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Midsize Sedans 2.0

18436 messages,  Last post on Jun 19, 2013 at 12:40 AM

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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, Kia Optima, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 295 of 1844

#2938 of 18436 preliminary perceptions by targettuning

Jul 05, 2007 (8:47 am)

Here is the senario. I rented a 2006.5 Kia Optima (30K miles showing) LX 2.4 liter 4 cylinder 5 speed automatic. I drove this car about 1000 miles exactly over 2 days with 4 adult passengers and all our luggage. Route of travel included driving west to the far south western corner of Ohio from western Pa. Here are my observations:
1.The car was comfortable...quiet..rode smoothly with plenty of room in the rear (at least my normally outspoken mother-in-law was quiet). It handled the Laurel Highland portion of the drive on the Pa Turnpike (moderately curvy) fine at speed although this portion WAS smoothed out for more gentle turns by PennDot.
2.Power wise it cruised the whole trip at 75mph including mountainous terrain and rarely shifted out of 5th. It fairly jumped off the line and reved freely through about 5K RPM (remember my MIL was in the back) when entering on ramps to cruise speed. No problems there. Additionally at idle it was imperceptable (so this may be engine refinement?) and quiet on acceleration and at cruise speeds.
3. I refilled the tank twice...refill #1 was around 12.3 gallons with 384 miles showing on the trip odometer = 30.8 mpg (approx)...refill #2 was at our start point on the return with 409 miles showing since the previous refill. I can't remember the gallons used, but calculated to 29.9 mpg at the time. Both refills occurred with approx. 1/4 tank remaining so fuel economy was good with 4 passengers and my driving speed (75 mph most of the time).
4. I particularly liked the steering wheel controls for the radio. The Ac was on almost all of the trip and was COLD cooling even the rear seat area without rear mounted HVAC vents.
5. Final observations...I liked it quite a lot but being a low end rental I would upgrade models if purchased and given the choices on engines in Optima's I would opt for the 4 verses the 2.7 V-6.
I found I needed another rental urgently this week (transmission on our 1995 187K mile Dodge Stratus died..is this a sign of inferior domestic quality?) and was given a 2007 Ford Fusion "S" 4 cylinder with 5.5K miles. A few observation on it as compared to the Optima.
1.high rear deck/trunk obscures rear vision, for me anyhow.
2. VERY noisy engine (induction noise?) AND exhaust noise on acceleration. Engine noisier at idle.. busy mechanical noises(not knocking) but you know it is running unlike the Optima.
3. Sluggish normal acceleration without "getting into it" as compared to the Optima. But if you do get into it it seems OK but still "feels" slower than the Optima... measured numbers aside.
4. Taunt ride and sharper handling.
5. missing nice touches standard on the low level Optima..steering wheel radio controls for example.
 Since I have only had the Fusion a day or so I will form other opinions I am sure and I'll let you know. But for now here is one. The Optima is a car where I was sure I was doing about 70 mph only to find I was doing 80 whereas the Fusion is one where I was sure I was doing about 70 mph only to find I was doing 60.

#2939 of 18436 Re: 09 Fusion [akirby] by louiswei

Jul 05, 2007 (8:48 am)

Replying to: akirby (Jul 05, 2007 8:34 am)
Gated shifter is just my own preference. I feel it's a easier way to shift because one doesn't have to first press a button then move the shifter. That's a 2-step process versus gated shifter's one. On top of that I think it looks better.
 
I don't use my cupholders that much thus I prefer it to have a cover so the area looks more elegant.

#2940 of 18436 Re: preliminary perceptions [targettuning] by urnews

Jul 05, 2007 (9:28 am)

Replying to: targettuning (Jul 05, 2007 8:47 am)
That was a very interesting report, Target. Thanks for posting it.

#2941 of 18436 Re: 09 Fusion [akirby] by goodegg

Jul 05, 2007 (9:38 am)

Replying to: akirby (Jul 05, 2007 8:35 am)
At least nobody is saying it looks cheap so I guess that's a good sign.
 
Doesn't look cheap. Just Fordy. I've owned a few Fords have have been disappointed overall with their offerings. I now buy Hondas because their execution of everything in their cars is so excellent. Ford can't match their interiors let alone their mechanicals.
 
Good luck Ford. But with the Asians being so strong in small cars I don't see how Ford can hang with them. They should stick to trucks.

#2942 of 18436 Re: preliminary perceptions [targettuning] by imidazol97

Jul 05, 2007 (9:40 am)

Replying to: targettuning (Jul 05, 2007 8:47 am)
Nicely written report. Lots of factual information rather than subjective.
 
Was your trip I70-I71 to SW Ohio/Cincy?? Your driving was mostly interstate?

#2943 of 18436 Re: 09 Fusion [akirby] by jeffyscott

Jul 05, 2007 (9:45 am)

Replying to: akirby (Jul 05, 2007 7:29 am)
That might actually be real wood instead of plood - hard to tell.
 
For me wood or plood makes no difference, I hate 'em both.

#2944 of 18436 Re: 09 Fusion [akirby] by andres3

Jul 05, 2007 (9:49 am)

Replying to: akirby (Jul 05, 2007 6:41 am)
Looks like really cheap hard gray plastics to me..... Not attractive at all.

#2945 of 18436 Re: 09 Fusion [louiswei] by jeffyscott

Jul 05, 2007 (9:52 am)

Replying to: louiswei (Jul 05, 2007 8:48 am)
Gated shifter is just my own preference. I feel it's a easier way to shift because one doesn't have to first press a button then move the shifter. That's a 2-step process versus gated shifter's one. On top of that I think it looks better.
 
Agree. When I bought my mazda6 I did not think much of it...I could take it or leave it. Then I realized there was no button, so now I prefer the gated style...not that the lack of one would be a deal-breaker.

#2946 of 18436 Re: 09 Fusion [andres3] by akirby

Jul 05, 2007 (9:57 am)

Replying to: andres3 (Jul 05, 2007 9:49 am)
As opposed to expensive soft plastic?
 
Any other objective comments?

#2947 of 18436 Re: 09 Fusion [akirby] by andres3

Jul 05, 2007 (10:00 am)

Replying to: akirby (Jul 05, 2007 9:57 am)
I actually care about the "look" more than the "feel" I know cheap when I see it, and I know good quality when I see it.
 
I do spend time "feeling and touching" all of the interior materials when I'm shopping and checking out a new car, but the look matters most. I just don't like the 1995 Dodge Neon Interior plastic look of the Ford picture you provided. (note the designs are different but it looks like the same plastic material).

Messages Page 295 of 1844

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