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Let's say it's 1997. From a logical standpoint, which midsizer would you end up buying? Would you save money and get a Hyundai or Kia? Would you buy a tried and true 1997 model? Or would you buy the latest gen 1998 model? (I'm including the 96' Camry, even though it's a little old)


Choose!

(http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/vehicle-pictures/1997/honda/accord/96802041990217-480.jpg)
(http://www.theautochannel.com/media/photos/honda/1998/98_honda_accord_lx_sedan.jpg)
(http://images.automotive.com/reviews/images/96camry.jpg)
(http://www.theautochannel.com/media/photos/toyota/1997/97_toyota_camry_le_v6-3.jpg)
(http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/1996_taurus.jpg)
(http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/vehicle-pictures/1999/mercury/sable/96161201990104-480.jpg)
(http://www.2blowhards.com/archives/VW%20Passat%20-%201998-2005.jpg)
(http://images.automotive.com/reviews/images/98lumina.jpg)
(http://vlane.com/img/chrome/7494.jpg)
(http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/ca/reviews/2005/0222/Outside.JPG)
(http://static.images.carracing.com/nctdi/00intrigue.jpg)
(http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/vehicle-pictures/1997/nissan/altima/94809181990113-480.jpg)
(http://www.theautochannel.com/media/photos/nissan/1998/98_nissan_altima_gle.jpg)
(http://www.powerimportcar.com/includes/images/Mitsubishi_Galant/1997MG.jpg)
(http://images.automotive.com/reviews/images/legcar.gif)
(http://file.kbb.com/kbb/vehicleimage/houseseo/337x250/1996/1996-dodge-stratus-frontside_xsdostr961.jpg)
(http://www.theautochannel.com/media/photos/nissan/1998/98_nissan_maxima_se.jpg)
(http://file.kbb.com/kbb/vehicleimage/houseseo/337x250/1999/1999-daewoo-leganza-frontside_xsdaleg991.jpg)
(http://www.vmrcanada.com/review_ca/reviewpics/1996VW_passat.jpg)
(http://www.theautochannel.com/media/photos/mazda/1998/98_mazda_626_lx.jpg)
(http://vlane.com/img/chrome/2647.jpg)
(http://file.kbb.com/kbb/vehicleimage/houseseo/337x250/1998/1998-hyundai-sonata-frontside_xshyson981.jpg)
(http://images.automotive.com/reviews/images/99millenia.jpg)

That'd better be all. Let me know If I've missed something.

CRAP. I wasn't done posting them all.

I'd be torn between a Legacy 2.5GT and a Passat 1.8T.

'98 Passat.  No question.

Don't Vote Yet! Not done with the choices!

Quote from: CALL_911 on October 29, 2009, 07:21:02 PM
I'd be torn between a Legacy 2.5GT and a Passat 1.8T.

The Legacy is a lovely car, but it really is a compact. I'm not sure what I'm going to vote for.

Now you can vote.

iVoted...

...and it wasn't for the Legacy, as much as I like that car.

Quote from: the Teuton on October 29, 2009, 07:35:12 PM
iVoted...

...and it wasn't for the Legacy, as much as I like that car.

Maxima, eh?

Wow, the 97+ Camry doesn't look bad in that picture.

Passat it is.

Quote from: 2o6 on October 29, 2009, 07:36:02 PM

Maxima, eh?

That car was just right in every way.

Quote from: CALL_911 on October 29, 2009, 07:36:04 PM
Wow, the 97+ Camry doesn't look bad in that picture.

I think that gen of Camry is actually attractive.



And surprisingly, the Leganza looks good.  :confused:

The Daewoo was designed by a bunch of Italians. It ought to look good.

Daewoo didn't come to the US until 1999.


In 1997 I'd have picked the Malibu, because I wouldn't have known yet that it would turn out to be a reliability nightmare.

Quote from: ifcar on October 29, 2009, 07:42:28 PM
Daewoo didn't come to the US until 1999.


In 1997 I'd have picked the Malibu, because I wouldn't have known yet that it would turn out to be a reliability nightmare.

It didn't?


Oops.

Quote from: ifcar on October 29, 2009, 07:42:28 PM
Daewoo didn't come to the US until 1999.


In 1997 I'd have picked the Malibu, because I wouldn't have known yet that it would turn out to be a reliability nightmare.

That car cemented Motor Trend's terrible place in the bowels of COTR history.

It's good they've improved since then.

Quote from: 2o6 on October 29, 2009, 07:38:36 PM

I think that gen of Camry is actually attractive.



And surprisingly, the Leganza looks good.  :confused:

I always liked that generation of the Camry. Plus it was available with a V6 and 5MT. Still, the Passat was a really great car and didn't seem to have all the reliability problems of the previous car (which I actually prefer in some ways).

