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First, I think it's kinda cool to drive something you don't see all the time on the road, e.g. the Camcordfumaltima. One of the cars in my stable is a 2004 Elantra GT hatchback. I don't see many of those on the road, either, despite their being made (for that generation) for six years. It doesn't bother me at all. I don't see too many Kia Rio5 hatches either... no problem there either.
Second, I think you meant to say "akirby the Ford salesman."
Maybe your best bet is to learn how to drive a stick and get an Accord LX or Sport with the 6MT. As you may know, Honda makes one of the best manual transmissions in the business.
I want to take advantage of a rare opportunity of an owner of a new 6 for us.
It seems whenever anybody is actually faced with facts and reality they are quick to accuse someone of having a secret agenda like "oh, he must be a XXX salesman". How childish is that. I like Mazdas but I also own a Honda product and a Toyota product.
@backy - I owned two VWs. The only thing worse than the first one was the second one. I think they should come with a compass that points to the nearest repair shop. I don't need a strike three on that. I actually like the subarus, but I live in Florida and the AWD would be useless to me. And on the manual tranny - wife would have no interest in one and from what I've read Honda's manual trannys, although smooth shifting, seem to have their share of problems too - particularly 3rd gear for some reason.
You're welcome.
Why not the Impala...never driven or even sat it but from appearances it looks impressive.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Honda MT's don't have 3rd gear problems - where did that come from. Anecdotal, but I have an Integra with 232,000 miles and an Accord with 168,000 miles. Both transmissions are fine. Of course the 2013 is also fine, but it only has 10,000 miles.
Also the EX has a stick as well, not just the sport and LX.
While this might be true, ya gotta admit it sounds like an exaggeration for potential effect.
Or maybe ya better get the better half back on a little more groceries for awhile..
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http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2013/10/usa-20-best-selling-cars-september-2013.htm- l
From what I see in my area, Mazda dealers aren't offering big incentives on the new Mazda6 yet. But you can get HUGE incentives to buy an Optima or Sonata or Accord or Camry or Fusion or Malibu or 200 or... just about everything else in this class.
If Mazda can keep the profit margin per car up there, they can make a profit on the car even with a low sales volume. To make $1 million, you can for example sell 10,000 cars for a $100 profit each, or 1000 cars for $1000 profit each. It's $1 million either way.
I don't know if Mazda is making a profit on the 6 or not. Mazda had to completely develop the car from the ground up, which costs a fortune. So, they may be making a profit per car, but not as a whole. It is fortunate that the CX-5 and the 3 share the platform
I am pulling for Mazda. It has a sedan rated number 1 by Car & Driver and Automobile Magazine, beating all comers, it delivers the Zoom-Zoom drivers have been promised, yet sales seem to not reflect the goodness of this car.
The one area where the mags agree is that the well-put-together interior doesn't deliver the technological bang that some of the others do. However, my Optima has a similar driver - friendly dash layout that is built around the driver, just like the 6. I dunno; I mean wouldn't you think that the 6 would be outselling my car by now guys?
It depends on what interior colors you get on the Mazda. Personally, I really like the Mazda's interior as a drivers car. It is all business and not much flash...but it is very well put together. I drove the Touring about 7 months ago, and after that what I wished for was that my car steered like the 6. Also, the 6 chassis was less "rubbery" feeling than the Optima. On the other hand, my 2.4 liter felt stronger than the Mazda's in the mid range. Both my car and the Mazda have 6 speed autos. Here is Mazda's GT interior: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1303_midsize_madness_day_four/photo_- - 09.html
I like the Accord too, and even though it has a few strips of plasti-luminum trim the rest of the interior is otherwise very nicely done. Here is the Sport interior:
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1303_midsize_madness_day_four/photo_- - 01.html
Also loving the Sport's dual pipes, 18" rims, and the wing, but not the CVT. I like the blue color on the Accord hands down.
Tough choices.
Also...
We are all salesmen! How many cars do you think we have sold just by posting facts figures and experiences? At least you guys would get a real dealership. With Kia, I would get stuck in an old Suzuki/Geo trailer behind backy's Hyundai dealership....My business cards would have "KIA" taped over "GEO" with my name scrawled in pencil. Claaaaasssssyyyy!
So...
With that said, have a good weekend!! :shades:
And btw, it's a really nice Kia dealership, no Suzuki/Geo trailer here. It's a former Saturn place, pretty hi-tech in appearance. Seems to fit well with the European styling theme Kias have at present.
