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I wasn't talking about tape measurements, but the shape which is undeniably similar. And you might not have noticed, Accord Coupe doesn't have the same headlamps as the sedan.
Or, are you disagreeing with those who have been suggesting that Accord looks like Sonata? And if you're all in agreement, then Caliber and Sonata are look-alike too!
It usually takes 2-years for Hyundai to get an inspiration. It happened in 1996 (1994 Accord's tail), they "missed" 1998 Accord in 2000 but went after Jaguar (S-Type). They managed to get back on track with Accordness (front 1998 Accord and rear 2003 Accord). Now the question is, what car do they have on the drawing board for next Sonata.
Perhaps we will see a bit of Honda in 2010 Sonata... Civic has been covered with Hyundai I30 revealed recently.
PS. The Japanese vehicle pictured above is not Accord, but "Stream". Speaking of which, you can see its rear end in Hyundai I30. :P
now i must pay for punnitive damage, Loren
Rumors are that Stream will be brought here (and another, that it will be called Latitude).
The fundamental idea was no different than crappy ads from a lot of automakers that compare vehicles from other automakers. In this case, they were confident enough that customers will invariably pick their product. Apparently, it didn't work as well as expected. Or they saw reduced hope with redesign of Accord (it seems to me, redesign of Camry didn't hurt much, or they miscalculated that as well).
We already know what car the next Sonata (2009 MY refresh) has in its sights: the Hyundai Genesis.
If you believe that Hyundai intentionally copied the 1998 Accord for its Sonata, then you must also believe that Honda copied old Saturn sedans for the rear end of the 2008 Accord, with a touch of Sonata in the taillamps. Also you must believe that Honda copied the roofline of the Kia Optima on the 2008 Accord--they are dead ringers for each other.
Of course, both of those ideas are ridiculous. As is the notion that Hyundai intentionally mimicked an old Accord for their styling inspiration for the Sonata.
That's a good thing because we plan on having the '07 for quite a few years even though it is paid for.
Well some may like that name, to a degree.
Of course the Compass has no relationship to the Latitude.
Ya know, Optima is kinda cool. Do believe RadioShack uses Optima too.
Ah names, where do they all come from. What is a Camry, I wonder?
L
I don't know this to be a fact but I've been told that some dealers deliberately under-inflate tires to make a car seem like it has a smoother ride.
Although not a sedan...
Compare this to this
And, this to this.
I absolutely had driven both cars before buying. I prefer the steering feel and the double wishbone suspension to the Aura. The Aura paddle shifting 6 speed is very nice, and is perhaps better in a way than the Accord. I find the 5 speed in the Accord to be smooth, and the D3 selection for performance on tight roads works fine. So it is about the same, with perhaps a cut above for XR. The engine is very powerful in both cars, with a zero to sixty which is very close. Yes, in a drag race, I could lose. HP is real power, otherwise race cars would lose to diesel trucks. As for quiet, I did notice tire noise in both cars. Could be lower.
If you hate how your Honda Accord drives, you would also hate the Aura, as they are similar, with a bit more natural balance to the Accord, and less top heavy feel around corner. And a double wishbone will handle the irregular bumps on turns better than any other setup I can think of. Those 18" wheels will cost you more come tire replacement time. And you just have more unsprung weight. No advantage there. You mentioned a Honda being better because it has an H on the hood. Nah, that is not the case. You look at the product, and add up the positive and negatives for each and every car. Then you weigh in the pricing and such. Sure a reputation helps.
Really helps come resale time. There are some things which Aura needs to improve on, like I pointed out before. And I really hate those foot operated emergency brakes. All in all, the XR is entertaining, and IF they offered a better price, as in cost of car AND my trade-in, I would be driving one today. They did not.
What is wrong with getting a good deal on a last of design of a model? And it looks better. I don't care for the new one. That said, the Aura is going to come out in a Chevy flavor with a nicer looking interior, called the New Malibu. It's a moving target.
As for an SE being bare bones, it is not. It has every useful feature I could imagine, though lack the iPod input on the stereo, which could be an issue for some. I wonder about that oversight. But the SE V6 has stability control, 6 CD changer, alloy 17" wheels with Michelin tires, which I think are a bit overrate for grip, but seem to wear well.
The remote key allows all window roll down from outside. The dash instruments seem nicer on the Accord. I would NOT advise getting the EX Accord, as the moon roof takes away 2"+ of headroom, and is a useless thing anyway. The cost in and resale, is not the value play like the SE V6. The SE is the sweet spot.
As for manipulating a situation, I am not sure what ya mean. I was there, got the pricing first at Saturn, then at Honda, and took the Honda. Got the deal and went for it. My best guess is that the Aura could be doomed, once the New Malibu is out, but it will still be a very nice car. If you can get the new, even higher rebate on the XR and do not have a trade-in to do, and like the XR, then go for it.
