Motor Trend crowns world's best-handling car . . .
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CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 30,281
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From: Canada
Motor Trend crowns world's best-handling car . . .
Motor Trend came up with a list of 32 contenders for the title of Best Handling Car in the World. After a vigorous battery of road tests, they narrowed it down to just 10 :
Honda Civic Si,
Mazdaspeed3,
Mini Cooper S with the John Cooper Works package,
Mitsubishi Evolution IX MR (both from 2006 as the 2007 versions haven't hit the pavement yet),
Honda S2000,
BMW 335i,
Porsche Cayman S,
Lotus Exige S,
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Porsche 911 GT3.
Honda Civic Si,
Mazdaspeed3,
Mini Cooper S with the John Cooper Works package,
Mitsubishi Evolution IX MR (both from 2006 as the 2007 versions haven't hit the pavement yet),
Honda S2000,
BMW 335i,
Porsche Cayman S,
Lotus Exige S,
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Porsche 911 GT3.
.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 740
Likes: 0
From: MA
Why would the STi be in there? The Evo is already there, and it apparently does what the STi does better. And why not the Z06? It destroyed everything short of the GT3 around the track
This article was amazing, one of the best car-related articles I have ever read
This article was amazing, one of the best car-related articles I have ever read
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
Yeah I was really impressed by all of the quantitative analysis done in that article.
I do think it was pretty ridiculous for them to rank the Z06, which went around the track the second fastest of all of those cars (and even then only lost by a second), as low as they did in final analysis. I understand it's not as intuitive or easy to drive hard around the track, and I understand that should have lost it some points, but I don't think it deserved to get knocked from "second best handling CAPABILITY" to as low as it did just because it didn't 'feel as nice or controlled' when doing it.
I do think it was pretty ridiculous for them to rank the Z06, which went around the track the second fastest of all of those cars (and even then only lost by a second), as low as they did in final analysis. I understand it's not as intuitive or easy to drive hard around the track, and I understand that should have lost it some points, but I don't think it deserved to get knocked from "second best handling CAPABILITY" to as low as it did just because it didn't 'feel as nice or controlled' when doing it.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,574
Likes: 265
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
The Evo traditionally outhandles the STi, but at the cost of an overly stiff suspension and an extremely harsh, noisy ride.....one of the worst I've seen in a modern car.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,600
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From: FL
The fact that there are FWD cars in the list (3 of them, no less!) lends itself to completely removing all credibility from the article. And to include the fat pig 335i... that doesn't exactly make much sense either. There are much better choices out there than what they've presented.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,574
Likes: 265
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
The fact that there are FWD cars in the list (3 of them, no less!) lends itself to completely removing all credibility from the article. And to include the fat pig 335i... that doesn't exactly make much sense either. There are much better choices out there than what they've presented.
Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 0
From: FL
I don't necessarily agree, ff. While, in general, RWD and AWD outhandles FWD because of weight and torque distribution, FWD cars can have outstanding handling, too, if they are designed and engineered for it.....witness the Mini Cooper, Honda Civic Si, and MazdaSpeed 3. I have driven these cars (though not necessarily with full reviews) , and they DO handle.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,574
Likes: 265
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Your right.. Mostly all those cars mentioned above are made for corning and handling.. With the tighter suspension already coming from the factory its a no brainer..
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 740
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From: MA
I was hoping the new model would be a worthy successor to the old one, but the concept pics and the rumors of it being front engined are making me have doubts. Not to mention the fact that rumors about a new NSX have been circulating since the days when I was too young to drive a car
Zombie Slayer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,053
Likes: 3
From: East Bumble F, NJ
List results were on par with expectations of one from Motor Trend. Utterly laughable and predictable that they rank the Z06 9th out of 10 and put two Porsches first/second. Well known fact that Motor Trend takes it in the backdoor from Porsche!