Hyundai Azera vs Toyota Avalon vs Ford Taurus vs Chevrolet Impala

alpha01 · December 2005

Good point. Any Impala with an MSRP at or above $26.3K is either a 3LT, LTZ, or SS- meaning its 242 horses or 303.
(A 211 hp 2LT with every option is $26,250, and the 3LT actually starts at $24.5K MSRP).

This is the problem with the one-engine-size-fits-few Ford Five Hundred; regardless of dollars paid, you're still getting a slow (for the class) vehicle.

~alpha

explorerx4 · December 2005

a 200 hp sho was a lot of car.
what has changed? 1 second better to 60?

motownusa · December 2005

Actually it was 220 HP. But the Taurus SHO is smaller and lighter than the 500. FORD really goofed in the engine department. As to people saying the 500 has adequate power; sure for 80 year olds living in a small towns whose only driving is to and from the grocery store. But most people do a lot highway and interstate driving that requires quick merging in the least possible time.

alpha01 · December 2005

is that paying high 20s for a car should yield some kind of premium reward. Is being able to keep pace with a four cylinder Accord that kind of reward? Not to me. Thats the issue with the Five Hundred.... for 26K OTD, a loaded model should do better than keep pace with a 20K 166 hp Accord (or get better MPG, which certainly it doesnt).

~alpha

alman08 · December 2005

WELL SAID! :shades:

explorerx4 · December 2005

the '89-'91 sho had 200hp, '92-95 had 220, 96-99 had 235.
i owned one of each type.

captain2 · December 2005

actually glad to hear that you have had some luck with your Tauri, but, reliability stats don't generally support anything 'superior' ever coming from Ford if you are going to consider the Camry, Altima, and/or Accord benchmarks, which I will grant you probably cost 10-15% or so more.
Same comment I made on about the Azera's probable resale also apply to the Taurus and Ford products, in general. A 2003 Camry XLE retails at $16.6K, the SEL Taurus $12.2K. Even with the Taurus being sold at heavier discounts than the Camry initially, still makes more sense to invest in one of the Japanese brands new. Using the Mazda 6 as a base, the new Fusion/Milan is now supposed to compete in this class - but is also hampered by the same 3 liter V6 - while Accords and Altimas run 250 hp, and even the 07 Camry coming with some variant of the Av/IS350 engine. You can defend the 500 power as 'sufficient' all you want, but Ford had better wake up and get with the program - they will take a beating in the market until the point that they have to give away the 500 at 20-30% discounts or more. Hard to make money that way, and largely responsible for Ford's current financial woes. Until Ford can make the otherwise well designed 500 a car with some 'heart'; subjectively, some stand out styling; and perhaps even change the nameplate - this problem should continue.
MT just ran its COY issue, by the way, won by the Civic with apparently a close second to the Azera. The Avalon highly rated but lower - because of higher price. The 500 - didn't even get interviewed, unlike the Impala and Lucerne - both of which at least made the cut.

captain2 · December 2005

The SHO, I believe, actually had an engine made by Yamaha - was well ahead of its time but certainly not Ford's technology?

csandste · December 2005

Wouldn't the 500 been in last year's group?

barnstormer64 · December 2005

"but, reliability stats don't generally support anything 'superior' ever coming from Ford if you are going to consider the Camry, Altima, and/or Accord benchmarks,"

Regardless of the "stats", my own experience says that there simply isn't much difference.

I've owned three Tauri. One of my brothers has owned several Camry's, and the other brother has owned a few Civics.

We've all had basically the same amount of money that was needed to be spent on out of warranty repair work during the same time period (say 15 years).

"Even with the Taurus being sold at heavier discounts than the Camry initially, still makes more sense to invest in one of the Japanese brands new."

Again, I've NEVER seen that to be true. About the best thing you can say is that the residual value of the foreign cars will be higher than the American cars . . . such that your total cost of ownership is roughly the same over the same time period.

bhmr59 · December 2005

" still makes more sense to invest in one of the Japanese brands new."

