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C'mon down. I'll have a glass of sweet tea waiting for ya.
Regardless, it's a poor system. I do know that because I did spend 4 days with the car.
I've been waking up to sub-freezing temperatures the last few days. I am sooo thankful for the best invention since cars were invented:
Seat warmers!!! Best thing ever on a cold morning! :shades:
In CT we don't have it as cold as MN or WS, but for me once it gets below 50*, it's time to turn on the heated seats. I only drive a little under 3 miles to work so the heated seats are a god send. Automatic climate control starts throwing some heat after about 1 miles, unless zero-like temps, but it takes longer for heated air to warm the cabin than it takes the seat to warm my body.
Where is all this man-made global warming? If it's not a hoax and if everyone warmed up their car for a half hour, that would have done a lot to moderate the last few winters. Maybe, just maybe, solar activity has something to do with global cooling or global warming. (The globe has actually cooled since 1998.)
I did that sometimes on my BMW, except I had to keep the settings low or it would actually get too hot when I was wearing shorts--which I sometimes do until it gets into the 20s.
Seat heaters in a cloth seat when it's just below 50? What is the world coming to... :sick:
It's an excellent system. I do know that because I OWN ONE.
I first thought the system was just a gimmick, but after over a year with it, it's actually very convenient, especially for my wife (the daily driver). She doesn't have to dig through her purse or other bags to find her keys, the few times she's left the fob in the car, it didn't allow her to lock the doors. Same when she left her purse in the trunk once, it didn't close.
"Poor" is having to call AAA or pay a tow driver $80 to unlock the door with the keys stuck inside. Trust me.
I believe that all midsize sedans now offer seat warmers as an option at least. Most of the time, if you get a car with leather seats, it comes with seat warmers.
I believe most cars, when equipped with seat warmers, come with 2-level seat warmers. However, I know the Camry only comes with 1-level (on/off) as opposed to low and high settings. There are probably a couple other cars that do the same thing.
I also agree with mz6 about the smart key system. It really is a great system, and I think you have to spend more than half a week with it to realize just how wonderful it is. It doesn't let you lock your keys in your car, and it's completely hands free (don't have to reach for keys.) I just don't see how it's a bad/flawed system. Even the push-button starter is convenient.
Oh my, better get out the long johns and put a "toboggan" on your head. Really, heated seats in LA...I'd think you'd want seat coolers instead.
When the low is 32 or warmer, that's called spring here. According to the forcast we might get up to almost 32 one day in the next 10...
I discovered, when some relatives moved to AL, that people kind of have the same range of clothing but just different thresholds for wearing it. My HS age niece had told me of Alabamians wearing long underwear, heavy winter coats, and "toboggans" (as they say down there) when temp was in, I think, the 30s. Meanwhile when visiting Green Bay, which is 100 miles or so to the north of us, noticed shorts were pretty common when it was in the mid to high 60s.
Jeans/long pants come out when high are 60s.
Long sleeve shirts/sweaters come out when highs are in 50s, maybe a light jacket.
The heavy coats don't come out until lows hit the 30s. Long underwear in the 30s? Nah... maybe on a snowy day/night in the teens.
Seat heaters and coolers should use the Audi/VW design, I think, with a thumb wheel.
I agree.
Mazda just adapted the thumb wheel for the CX-7 (cloth and leather) for 09. Yes, I know, not a mid-sized sedan, so, all who want to comment on that, just save it!
Heat wave in So. Caliifornia today. It's supposed to get up to 80F! :shades: :shades:
1. Seat warmers
2. Automatic windows/locks
3. Steering wheel
4. Engine
You get the idea. That's the one feature that makes me consciously happy every day for about 4 months of the year.
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I will admit that I'm never going to be able to buy another car unless it has seat warmers now. :P It's the little things that make people happy.
Try some of those, maybe starting with the 2008-9 Accord to compare it to what you have now, then the Camry to compare with a car optimized for ride smoothness above all else.
Not to be sarcastic, but have you considered a Buick, notably the LaCrosse?
Soft suspensions went away partially because of the safety factor (as relates to handling and accident avoidance) but also because fewer and fewer people wanted them. Now there ARE some sedans that are softer than the Accord you drove...it's one of the firmer ones, along with Mazda and Nissan (though Nissan is probably a bit softer than the other two). Softies tend to include, as mentioned, Hyundai Sonata (non-SE), Toyota Camry, and Chevy Malibu from what I hear, but even those are firmer than the 20-30 year old cars you're yearning for.
