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* Is back seat room important to you at all? If so, the obvious choice is something other than the CC.
* If you can wait a bit before buying your next car, you might want to wait until the 2.0T version of the Sonata and also the all-new Optima (same engine) debut. 274 hp will do some serious neck-snapping. Also the Sonata has a similar profile to the CC's yet has room for 3 adults in back (as long as they aren't too tall or broad).
I had a VW Jetta in the late 80's. It was a fun car to drive but not realiable and expensive to repair. :shades:
Back seat isn't important to me, most of my time my jackets and sweaters occupy the spot. With the CC I still get 4 doors and carry 3 people when I have to. I'm 5'7" myself and none of my friends and family are taller than 5'10" so nobody will be complaining about head room no matter which car I buy.
I am waiting until January of next year so I definitely have some time on my hands, which probably is great for a shopper. From what I've read about the 2.0T on the Sonata/Optima is that they behave more like a larger displacement V6 instead of your traditional turbocharged engine. I also want to see if the Korean pair drives more like fast family sedans or entry level sports sedans.
PS: the woosh sound from VW's 2.0T was a plus
My 2005 Mazda6 i sedan with the 4 spd auto has been very reliable as well. The only problem I had was a driver side window motor that wouldn't roll the windows down and a blown fuse. If I remember correctly it was about $450 at the driver for both items. The AC has been amazing from day one, but sometimes it's just too cold LOL.
One of the biggest problem I have with my car is the 4 spd auto unit. It's pretty tough and slow to shift, up or down. I got to experience much better trannies while test driving both the CC and 6 S GT, both were smooth, none of that lurching business
I too have an 07 Mazda6 I4 and it has been absolutely trouble free for almost 50k now. I'm glad to see others have gotten 65k out of their OEM tires. We have pretty decent tread left on ours as well. It's hard to imagine having to take your car for repairs a couple of times a year when you've had a couple of cars that have been perfect for several years. Maybe we're spoiled.
Did you ever get to drive a current V6 model ? If you did I'm wondering if you were as impressed with the new car as I was. The chassis felt rock solid at turns and it rides a ton better. My only concern was the road noise. I think a good amount of it came from the 18in wheels.
I replaced it with a '10 Mazda6S GT this past June, and after 2500 miles, I'm still VERY happy with my choice. Gas mileage has been around 22 MPG with my normal driving (60% highway, 40% city), and I've gotten 26 MPG on highways (cruise set at 75 MPH with A/C on). The mileage will go up as the engine gets "worn in" even further, but I'm happy with what I get now, since the punch of the V6 is simply intoxicating, and passing/merging on highways is effortless. Road noise is indeed slightly more than other cars in it's class, but from experience, it's from the Michelins, since it seems every set of 'em seems to be loud. I replaced the OEM tires on my '04 6 with Yokohamas, and the noise virtually disappeared, along with significantly better handling in both dry and wet, a smoother ride, and at half the price of the OEM Michelins.
Before I bought the 6, I test-drove just about everything else in it's class/price range, including the CC. The styling is indeed very nice, and the interior is a half-step up from the 6, but IMO the turbo lag of the 2.0T was very evident, and it felt like it had virtually no low-end torque compared to the V6. Quality and reliability is still very suspect, since they're still near the bottom in just about all long-term surveys, and I've experienced their (lack of) reliability firsthand (a previous employer used a '99 and '00 Golf TDI, hoping to get 200K+ out of the diesel engines, but both didn't last past 125K, with tons of electrical gremlins, faulty transmissions, and fried turbos). As for pricing, $29K for a 4-cylinder is a little steep IMO (and $39K for a VR6 is outrageous! I'd rather get an A4, 3-series, or G37 for that $$$$).
Between the two, I'd stick with the 6.
BTW, does the CC 2.0T require premium gas? My 2000 Civic Si did and it drove my wife nuts that I bought a car that required it.
As much as I like the styling of the VW CC, I still recommend the Mazda 6, and it's built in Flat Rock, MI. along side the Ford Mustang.
I only wish they still made the 5-door model. :shades:
Yes it does. My wife also has a problem with that.
