You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views Automotive News & Views-Archives 2006 Car & Driver "10 Best" List Response 

2006 Car & Driver "10 Best" List Response - READ ONLY

61 messages,  Last post on Mar 24, 2006 at 3:36 AM

You are in the Automotive News & Views-Archives Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Car Buying

Messages Page 2 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#5 of 61 best in segment by nippononly Dec 08, 2005 (9:43 am)
isn't always best-selling. I present as evidence the Toyota Camry, best-selling family sedan, and a very competent vehicle, but not the one I would pick, and so say all the Accord buyers too!   The RX-8 has the unique advantage of light weight. Yes, the rotary is not an easy engine to live with, but provides unparalleled fun in driving, and the handling of this lightweight is a class above the 350Z, which is a heavy heavy car (engineered on the larger midsize sedan and crossover platform). Not to mention the 350Z is close and claustrophobic inside, and Nissan never seems to have got the alignment/tire wear and noise problem fixed right. Even new owners still complain about this.   As for the A3, they call it best sport compact, but that is a broad category in this car's case. What really is its direct competitor, besides the upcoming VW twins Golf/GTI (not yet available for head-to-head comparisons) and the now-discontinued C230 coupe? Perhaps the WRX wagon, although while the performance is there, the interior is not, and the WRX is lower-priced as a consequence.   I have a special fondness for the RSX-S, but if you put that up against the A3, I would have to say the A3 is nicer in some respects. In base form the A3 will not handle as well as the RSX-S, but will be more responsive powerwise and have a nicer interior. Not to mention having proper room for four adults. I did like the A3 a lot when I drove it, almost bought one.   Funny thing is, I usually have at least ONE bone to pick with this list, usually more than one, but this year I think they hit it spot on.
#6 of 61 looks pretty good... by Mr_Shiftright HOST Dec 08, 2005 (9:44 am)
I don't have any major beefs with that list at all except calling a Porsche a "luxury" sports car is rather silly---it's not. The luxury difference between the Acura and BMW makes more sense. Replies to this message: lemmer (Dec 08, 2005 9:49 am)
#7 of 61 I think by nippononly Dec 08, 2005 (9:48 am)
the "luxury" reference with the Porsche is strictly due to price. You gotta be pretty well off to be commuting in a new Porsche.
#8 of 61 Surprised the Civic missed the boat by callmedrfill Dec 08, 2005 (9:49 am)
Especially with the Si all hot and bothered!     Not a fan of the current Z.     A new Supra would take most of it's buyers away.     Oh well.     DrFill
#9 of 61 I am suprised... by 1racefan Dec 08, 2005 (9:49 am)
That the New Civic SI didn't secure a spot. Replies to this message: nippononly (Dec 08, 2005 9:53 am) 1racefan (Dec 08, 2005 9:55 am)
#10 of 61 Re: looks pretty good... [Mr_Shiftright] by lemmer Dec 08, 2005 (9:49 am)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 08, 2005 9:44 am) In my book, if a sports car has glass windows or a synchronized transmission, it is a luxury sports car.   Just kidding, but a new Porsche is pretty luxurious even though the "sports" part is its mission.
#11 of 61 Re: I am suprised... [1racefan] by nippononly Dec 08, 2005 (9:53 am)
Replying to: 1racefan (Dec 08, 2005 9:49 am) I would say that the Civic SI misses slightly when compared to the A3 the same way the RSX-S does: it is outclassed in interior (even though the SI is by no means shabby) and off-the-line performance, given the right-now torque of Audi's 2.0T DI at all engine speeds. Both the HOndas will have better handling than the base A3, but that means they only grab one category out of 3. (Price not being a factor in the 10Best list) Replies to this message: 1racefan (Dec 08, 2005 9:55 am)
#12 of 61 Re: I am suprised... [nippononly] by 1racefan Dec 08, 2005 (9:55 am)
Replying to: nippononly (Dec 08, 2005 9:53 am) Right... But you could even break it down to "Luxury Sports Compact" - (Audi A3), and Sports Compact (Civic, Scion TC, etc...).   Also - If price isn't a factor, I wouldn't give the Chrysler 300 Best Large Sedan. I would look at the flagship sedans from Benz, Lexus, Infiniti, and BMW first.
#13 of 61 A3 by carlisimo Dec 08, 2005 (10:05 am)
I don't consider the A3 a sport compact at all. It's a nice compact, but not a sport one.   At its price point you can get an EVO.   Niceness should have nothing to do with a sport compact's rating. Replies to this message: nippononly (Dec 08, 2005 10:10 am) carlisimo (Dec 08, 2005 10:16 am)
#14 of 61 well, to clarify by nippononly Dec 08, 2005 (10:07 am)
price is a factor only in the sense that they do "luxury" and regular awards, with a price cut-off to decide which is which. I think it is $40K base sticker, although I am not sure.   While the A3 is a very nice car for what it is, I wouldn't call it a "luxury" - there are luxury amenities that aren't available on that model, and it wouldn't generally be perceived by passersby as a "luxury car".   I do wish they had a category for best compact car (they have only best SPORT compact) as the '06 Civic would have been a shoo-in - it is now head and shoulders above everything in its class.

Messages Page 2 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views Automotive News & Views-Archives 2006 Car & Driver "10 Best" List Response