The ultimate on-road/ off-road convertible with multiple top options from a soft-top, hard-top, or no top at all. There is no other vehicle like it that in it’s stock form can comfortably take four adults and their gear to enjoy the great outdoors and what is inaccessible lands for most all other vehicles with it’s heavy-duty axles, two-speed transfer case, skid plates, electronic locking front and rear differentials with limited-slip, electronic stability program, the ability to electronically disconnect the sway bar, and a ton of after-market options including lifts to make it your own.

It is truly rare to find such a capable vehicle that creates passion and brings a smile to the owner’s face every time that they drive it.

I’d also like to de-nominate the Miata/MX5. So much of what was fun in the old ones is gone. Way too much tire for the car, you can’t slide and toss it like the old one.

And no BMWs. Any good dynamic package is smothered under too many idiot warnings and control systems. Dealers asking $45K for a 1-series? You can get an E30 M3 for that.

1. MX-5: boring choice, but you don’t understand cars until you have driven one of these… to its limits. There are no cars that give you this level of handling enjoyment for this price range, and way beyond.

2. Cayman S: superbly composed, makes much of the Porsche range superfluous.

3. 350Z: the best deal in handling+power+looks under 30k$, bar none (sorry canadians). This needs to replace the G35/G37 on the list, as it is the better sportscar.

4. GT-R: The ultimate no-compromise car. No other car breaks the laws of physics so well (not even the MX-5 ;)

5. R8: with the GT-R, this completes the new order of supercars… so much beauty and handling that is apparently very easy to control and very neutral.

6. Cooper S: the only FWD that is worth a damn, GTIs and Mazda3’s need not apply. Handling, balance, and frugal too.

I would like to counter these choices:

3 series: it has become too heavy and too vague steering to be anywhere near an ultimate anything. It used to be brilliant, but it is time to let go.

G35/G37: Like I said, if you want to pick these, the 350Z deserves its place.

Any Mazda3: Has no business being in a top-10 list as long as the Cooper S exists.

911: Has been outdone by its own little brother the Cayman-S for fun/handling, and outdone by everyone else for speed/features. It is still brilliant, but not deserving of the top-10.

Any Corvette: It has lost its bang for the buck crown, and has never been a particularly great sports car (terrible at the limit handling). It will always be a great deal, but not top-10 worthy anymore seeing how many fantastic cars we have nowadays.

I’m seconding (or however many there’ve been) this one. I may have traded mine in on an R32, but the R32 is far more an esoteric f@nboi decision than the GTI.

Incredible poise, unflappable quality, a magnificent engine, everyday liveability, and a great price point. Plus, the DSG is an engineering marvel.

Ford Flex

Ford’s savior, but it’s a little (ha!) late to the party. Great quality, three rows of seating, great storage space, smart, handsome styling, and a pretty good starting price. Now, if they offer some clean/hybrid options it’ll be a runaway success.

Single guy or recently married with no kids: Porsche Boxster. It’s everything that you folks love about the Cayman plus it’s a convertible. the mid engine layout, the awesome brakes, the tuned suspension, everything about the car puts a smile to my face.

Married guy with a kid: Honda Civic. You need to think about saving for the kids’ tuition money, so you need a fun car that’s frugal and cheap to buy. The Civic is that car.

Married with kids: Honda Odyssey. It’s pretty fast for a minivan. It’s comfortable on long trips and can still be used to bring home your plywood when you need it. It gets decent fuel economy for such a large vehicle. It’s Honda reliable.

Empty Nester: Porsche Boxster again. The list comes full circle.

Sure, Ford needs to update this truck. But give the company credit for continuing to offer a real compact when everyone else has upsized and glitzified.

If TTACers really want to see the return of the compact truck segment, I think we need to put our votes where our mouths are.

Honda Fit- It’s the modern day classic Mini.

On a similar note, I will nominate the ZR1 and/or Z06 because they are beautiful, feats of engineering (albeit on a different scale, let alone price point), and because I like Corvettes.

…and the BMW 3-Series.

Both do everything so well, there isn’t really any compromise in owning them. I don’t even really see a need to buy something larger or more expensive.

The 2009 G37 Sedan is coming with 328HP and a 7-Speed automatic, will make it even more appealing than it already is. The 09 G37 hard-top convertible and AWD Coupe will round out the G line.

