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Midsize Sedans 2.0

13142 messages,  Last post on Nov 08, 2009 at 7:34 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

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


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#8802 of 13142
Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [jeffyscott] by colloquor
Feb 13, 2008 (10:27 am)
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Feb 13, 2008 5:30 am)

I disagree. I've either owned, or currently own, a late model Camry and an Accord. The current gen Camry's handling and ride, especially in the SE trim, is very acceptable. It's a nice combination of compliant ride and decent handling. On the other hand, the Accord is superior in the handling department, but inferior in the ride department.
 
I also just spent a week with a "brand spanking new" 2008 Hyundai Sonata GLS from Hertz (6 miles on the odometer), and although the ride is decent, the suspension is simply not in the same league as either the Camry or Accord. I've been a supporter of Hyundai on these boards, and I have no basic qualms with the Sonata's front suspension setup, but the rear suspension suffers from several dynamic problems, including under dampening, and shock control. I know they are addressing this in the 2009's, and well they should.
#8803 of 13142
Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [jeffyscott] by plekto
Feb 13, 2008 (11:46 am)
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Feb 13, 2008 5:30 am)

Still, Toyota doesn't HAVE to start making cars that drive like Buicks.
  
start?...

 
The previous ones were kind of still "Japanese", but the recent generation Toyotas are solidly GM clones. Or vice-versa. It's hard to tell which is copying which anymore.
#8804 of 13142
Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [plekto] by karsick
Feb 13, 2008 (12:47 pm)
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Replying to: plekto (Feb 13, 2008 11:46 am)

It's always been my contention that, as far as luring away domestic car owners, the Asians (especially Toyota), tailored their cars SPECIFICALLY to the Buick/Olds/Mercury/Chrysler spectrum. They've even been building USA-only models for several years (the bigger,floatier USA-model Accord vs the "TSX" Accord for the rest of the world).
 
The European makes' attitude here has primarily been one of "take it or leave it " when it comes to attracting Americans. As one who favors nimble handling over advanced cupholder technology, I was a sucker for light, responsive Saabs, GTI's, Triumphs, etc.
 
I'm happy that in the past 15yrs or so, the Asians have seen fit to offer models that appeal to people trading out of Euro-cars (IS300, WRX, Evo, TSX, TL, newer Civics, G20, G35) while still making models that attract former Land Yacht owners (Avalon, Amanti, Pilot, Highlander, Endeavor).
 
Now we can have a mix of Euro-flavor without the headaches of poor reliability and expensive "Jag-You-Arrhhh" or "Bring My Wallet" servicing !
#8805 of 13142
Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [plekto] by captain2
Feb 13, 2008 (2:44 pm)
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Replying to: plekto (Feb 12, 2008 2:41 pm)

GM also has this exact same problem. World-class engines
OK I'll bite - what engines would those be?
#8806 of 13142
Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [captain2] by thegraduate
Feb 13, 2008 (4:13 pm)
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Replying to: captain2 (Feb 13, 2008 2:44 pm)

The 3.6L DI is a nice one, and the 6.2L in the Vette isn't bad at all.
#8807 of 13142
Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [colloquor] by bhmr59
Feb 13, 2008 (7:01 pm)
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Replying to: colloquor (Feb 13, 2008 10:27 am)

Which trim line was your rental Sonata, GLS, SE or Limited? 4 or 6 cyl?
#8808 of 13142
Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [bhmr59] by targettuning
Feb 14, 2008 (4:32 am)
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Replying to: bhmr59 (Feb 13, 2008 7:01 pm)

He stated it was a GLS, no engine type stated.
#8809 of 13142
Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [thegraduate] by captain2
Feb 14, 2008 (6:09 am)
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Replying to: thegraduate (Feb 13, 2008 4:13 pm)

Inclined to give a pass to the 3.6HF V6, although it is still unproven in terms of longevity - just like the 2GR. Efficiency if you look at both power per unit volume and FE lags just a bit. Thought we'd hear something about the Northstar which was certainly a good engine in its prime, but also lags by today's standards or any of the multitude of pushrod V6s which actually account for the bulk of GMs efforts and are anything but 'world class' just like the 4 banger 'Ecotecs'. As GM finally gets production of the 3.6 up enough to use it on pretty much their whole line (just like Toyota & Nissan do with their 3.5s), and finally puts things like the 3.5s, 3.8s and 3.9s out to pasture - that will be the point that GM can be claim to make some good engines. Getting 400hp out of 400 CI V8s doesn't really count IMO, not that it is a bad engine, it just is what it is.
#8810 of 13142
Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [bhmr59] by colloquor
Feb 14, 2008 (6:24 am)
Reply

Replying to: bhmr59 (Feb 13, 2008 7:01 pm)

It was a new 2008 GLS with the 2.4L I-4. I didn't have a complaint with the engine, and averaged a combined 25.5MPG during the rental which included about 50/50 city and highway mileage. Again, this car was brand new with only 6 miles on the odometer when I picked up the car from the Hertz agency in Orlando - I was the first person to rent the vehicle.
 
I've rented the current gen Sonatas on several other occasions over the past couple of years on business trips, all of which had more miles than this one of course. Most have been GLS trims with the I-4, but a few were GLS with the 3.3L V6.
 
If I drove the Sonata over a severely undulating surface, including freeways with either a poor surface or a lot of dips, the rear suspension would tend to bottom and you would get a wallowing "jounce (shock compression) and rebound" effect from the rear suspension. More importantly, the rear suspension simply appears to be under damped or dampened (insufficient shock control, especially on the rebound). In my previous Sonata rentals, I've attributed this to perhaps the "rental car syndrome," as those had over 15K on the clock, some with slightly over 20K. But this Sonata acted exactly the same, and it was brand new.
 
I also drive a 2006 Hyundai as one of my personal cars, so I try to be as objective as possible. On smooth or moderately smooth surfaces, the Sonata's suspension is fine, but on really rough surfaces, especially undulating surfaces such as asphalt which has seen a lot of semi truck traffic, the Sonata's rear suspension seems to have a control problem. BTW . . . in neither situation was the car overloaded with people or luggage - only the driver and one passenger.
 
Again, Hyundai is addressing this in the 2009.
#8811 of 13142
Re: An hour with a Camry LE-V6 [karsick] by jeffyscott
Feb 14, 2008 (6:48 am)
Reply

Replying to: karsick (Feb 13, 2008 12:47 pm)

I'm happy that in the past 15yrs or so, the Asians have seen fit to offer models that appeal to people trading out of Euro-cars...Now we can have a mix of Euro-flavor without the headaches of poor reliability expensive "Jag-You-Arrhhh" or "Bring My Wallet" servicing
 
Another option for a little euro-flavor in handling and ride, without the high purchase and service prices, has been Ford with the Contour and now the Fusion. With the Fusion they may have also attained good reliability.

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