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Midsize Sedans Comparison Thread
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New EPA test procedures are soon to come out (within a couple years) which should have more realistic numbers. For example, currently, the EPA city and highway loop assume no A/C usage, and the highway loop has no speed over 60 MPH. I've read that the new procedures will have highway speeds touching 80 MPH at one point, if I'm not mistaken (which I could be on that point, but 80 MPH sticks out in my head for some reason). Much more realistic figures are coming...
I thought nissan "recommended" premium for the VQ for optimal performance, but im aware you can use regular for reduced performance.
That's 64.359 gallons over 1912.1 miles. (I started keeping tabs in March).
Considering my EPA sticker says 24/34, and I have gotten anywhere from 28.94 MPG to 31.2 MPG in the last 2 months of mixed driving, I'd say the EPA procedures aren't too bad assuming people don't drive like bats out of hell (although many do). I tend to stay under 3,500 RPM 98% of the time, unless I have to punch it to merge or pass. On the interstate I usually go with the flow of traffic (between 5-10 MPH over the limit usually).
Regarding the Altima fuel requirement - I also thought it required premium until I read the manual which lists regular as the fuel requirement. It runs at close to warp speeds now without any pinging or anything to indicate that a higher octane is needed. I don't see any need for more power - it's an absolute rocket. No need to press hard on the gas - power is always there. I may try a tank of premium to see if there is any difference.
Toyota dealer told me that the "hesitation" problems were lessened if premium were used and they were recommending premium to their customers even though Toyota now officially lists regular as the fuel requirement. I never used anything other than premium in it - it had more hesitation issues than I could handle.
Base Engine Type: V6
Horsepower: 235 hp
Torque: 216 ft-lbs.
Curiousity- The Solara's 2.4L makes 3 hp less than the Camry's (this may be due to exhaust plumbing). The Solara soldiers on as one of Toyota's two vehicles using the architecture of the old 3.0L, with its 210 horse 3.3L engine. This is disappointing given the new engine family is so much more powerful as well as more fuel efficient. Obviously though, Toyota is working out the manufacturing bugs from the 6 speed auto, so this may have been a consideration.
"May 26, 2006 – Torrance, CA - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the 2007 Camry Solara Coupe and Convertible.
For 2007 model year, the Camry Solara receives one of Toyota's most extensive mid-year changes to date and raising the bar in the sporty coupe segment. The 2007 Solara offers several exterior and interior styling changes, additional standard safety equipment, and enhanced audio and convenience features.
Solara's exterior enhancements include newly designed halogen headlamps, grille, front bumper, and integrated fog lamps. From behind, Solara will feature restyled LED tail lamps, bumper and rear spoiler. The Sport grade adds unique HID headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear under bumper spoilers, side rocker molding, rear spoiler and tailpipe diffuser.
Inside, Solara adds newly designed optitron instrumentation with unique sport meters in Sport models, interior trim color and fabric, six-disc CD changer audio system with MP3 playing capability and an audio auxiliary jack for connectivity to most portable music players, as standard equipment. SLE models get standard hands-free calling capability via Bluetooth™ technology and all 2007 Solara's get seat mounted side airbags and curtain side airbags (curtain side airbags not on convertible) along with a Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System as standard equipment.
The standard powertrain for the 2007 Solara is a 155 horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with VVT-i. A powerful 3.3-liter V6 delivering 210 horsepower is also available.
With the additional standard equipment and performance upgrade, the 2007 Solara will receive an average MSRP increase of only $382 or 1.5 percent. The Solara SE with a four-cylinder engine will carry a base MSRP of $19,930 for the five-speed manual and $20,760 for the automatic. The price for the SE grade with the V6 and automatic transmission will be $22,260. The base MSRP for the Sport grade will range from $22,200 for the four-cylinder with a five-speed manual transmission to $24,530 for the V6 and automatic transmission. The MSRP for the premium SLE with a four-cylinder and automatic transmission will be $23,905. The MSRP for the SLE V6 and automatic transmission will be $26,905.
The base MSRP for the Solara Convertible SE with a V6 and automatic transmission will be $27,190. The Solara Convertible SLE with a V6 and automatic transmission will start at $30,460. The Solara Convertible Sport, a new model, with a V6 and automatic transmission will start at $29,460.
The new prices will take effect when the 2007 Solara goes on sale in early June."
~alpha
That being said, the Altima, which is not a sports car, has a good balance of power,handling, MPG and creature comforts. It's definitely worth consideration.
Some of the lowest HIC readings I've seen on the NHTSA site in side impacts, even though that isn't factored in to the star rating.
~alpha
This is the last year of the Solara so it gets the same powertrain until - if - it is redone completely next year. It's normally been a year behind its 4 door sibling.
It keeps the 4 door version unique and 'special'. Everything revolves around keeping the Camry strong.
No 3.5; no V6 manual (coupe/convertible)
I digress - let's get back to sedan discussions
I'll take that as an opinion."
Me as a comic relief...
The way I see, '08 is the last year for this iteration of the Camry 2-door, not '07
"Everything revolves around keeping the Camry strong." OK, maybe... but the Solara is counted in Camry sales, they have never been separate. Seems like if Toyota's looking to keep the Camry strong, they're looking to keep BOTH sales of the 2 and 4 door UP. (People often forget that Camry and Accord sales are boosted by their 2 door variants, which most competitors don't offer...)
