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Sedans Mainstream Large Sedans Comparison
6844 messages, Last post on Mar 23, 2009 at 12:32 PM
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Replying to: thegraduate (May 30, 2008 12:07 pm) 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.
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Replying to: hjc1 (May 31, 2008 6:17 am)
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Replying to: alexstore (Jun 01, 2008 5:26 am) 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. |
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Replying to: tonycd (May 30, 2008 8:43 pm) 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.
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Replying to: jontyrees (Jun 01, 2008 9:43 am) All that said, you've bought well. Happy motoring! |
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Replying to: snaglepus (May 31, 2008 7:54 am) 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.
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Replying to: captain2 (Jun 02, 2008 6:20 am) ..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.
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Replying to: captain2 (Jun 02, 2008 6:20 am)
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Replying to: jontyrees (Jun 02, 2008 1:11 pm) actually you are a couple hundred pounds lighter (3594) in the Avalon not to mention several degrees more of engine sophistication (the i part of CVVTi as well as the variable timing on the exhaust valves as well as the intakes). The Azera has been listed at 3600 lbs. as well as at numbers approaching 3800 - but given the acceleration abilities of that particular car it would seem more likely to also weigh a good bit less than the Taurus. The Avalon turns 2100 rpm at 70, 2000 at 80 is down in V8 territory and is a lot of difference making me wonder if Ford isn't stretching the engine too far off its torque curve in the interest of FE - much like GM has historically abused the 3.8. |
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Replying to: carolinabob (Jun 02, 2008 1:57 pm)  the only memorable 'feature'. The American manufacturers IMO have NEVER made a 'good' economy car and have always attacked their inability to manufacture competitive smaller engines with displacement - not engineering sophistication. This has been this way for 40-50 years although thinking about it I'm inclined to give some of those Corvair engines at least a nod for effort. Case in point - of the cars in this group - having to pay (at the gas pumps) for a Northstar V8 in the Lucerne, and V8 in the Impala, the Hemi all to get something that will keep up with cars like the Avalon/Maxima/Azera. |
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