Nominations for our Ten Best Automobiles for 2007 proceed apace. So far, you’ve nominated 96 different [sold as] new vehicles, from the A3 to the Z4. We thought you might appreciate some fresh cyberspace in which to nominate, elucidate and participate in this automotive love-fest. Nominations are open until midnight (EST) this Friday; feel free to forward any further contenders or add your comments up until the deadline. Our writers will then select twenty finalists so you can choose the Ten Best. Meanwhile, here are some highlights from your nominations for the best of the best.
In nominating the Ford Crown Victoria, Ingvar stated, “I am not American, and I haven’t been to the USA. But if I went there, I would buy one just to feel as American as possible. This and the Town Car should be put up in the MOMA or the Smithsonian as examples of true heroes of American industrialism.”
Matthew Sullivan explained how the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution earned his respect. “At first, I had no idea what I was getting… [Then] I got seat time in some of the greats in all prices ranges: Vette, Viper, M3, M5 (the new one), Boxster, S4, Mini Cooper JCW, Miata, Golf GTI, Civic Si, Euro Focus ST, etc… Eventually I came to realize that the Evo was my ‘price is no object’ car.”
There were plenty of paeans to more prosaic machines. Steven Lang nominated the Toyota Corolla. “I know this is a shocker from a sports car enthusiast. However I have to tip my hat to a model that represents the pinnacle of reliability, fuel efficiency, design efficiency, and just plain common sense. As a commuting device the Corolla simply makes more sense than any other compact car.”
As this part of the process does depend on the weight of numbers, I haven’t totaled up the number of nominations for each car (if someone wants to…). It seems fairly clear that the Mazda MX-5 and Jeep Wrangler are well-loved and respected favorites.
Steve Green spoke for many when he praised this most quintessential of American off-roaders: “A great vehicle is neither more nor less than exactly what it needs to be. By that measure, the new Jeep Wrangler is a damn good vehicle. The new Wrangler distills 60 years of tradition into unheard-of off-road skills, and better on-road manners than anyone could reasonably expect.”
HawaiiJim was positively poetic in his ardor for the Subaru Forester.
Not too wide and not too tall,
Its versatility stuns us all.
All-wheel drive for a stormy day,
Easy loading is its way.
Entry needs no leaps or bends
Through curvy roads it easily wends.
Gorgeous, No, babe-magnet, Not…
But super visibility makes it hot.
Common sense makes one thing clear
I nominate Forester with no fear!
Several commentators wanted to know why readers were nominating cars they had never driven, owned or otherwise personally experienced. As Virgil said, they can because they think they can. And they’re right. There are a lot of good reasons for nominating a car for a the Ten Best: looks, sound, specifications, technological prowess, pedigree, reputation, etc. Besides, in these YouTubular times, personal experience comes in many forms.
Ryan remarked: “When all these nominations are rounded up, it’d be interesting to see how many cars were nominated for both Ten Best and Ten Worst.” So I dug out the list of Ten Worst Automobiles nominees and had a look. They are the best of cars; they are the worst of cars.
Acura TL
Audi A3
BMW Z4
Chevy Impala
Chrysler 300C/SRT8
Ford Crown Victoria
Ford F150
Ford Mustang
Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Honda Fit
Hyundai Tiburon
Jeep Wrangler
Land Rover Range Rover
Lincoln Town Car
Mazda RX-8
MINI Cooper
Mitsubishi Lancer GS
Pontiac Solstice/GPX
Porsche Cayenne Turbo
Saturn Sky/Red Line
Scion xB
Toyota Camry
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Prius
VW Jetta GLI
VW Rabbit
This bi-polar poll demonstrates our readers’ catholic (small c) tastes. Which brings us to ole’s observation: “Do you guys even know how great this is, that 122 people have commented and stayed on topic, and haven’t abused each other for their opinions? How cool and [unfortunately] rare.”
Even though the delete button did see some service, I echo that sentiment. TTAC has the best group of readers in cyberland. While the comments on many other automotive websites often degenerate into flame wars and sophomoric name-calling, we can count on you, our faithful, literate readers to provide well-informed and thought-provoking insights, no matter what the subject.