Fact is, the marshmallowy ride is disappearing because most people don't want it anymore, for the very reasons you mentioned: safety and stability. The more disconnected you are from the road, the harder it is to notice when you're losing control (and the harder it is to stay in control in the first place).
Both Toyota and Hyundai have "sporty" models on their car lot as well, and you should probably avoid those. They usually have much firmer suspensions.
On another subject, I'm pretty sure I know why most car manufacturers are starting to tune their cars on the sportier side of driving. One of the reasons is road feel; it gives most drivers a sense of control when they know what they're driving on. It also makes the car more fun for day-to-day driving. The other reason as you mentioned is safety. If the car's driver knows what they're driving on, it will usually stave off hypnotism more because it keeps the drivers interested in the ride.
This is coming from experience. I used to own a Toyota Solara. One of the biggest problems I had in that car was the tendency to become drowsy while driving. I think this was mainly because I was not focused on the road, and the soft suspension seemed to lull me while driving. On the flip side, I now own a Nissan Altima, which has a firmer suspension and more communicative steering wheel. Because of this, I find it easier to keep myself concentrated on the drive. Thus, I am less likely to become drowsy. From my experience, I believe the Altima is the safer car simply because I'm more involved in the drive than I was in the Solara... Of course, 6 air-bags and a 5-star crash rating don't hurt the Altima's safety either. :P
That should explain why most cars are starting to strike a balance between comfort and sport. It has also been proven that MOST people like a car that is fun to drive.
BTW, I have an '08 Altima 2.5 S model, and even though it's firm, The car has never bottomed out or boomed on pot holes like you explained on your Accord. It might be worth it for you to take a look at it.
2008 Accord LXP 4 cyl
2009 Camry Ltd 6 cyl
2008 Azera Ltd 6 cyl
2009 Malibu LT 4 & 6 cyl
2009 Impala LT 6 cyl
2008 Fusion 4 & 6 cyl
2008 Altima S 4 cyl
These are the cars that most review sites claimed to have the softest suspensions (maybe except the Malibu). At the time (1-1/2 years ago), the Accord was too expensive and I'm not sure I like it enough to buy another one anyway. The suspensions on the Camry, Azera and Impala were similar and were a little softer but not enough so that would make me lose a few thousand dollars trading my accord in for them. I really like the ride on the Fusion the best but I found the 4 cyl too weak and the 6 cyl had less hp and worse mpg than the others. The Altima, in my opinion, was not much softer than my Accord. I think maybe if they could, at least, put in struts/shocks that have more travel. That might make all the difference. Driving position is also important to me and my accord SE, w/o the power seats, is not comfortable to me. My Taurus had P/S. From the test drives, the most comfortable driving positions I experienced were in order........ Azera, Impala, Fusion, Malibu, Altima, Accord, Camry. So, I'm not sure what I'm going to go with if I can't find something with a ride like a 1967 Pontiac Bonneville. Just kidding....I'm not really interested in RWD's either.
I own two Accords, and recommended the Taurus to them. Its obviously a softer car, with lighter steering and a softer suspension, but it is also very very quiet, and a "safe" handler, if not a canyon-carver.
Check it out.
OTOH, if you liked the Impala, you can get a super deal right now on a closeout 2008 or, better yet, a slightly used 2008 (which I have seen advertised starting around $11k--you can likely get more than that for your 2007 Accord!). Another option is a 2008 Sonata, again available for around $11k with low miles and 3+ years of warranty left. So price should not be an issue if you want a smoother ride.
The tire profile and type of tire is also a big factor. I dread picking a next car because many have lower profile tires which transmit more road shock. I like a suspension that has control but is able to absorb. But when the wheels and tires are low height, a lot more is going to come through.
In some brands, going up to fancier, better equipped models also means a change in tire profile and ride.
I had a Mustang Pace Car that had the early Michelin TRX tires that were lower profile and I realized then how much the tires contribute to the irritation of tar strips and slight bumps that get tiring after a while, and that's only my opinion.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Backy, I knew I forgot a car that I did test drive a couple of years ago, which was a Sonata, both the 4 & 6 cyl. I remember the ride being smooth and I liked the power of the V6 but still had the same issue with strut travel.....bottoming out with potholes and also sometimes going over speed bumps, etc. Also, I've been reading about too many people having issues with noisy suspensions on these cars. Not really sure what's up with that, though.
When the 2010 Fusion comes out in a month or two it's going to have improved horsepower on both engines, but I DON'T know if they're making changes to the suspension. Also, test-drive the BASE wheel size in a vehicle...a lot of times upgrades get plus-size wheels which lowers the tire profile.
