I do have all MSRP figures for all of the cars I'm considering. I've also go the Invoice Pricing However, I don't think I'll bother checking out Invoice Prices for the Legacy just yet, as I might end up crossing it off my list. Give me a minute.

 

I gotcha. But I'm very anal about cars and all and I've got to say that my 'rent's Camry is just fine on fit/finish/quality, especially for car that they spent less than 20K on. It's not quite up to a TSX, but then again you're comparing a cloth car to a leather one. Besides the Toyota/Camry interior design/materials is different- not Aztek different but just different. I have not been in a Sonata but I definitely think that '07 Camry is better constructed with nicer and more contemporary materials than a '06 Accord. I wanted to not like the Camry b/c of what it is (an "appliance"), but I really like it. Just my

 

My wife had an '06 Altima 2.5 SL for a week before the thing quit. Towed it to the dealership, and the NIssan district rep voluntarily bought the car back for full price, plus taxes. Think something was grossly wrong with that car?
Now she's got an '06 Accord V6 six speed. Not a four cylinder, but she loves it. Not sure about the Subie, or the '07 Camry.

 

Thank you for continuing to share your experiences!

 

My sister has an '03 Accord EX 4-cylinder. It has about 70,000 +/- a few but it is a great car. Plenty of pep despite its milage and age and the steering is very fluid and comfortable. The interior is beautiful (my mom actually likes it better than my TSX) and the gas milage is great on it.

It's a Honda so you know for sure that it's a great car!

 

Sidenote on the new Altima: While in my shopping travels yesterday, I saw at least six of them on the road. So, it looks like this will be selling about as well as the 3G and will likely be as common a sight as well.

 

my dad has an 05 accord lx and 06 camry le, both 4 cylinders. i know its not an 07 camry but the engine is basically unchanged from the 06. the accords engine feels stronger, jumps off the line where the camry's engine is somewhat sluggish.

 

Doesn't bother me. It's not like Acuras are very and far between either, although not as popular as Camrys, Altimas, and Accords. I see plenty of Acuras on the road here. As of yet, I haven't seen any new Altimas on the road around here, but know they have been selling well the past few weeks.

I'm not basing my purchase on what is less popular on the roads, just so I can be different; I'm basing it on a good, reliable, somewhat fun (for the budget), enjoyable, reasonably priced purchase.....not based on how I can stand out. If the best purchase for my needs happens to be a car 10,000 other people have, so be it. There are always ways to customize a vehicle and make it at least a little different than the common sight, if that ends up bothering me.

 

I'm going to take out the Camry, Accord, and Altima for another spin. I think the Legacy is crossed off my list for now.

2007 Camry: And I agree that the interior quality, especially of the HVAC knobs and buttons, don't feel as up-to-par with some other manufacturers' plastics, or even previous generation Camrys.

 

^ Is that why you picked the green OEM color for your TL?

Tell us how your second go with the cars turns out.

(BTW -- I found a couple new leads in Michigan to import a 2007 Honda ... )

 

Went and rode around in a 2007 Camry Hybrid today. That car was great! Ride was smooth, quiet, acceleration was great! During city driving, the MPG gauge stayed between 35-40, out on the road @ 60mph, it was between 40-45.

After that, we went and looked at the 07 Civic. That car was noisy when you gunned it somewhat hard (though it had good pick-up with 4 fat people and AC on), and the ride was harsh...

 

Actually, I bought the car used, so my main priorities were price, current condition of the car, availability of previous maintenance records for review, an agreement to receive all of the maintenance records upon purchase of the car, timing, etc. etc. Colour wasn't something I was too concerned about unless it was some nasty bright orange or something. So There's a reason why the TL was only available in that colour for only one model year, and why so few people chose it! It's not bad though, I don't mind it at all. I would've much prefered your blue though!

Tell me about these Honda secrets you have

 

Chill. I was just pointing out that the 4G Altima is shaping up to be a rather popular car as was the 3G.