I think you meant "buy" rather than "invest." Very few cars ever go up in value. Almost all go down in value. You don't "invest" with the expectation of getting back less after a period of time. You invest in hopes of getting more back over time.

captain2 · December 2005

simple math - the 03 Taurus SEL Premium listed at 23950, invoice 21891, the Camry XLE V6 25405/22610. Source:MSN.
Lets logically assume that you bought the Toyota for 23000, a few hundred dollars OVER invoice, the Ford for 20000 even, to allow for rebates that Detroit is now so famous for, and a total of 1891 UNDER invoice - a difference of 3000.00. We still have both cars today - the Camry is now worth 17750.00, the Ford 12280.00 (source kbb.com at 43000 miles and retail) a difference of about 5500.00. The Ford has cost you an additional $2500.00 to own over the 3 years. And this also assummes that repairs, fuel etc. are the same;
if as you contend, that Taurus really is as trouble free as the Toyota - ignoring whatever consumer studies you would like.
Total cost of ownership is obviously not the same.
Back to the subject at hand - what is it about the 500 that would make anyone think that this is going to change? Really think that Ford should be marketing the Fusion and the 500 under a different name - kind of like GM did with Saturn a few years back - except produce a truly competitive car to some higher quality standards to try to avoid these problems they obviously have. In that same COY article I also referenced, the Korean manufacturers were noted to have superior quality than anything from the Big 3 - almost approaching Japanese standards. Tell me why Ford/GM/Chrysler can't do what Hyundai/Kia is apparently capable of doing. If Ford continues on its present path the only people that will profit will likely be from Hertz, and the US taxpayer may be left with a Chrysler style bail out bill.

badgerfan · December 2005

Run the same numbers 10 years down the road, when both cars are worth very little as used cars. At that point, I still have the $3000 I saved in initial cost, and if I Invest that money, say in something that returns a fairly conservative 5%, at the end of ten years I have $4887. At that point, I doubt if you will find the Camry has held that much of a value advantage.

My point is blanket statements about which vehicle is cheaper to own are highly dependent on the individual situation.

captain2 · December 2005

very few people actually keep cars that long but point taken - but, what do you think happens to repair costs of the average 10 yr old Taurus vs. the 10 yr old Camry.

tenpin288 · December 2005

Actually, using Edmunds TCO calculator puts the least expensive crown on the Taurus! Using the model choices you made and plugging them into calulator and using Edmund's assumptions (5 year time frame, 15000 miles per year, etc), the Camry will cost you 43 cents per mile to operate over 5 years and the Taurus will run 38 cents per mile over those same 5 years! Edmund's also estimates the depreciation for the Taurus at approx. $6500 over those 5 years and the Camry will take an $8500 hit over that same time. Food for thought!

captain2 · December 2005

further thought, as long as the depreciation advantage of the Toyota exceeds the $190.00/year investment opportunity cost (1887/10) the Toyota will be the better buy. The gap will certainly narrow as the cars get that old.

badgerfan · December 2005

Well, I can only speak from my experience, my 1990 Taurus was extremely good in the ten years and 98K miles I kept it, and my 2000 Taurus at 54K miles has been excellent as well.

littlez · December 2005

Fusion was in the running this year, not the Five Hundred. Five Hundred was last year.

Side note: Nice of Motor Trend to give the award to a vehicle that got recalled right out of the shoot.

Also, the Five Hundred was just named the safest car on the road by the NHTSA in their latest crash tests. I'll take a Five Hundred, please!

littlez · December 2005

Why are you comparing the Accord to the Five Hundred. They're not in the same segment.

What you get with the Five Hundred is room, which is quite lacking the Accord. Anyone got a shoe horn to get people in and out of the back seat?

What you also get with the Five Hundred, is the safest car on the road. Isn't that worth something?

alpha01 · December 2005

You should clean up your facts.

The Five Hundred (only when equipped with Optional Side Curtain Airbags) was named by IIHS (NOT NHTSA) as a "TOP PICK"- along with 9 other models from the various sedans and minivan categories (although no minivans got the award). SUVs were not included this time around because the IIHS has not had the opportunity to side crash enough of them.