Now, I believe you said she bought the XE, which is the base model with 4sp. and 3.5 OHV engine. So how is that a good deal for the same money???
L
And this might be equally coincidental as well...
If you believe that Hyundai intentionally copied the 1998 Accord for its Sonata, then you must also believe that Honda copied old Saturn sedans for the rear end of the 2008 Accord
I've heard something along the lines, and do see some similarities, not as blatant thought. I asked another guy to describe the similarities, and it sounds like he had just described Mercedes E-class' rear, another car that looks like Saturn L200/L300 but not in a "blatant" way.
Of course, nothing as blatant as this but some Kia/Hyundai products remind me of a step that direction. Want more?
I don't know this to be a fact but I've been told that some dealers deliberately under-inflate tires to make a car seem like it has a smoother ride.
Whats funny is that makes the car handle like dookie and I find it totally undesirable. I think they get a car in, do a half-azz job of prepping it, and then let it sit on the lot for 2 months without checking it.
When I was working at bicycle shops, before bikes went out on test rides, they got their tires checked and their suspensions checked (both use air pressure).
Compare this to this
And, this to this.
The headlights sure do look similar but not the front of the Prelude. I don't see much resemblance in the tail lights though. The clear plastic and plastic chrome on the Fusion tail light, but not the shape, reminds me of a Nissan Altima.
I loved the XR I test drove and almost traded up on the spot if it wasn't for the weak resale value of my Accord. Like I said resale is not that great for the Accord as you make it out to be.
Nothing wrong with getting a good deal. I do this myself but your comparison regarding pricing against a heavily discounted, end of life model vs. a newer car is not exactly fair. I appreciate my SE as it has most everything I need except it's not much fun to drive.
Back to the OP. I believe she was comparing an EX 4 cylinder to the XE. She thought that was a better deal. You threw in an SE V6 which is a better deal in your opinion. At the end of the day as long as you feel like you got a great deal, be happy with your choice. Seems like she did, you did and I'm going to do.
Hold it, did you try TRADING the Accord, or actually post it for sale and got low-ball offers? If you got one trade offer at a one dealership, don't be so put-off with your Accord's resale. Its likely higher than you were offered.
Accord balances ride and handling far better than Aura does. And I doubt you know much about advancements in rear suspension set up. Accord's is a piece of art for its class. The 5-link (Watt-link) double wishbone is one of the reasons the car can handle well without penalizing ride quality, and when pushed around a corner, it provides for a passive steering.
And for 2008, Honda has tweaked it a little, so how this version performs, remains to be seen. But Aura's rear suspension more advanced? Thats the first time I'm hearing it (didn't feel it).
So I decided to see how Aura stacked up in professional comparisons. Looked like C&D placed it fourth with top place going to the "old" Accord. This remark stood out.
"As we said, almost right, until the sponges in GM’s Cheapness Department got to the project. Although styled well, the interior is executed with hard plastic, glaring panel gaps, ragged mold lines, and the scrape-scraping of a gear selector that slides through its range like a screwdriver through sand. Have GM’s cheapness freaks ever sat in an Accord?"
Instead of making my own statement (which can be easily "dismissed" for being a Hondamentalist), let me quote R&T on suspension:
"The Aura’s ride quality is very refined and comfortable, but the smooth, softly-sprung suspension that serves it so well out on the highway comes with a price...."
Oh well, they should have elaborated on that one.
Anyway, to each his or her own, Aura and Accord both have good points to them. I wish someone in engineering would have the good thought of placing the emergency brake back into its rightful place however. It is a hand brake to the right of a driver, thank you.
Glad she likes her new car. What is right for her, is the right car. We just differ on which numbers are better and how we view cars, I guess.
Guess you can sell your Accord and get an Aura. I personally would get the New Malibu, or if I had some extra cash, test the SAAB, before buying an Aura at the current time. The New Malibu will start at $20K and run up to e $27K, but discounts of $1.5K to $4K will soon follow, no doubt. The SAAB clearance prices are usually really hot! That is like the super Epsilon of the bunch. See an Aura is but a brother or is that sister to a rather large and growing family of cars off the same platform. New cars to come in a one or is that couple a years, I guess, from Australia in RWD. For the first time, in a long time, Pontiac may be hot again -- well maybe. Loren
Surely you didn't mean "argument" literally. It's more like a discussion. Speaking of discussions, does anyone else on this board own a Fusion besides Allen Kirby and yours truly?
better price? You werent going to get an Aura, period. You have been pointing out the flaws of the Aura and how its inferior to the Accord for months now. The Aura currently has a $1500 rebate that makes its price more than competitive and considerably lower than comparable 2007 or 2008 accord.
As for 18" wheels, they do have a benefit. They make the car look better. This is why so many cars under $30k offer them these days.
The SE is indeed bare bones. No power seat? No MP3 jack? Sorry but ESP and a V6 do not mean a car is loaded.