 

Currently, i'm driving a 2007 Camry LE 4 CYL because i hurt my poor tl in a accident. So, I've driven the car for a week now, and I must say it rides very smooth, and super comfy but its loud. It has good acceleration for a 4 banger and would I take it over my TL even if it was a 6cyl, uh no! The interior isin't that great and I just love my TL ;-)
But, with that being said I haven't been or driven in any of the other cars, I can only give feedback on the camry.

 

Looked at (but didn't drive) the Altima again, this time at a different dealership. Finally saw the cloth interior of the '07. They use two different fabrics/materials. The one used for the seats looked durable and alright (although not great), but they've incorporated some other suede-furry-looking material for the armest, seatbacks, and other areas. That was the unappealing part. I think if I decided on the 4cyl Altima, I'd probably feel a lot better about getting the leather (originally was not a priority since it's cold in winter and hot/sticky in summer). I still found the seatbottoms to be VERY firm. The cloth didn't make a difference in that respect. Although for some reason, the back seats felt a little softer and more comfortable. The Maxima seats felt a lot better than those in the Altima. Also, there wasn't any padding used under the fabric centre armrest --- I could feel the hard plastic directly underneath. I don't remember that with the leather interior, but I could be wrong. I'm excited to test drive the famous V6, even though I am pretty much just entertaining the 4cyl at this point (a loaded 4 cyl is just about the same price as a base V6 though). Still have yet to see one on the road.

I'll have to take the Camry out for another drive. My initial thoughts were that the engine was quite loud upon WOT, and it felt VERY slow to accelerate up to decent speed while flooring it.

I don't know what to do about the Accord. I hate the front end but could live with the revamped rear end for '07 models. I think it would just kill me to get an '07, only to have the totally redesigned '08 models come out a few months later, and have it be a lot more to my liking. This might convince me to wait til the end of summer to make a final decision (can't find any OFFICIAL Accord drawing or pics for the new model year to decide if it's worth the wait). I really do like the current Accord interior and felt okay with the engine specs. I'll have to take it out for a spin. Haven't driven an Accord in a while.

 

Considering the cars your looking at, I'd at least wait for the all new Accord before making your decesion. Last thing you want is to regret not waiting and then kick yourself everytime you see what could possibly be a great car. Chances are we'll get a look at it sometime by the summer. Probably at the Chicago show.

If you can't wait, I'd go Altima. The Camry just has that old people/appliance vibe going on. Hard to explain.

 

I hear ya, Dom.

Will check out the Mazda 6 too, but just for kicks. Unless it suprises me, it really isn't on my list. Sat in one a few years back, and haven't checked them out since (as it didn't really impress me). Never driven one though.

 

Checked out Mazda yesterday --- it had been a while. Sat in a fully loaded 3 Sport (hatchback), a 3 Sedan (cloth), and a 6 Sport. Surprisingly, my first thought was how comfortable the leather seats were in the 3 Sport. The fit and finish seemed really pretty good. I didn't like the regular cloth much, but the 'sport' cloth looks really durable and attractive. The 3 is smaller than all the other cars I've been looking at, but I might consider it. It felt more airy and roomy than the Legacy, which felt pretty small to me. I'd have to take one out for a spin. A family member has owned a 3 since it came out and loves it.

I didn't like the Mazda 6 much, but that's just based on interior feel, fit, and finish. This was a little surprising to me considering how impressed I was with the 3.

I was really hoping to check out the Mazdaspeed 3, but there was only one on the lot - Sold. I've been checking out the pictures online and was really impressed with what I saw....the front seats look so comfy and very stylish. I think it's one model that actually does a great job at making the interior look sporty, yet high quality and not overdone.

Anyway, will see about taking a 3 out for a drive sometime soon to see how it feels on the road.

 

Street Spirit ...

US$22 800 including freight (C$26 220 @ 15% currency exchange) VS C$32 200 (including freight).