~alpha

littlez · December 2005

I've noticed you have an attitude.

OK, so its the IIHS, I stand corrected. Yippee.

I didn't say the Five Hundred did not have side air bags, so that fact was correct.

The Detroit News Article says the "Five Hundred/Montego, Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy and Honda Civic 4-door all received the Gold Award and earned "top" scores in frontal offest and side impact tests.

The Gold Award (4) winners scored better than the Silver Award (6) winners.

You can clean up your facts.

Also, who is talking about minvans and SUVs?

captain2 · December 2005

the purpose of my posts is really not intent on 500 bashing, the 500 (as I said) is a well designed large comfortable, and safe car (as are the Azera (apparently) and Avalon)- the only faults I find with it is its subpar engine (compared to what's in the Azera and Avalon) and that it should depreciate much more rapidly than the Avalon specifically. The 500 could be so much better with a simple heart transplant! The sleeper in this group is actually the Azera, because it may just represent the better all around value despite suffering from a similar resale value problem that Ford products do. The same comments about powertrains and residual values also generally apply to GM and Chrysler cars as well.

alpha01 · December 2005

"What you also get with the Five Hundred, is the safest car on the road. "

No attitude, I just took issue that you called the Five Hundred "the safest car on the road". You made NO intial reference to the other vehicles that received the EXACT same award, nor did you make any reference to the fact that NOT ALL Five Hundres are recipients of that award.

My facts are clean- I stated that the Five Hundred with Side Airbags received a Top Pick award along with 9 other vehicles. That statement is true.

Finally, I made the statement about Minivans and SUVs because of your initial statement that the Five Hundred is the safest car on the road; there may be more vehicles eligible for the same award (read: SUVs), but they were not included because not enough have been tested in the side impact.

~alpha

explorerx4 · December 2005

the sho, with airbags was about 300 lbs lighter.
it still wasn't slow with 3 people on board.
that would make it about the same weight as a fwd/auto five hundred.
sho had about 10% more torque.
point is, sho was not much lighter, a little more power.
it just points to the five hundred having good power, not great.

littlez · December 2005

I believe, based on the study, that 4 cars can be called the safest car, the Five Hundred, Civic, Legacy and Saab 9-3. If anyone called any of these cars the safest car on the road, I wouldn't argue with them.

The IIHS gave these cars the Gold Award. I would assume that since Gold is better than Silver, than they must have scored better than the Silver Award cars.

I know where you were going with the SUV comment, but I did say that it was the safest "car", not vehicle.

Sure they gave the award to the Five Hundred with side bags, but I did not see a Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes, Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, and many others, equipped with all of their safety features on the list.

At least give credit where credit is due. Maybe Ford just made a pretty good car. (OK, more horsepower would be nice.) But, it still wouldn't stop me from buying one.

explorerx4 · December 2005

i'm sure the iihs is prodding manufacturers to make safer vehicles. i kind question their tests, in except rare real world circumstances. the offset frontal test is into a fixed barrier. keep away from the bridge abutments, and you avoid their test.
the side impact test involves an 'suv' that has aboslutely no crush zone in the front. it is basically a battering ram on wheels. i am not afraid driving my focus.

alpha01 · December 2005

"I believe, based on the study, that 4 cars can be called the safest car, the Five Hundred, Civic, Legacy and Saab 9-3. If anyone called any of these cars the safest car on the road, I wouldn't argue with them."

Well, ok, I would agree the four of them are very safe vehicles, but the way you cited the Five Hundred as "the safest vehicle on the road", without mention of the other winners of the same award, led me to believe you were using the word "safest" as definitive, and superlative in the sense that no other car matched the performance.

The absence of the makes you note is due to Head Restraint performance, something probably more easily remedied than actual crash performance.

I like this award, and think its a good one, and Ford absolutely deserves credit for achieving this type of performance. But in this class of vehicle, Side Curtains should be standard, not optional. Then, I'd sing praises without stipulation.

~alpha

alpha01 · December 2005

Both barriers are deformable, so its not quite the bridge abutment and 78 Chevy Surburban that you cite.

