Car and Driver's Best in 2006

[Dave A]

BMW build cars that drive superbly, I know I've driven a few, where they fall short is price, leg room and leg room. I find being a passenger in my mates 3 sereis awful if I'm ever in the back, doesn't matter how short the fella in front's legs are, theres never a decent ammount of room. And then ofcourse you have the price, they cost more than most of thier rivals, but BMW's are good cars.

 

[Joey D]

Solstice / MX-5
177hp 170hp
166 lbft 140 lb ft.

0-60mph (sec) : 7.2 / 6.5
1/4 Mile: 15.8@ 87 mph / 15 @ 91 mph
Braking 70mph-0: 165 feet / 157 feet
SkidPad : .88g / .90g
CurbWeight : 2888 lbs / 2482 lbs
TopSpeed: 124mph / 131mph

Fuel Econ
city: 20mpg / 25mpg
hwy: 28mpg / 30 mpg


its pretty clear...

You got these figures where?

 

[TwinTurboJay]

You got these figures where?

as tested by the Car and Driver technical editor Larry Webster, they were tested at the same time under same conditions.

 

[Joey D]

I got my numbers from AutoWeek so I mean I don't know, I guess its up to who you believe. But honestly there is no way the Miata 'rapes' the Soltice. The Soltice is just as good and if you can't see that there is a problem.

Everything I've heard about the car said that it's pretty much the same thing. But you have to remember the Soltice is a first year car, the Miata is on year 16. Pretty sad that a new car can get that close to an experienced one.

 

[Ev0]

But you have to remember the Soltice is a first year car, the Miata is on year 16. Pretty sad that a new car can get that close to an experienced one.

Not really. If you have skilled engineers, and give them enough time and money, then there should be no excuse for a crappy car. And besides, doesn't the Solstice use an engine that isn't brand new? Cutting the engine from development would make things considerably easier for engineers designing and testing the production model.

 

[Joey D]

The engine is a 2.4L VVt from the Cobalts, its a redesigned motor because it was made for a FWD car. But there is no excuse for a Miata to be so close in performance, numbers and everything after 16 years of engineering.

 

[skip0110]

The Miata is based on a heavily modified RX-8 platform, and the Solsice on a heavily modified Vette platform (yes, yes, I am aware the suspension is differrent but the Miata is also a long way from the RX8).

So saying the new Miata has 16 years of development behind it is just flat wrong.

That the Miata is just as fast and natural with a more complaint suspension say a lot for its inherent design.

 

[Duke]

GM OWNED by a gay car.

Can you please stop throwing the word 'gay' around as a derogatory adjective? That's not acceptable. Thanks.

If the MX-5's a gay car, i'll happily be a flaming homosexual! :gay:

👍 I'd love to have one. VIPFREAK, you tell these guys they're gay (yep, that's The Corkscrew):

 

[Tornado]

What's the new Maz speed going to be rated at?

PS...Good idea for the new Maz speed...Throw in the Mazda 6 motor

Poo on that idea. Throw a Renesis in there, like the RX-8 engine mules of 2000.

The Solstice is several hundred lb heavier than the Miata. There is no way to make up for weight in handling. If the Solstice weighed 2500, it'd be the winner, for sure. But 2900? That's sedan territory.

And they still are reported to handling as well as each other.

i'd say the 350z would do better as the best sports coupe...

It couldn't, because Car and Driver 10 best rules prevent cars that have lost in the past from competing the next year until something notable has been done to the car in the next model year. Therefore, it has no competition.

 

[Dave A]

I dissagree with that rule, say it doesn't win the year before and nothing new enters the market that comes close but the car that beat it is no longer in production. A car that doesn't come close win's, nah, that rule doesn't do it for me.

 

[Joey D]

I dissagree with that rule, say it doesn't win the year before and nothing new enters the market that comes close but the car that beat it is no longer in production. A car that doesn't come close win's, nah, that rule doesn't do it for me.

What are you trying to say? I read that like 6 times and couldn't figure it out.

 

[Driftster]

Poo on that idea. Throw a Renesis in there, like the RX-8 engine mules of 2000.

.

No poo on your idea..

Throw in a renesis and you can't drive it in Arizona in the summer without adjusting the fuel delivery...

turd rotaries

 

[Dave A]

What are you trying to say? I read that like 6 times and couldn't figure it out.

Yeah I kind of see why looking back at that post .

Unless I've missunderstood this rule from car and driver, the way I see it is, if a car say the 350Z is in the running in 2005 and it doesn't win, and the cars that beat it are no longer in production the year after. What happens if the only newer cars for that category are worse than the 350z, the 350z can't win it in 2006 because it lost the year before. Like I said, I've either missunderstood it, or thats a stupid rule.

