Car & Driver: 10 Best Cars for 2011
11-23-10 | 09:27 PM
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Is the Volt for sale yet? It is not a 33k car it is a 41k base car before tax
credits.
To me the Prius is the proven product here not the Volt but it will probably never
make this list. I honestly think a lot of the media hype is b/c THR GOVERNMENT is pressing buttons.
I like the Volt, great car. 10 best? Not to me but it is their list
credits.
To me the Prius is the proven product here not the Volt but it will probably never
make this list. I honestly think a lot of the media hype is b/c THR GOVERNMENT is pressing buttons.
I like the Volt, great car. 10 best? Not to me but it is their list
11-23-10 | 09:36 PM
#17
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,588
Likes: 88
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I can understand C&D liking a number of things on the new Mustang GT (and, overall, it's a great ponycar), but not the 6MT. The 6MT in the one I reviewed had an awful shift/gate-linkage, particularly in the lower gears. I had no trouble at all with the Camaro SS 6MT, but all kinds of problems with the Mustang's. Perhaps it was just an isolated problem in my test-car, and not an acorss-the-board issue.
11-23-10 | 10:08 PM
#18
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 20,782
Likes: 3,079
From: Alberta
C&D has developed a bizarre culture of buying into certain models regardless of how the competent the car actually is. It's pretty strange, and actually very unprofessional.
11-23-10 | 10:58 PM
#19
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,864
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Is the Volt for sale yet? It is not a 33k car it is a 41k base car before tax
credits.
To me the Prius is the proven product here not the Volt but it will probably never
make this list. I honestly think a lot of the media hype is b/c THE GOVERNMENT is pressing buttons.
I like the Volt, great car. 10 best? Not to me but it is their list
credits.
To me the Prius is the proven product here not the Volt but it will probably never
make this list. I honestly think a lot of the media hype is b/c THE GOVERNMENT is pressing buttons.
I like the Volt, great car. 10 best? Not to me but it is their list
I also think the Prius should be on the 10 Best but to these publications, it's not fun enough to drive. The Volt is supposedly very satisfying to drive for what it is.
11-23-10 | 11:17 PM
#20
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,754
Likes: 171
From: California
My biggest gripe is with the Volt. I don't care how much GM or auto journalists have tested it. The public has not. We've been promised amazing and ground-breaking cars from GM for twenty years now and 95% of them have been failures. So do we all of a sudden take GM's claim seriously after being lied to? I don't. This company needs to prove itself in amazing ways. Further, they are obviously going to toot their own horn (like they have with all new debuts) and C&D has obviously lost all rational by putting in the frumpy Accord over the best-selling Camry. I see no credibility with either two entities. Let a little time go by (sales) and the public will verify this car's potential. I am not saying the Volt could be good. I am saying we've been lied to one too many times. We'd be fools for believing any current GM sales's pitch.
11-23-10 | 11:27 PM
#21
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,864
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
I'm curious as to why people are so upset that a car that isn't officially out yet has one these awards?
When the Volt's been out a year for everyone to test drive it, it will no longer be eligible for all the new car awards such as COTY. However, C&D's list isn't limited to new cars so in this case it could be.
When the Volt's been out a year for everyone to test drive it, it will no longer be eligible for all the new car awards such as COTY. However, C&D's list isn't limited to new cars so in this case it could be.
11-24-10 | 04:01 AM
#23
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,794
Likes: 0
From: Lake Country, WI
I will NEVER understand the relevance of putting a car on the 10 Best list when it's either new or hasn't been a year or so to prove ANY reliability. 
Hell, I could rock up an Edsel for a C&D or MT track test and make them forget about everything for a couple hours especially at deadline-time
PURE ENTERTAINMENT
Hell, I could rock up an Edsel for a C&D or MT track test and make them forget about everything for a couple hours especially at deadline-time
PURE ENTERTAINMENT
11-24-10 | 05:42 AM
#24
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,518
Likes: 0
From: MD
Aston Martin V-12 Vantage
The car may feel a bit like a British Corvette, but the shifter is pure English cream. Not a hint of notchiness. The perfect mate for the Aston’s balanced V-12.
