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Midsize Sedans 2.0

13340 messages,  Last post on Dec 06, 2009 at 10:12 PM

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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

#11966 of 13340 Re: Best exterior design [madpistol] by maxamillion85 Mar 09, 2009 (9:22 pm)
Replying to: madpistol (Mar 08, 2009 9:40 pm) 1) Honda Accord EX and Up: I just find the design to be very very attractive...almost stately looking. In pics it looks disjointed but in person the Accord IMO as a presence that can't be matched in this class. I Love the front end treatment. Taillights could use some touching up (LEDs) but otherwise I think its the best.   2) Tie: Chevrolet Malibu 2LT and LTZ and Saturn Aura XR4 and XR6: LTZ models with the 18s are stately looking IMO. The side profile and front end of the Malibu's best areas, the rear taillamps are a little iffy but its nice overall. The car has a low, tapered "finished" looked to it. Aura takes the design cues a bit furthered. I love the 18s on the XR6, even if they are difficult to keep clean. I also like the front end of the Aura. The side profile is nice too, even if the back end is risen a bit too high. The rear taillights with the LEDs are the best in the class IMO.   3) Mazda6 i/s Touring and Grand Touring: I think if I'd never seen the Euro Mazda6 I'd like our version much better, but the car just seems to long and too big for the design cues Mazda is trying to pull off. I'm not a big fan of the front end...which looks like a poor mouth with braces running across the front (same as altima) and I think the rear c pillars look strange as well. From the side the car almost looks like a hatchback. I do like the rear end though. i T/GT models look tacky with those ugly 17 inch snow flake wheels.   4) Hyundai Sonata SE and LTD: Some call it bland, some call it boring but I find the Sonata to be an attractive looking car. I came to really appreciate it after it got facelifted. Love the LTD models 17s, they give the car an elegant look IMO.   5) Ford Fusion SE, SEL, Sport (2010 models): I had the opportunity to look at the Fusion (and Milan) at the Chicago Int'l Autoshow in Feb. While I love the front end and rear end of the new Fusion I dont think the revised look matches up with the the side profile that well. The car still looks nice but it looks like a design for the late 1990s...   6) Nissan Altima SL/SE: As the owner of an 05 Altima, I am not a big fan of the current generation. Smallish 16 and 17 inch wheels on a bulky, curvy body with a potato looking, poor mouth front end, companied with a hatchbacked looking profile don't work for me. I prefer the hard edge, wedgy shape of my generation.   7) Toyota Camry SE/XLE: SE models look nice enough with the body kit but in XLE form the car bores me to death.   8) VW Passat: It only comes in one trim level for 09 and it's boring. From the side the short wheelbase on long body gives the Passat a tipsy beached whale look that doesn't work well with the 17 inch alloy wheels.   9) Dodge Avenger   10) Mitsubishi Galant   11) Chrysler Sebring
#11967 of 13340 Best midsize based on GPS navigation by bwia Mar 10, 2009 (4:09 am)
So far lots of discussion about best looking interior/exterior, handling, NVH and value. But which midsize has the best integrated voice activated GPS Navigation, blue tooth and music system. The best I've seen out there is in the Acura RL but that car is not in the same class discussed here.   Next to the RL, I think OnStar hands-free navigation with Bluetooth in the Malibu and Aura are technologically the best systems out there, although pricey at $300 per year. Don't know much about the Camry's GPS but if it works as poorly as the one in the Avalon then it would be at the bottom of the list. Replies to this message: akirby (Mar 10, 2009 5:41 am) tallman1 (Mar 10, 2009 7:31 am) bobgwtw (Mar 10, 2009 9:10 pm)
#11968 of 13340 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [elroy5] by jeffyscott Mar 10, 2009 (5:39 am)
