D segment Battle!!

Beemer · 5th September 2005, 00:47

Well, for me its a close fight between the new sonata and accord ...

Hyundai Sonata : I recently test drove one (short drive) and the first impression i got was that no matter what "it just cannot be a korean " cos the magic ride quality and the sense of security i got was just amazing , i mean the first thing i see in the car is its ride quality and believe me, it rides much better than the accord .

If you remove the badge , its going to be hard for all of us to believe its korean .. The ride quality is at par with those europeans but i was not very impressed with the interiors , Accord has the best interiors of all and Hyundai gets a beating hands down ... Cant say much about the other aspects as i ve yet to take the proper test drive ...

Honda Accord : I dont think i need to say much about this beautiful machine ... i just love this car , inside , outside both but the serious chink in the armour is its ride quality , you could feel most of the bumps and it does not ve that high speed stability you would expect from a car of this price range , or else its flawless .....

But still ..... i would vote for the accord ... only if the sonata wasn a product of Hyundai ...

IMO , the only car, can beat the Accord in all aspects is going to be the new Octavia cos its getting outstanding reviews the world over but i am suspicious whether we will get the new octavia only when its going to be called as the old octavia worldwide(the current scenario) ...... atleast seems that way !

Sahil · 5th September 2005, 02:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit

This is another grey area. The market perception is that Japanese car's are easier on the pocket when it comes to service but thats not true always. For example, I believe it's scaringly expensive to do bodywork on a Honda and also some parts of Japanese cars are way more expensive then european cars. Few months back ACI had a complete list of spare prices, maybe someone can post the link and we can compare.

The brakepad change for my accord costs 20,000rs! So this shows that spareparts on japs are not cheap either, maybe somethings are cheaper like air filters and stuff. But in the two years and a half years of owning my accord I have not spent an extra rupee on spares besides the servicing charges which is approx 1000-2000rs every 5000Kms, this includes the change of oil,filters. Maintaining a jap are is cheap but if you dont treat it right you can run into exp spares.

typeOnegative · 5th September 2005, 12:18

Head versus Heart decision again. And the heart wins again. If I had that kind of money, it would be the Skoda for me. I am a sucker for European cars. I like and respect the Accord and the Camry, but they are well not appealing enough. The Korean cars I would not touch with a bargepole. :(

Second for me would be the Vectra. Ford Mondeo? Dunno. I think I can touch it with a barge pole. LOL

normally_crazy · 5th September 2005, 14:36

Its a NO-Brainer here for me !

Eyes closed I'd walk upto to the GORGEOUS FORD MONDEO !

Its a magnificient drivers car - the best infact ! thats enough reason for me ! for me there is no competition for the Mondeo

cheers

Rtech · 5th September 2005, 15:00

It has to be vRS for me. The others are all far too large for my liking.

Camry/Sonata: Boring, staid, too american.
Accord/Vectra: nice cars, but too large for my liking.
Mondeo: makes a decent buy at the reduced price, but not the car I'd pick.

BUSA · 5th September 2005, 16:18

Quote:

[new Octavia is launched early next year

That is also not sure. WIth the current kind of time Skoda is talking. It wont be before late next year that the Octy will be lauched. Since its first going to be Fabia out!! BUT by the time they come out with the new Octy the NEW ACCORD will be here. Expected Mid Next year. Source Interview of Honda Chairman ACI August 2005!

Conan · 7th September 2005, 00:47

Guess I am the only one who voted for Camry.
Camry can be described in two words, stately and majestic.
Thank god i have not seen camrys as taxis.

Insane Devil · 8th September 2005, 16:29

my choice sure is the Accord!
lotsa sex appeal, lotsa power, lotsa goodies! but then, as Sahil said, its become too common now, and the charm of owning one is gone, and well, the older Accord does look a lot more "rich" kinda, due to its lengtheir looks, from outside, but inside, yea,,could do with the enhancements of the new Accord.
but i would pick up a D Segment car only with a diesel engine, so still waiting for the Sonata Crdi, or the Accord Diesel which they "might" launch if their test engine goes good in japan.

Surprise · 8th September 2005, 17:03

Wanted to vote for Honda for its relaiability, Sonata struck my mind for its looks. Atlast decided to stay away from voting as I don't know anything about the mentioned cars, where my voting will be misleading

BUSA · 9th September 2005, 17:39

Quote:

Thank god i have not seen camrys as taxis.

Come to Mumbai and you will know. Most hotels have it. LOL Thats the only time when Mumbaites get to see the car.

X-Machine · 9th September 2005, 18:47

Well,it has to be the Honda Accord for me.It wins hands down.Its a sheer pleasure to drive that luxurious looking car to its full potential.Its fast,its stable and its a Honda.

I love the Mondeo and RS too,but only for a few spins here and there.Would not like to exchange them for an Accord at all.

X

Sid Schumacher · 9th September 2005, 19:04

The Accord any day.....its way ahead of its competeters. Then I would have the Skoda. The Honda here is practically impossible to beat. It has everything a D segment car needs...LOOKS, INTERIORS, PERFORMANCE, RELIABILITY and SAFETY.
Then I would take the Mondeo...followed by the maybe the new Sonata..havent had a deep look into it...but its going to be an Acoord at a lower price.

viveksathish · 13th October 2005, 09:02

Come to Dubai .... u will never want to buy a Camry...1000's of taxis and not one accord as a taxi

LandCruiser · 13th October 2005, 10:31

Generally some brands are more used as taxis whereas others are not. I have not seen much of BMW taxis. Never seen a honda also. May be they are not suited or costly for that segment.

I have seen lot of renault, ford, skoda, merc, toyota, peugot taxis!