BMW 1-series
Why not the 3-series? Are we off our meds? Well, the 1 has slightly shorter throws. Plus, its well-placed pedals make it a great car in which to teach someone how to properly execute heel-and-toe downshifts.
Ford Mustang GT
Pony cars and manuals go together like Lambos and cologne. The shifter in the new GT is as direct as any pony’s should be.
Honda Civic Si
Slick, smooth, and fast, this is the best front-drive shifter around and probably the best feature of the car. The late S2000—one of the best-shifting cars of all time—would be proud.
Honda Fit
Generally speaking, Honda puts silky and accurate shifters in its cars. The Fit’s may have a little slop in it, but you can tell that the action comes from a long line of great manual transmissions.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Miata is a paragon of row-your-own virtue, with its yin-and-yang clutch takeup, balance between shifter weight and throws, and placement of pedals and shifter.
Mazda 2
This transmission just feels good, especially when you consider the car’s $14,730 base price. It also proves cheap cars need not have all their drivability tuning stripped away during a cost-conscious development process.
Porsche Boxster/Cayman
In the mid-engined Porsches, greatness resides not so much in the shifter but in the marriage of clutch and lever. Third pedal takeup is perfect, and that more than makes up for the shifter’s semi-long throws.
Porsche GT2 RS/GT3/GT3 RS
This transmission has bicep-building potential, but its action is guided-missile precise. Shift as fast as you want—the clutch and gearbox will take it all day long.
Volkswagen GTI
Lots of elements conspire to elevate the GTI above its peers, and shifter and clutch feel are important ones. This lever is light in hand, strong in action.
The car may feel a bit like a British Corvette, but the shifter is pure English cream. Not a hint of notchiness. The perfect mate for the Aston’s balanced V-12.
BMW 1-series
Why not the 3-series? Are we off our meds? Well, the 1 has slightly shorter throws. Plus, its well-placed pedals make it a great car in which to teach someone how to properly execute heel-and-toe downshifts.
Ford Mustang GT
Pony cars and manuals go together like Lambos and cologne. The shifter in the new GT is as direct as any pony’s should be.
Honda Civic Si
Slick, smooth, and fast, this is the best front-drive shifter around and probably the best feature of the car. The late S2000—one of the best-shifting cars of all time—would be proud.
Honda Fit
Generally speaking, Honda puts silky and accurate shifters in its cars. The Fit’s may have a little slop in it, but you can tell that the action comes from a long line of great manual transmissions.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Miata is a paragon of row-your-own virtue, with its yin-and-yang clutch takeup, balance between shifter weight and throws, and placement of pedals and shifter.
Mazda 2
This transmission just feels good, especially when you consider the car’s $14,730 base price. It also proves cheap cars need not have all their drivability tuning stripped away during a cost-conscious development process.
Porsche Boxster/Cayman
In the mid-engined Porsches, greatness resides not so much in the shifter but in the marriage of clutch and lever. Third pedal takeup is perfect, and that more than makes up for the shifter’s semi-long throws.
Porsche GT2 RS/GT3/GT3 RS
This transmission has bicep-building potential, but its action is guided-missile precise. Shift as fast as you want—the clutch and gearbox will take it all day long.
Volkswagen GTI
Lots of elements conspire to elevate the GTI above its peers, and shifter and clutch feel are important ones. This lever is light in hand, strong in action.
11-24-10 | 07:15 AM
#25
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,864
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
I will NEVER understand the relevance of putting a car on the 10 Best list when it's either new or hasn't been a year or so to prove ANY reliability.
Hell, I could rock up an Edsel for a C&D or MT track test and make them forget about everything for a couple hours especially at deadline-time
PURE ENTERTAINMENT
Hell, I could rock up an Edsel for a C&D or MT track test and make them forget about everything for a couple hours especially at deadline-time
PURE ENTERTAINMENT
It's pretty silly to suggest that to be on the 10 Best, years have to pass to prove reliability. Of course we as consumers care, but auto publications mainly care about all the other attributes that make up a great car. The stuff they can measure during hundreds of miles of testing.