For a long time you were complaining about many the so-called "import fanboys" did not give a fair shot to the domestic products. Now we have a guy who may not be an "import fanboy" who compared the Aura and Accord back to back and ended up choosing the Accord.
Instead of praising the guy for giving an equal shot to the Aura you outrageously accused him for never going to get an Aura. If he decided to get an Aura and never tested anything else wouldn't that make him a "domestic fanboy"? Please explain to me, are you here to preach "may the best product wins" or trying to convert people to become "domestic fanboys"?
Enough is enough. Unless if you are on GM payroll of course...
Do you know how many cars have horizontal taillamp bands ala the 2003-7 Accord and 2006+ Sonata? Lots. In fact, the car that most resembles the Accord's taillamps is a Buick from the '90s (I think it was the Skylark). The shape is almost exactly the same. Whereas the shape of the lamps on the Accord and Sonata is much different. Does that mean Honda copied the Buick, and pretty blatantly at that? I doubt it.
Anyway, does the fact that Car A's grille or taillamps looks like those of Car B pass the "So what?" test, other than it being an interesting point about a car? Or does it demonstrate that automakers are running out of unique ways to bend sheetmetal and mold plastic, and when they do something unique (see: Aztec or Matador) it doesn't work out that well?
I still say that the 2006-08 Fusions look unique, unlike the lookalike Asian products. That, of course, doesn't mean that everybody likes it just because it's different. Indeed, sales have been good but definitely not outstanding.
I just know that looks-wise I am more satisfied with the Fusion than I would be with an Accord, Camry, Altima, Legacy, Aura, Sonata et al.
Unfortunately, instead of interesting discussion comparing the two cars, the board is filled with childish, personal comments between people who are obviously biased for their own cars. Oh, well. Too bad...
1) You are wrong.
2) You are wrong again.
3) You are wrong a third time, but maintain a certain consistency, no doubt.
4) You win the prize, as you are wrong again.
Glad to have been of service, before someone mistake's these wild assumptions as anything close to fact.
Loren
If they are least had a single Legacy Sedan on the lot, I would have tried out one when looking for cars. At the time, there were zero, so I not only did not try the car out, I figured people are not buying that model at all. Guess Subaru is all about the other models??? I saw one or two over the years in the showroom and they looked pretty smooth. They 1000% for a Subaru when compared to some of their previous disasters for stylin'. Now I wouldn't mind owning that sports car they had some years ago, but alas the name escapes me know.
L
And yes, sports cars should have the looks, though in some cases, I can think of a clear winner over a newer better looking sports car too. And you can add to this, the oh my God, what is that, comments when a Z3 became a Z4. In this case, yeah a beauty wins, as in Z3, though a Z4 is nice and roomy inside. L
Some folks are downright fanatical about the brand of car they own, and wouldn't own another brand. The problem is most have never actually spent some serious seat time in the other cars they bash, therefore their comments are irrelevant.
My original plan was to wait for the arrival of the 2008 Accords and compare the two cars, but I simply could not pass up this offer. A similarly equipped 08 Accord would have been about 4 grand more. My budget was tight and I liked the Saturn, so I decided just to go with it.
Did your dealer have any side sticker for add-ons of pin stripes or window etching, or the like?
I take it the trade-in price went well. That was the point where I lost them.
L
Why stop?
Fantastic!!! But in a visit to Saturn's website, they do indeed have rebates on the Aura across the board nation wide I believe. Not only that, but last I checked, the Accord and Camry were still outselling the "no need to discount" Aura.....
Wow, the SATURN salesperson said that? I'm amazed, astounded, and shocked and awed......
I think every salesperson at the Honda dealership would agree that the Accord is a better car in every way than the Aura.....
As for the cheapness, I do agree that there are some cheap bits here and there on the Aura. 2008 Aura solved some of those issues already. And honestly I think my Accord has the same amount of cheap plastics. It's just Honda is better at masking those then the competition although everyone is catching up.
A pretty good comparo written by Autoweek shows that the XR is very competitive.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070126/FREE/70118010/1528/F- REE
As for my trade in. I've been to three dealers all of which are quoting me similar pricing which is kind of depressing since I really want to pull the trigger. Like others have mentioned there's 1500 rebate and a 1000 conquest rebate for 07's.
I'm actually considering the new Malibu if things don't work out on an 07 Aura. The only thing I don't really like is the front end styling. That grill is huge! One of my favorite things about the Aura is the exterior. The Malibu will be priced better though. An LT2 is, if I remember correctly starting at about 22500. That's without the V6 package. Package pricing hasn't been release yet but I'll assume about 1000-1500 dollars. Plus the LT2 comes with standard suede seats and adjustable pedals. At least that's what I've read so far about that trim level.
Would this refresh your memory?
Does that mean Sonata's front end will no longer look like 1998 Accord? :confuse: