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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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#6353 of 6844
Re: Avalon-Azera Throwdown, Chapter 3: Taurus Test Drive (long) [tjc78] by hjc1
May 31, 2008 (6:17 am)
Reply

Replying to: tjc78 (May 31, 2008 2:34 am)

Pro's and Con's on the push button issue............
When it's raining I think the fob is hands down a better idea :=)
#6354 of 6844
Re: Avalon-Azera Throwdown, Chapter 3: Taurus Test Drive (long) [hjc1] by ronsmith38
May 31, 2008 (6:26 am)
Reply

Replying to: hjc1 (May 31, 2008 6:17 am)

The Fords have a FOB in addition to the push buttons.
#6355 of 6844
Re: Taurus vs Azera observations [thegraduate] by snaglepus
May 31, 2008 (7:54 am)
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Replying to: thegraduate (May 30, 2008 12:07 pm)

A little research you say?
 
Well let's see. Currently we have a 2007 Azera SE Limited.
Also a 2000 Ford Focus Kona model with a 5-speed. It is just barely broken in with
less than 40K miles so I guess you might conclude that I haven't driven it
far enough yet to know what mileages it might be capable of?
 
On most of the 60 or more vehicles that I have owned over the last 60 years, I have
"logged" what the expenses have been, especially concerning fuel economy.
So I guess you might give me the benefit of the doubt when
I say I do know a thing or two about fuel economy.
 
Most reading this are not old enough to remember Socony-Vacuum and the Mobilgas
Economy runs done annually. I am, and back then I was very interested
as to what the various vehicles would do fuel economy wise.
 
Now while I will agree that it is indeed possible to beat the EPA estimates, having
done so myself, I will not allow as it is possible for anyone to better
those figures to the extent that some insist on posting.
There is one fellow over on another forum that "claims" he gets 35 mpg highway and 24
mpg city with his Azera. The ratings on his car are 18 highway and 26 city.
This fellow resides in the hot Azizona desert, so you know he is running his A/C, right?
Do you see what I mean?
 
Now I happen to have an Azera also and while I can get mileages
in the low 30s, that is driving it at exactly 60 mph with no A/C.
City mileage . . forget it! There are too many varibles to consider.
Is your city strictly stop and go, never going out on the expressway or interstates or just
driving in town where there are only a couple of stop signs and only one traffic light?
 
For someone to try and tell me that they can drive their 2008 3.5L V6 Taurus
and get well over 30 mpg at 75-80 mph just does not fly with me.
Hell, I cannot do that with my 2.0L Kona Focus with a manual 5-speed and
I have it tuned electronically myself. At those speed, I get below 30 mpg.
 
Carry on and believe everything you read and all claims no matter what the subject.
#6356 of 6844
Re: Avalon-Azera Throwdown, Chapter 3: Taurus Test Drive (long) [hjc1] by alexstore
Jun 01, 2008 (5:26 am)
Reply

Replying to: hjc1 (May 31, 2008 6:17 am)

I think its useless security wise. After few years of using it, it becomes visible so anyone will be able to figure your code.
#6357 of 6844
Re: Avalon-Azera Throwdown, Chapter 3: Taurus Test Drive (long) [alexstore] by tjc78
Jun 01, 2008 (6:26 am)
Reply

Replying to: alexstore (Jun 01, 2008 5:26 am)

After few years of using it, it becomes visible so anyone will be able to figure your code
 
Thats why you NEVER use the factory code and change your personal code every couple of months. It takes all of 20 seconds to change it right from the keypad.
#6358 of 6844
Re: Avalon-Azera Throwdown, Chapter 3: Taurus Test Drive (long) [tonycd] by jontyrees
Jun 01, 2008 (9:43 am)
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Replying to: tonycd (May 30, 2008 8:43 pm)

Tony - I agree with most of your points, but totally disagree with your opinion on the interior - as you might expect on something that is such a matter of personal taste. I find nothing particularly appealing in curves vs straight edges, and given the straight up choice of the Taurus interior or the Azera, I MUCH preferred the Taurus. The fake wood is actually pretty nice - it has the 3D effect of the sun reflecting out of the "grain". Will it hold up? I'll find out. As for the seats, I agree it's a different feeling, and I'm expecting them to loosen up a little - they are a little stiff right now. I just took a trip down to the very end of I35 in Laredo from Austin, which is a straight shot of freeway, 3.5hrs in each direction, and the seat proved to be great - no fatigue problems at all.
 
