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I own a 2008 Accord and it's been great. Excellent room. Good Handling. Nice mpg. Good quality.
There are other good choices too. It's a very competitive segment, and there are a lot of nice choices at just a little bit more than 20k.
The next thing you should do is get behind the wheel and test each of them for yourself. We can all type about a billion pros and cons for each vehicle (and every other midsize sedan that you didn't mention), but the only thing that can actually help narrow down your choices is taking each of them out for a test-drive or two. Check out the controls, how each of them rides/drives, how quiet/loud they are, etc.
Big reason I axed the Accord is during my test drive and many many reviews from car mags, I felt and the reviewers felt it did not suppress road and wind noise that well, especially in the 4cyl models nor does the Accord have the pick-up or crisper handling that the Altima or Mazda 6 have.
Now, between the Altima and Mazda 6 its a toss up. The Mazda 6 definitely has more crisp handling but the Altima has less road noise compared to the Mazda 6 and slightly better pick-up and go and also better mpg.
You really should test drive both again and see which one fits your needs better.
The Altima and Mazda6 are the most sporty, from my research and experience.
Even though the Fusion/Milan are basically the same car as the 6, they are tuned slightly differently, if I understand correctly.
Most reviewers say the Altima is just a *little* bit more sporty than the Mazda6, as well as slightly more fuel efficient (probably due to the CVT). But many other reviewers didn't like the feel of the CVT.
The Mazda6 has plenty of acceleration for me, corners like its on rails, glides over road roughness like it was on air, and is extremely quiet on the road. Not Lexus-level of luxurious quiet, but far better than any Honda product (I've previously owned CRVs and Civics...Honda gets good gas mileage mainly by making lighter cars by skimping on sound insulation that weighs cars down).
I favor the Mazda6. It is bigger than the Altima for rear-seat room. It has the biggest trunk in the class. IIRC, it has the tightest turning radius in its class. I think it is *much* better looking than the Altima, but also than the Camry, Accord, or Fusion/Milan.
I chose the Mazda6 4-cyl due to fuel economy concerns...I haven't gotten addicted to V-6 sport sedan acceleration/power, so the 4-cyl was great for me. One reviewer said the 4-cyl actually handles better because the lighter engine weight over the 6-cyl results in better overall balance. I don't know, but I have never checked acceleration speed with a stopwatch even once in my life, so I don't care about exactly how many seconds it takes to get from 0-60. What I care about most is how the car handles, how it feels...
Even though Mazda has some reputation of some problems (biggest problems about 10-15 years ago), so does Nissan...I really don't feel like I trust Nissan engineering for long-term reliability, and I think Mazda has increased its reliability significantly over the last decade.
Still, I wish I'd taken the time to test drive at least the Altima, if not also the Fusion (even though I dislike the Fusion's looks immensely). You shouldn't depend totally on reviews, like I did.
I was actually originally looking for a Mazda3, because I had driven the previous generation and loved its handling and acceleration...and reviewers said the current 3 was just as good in every way, or better. I hadn't considered or researched the 6 or its competitors because reviewers also said the 6 had sacrificed handling for size and comfort. But when I drove the 2010 Mazda3, I was underwhelmed. It just didn't feel as peppy as the 2008 Mazda3 I had test-driven previously. But interestingly, despite being larger and heavier, I felt the Mazda6 was actually more zippy/peppy/nimble than the 3!
So I immediately started negotiating for the 6, and purchased one that day. I haven't regretted it...a month later, I still feel a thrill when I accelerate around a corner on my morning commute. I expect I'll have that thrill for a number of years. Hopefully the whole 10.
I didn't test drive an Altima (to me the current body style has been around too long and I'm afraid a whole sale change would kill value) or a the Mazda6 (bad impressions form rental cars), but from all accounts, the new model Mazda6 is a big winner, so you probably owe it to yourself to check it out.
That said, like expressed above, if you can buy an Accord EX for $18k, do it. That's just too good to pass up. I've driven the current model and it's certainly respectable. Not quite my driving style, but better than a Camry.
That was true for the 1st generation. The first Fusion was a virtual copy of the Mazda6. The current variations of the Fusion and Mazda6 are much further apart. They share similar 4-cyl engines and a similar platform, but, they rest is vastly different.
I recall a thread recently that jumped all over someone because he suggested the MKZ was just like the Fusion. So this looks like fair game... a "virtual copy"? Really?? :surprise:
After touring the AAI factory in Flat Rock, MI where the Mazda6 and Ford Mustang are built, the chief vehicle quality inspector for the Mazda6, who was our tour guide, mentioned that Ford used the Mazda6 to mold it into a Ford Fusion and saved $10 billion in doing so. His own words were that the Fusion was identical in many, many ways. They even shared some of the same paint choices.
So, yes the 1st gen Ford Fusion was a "virtual" copy of the Mazda6, as far as engineering goes. Don't mistake my statement as being equal to a re-badge, like Fusion/Milan, but, it's as close as you can get without being a re-badge.
Yes, the MKZ is an exact clone of the Fulan, if the Fulan and Mazda6 are virtual copies.
You will immediately notice the difference. I know you are aware of this already, so your post surprises me.
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Looks like Toyota has some work to do when they redesign the Camry.
You will immediately notice the difference. I know you are aware of this already, so your post surprises me.
