-June 2024 Special Lease Deals-
2024 Chevy Blazer EV lease from Bayway Auto Group Click here
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee lease from Mark Dodge Click here
2025 Ram 1500 Factory Order Discounts from Mark Dodge Click here
2024 Chevy Blazer EV lease from Bayway Auto Group Click here
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee lease from Mark Dodge Click here
2025 Ram 1500 Factory Order Discounts from Mark Dodge Click here
Options
Midsize Sedans Comparison Thread
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
I had the same problem with my last wagon...I always had to find "spacers" to fill areas around what I was carrying so that things wouldn't bang around when driving. but the mazda 6 has a pretty ingenious organizer (optional costs about $120) behind the back seats that can collapse flat when it's not in use. inside the organizer are up to four compartments about the size of a couple 2 liters wide and the length of a 2 liter bottle and high enough to have 4 2 liters in each section (these areas can be enlarged to accomodate larger objects). plus, there are tie down hooks in the hatch area (probably not very strong, but enough to keep something still when driving sensibly. pretty well designed, I think. these came in handy when I took my lawnmower in for service last spring: a couple strings to each wheel and it didn't bang around at all. and since the cargo mat is easily removed, just took a hose to it to rinse off the grass clippings and all was fine again.
An alternate opinion of the Outlook's DBW tranny. In this one the reviewer says Ford got it wrong and GM got it right. :surprise: Outlook review
Excerpt:
The new six-speed automatic transmission, was smooth and up to changing gears when the ride required. This is the transmission GM co-developed with Ford. Note to Ford: You may want to poach the engineers who programmed the software, because GM's is better than the version you have in your new vehicles. The Outlook has been tested to reach 60 mph in 8.2 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 16.6 seconds at 84.5 mph.
It sure seems like the DBW is very driver-sensitive. This is probably what people are finding in the Avalons and Camrys.
I was thinking of my car versuse the family car. Even with the family vehicle, I still would be less inclined to put gardening stuff, furnture, engines and car parts inside it vs towing behind it. The Pack-n-Play can go in the wagon.
Even our Christmas tree we bought went into the back of the Freestyle. We had to fold 1/2 of the 2nd row to get it to fit. Yes we had to vacuum out the pine needles, but the car needed a good vacuum anyway, and now the inside smells nice! Plus we weren't even planning on buying the tree at the time, but on the spur of the moment drove by a place and bought one.
Current ride a Buick Regal LS ...past ride a Nissan Altima.
I hear ya on that one. If you can't come up with a reason that you paid more for a car over another one, you overpaid. If you had a reason for buying it, however, (maybe you didn't like a certain design, or maybe you really liked the more expensive car a lot more) then you have a valid case; one that cannot be questioned (since beauty is perception, and perception is reality for each individual).
If you don't care about things like designs, engines, room, and economy, buy the cheapest thing out there! If you do, buy the least expensive things that meets the best compromise that you and your wallet are willing to make.
Me? I wanted the best interior I could get, but could care less about a 250 horsepower engine. My car? A 4-cylinder Accord EX - premium interior trim, great gas mileage, and plenty of power for me. It was the best compromise I made when judging its competitors. For me to say your compromise was wrong, or for someone to say mine is wrong, is plain idiocy (you weren't doing this stevesjc3272, I'm just stating a point to all). Did I get similar features on a car costing less? Sure I did. But there is more to a car than the sum of its parts. Some people do not seem to understand that.
If you are limited to the above 3 then yes, I'd agree that Altima has the best blend of comfort and performance. However, I personally think that out of the whole midsize sedan class, Honda Accord would be the best combination of the two.
The Camry is a good $3,000 or so more than the like-optioned Accord out in the marketplace (the Accord is getting old, and can be bargained way down), while what you say is still true. The Camry would be a great choice if your want the ultimate family cushy cruiser with the most advanced features. Unforutnately, you pay for that privilege. What you get in return, however, is practically a Lexus badged as a Toyota, for $8k less.
in comparison to your altima (which was on my short list of cars that I was considering buying a year ago), I think you'll find the mazda's suspension a bit more compliant (seems to have longer travel and less harsh impacts) than the altima, yet there is a lot less body lean than the altima. braking is a little better in the mazda, but off the line acceleration is not as good as the nissan's v-6. steering feel is excellent in this class of cars. if I remember correctly, the 6 has a bit more bolstering on the side of the seats to help keep you in place when cornering hard. the black interior is a bit stark and the all red lights on the console and gauges are like it's trying to be too dramatic and trying too hard to be sporty, if that makes sense. but again, that's something you'll have to judge. but getting a fully loaded v-6 for around 20k would be pretty easy to get.
as an alternative, I would suggest trying out the legacy if back seat space is not a priority. the gt is a blast to drive and with awd, grip is hardly ever absent. suspension is a tad soft with a bit too much body lean, but the aftermarket has solutions that make it a very good handling car. brakes, though, are not great. certainly adequate, but not ideal. steering feel was very good, almost as good as the 6, and a little better than the accord. I like the understated look that the legacy has, but that's kind of a personal thing. another car I'd consider would be the manual tranny accord. sweet engine and transimission. and probably the best seats in the category. but a bit too common and generic for my tastes. plus no choice in a wagon or hatchback in the accord.