That's like C$6000 difference -- it'll be a little less since you have to pay 6.1% import fee (car most likely has < 50% North American parts so it'll be C$27 800 or C$4400 cheaper). Definitely consider the import route nevertheless.

PLUS ... you have a choice in colour outside of red (ie blue, black or silver).
- derrick (angry at how Canadians get ripped off on the exact same car ...)

 

The MS3 only comes in red up here?

SS, I love the 3 Sport.

 

The V6 is very efficient, you only save a few miles on the 4cl. My pops is almost 60 years old, so he didn't care for the V6 and increased power. He just wanted to save some cash.... around 3-4k compared to the equally equiped V6 (at the time).

 

The XLE and SE models have great interiors IMO.

 

Okay, well without mention of which vehicle you were pricing, it's pretty safe to assume you were talking about the Mazdaspeed 3 To be honest, it's probably highly unlikely that I'll spend $31,000 CAD on a Mazda hatchback (MS3) or any car right now, for that matter. Plus, I'd have to learn how to drive Standard (which was on my list of things to do anyway)....but still, for that price range, there are so many other options. If anything, it would just be the regular Mazda 3. I'm trying to keep a reasonable budget for a mid-size car that I can use for many years down the road. I might also try sticking to sedans only. I've never owned a hatchback. I know people who have had them, love them though. Personally, I've always liked the thought of having a trunk. Weird, I know.

To consider any Mazda, I'd have to do some research on their reliability, etc. Also, I know the 3 and 6 have been out for a while now --- are they due for a redesign for '08?

I will visit Mazda again during the week and take one out for a spin.

 

come checkout legacygt.com in the market place. plenty of lgts for sale for about 20k (some modded already). those guys don't keep them very long. they all want 07 spec bs. lgt for the win!!

and the guy who said the power felt similar to a 99tl i'm lost. these things run low 14s easy without dumping the clutch. perhaps he drove an auto?

the turbo needs to be in the right gear so i could see the delay if you were driving an auto in full auto mode. otherwise it throws you back into the seat, something my friends 99tl could never do, or hit 60 in under 6 secs. its a blast to drive out of the box, nevermind stage2

mazda 3 sport is pretty cool. my mom has the sedan. all around nice car. nothing terrible about it. the mazdaspeed3 is even better. only bad thing is lots of mazda 3s around. bought my cl becuase i wanted to be different and same goes for the lgt.

good luck with the new car. new car shopping is the best

peace

 

When I was shopping for a daily driver last summer, I was considering an 06 Accord SE with automatic and 07 Camry LE with automatic as well. They were priced about the same at that time, May of 06. The lowest quote I got for the Accord was $18,222 plus taxes (MSRP is $22,225) and the Camry was $18,900 (MSRP was $21k or so) plus taxes.

I drove both cars pretty extensively and I chose the Accord because of a few things, but mainly the Accord's better value among other things. I was paying cash, so I didn't include special financing (if any) in my calculations.

Here are my conclusions:

06 Accord SE
Pros:
- better all-around performance, including acceleration, braking, steering feel, suspension sportiness.
- better value. At the similar price as the Camry I get aluminum wheels, CD changer, better interior material, better driver's seat support (except thigh), LED taillights, etc.

Cons:
- Dated look
- body style will change soon
- smaller trunk
- stiffer ride

07 Camry LE
Pros:
- brand new body style and very modern interior.
- better overall driving position (for me) because the driver's seat can be tilted. I need more support on my thighs towards my knees.
- very surprisingly sporty for a Camry.
- very roomy interior and trunk
- very comfortable ride

Cons:
- steel wheels!
- acceleration is just adequate.
- handling is also just adequate.
- interior plastics are very poor IMO for a Toyota. There's too much hard plastic on the door panels and behind the front seats.
- first year production, there might be unknown problems and bugs waiting to uncover themselves.

Hope this helps.

 

^

Thanks for your thoughts! How have you been liking the Accord? Did any of your feelings change after having driven one for a few months?