I'm not afraid driving my Sentra either, though I did opt for head protecting seat mounted inflatable side bags. (Which IIHS has never tested, but I'm optimistic, given that the Sentra didnt get the bottom ranking for structure- in fact, in the small car class, only the Mazda3 and new Civic score better than Marginal..... but I digress...)

~alpha

barnstormer64 · December 2005

"the only faults I find with it is its subpar engine (compared to what's in the Azera and Avalon) "

There we go again. Words like "underpowered" and "subpar engine".

The car is NOT "underpowered", nor is the engine "subpar". Even though it has less power than the top of the line vehicles offered in a similar class.

For one thing, the 3.0L Duratec has been tried and proven since 1996 in the Taurus. That's one reason I felt no qualms about buying the Five Hundred (and a Freestyle). The Taurus was never underpowered with that engine . . though it did lack a decent transmission (not nearly smooth enough). The CVT changed all that.

If I wanted a full-sized (or is it medium-sized?) sedan with POWER, then I would've gone for the Chrysler 300C with the Magnum engine. Now THAT'S got power. I guess that makes the Avalon "underpowered", huh, using your "logic"? LOL

And, for the record, I DID test drive a Chrylser 300C (and the Dodge Magnum) with the Magnum engine before I bought my Freestyle in January. Later (in July) I bought a Five Hundred because I loved the Freestyle so much, and because of the employee pricing. Those two made me trade in a perfectly fine Taurus that was not yet 4 years old . . . and I NEVER trade in a car that early. I typically go 8 to 12 years. THAT'S how good the 3.0L Duratech and CVT and AWD are on these vehicles.

I'm in my early 40's . . and while the 300C would've been a great "mid-life crisis" car (with all that wonderful power), it became quite obvious to me that the cars with less power (but still not "underpowered") made infinitely more sense . . and at a lower price tag, to boot.

All those extra ponies under the hood don't do much good if you're not going to USE them on a routine basis. And that was my whole point about being able to beat 99% of Crovette DRIVERS (not the cars) with my '96 Taurus . . it was because I was determined to get around them, and they didn't feel the need to use any of those extra ponies they'd paid for.

I drive pretty fast . . I hate being in a group of cars, and love to get around a pack as quickly as I can do it in a safe manner. And I've never felt the need for more power than I have now to do this. Unless, of course, I had wanted to literally "race" somebody. And if THAT'S what I wanted to do, then I certainly wouldn't settle for an Avalon . . I'd have that 300C.

captain2 · December 2005

being championed largely by the consumer organizations, CR is now downrating perfectly fine cars simply because they don't have the side bags which seem to be the determining factor esp. in the side impact test.
Mass, perhaps unfortunately (but quite logically), remains a major factor in these tests. Nothing like a whole bunch of iron and steel to help dissipate some of those impacts. So, as a result, the small cars will continue to have problems in these tests, presenting somewhat of a quandry for these consumer organizations that would have us driving around in small, light weight econoboxes. Or maybe they would have us outlaw all those 5-6000 lb. SUVs? The 500, Avalon, and Azera should all do well in these tests, if equipped with the side bags, and because they are all larger and heavier cars.

alpha01 · December 2005

The Avalon actually isnt that much slower than the 300C. Theres a FAR LARGER gap between the Five Hundred and the Avalon than there is between the 300C (non SRT8).

I only have a few back issues of C/D on hand, so here's the numbers for their most recent tests of the Avalon, Five Hundred (FWD, 6A), 300 3.5L Touring, and Charger RT with the aforementioned Hemi:

0-60 (using brake-torque technique)
Avalon: 6.0 sec
Five Hundred: 7.9
300 Touring: 7.3
Charger RT: 5.6

Street Start (Real World 0-60)
Avalon: 6.2
Five Hundred: 8.3
300 Touring: 7.7
Charger RT: 5.8

Quarter Mile Time @ MPH
Avalon: 14.6@99
Five Hundred: 16.3@88
300 Touring: 15.6@90
Charger RT: 14.2@ 101

So, no, the Five Hundred isnt underpowered. Its just slower than its competitors (except the Amanti!).