Thanks to all of you for your part in making TTAC a safe haven for dangerous thinking. I look forward to revealing the 20 finalists and your 10 winners. Oh, and look out for a major surprise in the next day or so. We’re taking this bad boy to the next level. Our treat.
125 Comments on “TTAC’s Ten Best Automobiles for 2007: So Far, So Good...”
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I have Three.
Saturn Aura. It is a well made car and it shows that theres hope for Saturn.
Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan. Both are well built contenders in the midslze market. I exclude the Lincoln MKZ because I absoultely HATE its interior design.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. It is a potent track car, road car, and rally car. It also seats five, and looks good. It is every car you will ever need blended into one.
With due respect to the Fusion/Milan and Aura this is about BEST not mere competence. IMHO
I have two:
Honda Fit: Though driver ergonomics (i.e. lack of driver’s seat height adjustment) make it less than perfect, the Fit shows that an economical car can have the “fun factor”, quality build, and a resonable price. Although short supplies have resulted in MSRP (or higher) sales prices, the idea of just two trim levels (both well equipped) makes buying one so easy — Base or Sport, Auto or Manual.
Nissan Altima: THE alternative to Camry/Accord/Fusion: Different look (love it or hate it, you’ll stand out), better engine choices than competition, 6-speed or CVT. A well-equipped V6 can be had for less than 25K. The kicker: It’s built in Tennesee, making it more “domestic” than the Fusion.
“A great vehicle is neither more nor less than exactly what it needs to be.”
THIS… This is one of the best summations I have ever heard. Bravo!
This will get me some funny looks, but…
Pontiac Vibe / Toyota Matrix.
Good hauling room, very comfortable, the manual tranny’s surprisingly fun to thrash around, and the fuel economy’s quite good. I ended up grabbing a Vibe during the great GM fire sale, and I’m very pleased with it.
Thanks very much Frank. TTAC is one of those rare places where I have fun reading both the articles and the comments, and where I know I get my time’s worth of interesting, documented, and strong-headed (in the good sense of the term) opinions.
Thanks to all for keeping it that way!! It’s an honor to participate here.
The Impala and the Crown Vic make both lists?That speaks volumes.The Vic is the car us baby boomers grew up with.The Impala is an updated?version.
Whatever, I think both should make the top 20.
And the fact that I,m a Canadian and an autoworker,and both cars are made in Canada{lots of US parts}does not cloud my judgement——”much.
I’m going with these:
Civic Si, for staying young and coming from the future. It sticks to Si roots by giving us speed, economy, and superb engineering.
GTI, for original hot-hatch fun and practicality. Plus, it comes in a 3 or 5 door now. And it has throwback plaid seats! Yes!
Lotus Elise, for being the most uncompromising, tightly-focused sports car on the market. It shows that blazing speed and hurt-your-neck handling can come in an ultralight package. There is a reason go-karts are always fun to drive.
My top would have to be…
VW Phaeton…I may be the only American but I really like that car.
Mini Cooper…A go-kart with A/C…how could you not like that?
Charger SRT-8
Honda Fit
F-150 crew cab w/King Ranch (I’m still a displaced Texan at heart)
Aston Martin…every one they make, just stunning
Chevy Astro
Workhorse, Family hauler, least deaths per million vehicles.
What other car can go on year after year completely unchanged and remain competetive.
It is a real van not like other minivans. Do you think people would still buy Toyota Siennas in 10 years if they never ever changed them.
I still think that Ford Fusion/Milan needs to be in the top 10 list. I have had lots of cars and the rubbermaid interior is inexcusible (Had an Altima as a rental couple of days back and it wasn’t much better either), however still its a half decent car.
Would love to see that car in top 10.
Ok if we are allowed to vote for something that being in the US haven’t seen let alone driven, I vote for a Ford Focus ST (the everywhere except the US version)
I vote to unnominate the Aura and the Fusion. “a half decent car” or “shows there is hope for Saturn” don’t TTAC’s Ten Best Automobiles Going make. The cars are good, but their not class best, which means they’re not TBAG material. The best car in this segment remains a toss up between the Accord (even in its fifth year) or the Camry. Call me when GM or Ford decide to built something better, not just competitive with (fakey Car & Driver demonstration events notwithstanding).