 

Just test drove the Mazda 3 sedan (Auto), while Dan drove the 3 Manual for me since I'm still not well versed in driving Standard. I'm mainly searching for an Automatic car, but would consider switching to Manual if I found one that would convince me to and/or be easy enough for me to learn pretty quickly. Dan said this car would be a really easy car for me to pick up in no time! He said it was much more forgiving than many other Standards.

The Mazda 3's front seats were quite comfortable and supportive, although I really preferred the sport seats in the Mazda 6! Those felt great. I thought the Mazda 3 might be due for a redesign for '08, but the dealer claims not. Haven't they been around forever?!

The car handled very well, and steering response was immediate! You could definitely throw this car around. The turning radius is just ridiculous too! Amazing!!

The engine sounded quite different than what I'm used to on any other car I've driven....no growl or deep rumble....just a higher pitched, lighter sounding noise from under the hood upon acceleration. Of course the smaller engine doesn't provide the same amount of power that I'm used to, or even that of other cars I've been test driving. I'm not sure that's enough to deter me though. The Mazda 6 is more the size (interior and exterior) that I've been focussing on, but I still haven't taken one for a spin. When I sat in the 6 a few weeks ago, I found myself liking the interior of the 3 more and even thought the materials felt like they were of better quality.

The interior materials (cloth and leather), plastics, and knobs felt great. IMO, the material used is up there with the improved Altima and Accord interiors, and much better than the feel of the '07 Camry and the Legacy interiors.

One downside to this car would be it's physical size. I'd want to upgrade to a mid-size sedan eventually (again). I've just never driven a car that small (they kinda make me nervous too). If I just went with a mid-sized now, I wouldn't have to worry about doing that later on. But a bonus with the Mazda 3: It'd be cheaper on gas. One weird tidbit: there isn't a trunk release button on the key fob. ?!!?!!


One thing I have noticed from browsing other car forums (mainly Nissan, Mazda, Lexus <older models>, and Toyota) is that Mazda owners really seem genuinely excited with their cars! They probably complain less than any other group I've been reading so far. Altima owners on the other hand, seem happy with their cars, but don't seem *as* convincing. They appear to have made their choice mainly on budget. They've modded them a lot and like driving them, but many of them (who own the Altima pre-'07) probably wouldn't own one if they could have afforded something different. That's how it sounds, at least. They recognize that there are higher quality cars for just a bit more money. Also, they don't seem as pleased with Nissan's customer service or dealer service.

So far, the Mazda 3, fully loaded, would probably cost as much as a base model of the other cars I've been considering. Pricing sucks here in ......Cars are so much cheaper in the States.

I'd have to take all of the cars I've been considering out for another test drive and review before I'd make any kind of definite decision. But just wanted to update....

 

Jen and I took the Mazda 3 out for a drive when she was shopping for a car.

She loved it and i thought it felt great. (as a passenger). Everything felt nice to the touch and the car felt very soild. Big thumbs up from me.

I could never buy a car with little to no options. If if i had a choice, i would get a smaller car tha is fully loaded than a bigger car that is bare bones.

 

I hear ya! I wouldn't get a base Altima, Accord, or Camry though (Legacy has been ruled out). Basically, I'd have to spend more money to get some of the features I'd want if I didn't go with the Mazda 3. I wouldn't get any of those other cars fully loaded, just somewhere in between. For example, I hated the cloth and fabrics in the '07 Altima, so I'd definitely want a model that gave me leather. Obviously, the 3 could be fully loaded for the same price.....minus a few features that Mazda just doesn't offer in the 3.

BTW, did the passenger seat seem super high to you? Felt like I was sitting very high off the ground...not the same as the driver's seat.

 

Naw, it felt fine when i was in it. You sure it wasnt adjustable?

Only thing we found was the 3 was lacking on the highway trying to merge. But around town it had plenty of pep.

 

I could very well be on crack. They just felt different to me, with no height adjustment that I could find at the time.