The funny thing is the difference in the cost of regular vs premium never changed. In Atlanta the price difference was $0.20/gallon regardless of whether regular was $2/gallon of $4/gallon.
Therefore the price penalty for premium was still only $0.20/gallon or about $3/fillup - it never changed. Then again people will waste $3 in extra driving just to save $2 on a tank of gas.
It's all perception.
Even if you drive ~20,000 miles per year, using ~700 gallons of gas, premium (based on 20 cents per gallon) would add about $12 per month to your expenses. At $0.30 more, it would still only be $18 per month.
If you can wait for the 2011 Mazda6, it is rated at 18/27 for the V6 model compared to 22/31 on the CC but the CC requires Premium fuel. Based no that, I see virtually no fuel savings going with the CC.
As an owner of a 2005 Mazda6 that has been trouble free with around 70,000 miles, I would stick with the Mazda6....
It's just another rationalization people use to justify buying a new vehicle. Just like repair costs. I'm going to spend $5K/yr on car payments to avoid a $1500 repair.
No, I didn't. I wasn't interested in it because of the poor mpg it gets. I like power but don't need to sacrifice that much for it. I understand the 2011 V6 will be a little better in that department. There was also some minor things in the interior that I didn't care for so I just didn't test drive it. I sat in it many times while in for oil changes at the dealer.
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS
or one of these...
2011 Kia Optima
if I were ta go mid-size, gentlemen. None of the others save for possibly a 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid would even come close to competing with these. And really, if greenbacks were ta be actually produced, Suzuki Motors would no doubt get the money from me. Love that Kizashi.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I crunched some numbers based on my typical driving data and found the difference in gas spending is about $150-$180. The Mazda6 S would sip more gas but not by that much. The difference can easily be covered by a higher sales price, insurance or anything else.
mz6greyghost Is absolutely right about the V6 being intoxicating. The car would snap forward with the slightest pressure on the pedal.I just loved that.
The smart entry system is actually a big thing for me since I tend to carry food with me to my car.
Well, I think I've pretty much decided on what to get. I'lll let you guys know once I actually make the purchase on a 2011 6 S GT.
Thanks guys!
...Not to mention the more-expensive repair costs that VW will rack up (as well as the more-expensive maintenance costs that you'll be stuck with after 3 years/36K miles), and, at least in my case, the insurance difference was at least $80 per year.
Definitely keep us posted, and I highly recommend the Tech package as well, it's worth every penny...
They look like giant pizza's.
My BIL bought a new Optima 5 years ago and just made the last payment. It is falling apart, gets bad mileage, and he is ready to junk it. A $199 a month lease can be had on many competitors with $2400-$2900 down. Thats where the GM credit card rewards come in handy. maybe knock the DP down to $1400. His 'shot' Optima had $320 payments for 5 yrs.
Let's sing along with Elvis "...in the ghetto"
Makes it easier to check tire tread depth?
2011 Kia Optima...with those wheels
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
HyundaiRonco?http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/08/first-look-video-2011-kia-optima.h- tml
Im fairly confident in the drivetrain based on what we've seen in the Sonata reviews. Hopefully more first looks to come.
P.S. I like the "3rd door handle".
That example proves my point....the Tribute and Escape are the same thing!! Very very few differences....
1st gen Fusion and 1st gen Mazda6 had more differences then the Optima and Sonata.....
Kia-Huyndai have far more in common then Ford-Mazda.
What is the same, is the class leading power and FE engine. Works for me.
My initial post was in response to the CR video about the Kia Optima and how CR mentioned there many items that are identical, such as the drivetrain platform. Not similar, IDENTICAL.
I never said it was a bad thing, I just mentioned that it is the same thing as a Sonata with different sheet metal and a nicer interior. It was more like an observation based on the information available.
It seems like the Optima is to the Sonata, what a Buick Enclave is the the GMC Acadia
GM could learn a lesson or two about rebadging.
Obviously Hyundai is doing something right because their quality has jumped substantially and now their quality has spilled over to Kia. Five years ago, Kia was the laughing stock of the auto industry.
In the early-80's, Caddilac came out with the Cimmaron, which was a fancy Chevy Cavalier.