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Midsize Sedans 2.0

13269 messages,  Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 9:36 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

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


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#12748 of 13269
Re: Let them learn in a Crown Vic [acdii] by stephen987
Jun 30, 2009 (11:00 am)
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Replying to: acdii (Jun 30, 2009 10:55 am)

I think you'd find that in the real world, the 3.4L Impala V6 gets significantly better fuel economy than the Crown Vic's 4.6L V8. But I would agree with everything else you said. Additionally, it's easier to find a Vic or a Grand Marquis with very low miles on it.
#12749 of 13269
Re: My Sons First Car [mtnman1] by explorerx4
Jun 30, 2009 (1:22 pm)
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Replying to: mtnman1 (Jun 30, 2009 9:33 am)

you can ask over at Real World trade in Values forum. good luck.
#12750 of 13269
Re: Let them learn in a Crown Vic [acdii] by mtnman1
Jun 30, 2009 (5:00 pm)
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Replying to: acdii (Jun 30, 2009 10:55 am)

Thanks for the tip. I ran a search in Auto Trader and came up with about 8 Grand Marquis within 50 miles. There was a 2003 that was loaded with 68,000 miles on it for $6999. Looked very clean in the pictures. I've seen many cars in the past week that looked great on the internet, but were pieces of crap in person. I'd be a bit concerned with a rwd vehicle in the winters we've been getting the last 10 years. Lots of snow and ice. I'm definitely leaning towards the 2003 Impala with 77,000 miles on it even though it doesn't have ABS. The car is in excellent condition and both my older kids had cars without ABS when the got their first. Plus my oldest son is still driving a 2002 Impala that he bought from the same dealership in 2005 and now has around 140,000 miles on it with no major issues. Hopefully I won't regret it if we do buy it and heaven forbid he does get into a bad accident because he locked up the brakes. I'll just have to teach him how to brake as we all had to do before ABS came available. I managed living in Pittsburgh with all its hills and snow in the winter when I was a teen and young adult.
#12751 of 13269
Re: Let them learn in a Crown Vic [mtnman1] by elroy5
Jun 30, 2009 (8:04 pm)
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Replying to: mtnman1 (Jun 30, 2009 5:00 pm)

My two cents. I would get a car with ABS, if given the choice. It prevented me from hitting a car that pulled out in front of me once already. I can also remember one case in my youth (before ABS) when it would have prevented a crash. I don't see the advantage of teaching a young driver on a RWD car, when eventually they will most likely be driving FWD in the future anyway. I also think an Impala is a good choice. A Grand Marquis is pretty large for someone just learning. Doesn't leave much room for error, and harder to handle.
#12752 of 13269
Re: Let them learn in a Crown Vic [elroy5] by thegraduate
Jun 30, 2009 (8:17 pm)
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Replying to: elroy5 (Jun 30, 2009 8:04 pm)

I second the decision with ABS. I'll never own another car without it. It caused me to lock, fishtail, and eat guardrail when I was nearly run off the road back in my teenage years.
 
Also, whoever said there was no mileage difference in the Grand Marquis and Impala is dead wrong... 16/23 for the Mercury, 19/29 for the Chevrolet with the 3.4L engine, 18/27 for the bigger 3.8L V6 in the uppel level Impalas. That's quite good for the torquey motor.
#12753 of 13269
midsize by sporin71
Jul 08, 2009 (7:26 am)
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Personally, I own an 08 Accord LX which I am very happy with however I wish I had gone for a higher trim. With deep discounts and some fresh faces on the scene I've considered trading up and the Fusion is a strong contender as I like the looks, the price, and SYNC is a big draw for me.
 
With a few notable exceptions aside, this segment is very good overall, with each doing various things better or worse in shades of gray.
 
That's why the decision is so hard.
 
Off my list:
Altima: Dislike the looks, don't find the "drive" any better then it's competitors.
Sonata: just not my cup of tea
Jetta: Too small for the price imo. TDI Wagon would make me cave on size, but the premium price and lack of incentives kills it.
Passat: premium price
Galant/G6/Aura/Chrysler-Dodge: old stuff, not interested
 
Waffling:
Malibu: Local dealer is toxic but the car seems ok, I'd like to check it out
Camry: I'm a Toyota Truck guy, but have never loved their cars, I find their interiors confining as they always use a very high center console which my fat self doesn't fit well. Need to drive one again, my buddy just bought a black one with tan leather and it's very nice looking.
Legacy: Love that I can get a wagon but they are everywhere up here and I just don't like the current version, as much as I've tried. Maybe the next-gen will be better for me.
 
