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Midsize Sedans 2.0

18200 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 8:30 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 1686 of 1820

#16850 of 18200 Consumer Reports gives early positive review by benjaminh

Sep 13, 2012 (10:29 am)

of the 2013 Accord. This is significant esp. because of how negative they were about the 2012 Civic. Here's the Consumer Reports thumbs up report on the 2013 Accord video:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjVV9YbLBIg
 
"Honda is playing to win when it comes to feature content. All Accords have a USB connection, Bluetooth, and, most impressively, a backup camera. You also only get satellite radio on EX and higher trim levels...
 
Honda is also incorporating a lot of electronic safety features into the latest Accord. Uplevel models come standard with forward-collision warning, as well as a unique feature that uses a camera to show what is in your passenger-side blind spot before you change lanes...
 
This redesigned Accord comes not a minute too soon. Almost every major player in this segment has been redesigned--or soon will be. It will be very interesting to see how all of these sedans stack up. To find out, we'll be buying Accords of our own when they go on sale next week. For now, enjoy our video for other first impressions."

#16851 of 18200 Re: Camry should be called Chintzy.... [benjaminh] by cski

Sep 13, 2012 (11:21 am)

Replying to: benjaminh (Sep 13, 2012 10:27 am)
I totally agree. My Optima has a HUGE blind spot, and the EX did not come with camera's to help me out.
 
I have almost nailed a passing car twice so I now keep my head on a swivel when passing. Also, it is tough to parallel park.
 
I guess that is what happens when cars get lower and have a fast-back type C pillars like sports cars.
 
If I had to buy the car again I would have added the cameras AND a stupid height adjustment on the passenger seat.

#16852 of 18200 Re: Camry should be called Chintzy.... [cski] by ctl

Sep 13, 2012 (11:24 am)

Replying to: cski (Sep 13, 2012 6:49 am)
When you drive a 15-20 years old Toyota/Honda, you know what they are made of. When you see a 5 years old Hyundai, you also know what they are made of. When you can see beyond the appearances and see through the pretenders, you show what you are made up.

#16853 of 18200 Re: Camry should be called Chintzy.... [cski] by benjaminh

Sep 13, 2012 (11:47 am)

Replying to: cski (Sep 13, 2012 11:21 am)
cski: Thanks for that brutally honest report. Wow. I do think the Optima looks good, but I do not think that style is worth risking your life or the life of someone else. Honestly I think car stylists who do that should be fired. And otherwise I like KIA as a company--reliable, many are made in USA, etc.
 
The Accord may be a little boring to some (although I think it's sleek and elegant), but it has best-in-class visibility all around. And that's even before the cameras and lane watch systems they now have...
 
But even Honda once in a while designs a vehicle with poor rear visibility. I hear the new CR-V is quite poor.
 
But at least they got the Accord right!
 
cski: Would you ever consider trading in your Optima on an Accord, or now that you've made the purchase and otherwise really like the car do you feel you're stuck with the poor visibility for the time being?

#16854 of 18200 blind spots by akirby

Sep 13, 2012 (12:13 pm)

There is no such thing as a blind spot if you adjust your mirrors correctly AND turn your head. When a car leaves my center mirror it appears in my side mirror. I also turn my head as an added precaution.

#16855 of 18200 Re: blind spots [akirby] by benjaminh

Sep 13, 2012 (12:57 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Sep 13, 2012 12:13 pm)
Do you think 100% of the people in these midsize cars with poor rear visibility (Sonata, Optima, new 2013 Altima, new 2013 Fusion, etc.) adjust their mirrors perfectly, use them perfectly, and turn around to look enough too?

#16856 of 18200 Re: blind spots [benjaminh] by akirby

Sep 13, 2012 (1:01 pm)

Replying to: benjaminh (Sep 13, 2012 12:57 pm)
Of course not, but how is that the vehicle's fault?

#16857 of 18200 Re: blind spots [akirby] by benjaminh

Sep 13, 2012 (1:08 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Sep 13, 2012 1:01 pm)
Let's just say that when I drive in the possible blind spot of a Sonata, Optima, etc., I try to be extra careful, and get out of that possible blind spot if I can. I wish I didn't have to do that. And I think designers and stylist should be aware of visibility as an important safety feature in a car. But it looks like we'll need to agree to disagree on this...

#16858 of 18200 Auto News on Accord by benjaminh

Sep 13, 2012 (1:36 pm)

To me this is an interesting story of what some of the execs and engineers at Honda wanted as they worked on the new 2013 Accord.
 
ACCORD: HONDA'S COMEBACK CAR?
Honda goes all-in with 2013 Accord
Automaker bets redesigned car brings its mojo back
 
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120910/OEM03/309109942#ixzz26NseJzvF
 
Here's a taste of the article. More at the link...
 
"This is our most important car," said Takuji Yamada, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co. "This car is who we are."
 
The Accord is Honda's make-or-break profit center. More than 11 million have been sold in the United States since the car was launched 36 years and eight generations ago. But the Accord has slipped in sales, share and consideration as other automakers' mid-sized sedans have improved...
 
Honda cannot afford another public humiliation like the one it received with the lambasting of the cheap interior materials used in the 2012 Civic redesign. The Accord is the car that defines whether Honda has regained its mojo.
 
Honda Motor has taken its lumps of late from a string of uninspired products; the Japan earthquake that crippled its r&d operations, making it the hardest hit of any Japanese automaker; the Thailand flooding that smashed a chunk of its supplier network; and a strong yen that squeezes the profit from dollar-denominated U.S. sales.
 
Ito's watch
 
The 2013 Accord also is the first Honda developed completely under the watch of Ito, who took command of Honda Motor in February 2009 soon after the global economy imploded.
 
Ito, an engineer who helped develop the aluminum body of the Acura NSX supercar, also has taken his lumps. He formally took blame for the Civic's cheap interior, saying he approved a last-minute removal of content from the car to lower its price in the slumping U.S. market. But Ito also gave the underlying message that such an error would not be repeated.
 
At the Accord press event here, a phalanx of Japanese engineers beamed with pride -- indeed, with rarely seen swagger -- when standing next to their new charge. That also was a sea change, for two reasons: First, there was little mention of U.S. engineering involvement in the car's development, whereas Honda's PR message normally reinforces how "American" a vehicle is. And, second, for the past several years, Honda engineers typically have been reserved rather than boastful.
 
Might this be the start of a renaissance at Honda?
Big changes
 
Shoji Matsui: No excuses allowed
 
For the 2013 Accord redesign, Honda called on a 30-year veteran to be chief engineer.
 
Shoji Matsui engineered Accords for the 1986 to 1996 model years -- the car's heyday, when its road performance and refinements gave it an aura of prestige. Matsui's first job was to design the fuel-filler cover for the 1986 model. His mentor: Takanobu Ito. For the 2013 car, Matsui says his mission from Ito was to "put our power together on this, without excuses."

#16859 of 18200 The Loser? by seolbro

Sep 13, 2012 (3:00 pm)

If the new Accord is as good as it is written-up, the Altima could be the loser is all this. Honda appears to have come up with a genuinely better car and done good work to create more function/price combinations. So Honda has a good car, a good reputation and good value. The Camry had the head-start, resale value and reputation. The Altima is stuck is the middle and may again be relegated to populating the rental fleets. Nissan's quality, in reputation or reality, does them no favors.
 
The forthcoming Mazda 6 does fare well in the scenario either since it will be the last of the Japanese mid-sizeers to market. Its track record is nothing to build on.

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