A lot of those older folks have found out you can get all the quality luxury options found in a Lexus in an Avalon for a lot less money too.

I'd almost consider selling my Accord for $19k, but then my wife wouldn't have anything to complain about when it comes to garage space.

And yes it is more fun than your 'basic' Accord.

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Test drove some last night, going out again today. The Rustang is still top of the list, Accord is out. Bored the hell out of me, and the optioned low-miles models I looked at are substantially above what I want to pay. Top candidate is this car:
Used 2013 Ford Mustang 2dr Cpe V6 Premium at Brien Ford, Everett 1ZVBP8AM4D5252988

That's what makes Toyotas so attractive, I just wish they would combine that with some driving passion. Even Toyota has realized they need to attract a younger demographic and why they came up with Scion. Scion was supposed to attract the 18-24 year old age group but for some reason that hasn't happened.

The Avalon, while bland, really does offer everything you'd expect in a Lexus without the badge. It disappears into the background which is exactly what some folks want. I wish I could buy a rear drive German car that did the same thing without the badge.

You must have tried an i4, not a V-6 Accord. I would have to agree, the i4's with the CVT are boring as all get out. The V-6 is a totally different car, IMO.

I would argue that Toyota is riding upon its legacy, not product. Sure they make reliable cars, but other companies build equally reliable cars that are more attractive and better to drive.

I just adore my 2014 Mazda3 S. It's feels so light and nimble. In normal driving it short shifts its way to >30mpg (on regular) not matter what I do. Be nice to it on the highway and it'll average 36mph. Push the sport mode button and it becomes a different car. Paddle shifters allow you to kick it down a gear not matter which mode you're in, or you can set to complete manual mode and just use the shifters.

As much as I loved my A6 on the highway, the 3 was obviously put together by folks who care about driving. Yeah, the whole "Zoom Zoom" thing may have run it's course, but Mazda just does things differently than other car makers.

Interior is clean and modern. The "tablet glued to the dash" look was odd at first, but I'm okay with it now. My one complaint? Road noise. But, I expect that will be improved in 10-15K when I lose the factory rubber.

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Joel,
Boosters. It's OK, I brought them back from the dealer in it. I'm tickled pink with my choice.



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Nice, congrats!

How's the torque with the manual? Its gotta be a hoot to drive. Very nice color.

Pretty docile below 3500rpm. Above that it really livens up. It's no rocket ship, but it's pretty quick and it looks great and is well optioned. Mrs LedHed approves, and supports a more raucous exhaust system as quickly as possible.

Keep the revs up and its pretty rewarding. It's a little soft in the corners, but handles pretty well for having a truck suspension.

;):D