 

[Joey D]

Yeah I kind of see why looking back at that post .

Unless I've missunderstood this rule from car and driver, the way I see it is, if a car say the 350Z is in the running in 2005 and it doesn't win, and the cars that beat it are no longer in production the year after. What happens if the only newer cars for that category are worse than the 350z, the 350z can't win it in 2006 because it lost the year before. Like I said, I've either missunderstood it, or thats a stupid rule.

There we go I understand that.

That's because Car and Driver sucks, I would much rather take a look at Road and Track or something. Car and Driver has gone down hill in the past few year in my honest opinion.

 

[Dave A]

Fair enough.

 

[Joey D]

I'll be curious to see what other mags name for the best for 2006.

 

[Dave A]

I've got a list around for the UK somewhere I'm sure of it. I'll have a look and post up the list if I find it.

 

[skip0110]

There we go I understand that.

That's because Car and Driver sucks, I would much rather take a look at Road and Track or something. Car and Driver has gone down hill in the past few year in my honest opinion.

Yeah, their new "more objective" comparison scoring system seems to make the final comapro results differ from the editors' actual opinions.

 

[Joey D]

If they made objective selections there is no way half those cars would have won, hell the GTO is better in numbers then the Mustang so why didn't it win? Car and Driver just agrees with who ever gives them the most for ads, I think at least.

 

[Tornado]

If they made objective selections there is no way half those cars would have won, hell the GTO is better in numbers then the Mustang so why didn't it win? Car and Driver just agrees with who ever gives them the most for ads, I think at least.

Well, they don't pick the 10 best that way. They just do every other comparison test like that now.

 

[Token_Warrior]

Quite true, quite true.


Yeah, most likely.


But you have to realise, the BMW 3 series is, at it's roots, a better car.


While I do agree with you there, what competition does it have? Porsche, maybe?


The 300C is a Benz! Audi doesn't really make many outstanding cars anymore, judgjing by initial reception and comparisons to other sporty sedans. The only actual competion the 300C has from this area is really the superb (but aging) Lincoln LS and Cadillac CTS.


True, since it's only competition is the Pontiac GTO.


Maybe the Camry?


Both Motor Trend and Automobile agree with Car and Driver.


As you said for the Mustang, what else is there to compete with?


There really are no Mercedes sports cars that fit into the category by price ($76,000 I believe). And Audi has no sports cars period

You NOOB.

Faster than a M5 round a track. 414bhp V8 that revves till 8250. Engine of the year award winner.

As for their non S and RS4 models many people claim that on a race track certain audi's are faster than the equivelant BMWs but thats at the expense of the veryday ride quality.

Audi makes alot of outstanding cars. audi A6 voted world car of the year. You once agin show you dont now much at all about cars. And who decided on the audi winning? Journalists from 22 different countries.

And the 300c is a alright car in the US but any other country and it wouldnt cut it. It handles liek a swine with our roundabouts.

Looks compact to me.

 

[Tornado]

Looks compact to me.

I'm the one that doesn't know much about cars that knows that the A3 3 door is not sold in the U.S.?
Last I checked, this was the only configration availible:

So really, shut up.

And the 300c is a alright car in the US but any other country and it wouldnt cut it. It handles liek a swine with our roundabouts.

There's plenty of Benz, mostly of the E-Class variety, in these large machines. The suspension on all 300s is from the E-Class

So what you are saying is, despite sitting atop nearly identical platforms and set-ups, the 300C is garbage?

 

[humbo]

I would agree that the A3 is a compact, I mean it's pretty much the same thing as a Mark V GTI, and the 3.2 Quattro being the R32. I know we only get the 5 door sportback in North America, but would you not call the 5 door Golf a compact?

 

[Tornado]

I would agree that the A3 is a compact, I mean it's pretty much the same thing as a Mark V GTI, and the 3.2 Quattro being the R32. I know we only get the 5 door sportback in North America, but would you not call the 5 door Golf a compact?

No, actually, I wouldn't. And either way, the 5-door versions of either don't seem very "sporty" to me.

 

[Wolfe]

I think the extra doors ruin the look of the A3, making the 5-door look larger than it really is, and in my opinion, much uglier than the 3-door.

 

[JCE]

Since M5 isn't around to post stuff like this I will just have to do it...

Best Sports Sedan - Acura TSX
Best Sport Compact - Audi A3 2.0T
Best Luxury Sports Sedan - BMW 3-Series
Best Performance Car - Chevrolet Corvette
Best Full-Size Sedan - Chyrsler 300C
Best Muscle Car - Ford Mustang GT
Best Family Sedan - Honda Accord
Best Roadster - Mazda MX-5
Best Sports Coupe - Maxda RX-8
Best Luxury Sports Car - Porsche Boxter

I agree with the TSX, that car is really freakin nice!