Replying to: elroy5 (Mar 09, 2009 2:57 pm) I agree on the new Mazda6, the over-grown RX-8 look just does not work for me...and I love the way the RX-8 itself looks. Kind of like how the over-grown Passat look did not work for the Ford 500.   The two best looking mid-size cars in recent years (to me) were the prior editions of the Mazda6 and the prior edition of the Passat.   Were I buying today, all things considered, I'd probably lean toward a Fusion, with modified grill:
#11969 of 13340 Re: Best midsize based on GPS navigation [bwia] by akirby Mar 10, 2009 (5:41 am)
Replying to: bwia (Mar 10, 2009 4:09 am) You must not have tried Ford's Sync yet.
#11970 of 13340 Re: Best midsize based on GPS navigation [bwia] by tallman1 Mar 10, 2009 (7:31 am)
Replying to: bwia (Mar 10, 2009 4:09 am) The best I've seen out there is in the Acura RL   Doesn't Honda use the same navi in the Accord and RL?
#11971 of 13340 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [jeff [lilengineerboy] by lightfootfl Mar 10, 2009 (7:58 am)
Replying to: lilengineerboy (Mar 08, 2009 8:57 am) Sorry guys, but I just have to jump in here and say, why not have a gauge that indicates the oil pressure? They used to have those things you know. Actually we can really get carried away and insert good working indicators for just about everything, but most of us wouldn't like the "air plane cockpit" feeling we might end up with... and besides who would actually look at all those things?? Just something else to think about. Van Replies to this message: superm (Mar 10, 2009 8:28 am) jeffyscott (Mar 10, 2009 9:16 am) elroy5 (Mar 10, 2009 2:26 pm) lilengineerboy (Mar 10, 2009 2:48 pm) explorerx4 (Mar 10, 2009 4:24 pm) lilengineerboy (Mar 10, 2009 6:22 pm) jeffyscott (Mar 11, 2009 5:12 am) stephen987 (Mar 11, 2009 5:18 am)
#11972 of 13340 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [lightfootfl] by superm Mar 10, 2009 (8:28 am)
Replying to: lightfootfl (Mar 10, 2009 7:58 am) I've had several older Mercedes that have oil pressure gauges, but unless you've got a methodical scan method you're 99% unlikely to see a pressure drop before there are also lots of broken engine noises. Much prefer the ECM monitoring pressure and telling me if there is a problem via an audible and visual alert such as is possible on my Passat.   There are times that pressure info is useful, especially as cars get older and/or for people who have turbos and such. But even then the conditions are so relatively rare and there are so few people who would care that I understand why the gauges are gone.
#11973 of 13340 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [elroy5] by superm Mar 10, 2009 (8:39 am)
Replying to: elroy5 (Mar 09, 2009 2:57 pm) I have a previous generation Passat and have driven a few of the new ones. My next logical car would be a Passat wagon, but it won't happen because...   -Maintenance costs for my Passat are consistently higher than my Mercedes and Volvo combined; - Reliability is somewhere between bad and ridiculous - VW as a company has more often than not been awful, but one recent experience (after mine started to catch fire) suggests that might be changing   Also, the current Passat is now only sold in 1 style and the cheapest you can buy is over $30k. Rumor has it that its being phased out, to be replaced with something simpler (and hopefully cheaper) as VW is said to be losing money on the car with its complexity, build cost and exchange rates. Replies to this message: jeffyscott (Mar 10, 2009 9:21 am)
#11974 of 13340 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [lightfootfl] by jeffyscott Mar 10, 2009 (9:16 am)
Replying to: lightfootfl (Mar 10, 2009 7:58 am) Oil pressure guage would be fine, but if my choice is between that guage or a low oil pressure indicator light plus a low oil level indicator light (replacing the dipstick), I'd take the two indicator lights.
#11975 of 13340 Re: Best mid sized sedans -1.T.Camry 2.H.Sonata 3.N.Altima 4.F.Fusion [superm] by jeffyscott Mar 10, 2009 (9:21 am)
Replying to: superm (Mar 10, 2009 8:39 am) I had no idea they had pushed the Passat up that high, though I am sure you could buy for the $27K invoice price and then the 60 mo. 0% financing is probably worth about $4k.   VW is supposed to build a new midsize car for the US at the proposed Chattanooga plant.

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