A CAMRY too firm...now I've heard it all.
>A CAMRY too firm...now I've heard it all.
But be sure to test drive in the model you intend to purchase. If I understand, the Camry LE is softer and more Buick-like (I own two) while the SE is firmer. I had driven an SE when last shopping in 02.
Watch the tire pressure on the vehicle you test drive. Having the tires low or high can confuse your perception of whether the ride and drive is as you yourself would prefer.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
and yet he said "I really like the ride on the Fusion" :surprise: :confuse:
I did not even test drive a Camry, as my assumption has always been that it is among the softest riding and vaguest handling cars (I also did not like the seat, anyway...so no need to drive one).
I'd have guessed the Fusion would be above (or below, depending on your desires) the Accord in terms firmness of ride. In any case, whatever the order between those two, I'm very surprised that someone who feels an Accord is too stiff and did not find the Camry to be different enough from the Accord, would like the Fusion's ride.
That's a mouthful.
When I picked up my Mazda6s GT it rode very firm. Now I like a firm ride, but this was starting to worry me. Every pavement joint was a jolt.
I checked the air pressure and each tire had 43 pounds of air. I lowered them all to 32 psi, which is what they are supposed to be, and now it's juuuust right.
I would guess that many cars driven on test drives have not had the complete PDI done yet, or they missed that part.
2020 Ascent Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
i have an 07 awd and i really like how the 6 speed works.
the fusion ride is a bit soft for me and rolls too much in the corners. between my wife and i we had 3 taurii, but they were all sho's. :shades:
If you are looking for a land barge, maybe an older car that was soft to start with and has softened up even more with age would be appealing. My 1997 Windstar floats and jiggles and jostles it's way down the road, I like to make barge-like foghorn noises while driving it . I'm sure it was always soft, but I think it is even more so now than when it was new.
If a new Camry doesn't do it, maybe a 10 year old one would give you that (lack of) feel that you seek .
You could look into softer tires, some who like a soft ride have referred to Goodyear Comfort tread tires.
Not surprising from Edmunds, given their past track record.
I can't find a link to the article.......
So much as the secret Toyota agents try, there is no pulling down Ford. :shades:
Enjoy!
One of them being Motor Trend. They compared it directly to the Camry, Altima, and Malibu hybrids on the same days and in the same conditions. That is how you are supposed to conduct a comparison and Edmunds needs to follow up with this because they just compared apples to oranges in that article. The Fusion came out way ahead of all of them in the MT comparo BTW.
Edmunds seems to have arrived at unusually high numbers for the Camry in that article too. Be it the weather, the driver, or whatever, something seems terribly off balance with their results.
I fear the Fusion Hybrid is not going to sell all that well but I think the I-4 will if priced well. People need to give big three cars like Fusion and Malibu a drive, they are really good.
Care to explain that? A Prius certainly does not cost 100K,and what is a FFH?
Even though Ford has modest sales goals for the Fusion Hybrid, it will be interesting to see how it does if gas stays below $2 a gallon. The hybrid starts around $27k, and a Fusion I4 can be had with decent equipment for under $20k--with improved fuel economy for the 2010 model year. Those who are OK spending $27k+ for a hybrid may turn to the 2010 Prius, if it is roomy enough. Then there's the 2010 Insight, reportedly starting well under $18k, if a smaller car will fit. The Insight is a compact, though, so not direct competition for the Fusion. But I think the Prius is. As is the Camry hybrid of course, which is improved for 2010 MY also and has a starting price less than the Fusion.
The Prius sells at about 100,000 units per year is what he was implying.
Since Ford already has trouble meeting the demands for the Escape / Mariner Hybrid, I have no doubt that Ford will have any issue selling the 25,000 the intend to build.
They compete in FE only. Sure they are sized similarly but the Fusion, and Camry for that matter, are much more refined and better as daily drivers than the Prius (I've never driven one so this is purely off of what I've read over the years). If you still think the Prius is a direct competitor to the FFH then you must think it competes with it's lot-mate the Camry hybrid right? Why would Toyota put two competing cars on the same lots everywhere?
As is the Camry hybrid of course, which is improved for 2010 MY also and has a starting price less than the Fusion.
The FFH offers a bit more than the Camry hybrid though. To get any sort of high tech readout of the hybrid system in the Camry you have to get the nav. The FFH offers a high tech solution to that want right out of the box. Then there's the FE gap between the two and some other small things that, IMO, make the Fusion worth the extra grand or grand and a half over the Camry.