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Sedans Midsize Sedans 2.0
13222 messages, Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 7:26 PM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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and rented a 2009 Toyota Camry. In a nutshell the car is easy and safe and secure to drive. However, I found myself not liking the "floaty" suspension/handling package. The car is quiet at freeway speeds, has easy to steer steering, just it would wander off the road and hit those zip-strips near the road's fogline all of the time. It did have a great stereo, and I had one of my favorite Foghat CD's and one of my favorite Guess Who CD's along on the trip with me, so that was very cool, to be able to rock out nicely. I drove two of my sisters and a friend of one of the sisters over to Kelowna, B.C. to see Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings of Guess Who fame in concert at Kelowna's Prospera Place. Nice to have a "safe" driver to drive up there, as the show started at 7:30PM and got out at around 11:30PM, so it was pitch-black for the drive back to the Okanogan, WA, area one of my sisters has built a home at. Overall I would give the 2009 Toyota Camry a score of 80 out of 100. For the more sportier handling I'd give a serious look at the 2009 Kia Optima, if I was interested in a car in this size-range. My 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS just handles too well and a big drop in handling as large as the Camry's would not cut it for me. I'd take a serious look at the Kia Optima, and from what I've heard, the midsize Optima would fit my bill perfectly. BTW-Kia is working on a new Optima-sized car right now codenamed the VG. So the Optima is under re-constructive surgery as I type this post out.
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Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Jun 24, 2009 8:01 pm)
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Replying to: akirby (Jun 25, 2009 4:52 am) |
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The Accent in 2005 was the first Hyundai Hybrid, then came the Elantra, then the Santa Fe. They sell these in limited quanitites in China and South Korea to test and work out the kinks in the real world before applying them to North American Products. The Sonata Hybrid will be the first mass produced Hyundai Hybrid. Hyundai actually invented its first Hybrid powertrain in 1994 with a modified Scoupe engine. Hyundai thought Hybrids were a pipe dream and changed focus to Hydrogen Fuel Cells. In Terms of Hydrogen Tech, Hyundai is the leader. In Terms of Hybrid Tech Toyota is the leader. By the way, Hyundai has a new Small Car Hybrid system they have in KIA C'eeds and Souls in Europe they are getting ready to drop in the Next Gen Accent. The System is Simple: 1. 1.6L Gamma Engine 126 HP. 2. 5 Speed Automatic Tranmission without torque converter. 3. 20 HP Electric Motor that acts and a Torque Converter. 4. Smart Alternator with intergrated Starter. 5. Hyundai ISG System (Idle Stop and Go System) 6. Either Nickel Hydride or Lithium Polymer Batteries stored under the back seats accessible by lifting the back seats up. 7. Regenerative Braking Motor. |
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Replying to: hyundaismoke (Jun 26, 2009 3:00 pm)
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Replying to: hyundaismoke (Jun 26, 2009 3:00 pm) http://jalopnik.com/398092/2009-hyundai-elantra-hybrid-brings-smug-to-seoul
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I know this isn't probably the Forum this belongs in, but I wanted to get advice quickly and this thread gets a lot of hits. I've narrowed the choices to two cars, both Impalas, for my 17 Year Old Son's first vehicle. The first one is located at a Chevy dealership in which my next door neighbor has been a Mechanic at for many years. It's a 2003 Impala base model with just under 78,000 miles on it. It is a one owner trade that was purchased from this dealership new. The exterior and interior are flawless. It was listed at $7800, but have told me they would sell it to me for $6800 which is right on what Kelly Blue Book says it should be. The second one is at a dealership about 25 miles from my home that sells anything from New Chevys to Toyotas. I've had no dealings with them in the past. They have a 2005 Impala with 78,390 miles on it that they were listing for $7995 which is what KBB states it might be listed at, but have agreed to drop the price to $6995 because it is the end of the month and they want to move units as the Salesman stated. It is also a one owner "local trade" and it appears to be in very good condition. It has Anti-Lock Brakes where the first one does not. It seems like a no brainer because of the safety issue of ABS and it is two years newer, but I don't have the connection that I have with the first dealership since my neighbor works there. In fact, the salesman just called me a while ago to tell me that my neighbor is taking it out for a test drive and checking it over for me. I had asked my neighbor to take a look at it for me when he got a chance. This neighbor has serviced both my older kids GM products since the oldest bought his first car in 2000. He does it on his own time on saturday mornings only asking money for parts, but we always give him cash. Of course, he would work on either car we get for my Son as long as it is GM. I would appreciate any suggestions or comments to help in this decision. Thanks in advance.
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Replying to: mtnman1 (Jun 30, 2009 9:33 am) In general I think inexperienced drivers should have ABS, period. Ask your insurance company! |
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Learning to drive in a big RWD car will give them tremendous driving experience and they will be able to drive anything anywhere after that. They are also less expensive, safer and cheaper to repair. All newer CV, and Grand Marquis also come with ABS and Traction Control. 2000 and newer have 5 star crash ratings too. Here is the best part, they get the same MPG as the impalas do. Insurance is also cheaper on them and they can be had for $4000 in very good condition.
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Replying to: acdii (Jun 30, 2009 10:55 am) |
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