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Midsize Sedans 2.0

13288 messages,  Last post on Nov 30, 2009 at 5:10 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

#10729 of 13288 Re: Worldwide standings. [lilengineerboy] by stephen987 Aug 30, 2008 (6:24 pm)
Replying to: lilengineerboy (Aug 30, 2008 5:47 pm) Based on what little I know of European pricing, it seems to me that VW could field Skodas (probably with VW badging) in the US market for perhaps 15-20% lower prices than the corresponding VW. That would be enough to put them a lot closer to the mass market.   I think the problem is that we don't get dumbed-down (i.e., market-appropriate) VWs.
#10730 of 13288 Re: Worldwide standings. [lilengineerboy] by tenpin288 Aug 30, 2008 (6:26 pm)
Replying to: lilengineerboy (Aug 30, 2008 5:47 pm) Here's a link to an interesting article about the challenges US and other automakers have to deal with to "Americanize" their European models for the US market...   European to US standards challenges Replies to this message: m6user (Aug 30, 2008 7:08 pm) stephen987 (Aug 30, 2008 7:42 pm) lilengineerboy (Aug 31, 2008 5:03 am) jeffyscott (Aug 31, 2008 7:01 am)
#10731 of 13288 Re: Worldwide standings. [tenpin288] by m6user Aug 30, 2008 (7:08 pm)
Replying to: tenpin288 (Aug 30, 2008 6:26 pm) Very informative article. Tks.
#10732 of 13288 Re: Worldwide standings. [tenpin288] by stephen987 Aug 30, 2008 (7:42 pm)
Replying to: tenpin288 (Aug 30, 2008 6:26 pm) Aside from the powertrain choices, I wonder how different the US-market VWs are from their Euro-market platform mates. It stands to reason that VW would have had to either (a) design the Passat platform to meet both sets of standards, or (b) design one version for Euro standards and one for US standards. If the platform has already been engineered to fit both sets of standards, and the Superb uses the Passat platform, then it ought to be as easy to sell the Superb in the US as it is to sell the Passat. The same principle might also apply downmarket, to arguably greater effect, as some variation on the Octavia could replace the Rabbit/Jetta.
#10733 of 13288 Re: Worldwide standings. [tenpin288] by lilengineerboy Aug 31, 2008 (5:03 am)
Replying to: tenpin288 (Aug 30, 2008 6:26 pm) That is a great article. In graduate school I was very familiar with a lot of the details and requirements that differed between the continents. Each region would have it's own standards. Part of the issue is the use case for a car is different in the US than in Europe or elsewhere. In Europe, people walk to work *gasp* and are unlikely to drive an hour to get to a Costco or something. It is also one of the reasons EU takes pedestrian crash safety more seriously than the US. A lot of the driving is on rural or urban streets. In the US, people commute over an hour each way to work and don't blink an eye; most of that commute is on ultra-boring low-workload high-speed super-slab. So where cars are driven and why is somewhat different. Also, in Europe they have ENCAP (I might have the name wrong) that rates safety using a slightly different paradigm than NHTSA or IIHS. Europeans are less fearful of government and legislation than Americans (which is why photo radar is much more prevalent there than in the states).
#10734 of 13288 Re: Worldwide standings. [tenpin288] by jeffyscott Aug 31, 2008 (7:01 am)
Replying to: tenpin288 (Aug 30, 2008 6:26 pm) Kind of silly that one of the specific "problems" identified is "Europe refused to allow rear turn signals to blink red instead of amber". Sooo...just make them amber, since the US allows amber and EU requires amber.   I do agree that the US crash standards should not be designed to protect fools who choose not to wear their seat belt.
#10735 of 13288 Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [backy] by pat HOST Aug 31, 2008 (9:19 am)
Replying to: backy (Aug 30, 2008 4:36 pm) What you are missing, backy, is that "pblt" has represented the mischievous tongue-sticking-out icon across many sites for many years, way beyond this site. It was not defined here. Sorry you don't see the grin, but it's there, just as it is on other sites. Sometimes it's more of a goofy look than a grin, but the intent is always the same - playful, mischievous, fun-poking, that sort of thing.   I think we've beaten this subject way beyond any reason now. Time to move on. Thanks for the debate. Replies to this message: m6user (Aug 31, 2008 3:36 pm)
#10737 of 13288 Re: Some compliments to the KIA Optima [pat] by m6user Aug 31, 2008 (3:36 pm)
Replying to: pat (Aug 31, 2008 9:19 am) Tks for everyone's help to my curious question. I feel it's anwered and get the intent even if I can't tell exactly what it's doing without a magnifying glass.
#10738 of 13288 Edmunds comparo test by mz6greyghost Sep 08, 2008 (6:48 am)
Click me!   Yes, the Mazda6 finishes first over the Accord and Altima.   Check out the overall fuel economy that edmunds got in their tests: Mazda6: 20 MPG Accord: 18 MPG Altima: 17 MPG (on Premium no less).   Another surprise is the fact that Mazda is the only one that uses scissor-hinges to keep them out of interfering with trunk space. I knew that the Altima didn't use them, but the Accord as well? Wow. I thought Honda would be better than that.   Discuss! Replies to this message: maxamillion1 (Sep 08, 2008 7:00 am) backy (Sep 08, 2008 7:27 am) maxamillion1 (Sep 08, 2008 7:36 am) aviboy97 (Sep 08, 2008 7:46 am) and 9 more... jeffyscott (Sep 08, 2008 7:14 am) gooddeal2 (Sep 08, 2008 7:24 am) thegraduate (Sep 08, 2008 7:36 am) and 2 more...

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