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Mainstream Large Sedans Comparison

6844 messages,  Last post on Mar 23, 2009 at 12:32 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Buick Lucerne, Chevrolet Impala, Dodge Charger, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Azera, Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, Pontiac G8, Car Comparisons, Sedan


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#3504 of 6844
Re: Why purchase a Kia Amanti [djm2] by joe97
Oct 28, 2007 (12:51 pm)
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Replying to: djm2 (Oct 28, 2007 10:30 am)

Certainly not build quality. The 07+ Camry is the first sign of slips in the many models of Camry I can remember, going back a few generations.
 
Again, if space is high on the purchase criterion, which I imagine the case for most large sedan prospective shoppers, the Camry wouldn't even make the list, the Avalon would. If you hadn't notice the difference in size, then it may be time to have a look. The price of a Camry XLE maybe similar to that of an Azera, an Amanti, or others, but I can also get a minivan, a truck, a CUV/SUV, for similar pricing. This is why automakers build different entries in different segments. Do cross-shopping happen? of course, but the majority generally shop within the same segment - Azera, Amanti, Avalon, Five Hundred/Taurus, and other LARGE sedans.
#3505 of 6844
Re: Why purchase a Kia Amanti [imidazol97] by tjc78
Oct 28, 2007 (5:11 pm)
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Oct 28, 2007 8:43 am)

"The Avalon was based on the earlier Camry"
 
The '05+ Avalons are not based on the earlier Camrys. That was Yota's first vehicle on the new platform with the 2GR motor. Then the '07+ Camrys got it, shortened of course and the '08 Highlander is now on it too. I think the only vehicles on the older frames are the Solara and Sienna.
#3506 of 6844
Re: Why purchase a Kia Amanti [jaymagic] by djm2
Oct 29, 2007 (4:44 am)
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Replying to: jaymagic (Oct 28, 2007 10:58 am)

Good Morning jaymagic:
     I do an extensive amount of driving each year. My 2007 XLE V6 Camry will be one year old in January, and I will have somewhere between 22,000 and 25,000 miles on this vehicle. I will keep this vehicle for three years, and at that time it will have about 75,000 miles. This is why I purchased a Toyota extended warranty. I want the vehicle to be completely covered for major repairs while I am on the road.(Routine maintenance is done by the selling dealer, and I keep photo-copies of all repair orders in the car should a warranty issue develop while I am "on-the-road".)
     The purchase price of the vehicle is not my concern, but the resale value is very important to me. My vehicle is serviced every 2,500 miles, so as such, it is in very good condition when it comes times to trade it in for the next vehicle. I looked the Hyundai and the Kia vehicles, but in my part of the country most Hyundai & Kia stores, (with a very few exceptions), are part of a Chrysler Dealership. Since I drive all over the eastern United States, I am not sure of the quality of service that I could get "on-the-road" if a warrnty issue develops. Chrysler dealers have "all-to-do" to service their vehicles, let alone a second line of vehicles! Yes,I love the styling of a Chrysler vehicle, and I would love to own one, but their repair record, their quality, their dealer network, their warranty administration and their customer relations skills leaves much to be desired! Purchasing a Kia or a Hyundai, that is affiliated with a Chrysler Dealership, would be putting myself into this negative issue at the service desk! Yes, when you purchase a vehicle, you are also entering into a relationship with the dealer for a period of time. I walked out of two (2) Toyota dealerships, before purchasing my Camry, because I didn't like the "body language of the sales staff," or the manner in which the customers were treated at the service desk! When I purchase a new vehicle I consider everything.
     Best regards. ---- Dwayne
#3507 of 6844
Re: Why purchase a Kia Amanti [imidazol97] by captain2
Oct 29, 2007 (5:32 am)
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Oct 28, 2007 8:43 am)

Wrong - kind of. Remember that the Avalon preceeded the Camry by 2 years and was the first of the 2GR engine (in the entire Toyota/Lexus line), and rides on a longer wheelbase than either the Camry or the ES which do ride on identical chassis. The 05+ Avalon was totally new and shares nothing with an 04 Camry - if anything the 07 Camry owes its (downsized) existence to the Avalon - the opposite of the way it had been historically (2004 and earlier).
#3508 of 6844
Re: Why purchase a Kia Amanti [djm2] by captain2
Oct 29, 2007 (5:54 am)
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Replying to: djm2 (Oct 29, 2007 4:44 am)

