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32388 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 6:29 AM

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Messages Page 2994 of 3240

#29925 of 32388 Re: now this, is nice [jayrider] by fintail

Feb 05, 2013 (3:48 pm)

Replying to: jayrider (Feb 05, 2013 3:23 pm)
My mom drives a Camry LE - not the latest model. It's VERY numb, maybe steering as numb is in a 1960s American car. It's fairly quick off the line though, and the engine is very smooth for a 4, decent NVH isolation. It does what it is meant to do very well.
 
That highline used inventory = lease returns from auction.

#29926 of 32388 Re: now this, is nice [fintail] by jayrider

Feb 05, 2013 (3:52 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Feb 05, 2013 3:48 pm)
The 2013 Camry has a super smooth drive train. The steering feels very solid and with the firm suspension seems far from numb to me but that's just me. I'm not very astute re car reviews. Take a test drive in a new one -- would be interested in your impressions vs your mom's Camry.

#29927 of 32388 Elantra GT by ateixeira

Feb 05, 2013 (3:58 pm)

Finally got behind the wheel.
 
Wow, I don't thin I had driven a Hyundai since the Scoupe came out. Several Kias, but I can't remember a single Hyundai.
 
Love, love, love the panoramic moonroof. It is HUGE both front and back, the shade powers open, the roof tilts and opens above the roof without robbing headroom. On a scale of 1 to 10 I give it a 12. That much better than expected.
 
Played with the Navi for only a minute but the screen is sharp and big for this class. Eye candy. So far so good. Backup cam is nice, though the lines show distance but not trajectory. Not a big deal.
 
The leather seats are a bit firm, good side support but this isn't a sports car. The cloth seats were more comfy. Leather and cloth both heated, wow, even the cheap base model. Base had a cheap plastic steering wheel, upscale models had high grade leather. Materials are nothing special but were nicer than expected, still have that hooptie stereotype in the back of my mind.
 
Drive was ok but ride was too firm, IMHO. Style package forces the sports suspension and some chrome trim on the rims I didn't like. Also it had a bit more engine noise than I was hoping for.
 
Sales guy convinced me to try a Limited sedan to compare.
 
That car had same size rims and tires but the ride was much better. Better bump absorption without any degradation in handling. Makes me think an Elantra GT without the sports suspension would be better, but then I can't get the pano roof that drew me to the car in the first place. I also would pick cloth over leather, but that too is grouped with the pano option.
 
There was less engine noise in the sedan too. Not sure if the hatch is just noisier, or what.
 
Bummer is the sedan has a tiny moonroof, plus I want a hatch.
 
As is I'd rate the Impreza higher overall, but if Hyundai would offer the pano as an a la carte option I'd buy a base model with that and wrap the steering wheelskins. I've done that 3 times before.
 
Disappointed.

#29928 of 32388 Re: now this, is nice [jayrider] by fintail

Feb 05, 2013 (4:01 pm)

Replying to: jayrider (Feb 05, 2013 3:52 pm)
Since 2006, my daily driver has been an E55 AMG, which has a pretty firm sporty suspension, gobs of effortless torque, etc, so that might make the Camry more shocking to me than someone who is used to a more mainstream car. I am used to flat cornering, and responsiveness that make me feel like a motorcycle compared to cars with half the power.
 
Maybe I'll end up in one as a rental - I never feel right test driving cars I have no intent to buy, as I know the sales industry is so cutthroat.

#29929 of 32388 Re: Elantra GT [ateixeira] by boomchek

Feb 05, 2013 (4:05 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 05, 2013 3:58 pm)
Did you try the Driver Selectable steering in the Elantra GT? That's a neat feature which lets you change the steering feel between Comfort, Normal, and Sport at the push of a button.

#29930 of 32388 Re: Elantra GT [ateixeira] by fintail

Feb 05, 2013 (4:27 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 05, 2013 3:58 pm)
That's too bad. The GT is easily the best looking Elantra, and the only one I would really want. Does it have rough low profile tires, too? I also don't care for shiny/chromy wheels on modern cars. Kind of dumb they combine luxury and sport in one package, when those sometimes attract a mutually exclusive buyer on a cheaper car.

#29931 of 32388 Re: now this, is nice [fintail] by dieselone

Feb 05, 2013 (4:29 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Feb 05, 2013 4:01 pm)
I never feel right test driving cars I have no intent to buy, as I know the sales industry is so cutthroat.
 
I agree, I've never test drove a car, just for the fun of it. I don't want a salesperson to waste an "up" just so I can have a joy ride.
 
I do know a guy who's sold Chevys for over 20 years. So I've thought about buying him lunch and driving some of the new Chevys when they hit the lots.
 
I'm with you on the older Camrys. My MIL has an 05 XLE v6. Nice car, smooth ride, the powertrain is in another universe compared to any domestic car I've driven in terms of refinement. But that steering, wow, I think my boat has more steering feedback;) Way to light for me.
 
I haven't driven a new Camry, but a friend of mine has a Tundra limited and I don't like the steering in it either. But if I could just get the Tundra powertrain in a domestic truck;)

#29932 of 32388 Re: Elantra GT [boomchek] by ateixeira

Feb 05, 2013 (4:27 pm)

Replying to: boomchek (Feb 05, 2013 4:05 pm)
Didn't have a lot of time, and that seemed gimmicky to me.
 
Honestly that car did better when it didn't pretend to be sporty.
 
It's a very competent small car. Repackage it and I'm interested.

#29933 of 32388 Re: Elantra GT [fintail] by ateixeira

Feb 05, 2013 (4:31 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Feb 05, 2013 4:27 pm)
The odd thing is I looked and both cars had identical tire sizes on 17" rims. I'd prefer 16"s on that type of car.
 
But it was definitely the "sports suspension" tuning that the Style Package forces you to get.
 
The Veloster offers 18"s so imagine that ride is like granite.
 
Base model is close, only really lacks the pano.
 
Hoping they offer it a la carte for 2014. Long shot.

#29934 of 32388 Re: Elantra GT [ateixeira] by fintail

Feb 05, 2013 (4:43 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 05, 2013 4:31 pm)
Hyundai has made a mistake. I think a lot of people who want leather and gadgets don't want a firm ride - and some who want a sporty ride don't want leather.
 
I can't see why pano can't be ala carte - it has been on MBs anyway.

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