~alpha

littlez · December 2005

I drove one of the first Montego AWD cars for a year. There is nothing wrong with the power. It's a fine family vehicle. Not everyone wants to blow the doors off the other guy. Check with people who have bought a Five Hundred or Montego, most love the vehicle and will tell you it's one of the best cars they have ever owned.

The Five Hundred is outselling the Avalon right now, so many people believe it's just not about horsepower. The Five Hundred is a safer vehicle than the Avalon and hasn't had any major problems since its introduction. Maybe that's why it's doing well.

captain2 · December 2005

just got back from Atlanta where I had the 'pleasure' of a Hertz Sable. Engine was noisy and gutless, sounded like a meat grinder, and ran out of all steam anyway over 4000 rpm. Not at all what you get in the Avalon 2GR, the Nissan VG, and even the new V6 in the lowly Sonata (which may not be so lowly anymore) which all rev seamlessly and effortlessly to 6000 rpm+ redlines - which is, by the way, where the real grins are to be found. Never did say, however, that it is a bad engine - just technologically inferior and something that Ford will need to address if the 500 is going to be successful.
FYI - the V8 300C/Charger Hemi (5.7 to 60, 99 mph quarter)is only marginally quicker (source: MT Jan 06 issue) than the Avalon (6.1, 97 mph) and will cost you at least 5 mpg overall (even running on 4 cylinders - which it does) - a much smaller acceleration differential than between the Av and the 500. And then, of course, you can deal with that legendary Chrysler quality.
It is a very, very short list of 6 cylinder full size sedans that will even keep up with the Avalon, never mind beat it - which is true and not exactly the point. Besides the obvious grin factor, the reason to have the power is for it to be there when you need it; having nothing to do getting around all those cars you don't like to drive behind - you can get around them in a $12k Kia.

6daysonroad · December 2005

Would previous posters please drop the on and on dribble about Ford/Mercury products. If you wish to rant and rave about said product then please start a post about said product. Make a short point and then let it go.
I come here to read about Azera versus other models like Avalon, Impala and yeah the 500. Mainly I am interested in Azera. I know it's difficult to post concerning Azera because Azera is not out yet but still, good grief, give it a rest.

barnstormer64 · December 2005

"Street Start (Real World 0-60)
Avalon: 6.2
Five Hundred: 8.3
300 Touring: 7.7
Charger RT: 5.8 "

And I'll still "blow the doors" off the guy with the Avalon because he's too wimpy to actually USE his gobs of extra power . . especially with his wife and kids in the car. Ditto for the 300.

It's the crazed youth with the Charger that I've have to "worry" about. Except I don't . . I'm perfectly content to let him blow by me and "shake the trees" so he'll get the tickets.

Honestly, I consider a vehicle UNSAFE (underpowered) if you have to floor it most of the time when merging or trying to get around other vehicles.

I'd consider the Five Hundred "more than adequate".

"Adequate" would be a Taurus with the non-Duratec 3.0L (+/- 150 hp?)

"Underpowered" (unsafe) would be a '79 Ford Mustang with a 4-banger in it.

When you get into the low 6's or upper 5's for real-world 0-60 times, you're into "muscle car" territory. Honestly, that's not something I think mixes too well with "family sedan". Especially not one like the Five Hundred, which rides higher up than most sedans do.

A 3.5L 250hp in the Five Hundred would probably put it in the solid mid 7-second range, I'd guess. But that would probably have too much torque for the CVT. And personally, I really like the CVT. A lot of people think it feels underpowered. They prefer the feel of the 6-speed auto.

I'm not sure why that is, really. The CVT is very smooth . . smoothest automatic I've ever had. If you want it to give a solid DOWNSHIFT, then you essentially have to FLOOR it. It will rev up quite quickly then (giving the feel of that downshift that so many seem to want to feel).

But I don't have to resort to that very often at all to get around anybody, and have never had to resort to that to merge into traffic.