~alpha
You could put a fart can on a Civic and whoop your Volvo 'sports car' and get the same sound. I love the sound of the Infiniti and the TL's engines. With the high end Altima approaching these 2 cars' price range no wonder people aren't buying them. 06 Altima sales are hurtin.
Paddles! Clear!
Sonata doing 0-133mph
Edit: You may have to right-click, and "save target as".
Whew.. Hybrid Camry sales push the total Camry sales just above the Corolla for May. What the heck is going on here?
Crazy. Those Camry sales are impressive, given that the fleet ratio is practically non-existant right now.... and there are no incentives...
~alpha
Why are Corolla and Camry outselling the Civic and Accord? :shades:
Several, most(?), are cross-shopping late model used vehicles like an '04 corolla/civic with a new '06. There is so little supply of efficient small cars on the used car market that a 2 y.o. Civic or Corolla EX/LE goes for about $14000 - or more. At only a $1-2K differential between a Used vehicle and a New one the New one wins.
We can't buy Used Corollas/Civics cheap enough to have any meaningful price incentive.
It's also graduation season.
auto sales reports
Or you can go to each manufacturers website and look for press releases and monthly sales reports.
1. Camry........177100 . May 43100
2. Corolla.......160000 - May 41600
3. Accord.......145500 - May 37000
4. Civic...........138800 - May 29000
5. Malibu/G6....132000 - May 24400
6. Impala.........114100 - May 23700
7. Altima.........102900 - May 22000
8. Cobalt..........92900 - May 21200
9. FMZ triplet....85100 - May 20300
10. Taurus!!!......83400 - May 16800
(Neither Toyota nor Honda ever designed one of their own vehicles as ugly as the oval Taurus.) :shades:
It surged to No 1. It made me think about getting out of our old Charger into a new Delta 88( :lemon: ) for my ex- and then into an '89 Camry - DING!!! - for me.
You don't see the Sonata up there in the top 10. I think Hyundai is pushing the wrong car for the times--the V6 Sonatas. They might get more sales if they focused on the I4s, put the 5-speed automatic in them to wring out some more mpg, and place better incentives on them than what they are doing.
Addendum: I just noticed Hyundai heard me and has increased the rebates on the I4 Sonatas to a total of $2000 for June. But still $3000 total on the V6s.
I concur absolutely. Ditto the FMZ triplet and the Malibu/G6 couple. Somehow if they could drop a Honda/Hyundai/Toyota 2.4L 4c into the domestic vehicles, squeeze 35 mpg out of them and then promote them sales would jump.
Good reason for that. Hyundai still isn't widely accepted onto Main Street USA yet. They should change their name. Too much negativism with it. They build a decent car now.
Exclusive of the loyalty rebate, the 6 cyl remains at $2500 and the 4 cyl increased to $1500. The sales report I saw did not break down 6 cyl vs 4 cyl sales. Maybe the 4 cyl is within Hyundai's sales goal range or production capacity & therefore isn't being as heavily discounted.
Have you driven the '06-4 cyl? I'm pretty sure you have driven the '05 -6 cyl. If you've driven both, what is your impression of power between the two? The HP rating is close, but what's your driving impression?
Guess I wasn't clear. I meant to ask how the 2006 4 cyl compared to the 2005 6 cyl (which has plenty of "go" for me).
Who cares? The stats previously posted clearly show Hyundais aren't on most people's wish list.
Shoot even the Consumer's picks at the top of the Edmunds home page here doesn't even list the Sonata as one of the top TEN sedans under $25K
I was surprised too to see no mention of the Sonata in the Consumer's pick section of Edmunds. Kinda like a critically aclaimed movie nobody goes to see.
Nobody is claiming that Hyundai's are at the top of a wish list. Most people haven't looked at, never mind considered a Hyundai. I hadn't until 16 months ago.
I see that you posted yesterday that the 4 cyl Accord has the "jam" of an older 6 cyl Accord. I was simply asking backy for that kind of input on this year's Sonata 4 vs last yrs Sonata 6
1. Camry 43,112 (177,090)
2. Corolla 41,550 (159,992)
3. Accord 36,967 (145,529)
4. Civic 29,006 (138,744)
5. Impala 23,702 (114,014)
6. Altima 21,981 (102,785)
7. Cobalt 21,247 (93,023)
8. Focus 20,391 (80,559)
9. Sonata 17,035 (75,622)
10. Taurus 16,786 (83,287)
In fairness to GM & Ford they do sell a lot of midsized sedans. They are just marketed under the radar so to speak.
Does DC sell any midsized auto's? :surprise: They really have given up it seems. DC should rename itself J-V-T; Jeeps-Vans-Trucks.
I was selling steel to the 'old' Jeep plant when Chrysler bought out AM in order to get the Jeep brand. Now Jeep may outlast Chrysler.
Midsize from DCX include Sebring and Stratus. The new Sebring is coming out this fall, and the Dodge version to release early next year as 08MY.
Just as an aside, for the month of May, large dips for DCX (Chrysler Group portion), GM, losses for Ford as well.
http://www.autoblog.com/2005/12/28/hyundai-sonata-jumps-onto-top-10-best-selling- -cars-list/
I couldn't find the original article.
Now if multiple cars are combined as you listed, I don't think the Sonata would take up one of the spots in the top 10. The same case for this month - and the Sonata actually increased sales from 14K to 17K.
So, based on above, the Sonata should take a spot in the top ten best selling cars for the month of May with sales in the 17K units range.
and you can't combine FMZ! that's just stupid!!
Like Tyunta with a slantted T maybe?
:P