Ultimate Dream Garage: Midsize Madness

[Frisky Dingo]

Yep, I'm going there. With all the recent pieces on the decline of the sedan segment- primarily the midsize one- I thought what better way to honor that classic, one-time quintessential staple of American families than by doing a Dream Garage thread.

So here are the rules-

1) It must have been a car for sale in YOUR market.

2) Any era is allowed.

3) It must be a mainstream brand, midsize family sedan. No compacts, full-sizes, etc. Ignore EPA ratings. We will use model hierarchy and position in market place.

4) Maximum of 5 cars.

5) Try to make these cars fulfill as many roles as possible- sport, family hauling, etc.

 

 

EDIT- I WILL ALSO ALLOW WAGON/SPORTBACK VARIANTS OF SAID VEHICLES

[Frisky Dingo]

I was actually able to easily and quickly assemble this collection-

 

Mazdaspeed 6-

 

Legacy GT Spec B

 

Malibu Premier

 

Passat W8 4Motion Wagon

 

Altima SE-R

Edited September 9, 2016 by Frisky Dingo

[Drew Dowdell]

2009 Buick Lacrosse Super

1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme International Sedan, 3.4 DOHC with 5-speed manual (SE model pictured)  - Such a sleeper with this setup, all the power and torque of a Taurus SHO in a lighter body.

1990-92 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

2017 Subaru Legacy Outback H6

1983 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royale (What? In 1983, that was squarely Mid-size... the Ninety-Eight and Custom Cruiser were the full-size.)

If my last pick doesn't count, then I'll just sub in a Final 500 Oldsmobile Intrigue as my collectors car.

[Frisky Dingo]

Very nice!

[Drew Dowdell]

32 minutes ago, Frisky Dingo said:

Very nice!

I like your idea of the Passat W8 4motion wagon and I'd swap my Subaru out for it as a family hauler if those VWs weren't such maintenance nightmares. 

 

Another one where I wasn't sure of the rules.  The Charger/Magnum is a large car by EPA standards, and also is at the top of the Dodge food chain, however it regularly sells at prices similar to any other mid-size car out there...... Would that count or no? The reason that gets confusing is that the Accord, which is a mid-size by nearly every measure, is EPA large car in some configurations and sits at the top of the Honda ladder. 

[Frisky Dingo]

No Magnum. That's why i was careful to base it upon position in model range and place in market. 

[Robert Hall]

Hmmm...never had a midsize sedan in my life, though many as rentals.  For an oldie, I like my brother's '69 Fairlane sedan, 390 4bbl w/ automatic.  Pretty quick in a plain dark green wrapper with dog dish hubcaps.  I've driven it a few times and it's fun...  

I guess my dream midsize would be a BMW E39 540i or M5.  Though a Merc W124 300 sedan would be good also, I've enjoyed driving my sister's 300CE.

For modern midsizers, I wouldn't kick a Malibu (current or previous generation) or a current gen Focus out of my garage/carport...

[Drew Dowdell]

I think he's going for mainstream brands, so no Benzes or BMWs would qualify, at least as far as mid-sizers go.... both brands are moving into the mainstream in compacts. 

[Robert Hall]

30 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I think he's going for mainstream brands, so no Benzes or BMWs would qualify, at least as far as mid-sizers go.... both brands are moving into the mainstream in compacts. 

Ah, missed that...though Audis, Benzes and BMWs are so common around here that they are pretty mainstream...

[Drew Dowdell]

3 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

Ah, missed that...though Audis, Benzes and BMWs are so common around here that they are pretty mainstream...

Yeah, the story last week about the mainstream mid-size sedan segment shrinking in terms of total sales is what spurred him to make this thread.

[Robert Hall]

Just now, Drew Dowdell said:

Yeah, the story last week about the mainstream mid-size sedan segment shrinking in terms of total sales is what spurred him to make this thread.

That makes me wonder...how are luxury mid size sedan sales going?  Shrinking also?  I would assume so, since luxury CUV ans SUV sales seem to be growing..

[ccap41]

2017 Fusion Sport

Regal GS

VW CC VR6

Mazdaspeed 6

Honda Accord Hybrid

[ykX]

Mazdaspeed 6

Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Spec B

Subaru Legacy GT Wagon

Honda Accord Hybrid

[frogger]

Cannot think of anything not mentioned yet except for a 1995 Taurus SHO..  Also have a soft spot for 4 door Acura Integra GSR's of the same vintage.