All in all the car is proving to be a great road tripper. My kid in back was able to pull the seat down to reach the cooler in the trunk, the stereo with Sirius was terrific, and the ride was great. It's still brand new, so I'm hoping fuel economy will improve - only 24mpg with the cruise at 83mph, but much better at 27.5mpg with the cruise at 76mph. It was hot as hell (100+ degrees), so the a/c was blasting, but South Texas could be described as flat.
#6359 of 6844
Re: Avalon-Azera Throwdown, Chapter 3: Taurus Test Drive (long) [jontyrees] by tonycd
Jun 01, 2008 (8:17 pm)
Reply

Replying to: jontyrees (Jun 01, 2008 9:43 am)

Jontyrees, I agree with a lot of what you say. There's a reflective quality to the Taurus's polyester timber that's way more appealing than the Azera's shameless plastic or the Azera's obviously printed-on grain lines. And no doubt, my comments about interior aesthetics are 100% subjective. I'll just ask you to excuse my subjectivity with this question: Doesn't it drive you nuts when the car magazines and websites obviously pull the punch on what they really think?
 
All that said, you've bought well. Happy motoring!
#6360 of 6844
Re: Taurus vs Azera observations [snaglepus] by captain2
Jun 02, 2008 (6:20 am)
Reply

Replying to: snaglepus (May 31, 2008 7:54 am)

agree with your points as I also believe that many times MPG claims are not a whole lot different than 'price paid' claims for many autos. An automotive equivalent of a fish story. In this particular example , the Taurus as tested by CR was noted for 'disappointing' FE (19 mpg overall) and in the same category as that other 'price leader' - the Azera. Not that this is particularily poor - both the Azera and now the Taurus are quite large cars that do get reasonable FE for both their size and their power.
  There usually is about a 15-20% FE penalty to drive 80 - as opposed to say 60 - and this type of difference will apply to not only Taurii but also to true 'economy' cars like let's say your Focus. It was this fact that became a central point in the adoption of the 55 mph speed limit not that long ago. Didn't exactly work out that way, of course - but for different reasons.
I own an Avalon and will tell you that it is unquestionably the FE (and power) champ of this group as substantiated in any number of road and vehicle tests you might wish to reference - by credible publications AND by a good coupla mpg or so. But even IT WILL NOT get over 30 mpg at a constant 75 or 80 mph regardless of how flat the real estate. 28 or 29 perhaps - AND something closer to 21 around town as tjc78 reports. Will a Taurus (or any other car in this group ) out FE an Avalon? Not a chance. 30 mpg at 75-80? Must have been a 400 mile long downhill run from Pikes Peak to Death Valley and also at a lower speed than that 75-80!
PS do remember those Mobil economy runs well and those drivers/cars that 'won' were those that could take proper advantage of elevation changes (ie coasting uphill AND downhill) something not practical (or safe) to do in everyday driving.
#6361 of 6844
Re: Taurus vs Azera observations [captain2] by jontyrees
Jun 02, 2008 (1:11 pm)
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Replying to: captain2 (Jun 02, 2008 6:20 am)

30pmg at 75-80mph in a Taurus isn't completely out of the question. Mine's brand new and I had the a/c cranked, and was definitely getting 27.5mpg at 76mph on cruise control (I had just filled up and reset the computer). Give it another few thousand miles, pump the tires up and run it without the a/c on, and I could see hitting 30mpg. The 6-speed auto helps - the engine is only turning around 2k rpm at 80mph. I would expect the Avalon or Azera to get a little better mpg at higher speeds, as they look like they'd be more slippery, at least not as tall. Around town, there aren't any magic bullets for mpg - it's largely a function of weight and how hard you hit the gas pedal. All of these cars weigh somewhere around 3800lbs, so there isn't going to be much difference in gas mileage.
 
..and yes, I hate it when reviewers pull punches, or just go along with the common wisdom. So often they seem to be reviewing the nameplate, not the actual vehicle.
#6362 of 6844
Re: Taurus vs Azera observations [captain2] by carolinabob
Jun 02, 2008 (1:57 pm)
Reply

Replying to: captain2 (Jun 02, 2008 6:20 am)

Rambler/AMC generally won the Mobil economy runs year in and year out and we know what happened to those great little cars. Very good cars, but before their time. Will Americans tire of economy cars and return to the big power, big size as they have so often in the past?

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