Yep, there really is something to be said for the reader comments on this site. There’s nothing juvenile about it, unlike so many others. A lot of people even use proper spelling and grammar. Thanks, TTAC, for fostering such an environment, and for your quality control when readers begin to behave like a Land Rover Discovery when it reaches 10,000 miles.
ejacobs:
I think captured the sentiment of many in your comments on the Lotus: “most uncompromising, tightly-focused sports car on the market.” My question is why we value these virtues in the Elise and ignore the very same virtues in the WRX STI/EVO??? After the Elise, is there a more tightly focused car on the market than these two??? I’ll take it one step further. For the money, aren’t both the STI and the EVO better performance values that the Elise??? Just as I would question any 10 best car list that left the Elise off, I would similarly question any 10 best list that left both of these cars off the list. Here is my list of cars that have to be on any piston-head list:
Lotus Elise
WRX STI/EVO
Cayman S
BMW 335i
You can argue about the Bimmer if you want, but this is easily the best car in the entire BMW line and the only one that is arguably a bargain to boot if you consider the cars this Bimmer can run with. There is nothing quite like any of these high performance cars on the market right now. Let all the other cars duke it out for the remaining six spots on the list.+
I still say the VW GTI is the best for the money.
A sweet little 2-liter turbocharged engine providing oodles of horsepower and torque.
An Audi-like luxury interior.
Handling that can be all things at all times. Great for cruising, canyon-carving, track laps… and carting the kids aroud.
And the versatility of a hatchback.
Let’s not forget the DSG transmission, either. Six speeds, shifts completed in microseconds, better acceleration and fuel economy than a stick. What’s not to love?
All that, at a price point in the very low $20’s.
Please allow me to make a couple of suggestions of a couple dream machines that I think have been overlooked.
First, the Mercedes-Benz SL600 Roadster. I’m not a big MB fan (I generally find them too sterile), but what’s not to love about a V-12 packed so expertly into an open air 2-seater? Mmmmm. MB claims that this little honey puts 510hp @ 5000rpm and 612lb-ft torque all the way from 1900 to 3500rpm. Oh, and zero to sixty in 4.4seconds. And all this for only $132,775.
Second, the Bentley Continental GTC. Another reader mentioned the GT, but I find the convertible much more compelling. Bentley is another company that I generally do not like because most of their cars look too stuffy and old. With the V-12 GTC, Bentley created a svelte contemporary look that preserves its heritage and distinction – a very difficult thing to do. When I have seen these in the wild I have nearly twisted my head off my shoulders checking it out.
I would go for z06, if they blended c-pillar into rear fender and offered a better interior with more sophisticated radio/a/c controls. wait a minute… let it be corvetee zo6 ss.
I don’t know you all guys but you gotta love this comment:
“Thanks to all of you for your part in making TTAC a safe haven for dangerous thinking.”
Calling Lichtronamo you said to call when GM builds something better than the Camry. Just park an Impala beside a Camry and compare objectivly.
Looks alone get my vote I didn’t mind the older Camry
A bland car is a bland car.What was Toyota thinking when they changed that front end
Hank:
VW Phaeton’s off the market, I doubt it qualifies.
BLS:
Astro production ceased a couple years back, so it doesn’t qualify either. There was no direct competition in the US in its later years, although there are lots of smaller RWD/cargo vans overseas which if brought over would have forced GM to upgrade. The 2nd gen $printer is about to arrive here on these shores, if you want a new Astro-like vehicle.
As for Toyota Siennas and other minivans, competition in the FF van sector is fierce. Look where the class was 10 years ago, and how much has changed – powertrain refinements, airbags everywhere, flexible seating, underdeck stowage, audio/video. Look to the upcoming DCX vans and overseas 2nd gen Toyota Estima and 3rd gen MPV/Mazda8 to see where the future is going – satellite dual-screen TV, swivel seats, hybrid + electric AWD, turbo + direct injection, reclining lounge seats.
As a response, Ford and GM have thrown up the white flag and slapped on the swing-out doors with Flex and Lambda. Ford admitted that admitted sliding doors on the Flex would have cost too much to implement, a.k.a. more Deathwatch material. A Lambda based minivan is rumored to have been scrapped for the same reason.
