Top of the Line or Bottom Model of the Next?

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: Malo83
I'll take the Steak over Hamburger

\
But would you take a smaller high quality steak over a larger lower quality steak?

That's part of the question being asked here. Of course quality can be subjective. What does quality mean? Reliable? Comfortable? Feature packed? Simple? Etc...

 

[SLCraig]

Generally I'd take more options on a lower model.
Reason being generally fuel economy is better on the smaller car and half the time you CAN get the same options on the lower model car in a higher trim level. This does not always apply, it depends on which mfr you are looking at. Also often smaller cars are much more fun to drive. A lot of people do not care about this either, but it matters to me.

 

[kkreit01]

It depends. In your first example, I'd pick the Fusion -- hands down. I've had both, and there's no comparison. I would have preferred a Fusion S when I bought my SES Focus, but could only find loaded Fusion SEs locally.

In your other examples, I'd pick Cruze b4 Impala, but Malibu over both. Impala is one of the oldest designs (model iterations) on the road today.

Smaller cars are typically more expensive to insure -- since the "youngins" typically drive them. My Focus is $90 higher/6 months than my Sport Trac (V8) was. Also, when you load a small car down with family + gear, they are very difficult to get motivating. My Focus isn't bad by myself, but add another adult + 2 kids, and it's awfully slow.

The more gizmos...the more to go wrong.

 

[cp3]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Generally I'd take more options on a lower model.
Reason being generally fuel economy is better on the smaller car and half the time you CAN get the same options on the lower model car in a higher trim level. This does not always apply, it depends on which mfr you are looking at. Also often smaller cars are much more fun to drive. A lot of people do not care about this either, but it matters to me.


I have to agree with Craig! In fact, I prefer the G5 of my two. Now were the G6 a GTP or GXP that may be different but I don't know.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: kkreit01
In your other examples, I'd pick Cruze b4 Impala, but Malibu over both. Impala is one of the oldest designs (model iterations) on the road today.


Great point. It really would depend on the manufacturer and models considered.

 

[GenSan]

Since I prefer leather seats to cloth, I would lean more towards the top of the line model. The last car I drove regularly with cloth seats was the one I learned how to drive with: a 1989 Subaru GLX.

Since then I've had a 1995 Chevy Blazer LT, 2002 Sequoia Limited, and my wife's 1997 Toyota 4Runner Limited.

All of them have leather seats and are the top of the line model for their line-up.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: GenSan
Since I prefer leather seats to cloth, I would lean more towards the top of the line model. The last car I drove regularly with cloth seats was the one I learned how to drive with: a 1989 Subaru GLX.

Since then I've had a 1995 Chevy Blazer LT, 2002 Sequoia Limited, and my wife's 1997 Toyota 4Runner Limited.

All of them have leather seats and are the top of the line model for their line-up.


Not very often I meet someone who prefers leather.
Too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer.
Although it does clean up nice.

 

[cp3]

Addyguy, seat heaters are awesome! Always thought they were a fluff thing but now that I have them....they're nice on those chilly mornings leaving for work in dress pants. My leather is grey so it's not too bad in the summer but black without tint might be a different story. And actually I find the all black G6 interior warmer in general in the summer. I am definitely finding I like the leather much more than I thought I would.

As for the original question...I love cars so for me I think it's more important to find something that I enjoy. I would put up with the inconveniences to enjoy the driving. Also different for me with a two car household. I would think the best plan would be to set a price point and drive as many in that range that you can to see what you think of the differences. Depends on what is more important to you.

 

[cp3]

Wow....could have swore when I read that it was addy....sorry Craig

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: cp3
Wow....could have swore when I read that it was addy....sorry Craig


Haha.. I am not worried at all..

I know what you mean about seat heaters. They do have cloth seats with those too though. They are even better in the cold weather!
My Maxima even had a heated steering wheel. It was a nice feature on chilly mornings, only needed the gloves for about 20 seconds on the steering wheel. It heated up quickly.

 

[cp3]

That would be nice!
Guess cloth has the benefits but not the detractors with seat heaters.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Not very often I meet someone who prefers leather.
Too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer.
Although it does clean up nice.


It really depends on what quality of leather seats you get. The 2004 Buick Regal my FIL has got very low quality leather seats that I'd rather get back into my 95 Corolla cloth seats.

The current Lexus leather seats? Those are awesome, soft, comfortable, temperature regulated, well supported. Other than butt print it is perfect for a good price.

 

[callbay]

The options are half the fun of having a new vehicle. I have had "stripped" vehicles and had "loaded" vehicles and the stripped ones just made me mad. I once traded a loaded Chevy Avalanche for a striped small pickup and I regreated the trade every time I drove the new pickup and it was not the size difference. If you are talking about similar money go for the loaded smaller car. You will enjoy it much more.

 

[IndyIan]

I starting to think cars are just coming in different sizes now. They almost all have strut suspension and similar NVH levels. And if you stick with a 4 banger in a midsize car it has the same acceleration as most small cars too.
I'd guess if you test drove a Yaris-Corolla-Camry on the same day you would notice some differences but probably not as much as you used too. Assuming the seats fit me well, any of those 3 would be fine for a cross country trip.
I like the directness and handling of smaller lighter cars so unless I need a bigger car I'd get the smaller one.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig


Not very often I meet someone who prefers leather.
Too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer.
Although it does clean up nice.


Get'cher flame throwers ready:

I'm actually starting to prefer the synthetic leathers.

Good ones that is, like the BMW Leatherette or MB Tex. Or like the palms of my Mechanix gloves.
They warm up faster than leather when it's cold, are cooler when it's hot, and clean up nicely. They don't get all wrinkly either. (which is the easiest way to tell if it's MB Tex or not for me)

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I'd guess if you test drove a Yaris-Corolla-Camry on the same day you would notice some differences but probably not as much as you used too. Assuming the seats fit me well, any of those 3 would be fine for a cross country trip.


Just since you bought up the Toyota lineup, I can promise you that there's a vast difference, even between the Corolla and Camry, with the things you mentioned. More than I ever thought there'd be. I bought an '07 Corolla in '08, and really liked it. I liked the tight ride, the tight handling, and tossability, etc. Then an opportunity came up to buy a new '11 Camry for really cheap (thank you, recalls), and test drove one. I was hooked before I even left the dealer's parking lot on the test drive. NVH isn't even comparable. Ride smoothness isn't either. I thought I stepped out of a Corolla and into an Avalon or Lexus.

Obviously, there's a ton more space in the Camry, and it's easier for me to get comfortable in it. Even if objective leg/hip/head room is similar between a small car and a larger one, larger cars often have larger chairs and better chair padding. The structure is larger, so NVH seems to be inherently better. Wind noise isn't as loud in the Camry, and there's less wind buffeting on the road than in the Corolla (even though the Camry is still fairly light, at 3200 pounds).

To be sure, if you value a compact side and more direct input movements, smaller cars tend to deliver. If you value a more comfortable ride and more isolated environment, larger cars are probably your thing.