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Midsize Sedans 2.0

13225 messages,  Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 4:51 AM

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What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda MAZDA6, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Aura, Car Comparisons, Sedan

#10203 of 13225 Re: Nissan Altima gets slightly revised for 2009 [lilengineerboy] by backy Jul 15, 2008 (6:31 pm)
Replying to: lilengineerboy (Jul 15, 2008 6:23 pm) Yup, the snow tires are a good idea too. But snow tires don't help diddly if someone else who DOESN'T have snow tires (or maybe they do and they passed out at the wheel) rams my car. That's where some of that "alphabet soup" can come in reeeeeal handy. Or maybe there's a freak early or late season snowstorm (like the infamous Halloween blizzard of 1991, or the snows in my town late this past spring). Might be nice to have that soup then too. Replies to this message: elroy5 (Jul 15, 2008 6:43 pm) lilengineerboy (Jul 15, 2008 6:45 pm) backy (Jul 15, 2008 7:20 pm)
#10204 of 13225 Re: Nissan Altima gets slightly revised for 2009 [backy] by elroy5 Jul 15, 2008 (6:43 pm)
Replying to: backy (Jul 15, 2008 6:31 pm) That's where some of that "alphabet soup" can come in reeeeeal handy. Or maybe there's a freak early or late season snowstorm (like the infamous Halloween blizzard of 1991, or the snows in my town late this past spring). Might be nice to have that soup then too.   Cambell's, mmm mmm good. Darn, now I'm hungry.
#10205 of 13225 Re: Nissan Altima gets slightly revised for 2009 [backy] by lilengineerboy Jul 15, 2008 (6:45 pm)
Replying to: backy (Jul 15, 2008 6:31 pm) Yup, the snow tires are a good idea too. But snow tires don't help diddly if someone else who DOESN'T have snow tires (or maybe they do and they passed out at the wheel) rams my car.   ESC/RSC/Stability control isn't going to do a lot for you if someone creams you. Having a good crumple zone and a structure designed to absorb the force before it reaches the occupant, whether active or passive, is nice to have. Oh yeah, and seat belts.   Or maybe there's a freak early or late season snowstorm (like the infamous Halloween blizzard of 1991, or the snows in my town late this past spring).   So if your chances of a collision are that much higher during a certain period, wouldn't it make sense just to sit and wait out that period? I am not saying its not helpful to have safety systems (both active and passive, both pre and post collision), but if my odds were that bad, I would try to keep the car in the garage.   Even with traction or stability or any of those active systems, physics doesn't discriminate between when you should expect snow or when you shouldn't, its all about friction. Replies to this message: backy (Jul 15, 2008 7:20 pm)
#10206 of 13225 Re: Nissan Altima gets slightly revised for 2009 [backy] by karpediem Jul 15, 2008 (6:53 pm)
Replying to: backy (Jul 15, 2008 4:20 pm) Just as it's none of your business how often I mention ESC. Or VSC. Or VSA. Or ESP. Or whatever it's called.   This is still a public forum...correct? Should I not read your posts?   You can like your ESC and anyone else can. I would much rather have a great set of winter tires as would my wife who drives the Altima. Luckily she knows how to drive a car and can control the car when the tires spin, which is not tough in a fwd car. Shoot, people with ESC or whatever, can just floor it and expect the car to do all the work and their car perfoms worse. My Xterra has VDC, and the majority of the time it kicks in when I don't want it to, then I lose power for a second and can't accelerate if I am turning into traffic for example. I'm glad to have the option to turn it off. <<<<< Is that an option with all cars that have it by the way? My last 2 cars didn't have it, but I believe my wifes old GrandAm had TCS and you could turn that off, but I may be wrong. Personally, I would rather have more control over my car than my car has over me. Replies to this message: backy (Jul 15, 2008 7:34 pm) karpediem (Jul 15, 2008 8:07 pm) backy (Jul 16, 2008 9:53 am)
#10207 of 13225 Re: Nissan Altima gets slightly revised for 2009 [lilengineerboy] by backy Jul 15, 2008 (7:20 pm)
