Car Driver Names Its Top 10 But Is Your Favorite On The List?

Autumn in the Midwest means cold cider and warm doughnuts to a lot of folks, but for the C/D staff, it also means the weeklong rousing of a few quiet burgs as we descend on a rural route about 30 miles from our Ann Arbor office in search of the coming year’s 10Best cars.

This year, our home base changed—we upgraded to a location with a paved parking lot in the interest of floor-mat preservation and real bathrooms in the interest of staff sanity—but the roads traveled did not. Our traffic violations numbered zero, a nice change of pace from last year’s record total. Our judging criteria and the rules, however, remain constant.

Cars are judged on three points. The first is how well they perform their intended functions—sedans and hatchbacks should be spacious and versatile, economy cars should be frugal (but not punishing), and sports cars should be responsive and satisfying. Secondly, we consider how engaging a car is on an emotional level—do we emerge from a drive with a smile, and does it hold our gaze as we walk away? Finally, we look at how competitive a car’s pricing is for the levels of versatility, practicality, and fun it offers. We recognize value when we see it and we highlight those cars that possess it.


LA Auto Show Photo Gallery

This year's gallery is sponsored by Lexus

There is auto show coverage and then there is AutoSpies.com coverage!

HSCenterconsole - 11/21/2008 12:26:12 PM

+5 Boost

Is my favorite on the list?

Absolutely! I couldn't be happier or more impressed with my 3-Series.

HSCenterconsole - 11/21/2008 1:27:58 PM

+8 Boost

I don't know TurboSpyder, but then again this is Autospies.

gooch - 11/21/2008 4:47:32 PM

+3 Boost

The 3 is always going to be on this list. I'm just happy to see the GTI made it again. Amazing little car. Maybe it's time for another one...

hao420 - 11/21/2008 5:06:38 PM

-10 Boost

(Joining the deboost team)......Heck no, none of Lexus didnt made it....gaving a "F" word 4 car n driver....<

Agent009 - 11/21/2008 12:47:29 PM

0 Boost

Capt- Bias against whom?

Boosteroo - 11/21/2008 12:53:25 PM

+7 Boost

I take it that they mean bias in favor of Honda's Accord

truckman - 11/21/2008 3:42:34 PM

-2 Boost

How did the Fit and the Accord make the list and not the civic? The civic is safer,faster and exactly the same hwy mileage! Although I wish the civic came in a wagon version. I thought the Accord wasn't that great?

neutral - 11/23/2008 8:47:42 PM

-1 Boost

The Malibu should replace the Fit. Seriously, the Honda Fit and the Maxda Miata should have been replaced with the Malibu and... i dont know, the MKS it very striking.

Miata... seriously.. who drives a Miata (please don't answer, the response isn't PC enough). I'll take a Saturn Sky in a heartbeat over a Miata

S4cabriofoxone - 11/24/2008 8:39:48 PM

+2 Boost

"Seriously, the Honda Fit and the Maxda Miata should have been replaced with the Malibu and... i dont know, the MKS it very striking."

No, the Fit deserves to be here. It has fantastic handling and is much bigger on the inside than on the outside--very clever packaging. Its mileage really isn't that great but it's good enough.

The Accord is what should be booted, yes in favor of the Malibu. I would buy a Malibu over it at this point. It's too big and heavy, not to mention ugly.

The MX-5 should be here. MKS is nice-looking but nothing at all groundbreaking--just a big FWD sedan with a V6. Doesn't seem like a "10 best cars of the year" contender to me. Over-hyped.

DaHarder - 11/21/2008 12:27:35 PM

+9 Boost

An undoubtedly strong list...

he inclusion of the CTS, MX5 (Miata), and Corvette are all very well justified, as they clearly represent the best of their ilk in today's automotive industry.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/24/2008 8:40:57 PM

+1 Boost

What, exactly, is the Corvette's ilk? At its lowest point it competes with the Boxster but at its highest it competes with the Porsche GT3.

Agent001 - 11/21/2008 12:59:27 PM

-9 Boost

I would have dumped the VW and put the 1-series in it's place.

Also, the 550i is much better than the XF in my opinion.

001

DaHarder - 11/21/2008 1:16:00 PM

+8 Boost

Unfortunately, BMW appears to have overpriced/over-equipped the 1-Series to a degree that its place in the market is simply too ambiguous.

Given the addition of only a few options, (price-wise) the 1-Series becomes little more than a shorter/smaller 3-Series, which really makes little sense when you think about it, especially for what is supposedly BMW's entry-level vehicle.

The 1-Series should have been priced so as to not exceed the very low 30k's, no matter how equipped, even if that choice would have entailed offering slightly less capable engines and much less kit.

As it stands, the 1-Series is simply a difficult sell, not only to consumers, but to logical-thinking journalists as well...

Hence the 1-Series' exclusion in this list, and the 3-Series selection.

Agent001 - 11/21/2008 1:38:44 PM

-3 Boost

Not biased...love the GTI, just think 1-series is better

If it was top 11, I'd keep the GTI there.

