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Midsize Sedans 2.0

18428 messages,  Last post on Jun 17, 2013 at 6:28 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

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

Messages Page 1191 of 1843

#11898 of 18428 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [deltheking] by thegraduate

Mar 07, 2009 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: deltheking (Mar 07, 2009 7:52 pm)
You are contradicting yourself- calling the Camry/Sonata mushy ,dull.I have driven all makes and no,it is not dull or mushy.Their engines are as powerful as Honda/Nissan.
 
What does mushy have to do with how the engine performs? I am referring to car handling, which in the Camry especially, is languid compared to the likes of Honda and Mazda. I said nothing of engine power, which is more than adequate in every vehicle mentioned here.
 
My point is, it is much more difficult and costly to make a so called``dull`` car-- to make a car with good power,ride,comfort,low noise and excellent reliability is very tough. You can make an Accord with tight steering,sporty ride but these features are way too inexpensive to create.

 
I disagree here. You tune one way, or you tune another. You choose to add weight (sound insulation) or save it. You choose to tune your car for an isolated ride or for good handling. Yes, these aren't cut and dry measures, as each manufacturer probably thinks they have the best "balance" while they are all somewhat, if not drastically, different. Reliability wasn't part of what I was talking about, especially since most of the cars here all do quite well in that regard. But difficult to do? Nope. Buick's been making comfy/cushy cars for a long time. Doesn't make them "better engineered" vehicles than sportier offerings from Honda, Mazda, or Nissan, but instead, different.
 
Just drive the Camry and Accord back to back.The Camry is as powerful as the Accord.
 
I have. My second cousin has a 2008 LE-V6:) And yes, the cars are quite similarly powered. I never contested that. The brakes in that car made me feel like I was going to rear-end someone at every stop, they were so unresponsive. You had to push through a few inches of dead travel to actually "hit the brakes." Had no steering feel whatsoever, either.
 
If I really needed a sports car--there are plenty of other options-Mazda,Civiv,Mustang,Saturn Sky.But that`s not the function of these cars
 
Some of us that like "sporty" can't afford a purchase for just a "fun" car, so we make the best compromise we can. I am 6'5" and needed midsize or larger. I wanted good economy (I have a 4-cylinder) with good power (8 seconds to 60 MPH according to Car and Driver is fast enough for me!). I wanted some convenience features, but don't like leather. I drive an Accord EX 4-cylinder (2006).
 
Have u driven a Honda with 30k miles or more?it really is noisy,bumpy,your back and arms hurt..It is like a tin rattle box.To insulate the noise,,padding etc is needed which is again more complex and expensive.
 
I drive three regularly. Two are mine, and another is an immediate family member's.
My newest is my 2006 Accord I4 EX which I mentioned earlier. I've driven it with two of my friends on an 1,800 mile road trip from Birmingham, Alabama to Oklahoma. Perfectly comfortable. It has 45,000 miles on it right now.
 
As a courier, I drive my oldest car to work. A 1996 Accord LX (4-cylinder, 130 hp) with 189,000 miles on it. Before I took ownership of the car, my now-73 year old grandmother drove it up and down the interstate for 6 years and 120,000 +/- miles. She replaced it with another Accord, not a Camry. Her current Accord (the third Honda which I drive regularly) is a 2002 Accord LX (4-cylinder, 150 hp) with 94,000 miles on it, and went on a trip to Arkansas in the summer of 2008, she and her sister (age 68) had a blowout on the way, but no problems with "hurting."
 
Just thought I'd share!

#11899 of 18428 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [deltheking] by stephen987

Mar 07, 2009 (8:30 pm)

Replying to: deltheking (Mar 07, 2009 7:52 pm)
Have u driven a Honda with 30k miles or more?it really is noisy,bumpy,your back and arms hurt..It is like a tin rattle box
 
Sir:
 
My experience with Hondas is as follows:
  • 1982 Accord from 1982 to 1995 (155k miles)
  • 1997 Civic from 1997 to 2000 (56k miles)
  • 1999 Civic from 1999 to the present (140k miles)
  • 2002 Accord from 2005 to the present (82k miles)
     
    Not once in twenty-seven years have I heard a single rattle from any of these four Hondas.
     
    I have driven from Atlanta to Houston, TX in a single day in our Accord with no fatigue whatsoever, despite having suffered a spinal injury in an auto accident when I was in my late 20s.
     
    I have to conclude that your lack of experience with Honda has led you to the belief that a car that isolates you from the road is superior. But I can assure you that the bit of extra "feedback" I receive through the steering wheel, the shifter, and the brake pedal allow me to be a better and safer driver in an emergency situation.
     
    You not only presume that number and softer is better, but you go further and personally insult those of us who choose cars that provide us with more road feel. If you don't wish to know what's going on underneath you, I respectfully suggest that perhaps you should let someone else do the driving. I am happy to volunteer, as I believe we will both be safer.

