Yep, I'm going there. With all the recent pieces on the decline of the sedan segment- primarily the midsize one- I thought what better way to honor that classic, one-time quintessential staple of American families than by doing a Dream Garage thread.

So here are the rules-

1) It must have been a car for sale in YOUR market.

2) Any era is allowed.

3) It must be a mainstream brand, midsize family sedan. No compacts, full-sizes, etc. Ignore EPA ratings. We will use model hierarchy and position in market place.

4) Maximum of 5 cars.

5) Try to make these cars fulfill as many roles as possible- sport, family hauling, etc.

 

 

EDIT- I WILL ALSO ALLOW WAGON/SPORTBACK VARIANTS OF SAID VEHICLES

I was actually able to easily and quickly assemble this collection-

 

Mazdaspeed 6-

 

Legacy GT Spec B

 

Malibu Premier

 

Passat W8 4Motion Wagon

 

Altima SE-R

Edited September 9, 20169 yr by Frisky Dingo

2009 Buick Lacrosse Super

1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme International Sedan, 3.4 DOHC with 5-speed manual (SE model pictured)  - Such a sleeper with this setup, all the power and torque of a Taurus SHO in a lighter body.

1990-92 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

2017 Subaru Legacy Outback H6

1983 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royale (What? In 1983, that was squarely Mid-size... the Ninety-Eight and Custom Cruiser were the full-size.)

If my last pick doesn't count, then I'll just sub in a Final 500 Oldsmobile Intrigue as my collectors car.

Very nice!

32 minutes ago, Frisky Dingo said:

Very nice!

I like your idea of the Passat W8 4motion wagon and I'd swap my Subaru out for it as a family hauler if those VWs weren't such maintenance nightmares. 

 

Another one where I wasn't sure of the rules.  The Charger/Magnum is a large car by EPA standards, and also is at the top of the Dodge food chain, however it regularly sells at prices similar to any other mid-size car out there...... Would that count or no? The reason that gets confusing is that the Accord, which is a mid-size by nearly every measure, is EPA large car in some configurations and sits at the top of the Honda ladder. 

No Magnum. That's why i was careful to base it upon position in model range and place in market. 

Hmmm...never had a midsize sedan in my life, though many as rentals.  For an oldie, I like my brother's '69 Fairlane sedan, 390 4bbl w/ automatic.  Pretty quick in a plain dark green wrapper with dog dish hubcaps.  I've driven it a few times and it's fun...  

I guess my dream midsize would be a BMW E39 540i or M5.  Though a Merc W124 300 sedan would be good also, I've enjoyed driving my sister's 300CE.

For modern midsizers, I wouldn't kick a Malibu (current or previous generation) or a current gen Focus out of my garage/carport...

I think he's going for mainstream brands, so no Benzes or BMWs would qualify, at least as far as mid-sizers go.... both brands are moving into the mainstream in compacts. 

30 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I think he's going for mainstream brands, so no Benzes or BMWs would qualify, at least as far as mid-sizers go.... both brands are moving into the mainstream in compacts. 

Ah, missed that...though Audis, Benzes and BMWs are so common around here that they are pretty mainstream...

3 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

Ah, missed that...though Audis, Benzes and BMWs are so common around here that they are pretty mainstream...

Yeah, the story last week about the mainstream mid-size sedan segment shrinking in terms of total sales is what spurred him to make this thread.

Just now, Drew Dowdell said:

Yeah, the story last week about the mainstream mid-size sedan segment shrinking in terms of total sales is what spurred him to make this thread.

That makes me wonder...how are luxury mid size sedan sales going?  Shrinking also?  I would assume so, since luxury CUV ans SUV sales seem to be growing..

2017 Fusion Sport

Regal GS

VW CC VR6

Mazdaspeed 6

Honda Accord Hybrid

Mazdaspeed 6

Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Spec B

Subaru Legacy GT Wagon

Honda Accord Hybrid

Cannot think of anything not mentioned yet except for a 1995 Taurus SHO..  Also have a soft spot for 4 door Acura Integra GSR's of the same vintage.

