Mid Size Sedan Advice

"Jcarr" (jcarr)
11/23/2016 at 21:04 • Filed to: None

The transmission in our MKV Jetta is on the verge of taking a major dump so we are looking to trade it in ASAP. I’m looking to replace it with a 2014+ Fusion/Camry/Malibu. Thought about Sonata/Accord/6, but they just aren’t plentiful enough in my area.

What say you, Oppo? My primary concerns are safety and reliability. Unfortunately looks and fun-to-drive have to take a back seat in this decision.

DISCUSSION (35)

mazda616 > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:06

Camry will be your best bet from the reliability and comfort standpoint. Opponauts love to make fun of the Camry but it really is a good car that is excellent as what it does.

Nibby > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:06

fusion FTW

it’s comfy, drives decent, and uh i am biased cause my mom has one

Jcarr > Nibby
11/23/2016 at 21:08

I’ve seen a lot of people complaining about transmission issues. Has she had any?

Jcarr > mazda616
11/23/2016 at 21:09

That’s where my head is leaning, but my heart won’t shut up about it.

mazda616 > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:12

If it makes you feel any better, I have two really good friends that work on the lines that make the Camry here in Kentucky. Toyota has singlehandedly saved the town that plant is in by setting up shop there and providing so many jobs.

One of my friends that works there is a MAJOR gearhead and has like 6 cars (a new Challenger, a heavily modified MazdaSpeed 3, a lowered Chevy S-10 show truck, and an early ‘90s Honda Prelude) bought a 2015 Camry for himself as a daily driver.

Jcarr > mazda616
11/23/2016 at 21:13

That does help, thanks!

jkm7680 > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:15

Fusions have build quality issues, Malibus are plain shit and the Camry is meh. Your best bet is probably a V6 Accord.

mazda616 > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:16

No problem. That’s coming from a Mazda6 owner and lover like myself. Ha.

I like my sporty sedan but I’d be okay with a Camry, honestly, as long as it was optioned correctly.

Nibby > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:17

Nah

Jcarr > jkm7680
11/23/2016 at 21:17

Malibu was named the best in JD Power’s 2016 dependability survey.

Jcarr > mazda616
11/23/2016 at 21:18

I’d love a 6, but there just aren’t many around to choose from. They’re so sexy.

Jcarr > Nibby
11/23/2016 at 21:18

Good to know. Which engine?

Wobbles the Mind > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:19

May sound crazy but would you go for a 2015 Passat? Every Wolksburg Edition around me are only $14,000. Crazy cheap right now.

shop-teacher > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:20

I haven’t driven any ‘14+ Mid-size sedan, so take this for what it’s worth, but I found the seats in the ‘10 Camry I rented back then to be excruciatingly uncomfortable. I was supposed to drive it 2000 miles, but after 500 I stopped at an airport and traded it in. You’ve never seen someone so happy to get behind the wheel of a W-body Impala.

For comfort though, check out the 14+ Impala. That thing is a highway mile munching machine.

mazda616 > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:21

Agreed. I hate that they don’t sell well. A lot of people just don’t know about them.

jkm7680 > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:22

Even if they are reliable...

Jcarr > Wobbles the Mind
11/23/2016 at 21:22

The last 6 years with this Jetta have turned me off of VAG, possibly for good. They may have made quality improvements since 2006, but I’m not willing to trust them.

Jcarr > mazda616
11/23/2016 at 21:23

I know. I live in a metro area of about 100k people and it’s swimming with Camrys and Fusions. Rare that I see a 6.

Nibby > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:24

She leased a 2013 Fusion Energi and liked the car a lot but wanted more trunk space so now she’s leasing a ‘16 SE with the 1.5L EcoBoost

Jcarr > shop-teacher
11/23/2016 at 21:25

That’s probably the biggest complaint I’ve seen with the Camrys. Rarely take a trip longer than 45 mins, though, so I might be able to live with it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:26

For the love of Jesus don’t get a Fusion. Ours is deteriorating so quick it’s ridiculous. It has to go back to the dealer again, this time for a shudder at highway speeds.

As long as the Malibu isn’t a 2013 they aren’t bad. The back seat is tight but otherwise they aren’t terrible. They finally got rid of the sometimes troublesome 2.4L with the 2013 generation.

Camrys are going to be the best bet for a solid car, but they’re oooooollllldddd under the skin.

Nibby > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:26

Kinja'd!!!

Jcarr > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
11/23/2016 at 21:29

I recall you mentioning your family’s Fusion and its problems. This’d be a lot easier if they didn’t look so damn good.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:30

They look excellent, if only Ford did as well a job under the skin.

Chasaboo > mazda616
11/23/2016 at 21:31

No, false. We had a Camry 4 cylinder, the bottom dropped out of the motor. This happened right as the warranty ended and Toyota wouldn’t help us at all. Let me say that again, Toyota was no help at all.

Their reliability is a BS myth.

mazda616 > Chasaboo
11/23/2016 at 21:34

There are always a few bad apples in the bunch. I had six trouble free years out of my 2008 Mazda3 and there were others that had problems with theirs. Happens with every carmaker.

If Toyota’s reliability was a BS myth, they wouldn’t sell so well and be seen so often with shit tons of miles.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 21:52

My dad liked the Optima so much that he bought one.

shop-teacher > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 22:01

Don’t do it. Any of these can be good safe reliable cars. Why buy one that’s uncomfortable? I was in pain within half an hour. After an hour I stopped to buy a cushion for my butt and a pillow for my back. After 500 miles I wanted to cry.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 22:08

I actually really like the Fusion but as others said beware of quality issues. Sonata and Altima are garbage to drive and uncomfortable. Camry is meh. It’s a Camry. If safety is a concern, what about a Legacy? They are comfy and not entirely terrible to drive.

Jcarr > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/23/2016 at 22:11

Very few Subies to choose from in my area, unfortunately.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 22:15

Where are you?

Jcarr > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/23/2016 at 22:18

Waterloo IA area.

someassemblyrequired > shop-teacher
11/23/2016 at 22:20

I had a similar experience in a Camry - my back hurt for weeks after a long road trip in one. Would not take one for free after that trip. Impala would definitely be one I’d look at, even though it’s a bit bigger.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 22:25

Ok yep I was wondering where in America there would be no Subaru’s. Iowa sounds about right.

Land_Yacht_225 > Jcarr
11/23/2016 at 22:50

Sonata or Optima with the 2.0T. If you can find one of them, either of them, they are so great. I personally love the ergonomics in the Kia and the Hyundai’s ride is quite pleasant.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/684844210/overview