Unfortunately, with the dealer location I chose, there wasn't really anywhere I could take it to highway speeds (aside from flooring it when no one was around). I would definitely take it out on the highway and take it for another drive before deciding.

What car did Jen end up getting, and what other models did you guys look at?

 

Oh she didnt end up getting anything. Her mom bought a Z3 and offered her Sebring vert to jen so she took it.

I actally cant remember what we drove. The 6 stood out to me and a used jetta which she really liked. Drove the ford fusion also which was a snooze.

I think i missed it but whats your price range? How about the civic SI? I havent driven it though.

 

How has she been liking it?

You thought the Mazda 6 was good too? I've yet to drive it. I noticed the 4 cyl has the same engine specs as the Mazda 3 (yet weighs more). Even the V6 doesn't look all that powerful or high on torque.

I'm staying the heck away from VW and some other brands. I've pretty much narrowed it down to a brand that has proven (over many years) good, long-term reliability, decent on gas, somewhat fun to drive (for the price), quality parts and materials, pretty roomy, good safety ratings, etc. This has pointed me in the direction of: Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru (now scratched), and surprisingly -- Mazda. I'd consider the Hyundai Sonata too if they'd only had a few more years of quality cars and good reliability under their belt. They're definitely on their way up in terms of quality, but I'd probably still want to wait another 5 years to let them get their bearings and continue to prove themselves.

Once I get something 'new', I don't want to have to trade it in within a few years. I'm used to running cars til I need to replace them...not want to replace them.

I'm aiming for $23,000 - $28,000 CAD (which is very different than US pricing). I'll be selling the '99 TL and will use that money towards something different...so it'll be the price of a different car minus whatever I get for the TL. I'd like to keep the cost reasonable, but I'd also like to get a car that'll last me for many years to come.

The Civic would be small for my tastes. I'd prefer an Accord from Honda. I've been aiming for a mid-sized sedan. The Mazda 3 wasn't really on my radar until I read so many good things about it, sat in it, and drove it. Originally, I would've been looking at the 6.

 

oops, i didnt mean to say 6... i mean mazda 3.

The sebring is a 98 with 70k miles and been running strong. No issues at all so shes happy since its free.

Only reason she would have gotten the jetta was cuz of me. I can fix most of the things that go wrong on them. Then again, it would be my ass if something DID go wrong.

As far as accord vs camry.. hmm tough one. Then again i havent driven the 4 banger versions.

If you want to keep the car for a long time, then why not buy somthing slightly used with a v6. Might keep you happy for a longer period of time.

 

In search of a new car.... My initial list has changed.

The Legacy, Camry, and Mazda 6 are off the list. Not sure I want to entertain the '07 or '08 Accord anymore either.


I'm pretty certain that I will be entertaining a current (2007) Mazda 3 sedan OR a 2007 or 2008 Nissan Altima.


The only reason to wait for the '08 model year is to give Nissan some time to look over the real world complaints/issues with the 2007 model. Or....try my luck with the '07 now, or with the '07 in the Spring when they've been out a little longer.

The Mazda 3 is great as-is, and I wouldn't need to wait. My very main concern with this car is just its physical size. It's smaller than what I'd prefer over the long term I plan to keep the car, and I just don't feel as safe in smaller cars.

If I decide to wait til the end of Summer/Fall for the Altima, I might as well wait for the '08 Accord, right?! Well, I dunno. I don't know if i want to go with another Honda -- I'm a little bitter. Also, I've yet to see any official (non-concept) drawing of what the sedan might look like. And of course, then I'd be back to contending with a first year model release again, as is the story with the Altima.

Prob...if I wait too long, I risk my tranny dying in the meantime (causing a more immediate need for a different vehicle), and I'll get less on the trade-in.

 

BTW, does anyone know if any of the previous Gen 4 cylinder Altimas ever had traction control and/or stability assist? Just wondering if it will ever be a possibility with upcoming models (based on their previous trends).