    • #11900 of 18428 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [thegraduate] by deltheking

    Mar 07, 2009 (8:51 pm)

    Replying to: thegraduate (Mar 07, 2009 8:08 pm)
    Thanks for sharing your opinion.
    And yes,i guessed it,right after your 1st post that u have an Accord.
    But,never would have guessed 3.
    Enjoy your Accord,,keep driving it till the wheels fall off,,which according to a honda lover would be never !!! ;

    #11901 of 18428 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [stephen987] by deltheking

    Mar 07, 2009 (8:58 pm)

    Replying to: stephen987 (Mar 07, 2009 8:30 pm)
    Stephen987, not my intention to insult anyone.If u are offended,I apologize.We are just having a healthy debate.
    And,I guess, u did not read my 1st post.I have owned a Toyota ,honda ,nissan , saturn, dodge.So I do know how each make drives or feels .
    I just feel more comfortable in a Toyota than a Honda.
    And,I wish someone could drive me everyday.Doesn`t matter if it`s a Honda,Toyota or Yugo.Your offer accepted!!!!

    #11902 of 18428 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [deltheking] by stephen987

    Mar 07, 2009 (9:02 pm)

    Replying to: deltheking (Mar 07, 2009 8:58 pm)
    And,I wish someone could drive me everyday
     
    That, in a nutshell, is the difference between us. And it doesn't make me a less informed or less discerning customer, as your post seemed strongly to imply. Indeed, those who view driving as an active endeavor are probably more likely to notice small differences in handling, braking, and feel.
     
    I enjoy driving, feeling in control and involved. That's why I tend to prefer Honda or Mazda over Toyota or Chevrolet, and why I would rather drive 1000 miles in a BMW than 200 in a Buick.
     
    Interestingly, I think we'd both feel pretty good in a Fusion or Milan. There's a "sweet spot" in there somewhere.

    #11903 of 18428 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [stephen987] by deltheking

    Mar 07, 2009 (9:15 pm)

    Replying to: stephen987 (Mar 07, 2009 9:02 pm)
    Agree totally on the 'fusion/milan' thing.
    A choice b/w Accord or Fusion - I would take the Fusion.
    Given a choice b/w Camry/Fusion - u would take the Fusion.
    Hail Fusion
    Unfortunately, that`s the problem for Fusion.People take the Camry or the Accord.Nobody wants theFusion except for rental fleets who nurse them them for 2 years and then abandon them on the used market to fend for themselves!!!!!

    #11904 of 18428 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [deltheking] by elroy5

    Mar 07, 2009 (11:52 pm)

    Replying to: deltheking (Mar 07, 2009 8:58 pm)
    And,I wish someone could drive me everyday.
     
    This is the main difference between you (a Camry owner) and I (an Accord driver). I want to Drive, and you just want to Ride. I want to feel connected to the car, have a feel for the handling limits, and drive a little, dare I say aggressively now and then. You would probably rather sit in the passenger seat and sleep. We could get along well, as long as you don't mind "riding" in an Accord. I could even bring a pillow along, so you can be more comfortable.

    #11905 of 18428 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [deltheking] by canddmeyer

    Mar 08, 2009 (1:46 am)

    Replying to: deltheking (Mar 07, 2009 6:17 pm)
    I have to agree with you about the Accord. We got into a Acura TL today, and IMO it had a noisy cabin too, just like the Accord. That was my biggest disappointment. The ride was equal or better. Although the wife was impressed, I'm not sure about dumping $40,000 on a ride with more road noise than I'd like.

    #11906 of 18428 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [backy] by canddmeyer

    Mar 08, 2009 (2:07 am)

    Replying to: backy (Mar 07, 2009 6:40 pm)
    About the Mazda6. We finally got to test drive a Mazda6s GT today. It was good, but not great. It probably didn't help that our salesperson didn't know much about the vehicle they were trying to sell. The ride, while composed, showed every road imperfection. The biggest disappointment from the get-go was the road noise. The 18" tires made noise at all speeds, and while not overly intrusive it made itself known, even at 25mph.
     
    The seats were very comfortable and the trunk was cavernous. Everything about he vehicle, including the Nav, seemed to be up to snuff. Nothing stood out, but nothing lacked except for the road noise insulation. But we had test drove an Acura TL before driving the Mazda, and the Acura was definitely more car, although at $10,000 more it might be a wash.
     
    I haven't been in the other midsize vehicles yet, although I'd like to try the latest Malibu. But since it is the wife's daily driver, and since the wife hated previous Malibu Classic rentals, GM probably screwed itself marketing what they did in the rental market. as that's all the renters know for product representation.
     
    Btw, we got into a Dodge Ram 1500 today. If anyone is considering a new pickup, the 2009 Ram is pretty darn nice.

    #11907 of 18428 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [deltheking] by jeffyscott

    Mar 08, 2009 (5:27 am)

    Replying to: deltheking (Mar 07, 2009 8:58 pm)
    And,I wish someone could drive me everyday.
     
    Hmm...
     
    Toyota...passengers wanted?
     
    But you know, even as a passenger, the Camry is not desireable to me. I find the seat cushion to be too short to be really comfortable.

    Messages Page 1191 of 1843

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