Replying to: lilengineerboy (Jul 15, 2008 6:45 pm) ESC/RSC/Stability control isn't going to do a lot for you if someone creams you.   Some of the "alphabet soup" you dismissed included side airbags and curtains. If you don't think those help protect you, take a look at the IIHS crash tests on cars done with and without those features.   So if your chances of a collision are that much higher during a certain period, wouldn't it make sense just to sit and wait out that period?   Not always practical. What if you're on your way home from work, it starts snowing--what do you do, pull over, maybe get a hotel room a few miles from your home, until the storm passes and the snow melts?   You make it sound like I am demanding that you and everyone else get a car with features like ABS and electronic stability control. I'm not. I'm talking about what's important for me in a mid-sized car. Actually, it's the Feds that are forcing you and everyone else to buy cars with the "alphabet soup." So if you and others don't want to buy old cars without those features for the rest of your life, better get used to the idea of having them.
#10208 of 13225 Re: Nissan Altima gets slightly revised for 2009 [karpediem] by backy Jul 15, 2008 (7:34 pm)
Replying to: karpediem (Jul 15, 2008 6:53 pm) Sure, read whatever posts you want. But why the shots about "you can't make a post about the Altima without mentioning ESC"? You must have better things to do than count how many times someone uses an acronym in Town Hall. At least, I hope you do...   ESC and TCS can be turned off in many cars. I can turn off the TCS on my Elantra, for example. But I never do. I can count on one hand and have fingers left over the times it's kicked in in over four years. Each time it did, I was glad it did. Also, you can drive without latching your seatbelt if you so choose (might be illegal, though... darn government trying to tell us what's good for us again, eh?). You don't need them anyway, since you and your wife will always be in total control of your car and every other car on the road and will never allow yourselves to be put into a situation that will cause an accident.   Snow tires are fine, but what about those slippery conditions (ice, rain, gravel) when the snow tires are stacked in the garage? They aren't like ESC which can be flicked on or off in a second.   I prefer the "defense in depth" strategy myself. Replies to this message: karpediem (Jul 15, 2008 8:07 pm) backy (Jul 16, 2008 9:53 am)
#10209 of 13225 Re: Nissan Altima gets slightly revised for 2009 [backy] by karpediem Jul 15, 2008 (8:07 pm)
Replying to: backy (Jul 15, 2008 7:34 pm) You don't need them anyway, since you and your wife will always be in total control of your car and every other car on the road and will never allow yourselves to be put into a situation that will cause an accident.   Yes, that is exactly what I said. My wife and I have superpowers and you just uncovered them.   So do you where a helmet and neck brace when you drive because it makes you more safe?   Hard to believe that driving in 9 months of snow and your TCS had only gone on 3 or less times in over 4 years.   ANYWAYS...back on topic....They said black accents to the Altima grille, but in the new comercial, the Nissan test facility one, it says 2009 Altima shown but the grille looks the same.....unless I am missing something. Was the base Altima's grille different than the other ones? Replies to this message: backy (Jul 16, 2008 9:53 am)
#10211 of 13225 Re: Nissan Altima gets slightly revised for 2009 [maxamillion1] by jeffyscott Jul 16, 2008 (4:56 am)
Replying to: maxamillion1 (Jul 15, 2008 4:31 pm) When I moved to Chicago, I'd never seen so much snow in my life!   Well, anyone under the age of about 26, who has lived in Chicago for their entire life could say the same thing. They would probably actually have to be at least 30 years old to remember the last winter with as much snow (1981). To have driven in as much snow, a Chicagoan would have to be over about 42.   2007-08 had about double the average snowfall.   http://home.att.net/~chicago_climo/chisnow.gif Replies to this message: maxamillion1 (Jul 16, 2008 9:30 am)
#10212 of 13225 Guys... by pat HOST Jul 16, 2008 (7:08 am)
Regarding some recent posts, let's leave the personal comments outside the door - please.

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