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Midsize Sedans Comparison Thread - READ ONLY

12297 messages,  Last post on Apr 13, 2007 at 12:55 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda MAZDA6, Ford Fusion, Subaru Legacy, Saturn Aura, Sedan

Messages Page 906 of 1231

#9043 of 12297 Drove a Sonata last week by tlong

Nov 19, 2006 (3:03 pm)

I was on a business trip last week and had a 2005 Sonata as a rental. To put my own cars in perspective, I've owned an A4, a 1992 Honda Accord, and currently own an Acura TL.
 
The Sonata was a 4cyl and was pretty impressive. Interior was cloth and I don't think it was an upscale version. Plastics were mostly soft-touch. Interior looked pretty nice. Seats were quite comfortable, controls were well laid out and had a good feel.
 
Engine was reasonably powerful, pretty quiet. It wasn't quite at the level of the best 4's I've driven but it was pretty close. It had MUCH less NVH than, for example, the last Jeep Grand Cherokee I rented (new model) that had a 6 cylinder. I thought the engine was very impressive.
 
Handling was among the best for a car in this class. Steering was tight and responsive. Ride was firm and yet pretty compliant. I was impressed and felt that the handling of the car was very good for a family sedan. I dare say that it rivaled my 2005 Acura TL, as I think my Acura is too floaty and not as good a handler as many people indicate.
 
In summary I was impressed with how far Hyundai has come. If I were looking for a car in this class I'd put the Hyundai high on the list.

#9044 of 12297 Re: Back to midsize cars [] by kdhspyder

Nov 19, 2006 (3:24 pm)

Replying to: unknown (Nov 19, 2006 1:26 pm)
The retail vs fleet figures are easy tofind out. They are published every month by some source which I don't remember and often reported here.
 
It's 8-10% if I'm not mistaken.

#9045 of 12297 Re: Transmission woes [imidazol97] by imidazol97

Nov 19, 2006 (3:34 pm)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Nov 19, 2006 10:44 am)
Found one of references to Toyota's recall problems.
toyota recalls

#9046 of 12297 Re: Transmission woes [imidazol97] by kdhspyder

Nov 19, 2006 (3:43 pm)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Nov 19, 2006 3:34 pm)
Well as this poster correctly noted..something is amiss which detroit cannot for it's life figure out. Maybe as I noted above all these problems are being handled correctly and no one is deserting..in fact new customers are being added.
 
Same thread, farther down.. this about says it all.
 
#159 of 169 Re: Why all the Toyota recalls? [62vetteefp] by midwesttrader Nov 17, 2006 (8:40 am)
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Replying to: 62vetteefp (Nov 17, 2006 4:04 am)
 
Recalls, sales satisfaction surveys, none it seems to matter much. Over the last 10 years, Toyota and Hondas market shares continues to climb and GM's continues to drop.
  
The GM chest-thumpers need to chew on these YTD sales numbers by division:
GMC -17.4%
Buick -15.4%
Chevy -9.8%
Saab -9.5%
Caddy -5.4%
Pontiac -5.0%
  
The only bright spot is Hummer +37.8%. Their bread and butter divisions just don't seem to be getting it done.

#9047 of 12297 Re: Drove a Sonata last week [tlong] by meateater

Nov 19, 2006 (3:54 pm)

Replying to: tlong (Nov 19, 2006 3:03 pm)
I don't think you know how to drive a TL in a way to appresiate it's capabilities. The rags know how to, and they all agree the car can hang. When I drive my wife's I can throw it into a turn that I'd have to brake for in my car, but in her TL I can hit it at 35-40mph without hitting the brakes, the tires don't even squeal, and I'm thru it so fast that the car is ready to stomp on to the next challenge before I'm even ready.
 
I guess the next time I rent a 4cyl Hyundai I'll try this.

#9048 of 12297 Re: Heh [zzzoom6] by kdshapiro

Nov 19, 2006 (4:01 pm)

Replying to: zzzoom6 (Nov 19, 2006 11:52 am)
"but does that also mean that the accord has much less control in turns? yes, and that's why the accord is a full five MPH slower in the slalom according to edmunds"
 
This means what? Slalom has little to do with emergency maneuvers. CRs emergency testing does not rely on slalom. Does that make it less safe because it has a slower slalom speed? IMO no. To your way of thinking a car like the Miata must be the safest because of its' size and the fact it can be thrown around with impunity. Yet, I would hate to get into any accident with that car. That doesn't mean the Accord can't handle emergency maneuvers. It just means it has a different ride characteristics than the Mazda.
 
Also compare Mazda6 crash results with Accord results. If you count up the stars, you will also notice the Accord (to use one example) has more stars than the Mazda6 making it slight safer. So you balance out one type of safety with another.
 
And the Accord has a much more refined interior. You may not care, some people do.

#9049 of 12297 Re: Drove a Sonata last week [meateater] by jimmy81

Nov 19, 2006 (5:20 pm)

Replying to: meateater (Nov 19, 2006 3:54 pm)
I guess the next time I rent a 4cyl Hyundai I'll try this.
 
Not sure you'll come out of the turn the way you'd like to.

#9050 of 12297 Re: Transmission woes [kdhspyder] by imidazol97

Nov 19, 2006 (6:30 pm)

Replying to: kdhspyder (Nov 19, 2006 3:43 pm)
And why were they in trouble with the Japanese government on some of the recalls?... I can't remember how that went. I'd love to hear your spin explanation.
 
I appears you have your opinion and I have mine. Have a good day.

#9051 of 12297 Re: Drove a Sonata last week [meateater] by tlong

Nov 19, 2006 (6:40 pm)

Replying to: meateater (Nov 19, 2006 3:54 pm)
I don't think you know how to drive a TL in a way to appresiate it's capabilities.
 
If you mean that I'm not driving it at 0.8 lateral G's and fishtailing the back end, you are correct. I use it for *normal* driving.
 
However, my A4 rode like it was on on rails on a curvy canyon road near my home. The TL is nowhere near as precise in its steering and stability as the Audi. It tends to roll too much in the front during brisk curves with a few bumps. The roll causes the steering to want to steer left and right a bit as it rocks and reacts to the bumps in the road. The Audi did not do that.
 
While I didn't get to test the Hyundai in those types of conditions, the feel of the steering is very good. From a handling point of view I'm looking for precision and tightness in the steering, I'm not evaluating at-the-limits performance. So that is what I was using to make my comments.

#9052 of 12297 Re: Drove a Sonata last week [tlong] by backy

Nov 19, 2006 (6:46 pm)

Replying to: tlong (Nov 19, 2006 3:03 pm)
In summary I was impressed with how far Hyundai has come.
 
And just think, the 2006+ Sonata is a much better car than that 2005 you drove. The 2005 Sonata was actually a design from the late '90s, before Hyundai got serious about quality.

Messages Page 906 of 1231

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