and I told her to just pull up on the knob that also adjusts for forward and rear travel(power seat). She was shocked when it rose up, up, up. She then asked me if the Mazda6 which she has driven for the past 6 years could do that and I said yes it can! She also didn't realize that the steering wheel on the Mazda could be moved both up/down and telescopically. Like I said, she likes the simple, ease of use she apparently found in the Camry. And no she's not a dummy, she makes 6 figures but just gets in the car and drives and doesn't mess around with it much. You should have seen her face when the salesman tried to explain the CVT to her. Classic!
It just goes to show you that some people just don't care a whole lot about the bells and whistles and latest stuff but just want to get from point A to point B safely, cheaply and dependably.
but dang, not knowing the seat could be raised? talk about car Luddite! You should have done a better job showing her around how the thing works.
I did like the Camry XLE though. The last time I stopped, if I had actually taken the time to get an updated price, I may have brought that home instead. As long as you don't expect anything exciting, good to go.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Yeah, as far as the seat goes, she knew it had a power seat and I assumed (like pretty much anybody would) that it would be obvious. There is no obvious when it comes to some women and mechanical items. When I went to the Gulf War on short notice I quickly showed her exactly how to start the snowblower and use it. Very simple, right? Well, when I got back 5 months later it had never been started and she had shoveled when necessary. Luckily, it was a light winter in Chicago that year!
I guess that's the problem with a lot of us that visit and post on these forums. We know quite a bit about all the vehicles and what they offer and take it for granted that the most simple things are understood by everybody. Well, they aren't sometimes. I just read an article of an elderly couple in New Zealand that locked themselves in their new Mazda3 for 13 hours and almost died. Getting out was simple but they couldn't figure it out in their panic. Always train to the lowest common denominator.
Funny you should mention the Legacy being in short supply. When I went back to the dealer about a month after I bought the car to pick up my plates (I live in CT & bought the car in NY), I was talking to my sales guy. He told me they are having trouble getting their hands on 2015 Legacys. He even joked with me that if I wanted to he would have his GM pay me to use my car to send out in test drives on a Saturday;)
Thanks for the update on your wife's car shopping.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I I know I sound like a Honda fanboy, and I apologize for that, but the EX is really very nice and I'm in love with mine (only had it a week but I think I will remain in love). I'm tall, but the I have plenty of headroom even with the sunroof.
As always, your mileage may vary.
Regards,
Bean
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
And, after driving the Mazda6 which has been trouble free for all those years, she wants something softer riding and quieter. I tested the Altima but the interior seemed really old and in need of a revision and the CVT, even though having been used by Nissan so many years, still seemed more "whiny" than either the Accord or the Legacy tranny. Like I said what I might like as more of an auto nut is different from what she wants and this will be her car.
Originally the Mazda6 was bought as a second car for me but shortly after purchase she took it over because because gas was hitting $4.00 a gallon and she had a long commute. So she passed off her Infiniti QX4 to me as I didn't have to commute much. I ended up enjoying the QX4 very much which is probably why I bought the Acura RDX I'm driving. The golf clubs/cart fit perfectly in the rear and I'm always ready if the weather permits!
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
The new Camry and Malibu have the best road noise isolation out of the group mentioned. But both fell short in my eyes.
It actually seem to me the Malibu rode almost as good as the Accord if not better. Legroom was bad in the Malibu. What knocks Malibu out of the box is... its a GM product with terrible resale. Good car to lease not own
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
I'm almost 6'2 leg and hip room are very important to me also. There are not many cars today with bench seating in the front.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
Did he ever. He just bought a 2013 Impala LT for under $14k with 2 years left on warranty. If you are into basic transportation that's hard to beat.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
Your son did well.............................. that is a awesome deal.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
Bean
Thank you for catching up to your usual high standards.