What's the best Japanese Sedan available here?

[midinite]

Is it a market leader or an underrated player. Let us know you opinion and why you chose what you did.

[niky]

Very hard to answer. Depends on what you want, really.

For 99% of the people out there, the only answer can be Civic. Best engines, best engineering, good space for the class, and a much better deal in value-for-money than Hondas of old were... minus a few problems with paint, trim and construction.

BUt for that final 1% who actually care about the act of driving, it really has to be the Mazda3/Ford Focus twins. While they might not have the straightline punch - good economy combination that Honda gives, both feel a cut above in terms of the driving experience, and, in certain ways, feel much more expensive and sophisticated.

That final 1% includes a lot of Tsikoteers, so I'm betting a lot of guys will ditto me on the Mazda3...

[Sarsi]

Very hard to answer. Depends on what you want, really.

For 99% of the people out there, the only answer can be Civic. Best engines, best engineering, good space for the class, and a much better deal in value-for-money than Hondas of old were... minus a few problems with paint, trim and construction.

BUt for that final 1% who actually care about the act of driving, it really has to be the Mazda3/Ford Focus twins. While they might not have the straightline punch - good economy combination that Honda gives, both feel a cut above in terms of the driving experience, and, in certain ways, feel much more expensive and sophisticated.

That final 1% includes a lot of Tsikoteers, so I'm betting a lot of guys will ditto me on the Mazda3...

+1.....

[alwayz_yummy]

mazda3 2.0r...kung sedan, focus hatch kung hatch, mazda6 kung executive sedan, but....this is just for me... so dito ako sa sinabi din nni sir niky.

[Jun aka Pekto]

Best sedan? Big segment with lots of little subsegments. Bah. What the heck. I'm biased too.

I have a 2006 Hyundai Sonata V6 here. If we moved there today, I'd buy another Hyundai Sonata V6 (identical to the one here). Lots of room, decent horsepower with good acceleration, comfortable for long drives, and after driving up the twisties in the mountains so my kid can see more snow, it's more than nimble enough for Manila's streets. I guess the electronic stability control helped a lot.

Resale value may suck. But then, we're talking about the car itself not what you might do with it in 5 years.

Unbiased...... I'd go for a turbo, AWD Subbie like the Legacy or Forester.

[froshie1]

Toyota Camry

[Pro323_b5]

Very hard to answer. Depends on what you want, really.

For 99% of the people out there, the only answer can be Civic. Best engines, best engineering, good space for the class, and a much better deal in value-for-money than Hondas of old were... minus a few problems with paint, trim and construction.

BUt for that final 1% who actually care about the act of driving, it really has to be the Mazda3/Ford Focus twins. While they might not have the straightline punch - good economy combination that Honda gives, both feel a cut above in terms of the driving experience, and, in certain ways, feel much more expensive and sophisticated.

That final 1% includes a lot of Tsikoteers, so I'm betting a lot of guys will ditto me on the Mazda3...

I couldn't agree more! I'm part of that 1%. Mazda 3 for compact sedan and Mazda 6 2.3 for midsized sedan. I won't justify my answers because these cars speak for themselves.

[ghosthunter]

Is it a market leader or an underrated player. Let us know you opinion and why you chose what you did.

best sedan?... depends on the size/price range you would be talking about.

If price isn't a limiting factor, you might want to look at the Toyota Camry 3.0L, this has a good mix of good ride quality, excellent engine power, comfortable interior and executive external styling.

[mcbry]

best sedan?... depends on the size/price range you would be talking about.

If price isn't a limiting factor, you might want to look at the Toyota Camry 3.0L, this has a good mix of good ride quality, excellent engine power, comfortable interior and executive external styling.

+1
Toyota Camry

[niky]

Well, if we're to include midsizers, it depends on what you consider a practical price. If it's "price no object", hell, give me a Mitsubishi Evo IX MR.

I'd pick the Camry if I was riding in the back seat, but in that price range, if you're the driver, siguro Mazda6 or Subaru Imprexa WRX (non-STI).

[mazdamazda]

If price is taken into account, then it would be the Mazda3 2.0R / Ford Focus 2.0L Sport or Mazda6 2.3L.

The Camry 3.5L V6 is a good pick if you don't mind the price and is chaufered. Though if price is taken into account, then a lot more sedans make more sense like the Sonata 3.3L V6. It may not have the electronic gizmo or be as refined as the Camry at least it is P500K cheaper and slug it out in acceleration tests.

[Jun aka Pekto]

The Camry 3.5L V6 is a good pick if you don't mind the price and is chaufered. Though if price is taken into account, then a lot more sedans make more sense like the Sonata 3.3L V6. It may not have the electronic gizmo or be as refined as the Camry at least it is P500K cheaper and slug it out in acceleration tests.

The 3.5L V6 Camry will smoke my 3.3L V6 Sonata at 0-60 mph and 1/4 mile by several tenths of a second. It's the Azera that can tangle with the new Camry in acceleration.

Where the (2006) Sonata shines is the fact that it doesn't have a speed governor. A guy in Phoenix, AZ went to jail recently for doing 147 mph in a rental Sonata that was recorded by expressway cameras/lasers. Hyundai actually testified that the car can really reach 147 mph in tests they conducted. In wide open AZ, it's possible. There's even rumors in Korea of 2006 V6 Sonatas able to reach 160 mph given enough space. Not bad for a $21k A/T midsize car.

2007 V6 Sonatas will probably have speed governors installed. So, I guess I'm lucky to have a 2006 one.

[arvic]

Well, if we're to include midsizers, it depends on what you consider a practical price. If it's "price no object", hell, give me a Mitsubishi Evo IX MR.

I'd pick the Camry if I was riding in the back seat, but in that price range, if you're the driver, siguro Mazda6 or Subaru Imprexa WRX (non-STI).

+1

EVO!!!:megaphone:

Best Sedan ever! without comfortability..... :hihihi:

[mazdamazda]

Weytaminit... I forgot about the Subaru WRX! The best back for the buck performance sedan available here in the Philippines.

[yuichi]

im a guy who'll always prefer a mid-sized sedan that is both sporty and has luxurious touch. it can run smooth and quiet, and at times could rev high with a flick of the SI control for that familiar boxer engine sound that translates into 245hp and more than 300nm of torque. its a combination of driving a Galant that can go wild like as Evo. but sadly, Mitsubishi does'nt have that, nor Toyota or Honda, not even Mazda.
its only the Soobie......sayang nga lang ala pa nito sa atin. pero pede daw order

3.0 Subaru Legacy B4


on the topic.....Mazda3 nga or Subaru WRX (not STI) kung may pera ka.
im looking forward to testdrive Mazda3 when i go home. baka mas ok nga siya compare to Civic.

[ptk675]

if on a budget, i'd pick the mazda bros. M6 and M3. both cars look good inside and out, both are very good driver's cars and either one wont break the bank (well, not as much as the competition).

if price is no object, then you can bet i'd be headed straight to the scooby shop in edsa