Best Full-Size Car (VOTE!)

[YSSMAN]

Thanks for the last minute nominations guys. I know this was a bit harder to do since I put a cap on luxury models, but we've got a pretty decent list. If the voting is really one-sided, we can skip right to the next category (probably MPVs or crossovers... Or both in the same category).

Okay, best full-size car. The nominees are:

Holden Commodore (Pontiac G8)
Hyundai Azera
Dodge Charger
Chrysler 300
Toyota Avalon
Skod Superb
Volvo S80
Citroen C6
VW Phaeton (Fits UK price, EU price is off a bit, isn't sold in US any longer)

Keep it clean, vote and debate, whatever. I'll give it two days (or so) for voting. Then we'll move on.

---

And is my vote any kind of a surprise?

The Holden Commodore SS

​

Lets be honest, whats better than a full-size, V8-powered sedan with plenty of luxury and sport options made available at a reasonable price? For right around $30-35K US, we'll be getting the Pontiac G8 GT, the direct-descendant of the Commodore SS, nearly identical in price to the actual Aussie model.

With the car being screwed together tighter than most things American or European, build quality is pretty darn good, and when combined with the excelent performance from the various V6 and V8 power options, the Commodore turns out to not only be a great car... But Car of the Year in Australia for 2006.

In my mind, it doesn't get much better than the Commodore. Its just the right size, with the right look, and American-power to boot. The only thing thats better is indeed the tuned-up HSV versions, or moving up a bit, obvious and outrageous uber-sedans from Germany. But lets be honest, its more fun kicking-ass in an Aussie car...

Oh, and:



(Little more than six months to go!)

EDIT: I accidentally pressed multiple votes... Please vote only once...

 

[Jim Prower]

Commodore. Because I'm still waiting on the LY Mopars, since the others are FF (based) and the Commodore is (begrudgingly) the better FR option over LX.

 

[Keef]

Well if I would have seen the "Pontiac G8" in parenthesis.....nah.

Have you ever driven a GTO? That transmission reminds me of the manual in work's old 2500 parts truck. The throw is about 7 inches long, the feel is terrible, you're never really sure if the gate is in the same spot as last time, the vibration is seriously annoying, and it feels as if the stick has some sort of sandy friction with something as it rows through the gears. And the engine sounds like it's running lean under full throttle. SRT-8s for the win, but I voted S80, because it's perfectly Volvo.

 

[Jim Prower]

and that's an entriely different platform, bud, the LAST generation Monaro. no dice.

 

[Keef]

But it'll be using the same engine and transmission. Hopefully the platform itself is way better, because I didn't even get into the suspension and ride and structural vibrations of the GTO.

And the steering wheel was massive.

 

[Jim Prower]

I doubt it'd have those problems.

 

[Jay]

But it'll be using the same engine and transmission. Hopefully the platform itself is way better, because I didn't even get into the suspension and ride and structural vibrations of the GTO.

And the steering wheel was massive.

What GTO did you drive? Sure it wasn't this one?

Having driven the GTO (in Holden form) and various Commodores of similar specs I never noticed the problems you have had. Must have been a lemon or one that has been wrongly 'tinkered' with.

 

[YSSMAN]

But it'll be using the same engine and transmission. Hopefully the platform itself is way better, because I didn't even get into the suspension and ride and structural vibrations of the GTO.

And the steering wheel was massive.

It won't use the same engine and transmission. The Pontiac G8 will use an American version of the 6.0L L76 V8 based off of the LS2. Our version will have cylinder deactivation and the ability to run on E85, and truth be told, I think it will run on regular fuel as well. The transmission will be similar to the manual GTOs, being that it was based on the T56, but I believe this generation's transmissions are called M10. Otherwise we have the same six-speed 6L80E automatic from the Corvette C6, which is a very nice automatic (if you ask me).

I never noticed any vibrations with the GTO personally, and if there were (I doubt there were many), it would have been fixed in the generational switch from VZ to VE (Omega to Zeta). The G8 will likely share 98% of everything with the Holden in terms of quality and performance, the main differences being the grille and the arrowhead badges. Hell, the G8 is even built next-to the Commodore down in Oz.

And the steering wheel? You've got to be pretty picky, huh? I didn't find it to be any bigger than the one in my Jetta...

 

[Danny]

Grrr.

The 300C has one thing that none of the others (with the possible exception of the Charger), effortless cool.

