Family Performance

Which of these family performance cars is the best?

2005 Nissan Altima 3.5SE
3.5L 6-Cylinder
250HP@5800RPM
249TQ@4400RPM
5-Speed Manual
FWD
3230Lbs
$23,600

2004 Honda Accord EX V6 Coupe
3.0L 6-Cylinder
240HP@6250RPM
212TQ@5000RPM
6-Speed Manual
FWD
3270Lbs
$26,500

2004 Mazda6 S
3.0L 6-Cylinder
220HP@6300RPM
192TQ@5000RPM
5-Speed Manual
FWD
3240Lbs
$21,800

2005 Subaru Legacy GT
2.4L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder
250HP@6000RPM
250HP@3600RPM
5-Speed Manual
AWD
3300Lbs
$26,000

As far as performance, probably the Legacy GT because its the only non FWD car and has a similar power/weight ratio compared to the rest. However I would not buy this car.

The Accord V6 would be pretty close in performance to the Legacy GT, but I love the Honda Transmission almost as much as BMW's (but not quite). Big, roomy car, great for a family or friends. Only 6 speed in this group. And more reliable, by far, compared to the rest. Only a Toyota could live up to the Accord in this class for reliability.

yeah, i voted accord too. a lot of nice features for a good price. they feel like upscale luxury cars rather than 'accords'. that and as Dinan mentioned, its track record for reliability speaks for itself.

Altima. it's lightest, 2nd cheapest, and is tied in 1st for most hp and torque.

i really like the style of the mazda 6 tho so i chose that, plus its pretty fast

Mazda6 looks good, has very good performance, comparable to the Accord and Altima, and is the cheapest of the four. I also believe it still is quality because it is mostly a Mazda made car (sorry Ford).

My heart says the Altima. I'm a Nissan lover, and the fact that the Altima is fast almost seals the deal for me.

However, the Legacy appeals to me, too. With awd, it would be just what I'm looking for, since I'm tired of fwd. It is probably faster than the Altima, too.

The others I don't really care for. I think the Accord is boring, and the Mazda 6 is nice, but doesn't have enough power.

My vote goes to the Legacy. Either that, or getting an Altima and modding it with the $2400 I save over getting the Legacy.

The Legacy 2.5GT is the obvious choice here. It's AWD, which is better than FWD in my opinion, and it's turbocharged from the factory, meaning you can get it to make a lot of power for little money. However, it's also the costliest of the group, and Subaru trannies are pretty poor in my experience with them.

I vote Altima, and then then the legacy.

ALTIMA ALL THE WAY! My grandma has one and it is a great family car, its big and roomy, luxurious with still a race car feel. The seats hug you and support u upward. Like an Airplne cockpit. You feel very secure. Too much space gives me a cramp in my legs. The 3.5 has some big balls too.

*Airplane

Why not a SRT-4? They are pretty versitile and can fit a family comfortably.

The SRT-4 can fit a family, but it's more economy car than family car. I think we're talking flagship midsize sedans/coupes here. :)

I actually entered this thread not realizing it was a poll, expecting to come talk about the SRT-4. For a performance car, you can NOT beat it for the money...you just can't. The fact that it's a 4 door is just kind of a bonus (or, as far as I'm concerned, a crutch...I love my 2 seater. :p).

But.....I voted Altima. Loooooooove the look of them. Beautiful cars, nice interior, quality interior compontents, I've never heard of any problems with them (yea...the accord is reliable...but it got completely redesigned just like the altima did, so it's in basically the same boat with it...that and Nissan is a good quality name anyway), there is an after market for them, they're not too pricy...all together damn good cars.

I really like the new Legacy, but they're kinda pricy. All these cars are good cars. What it boils down to in the end is my undying affection for Nissan.

i picked the legacy. i guess the fact that im 17 means that its hard to accept cars like the accord that are less aggresive. i guess second would be the altima since i find the mazda6 boring somehow. its just the not the kinda thing i'd wanna wake up to everyday

I don't think the current Altima's interior is really that nice. I've been in both old interior and the new just redesigned interior. The plastic and the dash aren't really anything high quality, even though they look nice. The new interior feels better than the old one, but it's still not on par with the Accord's and the Camry's.

