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Midsize Sedans 2.0

18168 messages,  Last post on May 18, 2013 at 7:40 PM

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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 1716 of 1817

#17149 of 18168 Re: Breaking promises and deadlines.... [akirby] by rayainsw

Nov 15, 2012 (9:30 am)

Replying to: akirby (Nov 15, 2012 8:59 am)
'...then flown back to Arizona ...'
Wow - THAT sounds expensive.
- Ray
Stamping dies that size must be very heavy.......

#17150 of 18168 Re: Breaking promises and deadlines.... [rayainsw] by akirby

Nov 15, 2012 (12:04 pm)

Replying to: rayainsw (Nov 15, 2012 9:30 am)
It required a Hercules transport plane and I think there were 2 complete dies - top and bottom left and right sides so I imagine they were REALLY heavy. Sounds like they had them fixed and back in service within a week or so which is really fast considering.
 
As someone else said - you don't always want to see inside the sausage factory.

#17151 of 18168 Re: Breaking promises and deadlines.... [dodgeman07] by wayne21

Nov 15, 2012 (7:39 pm)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Nov 14, 2012 6:52 pm)
12,000 miles later and there have been zero problems with my car. None. As a matter of fact, very few had to wait for their Korean car. Do we want to be a whole subsidiary of Asia? Keep it up America, and that is what we have to look forward to.
 Hope you are listening Ford, as you are the last and only US manufacturer that I WOULD still buy a car from.
 
This is what I responded to. The KIAs are made in Georgia and provide a lot of work for people in that part of Georgia and nearby Alabama towns. (The sonata is built in Montgomery Alabama. I've toured that factory and it is really awesome.) For every factory employee about 12 jobs are created to support him. That is a lot of employment and money provided to a lot of local people. As for the Asians or anyone else, there is a 25 percent tax on any car imported to the US - compliments of the UAW lobbying in the 1970s because noone would buy american at that time. That is why so many of the foreign-based car companies have built factories in the US (avoiding the 25 percent import tax).... non-union as a rule so as not to have the UAW ruin them. As for buying ford, the fusion is built in Hermasillo Mexico. My brother recently purchased a new camaro - an american muscle car. The motor and transmission were made in mexico and the car was assembled in Oshawa Canada.

#17152 of 18168 Re: Breaking promises and deadlines.... [wayne21] by akirby

Nov 15, 2012 (10:37 pm)

Replying to: wayne21 (Nov 15, 2012 7:39 pm)
The 25% "chicken tax" as it's known only applies to light trucks. It does not apply to mid sized sedans or cars in general. Those are built here for other reasons.

#17153 of 18168 Re: Breaking promises and deadlines.... [akirby] by gregg_vw

Nov 16, 2012 (8:12 am)

Replying to: akirby (Nov 15, 2012 10:37 pm)
Nonetheless, the point is made. What constitutes an American car is subject to endless debate. To call cars built by for example Ford "American" simply because it is an American-based company does not solve it. It is not just the jobs that go to Mexico and Canada when "American" models are built there, but what about Fords built and sold in Europe, South America and Asia? Should locals there stop buying them, even though Ford provides a huge number of jobs in those countries, simply because it is a foreign company? I think not. Buy what you want and let competition improve the entire field.

#17155 of 18168 Whoa....hold on a sec. by cski

Nov 16, 2012 (9:21 am)

I didn't mean to spark a debate on what constitutes an American car and whatnot. It's a very complicated issue. I am worried about my country. I have tried to buy American brands without being stupid about it.
My grandfather was a foreman at the GM transmission plant outside Buffalo NY. So, my family purchased GM vehicle's. My '87 Z24 was a great looking and driving little car with a V6 stuffed in it. It was the first car I ever financed myself. (I was 19 yrs old in 1990) I loved it. Unfortunately, It broke down all the time.
 
American cars have made leaps and bounds since then thankfully, and I purposely bought a USA made car.
 
I like that my Optima was made in a new Georgia plant. That plant employs almost 2000 American workers. My grandfather (and father) would have been ok with that.

#17156 of 18168 KMMG West Point GA plant (Kia Optima) by cski

Nov 16, 2012 (10:54 am)

I took a look at the KMMG (Kia Motor's Manufacturing Georgia) website. There are 2500 direct manufacturing jobs, and another 7500 support jobs created since the opening of the plant in 2009.
 
The first vehicle produced there was a white Sorrento. In 2010 production started on the Optima.
 
In 2011 Kia produced 89,000 Optima's, which was not enough to keep up with demand. So, production was ramped up another 45,000 units this year with a target of roughly 150,000 depending on market conditions. They were smart to do that since the all knew Camry had some lukewarm reviews.
 
So much for no one ordering Korean cars.

#17157 of 18168 press request by kirstie_h HOST

Nov 16, 2012 (1:16 pm)

If you are a parent of young children (at least one under 12 years old) who owns a the latest model VW Passat or Honda Accord sedan, a reporter would like for you to fill out a survey, due by December 1, 2012, for use in a print publication. Please email PRedmunds.com no later than Friday, November 30, 2012 for a copy of the survey.

#17158 of 18168 2013 Fusion Hybrid by b25nut

Nov 16, 2012 (6:28 pm)

I've had my Fusion Hybrid for eight days now, and I am now a former Hybrid skeptic. On my commutes to work each day (80% hwy 65-70 mph), I averaged 39.3 mpg this week. I just took the time to do a city test. Some stop and go and speeds of 30-40 mph. I went a total of 9.7 miles that included retracing my path so that climbs and descents balanced out. I am now a true believer.......53.2 mpg. When I ended the battery still had 2/3 of its charge.
I am amazed by the brakes. You should find that you will make your smoothest stops ever. Some of the reviews had made me leery of them, but they are a non-issue.
I narrowed down my choices for a new car in August to the Optima, Altima, Santa Fe Sport and the Fusion. I have spent $42,000+ on our last two cars and I set a limit this time of $34k. The first car that was eliminated was the Optima. I think it has the second best looks, but equipped the way I wanted it was $36k, and I didn't like the interior color options. I drove both the Altima and the Santa Fe Sport and they were both impressive, with the Altima $1,800 under my limit. Then I read a review that really hit a nerve. It said that if you choose the Altima, you are telling the world you have given up. Nissan makes great cars, but with the styling of many of their other models, I'm concerned about their future. The high rev sound of the engine during acceleration on the freeway also put me off.
The Hyundai ended up in second place since it looks nice and I wouldn't have been giving up much cargo carrying capacity. The 33 mpg hwy was a concern, but it was acceptable if the Fusion ended up being a dud.
The reviews sold me on the Fusion. It also gave me the exterior and interior colors I wanted. I ordered my Fusion Hybrid in September before even seeing a Fusion in person. I caught a lot of flak from my wife for doing that, but she's glad I did now. Getting the Hybrid cost me an extra $3,100 compared to the 1.6 SE, but I feel it is worth it. The seamless system makes driving more pleasurable, and really more exciting. It's very nice to start the car in the garage and hear nothing, with no exhaust smell fouling up the air.
I'm anything but an environmental activist. I still say I wouldn't be caught dead in a Prius.

Messages Page 1716 of 1817

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