 

 

[Drew Dowdell]

28 minutes ago, frogger said:

Cannot think of anything not mentioned yet except for a 1995 Taurus SHO..  Also have a soft spot for 4 door Acura Integra GSR's of the same vintage.

 

 

Let's see your top 5!

[ccap41]

Charger/300 is too large for this segment, right? Because I would easily swap any one of mine for a Hellcat Charger or SRT 300.

[Frisky Dingo]

Great lists, guys!

 

Ccap, the CC technically shouldn't make the cut. The Passat fulfills that role for VW. Also, no LX cars.

[ccap41]

The EPA rates it technically as a "compact"... I know you weren't going by just epa ratings or anything but it's at least on the wrong side of size:price:hierarchy "ratio". Everything else sucks in this class. Almost everything just..sucks.. Wait! You chose a damn station wagon! Those are in classes of their own!

Yeah, I thought the LX cars were too big. Oh well.

[Cmicasa the Great]

Mainstream??? So no Luxos above Buick, Lincoln, Acura?

 

 

[Frisky Dingo]

6 minutes ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

Mainstream??? So no Luxos above Buick, Lincoln, Acura?

 

 

Acura and Lincoln themselves are not included.

10 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

The EPA rates it technically as a "compact"... I know you weren't going by just epa ratings or anything but it's at least on the wrong side of size:price:hierarchy "ratio". Everything else sucks in this class. Almost everything just..sucks.. Wait! You chose a damn station wagon! Those are in classes of their own!

Yeah, I thought the LX cars were too big. Oh well.

 

I made an addendum to allow for wagon variants. The CC sits at the top of VW's sedan line-up, therefore it is excluded.

 

[ccap41]

No way.. the only reason it's atop their lineup is it has a sexy body.

Addendum for "tiny cars in big bones". CC is allowed!

Fine, I'll take a 2011 when the Phaeton sat above it.

[G. David Felt]

H'mmm,

Buick Grand National from the 80's

Chevy Monte Carlo Aero from the mid 80's

Cannot think of any other sedan I would want or could fit into.

[Drew Dowdell]

4 minutes ago, dfelt said:

H'mmm,

Buick Grand National from the 80's

Chevy Monte Carlo Aero from the mid 80's

Cannot think of any other sedan I would want or could fit into.

Both of those are coupes.

[G. David Felt]

2 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Both of those are coupes.

Sadly for me there is just no passion in this segment. All they seem to be is appliance auto's for the most part. I guess if it has to be a 4 door sedan over 2 door, then I would go with the Chevy SS.

[Drew Dowdell]

Just now, dfelt said:

Sadly for me there is just no passion in this segment. All they seem to be is appliance auto's for the most part. I guess if it has to be a 4 door sedan over 2 door, then I would go with the Chevy SS.

Breaks the "no top shelf" rule.

[G. David Felt]

Strike out is me!

Auto Industry, this is why you are in reduction mode for mid size sedans / cars. No passion, nothing to inspire people to buy your appliance auto's.

[ccap41]

30 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Sadly for me there is just no passion in this segment. All they seem to be is appliance auto's for the most part. I guess if it has to be a 4 door sedan over 2 door, then I would go with the Chevy SS.

Yup, it's a pretty terrible segment, for the most part. Even in the compact car segment there are 'hot' versions. I mean the new Fusion Sport is about it now.

[oldshurst442]

2017 Ford Fusion Sport...even though I read your review on it and it might not be what I was looking for... for it...

It is still a  compelling package non-the-less.

A Platinum 2.0 Ecoboost will do as well.

 

Frisky....you took the 2005 Altima SE-R before I could...its OK.

Ill do a Nissan Maxima instead.

1995 Nissan Maxima SE

1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme  International Series or 1996-7 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Both with the 3.4 liter V6 DOHC.

Guys...maybe the Chevy SS is off limits, but not the Pontiac G8 GXP...

Chevy Malibu 2.0T Premier

 

I did not want to do Buick Regal since Buick is kinda premium lux.

Yeah, I know....I did Oldsmobile when Oldsmobile was kinda premium lux....well....Oldsmobile is no longer so....Wait a second, I got something in my eye.

 

 

[Stew]

This is a tough one for me.  Since the CC is off limits, at least that leaves one extra spot in my top 5 to fill.  I am also only concentrating on FWD models. 

 

1.  2015+ Chrysler 200S V6

 

1992-1995 Taurus SHO manual trans

 

1997-2003 Grand Prix GTP

 

1998-04 Regal GS

And just to throw everyone off:  2011 Camry Sport V6