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Midsize Sedans 2.0

18171 messages,  Last post on May 19, 2013 at 3:36 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 348 of 1818

#3462 of 18171 Re: The ACTUAL subject at hand... [mz6greyghost] by mz6greyghost

Jul 18, 2007 (5:02 am)

Replying to: mz6greyghost (Jul 06, 2007 10:50 am)
Update:
 
We went out again last evening. At this point, my wife is dead-set to get a manual, whether or not it's AWD. After test-driving a slushbox or two, she just can't give up the manual (which makes me VERY proud, BTW!)
 
'07 Mercury Milan Premier (4-cylinder, 5-speed manual): Yes, it's rare to have a Premier model with the 4-cylinder and 5-speed, but they're out there. Same initial impressions as before, but the 4-cylinder is a little more coarse than both the DT3.0 and the 2.5 4-cyl from the Altima. The 5-speed is pretty smooth to operate, but the car should either have a 6th gear or the gearing revised, because it revs higher than the 2.5S 6-speed at highway velocities, and I'm sure it affects both the NVH and fuel economy. The loaded Premier for the same price as the mid-grade 2.5S (without leather) was enticing though...
 
After discussion over dinner, and reviewing the online offers from a couple different Nissan dealers, we decided to get the 2.5S. Why? That's easy:
1. Great gas mileage (26 city, 35 hwy, which matches the current 2000 Neon 5-speed that she drives now)
2. Very nice interior (IMO about five levels higher than the embarrasing interior that my mother has in her '03, with richer materials and excellent fit-and-finish)
3. The 6-speed manual (which is smooth and easy to operate, isn't notchy, and feels better than my 5-speed in my Mazda6)
4. Firm but nice ride, and excellent handling (better than everything else save my Mazda6, IMO)
 
After comparing the local dealer offers, we ended up at the closest dealer to us, which is a small, family-run business that's been around for over 30 years selling Datsun/Nissan. My wife and I placed a deposit on an '07 Altima. It's the 2.5S, 6-speed manual, Majestic Blue with the Charcoal cloth interior, with the Convenience Plus package (leather wheel and shifter, power drivers seat, moonroof, 16" alloy rims, etc.) and floor mats. Despite the fact that it has to come from Connecticut (I'm in upstate NY), it's EXACTLY what my wife wants (yes, both she and I both currently drive and love a three-pedal car).
  
It'll be shipped by early next week, and ready for pick-up by the 28th.
  
We are VERY happy both with the car itself and the purchase experience, and hope to have excellent luck with it in the future.

#3463 of 18171 Re: Aura owners? [m1miata] by akirby

Jul 18, 2007 (5:31 am)

Replying to: m1miata (Jul 17, 2007 10:57 pm)
would you buy a Fusion for less than a $3,000 off the sticker?
 
Price never entered into the equation. I don't shop on price - I buy whatever I like and try to get the best price on that. I'm too picky about styling and features. Before the Fusion debuted I had decided to get an Accord. But the Fusion had the looks and features I wanted and it had a unique Piano Black interior trim and unique Tungsten grey paint that I still think looks fantastic.
 
Would I have bought it if it was the same price as the Accord? Sorry to disprove your theory but the answer is yes.
 
If you think that people only buy Fusions and Milans because they are cheaper you're mistaken. People who want cheap would be buying Kias.

#3464 of 18171 Re: Fusion Competitive? [tjc78] by baggs32

Jul 18, 2007 (5:40 am)

Replying to: tjc78 (Jul 18, 2007 4:37 am)
In terms of MSRP a loaded V6 Fusion isn't that much off from the V6 Cam/Cord/Alt.
 
True, but it is a good bit cheaper to buy than a loaded Camry or Accord V6 which would give us an apples to apples comparison then.

#3465 of 18171 Re: Fusion Competitive? [baggs32] by tjc78

Jul 18, 2007 (6:10 am)

Replying to: baggs32 (Jul 18, 2007 5:40 am)
"good bit cheaper to buy"
 
That is exactly my point. If it wasn't cheaper to buy it wouldn't be doing nearly as well, because of it's shortcomings.

#3466 of 18171 Re: Aura owners? [akirby] by lightfootfl

Jul 18, 2007 (6:29 am)

Replying to: akirby (Jul 17, 2007 10:28 am)
Why can't we just be not so particular, or fussy about who, how, or what is said?

#3467 of 18171 Re: Aura owners? [akirby] by captain2

Jul 18, 2007 (6:33 am)

Replying to: akirby (Jul 17, 2007 7:59 pm)
It's had a $500 rebate since day one even when supplies were short so I have to believe Ford simply built that into the pricing because some domestic buyers just won't buy without some type of rebate.
a condition that the 'American' manufacturers have 'taught' the American carbuyer - if they are going to shop those brands, they EXPECT larger rebates (and other incentives) as you say - something that Buick, for example, specializes in - overpricing a car with those 'built-in' rebates. The Camcord shopper, OTH, is doing well to get close to invoice (except possibly on EOY model changes). And then we wonder why those 'Detroit' brands don't hold their resale values that well, so much so that even the steep discounts can't make them cheaper to own than those Camcords they 'compete' with. And part of the reason why Ford/GM/Chrysler are losing money faster than it can be printed? Wouldn't it be nice for those same mfgrs. if they made a car that was good enough and/or in demand (the two kinda go together) enough that MSRP and invoice meant something?

#3468 of 18171 Re: Aura owners? [captain2] by akirby

Jul 18, 2007 (6:43 am)

Replying to: captain2 (Jul 18, 2007 6:33 am)
Small rebates ($1K or less) don't really hurt, especially if they're consistent. What hurts is adding $2K-$3K in rebates later. That reduces the resale values across the board and that is what has happened in the past. It will take years to get the buying public off the rebate wagon. Interestingly Honda and Toyota are increasing rebates on some models (Odyssey and Tundra, not Camcords) and given the reliability records of the 06/07 models so far it sounds like the tables may be slowly turning.

#3469 of 18171 Re: Aura owners? [lightfootfl] by akirby

Jul 18, 2007 (6:45 am)

Replying to: lightfootfl (Jul 18, 2007 6:29 am)
Why can't we just refrain from saying things that are misleading or incorrect or stating opinions as facts?

#3470 of 18171 Re: Aura owners? [captain2] by lilengineerboy

Jul 18, 2007 (6:45 am)

Replying to: captain2 (Jul 18, 2007 6:33 am)
The Camcord shopper, OTH, is doing well to get close to invoice (except possibly on EOY model changes). And then we wonder why those 'Detroit' brands don't hold their resale values that well, so much so that even the steep discounts can't make them cheaper to own than those Camcords they 'compete' with. And part of the reason why Ford/GM/Chrysler are losing money faster than it can be printed? Wouldn't it be nice for those same mfgrs. if they made a car that was good enough and/or in demand (the two kinda go together) enough that MSRP and invoice meant something?
 
Actually my fleet safety weekly email had a blurb about how the costs in the rental car industry are skyrocketing because there is no longer the dumping vehicles to fleet sales there has been in the past. Other than a cost increase for rentals, I don't see this adversely affecting the overall market so much.
They also had a blurb about how GM and Ford residuals percentages increased by double digits in the last year, crediting the Fulan/Edge.

#3471 of 18171 Re: The ACTUAL subject at hand... [mz6greyghost] by pat

Jul 18, 2007 (6:50 am)

Replying to: mz6greyghost (Jul 18, 2007 5:02 am)
Good post - congrats! Let us know how delivery goes.

Messages Page 348 of 1818

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