Yet another first impressions thread!

[Qwkynuf]

I know that there are a ton of these, so I will keep it brief.

Today I went to my dealer to order a Ruby Red GT, and wound up looking at and driving a Guard V6. I had no intention of buying it, but my sales guy loves to go on test drives...

I am coming from a 2006 V6 Premium which I bought new and put 189,000 miles on - so this is what I base my comparison on.

These are the things that I noticed:

• Guard is a *really* interesting color. It was overcast today, and you really had to look to see the green in it
• The car looks and feels small (compared to my 06). It is much lower at the waistline and roofline. Compared to the 06, the hood looks shorter from the driver's seat, and it drives like it is smaller than it is
• The mirrors are TINY!
• Everyone and their brother has used the word "refined", so I won't. The V6 felt plenty powerful, but it didn't feel 100HP more powerful than my 4.0.
• Much *much* less noisy than my 06. This is both good and bad. It will be much easier to carry on a phone conversation, but I definitely wasn't hearing the engine/exhaust/mechanicals like I did in the old car, especially when accelerating.
• I *love* the shifter! Smooth as silk!
• The seats, even in the base trim, are very comfortable and supportive
• I was pleasantly surprised by the steering feel. This was the first car that I have driven with electric power steering that didn't have a dead on-center feel
• Did I mention that I love the shifter?
• I didn't climb back there, but the back seat looked a little more cramped than my 06
• The console cover/storage area is smaller and farther back (to the rear) than my 06
• It had Hankook tires on it. I didn't think to look at the size or model

In summary, my 2006, which was bone stock, was a fun car. It was a little rough around the edges, a little visceral, a little unshaven. The 2015 is none of those things.

Look at it this way - if my 2006 was the Daniel Craig version of James Bond, the '15 is the Pierce Brosnan one.

Qwkuynuf

Sponsored

 

[Tascam]

Hah i've heard the James Bond analogy before and it's a good one.

Interesting you mentioned mirrors are tiny. Has this been a common complaint among owners so far?

I keep hearing about how great the shifter is and can't wait to try it myself.

 

[Qwkynuf]

Interesting you mentioned mirrors are tiny. Has this been a common complaint among owners so far?

I can't speak for others, I am only comparing to my memory of my 2006. Since the one I drove today was a V6, it was giving up a fair amount of real estate to the blind spot mirrors. Beyond that, though, to me it felt like the '15 mirrors were maybe 25% smaller than the '06?

I am sure I will get used to it, but it felt like I was looking through the wrong end of a telescope. Maybe I am just getting old.

Luckily, my car will have BLIS, so I will get back a good size chunk of the surface area.

Qwkynuf

 

[Tascam]

BLIS is great but there is no replacement for the mirrors. I do like the sculpted look of the new ones but didn't realize they were significantly smaller.

Hopefully it doesnt cause any blind spot issues.

 

[Qwkynuf]

BLIS is great but there is no replacement for the mirrors. I do like the sculpted look of the new ones but didn't realize they were significantly smaller.

Hopefully it doesnt cause any blind spot issues.

Spot mirrors are fine, as far as they go, but they don't replace turning your head and looking. I feel the same way about BLIS. I have driven a couple of rental cars that had it though, and I do like having the little warning light when someone is overtaking on your right.

Sponsored