I wonder if those nominating the Fusion and the Auru would still do so if the very same cars sported Toyota, Honda, Nissan or Hyundai badges? The fact that a US branded vehicle or two is finally in the hunt doesn’t make them one of the best cars available. Home team advantage shouldn’t count for anything, unless you are selling special editions of Car and Driver :(.
That said, I second the nomination for the Honda Fit and also nominate the Mini Cooper. Both cars are leading the way by showing that small fuel efficient vehicles can also be lots of fun, have a great personality AND look good. Looks great, has a fun loving go anywhere personality and goes easy on the wallet. Sounds like the ideal spouse, er car!
I’d like to second William C Montgomery’s SL600 nomination. In fact, the entire SL line, starting way back in the mid-’50s, deserves some kind of Lifetime Achievement Award. Something like, “Most Decadent Two Seater Available At Any Given Time.”
Please don’t call me unamerican or a GM basher, but I can’t understand how anybody who has driven any significant number of cars could nominate the Impala. My personal experience with a rental Impala was less than inspirational. It wallowed through corners, acceleration was an afterthought (push down on accelerator then wait for a two count while the car figures out what’s going on), the controls were far from intuitive, and the exterior was as vanilla as it gets. The cornering was so bad, at times I caught myself wondering how I got stuck with a minivan. I have more fun driving my ‘58 Chevy TRUCK than that Impala; the truck handles better. The one good thing about driving the Impala was it certainly renewed my appreciation for my Mazda6s. When I drove it home from the airport upon my return I quickly remembered how driving could be fun.
While I may not agree with some of the other nominations, at least I can understand them.
To me, two vehicles fit this category. Since their inception(60 and 40 years ago), both of these fantastic automobiles know exactly what they are and where their place is. They haven’t strayed from their respective paths and to most enthusiasts, they are the absolute best in their classes.
Of course, I’m talking about the Jeep Wrangler and Porsche 911, two cars that when I become successful enough, will both have spots in my garage.
I have to nominate the new Toyota Tundra with the 5.7 litre V8, The sound of the motor gives me goose bumps. I think that in a few years this DOHC 32 valve engine will be transplanted into many a hot rod. I will be buying one, but not for a few years as I prefer gently used over new.
You could even split the awards on a Red state vs. Blue state points scale. Then the Prius and the Hummer H1 can both take #1
Mazda Miata!
Sure, other cars have come along to crowd the roadster segment. But even if you think they are better, they still all compare and contrast themselves to the Miata. Dodge even admits outright that its Demon roadster concept was inspired by it. Which tells me the Miata still defines the segment. Its the benchmark everyone is trying to beat. How could you not include it?
My personal experience with a rental Impala was less than inspirational.
I must agree. Having driven rental Impalas and rental Five Hundreds, the Ford has the Chevy beat in every category. Far superior handling, excellent ride, more comfortable seating and an amazingly useful trunk. In fact, I nominate the Five Hundred for providing by far the most car for the dollar available in the US today. It is the only US brand sedan I would consider buying at present. The Accord is also a fine sedan, but if you need the next size up then the Five Hundred is impossible to beat for the money, espeically if you buy a one year old copy.
“So I dug out the list of TWAT (Ten Worst Automobiles Today) nominees and had a look. They are the best of cars; they are the worst of cars”
If a car makes the TBAG list it probably is pretty decent vehicle, the problem with the TWAT list is that in addition to some truly horrendous vehicles were many vehicles that have committed the cardinal sin of offending someone by its mere existence.
That is why two fine vehicles like the Ford F-150 and the Scion XB can be on both lists but objectiely neither should be on the TWAT list.
“A great vehicle is neither more nor less than exactly what it needs to be.”
Ford F150 one of the few ford products that have been kept up tp date. It makes no excuses it is a great vehicle period. The fact that some people are offended by trucks is irrelevant.
Scion XB innovative outside the “box” thinking, it is amazing that the people who slam the XB have never driven one. Possibly the most fun and greatest value and most utilitarian vehicle that can be owned. The no negotiated price also allows the XB to be sold for thousands less than The Fit in my area.