Steeroid · 13th October 2005, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by viveksathish

Come to Dubai .... u will never want to buy a Camry...1000's of taxis and not one accord as a taxi

And yet people are prepared to pay an almost 20% premium for the Camry over the Accord and other similar cars...the only car that you can expect SPOT CASH for the moment you drive it into the 2nd hand market is the Camry - again at a premium.

There are Mondy taxies here too - how come you didnt notice that? And Volvos..

View Poll Results: Which is your pick in the upper D segment
Honda Accord	35	50.72%
Hyundai Sonata	4	5.80%
Skoda Octavia RS or L n K	12	17.39%
Opel Vectra	4	5.80%
Ford Mondeo	10	14.49%
Toyota Camry	4	5.80%
Voters: 69. You may not vote on this poll

5th September 2005, 00:47	#16
Beemer BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: delhi Posts: 384 Thanked: 4 Times View My Garage	Well, for me its a close fight between the new sonata and accord ... Hyundai Sonata : I recently test drove one (short drive) and the first impression i got was that no matter what "it just cannot be a korean " cos the magic ride quality and the sense of security i got was just amazing , i mean the first thing i see in the car is its ride quality and believe me, it rides much better than the accord . If you remove the badge , its going to be hard for all of us to believe its korean .. The ride quality is at par with those europeans but i was not very impressed with the interiors , Accord has the best interiors of all and Hyundai gets a beating hands down ... Cant say much about the other aspects as i ve yet to take the proper test drive ... Honda Accord : I dont think i need to say much about this beautiful machine ... i just love this car , inside , outside both but the serious chink in the armour is its ride quality , you could feel most of the bumps and it does not ve that high speed stability you would expect from a car of this price range , or else its flawless ..... But still ..... i would vote for the accord ... only if the sonata wasn a product of Hyundai ... IMO , the only car, can beat the Accord in all aspects is going to be the new Octavia cos its getting outstanding reviews the world over but i am suspicious whether we will get the new octavia only when its going to be called as the old octavia worldwide(the current scenario) ...... atleast seems that way !
	() Thanks

5th September 2005, 12:18	#18
typeOnegative Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vikhroli, Mumbai, India Posts: 1,502 Thanked: 28 Times	Head versus Heart decision again. And the heart wins again. If I had that kind of money, it would be the Skoda for me. I am a sucker for European cars. I like and respect the Accord and the Camry, but they are well not appealing enough. The Korean cars I would not touch with a bargepole. :( Second for me would be the Vectra. Ford Mondeo? Dunno. I think I can touch it with a barge pole. LOL
	() Thanks

5th September 2005, 14:36	#19
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,305 Thanked: 543 Times View My Garage	Its a NO-Brainer here for me ! Eyes closed I'd walk upto to the GORGEOUS FORD MONDEO ! Its a magnificient drivers car - the best infact ! thats enough reason for me ! for me there is no competition for the Mondeo cheers
	() Thanks

5th September 2005, 15:00	#20
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,765 Thanked: 371 Times View My Garage	It has to be vRS for me. The others are all far too large for my liking. Camry/Sonata: Boring, staid, too american. Accord/Vectra: nice cars, but too large for my liking. Mondeo: makes a decent buy at the reduced price, but not the car I'd pick.
	() Thanks

7th September 2005, 00:47	#22
Conan BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 223 Thanked: 0 Times	Guess I am the only one who voted for Camry. Camry can be described in two words, stately and majestic. Thank god i have not seen camrys as taxis.
	() Thanks

8th September 2005, 16:29	#23
Insane Devil BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 999 Thanked: 186 Times View My Garage	my choice sure is the Accord! lotsa sex appeal, lotsa power, lotsa goodies! but then, as Sahil said, its become too common now, and the charm of owning one is gone, and well, the older Accord does look a lot more "rich" kinda, due to its lengtheir looks, from outside, but inside, yea,,could do with the enhancements of the new Accord. but i would pick up a D Segment car only with a diesel engine, so still waiting for the Sonata Crdi, or the Accord Diesel which they "might" launch if their test engine goes good in japan.
	() Thanks

8th September 2005, 17:03	#24
Surprise Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,529 Thanked: 463 Times	Wanted to vote for Honda for its relaiability, Sonata struck my mind for its looks. Atlast decided to stay away from voting as I don't know anything about the mentioned cars, where my voting will be misleading
	() Thanks

9th September 2005, 18:47	#26
X-Machine Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Mumbai/Tokyo Posts: 1,475 Thanked: 29 Times	Well,it has to be the Honda Accord for me.It wins hands down.Its a sheer pleasure to drive that luxurious looking car to its full potential.Its fast,its stable and its a Honda. I love the Mondeo and RS too,but only for a few spins here and there.Would not like to exchange them for an Accord at all. X
	() Thanks

9th September 2005, 19:04	#27
Sid Schumacher BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 262 Thanked: 3 Times	The Accord any day.....its way ahead of its competeters. Then I would have the Skoda. The Honda here is practically impossible to beat. It has everything a D segment car needs...LOOKS, INTERIORS, PERFORMANCE, RELIABILITY and SAFETY. Then I would take the Mondeo...followed by the maybe the new Sonata..havent had a deep look into it...but its going to be an Acoord at a lower price.
	() Thanks

13th October 2005, 09:02	#28
viveksathish Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2 Thanked: 0 Times	Come to Dubai .... u will never want to buy a Camry...1000's of taxis and not one accord as a taxi
	() Thanks

13th October 2005, 10:31	#29
LandCruiser BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 711 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	Generally some brands are more used as taxis whereas others are not. I have not seen much of BMW taxis. Never seen a honda also. May be they are not suited or costly for that segment. I have seen lot of renault, ford, skoda, merc, toyota, peugot taxis!
	() Thanks