March 2008 Car & Driver Bread and butter sedan comparison
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That's just it. Nowhere does the article emphasize sportiness but they do value good driving dynamics. Steering, handling, security at speed and maneuvering. These should be basic attributes of a car. Some in the test are lacking in this such as the Sonota and Camry. And having driven a 2007 Camry for a week I can say that it was the most unsatisfying car I have ever driven and was a celebration in mediocrity, right down to the big plasticky ***** on the center console.
Plus it seems that other journals (Consumer Reports) which do stress practicality and other less enthusiast oriented values still rate the same top two in this test as their top picks.
Practically and driver satisfaction shouldn't have to be mutually exclusive.
Plus it seems that other journals (Consumer Reports) which do stress practicality and other less enthusiast oriented values still rate the same top two in this test as their top picks.
Practically and driver satisfaction shouldn't have to be mutually exclusive.
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Maybe this can clear things up a bit. The intro says:
As it turned out, the baloney theme was appropriate, because we were evaluating salt-of-the-earth Everyman family sedans, a segment that accounts annually for two million U.S. sales. Each of our competitors was fitted with a DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission. We aimed for base prices in the $22,000 vicinity, although we wound up with a $4300 variance—a sum sufficient to purchase 1228 bologna sandwiches.
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Question. Why is the Camry and Altima based on the lower versions (LE and 2.5S models) while the Sonata and Accord and Fusion get the top of the line 4 cylinder versions? (Limited, EX, SEL).
Note, only the EX gets the 190hp engine. If they tested the LX, it would have had the 170hp version.
Also, if they tested the XLE, they wouldn't get plastic hubcaps (they're definitely nitpicking which means there really isn't much wrong to say about the Camry lol).
Note, only the EX gets the 190hp engine. If they tested the LX, it would have had the 170hp version.
Also, if they tested the XLE, they wouldn't get plastic hubcaps (they're definitely nitpicking which means there really isn't much wrong to say about the Camry lol).
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Maybe this can clear things up a bit. The intro says:
As it turned out, the baloney theme was appropriate, because we were evaluating salt-of-the-earth Everyman family sedans, a segment that accounts annually for two million U.S. sales. Each of our competitors was fitted with a DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission. We aimed for base prices in the $22,000 vicinity, although we wound up with a $4300 variance—a sum sufficient to purchase 1228 bologna sandwiches.
As it turned out, the baloney theme was appropriate, because we were evaluating salt-of-the-earth Everyman family sedans, a segment that accounts annually for two million U.S. sales. Each of our competitors was fitted with a DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission. We aimed for base prices in the $22,000 vicinity, although we wound up with a $4300 variance—a sum sufficient to purchase 1228 bologna sandwiches.
Accord EX: $23,860
Accord LX: $20,360
Camry SE: $22,390
Camry LE: $21, 225
Malibu LT: $21,280
Avenger SXT: $20,195
Fusion SEL: $21,625
Sonata SE: $19,570
Sonata Limited: $22,470
Altima 2.5S: $21,305
So the Camry SE wasn't tested according to price? Give me a break. You have to wonder why then did C&D test the Accord EX and not the LX? The Accord EX has the highest base price out of ALL the cars on the list, and it also won the comparison.
Despite what C&D claims, price was obviously not a factor in this comparison as you can see there was a big variance in base prices between all the different vehicles. The most expensive car on the list also happened to win the comparison, further undermining C&D's credibility. The Sonata Limited had the second-highest base MSRP and it looks like C&D had no problem testing that model rather than a Sonata SE.
While Toyota may have made mistakes like that in the past, I don't buy that any more. Toyota is not stupid, and when a performance magazine like C&D requests a "family sedan" I'm sure Toyota knows to send them an SE and not an LE. If C&D specifically requested an LE then you have to question their credibility and why they would ask for an LE over an SE.
Last edited by TRDFantasy; 02-16-08 at 09:00 PM.
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Well then as Mike says, maybe Toyota only made available an LE...
C&D can't always get exactly what it wants. Let's see if someone writes in a letter complaining about them not using an SE.
C&D can't always get exactly what it wants. Let's see if someone writes in a letter complaining about them not using an SE.
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While Toyota may have made mistakes like that in the past, I don't buy that any more. Toyota is not stupid, and when a performance magazine like C&D requests a "family sedan" I'm sure Toyota knows to send them an SE and not an LE. If C&D specifically requested an LE then you have to question their credibility and why they would ask for an LE over an SE.