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Midsize Sedans 2.0

13278 messages,  Last post on Nov 29, 2009 at 1:31 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

#12755 of 13278 Re: Let them learn in a Crown Vic [thegraduate] by acdii Jul 08, 2009 (12:31 pm)
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. Replies to this message: plekto (Jul 09, 2009 2:54 am)
#12756 of 13278 Re: Let them learn in a Crown Vic [acdii] by plekto Jul 09, 2009 (2:54 am)
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 13278 Re: Wrong Guys [backy] by hyundaismoke Jul 09, 2009 (3:29 pm)
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. Replies to this message: backy (Jul 09, 2009 6:07 pm)
#12758 of 13278 Re: Wrong Guys [mickeyrom] by hyundaismoke Jul 09, 2009 (3:36 pm)
Replying to: mickeyrom (Jun 26, 2009 3:39 pm) Well the Sonata according to Hyundai is supposed to be in the Ford Fusion Hybrid Ball Park.   Any small car using the Hyundai Small car Hybrid system will get close to 48MPG depending on size and weight.   This is an Article about the Engine Being placed in a KIA Soul. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/autoshows/paris/2008/kiasoulhybridnews.html
#12759 of 13278 Re: Wrong Guys [hyundaismoke] by backy Jul 09, 2009 (6:07 pm)
Replying to: hyundaismoke (Jul 09, 2009 3:29 pm) Call it what you want. The point is, previous Hyundai hybrids before the new Elantra hybrid have not been available to the general public.
#12760 of 13278 Mazda Hybrid??? by aviboy97 Jul 16, 2009 (10:57 am)
Let's see if I can wake everyone up in here!   News today came in that Toyota and Mazda are in discussions for Toyota to license hybrid components to Mazda for Mazda Hybrid vehicles. Sources close to the situation report Mazda could have a mass produced hybrid here by 2012-2013. Possibly a Mazda6 Hybrid? That sure would be nice! Replies to this message: mickeyrom (Jul 16, 2009 11:13 am) acdii (Jul 16, 2009 11:24 am)
#12761 of 13278 Mazda Hybrid, use Ford's tech ? by rdm925 Jul 16, 2009 (11:10 am)
I think a Mazda 6, hybrid would be great. Why not use Ford Fusion's tech. If Ford still owned 30 plus % they could do and not wait 2-3 yrs. Replies to this message: aviboy97 (Jul 16, 2009 12:48 pm)
#12762 of 13278 Re: Mazda Hybrid??? [aviboy97] by mickeyrom Jul 16, 2009 (11:13 am)
Replying to: aviboy97 (Jul 16, 2009 10:57 am) HYBRIDS are nice,but just too expensive. Replies to this message: acdii (Jul 16, 2009 11:24 am)
#12763 of 13278 Re: Mazda Hybrid??? [mickeyrom] by acdii Jul 16, 2009 (11:24 am)
Replying to: mickeyrom (Jul 16, 2009 11:13 am) HYBRIDS are nice,but just too expensive.   Man ain't that the truth. I just saw an Insight the other day, you know, the lowest priced Hybrid one can buy, and man is that thing tiny. Since it is smaller than the Prius, and appears to have a very close COD design, you would think it would get better MPG rating than the Prius, but it doesn't.   If The government were really concerned about cap and trade, CO2, etc. you would think they would have better incentives so that people can better afford to buy a Hybrid. The real cost behind any Hybrid is not the drive technology, once a certain number have been sold, the R&D costs to develop the drive train is paid for, but the battery technology is ongoing and that is the biggest cost of the car. It is also the biggest limiter of the number that can be made at any one time, something Mazda will face when it starts up its Hybrid line. They will have to wait for deliveries from the battery manufacturer, and if from the same plant as Toyota and Ford, they will have to take a number and hope for the best.
#12764 of 13278 Re: Mazda Hybrid, use Ford's tech ? [rdm925] by aviboy97 Jul 16, 2009 (12:48 pm)
Replying to: rdm925 (Jul 16, 2009 11:10 am) Ford cannot produce enough hybrid components for themselves, let alone another manufacturer. This was clearly evident with the Tribute Hybrid, which was only available in California.   Toyota has much greater manufacturing capabilities over in Japan. Now that Mazda is under their own control, I guess that may have opened up the door for the JDM manufacturers to start talking about licensing hybrid technology.

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