I can pretty much keep the rpm's below 3000 most of the time and have enough power. Though if some particularly obnoxious person wants to "race", I've been know to kick it up to 5000 for enough time to get him to "back off" (even when he has a car that could beat me if he wanted to).

And this has nothing to do with "ego" . . it's just the simple facts of life that as long as you're not into racing the under-25 males, the Five Hundred will have plenty of power to push around a family sedan . . and even have a little fun with it occasionally if you want.

But if you're the type who's always got to be zipping (unsafely, IMO) in and around traffic (squeezing into gaps in traffic that are only a couple of car lengths long (or less) at highway speeds, then you'll probably want a 300. But I'd suggest something a bit more nimble if you're really into that . . . for your own safety (and that of others).

barnstormer64 · December 2005

" I know it's difficult to post concerning Azera because Azera is not out yet but still, good grief, give it a rest."

Feel free to post . . . nobody's stopping anybody.

As you said, it's a bit difficult since it's not out yet.

And, for the record, I wouldn't be "ranting and raving" if the car hadn't been mischaracterized as "underpowered".

captain2 · December 2005

as I said in earlier posts, the Azera is possibly the sleeper of this trio - the reviews I have read generally rave about the car - solid smooth engine, fine, fit and finish etc. - at a price well below the Avalon. Barnstormer is right, it is difficult to get into lengthy discussions about a car not generally available yet. Will be interested to see if the Azera meets with the same high demand situations that the Avalon did - may be a little unusual to see a Hyundai dealer asking for and getting sticker(or more) for a car!

littlez · December 2005

If you want to talk about the Azera, talk about it. If I want to talk about the Five Hundred, I'll talk about it. If you don't like it, try a different forum.

Also, I believe the word is drivel, not dribble.

alpha01 · December 2005

"The Five Hundred is outselling the Avalon right now, so many people believe it's just not about horsepower."

True, horsepower isnt everything. To many folks, incentives make a big difference. Incentives are readily available on the Five Hundred, but not on the Avalon, since demand has outstripped projections.

My point is that sales are NOT a measure of a vehicle's quality or position in relation to peers.

~alpha

captain2 · December 2005

you're right on - the perception of a car's quality or value is often skewed by the price paid for it. It's certainly an ego thing, what better to say then something like 'this is a great car and I got them to come off the price 3 grand!' Supply and demand is the thing, Toyota has basically done nothing to push the Avalon (haven't had to), the Ford a different story, and I'm guessing the Azera may also be a vehicle in high demand for awhile...
Detroit sales have always been skewed by fleet and rental company purchases so it gets to be very difficult to determine what the numbers, that really don't mean much, actually are.

jeffreid · December 2005

The Azera is available in most parts of the country now. They started rolling in last week. The 500 has more rear legroom as does the Avalon, but go by and drive one if you get a chance, you will be HIGHLY impressed. There was an edmunds first drive that said that the interior could compete with an ES330. I kind of chuckled when I read that. Jokes on me, they were telling the truth. Clean as can be, no gaps, no wind noise,no subpar pieces,really looks great. Very comfortable seats as well. The tan seats with the cherry wood trim is the looker of the bunch. The charcoal with the walnut looks nice as well, I guess the cherry is just a personal choice. There won't be any conversation here about a lack of power either. It will move!! Soaks up bumps almost like they weren't there. I just wish my wife's Aviator was as quiet!!

captain2 · December 2005

did you get any feel for actual pricing

littlez · December 2005

The discussion was regarding horsepower, not quality or position in relation to peers.

My point is that if horsepower is that much of a deciding factor, why buy a Five Hundred at all? Since it is outselling the more powerful Avalon, then maybe horsepower is not that much of a deciding factor in this segment.

Maybe, safety, roominess, trunk size, and price are stronger factors in the purchase decision.

alpha01 · December 2005

However, the Avalon isnt very much smaller than the Five Hundred, its crash tests (the ones that have been performed) are just as good, trunk probably isnt a huge deciding factor.

Basically the few things that the Five Hundred does better than the Avalon are: provide a price (but not cost of ownership or resale) advantage, provide a bigger trunk, offer better whiplash protection, and available AWD (which is by far the biggest distinguishing characteristic, and the ONE reason I would consider a Five Hundred over the Avalon).

