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Hyundai Azera vs Toyota Avalon vs Ford Taurus vs Chevrolet Impala

863 messages,  Last post on Aug 12, 2009 at 4:34 PM

You are in the Hyundai Azera Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Azera, Toyota Avalon, Ford Five Hundred, Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 77 of 87

#758 of 863 Re: Avalon [tjc78] by thegraduate

Sep 27, 2007 (7:00 pm)

Replying to: tjc78 (Sep 27, 2007 5:43 pm)
Ah, sorry. I've recently started shopping cars with (and for) my grandmother, and we had looked at the Taurus SEL. I was thinking it came with Stability Control standard. I do understand the difference in TC and SC, but was apparently misinformed about the Ford. And yes, things like auto-temp and auto headlights are things that narrow the price gap, but you have to want those things for the gap to narrow.
 
For my grandmother, the thought of the nice cushy ride is appealing, but a larger price is not. She's not one for "fancy" features. Her three previous cars are a 1991 Civic DX (bottom level model, she had A/C added as an option!), 1996 Accord LX, and currently has a 2002 Accord LX. The Accords are fine rides, if fairly basic (PW, PL, mediocre stereos and so on). She wouldn't care to learn how to use things like reclining seats, auto temp, or auto lights. She'd want to be able to control all of those things herself (she doesn't like the Automatic Climate Control in her sister's [my aunt's] 2005 Odyssey either). She likes basic. The base model Taurus isn't "BASIC" but it is easier for her to use with manual A/C controls, etc.
 
She has a computer, but it is like pulling teeth to get her to use it . She's 72.

#759 of 863 Re: Avalon [thegraduate] by tjc78

Sep 28, 2007 (5:01 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 27, 2007 7:00 pm)
It may not come standard but would be willing to bet that almost all models on the lots are optioned that way. The Avalon is like that too, get used to it SC will be mandated on all cars in the next few years.

#760 of 863 Re: Avalon [thegraduate] by pat

Sep 28, 2007 (9:14 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 27, 2007 7:00 pm)
She has a computer, but it is like pulling teeth to get her to use it. She's 72.
 
Gotta answer that! My 81 year old father and 78 year old mother are avid computer users!! They don't know or care much about cars, but they couldn't live without their computer.

#761 of 863 Re: Avalon [pat] by thegraduate

Sep 28, 2007 (2:01 pm)

Replying to: pat (Sep 28, 2007 9:14 am)
Well, in my grandmother's defense, she was a manager in word-processing at an insurance company for 53 years (Same Company for that long!) so she certainly knows how to use the computer, but I think she's had her fill of them! She started on a typewriter, but has been on a computer monitor for at least two decades.
 
She knows how, as she used to type 130 WPM! She just doesn't want to do it anymore.

#762 of 863 Re: Avalon [tjc78] by thegraduate

Sep 28, 2007 (2:02 pm)

Replying to: tjc78 (Sep 28, 2007 5:01 am)
It may not come standard but would be willing to bet that almost all models on the lots are optioned that way.
 
Do a search for Avalon XL, cloth in your area, and see how many have VSC. In my ZIP, 35023, there were 115 Avy XL models, but only 2 of those had VSC.

#763 of 863 Re: Avalon [thegraduate] by pat

Sep 28, 2007 (4:28 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 28, 2007 2:01 pm)
Well, then, don't blame it on her age!!

#764 of 863 Re: Avalon [thegraduate] by cobrazera

Sep 28, 2007 (5:56 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 28, 2007 2:02 pm)
Ain't it the truth. The average car buyer would much rather spend his money on a stereo upgrade, or shiny wheels, or whatever; than on stability control, or ABS, or curtain airbags, or any other safety equipment.
The cars on lots are spec'd out accordingly. If such equipment is not standard, odds are you're not going to find it in large numbers.

#765 of 863 Re: Avalon [cobrazera] by bhmr59

Sep 28, 2007 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: cobrazera (Sep 28, 2007 5:56 pm)
I don't know how you determine the "aveage car buyer." Maybe it's within your peer group. The average 25 yr old may have different priorities than the 35 yr old, who may have different priorities than the 45 yr old and so on.
 
Anyone with hearing loss, and there are a lot us (not just old folks) don't care all that much about "killer" stereo systems. Shiny wheels? Yeah, they usually look good but they don't do anything for you when you're driving the car and others only really get to notice them when you're stopped or parked.
 
Safety features and cabin interior (like the grad says) are higher on my list than some exterior feature that might impress someone I don't even know.
 
Frankly, I don't buy a car to try to impress anyone. I buy based upon what I can afford and will give me the most value, comfort, features, dependability, etc for the money.

#766 of 863 Re: Avalon [bhmr59] by cobrazera

Sep 29, 2007 (3:19 am)

Replying to: bhmr59 (Sep 28, 2007 8:08 pm)
Way back before airbags were mandated by the government, General Motors made them an option - I believe they were around $250. Guess what, very few people wanted them enough to pay the extra money. Same thing with ABS.
IMO, the sales manager at the dealership will order cars for the lot equipped with options the average buyer ( who is not really very well informed ) desires and will likely pay extra for. Maybe you don't buy a car to impress other people, but a lot of people do.

#767 of 863 Re: Avalon [thegraduate] by tjc78

Sep 29, 2007 (4:27 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 28, 2007 2:02 pm)
Hey Grad,
 
You may have a good point here. I checked four local dealers only found a handful of XL models and none had SC. Really surprised me, I guess I am so used to seeing the XL come in at just under 30K I assumed SC when in reality they are all equipped with moonroofs instead. I know when I was shopping the Touring and XLS all had SC installed (in a package that includes heated seats) I am in southern NJ just outside Philadelphia.

Messages Page 77 of 87

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