I would like to nominate the Saturn AURA
In a world where everyone wants to get away from the haggling process, Saturn is already there. The AURA offers features that you wouldn’t have ever seen coming from it’s company, and has style that was much needed for its class. Even the greats, the Camry and Accord, are being forced into more plastic these days, which makes the AURA look even better.
M12 GTO – A wundercar made for my generation: plastic, fiberglass, spoilers, and turbos. Oh and unflappably good to drive.
Only one car has truly rocked my world: the Scion xB.
yeah, it’s got enough headroom that a 6′1″ dude can wear a top hat while driving it and have room to spare, and yeah, that same dude and his dog and his bike and his trusty cooler can sleep in it fully stretched out thanks to the nearly fold flat seats and yeah, it also bypasses a lot of gas pumps, but the real reason I nominate the xB is that it’s freakin beautiful!
The gently rounded corners of the roof evoke the soften the senses and evoke a feeling of peace, much like the much lauded iPod. The ribbed roof reminds me of old school suburbans I never had. The subtle lovehandles at the beltline coming off the taillights make me proud of mine. The stubby little nose and side, open windshield for some reason cause me to think of Drew Barrymore in The Wedding Singer.
It’s pure, raw, beautiful simplicity.
(ps. the new 4door Wrangler rocks my world, too.)
There have already been some suggestions to add the Honda Civic Si to the nominee list, and I agree with that. To me, this embodies all that is a great car. It’s as versatile as it gets. Honda reliability, the ability to work as a great daily driver and commuter (it’s still a honda civic), its looks (in my opinion the best you can buy for under 25K), its performance (plus its cheap aftermarket support) and its overall ability to convert commuters into people who will actually take interest in driving their cars. You can’t beat something like that, this car does it all, and it manges to do it pretty well.
My middle-class three:
Infiniti G35 Options for enthusiasts or entry-luxury sedan buyers. 3-series rival without 3-series price. ‘03-’06 have a reclining rear seat option–-very cool to this 23 year-old. A Right Wheel Drive sport sedan w/ a 6 speed transmission and naught to 60 in under 6 seconds for less than $35k loaded is a steal.
Acura MDX Excellent space, navigation system, and luxury. Reliability is outstanding. Of course, you could get all the same features in a Pilot for $6-8k less. It has more space than the Lexus RX, better looks than the XC90 or SRX, and is a steal compared to the Benz R-Class or Audi Q7. Driven by my forty-something mother.
Ford Five Hundred I convinced my 79 year-old grandfather to get one of these this year, when his ‘95 Maxima finally looked and rode too rough. The 500 is neither quick nor fancy, but it is easy to get into–great for older people, great on long trips esp. w/ Sirius, and it’s value is excellent w/ the [Volvo derived] safety features.
Those are great cars for three very different target demographic groups.
Frank Williams said:
I haven’t totaled-up the number of nominations for each car (if someone wants to…).
Counting all of the nominations posted in the comments section of the TTAC TBAG post on May 7th, and ending at 11:30 A.M. today, May 9th, here are the top 10 nominees:
1. Mazda MX5 (”Miata”) – nominated 28 times
2. BMW 3 Series – nominated 23 times
(Of the above, 7 were for the 335i.)
3. Jeep Wrangler – nominated 18 times
4. Chevy Corvette – nominated 16 times
(Of the above, 8 were for the ZO6.)
5. VW GTI – nominated 15 times
6. 3-way tie – nominated 14 times each:
Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, Mazda 3
7. 3-way tie – nominated 12 times each:
Mazda Mazdaspeed3, Porche Cayman, Honda Fit
8. Porche Boxter – nominated 11 times
9. Lotus Elise – nominated 10 times
10. Three-way tie – nominated 8 times each:
Mercedes E-class, Mini, Panther-based cars
Interesting, huh?
Keep posting your nominations here at TTAC!
I disagree with the Civic Si, as I feel that it fails to match the RSX-S that it’s supposed to replace. It isn’t as fast, the interior is rediculous (especially compared to the RSX), it isn’t as practical (hatchback for the win), and the clutch/throttle/shifter setup isn’t as nice. Granted, it is a better handler, and it costs a little bit less. I’d rather pay a couple thousand more for a dedicated sport compact model, rather than a trim level of the utilitarian Civic. RIP Prelude/Integra/RSX.