 

[Keef]

Can I change my vote? I was in an anti-GTO rage and wasn't thinking clearly. I agree with Danny, as I love the SRT-8s to death. There's absolutely nothing cool about the Volvo.

But I'm sticking with the caveman transmission assertion. I realize it's a big car with a big engine and big power, but must it have a truck-like shift action?

 

[Jay.]

Come on guys, take a look at the VW Phaeton.
When you see one of these cars three feet in front of you,
they are overwhelming. They have name and reputation,
they have reliability, and they have power (enough for most people.)
They are even built on the same chassis as the Bentley Continental GT.

This is what you can get for less than £40,000 -

3.2ltr V6
6 Speed Gbox
150mph
241bhp
0-60mph in 9.3 secs

 

[Metar]

Tell me this isn't pure beauty:

Come to think of it, though, Citroen themselves marketed it as a Luxury car. Certainly is luxurious to float over bumps without even feeling them.

And even more luxurious when it brakes down 5 minutes later.

 

[Famine]

The Phaeton is awesome (but £40k? Since when?), but the C6 is a different gravy.

 

[JCE]

I voted for the car I nominated, the Hyundai Azera. Its just the best complete car here for the least amount of money. While I'd prefer the Commodore, G8, Phaeton, Charger, and the S80 if money was no object--but it is an object so that is my vote.

 

[Jim Prower]

Tell me this isn't pure beauty:

It isn't. It's French Wierd. Not that that's bad (Megane, Clio V6)...but that particular one is.

 

[YSSMAN]

Personally, as a VW guy, I'd love to vote for the Phaeton... But there is one problem: They don't sell them in the US anymore, much less did they for a reasonable price.

For me, it would always be between the 300C and the Commodore/G8. The Azera is a surprisingly good car, but it just isn't my cup of tea. The C6 is incredible, but I've never seen one in person, so its hard to make a call.

...Although, the Volvo S80 isn't a bad car. I quite liked it when I spent some time with one here in G-Rap. But I'd only ever get the V8 model, and that is way outside of the price range.

So Commodore it is!

 

[Jim Prower]

I mean, you wouldn't have thought it, but I voted Commodore, because I think it's the best thing going...in 2007. I mean, I'm hopeful the LY models will be even better, but the LX is getting old, it's not the best dynamically, and only comes with an auto tranny.

I'd love to see a Charger take on the Falcon and Commodore on Mount Panorama. The LX was once the best car America had, but it's time to replace it. I'm excited to see what the Challenger, the new 300, and new Charger will look like and what they can do. I hope that Chrysler can keep up with, or even better, surpass, G.M.'s aggressive program. But this is 2007, not 2010, and the Zeta's King of the Hill in the V8 Supercar size class.

((By the way, by the end of the summer, a few of the cars on this list shall become racers on my pieces of paper, including...))

((Commodore, as a Chevy Impala painted like the Lacetti Tourers))
((Charger, In Kasey Kahne's paint scheme from last year, as well as Southern Pacific Railway's "Daylight" livery))
((Phaeton, in a cross of Autobacs/ARTA and VW Racing Scheme))
((S80, in the old BTCC scheme))

 

[Famine]

Personally, as a VW guy, I'd love to vote for the Phaeton... But there is one problem: They don't sell them in the US anymore, much less did they for a reasonable price.

It doesn't fit the price bracket in any territory. The cheapest Phaeton is 10% over your limit.

 

[ExigeEvan]

This really is quite an open vote to me. The C6 might just make it though as it is quite innovative.

The 300C has one thing that none of the others (with the possible exception of the Charger), the ability to be a hearse.

Well said Danny 👍

 

[Jay.]

It doesn't fit the price bracket in any territory. The cheapest Phaeton is 10% over your limit.

Sorry Famine, but all you've got to do is look around.
If you're going to spend that sort of money you 're gonna want the best price.
Three examples below all give the 3.2 V6 for less than £40k.
I know it's a bit tight, but my vote still goes with the Phaeton.

Deal #1 - £38,007 - VW's own website.

Deal #2 - £38,564

Deal #3 - £39,607

 

[toyomatt84]

Come on guys, take a look at the VW Phaeton.
When you see one of these cars three feet in front of you,
they are overwhelming. They have name and reputation,
they have reliability, and they have power (enough for most people.)
They are even built on the same chassis as the Bentley Continental GT.