The 3-Series is also getting refreshed.

Also, another vote for the GT-R. It has changed the game.

Honda Fit

Honda Civic – drove one recently and I remembered why this car is so good. Decent power, great mileage, and great handling in a not too small package.

Honda Accord – Another recent drive that re-inforced what a great car this really is. A V6 coupe with a luxurious leather interior that goes like a bat out of hell while returning 21 real world MPG.

Mazda5 – A fun to drive minivan, right for the times.

Mazda MX 5

Cadillac CTS (not the V-Spec) – An american car that can hold its own against those Ur-a-peein cars.

Infiniti G37/G35 – BMW 3 Series? This car has it all over it at 3/4 the cost.

Toyota Prius – Not a fan, but it is the most succesful hybrid out there for a reason.

Audi R8 – A gentleman’s supercar much in the mold of the Acura NSX, but with much more power.

Ford Flex – Again, not a fan, but it represents a truly honest effort to build a car that carries 7 people while being as economical as possible and still offering a modicum of style.

How can it not win? And to think the Jag XJ is rumoured to be twice as good!

Best concept car (as no one else thought of it): Land Rover LRX. With today’s mad oil prices, making a “baby Range Rover” that can do 60 MPG is a very good idea and it will come to market at just the right time. Clever, very clever if the pull it off!

GT-R Don’t care what you have to say… it is F@#$^n’ AWESOME! and you know it!!

Jag XF looks like an Aston… for ten times less the price.. I dig it.

Mini S… I give you guys a nice big boot to the face for not giving this little guy an award last year… Mini is top notch, a golden ticket!

No if’s or buts

08′ STI is crap… looks like crap and drives like crap.. end of story (total upset)

BMW 1… oy vay! I love this car.. handels like a drea….. well.. it it has love-handels, its just too heavy and too expensive!

Every category? Really?

I’m reminded of a line from a barmaid in The Blues Brothers:

“Why, we get both kinds of music: Country and Western.”

I’m sure the Sky Redline exceeds the MX-5 in the categories that matter to you. That’s what counts.

Yes, Subaru changed the style of the STI, and made a lot of their fans unhappy. True, it is a little larger, and a bit softer than the old model, but that’s the point. The car is more sophisticated and is a far better daily driver than the car it replaced. They managed to do all this while still retaining the performance of the old car. If Toyota, Honda or even Hyundai produced this car, there would be waiting lists and thousands in additional dealer markups. The 2008 STI is to Subaru what Pet Sounds was the to the Beach Boys, and maybe in a few years people will understand their work.

Infiniti G35: Always gets high praise but every one I have ever driven has been boring! And no it’s not that cheap.

Add the:

Jaguar XF: I did things on a track with this 4 door that should only be reserved for the M3/RS4 & STI/EVO crowd. The best premium sedan on the market, period.

Chevrolet Silverado: Track cars don’t get to the track without a tow rig and this is the best full size truck on the market. Fit & finish is excellent. Build them all like this Chevy. And surprisingly, of the many brands I have owned this is the only one not to return to the dealer for a repair.

I’m going to cheat and lump the M3 in with the 3-series on the list. I hear the whining about BMW, news flash, it’s still the benchmark!

Now is that nice?

Suzuki SX4 Sport- easily overlooked but funky, fun-to-drive and very well built small sedan that delivers exceptional value and high levels of standard equipment.

VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI- Sporty, fun to drive, TDI power and torque leave all the others in the dust and the wagon version is very utilitarian, to boot.

Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart- turbo power, great looks, reasonable price and much easier to live with as a daily driver than an EVO.

I just traded my ‘07 Mazda3 Touring in on an ‘08 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport. This is our fourth Subaru including my wife’s current Legacy GT limited. While I liked the Mazda I didn’t think it compared favorably with the Subaru which feels much more substantial, i.e. doors that ‘thunk’ rather than rattle when closing. The exterior styles are similar but I would rank the Subaru interior as better and more roomy. They get approximately the same mph, cost about the same, handle about the same, has a little more horsepower and the Subaru is awd to boot. The found the Mazda3 to be scary in the snow without winter snow tires. It would barely get up a small incline in packed snow when starting from a stop. I don’t see why the Subbie Impreza Sport would not be on the list. Is there something I’m not seeing here or am I just a Subbie toady?