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Midsize Sedans 2.0

18220 messages,  Last post on May 24, 2013 at 7:58 AM

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 880 of 1823

#8788 of 18220 2006 Hyundai Sonata by 94hawkskin

Feb 11, 2008 (3:19 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Feb 10, 2008 7:27 pm)
Bought a 2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS (I4) in Dec. of 2005 and thought I would post an update for all the Hyundai doubters.
 
I now have 40,000 trouble free miles on my car. Not even a single shake, vibration or squeal from the car yet. The interior is still the same as the day I bought it. Outside of a car that I t-boned (not my fault), the exterior is also still the same. Had to replace the front grill, bumper and hood from the wreck.
 
Have had a lot of people ride in the car and said something like, "What did this thing cost about $25,000 or something." You should see the shock in their face when I tell them $17,000. They can't believe a car can be this quiet, ride this nice and be hassle free for the price I paid.
 
The only downside is that Hyundai doesn't hold their value as well as others, but like all my cars, I will keep this car until it at least has close to 200,000 miles on it at which point all cars are worthless.
 
Just thought I would post as a lot of people said see how that Hyundai holds up when you get some miles on it.

#8789 of 18220 Re: 2006 Hyundai Sonata [94hawkskin] by mickeyrom

Feb 11, 2008 (4:56 pm)

Replying to: 94hawkskin (Feb 11, 2008 3:19 pm)
Good that you like your Sonata. I had one just like yours and I loved it. The only reason I traded it was that I needed a power seat and wanted leather.Not available with an I4 engine at the time from Hyundai. So...I bought a KIA Optima. Very similar but with a tauter suspension.

#8790 of 18220 Re: acura tsx/tl or lincoln mkz [akirby] by kdshapiro

Feb 11, 2008 (5:27 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Feb 10, 2008 7:27 pm)
I learned to drive, driving a stick. There is nothing wrong with it.

#8791 of 18220 Re: acura tsx/tl or lincoln mkz [kdshapiro] by karsick

Feb 11, 2008 (5:41 pm)

Replying to: kdshapiro (Feb 11, 2008 5:27 pm)
Good point.
 
I'd guess most of us on this forum learned to drive on a manual tranny. My dad just made sure we were on rural roads away from traffic when he let me drive the first time.
 
Don't give your kid a "crutch" that will keep them from enjoying cars as they were meant to be.
 
Your kid will get a HUGE ego boost knowing something that their overprotected echo-boomer friends have been shielded from (IMHO, natch )

#8792 of 18220 Re: acura tsx/tl or lincoln mkz [akirby] by lilengineerboy

Feb 11, 2008 (6:15 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Feb 10, 2008 7:27 pm)
I disagree. I think focusing on shifting is better than focusing on the radio, text messaging, cell phoning or various other in-vehicle distractions. I think shifting actually helps young drivers learn to drive because it provides a strong connection to the vehicle and control.
Then again, myself and all of my friends learned to drive on manual transmission cars, and have only had sticks since then.
There was a study done in Israel that said it takes 5 years to learn to drive a stick, but that is based on Israeli driving habits, so based on time in vehicle and mileage, it would be more like 2 years in the US. By learning to drive a stick, they mean there is no additional cognitive load.

#8793 of 18220 Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [lilengineerboy] by plekto

Feb 11, 2008 (6:25 pm)

Replying to: lilengineerboy (Feb 10, 2008 7:23 pm)
Interestingly though, around town the Camry felt slower than my 4-cylinder Accord, and I'm sure this is due to the lazy throttle response programming on the Toyota, and the sharper programming in the Honda. The quiet in this car is serene, but I'd rather hear a little more of the 2GR!
 
It's really the transmission. It has such tall gearing with the automatic that short of flogging it, it'll never willingly stay in the 2500-3500 rpm range. Thankfully I hear the 5 speed automatic solves a little of that.

#8794 of 18220 Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [plekto] by thegraduate

Feb 11, 2008 (7:48 pm)

Replying to: plekto (Feb 11, 2008 6:25 pm)
Actually, the gearing was just fine in the 6-sp Camry, it was the throttle response that was sluggish. I was in 2nd gear by 12 mph, and 3rd by 22 or so, and that' typical RPM ranges. Pretty short to me.

