- #6356 of 6844
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Re: Avalon-Azera Throwdown, Chapter 3: Taurus Test Drive (long) [hjc1]
by alexstore
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Jun 01, 2008 (5:26 am)
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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.
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- #6357 of 6844
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Re: Avalon-Azera Throwdown, Chapter 3: Taurus Test Drive (long) [alexstore]
by tjc78
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Jun 01, 2008 (6:26 am)
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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.
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- #6358 of 6844
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Re: Avalon-Azera Throwdown, Chapter 3: Taurus Test Drive (long) [tonycd]
by jontyrees
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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.
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- #6359 of 6844
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Re: Avalon-Azera Throwdown, Chapter 3: Taurus Test Drive (long) [jontyrees]
by tonycd
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Jun 01, 2008 (8:17 pm)
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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!
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- #6360 of 6844
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Re: Taurus vs Azera observations [snaglepus]
by captain2
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Jun 02, 2008 (6:20 am)
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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.
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- #6361 of 6844
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Re: Taurus vs Azera observations [captain2]
by jontyrees
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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.
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- #6362 of 6844
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Re: Taurus vs Azera observations [captain2]
by carolinabob
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Jun 02, 2008 (1:57 pm)
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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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- #6363 of 6844
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Re: Taurus vs Azera observations [jontyrees]
by captain2
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Jun 02, 2008 (2:08 pm)
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Replying to: jontyrees (Jun 02, 2008 1:11 pm)
All of these cars weigh somewhere around 3800lbs, so there isn't going to be much difference in gas mileage.
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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- #6364 of 6844
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Re: Taurus vs Azera observations [carolinabob]
by captain2
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Jun 02, 2008 (2:27 pm)
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Replying to: carolinabob (Jun 02, 2008 1:57 pm)
you know that's funny - had a Rambler American long ago when they sold new for under $2 grand - 3 on the column manual (and a flathead straight 6?) but remember nothing especially remarkable about the car other than what a piece of crappola it was. Was in college at the time and appreciated the fold down seats though 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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- #6365 of 6844
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Re: Taurus vs Azera observations [captain2]
by jontyrees
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Jun 02, 2008 (2:55 pm)
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Replying to: captain2 (Jun 02, 2008 2:08 pm)
I think "several degrees more of engine sophistication" may be stretching it. The Ford engine has VVT, although I don't know if that is applied to both intake and exhaust. The listed weights for all of them are all over the map, but you're probably right that the Ford is a 100lbs or so heavier. I didn't test drive the Avalon, as it would have been several $k more expensive, but I'm sure it's an excellent car. It's clearly what Hyundai was trying to replicate - just look at the design of the console.
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