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Full Size: LeSabre, Concorde/Intrepid, Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis, Bonneville,
Avalon
By Bob Storck
The major distinguishing feature of this market segment is the ability
to seat six persons in some level of comfort at an affordable price.
Once these were the best sellers, the choice of large families, but
first minivans then SUVs have proved to be more popular. Large cars are
especially popular with mature buyers, with the fifth and sixth seats
are occupied only on occasional shopping, church and restaurant trips.
Once these were the darling of police and taxi drivers, but everyone
but Ford has abandoned the large, rear-drive. The result is an abundance
of Crown Vic police cars and lots of minivan and sport ute taxis.
Full size cars used to be hard to park, bad on gas mileage, and only
loved by older people. Today's models offer almost as much interior
room, but in a smaller exterior package - in the order of a foot or two
smaller outside.
As Americans get disenchanted with sport utes and grow older, this is
bound to be a segment that will gain in popularity. Traditionally the
classification was the province of American cars. The foreign
contingents checked in with Avalon and don't be surprised if Honda and
Korean Hyundai join this growing segment. By shifting mechanical
components, the new Chevy Impala, Pontiac Bonneville and Toyota Avalon
have big interiors without a large exterior.
The Impala revives an honored name and emphasizes value, while Pontiac remains true to its
performance roots, and Toyota delivers quiet refinement.
Full Size Cars
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