I disagree with the A3, it's not really a sport compact in my opinion...maybe a RSX would have been better there?

I disagree with the 3-Series, I think the CTS-V would have been a better choice there.

I agree with the Vette, best new sports car on the market...period.

I don't like the 300C, but I'm sure its a great car although I'm think a Benz might have fit better here or maybe a new Audi?

The Mustang GT is a good choice, but what was the competition here? Nothing really.

The Honda Accord is the logical choice, in fact I would have disagreed with anything else.

I disagree with the Roadster, the Soltice is better the the Miata (MX-5 whatever), even Autoweek agrees with that.

Best sports coupe RX-8? The RX-8 isn't even a coupe, try something else.

I hate the Porshe Boxter so I don't think it belongs there. Try a Benz, Audi, something else.

Let me first say that Car and Driver is obviously biased and can be bought. I can make a go kart and hand money under the table to C&D and they'd give it the top spot--or even create a new catagory just to have me win.

My list:

Best Sports Sedan - Audi RS4
Best Sport Compact - R32 Golf or new Focus ST (Euro model--the US don't get the ultra cool one)
Best Luxury Sports Sedan - Infinity G35 Sedan (it's got more power this year)
Best Performance Car - Chevrolet Corvette C6 (ZO6 model preferably--and it's the best muscle car for the money you pay--PERIOD)
Best Full-Size Sedan - Ford Five Hundred (it's on a reliable Volvo platform and is has AWD. Cool if you ask me)
Best Muscle Car - GTO (I love the new Mustang GT--but in styling and interior look the GTO is more pleasing to the eyes)
Best Family Sedan - Subaru Legacy
Best Roadster - 350Z roadster (hehe yes I'm cheating) -- or i'd chose the Z4
Best Sports Coupe - 350Z (by a freaking mile--the RX-8 is pathetic)
Best Luxury Sports Car - BMW 6-series

 

[Ghost C]

The CTS should've beaten the 3 series.

 

[Joey D]

The CTS should've beaten the 3 series.

Hits the non-exsistant "I agree" button.

 

[Kylehnat]

I honestly think the Soltice is a better car then the Miata, no body gives it the credit it deserves because it's GM. But still you know whats sad? The Miata has been around for 16 years and GM comes out with a new car that is just as good if not better. Give the Soltice 2 years, it will be running circles around the Miata and up into higher end roadster territory.

A car that doesn't change much in 16 years implies that it is perfect, and that nobody has come along to do it better. Mazda defined this category, and then perfected it. Many have thrown a "better" car at the Miata, only to go home with their tail between their legs. Mazda has the winning formula, and until somebody figures out how to beat it, they don't have to do a damn thing. To that end, GM has a terrible track record of updating their models (Corvette excepted). To assume that in a couple years the Solitice will be vastly better than it is now would be to ignore decades of GM incompetence. Think of how many promising concepts they have had, only to completely ruin the production car.

I personally love the CTS, I think it's one of GM's best cars. But honestly people give BMW too much credit, they aren't gods.

Not gods, but they definately deserve a place in the pantheon of automotive design. Again, the 3-series hasn't changed much in 15 years, and that is because nobody has figured out how to out-BMW a BMW. They're at the head of the class for a reason. I like the CTS too, though 👍

 

[Joey D]

A car that doesn't change much in 16 years implies that it is perfect, and that nobody has come along to do it better. Mazda defined this category, and then perfected it. Many have thrown a "better" car at the Miata, only to go home with their tail between their legs. Mazda has the winning formula, and until somebody figures out how to beat it, they don't have to do a damn thing. To that end, GM has a terrible track record of updating their models (Corvette excepted). To assume that in a couple years the Solitice will be vastly better than it is now would be to ignore decades of GM incompetence. Think of how many promising concepts they have had, only to completely ruin the production car.

If the Soltice is so bad then why are so many magazines split over which one is better? It's because they are so close to one another it's not even funny. The Soltice is better in some areas and the Miata is better in others.

GM will update the Soltice to make it better because they see the potential in the platform it's on.

Not gods, but they definately deserve a place in the pantheon of automotive design. Again, the 3-series hasn't changed much in 15 years, and that is because nobody has figured out how to out-BMW a BMW. They're at the head of the class for a reason. I like the CTS too, though

I hate BMW's and I would never drive one, but they aren't bad cars. But personally I would think an Audi is better then a BMW.