Quote from: the Teuton on October 29, 2009, 07:45:28 PM
That car cemented Motor Trend's terrible place in the bowels of COTR history.

It's gotten they've improved since then.

It wasn't their fault. The Malibu was a breakthrough car for GM, until it broke.

If the Maxima and Altima can be on the list then I'd take a Mazda Millenia S. It cost about the same as a Maxima.

Quote from: ifcar on October 29, 2009, 08:01:22 PM
It wasn't their fault. The Malibu was a breakthrough car for GM, until it broke.

Then vote for it.

Quote from: Onslaught on October 29, 2009, 08:04:08 PM
If the Maxima and Altima can be on the list then I'd take a Mazda Millenia S. It cost about the same as a Maxima.

I'll add it.

Quote from: ifcar on October 29, 2009, 08:01:22 PM
It wasn't their fault. The Malibu was a breakthrough car for GM, until it broke.

The Malibu is an odd one.

The first one was a remarkably competitive product that unfortunately had lousy reliability and large fleet sales.

The second was a competent product that was boring, in and out, and had non-competitive engines.

The third...is overall a pretty good car that's pretty forgettable.

I almost feel bad for GM.

"The second was a competent product that was boring, in and out, and had non-competitive engines."

The 3.5-liter V6 in the 2004 Malibu got the same gas mileage as a 2004 4-cylinder Camry while outrunning a 3.0-liter Camry. The engine wasn't the quietest, but non-competitive it was not.

Quote from: the Teuton on October 29, 2009, 08:05:14 PM
The Malibu is an odd one.

The first one was a remarkably competitive product that unfortunately had lousy reliability and large fleet sales.

The second was a competent product that was boring, in and out, and had non-competitive engines.

The third...is overall a pretty good car that's pretty forgettable.

I almost feel bad for GM.

Forgettable? This car is putting GM back on the map. It has it's shortcomings, but people do like it.

I voted '98+ Accord. EX 5MT for me, please.

2nd choice would be the Maxima.

Maxima for sure, just for the engine alone. The 5 speed is rubbery and the clutch has the throw of one in a UPS truck, but even my dad, a total non car guy, gushed about the engine after every road trip he took it on. In SE/GLE form it's pretty luxurious, and it is roomy as hell too. Plus IMO it has a very attractive dash, especially in black. Most of the other cars on the list (besides the Passat) have pretty ugly interiors.

Man this thread is depressing. I don't want any of them, but if I was forced to chose, either the late Accord, the Maxima, or a Grand Prix GTP coupe.

Toss up betwixt Maxima and Passat... I voted Maxima.

Quote from: Tave on October 29, 2009, 09:00:40 PM
Man this thread is depressing. I don't want any of them, but if I was forced to chose, either the late Accord, the Maxima, or a Grand Prix GTP coupe.

What would you get now?

Maxima (in SE 5-speed guise) for me, please.  I do really like the B5 Passat, but have heard some less than nice things from VW service advisers.

Second choice would probably be a Mazda Millenia.  It was such a gorgeous car.

1st choice: Maxima
2nd choice: Passat
3rd choice: 98-02 Accord

Hmm, I guess the Passat.

Quote from: the Teuton on October 29, 2009, 07:31:27 PM
The Legacy is a lovely car, but it really is a compact. I'm not sure what I'm going to vote for.

No, it's not.

Quote from: Psilos on October 29, 2009, 11:49:44 PM
No, it's not.

You're wrong. It was an EPA compact car.

I have one at home. It's really not all that much bigger than my old Impreza.

'97 Accord (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Accord): 184-188" long, 70" wide, 107" wheelbase, 2850 lbs
'97 Legacy (http://www.cars101.com/subaru_legacy_archive95_97.html): 180-184" long, 67.5" wide, 103.5" wheelbase, 2880-3250 lbs
'97 Impreza (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Impreza): 172" long, 67" wide, 99" wheelbase, 2690 lbs

Legacy is 4" shorter than Accord, 8" longer than Impreza. Legacy is 2.5" skinnier than Accord, 0.5" wider than Impreza. Legacy has a wheelbase 3.5" shorter than Accord, 4.5" longer than Impreza. Not to mention that it was marketed as a mid-size, which is pretty much the only definition, anyway.

Quote from: Tave on October 29, 2009, 09:00:40 PM
Man this thread is depressing. I don't want any of them, but if I was forced to chose, either the late Accord, the Maxima, or a Grand Prix GTP coupe.

I had a friend with a GTP sedan and it had nothing but problems. A real piece of junk. The Accords are solid in every way but pure excitement & that awful dash design.

I've already chosen one of these cars over all the others.  I'm sure my vote comes as no surprise.