A counter responce to those unnominating the Aura:
While I can’t speak for the Fusion, the Aura does differentiate itself. Being in the market for a new family sedan (due to upcoming kid) I’ve looked at most of them, and no other car in it’s class had an interior this cool looking:
http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/merismus/gallery/c461473a.jpg
I know style is selective, but to me that interior looks great, and the build quality of the ones I sat in were very good too (Better than the Camry I was in with the giant gap where the upper and lower dash sections met by the radio). I guess I just like the option of getting an interior fabric/leather that isn’t black, grey or tan; as are your only options with every other car in the class.
Also, try getting an accord, camry, fusion, or sonata with paddle shifters. I may be wrong, but I haven’t seen any of those cars with that option.
I tried to come up with a nominee, but got stuck. Which got me thinking: the US auto market is in a weird place today. Generally speaking, cars are better than ever, but the selection is a lot less interesting than it used to be.
Let’s take the Germans: BMWs are bangled, Mercs are falling apart, VAG is swapping Bauhaus for bloat (except the RS4, natch).
Sure, there are some great German cars: the abovementioned RS4, VW GTI, M Coupe. But nothing can claim the mantles of the e39 5-series, the old (but still avant-garde) A6, the once-bullet-proof E-class….
But there is the Cayman, so there’s hope.
The most interesting Scandinavian car is a mildly-zippy sedan with a grown-up Taurus SHO engine. Whoop-dee-doo. (Let’s have moment of silence for the turbo-R, please. OK, it’s still available, but the undertaker is on his way.)
And Saab. Oh, Saab.
And it’s slim pickings from Japan, too. Sure, there’s the WRX (STi!) and EVO, but those are single-minded cars. Which are wonderful, but also thoroughly compromised when it comes to 95% of the driving we do. Today there’s nothing like a turbo Supra or a 3000GT VR-4 (or a Galant VR-4, remember that?).
The American cars are on their way up, but the good stuff hasn’t hit yet. The Aussies still haven’t landed. I think the Corvette is a fair nominee, though: like the Cayman, it has stellar performance at a reasonable price.
So: these are great days to buy a new car… if you’re in the market for a CamCord. But if you want something interesting (and not impossibly Italian), there’s not much out there.
Anyway, my votes for TBAGs: Cayman and Corvette. They’re accessible, drive-able, high-performance cars that aren’t overengineered.
Claude,
I just think that comparing the Lotus to the Evo/WRX/Sti is apples to oranges. You can’t use the Lotus as a family car. The rally-style cars are four wheel drive and fairly heavy for their size.
That said, I completely agree that the WRX and Evo should be on the list, because they are driver’s cars, people haulers, and snow machines. There really isn’t anything like them on the market. So there are two more nominations.
Mook,
Would the RSX be counted? Not sure when they stopped selling them. Anyway, if it is, I’ll definitely nominate it for having everything the Si has, only with a hatchback and cleaner styling. It’s simplicity and fine engineering.
Porsche 911.
I have never driven one.
But nothing (Ferrari, Lotus, etc.) says “sports car” better than a 911. They look sexy, fast, and fun. No matter how many I’ve seen, whenever I see another one I say “wow”.
McAllister
ejacobs,
There are still a few new 06 models for sale acording to Autotrader.
Production ended sometime during Summer ‘06.
I had to sign up just to nominate some cars. I was tempted to TWAT it up, but I think I’m more of a TBAGger, so I’ll drop it here.
Mazda MX5/Miata:
As an owner of a 99, my styling preference isn’t for the new one, but after driving it at the Zoom-Zoom Live event, it felt like a better car all around. I prefer the 99, due to it being more hard-edged, but if I had to have just 1 car for all things, I’d get the new one with the power retractable hard top. Practicality be damned! Any derision of the lack of power in this car clearly doesn’t know what a sports car is. Anyone who complains about Japanese cars having no soul clearly hasn’t driven a Miata, ever. Soul doesn’t live life a quarter mile at a time. Soul invigorates you one input at a time.