The purchase price of the vehicle is not my concern, but the resale value is very important to me
As it should be to us all - sounds like folks should be lined up for miles just to get at one of your 'used' cars - trading them off at 75k and maintaining them the way you do. However, the number that really should concern you is the gross dollar difference between the purchase price and the expected resale value. Since the Toyota will cost more initially it will naturally have more value at 75k, the Azera can cost less and should also be worth less later. The differences between those numbers is really what determines value (and cost to own). Remember to add the cost of the 'bumper-to-bumper' warranties on the prices of both cars as well - if having that extra 'peace of mind' is worth it to you.
And yep a common compliant I hear about Toyota (and Honda) dealers is their 'let me do a favor and sell you a car' attitude and FTM a general lack of good service at Hyundai dealers. Hyundai dealerships being associated in any way with Chrysler dealers may not be a good thing even over the next 3 years.
#3509 of 6844
Re: Why purchase a Kia Amanti [djm2] by joe97
Oct 29, 2007 (6:34 am)
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Replying to: djm2 (Oct 29, 2007 4:44 am)

Since you drive half of the US, you would know this whole "Chrysler/Hyundai/Kia" is not a trend. Hardly, actually. The setup of the dealer network, for the most part, is entirely up to the dealers themselves. FWIW, there is a dealer I recently assessed, with Saab, Buick, and Hyundai on the same lot.
 
Now can we get back to LARGE sedan discussion?
#3510 of 6844
Re: Why purchase a Kia Amanti [djm2] by pat HOST
Oct 29, 2007 (6:46 am)
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Replying to: djm2 (Oct 29, 2007 4:44 am)

Hi Dwayne. The Camry and the Optima are being discussed in the Midsize Sedans discussion. See you over there!
#3511 of 6844
Re: Why purchase a Kia Amanti [djm2] by jaymagic
Oct 29, 2007 (6:54 am)
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Replying to: djm2 (Oct 29, 2007 4:44 am)

I also have over 20K on my 07 Azera, and will have about 22 by the time it is one year old (21st -I think- of this month). I understand the concern about getting a car fixed, if you are doing a lot of traveling. Even if the car is rated, or known as highly reliable, stuff still happens to us all. And, since I am as, or more skeptical of a Chysler's reliability, than many are of Hyundai's, I can also understand the concern about a local Chrysler dealer who happens to sell Hyundai's. In my part of the country, I am not really aware of any Chrysler dealers who also carry Hyundai, except mega dealers who have a dealership for virtually every brand (including Hyundai). BUT, I also have found my "Hyundai only" dealer to be very responsive to my needs, even if not extremely knowledgeable when the model first appeared.
 
Having had an 02 350XG before the Azera, I was concerned about the service network as well, when I bought it. It had about 75+K on it when I finally traded it in on the Azzy (along with cash from an 00 Avalon XLS, which I sold). What I found, at least in the Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Wyoming areas, were a surprising number of dealers who handle Hyundai's in smaller cities. I know in Colorado, when I was looking for an Azera, I contacted dealers in Ft. Collins, Greeley, Pueblo, and Cheyenne Wyo., as well as several in the Denver area. So, while there are CLEARLY way more domestic and Toyota dealers around the country, I have not run into any problem finding a dealer for service, although the most I have ever needed was an oil change or filter when I was out of town. So, Hyundai service and support has never been a problem for me since I got my first one in 02.
#3512 of 6844
Re: Why purchase a Kia Amanti [captain2] by imidazol97
Oct 29, 2007 (7:04 am)
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Replying to: captain2 (Oct 29, 2007 5:32 am)

2005 Full-Size Sedan Comparison Test
First Place: 2005 Toyota Avalon
By Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor , Edmunds.com
Date posted: 03-28-2005
...
Discreetly Fast
Redesigned from the ground up, the Avalon now rides on a stretched version of the current Camry platform.
#3513 of 6844
Re: Why purchase a Kia Amanti [jaymagic] by captain2
Oct 29, 2007 (7:04 am)
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Replying to: jaymagic (Oct 29, 2007 6:54 am)

even if not extremely knowledgeable when the model first appeared.
funny you should mention that - had the same problem with my Avalon in 05 - whether it be wiper blades, oil filters, oil capacities etc. the dealer had evidently had no 'training' on the car. Wonder why they do that, both the Avalon and the Azera are the flagships of their respective brands - you would think they would make some effort.

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