11-24-10 | 07:25 AM
#27
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 0
From: MO
It's a list. I personally don't like the 10 best format because the criteria is too fuzzy and C&D's stated reasons for choosing the car aren't persuasive enough. I like lists that choose the best car in each segment. Then a case can be made for what makes that car the best among it's competitors. Automobile's All Star list is much better, I think.
11-24-10 | 07:58 AM
#28
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,864
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
It's a list. I personally don't like the 10 best format because the criteria is too fuzzy and C&D's stated reasons for choosing the car aren't persuasive enough. I like lists that choose the best car in each segment. Then a case can be made for what makes that car the best among it's competitors. Automobile's All Star list is much better, I think.
Like you said, they should set up 10 key auto categories clearly defined and pick what they feel is the best.
And assuming they stay away from trucks/suvs/vans, the list should be outlined as listed below (with $80K limit),
Best...
-Sub-compact car
-Compact car
-Mid-size car (under $30K)
-Mid-size car (over $30K)
-Full size sedan (under $40K)
-Luxury sedan (over $40K)
-Luxury sedan (over $60K)
-Sports coupe (under $40K)
-Sports coupe (over $40K)
-Hybrid/Electric
Last edited by -J-P-L-; 11-24-10 at 08:01 AM.
11-24-10 | 08:48 AM
#29
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,794
Likes: 0
From: Lake Country, WI
The 10 Best has nothing to do with reliability. If it did, the BMW 3 series wouldn't be there, never mind every year. Neither would the VW GTi and some others.
It's pretty silly to suggest that to be on the 10 Best, years have to pass to prove reliability. Of course we as consumers care, but auto publications mainly care about all the other attributes that make up a great car. The stuff they can measure during hundreds of miles of testing.
It's pretty silly to suggest that to be on the 10 Best, years have to pass to prove reliability. Of course we as consumers care, but auto publications mainly care about all the other attributes that make up a great car. The stuff they can measure during hundreds of miles of testing.
I agree their list isn't very coherent. Especially when they have two cars (Accord/Sonata) from the same segment. How can they both be the best?
Like you said, they should set up 10 key auto categories clearly defined and pick what they feel is the best.
And assuming they stay away from trucks/suvs/vans, the list should be outlined as listed below (with $80K limit),
Best...
-Sub-compact car
-Compact car
-Mid-size car (under $30K)
-Mid-size car (over $30K)
-Full size sedan (under $40K)
-Luxury sedan (over $40K)
-Luxury sedan (over $60K)
-Sports coupe (under $40K)
-Sports coupe (over $40K)
-Hybrid/Electric
Like you said, they should set up 10 key auto categories clearly defined and pick what they feel is the best.
And assuming they stay away from trucks/suvs/vans, the list should be outlined as listed below (with $80K limit),
Best...
-Sub-compact car
-Compact car
-Mid-size car (under $30K)
-Mid-size car (over $30K)
-Full size sedan (under $40K)
-Luxury sedan (over $40K)
-Luxury sedan (over $60K)
-Sports coupe (under $40K)
-Sports coupe (over $40K)
-Hybrid/Electric
... and yes, if its a TEN BEST, reliability HAS to be in my equation... a TEN BEST that sits on the side of the road wouldn't qualify, at least in my book
11-24-10 | 09:14 AM
#30
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 0
From: MO
I mostly agree with you BUT the list becomes semi-irrelevant directly related to your points above... as I said, pure entertainment
... and yes, if its a TEN BEST, reliability HAS to be in my equation... a TEN BEST that sits on the side of the road wouldn't qualify, at least in my book
... and yes, if its a TEN BEST, reliability HAS to be in my equation... a TEN BEST that sits on the side of the road wouldn't qualify, at least in my book