Mazda Mazda3 5-door:
Yes I love typing Mazda twice. Oh look, there I went a third time! My only gripe with it is that the 2.0L isn’t available on it. Otherwise, this is one of my favorite all-around cars, ever. The handling, steering, ride quality, interior layout, available options, practicality, gas mileage, and styling rub my belly, but for some reason, I ended up with an 06 Honda Civic. Not only that, but I’m not nominating the Honda, either. And even more peculiar, I really like it. A lot. But, back to the 3. I think the Mazdaspeed version is great. Better than the regular one? Well, if you’re into speeding tickets, burning premium fuel as fast as your right foot lets you, and an unavoidable compulsion to make just a few more horsepower (thanks, tuning community, I really NEED someone to offer me legal narcotics), it’s the right car for you.
Audi A3 2.0T:
I had a thing for the GTI; I think I have jocked the DSG an embarassingly long time. The engine was quite charming as well, what with all of that thrust coming from such mundane numbers. But the GTI weighed more than I could possibly justify for a car that size. And I have horrible luck, so I think gambling with a VW would be as sensible as buying as much Enron stock as I can. Today. However, with 4 rings on the buffet-sized grille, I can excuse the chubbiness a bit more. When the prices are as similar as they are, with Audi service replacing VW’s disservice (at least around these here parts), it’s a no brainer. All of the toys (and then some), most of the character, and a much friendlier service manager to (frequently?) deal with.
Can I suggest you find a different name for your awards? TWAT is great. No one wants to be known as a TWAT. But TBAG? Ideally, automakers would trumpet your award as a sign of excelence among auto enthusiasts. But which brand is going to splash ads across the wourld touting the fact that they’ve been TBAGed?
Don’t be clever to your own detriment. If you can’t come up with something, I’m sure the astute and creative readers of this site can.
and my nominations are…
Boxter/Caymen (Porsche can tell me it’s two different cars, but really)
Wrangler (how on earth did it take this long to get four doors?)
GTI (with the DSG, thank you.)
Exige (like the Elise, but more so…who needs a rear view, anyway)
CTS-V (a caddy with some serious vroom)
Atom (serious commitment, serious fun)
R8 (just for coming to the party)
G35x (and pocket the change from your Bimmer)
“ejacobs:
May 9th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Mook,
Would the RSX be counted? Not sure when they stopped selling them. Anyway, if it is, I’ll definitely nominate it for having everything the Si has, only with a hatchback and cleaner styling. It’s simplicity and fine engineering. ”
The SI has a more advanced suspension, an LSD, a different engine (the SI engine has balance shafts and a different intake manifold), a better sound system, a different weight distribution, an aux input jack, drive by wire throttle, electric power steering, and costs (list) $3k less.
And the RSX is no longer made.
I own an SI and have 20k miles on it. Nothing I’ve ever driven has such different characters. It is a tightly wound regular honda civic at 4k and below. At 6k and above (rpms that is) it is a maniacal economy car, lunging for redline every time, aching to never be shifted short of 8000 rpms.
Joe O.
A testament to the comments:
So many people have nominated the GTI that I will once again go test drive it; this time, with DSG. And I will seriously consider it (or it’s A3 cousin).
Your words have power. And as spiderman likes to recall, “With great power come great responsibility.”
So, with those thoughts in mind, nominate responsibly :)
Joe O.
I haven’t driven one, nor even seen one. But if the Jeep Patriot is half as capable as it looks in the various videos I’ve seen, then it might just be my next car.
It’s the cheapest new SUV anywhere, it’s not excessively bulbous or thirsty, seems competently designed/built and yet maintains the trail-rated capacity of Wrangler, et al. Quite frankly, it was the next best thing to bringing back the Cherokee and a far superior decision to its misguided badge-twins, Compass and Nitro.
More importantly, given the low cost, it might actually give people an incentive to use it as an actual off-road vehicle (which would certainly be my intention).
ejacobs:
The Lotus Elise and WRX STI/EVO are similar in that both are very focused vehicles with a minimum of compromise. They do not share the same focus, but both are designed for specific purposes. And both are refreshing in that, apart from these vehicles (and some exotics as well, you rarely see such single purpose focus in autos today. And if we celebrate the Elise for its focus, why not the WRX STI/EVO as well???