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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: captain2 (Nov 17, 2008 3:41 pm) ..something that is commonly neglected when talking about performance or fuel economy. There is no doubt in my mind that Mazda sacrificed a few MPG's to get better performance numbers. Same can be said for Nissan and how they made a sacrifice.. They are promoting a "4 door sports car" with a 290hp engine when in fact their transmission of choice makes it's performance numbers suffer, but, have people say "26mpg and 290hp..not so bad!"....you are correct. It's all about marketing. |
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I personally think that Toyota needs to fix their transmission problems on their current Avalon before anyone should consider it. We have a Toyota Avalon Limited with 33,000 miles on it and we constantly need to take it back to the dealer to have the transmission "re-flashed," whatever that means. Our car is a 2006 and Toyota is still putting the same transmission in the car and refusses that there is a problem.
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Replying to: joshuag (Nov 17, 2008 5:14 pm) as an owner of an 05, I know exactly what you are talking about. Toyota has iundoubtedly taken a most aggressive approach to its transmission programming and likely one of the reasons why the Av's FE is superior. However, what you are perceiving as a transmission problem is not really a tranny problem at all, it is a programming problem, that undoubtedly is effecting the way the car responds to your 'commands', but is also something that is becoming a common problem with many many of these new fangled multi speed 'electronic' trannies including those on some of the cars in this group. Ford's 6 speed as it was originally in the 500 was noted and reviewed to be 'hesitant', as has Hyundai's, as has GM's, as has VW's etc etc.. It's kinda a condition of the breed that I would imagine will continue to be a problem as long as these mfgrs. chase the almighty mpg (as well as all the 'safety' features that can now be added with all the electronic/computer 'interference'). Not to excuse Toyota for its overly aggressive (IMO) programming or for that matter how they are handling it afterward, but the fact remains that the tranny (5 or 6 speed) itself has been rock solid and it is 'working as it was designed' as I'm sure your Toyota dealer has told you. In my case I have 'learned' to drive the car as 'it' wants me to drive it, and on that basis it works just fine, in all respects. It has been over 2 years and 60000 miles since I remember any tranny delay or hesitation even happening, although I'm sure I can 'induce' the beahvior if I wanted to. The whole concept of the car 'telling' us what it wants (and FTM making a decision (of sorts) on driver 'intent') does sound ridiculous, but I'm afraid is something that will get worse before it gets better, and is not at all uncommon. There are computer nerds somewhere that are definitely deciding how we should drive and what our individual capabilities are. Isn't technology wonderful? |
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Replying to: captain2 (Nov 17, 2008 3:41 pm) 
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Replying to: allmet33 (Nov 18, 2008 8:02 am) |
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Replying to: captain2 (Nov 18, 2008 8:35 am) I do agree with you. It seems that Mazda, to keep up with their Zoom Zoom image, they're doing just that instead of following along with Toyota's blue print using DI and finding a good balance between power and gearing to offer great power and FE at the same time. One thing I will say about the new 6, it sure looks slick! 
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Replying to: allmet33 (Nov 18, 2008 8:58 am) As a testimony to how far we have come - many of the cars on this group - call them family sedans or whatever, will easily run with many of those big V8 honkers of 40+ years ago - and consume half the gas doing it!
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Replying to: captain2 (Nov 18, 2008 9:26 am) |
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Replying to: allmet33 (Nov 18, 2008 8:58 am)
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Replying to: captain2 (Nov 18, 2008 9:38 am) Okay, okay...before we get in trouble...back to the topic at hand! 
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