September 9, 20169 yr 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
September 9, 20169 yr Author 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
September 9, 20169 yr 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.
September 9, 20169 yr 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.
September 10, 20169 yr Author No Magnum. That's why i was careful to base it upon position in model range and place in market.
September 10, 20169 yr 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...
September 10, 20169 yr 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.
September 10, 20169 yr 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...
September 10, 20169 yr 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.
September 10, 20169 yr 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..
September 12, 20169 yr Mazdaspeed 6 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Spec B Subaru Legacy GT Wagon Honda Accord Hybrid
September 12, 20169 yr 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.
September 12, 20169 yr 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!
September 12, 20169 yr 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.
September 12, 20169 yr Author Great lists, guys! Ccap, the CC technically shouldn't make the cut. The Passat fulfills that role for VW. Also, no LX cars.
September 12, 20169 yr 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.
September 12, 20169 yr Author 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.
September 12, 20169 yr 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.
September 12, 20169 yr 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.
September 12, 20169 yr 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.
September 12, 20169 yr 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.
September 12, 20169 yr 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.
September 12, 20169 yr 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.
September 12, 20169 yr 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.
September 21, 20169 yr 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.
September 21, 20169 yr 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
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