I own a '05 Mazda6 and have driven the 1st gen Fusion several times. I am aware the feel different, and look different. I think you are missing my point, or I am not conveying it well enough.
Perhaps the word "identical" was a little strong, but, the Fusion was created from the Mazda6. Ford literally took a Mazda6 and turned it into a Fusion. They did not just start on the platform and build something different, they actually sculpted the Mazda6 into a Fusion.
No, you are missing my point. The 1st Mazda6 and Fusion had far more in common than the platform. That is my point. A platform, or platform design is a very small piece of the pie and does not cost $10,000,000,000 to develop. Ford saved that exact amount when designing the Fusion because the took a completed Mazda6, made some changes (some minor, some major) and called it a Fusion. It's a fact.
What we see now from Ford is an evolution from that concept and they seem to have created a much better version with the current Fusion. Mazda also went in a different direction with the Mazda6 and it too is better (or worse depending on which 1st gen Mazda6 owner you talk to).
Either way, both are great cars and have strong roots to one another. Now, they are more like distant cousins with the amount of differences they have.
"Distant cousins" is a much more accurate description. But not just now... also as of the debut of the Fusion in 2005.
If you want to talk about "virtually identical" in an accurate fashion, here's one that I can agree with: Fusion and Milan. Pretty much identical except minor styling and trim choices.
Different in appearance. Location of HVAC vents, location of power control switches are in the exact same place.
different powertrain choices
Same engines / different tranny's.
different electronics
The basic electrical system was the same. They even shared the same ECU
different suspension tuning (and parts?).
Same rear end suspension (E-Type Multilink), Similar front suspension
What we saw with the 1st Fusion and 1st Mazda6 is similar to what you see with the new Sonata and Kia Optima. The look different and feel different, but, from an engineering stand point, they are almost identical. I'm sorry, but, deciding what sheet metal is on the car, or how stiff a suspension is does not make cars "distant cousins".
If you don't want to believe what I am saying, I really don't care. With working for Mazda for many years and having talked to engineers, corporate executives and countless other Mazda insiders as well as being associated with a Ford, I do know a little more then the average person.
If the Fusion was a jacket, you have to take it off to see the shirt (Mazda 6) underneath.
Location of power control switches? Where would you expect them to be, on the roof? Or trunklid, perhaps? Note the huge difference in controls--audio system, HVAC, of course the steering wheel and its controls, and the instrument cluster.
Re powertrain, as you noted, the cars have different trannies, plus the Fusion has an AWD powertrain option and the Mazda6 doesn't. And the fours aren't really "identical", although the Fusion's 2.3L Duratec is based on the MZR. (In the latest Fusion and Mazda6, the 2.5L fours are identical, from what I've heard. But this is about the original Mazda6 and Fusion.)
Perhaps the different front suspension is responsible for the different ride/handling of the two cars.
To me, having almost everything on a car be different except a partial floorpan, engines (and even those aren't exactly the same), some suspension parts, and some electrical components doesn't make them "virtually identical" as you asserted. "Distant cousins", yes. Some shared DNA, but they look/act much different.
The Mazda6 and Focus are no more "virtually identical" than the 2011 Sonata and 2011 Optima are virtually identical. They are much different cars, with some shared parts. Actually, the Sonata and Optima have more in common than the original Mazda6 and Fusion. At least the Sonata and Optima share their entire powertrains.
Your working for Mazda for many years doesn't make you any less susceptible to hyperbole than the next person, it appears. ;-)
I know for sure that the original Fusion was a Mazda6 with pretty much only cosmetic differences other than a stretched frame...otherwise, the differences were less than you could have within trim levels of the same car (different transmission...)
I was under the impression that the increased size of the current Mazda6 made it even closer to the current Fusion, but I could be wrong about that.
But I absolutely, 100% see the current Mazda6 in these pictures originally linked in this post.
2. How soon until other manufacturers offer similar plans? Or will they not follow suit?
3. Gimmick or smart marketing? How would you compare this program to what Hyundai did with offering their 10yr/100K warranty? Same goal or different?
Toyota Free Maintenance Plan
Let's hear your thoughts.
2. Don't think others will follow suit.
3. Gimmick. Not even close to the Hyundai warranty. Toyota is just trying to create some positive buzz....Hyundai did it for survival.
But the similarities are remarkable.
After all the discussion back and forth, did you make a decision on which car to buy? :shades:
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
7 oil change/tire rotations, plus 2 air filters and 2 set of wipers: $200.
I guess the maintenance plan evens up the Toyota dealers.
Good opportunity to sneak in some secret fixes too. 'plbt'
No, I don't see the Toyota free maintenance plan as being any big deal. But certainly better than nothing. I'd much rather they bump up the warranty to match the likes of Hyundai, Kia, and Mitsubishi. Toyota supposedly makes very reliable cars, so a longer warranty should cost them almost nothing, right?
P.S. Note VW's plan includes 3 years/36k miles of maintenance. Much better deal than Toyota's plan. But I'd rather have the longer warranty with VW also.
PS : Maybe I'll drive over to Kia HQ tomorrow to see if they have one on display.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqkDQZ1zGDA
The floor mats are also checked every service to make sure they are secure.
I guess a dealer could still do oil changes for life. They would just start after 25k on the dealer's dime.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)