 

 

28 minutes ago, frogger said:

Cannot think of anything not mentioned yet except for a 1995 Taurus SHO..  Also have a soft spot for 4 door Acura Integra GSR's of the same vintage.

 

 

Let's see your top 5!

Charger/300 is too large for this segment, right? Because I would easily swap any one of mine for a Hellcat Charger or SRT 300.

Great lists, guys!

 

Ccap, the CC technically shouldn't make the cut. The Passat fulfills that role for VW. Also, no LX cars.

The EPA rates it technically as a "compact"... I know you weren't going by just epa ratings or anything but it's at least on the wrong side of size:price:hierarchy "ratio". Everything else sucks in this class. Almost everything just..sucks.. Wait! You chose a damn station wagon! Those are in classes of their own!

Yeah, I thought the LX cars were too big. Oh well.

Mainstream??? So no Luxos above Buick, Lincoln, Acura?

 

 

6 minutes ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

Mainstream??? So no Luxos above Buick, Lincoln, Acura?

 

 

Acura and Lincoln themselves are not included.

10 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

The EPA rates it technically as a "compact"... I know you weren't going by just epa ratings or anything but it's at least on the wrong side of size:price:hierarchy "ratio". Everything else sucks in this class. Almost everything just..sucks.. Wait! You chose a damn station wagon! Those are in classes of their own!

Yeah, I thought the LX cars were too big. Oh well.

 

I made an addendum to allow for wagon variants. The CC sits at the top of VW's sedan line-up, therefore it is excluded.

 

No way.. the only reason it's atop their lineup is it has a sexy body.

Addendum for "tiny cars in big bones". CC is allowed!

Fine, I'll take a 2011 when the Phaeton sat above it.

H'mmm,

Buick Grand National from the 80's

Chevy Monte Carlo Aero from the mid 80's

Cannot think of any other sedan I would want or could fit into.

4 minutes ago, dfelt said:

H'mmm,

Buick Grand National from the 80's

Chevy Monte Carlo Aero from the mid 80's

Cannot think of any other sedan I would want or could fit into.

Both of those are coupes.

2 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Both of those are coupes.

Sadly for me there is just no passion in this segment. All they seem to be is appliance auto's for the most part. I guess if it has to be a 4 door sedan over 2 door, then I would go with the Chevy SS.

Just now, dfelt said:

Sadly for me there is just no passion in this segment. All they seem to be is appliance auto's for the most part. I guess if it has to be a 4 door sedan over 2 door, then I would go with the Chevy SS.

Breaks the "no top shelf" rule.

Strike out is me!

Auto Industry, this is why you are in reduction mode for mid size sedans / cars. No passion, nothing to inspire people to buy your appliance auto's.

30 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Sadly for me there is just no passion in this segment. All they seem to be is appliance auto's for the most part. I guess if it has to be a 4 door sedan over 2 door, then I would go with the Chevy SS.

Yup, it's a pretty terrible segment, for the most part. Even in the compact car segment there are 'hot' versions. I mean the new Fusion Sport is about it now.

2017 Ford Fusion Sport...even though I read your review on it and it might not be what I was looking for... for it...

It is still a  compelling package non-the-less.

A Platinum 2.0 Ecoboost will do as well.

 

Frisky....you took the 2005 Altima SE-R before I could...its OK.

Ill do a Nissan Maxima instead.

1995 Nissan Maxima SE

1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme  International Series or 1996-7 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Both with the 3.4 liter V6 DOHC.

Guys...maybe the Chevy SS is off limits, but not the Pontiac G8 GXP...

Chevy Malibu 2.0T Premier

 

I did not want to do Buick Regal since Buick is kinda premium lux.

Yeah, I know....I did Oldsmobile when Oldsmobile was kinda premium lux....well....Oldsmobile is no longer so....Wait a second, I got something in my eye.

 

 

This is a tough one for me.  Since the CC is off limits, at least that leaves one extra spot in my top 5 to fill.  I am also only concentrating on FWD models. 

 

1.  2015+ Chrysler 200S V6

 

1992-1995 Taurus SHO manual trans

 

1997-2003 Grand Prix GTP

 

1998-04 Regal GS

And just to throw everyone off:  2011 Camry Sport V6