1. Styling was not to my liking. The Fusion offered more standout styling.
2. Handling - in my opinion the Fusion handles better than the Sonata. Even better than the Accord.
Look at the arrow-head front grille, rear door window and the C-pillar. I've got to admit that this is definitely light years ahead of the current design but where is GM's own personality? Looks like GM is following Hyundai's foot step and that's in order to beat the Japanese, let's first be the Japanese...
Yes, indeedy...
Surprised huh? Me too.
Yea - much better looking than the current Bu. There's nothing wrong with going with the flow along with the Japanese designers. GM's Aura/Malibu looks a whole lot better to me than a Sonata. Now there's a rough grill.
-Loren
-Loren
I agree that there is an advantage to use both cars as family vehicles, which is why I am in here tracking mid-sized sedans instead of 2 door coupes and the like. For me personally, don't think both cars need to be able to support full on cross country endeavors, and would rather have something small and fun. In a pinch, I can throw the Yakima on the roof and cargo case.
1. Styling was not to my liking. The Fusion offered more standout styling.
2. Handling - in my opinion the Fusion handles better than the Sonata. Even better than the Accord.
Yet, when I list the reasons for buying my Accord (I preferred the interior layout/style/finish, good blend of comfort and handling for my tastes), I couldn't see past the "image" as you say Honda owners do? It is ok that you paid to get what vehicle made you happy ($23k vs. a sub-$20k Hyundai), but the fact that I paid more is not? You have implied this over and over and over, about how Honda and Toyota buyers wasted their money and couldn't see past this "image" that the
mediahas beat into our heads. But when you spend more to get what you want, it is ok. :confuse:How can it be both ways?
Me too...which is why I think compact 5 doors/hatches are the best option for something small, fun and practical. But I'm off-topic since this is a sedan forum...bye
That's pretty funny! I see more people dreaming up justifications for their Accord/Camry purchases than Fusion purchases. That cognitive dissonance must really kick in every time a Fusion passes you by, eh?
I get all the "justification" I need every time I drive my Fusion...especially as I drive past a hideous Cam :lemon: cord.
They don't have to "feel justified" about buying a Ford, and they don't need to prove ANYTHING. They made a decision to buy a car that fits THEIR needs, and it happens to be the Fusion. Deal with it.
I don't see ever having to explain why you bought an Accord, which may be the best all-around car on the planet.
That's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. Fusion owners may think that about their car as well. What's the big deal?
There's an astute observation.
Of course these are all opinions of their authors. I agree the Accord is one of the best cars out there, and is much better than an unproven Fusion. Pretty good for a 5 year old design. The 08 update will only widen the gap.
However, it is absurb for someone to think that people whom bought Camry/Accord are blinded by "image". Just because someone who is willing to pay more to get what he/she desired doesn't mean that it's wasting money. On the other hand, I also don't think that people whom bought Fusion/Sonata cheaped out. If they can't see the reason why Camry/Accord worth the extra bucks then there is no point for them to buy one.
At the end, we all get what we want and should be glad that we have so many midsize sedan to choose from now a day. So can we go back to talk about cars?
Come one, guys, share your thoughts about the new 2008 Malibu. I still think it looks like a TL.
Perhaps it's the attitude of a small number that they bought a Honda or Toyota and have the most wonderful and perfect car in the world that comes through in posts and that's based on past images in certain evaluations that turns off other people especially in light of other indictors about quality and suitability.
Back to regularly scheduled program.
The Malibu front looks better than the Camry front which seems manipulated from the past style to look like a 300? or rear like a BMR higher line trunk-on-trunk style. It's going to depend on the whole car look. The Aura is nicely done. But of course the same people who say GM should make cars look more like their competition now criticize that the car looks more like the competition...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
My main point with the Fusion was to counter the folks who are trying to say that there are objective reasons not to buy one (noisy engine, poor reliability, etc.) which simply aren't true.
The bottom line between all these midsize sedans today is that there are significant styling, price and feature differences which will determine which vehicle a particular person favors. 90% of the reasons why people buy one versus the other are subjective (value, styling, ride quality, dealer experience, etc.).
I think it would be much more helpful to keep the discussion to the differences in features, prices and options rather than trying to prove that one car is better than another.
Top of the Line V6 Sonatas, so I hear, go for around $18-19k last I saw on the prices paid boards. Scape paid $22-23k for his Fusion. It has been a long time since I saw either of those prices, so there is quite a possibility I am mistaken, and if that is true, I certainly apoligize. I do remember V6 Sonatas for $18.5k though - just not sure when.
I don't know if Scape got 0% for 3 years, or something. If so, then I would factor that in to get the "real cost" one way or another.
My point, was that people sometimes pay more to get what they want. It does not make them suckers. The sucker is someone who buys a vehicle that they didn't want in the first place, regardless of the price.
1. Why do you think that GM and Ford are cutting down their fleet sale numbers?
2. Why do you think that Ford is closing the Taurus production line which is only for fleet sales over the last couple years?
3. Why do you think that Honda and Toyota are trying to keep their fleet sales in the minimum?