This is what you can get for less than £40,000 -

3.2ltr V6
6 Speed Gbox
150mph
241bhp
0-60mph in 9.3 secs

[ IMG]http://www.vcv.lt/garazas/Jokalamane/VWphaeton.jpg[/IMG]

[ IMG]http://atmsphr.org/upload/VW-P.jpg[/IMG]​

Since my mother owns one, I'll let you in on a little something. They're maintenance nightmares. Her's has been in the shop more often than she's had it to drive. Constant electrical failures, and a list of computer nightmares make this one of the worst car's she's owned yet. She's got the 4.2L V8 model as well.

Tell me this isn't pure beauty:

[ img]http://photo.netcarshow.com/Citroen-C6_2006_photo_19.jpg[/img]
[ img]http://photo.netcarshow.com/Citroen-C6_2006_photo_16.jpg[/img]
[ img]http://photo.netcarshow.com/Citroen-C6_2006_photo_07.jpg[/img]


Come to think of it, though, Citroen themselves marketed it as a Luxury car. Certainly is luxurious to float over bumps without even feeling them.

And even more luxurious when it brakes down 5 minutes later.

That definitely isn't pure beauty. With that obscure of proportions, that car is hideous. Take a look at the side photo. The nose of the car is twice (or more) the length of the rear of the car. Looks horribly out of proportion.

 

[Famine]

Sorry Famine, but all you've got to do is look around.
If you're going to spend that sort of money you 're gonna want the best price.
Three examples below all give the 3.2 V6 for less than £40k.
I know it's a bit tight, but my vote still goes with the Phaeton.

Deal #1 - £38,007 - VW's own website.

Offer price from £38,007 RRP

The Phaeton has everything you'd expect from a car in this class. The only thing you might not have expected is this offer. Buy a Phaeton 5 seat 3.0 V6 TDI 4MOTION and you could save £4,750 on the recommended retail price.

Model - Phaeton 3.0 V6 TDI 4MOTION 5 seat
Recommended retail price - £42,757
Saving - £4,750
Recommended Offer price - £38,007

This offer applies to all vehicles sold and registered between 1st April and 30th June 2007.

RRP for even the most basic model is £42,757.

Here's the link I posted earlier showing RRPs for all models of the Phaeton.


Where do you draw the line for car prices? Best deal or MRRP?

 

[Jay.]

Where do you draw the line for car prices? Best deal or MRRP?

Ok! I would love to argue but we'll call a truce on this one if that's ok?

Maybe it would be a good idea to draw the line for any future votes
at MRRP so to avoid any confusion like this?

I will keep my vote fro the Phaeton for now
unless the car is withdrawn from the nominations.

 

[Famine]

Truce? Who's fighting?

And yes, I agree.

 

[Jay.]

That definitely isn't pure beauty. With that obscure of proportions, that car is hideous. Take a look at the side photo. The nose of the car is twice (or more) the length of the rear of the car. Looks horribly out of proportion.

I'll second that.
The Citreon IS ugly.
But again it's all down to personal likes and dislikes.

 

[TuneRVisioN]

Just curious, if nominations are still going on, a Dodge Magnum can be nominated? It is a wagon version of the charger IMO.

I picked the Chrysler 300, due to the fact that when I even was in the backseat of the base model, I was having one of the most enjoyable rides ever. I rather sleep in that car than my bed. I love how the Hearse looks, at first I thought it was a Dodge Magnum with a Chrysler 300 front end. For once, Chrysler built a pretty good car IMO... 👍

Pretty good compared to the Chrysler Aspen, or the almighty Sebring.

 

[YSSMAN]

Where do you draw the line for car prices? Best deal or MRRP?

I was using What Car? for pricing in the UK, which made it under (I think the number was 36K that they were quoting), but oddly enough VW.de shot way, way over. I think when they were in the US they would barely scratch under $45K, but I can't recall for certain.

So, yes, its out. My mistake...

 

[1X83Z]

$45k? The list price on a brand new, base-model, 2006 Phaeton was $66700. Hell, invoice was north of $60k. Poor inclusion. However to be fair we never got a six-cylinder Phaeton; that could run the price lower. But any vehicle where there is a six-figure option should not be running in the same league as the Hyundai Azera.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Well I still haven't cast my vote,, buit I've got a day left, but when checking to see how things were going so far (Skoda has one vote, and it's not from me!) I noticed Sakiale has voted for atleast 3 cars.

 

[Danny]

Well said Danny 👍
By the way I thought you should all know I lie and make up stuff.

It's good of you to be so honest!