Japanese sedans

There is a lot of talk about BMW, VW and American sedans. Has
anyone ever considered the Nissan Maxima or the Toyota Camry? These
two sedans fully loaded and optioned down are cheaper, faster, more
reliable, better handling and more comfortable and practical than your
typical VW, BMW, or Brand X American sedan.

You could buy a fully loaded Camry and have a pile of money left over
to spend. You would also have a lot more room than your typical VW or
BMW. The German sedans just do not have any room in them for larger
people. Fitting 4 or 5 people in them would be a stretch of the
imagination.

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==\ /================================
===\ /==You know how dumb the average==
====\ /===guy is? Well half of everyone==
=====\ /======is even dumber than that=====
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http://31337.pl

 

Yes, you are completely correct.
If you have enough money to but a BMW or a Benz what does it matter?
At that level of income money have no meaning.
It's just an object
Plus some people may want to look like they are "rich." Yota and Nissan nor
Honda give off that Image.
Just some food for thought.

 

Ha ha ha

 

What are you talking about? I've ridden in Bimmers. Other than the 7
series perhaps, they are microscopically tiny . . . especially if you
compare them with the average Jap sedan costing many thousands of dollars
less. -Dave

 

actually a bimmer 3 series is smaller then a accord
but a vw passat is roomier then most jap sedans, but its far from reliable

marcel

 

I disagree on VW... I own a 2002 Passat V6 and it is great. Larger than my
wife's 2000 Altima (even larger than the newer 2002+ Altima's.) The quality
and finish is 100 times better than the Nissan's and Honda's I've seen. The
V6 has alright HP, better ride quality, VERY comfortable, and can easily
seat 5 people. Being 6'1, there is alright head/leg room (not the best...)
Reliability is a question (had a 1996 Passat that started leaking oil) and
servicing is costly. The Jetta, on the other hand, I WOULD NOT touch...

 

I agree with you, Dave. The 3 series have since the mid '80's been for
unusually short waisted people and the 5 series only marginally better.
--

*Philip

"Children left running and unattended
will be towed at owner's expense"

 

How about a Jetta TDI?
--

*Philip

"Children left running and unattended
will be towed at owner's expense"

 

I had an '86 535i, and I thought the f'ing thing was HUGE. 5 people
could fit in it very comfortably. Certainly no space issues up front,
only thing that was tight was hip room with 3-up in the back.

nate

 

NOT in 3 series, that is for sure. 7's were decent but then you're
talking about a barge anyway.
--

*Philip

"Children left running and unattended
will be towed at owner's expense"

 

I find how much space a car has depends on who you ask, not what height. I
had a Porsche and I had tall epople who were fine in the front seat (and
one who even said he wasn't too bad in the back seat but I think that was
more of a I can bear it kinda thing) and ones who didn't like it. Hell, I
think the tall friend who could bear the back seat was also trying to egg
me on to get five in that car (we did it and when it scraped bottom at the
end of the drive way I kicked them out and said we're taking two cars, I
wasn't all that happy about sticking that many epople in my car. Four in a
911 is a squeeze... five is just insane).

The one tall person I have had in my '84 325e thought it was totally fine
(he was in the backseat) but haven't really had much of a chance to have
that many peple in it. I don't think it would fit five comfortabley (you
could do it but hope taht the three in back are good friends). But I do
think it would fit four fine.

Alice

--
The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation. People just aren't
worth very much any more, and they know it. Makes 'em testy. ...Bev
|\ _,,,---,,_ Tigress
/,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress
|,4- ) )-,_..;\ ( `'-'
'---''(_/--' `-'\_) Cat by Felix Lee.

 

For me, it's about driving posture. I do not drive with the seat angled
back and arms stretched out. That posture allows for long waisted
people to fit into a 3 series. From trucking, I prefer the sit up,
touring car posture .... which the low roofed 3 series especially with
sun roof do not accomodate without my scalp rubbing the roof.
--

*Philip

"Children left running and unattended
will be towed at owner's expense"

 

The Bimmers I was referring to were an '84 318i, an '84 533i(?) and

Agreed, but I'm 10.5 stone and 5'6" Most attractive thing about the
E30 is how small it is. I always thought the E36/46 were a bit big.

It's really noticeable that the current sports seats are too wide, the
sports seats on the E30 and 635 were perfect for me.

 

I agree. If you're fat, it's kinda hard to squeeze your arse into a BMW .

 

I think the Honda and Toyota offerings represent the best values in the
market. But your statement that the Japanese are faster (sometimes, not
usually), better handling (not in my humble experience and I've driven most
of them) and more comfortable (Can't STAND my mother's Camry, my old Accord
was okay, but not great) is just plain WRONG.

My 5 series isn't perfect. The cupholders suck. There's a lack of interior
storage places and the trunk is a bit small. The climate control works well
but is relatively unsophisticated. And the audio system is surpassed by
most Japanese offerings.

BMW has the best seats and driving position in the business. In terms of
vehicle dynamics, which create the driving experience, it is unexceeded by
anything with 4 doors.

R / John

 

Correct - Toyota now has the SE model Camrys. The Accord and Maxima
already had somewhat decent handling.

The may be for the older cars. The 1980s Volvos have more usable space
on the inside than the current models. I test drove a 2002 BMW 3 series
wagon, a station wagon, not a two seater sports coupe, and my 8 year son
barely fit in the back seat due to lack of legroom.

 

The problem with Japanese cars is similar to Japanese food. Park it and
an hour later, you feel like driving it again.
--

Philip

"If a long train of abuses, prevarications, and artifices, all tending
the same way, make the design visible to the people . tis not to be
wondered that they should then rouse themselves."
- John Locke (1632-1704)

 

I OWN a Maxima. I bought it for the exact reasons that you mentioned. I'l
GLADLY go into additional debt just to get rid of the thing.

Customer support is DISMAL. Nissan simply doesn't care about its owners.

Our '03 225i handles IMMEASURABLY better.

The New '04 MAxima interior looks as if it were designed by Mattell. CHEAP
PLASTIC.

You simply can't compare teh actual driving experience of these cars.

 

Well, we're about the same weight, that could explain it. (And
"stones" and "ounces" are the most illogical units around, because
they utilize bases 14 and 16 respectively. Feet and inches make more
sense because they are dozenally based. But 12lbs in a st and 12oz
in a lb would make far more sense. But then, what was ever logical
about much of the imperial system?)

Ahh, the 6 series. Yes, I'd forgotten about those. Never been in one
mind, as far as I can remember, but I'd be kinda surprised if they
didn't offer sufficient room up front.

 

AFAIR they were very similar to the E28s...

nate