Gotta like that Kia look and cloth on the accords doors. The big
gap between the door and dash when the doors are closed.
Plus the 80's automatic gear shift. :grinno:

Same for the Camry. The Camry is an overpriced car. No power.
:smile:

I honestly didn't know the Altima had such a downside... But we all know about Toyota's lack of true excitment... I would definately go for the new legacy, it looks extremely nice, has great performance, and is practical...Accord is nice, but not as refined, and the Mazda6 is underpowered for this segment

The 3.0L Mazda6 does 0-60 in mid-6's and the motor outputs 220HP, that's faster and has more power than the retired Contour SVT.

What about an Acura TSX? There cheaper then the V6 Accord LX, and have pretty much the same engine as the RSX-S. Its a much more fun car then the Accord, and has more room then the 6 (i think). Not as powerful as these cars, but it's light weight frame compensates for that. Handles much better then the Accord, Altima, and the 6, not sure about the Legacy though...

The Camry is an overpriced car. No power.
:smile:
Yes they are expensive, but the 3.0 V6s have more than enough power for me. Most camrys have 4 cylinders :disappoin

Mazda 6 takes the styling award, but overall I'd go with the Altima - having driven it as a dealer loaner, I think the car has incredible value, not to mention power.

The altima interior is very good in the sense that it is constructed well, doesn't squeak and rattle, doesn't look bad, etc. Yea...it's plastic...if you want something else, buy a Mercedes.

i chose the legacy because i've wanted that car since it started selling in japan.. also got car of the year over there.. the altima doesn't interest me too much unless its the new SE-R thats coming out.. and to me mazda=no.. the accord would come in 3rd.. why no camry? its a big roomy car with decent speed for the price.. and one of the most reliable cars around

The Mazda6. I had a look at an Altima (A 2002 model, is that the latest one still?) when I went to the States on business last year, I wasn't very impressed with the overall quality of the car at all, though the Powertrain is certainly a bonus. The US Accord has always played the poor-cousin to it's UK/Japanese counterpart, so no.

The Legacy makes a very strong case, but I have yet to get up close with the latest one. So I'll have the 6, very nice all-round car; good looking, great chassis, decent engines and to-notch quality.

The 3.0L Mazda6 does 0-60 in mid-6's and the motor outputs 220HP, that's faster and has more power than the retired Contour SVT.

Its nice that the mazda6 beats a retired contour, but the accord and legacy hit 60 in 5.8, and the altima does it in 5.9...According to C&D the mazda6 goes 0-60 in 7.2...I think that makes the car very underpowered for this comparison

Who gives a shit? There is more to a car than how much power it has.

Who ever said I was choosing the best car based on power? I was giving one aspect of the comparison, the dude said something I didn't agree with, I give him my opinion...personally I like the mazda6 its the runner up with me


ps boooo juventus, gooooo lazio! (just teasing)

Who ever said I was choosing the best car based on power? I was giving one aspect of the comparison, the dude said something I didn't agree with, I give him my opinion...personally I like the mazda6 its the runner up with me


ps boooo juventus, gooooo lazio! (just teasing)
:eek: How..... dare...... yeee :eek:


Point taken for the first paragraph, however.

Hmm, the poll is EXTREMELY even. :)

Altima - lighter and cheaper than Maxima, the new ones are less than 3000lbs. And looks better than Maxima, IMO.

Torque/acceleration is better than Maxima in stock form. 0-60 in mid 6 secs with 3.5 - has almost the same power as Maxima.

Check them out -

http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/new/

These guys do the reviews for the regular consumers.

legacy for looks and AWD

Altima for great power and acceleration-I personally think it is ugly

Accord for being a honda-gotta run on my experience with my last two cars

6-for styling and great sound and sportiness

That means that I will have to take the new AWD mazda6 when it comes out.

I voted for the LEGACY GT

Well, let's see....the Legacy is the most performant but is also the ugliest and quite expensive, the Accord is plain and boring, the Altima is not very pretty to look at either.

So we're left with the Mazda 6, which may be the slowest among all of these, but also the best looking. Now, if I were a dad, I would probably not race too often -- also, I'd probably have a smaller budget. Thus, my obvious choice would be the 6.

how about an alfa 156?
similar prices to the mazda6,
well, apart from the GTA....

or um, volvo s40 anyone?