Top of the heap:
Fusion: Love Sync, looks, price, lots of local dealers. Wish I could get leather, HIDS & the manual. An SE 4cyl/6spd with the Sun n' Sync package is pretty close though.
Accord: Love our LX, and EX-L 4cyl would be perfect. Exceptional local dealer. Just wonder if I want the "same car" again.
Mazda6: Nearest dealer is almost an hour away, the model I want is a unicorn ('09 6iGT-manual... no GT manual for '10)
#12754 of 13269
Re: midsize [sporin71] by maxamillion85
Jul 08, 2009 (10:47 am)
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Replying to: sporin71 (Jul 08, 2009 7:26 am)

Sporin, according to some info I've read over on Cars.com the Fusion SE and SEL models will be adding "Apperance pkgs" pretty soon...pretty similar to the pkgs offered on 09 and earlier models. Pricing has not been announced on these pkgs, but content is available.

Monochrome Appearance Package

Includes a unique finish on IP spears and center stack, Body Colored Grille, 18" Machined Aluminum w/Painted Pockets, Rear Spoiler, Unique Cloth Front Bucket Seats Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel & Shift Knob
 
Appearance Package
Includes a unique finish on IP spears and center stack, Chrome Grille, 18" Machined Aluminum w/Painted Pockets, Rear Spoiler, Unique Cloth Front Bucket Seats, Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel & Shift Knob
 
Pricing should be available sometime in the near future for the trim level pkgs, I'm glad to see true alloy wheels will be available for SE model Fusions as opposed to the fascia covers on SE models now.
#12755 of 13269
Re: Let them learn in a Crown Vic [thegraduate] by acdii
Jul 08, 2009 (12:31 pm)
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Replying to: thegraduate (Jun 30, 2009 8:17 pm)

The Grand Marquis/Crown Vic is actually very easy to handle, don't let the size fool you. My mother always thought that way, the car is too big, and drove the smaller accords, until I brought home a 92 Vic that made her 92 Accord look cheap, then I let her drive it. A month later she traded her Accord for a 95 Grand Marquis, that was in 96, and she is still driving it today, with 138K miles on it. The car is very forgiving, has traction control and full ABS, gets 28 MPG on the highway, 21 in city/highway mixed, and has always been dependable for her. The car has plenty of power to get up and go, but not so much power that you would get in trouble, the power to weight ratio is just right for the majority of drivers out there today.
 
Oh I forgot to mention, she is 5' 1" tall. My wife is 5' 2" tall, and she learned to drive in a 1985 Grand Marquis, and that is an even larger car with boxy fenders and such.
 
I think the reason more cars like the Vic/GM aren't sold is the misconception that the car is too big to handle, when in reality, it is actually easier to handle than most FWD cars. Well that and it does look like a granny car. But ask any cop that drove a Vic and the Impala, and the majority will want the Vic.
#12756 of 13269
Re: Let them learn in a Crown Vic [acdii] by plekto
Jul 09, 2009 (2:54 am)
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Replying to: acdii (Jul 08, 2009 12:31 pm)

Case in point. I had my 4Runner (4WD with RWD) in the shop fixing a hole in my oil pan( ug ). It has mud terrain tires on it, a heavy-duty off-road transmission added, and a bunch of metal for bumpers and sliders and so on. ( read - about 4000-4200lbs dry )
 
My rental for the day was a Chevy Cobalt. Tiny thing, front wheel drive.
 
2500lbs plus FWD on street tires was twice the effort to steer as a 4200lb 4Runner with mud tires. Easier to handle is a massive understatement.
#12757 of 13269
Re: Wrong Guys [backy] by hyundaismoke
Jul 09, 2009 (3:29 pm)
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Replying to: backy (Jun 26, 2009 3:40 pm)

I wouldnt call sales to only 4-5 countries in limited quantities mass production exactly. The Sonata Hybrid will be sold pretty much everywhere either as an i40 or a Sonata.

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