001

JRobUSC - 11/21/2008 3:06:22 PM

+5 Boost

I think the 1-Series makes more sense in convertible form than coupe form. As a coupe it's not much less than a 3-Series, especially when you put some options on there. As a convertible however it's $10k+ less expensive than a comparable 3-Series. It also has a softtop versus a hardtop, and some people prefer that. In fact, it's actually less expensive than the old E46 3-Series convertible, despite huge upgrades to the engines and content. Considering the size and price it's really more of a replacement for the E46 convertible than the E90 is, only (in very un-typical BMW fashion) the price actually went down.

gooch - 11/21/2008 4:49:01 PM

+1 Boost

001, the GTI is a remarkable little car. Its natural cruising speed appears to be 95 mph, when I drove it through the twisties, it was brilliant. Hopefully the electrics are no longer a concern.

ubercool - 11/24/2008 5:53:42 PM

0 Boost

Jags XF is way better than the BMW 5-series.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/24/2008 8:43:13 PM

+1 Boost

ubercool, no, it is not.

I wanted to love the XF but its looks are unimpressive. From what I've read it has a nice ride/handling balance but still not as good as the 5 Series. The engines aren't as good either. The only thing the XF has going for it is the relative bargain that the Supercharged model is.

PerformanceGuy - 11/21/2008 1:11:35 PM

+9 Boost

Seems like a pretty good list. The G37, Corvette, & CT-S are amazing machines.

Willis - 11/21/2008 1:40:12 PM

+2 Boost

I agree. The list is "too similar" to last years 10 Best. Not that it matters since Car and Driver are known for their sports biased. The addition of a few family cars on the list is just for the sake of shutting up whiners like me.

david999 - 11/21/2008 2:02:13 PM

-7 Boost

Hmm, No Mercedes, Lexus or Ferrari worthy to be on this list?

Nostradamus - 11/21/2008 2:18:45 PM

+5 Boost

Oh well, looks like you backed the wrong horse this time (or Prancing Pony, as it were) ;-)

800over - 11/21/2008 3:08:16 PM

0 Boost

car had to be under 70k and redesigned or new. No ferrari fits that I think.

DaHarder - 11/21/2008 3:37:12 PM

+5 Boost

"redesigned or new"...

Certainly not part of the selection criteria, or else neither Mazda's Miata/MX-5 nor BMW's 3-Series would be eligible.

HSCenterconsole - 11/21/2008 3:38:13 PM

+1 Boost

Daharder, if the car won the previous year (as in the 3-Series, GTI or MX-5), it is invited back to compete again.

gooch - 11/21/2008 4:46:36 PM

0 Boost

Some of you are thinking of the Motor Trend car of the year competition. C&D simply nominates cars it feels are worthy. The car simply has to be available for sale.

gooch - 11/21/2008 4:50:26 PM

-2 Boost

oh, and meet the price criteria.

HSCenterconsole - 11/21/2008 5:44:56 PM

+2 Boost

Gooch, know before you post. This is right from the intro page of the article:
"Eligibility for 10Best is determined based on newness and past 10Best success. All cars either new or significantly redesigned are allowed. Additionally, cars that made the list in 2008 are automatically invited back for 2009, providing they still clear our price cap—2.5 times the average new-car transaction price for all light-duty vehicles sold through August of the previous year, or $71,000 this time around. "

NISSANINFINITI - 11/21/2008 3:10:21 PM

-2 Boost

Im surprised the Lexus or Toyota 's arent there.

VISO - 11/21/2008 3:31:53 PM

-11 Boost

Car and Driver - BMW; what a surprise?

528i - 11/21/2008 3:52:49 PM

+7 Boost

jettaboy crying..because no audi on the list.

david999 - 11/21/2008 9:23:49 PM

0 Boost

A VW is there which is basically Audi.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/24/2008 8:45:07 PM

+1 Boost

I'm not surprised either, because the 3 Series is amazing. It deserves to be there. If having fun is your priority the A4 can't hold a candle.

AgentOrange - 11/21/2008 4:09:33 PM

+3 Boost

The 128i/135i (particularly the cabrio models) should definitely be in the top 10.
The 1er is the same size as previous 3-series models (with way more std features at a lower price and better handling/performance), so those who complain that the 1er is too small or a toy are either ignorant or stupid - probably both..

shiftless - 11/21/2008 8:19:27 PM

-2 Boost

I think C&D need to reevaluate the need for the GTR to be in the runnings. Because they cant put a price on perfection and Star Trek gizmo. How many cars out there sold in the U.S. have hyperdrive i.e. launch control.....haha.

olscuul - 11/22/2008 7:43:36 PM

+1 Boost

Crap & Drivel can die. They only put the Jag on the list because they think the new owners have some deep pockets for ad space.

ktu01 - 11/23/2008 7:43:35 PM

+1 Boost

I'm a bit confused about the CTS. I know the CTS is a great, great car... probably my favorite Cadillac. I've driven the old model (stick and auto) and loved it as well. However, I remember Motortrend testing the CTS last year and they awarded the CTS in automatic transmission form their COTY award. However, they did not evaluate the manual version, and when they finally did a comparison, they realized the manual version didn't live up to their expectations of one awarded as the COTY.

I'm just confused because aren't they supposed to test all variants? I suppose it's also differing journalism between Motortrend and Car and Driver.

It's also very hard to list the top 10... there are a lot of great cars out there. Was a bit surprised the new Forrester or CRV didn't show up on the list though.

FillorKill - 11/23/2008 11:14:42 PM

+1 Boost

My coworker has a GTI -- it is an impressive little car 001.