But I don't have my Mazda6 right now. Some unmentionable walloped it while it was sitting in a parking lot. Hit and run of course. So I'm in a Cruze rental for awhile. Pretty decent little car.
Fusion sales of 21,740 vehicles jumped 71 percent year-over-year, making it the car’s best-ever sales performance for October.
The strongest growth for Fusion is in the west region of the U.S., with retail sales up 77 percent. In the eastern region of the country, Fusion retail sales are up 65 percent.
Accord 25,162
Altima 21,785
Fusion 21,740
Sonata 19,872
Malibu 15,746
Optima 11,492
200 8,348
Passat 7,258
Avenger 5,406
Mazda6 3,100
Legacy 3,090
Accord: 307,264
Altima: 271,303
Fusion: 248,033
Sonata: 172,574
Malibu: 170,696
Optima: 135,548
200: 111,207
Passat: 91,522
Avenger: 85,005
Mazda6: 35,632
Legacy: 36,441
There are several interiors right now that all seem like variations on the same theme. The Fusion, the Sonata, and to some extent the Altima all have some similar themes. Accord and Camry are unique, some may think in a good way. Optima is also unique, but not necessarily in a good way. The Mazda strikes me as a more traditional or conservative design, but not necessarily a bad one. I saw one with the light-colored leather and quite liked it overall. The main thing for me that works against it is that the styling leaves the rear compartment feeling claustrophobic, with small window openings. But points to Mazda for offering a brighter trim choice than the ubiquitous and depressing all-black, and not copying the current dash design cliche.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
But I also don't see any similarity whatsoever between the interior design of the Sonata and that of the Altima. Fusion, maybe, but executed quite differently.
Camry is definitely unique... but NOT in a good way, IMO. I'm not crazy about the Accord's dash either, but at least it's better than the Camry's. I like the design of the Optima's dash. It's a bit retro, but nicely executed.
The Mazda6 isn't the only current mid-sized car with small rear windows. The Sonata in particular is guilty of that, but I think a light (tan) interior alleviates the claustrophobia. The Fusion's are pretty small too. Doesn't seem to be hurting sales too much, as previous posts attest.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
The competitors are up, so that means it's losing market share.
I like that they aren't associated with Ford any more. Ford was an anchor.
I hope you both find something you'll be happy with and I respect the hard earned cash aspect in your pursuit.
It seems certain Camry will keep the lead, and I'm guessing total sales will be about 410,000 for the calendar year.
I think the Accord will close the gap somewhat, and by year end sales will almost get to 400,000.
My guess is that Altima and Fusion will end up somewhere around 350,000.
And next year will be even more competitive....
http://www.city-data.com/forum/automotive/1914162-toyota-needs-greatly-improve-t- heir-designs.html
"Toyota has a long way to go with crash test performance in the new "small overlap" crash tests from the IIHS. Their cars are doing well in the moderate overlap test, but in the small overlap, their cars are doing terrible. Honda has good performers in this test, as well as Subaru. The bad part is that some of Toyota's latest designs are performing poorly... the new Camry and new RAV4 are included... I am not sure how well the Avalon would perform.
Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/automotive/1914162-toyota-needs-greatly-improve-t- heir-designs.html#ixzz2jUeaIVdF
Honda Shines, Toyota Falls in Latest IIHS Crash Tests
The 2013 Toyota Camry sedan and Prius v hybrid (above, right) failed a new crash test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that simulates a frontal impact overlapping a small portion of the car — say, piling into a tree from your left headlight. IIHS announced today its test of 18 model-year 2013 family cars. It's the largest yet for the so-called "small overlap" frontal test that many luxury brands failed in August 2012.
At the other end, the Honda Accord sedan and nearly-defunct Suzuki Kizashi (above, left) earned IIHS' top score, Good; 11 other cars — including the Accord coupe — earned Acceptable ratings. The IIHS rates cars Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor. Of the 18 cars tested, the Toyotas scored Poor, but the Hyundai Sonata, Chevrolet Malibu and Volkswagen Jetta sedan scored Marginal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iQYwXqb4G0
This is an entirely different Avalon, with a taut ride and beautiful lines I think anyone would be happy to own it.
Unfortunately $35k will not get you an Avalon that will have many of the niceties that a loaded mid-size would offer, but I would definitly choose an Avalon over an Altima. I think Nissan is kind of like Hyundai quality wise.
Also, a car like the Optima will offer a sportier ride and great gobs of torque from the turbo motor. Your wife will not always be with you. It is YOUR money, so buy the one you will want to keep turning and looking at when you walk away in a parking lot.