2nd Dec 2007, 13:42
The Supra would be splattered all over the track as far as handling. The Supra Turbo was very expensive, and likely discontinued as the entry Toyota owners would not pay the price as well as others. I drove this vehicle, and also an Acura NSX, which did handle well, but was quite underpowered when you could buy a Viper.
The new Vette is an outstanding value, and I only wish others could drive one around a track vs. armchair observations. I doubt any of these comments are of interest to the commenters on this review.
As of now Toyota has zero sports cars. If they are so appealing, put some requests into the manufacturer if you are so interested in owning them. There is a new Toyota concept sports car being discussed. I would mail in your deposits to get one under production so we can compare it to the latest existing American sports cars vs. sedans.
If we want to talk about modifed sports cars, keep in mind that domestics exist and can modified as well... but bring your wallet either way.
2nd Dec 2007, 15:13
The AWD Fusion, which got the highest ratings, is less than 15% of Fusion sales. This is the only model that was able to best the Japanese. The rest of the Fusion line did not meet that criteria. To get on here and make the claims that Ford Fusion is the most reliable in the world is wrong.
2nd Dec 2007, 21:35
I liked the 90's Hondas, but had troubles after 2000. All were purchased new and were well maintained. You read all day long about old imports, but do your homework. Good luck.
3rd Dec 2007, 09:43
"why are there nearly THREE TIMES as many favorable reviews of 2003 thru 2006 Tauruses as there are 2003 thru 2006 Camrys??"
Here's your answer. If you're talking about the myriads of auto review web sites with user feedback, then that is a totally inaccurate source. Why? Just check out the Yahoo! auto section and read some of the reviews. From the outward appearance, once would see that the Camry does indeed have literally pages of negative reviews. Mostly 1-2 stars. But if you actually read the reviews themselves, you can totally tell that there's simply more of the same there as there is here.
At the same time, the reviews you typically see for cars like the Taurus (which is really just a re-badged Ford 500) are glowing and perfect. Those reviews are equally full of it. Many also have nothing to do with the car and are full of statements like how great American cars are, and that how Ford has shown Those Japanese just how great a car they can build... yadda yadda yadda...
So basically, I don't trust any auto review web sites these days because almost all of them have turned into arguments such as these, which means that they aren't reviews, but simply bad cases of import-bashing.
Lastly - I have a question for you. If you had a choice between two cars, regardless of brand, which of the two below would you choose:
Car A: Designed and built in the U.S. with U.S. and import sourced parts.
Car B: Designed in Europe, Built on a Mazda platform with a Mazda engine, using a crank forged in India, and assembled in Mexico.
If you chose car B, then you just chose the Ford Fusion, which is about the least American car I could possible imagine short of having a blue plastic emblem on the front that just so happens to say "Ford"
I know for a fact that if that same car said "Toyota" on the front and was actually produced in the USA, you all would hate and trash it for all it was worth.
I think it is about time that some of you who seem to thrive on misinformation, as well as trying to convince people who just want a dependable grocery-getter that 20th century, old-fashioned V8 "sports" cars are superior need to focus on the intent of this site, which is to review cars, discuss your personal actual experiences owning the car in question, and contribute comments that deal with those cars, and particularly if you actually own it. Otherwise, making comments about how much you hate imports is kind of pointless.
Besides, I'm sure there are many reviews in the Chevy/Ford selections who would be very happy to hear from people such as yourself who assumedly think that only domestic branded cars are the cat's meow.
4th Dec 2007, 11:17
To 09:43: Very interesting. A GOOD Ford review is hogwash, while a BAD Toyota review is crap... HMMMM... Me thinks I smell an import fan!!
4th Dec 2007, 20:24
The all wheel drive Fusion that beat out Honda and Toyota wasn't selected because it was better than the front-drive only. It was selected because it is more expensive than the front drive models. In reality, the all wheel drive Fusions are slightly heavier, get worse gas mileage and are slower (after the initial burst of acceleration) than the front drive models. They also have a slightly worse ride, and at higher rpm's, the extra weight actually causes them to be slightly LESS responsive than the front drive. If an all wheel drive Fusion was deemed more desirable than Honda or Toyota, the front drive models would really blow them away.
As for reliability, no other car is rated as high in every category as the Fusion.
2nd Dec 2007, 13:14
To comment 7:20: It is not a lack of ability or technology that prevents domestic auto makers from building fuel efficient cars. It is the fact that U.S. auto makers have been in bed with the oil industry for nearly a century, and are helping their oil buddies milk every dime out of the American consumer.
In addition, affluent and upper middle class Americans have always preferred fast and sporty cars to bland transportation appliances. Why else would GM be coming out with a new (VERY expensive) Camaro while Chrysler brings back a very expensive retro Challenger?? There is a market for these cars. They WILL sell. Half my neighborhood will own one (the ones that don't already drive Mustang GT's).
As for fuel efficiency, domestics won't "struggle" to meet the requirements. They could have decades ago if forced to. The Cadillac V-8 ALREADY gets nearly 30mpg, and the large and very comfortable Impala V-6 gets over 30mpg on the highway as of nearly a decade ago.
I cringe at the term "sophisticated" in regard to automobile engines. "Sophisticated" is a synonym for "complicated" and "unreliable". The engine in our domestic SUV has a basic design dating back to the 1930's, yet it produces 275 horsepower, is silky smooth, and gets 24mpg highway (in a Big SUV). In 5 years of tough driving and vacations it has never required even one repair. I prefer that kind of efficiency to the "sophisticated" machines that now litter the sides of our freeways waiting for tow trucks and bearing little H's and T's on their hoods.