#8795 of 18220 Re: acura tsx/tl or lincoln mkz [lilengineerboy] by bhmr59

Feb 11, 2008 (8:18 pm)

Replying to: lilengineerboy (Feb 11, 2008 6:15 pm)
I got my driver license in Spring 1965. Very limited availablity to drive the family cars (unless with my parents). Fall of '65 my father bought me an 1960 Ford Falcon. It was my car, with serious restrictions put on my usage.
 
Way under powered 6 cyl engine, maybe 85 HP, with sloppy 3 speed manual shift on the column. Paid $350 for that junk, but that was 1965. My parents were away on the day we picked it up. Grandmother drove me to the used car dealer to pick it up in the city. I had to drive it home, stopping on hills, and had no alternative transportation. Within a couple days I could drive that underpowered thing, no 1st gear syncro, quite well.
 
That car was so pigged out it whinned like crazy at 55 MPH and probably couldn't go over 65 or 70 MPH. I think I had it up to 65 once and had to back off because it sounded like the engine was ready to blow up.
 
It was a base model complete with steering wheel, manual tranny, and heater. Had to install my own radio as the car did not come with it and the previous owner did not install one.
 
Point is, if someone know how to drive, they can learn to drive a manual shift in no time at all.

#8796 of 18220 Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [thegraduate] by captain2

Feb 12, 2008 (11:55 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Feb 11, 2008 7:48 pm)
computer 'controlled' electronic throttles and tranny shift programs that are designed to maximize fuel economy as well as minimize the effects of torque steer/engine braking created by all that power you enjoyed - all will have that effect. Having the Avalon with the 5 speed, the same kind of thing happens, higher than normal gears are held (or selected by the car's computer) , thereby reducing engine speeds and increasing fuel economies at almost any given speed (or normal throttle position) . Not rocket science, of course, but without the CVVTi doing its job, the engineers are not able to take the same advantage of the engine's flexibility - which is, as you note, remarkable. My wife's 240hp 03 Altima 'feels' quite a bit more 'responsive' (it really isn't) but it is an older (and smaller) car thru an 'antiquated' 4 speed tranny so it also returns less FE and more torque steer, and overall might be a tad less 'driveable' overall.
The Camry will 'get no respect' (your words) in enthusiast mags and/or forum sites like this in large part because of the 'softness' of the car in general, and despite that by producing the best power AND FE, it likely has the best V6 engine in this class. The 4 banger isn't too shabby either but faces some stiff competition from that small company in Ohio for those honors. The wild card in all this is perhaps the Altima, as it too does quite well under the hood, but is also relying to some degree on public acceptance of the CVT.
 Toyota, however, understands this and will take about half a million sales to the bank every year. They make what people seem to want.
 
PS. am starting to see a bunch of new Malibus on the streets and it seems that many of them are 4 bangers. Overall a good looking car IMO although I don't like the front end styling at all - interior looks pretty good as well. Maybe GM has a 'winner' - heaven knows they need one.

#8797 of 18220 Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [captain2] by plekto

Feb 12, 2008 (2:53 pm)

Replying to: captain2 (Feb 12, 2008 11:55 am)
The Camry will 'get no respect' (your words) in enthusiast mags and/or forum sites like this in large part because of the 'softness' of the car in general, and despite that by producing the best power AND FE, it likely has the best V6 engine in this class.
 
But, with the computers getting in the way and making the thing upshift the instant it can if you're over 1500rpm or so... Short of flogging it on a dragstrip, you'll never see half of that power.
 
Fantastic engine. Transmission just destroys it. The computers and nanny-modes finish the job and put a stake through its heart for good measure.
 
If you want an eye-opener, check out the new Pontiac Vibe in a few weeks when it comes out. The 2.4 engine and transmission in the upper trim model is lifted from a Camry. But with a manual and no computers trying to out-think you, it's very quick in traffic(So far I've seen one review and it was glowing).

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