Insights: A Snapshot of the Best & Brightest's Ten Best Autos Nominations

So far, you’ve nominated 156 separate vehicles for TTAC’s 2016 Ten Best Award — including a cornucopia of models that shouldn’t be nominated. (Reading comprehension, people!)

Here are some insights into the Best & Brightest hive mind.

You told the Mustang to take the Camaro outside, where the MX-5 is waiting for them both

Nominations for the Ford Mustang in its many guises far outnumber those for the Chevrolet Camaro by over 5 to 1. However, it seems that Miata is always the answer to you folks. Maybe you don’t need that pesky back seat. Nominations for the MX-5 outpace the Mustang by just over 1.5 to 1.

Reading comprehension is not a strong suit for some of you

One reader nominated the Bugatti Chiron. For one, it wasn’t available for the 2016 model year. Hell, it STILL isn’t available. And the rationale behind the nomination? “No explanation required.”

Some people’s children. Sheesh.

You couldn’t care less about the North American Car of the Year

Honda Shmonda: The Civic, a perfectly good vehicle picked by a panel of experts to be the best car for every single North American, isn’t near and dear to your hearts. So far, you’ve been just as likely to nominate the Acura NSX, BMW 2 Series, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Volt, Ford Fiesta, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Kia Sorento, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Porsche 911, Porsche Cayman, Scion iA, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback and Toyota Land Cruiser.

Leading the compact pack? The Volkswagen Golf in all its forms. In non-GTI/R hatchback form, the Golf is tied with the Civic. Add the GTI, R, and SportWagen, and the Golf blows every other compact out of the water.

Nissan is in bad shape

Of all the full-line non-premium marques, Nissan has the least number of nominations — and the cars you picked aren’t what we expected: the Maxima and Versa Note.

Really?

Also, Alfa Romeo received the same total brand nominations as Nissan so far, and with only one real model on sale (though someone did submit a nomination for the Disco Volante).

Audi and BMW virtually neck and neck, but you really like what Mercedes is doing

You’ve made a total of seven Audi and eight BMW nominations. At the same time, you’ve nominated Mercedes-Benz vehicles a whopping 17 times — which includes a single nomination for Sprinter.

How are you justifying your nominations?

On the Acura MDX:

This is the first of several entries with a theme: I find well-done everyday cars in everyday segments more compelling than less-well-executed enthusiast machinery. The MDX isn’t flashy in any way, but it gets a lot right. The SH-AWD powertrain rivals the Audi Q7’s as best-in-segment, not counting BMW’s absurdly cramped entry — and is likely to be much more reliable. Interior quality is very good, and durable enough for kids. The drive is among the better ones by the standards of big CUVs. The third row is usable without making the car elephantine. All the necessary goodies are in place.

—dal20402

On the Ariel Atom:

It is a gloriously absurd, fundamentally implausible car. We need more of this.

—rcousine

On the Buick Cascada:

Call me an optimist but I have high hopes that this will be closer to the Camry Solara than to the Chrysler Sebring/200.

—wagonsonly

On the Chevrolet Corvette:

The Rodney Dangerfield of sports cars — but totally deserves your respect.

—PrincipalDan

On the Chevrolet SS:

Clark Kent looks with Superman performance. LS FTW, great content, and sweet Zeta platform. Sleeper: defined.

—APaGttH

On the Dodge Charger Hellcat:

It’s sheer lunacy. It’s hard to believe it’s legal. It’s reasonably affordable. And then with a twist of the key you add 207 horsepower to a 500-horsepower car.

—Timothy Cain

We’ll post more nominations (including Ten Worst noms) tomorrow and later this week. Nominations are still open. Make sure to get yours in now!

Submit your 2016 Ten Best/Ten Worst Nominations By Clicking Here