My point is that the Five Hundred doesnt blow away the Avalon in sales, it is marginally ahead, this while being several thousand dollars less expensive. Were Ford to offer a competitive engine (Power, NVH, Efficiency), I wonder how many more people would jump aboard....

~alpha

alpha01 · December 2005

But I intended to edit my last post.

Littlez, I just took your word for it that the Five Hundred is outselling the Avalon. Actually, in the past couple months, the sales race has been very close, with the Avalon opening a lead.

In Nov, the Avalon sold 8225 to the Five Hundred's 7456.
In Oct, the Avalon sold 8195 to the Five Hundred's 7915.
In Sept, the Avalon sold 8707 to the Five Hundred's 9094.

YTD sales are Avalon, 86,540 and Five Hundred 99,611. HOWEVER, the new Avalon only went on sale in mid Feb (with January sales of only 1900 units), which given its consistent performance, seems as that would account for the difference between the two figures.

~alpha

badgerfan · December 2005

Your rental Sable more than likely had the Vulcan pushrod V-6, not the Duratec DOHC. There is a lot of difference between the two, both in noise and smoothness of the drivetrain, not to mention the obvious HP kick out of the Duratech.

bruneau1 · December 2005

Go out and drive a CVT FWD, and you might change your mind. I am not 80, I drive in all circumstances, and sometimes aggressively. The 500 is one of the safest cars to be in and the CVT version is a delight even with the thrumming engine. Also, comparing cars that cost thousands more is not fair. The horsepower, speed race will end someday when those companies that think they can horsepower their way into sales realize they have been headed in the wrong direction.

littlez · December 2005

I'm glad you just took my word for it because I was correct, right? It didn't say the Five Hundred was blowing away the Avalon, I just said it was outselling it, which it is. At the current pace, by the end of the year, the Five Hundred will still have more sales than Avalon.

Unfortunately, the Avalon isn't "opening a lead" it is, more correctly "closing the gap" since it is not leading at this time.

AWD is a good reason for choosing a Five Hundred as is styling. Just as the Five Hundred has had mixed reviews on styling, so has the Avalon. (I guess different strokes for different folks.)

In a previous post, you mentioned the Five Hundred was several thousand dollars cheaper than the Avalon. Actually comparing Limited to Limited, it is over $7,000 less expensive, and this is before incentives. (I just used Edmunds comparo.)

I'm not downing the Avalon. It is a good car. I almost hate comparing the two because I think the buyers for either car are not shopping each other. (IMHO)

alpha01 · December 2005

"Actually comparing Limited to Limited, it is over $7,000 less expensive, and this is before incentives. (I just used Edmunds comparo.)"

You're totally discounting that the Avalon has many features, MAJOR features, missing on the Five Hundred.

Why not compare similar features to similar features? How about a Five Hundred Limited compared to an Avalon Touring?

Avalon Touring plus JBL audio, power moonroof, mats, first aid kit: $31,482

Five Hundred Limited plus power moonroof, safety pkg, $28,545.

Similarly equipped there's a couple of thousand dollars difference between the two. (About $2900).

For us, the difference in favor of the Five Hundred is worth it to you, but not to me. Of course, you already showed that by purchasing, but Im not in the market for this type of vehicle just yet.

~alpha

~alpha

scramblinman · December 2005

Fair or not, as evidenced by this very thread, the two cars are being shopped against each other.

When we went to a local Toyota dealer to take the Avalon for another test drive, the only one they had in stock was already on a test drive. So while waiting, we walked across the street to the Ford dealer as my wife had also been interested in a hybrid Escape. When the dealer found out that we were interested in the Avalon, he steered us towards their row of Five Hundreds, one of which we took for test drive where we found the car's power lagging quite noticably behind that of the Avalon (and the Maxima we ultimately opted for). I guess my point is that Ford dealers are even selling the car against the Avalon.

Hyundai Azera vs Toyota Avalon vs Ford Taurus vs Chevrolet Impala

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