I guess you're being loose with "1997" because some of those 1998 models weren't available until the end of the year.  I only bring this up because it makes some of the choices much easier - the 1998 Passat, no question.  That was one of the best VW's ever, so much better than the current model (IMO).  Totally hit the sweet spot in the market, and the sales reflected it.  It still didn't come close to the Camry and Accord, but its sales were far higher than ever before.  I still think this car looks great, and it was rock solid and drove very well in both 1.8T and V6 form.

If this wasn't a choice, I'd probably go for the previous Passat.  It looked farty, but it had that tight build and drive.  I should have gotten this instead of the 1996 Accord that I had, which was dull as can be.  Inexpensive, reliable, but totally boring. 

The 92-96 Camry was much better than the 1997-2002.  Still not a young person's car, but it was (as others have said here) a pretty good looking car, and it was very solidly built.  My parents had a V6, and as Buicky as it was, it was smooth, quick, quiet and felt like a much more expensive car.   Its successor was lame in comparison.

Quote from: Hachee on October 30, 2009, 07:54:41 AM
I guess you're being loose with "1997" because some of those 1998 models weren't available until the end of the year.  I only bring this up because it makes some of the choices much easier - the 1998 Passat, no question.  That was one of the best VW's ever, so much better than the current model (IMO).  Totally hit the sweet spot in the market, and the sales reflected it.  It still didn't come close to the Camry and Accord, but its sales were far higher than ever before.  I still think this car looks great, and it was rock solid and drove very well in both 1.8T and V6 form.

:praise:

My choice was the Maxima, simply because it has the excellent 3.0L DOHC V6 and a 5-spd manual transmission. The runner up would be the Accord with a stick, even though it would have only been a 4-cylinder model. The Mazda 626 would have been my third choice (V6+5spd).

If you'd included a Buick Regal GS Supercharged, that might have been the only automatic only car I would have considered, since you can make a pretty good sleeper out of it.

Quote from: sportyaccordy on October 30, 2009, 03:49:11 AM
I had a friend with a GTP sedan and it had nothing but problems. A real piece of junk. The Accords are solid in every way but pure excitement & that awful dash design.

What's wrong with the Accord's dash?

Quote from: sportyaccordy on October 30, 2009, 03:49:11 AM
I had a friend with a GTP sedan and it had nothing but problems. A real piece of junk. The Accords are solid in every way but pure excitement & that awful dash design.

My friend Eli had a GTP coupe (his little bro still has it), and it was nothing but pure sweetness. :rockon:

My mom had a '94 mazda 626 SE! I loved it. It gets my vote.

Quote from: thecarnut on October 30, 2009, 10:13:50 AM
What's wrong with the Accord's dash?

The 94-97s were alright. The 98-02s were downright ugly. Just the shape of the dash, the Fisher Price gauge cluster & HVAC controls... I want one, but I would never get over the interior.

The Passat is pretty boss as well. But the exterior doesn't look good to me in pictures. I have seen a few modified that look nice in person though. But I would rather an A4.

Quote from: gotta-qik-z28 on October 30, 2009, 11:32:20 PM
My mom had a '94 mazda 626 SE! I loved it. It gets my vote.

That 626 was nice looking and was fun to drive for a car like that. The one that replaced it was not.

Quote from: Onslaught on October 31, 2009, 08:21:12 AM
That 626 was nice looking and was fun to drive for a car like that. The one that replaced it was not.

+1 The replacement was downrite ugly!

I'd have a '98 Passat or Mazda Millenia/Eunos 800, but could also be tempted into a Legacy/Liberty RX. The B5 Passat is, quite simply, a really good car - no need to spend more on an equivalent Audi A4.

My parents had both Passats listed here back in the days and I absolutely loved both of them.

Our first one was the B3 though (the not yet facelifted B4...), which was built from 88 until 93. That was a totally great car. It had lots of interior space, was pretty fast although my dad only had the 1,8 and never caused any trouble. My dad bought it new in 91 and drove it for nearly 300.000km. It was still running well, but we had a little accident in Italy and so we sold it.
The B4 which is listed here never was one of my favourite cars. I just don't think it was good looking and by then the construction was already getting old.
So I voted the Passat B5 which is still the best looking Passat ever made IMO. For the first time even as a sedan.

Not to belabor the Passat love, but I love the B5 (is the facelifted version from around 2002 to 2005 also a B5?).  A neighbor has a facelifted version, so I see it every day in his drive.  I really think it's almost perfectly designed, and almost iconic.  To my eyes, it looks like a VW, much as a Beetle does, but is of course, totally modern.  I prefer the first, purer version from 1998, but the facelifted version looks almost as good, but more like a luxury car.  I can't believe how bad its successor compares.