siegen

You make a whole lot of assumptions, guesses, and "it's close enough" statements. Let's look at some statistics, which may not be without error but are certainly much closer to facts than assumptions and guesses. Autotrader US-wide average price: Honda Fit: $17,666 Mazda 3: $21,093 That includes the Mazda 3 sedan and 5-door. If I were to isolate the search to the 5-door only, the Mazda 3's average price would probably go up a bit. Fueleconomy.gov's numbers: Honda Fit: 35 mpg average Mazda 3 (2.0L): 29 mpg average EPA cargo volume: Honda Fit: 20.6 cu. ft. Mazda 3 (5-door): 17 cu. ft. Mazda 3 (4-door): 11.8 cu. ft. Consider that the Fit has "magic" seats that also fold flat, making it far more usable and functional than the Mazda 3 5-door (let alone 4-door). This isn't to say that the Mazda 3 isn't a better car than the Fit. It is in a higher class, is larger, and may have better features and materials compared to the Fit. A lot of people who are buying new aren't willing to buy used, otherwise they would be comparing a used Mazda 3 to a used Fit.

So has anyone driven the '09 ES350 in question and tested to see if the engine can be put into neutral and/or shut-off while driving? Because until then, all this speculation about what the driver could have or should have done is mute.

Buick is a mainstream brand. Cars like the Avalon compete with Buick sedans, IMHO. As far as who sells more, I personally don't care.

Nice sarcasm Reg.

The Genesis is both an entry level luxury car and a mainstream coupe. The sedan competes with cars like the CTS, TSX/TL, IS/ES, etc, while the coupe competes with cars like the Mustang, Camaro, RX8, etc. Kind of an odd combination to put under one name, don't you guys think? That being said, the sales are pretty low for the Genesis at 1,665. Would be interesting to see what the split is. The TSX, which is a far inferior vehicle since it isn't RWD (sarcasm) sells quite a few more than the Genesis.

It doesn't not make them worth the money people are willing to pay for them either.

Does this line appear in every single sales report? Even after year-after-year-after-year sales declines? (that was a rhetorical question btw)

roflcopter. They simple don't teach you enough in driver's ed, and after that most people just don't learn anything about cars. Want a driver's license? Ok here ya go, just take a 20 question test (which you can take any number of times till you pass) and go for a 10 minute drive with someone who probably hates their job.

The interior looks nice. More car-like. Edit: It's pretty darn expensive. Hard to tell as Chevy's website sucks, but it appears a fully loaded one with nav gets into the low 30's? As smk4565 said, the CR-V weighs 400 lbs less (420 lbs less for 4WD models), and the current 2010 model is rated to 180 hp. From a few first-drive impressions I've read (one user comparing the 2009 to the 2010 side by side; same trim), it appears that the 2010 is improved a good tick above the old. And the performance is improved as well. The CR-V could use a 6-speed though.

Yes, but only because I think I have an exhaust leak from a poorly installed Borla exhaust system (previous owner). I need to take it to an exhaust shop. They didn't line up the tips in the bumper cutouts either. Dummies.

I wouldn't mind driving one of those... ;-] Audi dealer down in Seattle has one on the lot too.

Are the Aztek comparisons coming because of the use of the rear hatch lower glass?

Unless he didn't want anyone to know he was there...

Guardian angel my ass! It was Chuck Norris that saved her; he was just too quick for the 5 FPS camera to detect.

You use the word "better" but I don't think you are meaning to. Or are you assuming the ZDX will have the same level of materials, quality and fit & finish as the Accord? The Accord has a finely styled interior IMHO, and the style is similar to (but still very different than) the ZDX. The materials and fit & finish of the Accord won't be close to the level of the ZDX. That is almost a given, even though none of us has sat in it yet. The Accord and ZDX (or TL or TSX) having similar styling of the interior in no way detracts from either vehicle. If the Acura has the same level of materials as the Accord, and that level was of a mainstream (non-luxury) sedan, then it would certainly. But I am confident that won't be the case.

No wonder he didn't respond when I asked him if he'd take $5,400 for it!

$44-48k probably, based on MT's estimates. And that's a damn fine interior. Excellently styled and from the reviews, extremely well appointed. Techno may not be your thing, but this interior (at least based on the Acura's I have sat in, which are similar) is nothing but top notch. Armchair critics ftw?

Reg those are definitely the nicest Aztek photos I have ever seen, but it's still über ugly and cheap looking. The proportions are a little off when viewing it directly from the side.

Lol, that line is my favorite ("Everything i purchased for this vehicle was either made in japan, or china... which is close enough to japan"). Geography WIN! Definitely creative, and a winner for a car. Love the stock Integra steering wheel. The funniest part is that is a B18B1 engine, which is a non-vtec engine (it's from a 94-97 Integra LS/RS/SE, based on the style of the valve cover - if my memory serves me). It's 1.8L as well. Certainly faster than the stock 1.5L that came in the car, if it runs. :-p

Really? The only really sore spot I see is the new RL. The TSX and MDX in particular I think are very solid designs -especially in person.

What is the Corvette? What does it do other than allow one or two people to drive fast? It doesn't have a great or luxurious interior, nor is it particularly comfortable to drive. It makes guys feel like they have big penises and that's it. Not everyone needs a car for practical purposes. This is the luxury market after all; people buy cars for the drive and the image. If they want practicality, they can get the MDX, which is mentioned in the article.

Finally admit what? Under heavy driving situations, the K23 turbo tends to lose more fuel economy than the N/A V6. This isn't a Honda thing, it's a turbo thing. Manufacturers come out every year saying they have a new turbocharged engine that gets the power of a larger engine with the fuel efficiency of a smaller engine. The end result has always been the engine gets the power of the larger engine and the fuel economy of the larger engine, in a little smaller package. With the RDX, it averages 18-20 mpg in real world driving, which is typical V6 AWD luxury crossover mileage. The new 6-speed auto in the ZDX likely helps the mileage by a point or two, so I wouldn't be surprised if the ZDX ends up equaling or even bettering the RDX in average heavy footed driving conditions (despite weighing right around 500 lbs more). Most Honda fans would rather see a J V6 in the RDX than the turbo, but it may not have fit with Honda's safety margins (for pedestrians) intact.

That could be said about any luxury vehicle. Or just about any vehicle period aside from generic econoboxes.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/1...test/index.html Equipped very well and priced 10,000-15,000 under the comparably-equipped X6. They like the drive better than the X6 as well, despite not being quite as fast as the twin-turbo (but weighing 400+ lbs less). They overall seem to like the styling. Observed FE, despite the test-drive treatment, was 17mpg. Very impressive for a crossover that hits 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. Better than how the RDX tended to fair in first-drive reviews.

You always try to use the "these cars can be had for well under sticker" argument against the Fit. It depends on your area, and sometimes you can also get the Fit for under MSRP. Have you compared the Mazda3 against the Fit, looked at the deals that can be had, and compared the features and specs? The Fit still wins in FE against these "better" cars, one of the other big deciders for people purchasing these vehicles. It also beats them in utility. I think your lamenting of the Fit's "cheapness" is overblown as well. This is all pointless of course since we're looking at different segments. You can pick up a 2.4L Accord for the price of a Mazda3 5-door.