- 641
- Ireland
- funkyDucks
Done.
Have a Minute? I'd Like to Pick GTP's Brain... [Results Posted]
- Thread starter YSSMAN
- 55 comments
- 2,910 views
- 12,389
- Betelgeuse
- Beeblebrox_237
Done. I put the Jaguar XJ for full size luxury.
- 2,007
- Los Angeles
- GTP_DrivingPark
- Finetales
Filled!
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
THE RESULTS ARE IN!
After a few more than 80 responses, I figure it's time to post. You can check out the entire album here, graphs and details to come!
The Ford Fiesta managed to pull this one out, which surprised me, as the Fiat 500 was shaping up to take the top place. Top marks to quality and performance? It is difficult to say. Some of the "other" nominations focused on the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, Audi A1 and Vauxhall Corsa... None of which we have in North America.
The Volkswagen Jetta/Golf took this one by a short bit, likely due to the quality and performance of the car in the European market. I have to say I was surprised, particularly when the North American models are regarded in a pretty negative way. Unsurprisingly, the Ford Focus had a strong performance, but the Dodge Dart really surprised me. For a car we know so little about, votes were quite high. Interestingly enough, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta received several votes, which is what the Dart is based upon.
The Volkswagen GTI got top marks here. Good value and performance, along with solid capabilities likely won the day. The Abarth came in second, and with the 2012 run completely sold out in the US, it doesn't seem all too surprising. Some of the "other" votes included the Renault Megane RS, Volkswagen Scirocco, and Audi S3.
The High-Po Compact class leaned pretty heavily on the Subaru WRX STI. Other results were inconsequential. The Audi TTRS perhaps being the one that I should have included, but forgot about.
The performance of the BRZ was interesting when compared to the other Toyobaru twin. The American votes are definitely visible on the Mustang V6, which initially had an early lead over the little Japanese coupe. I just want to know who thought they were clever and nominated the Peugeot RCZ...
The Ford Fusion ran away with this one, and seeing as how it will be a global model also sold as the Mondeo, it isn't much of a surprise. Only the Volkswagen Passat managed to pull up a result greater than half of the Fusion, which surprised me. Although it appears to be a great car, the differences between the American and European version would have seemed polarizing. As someone pointed out, I missed the Nissan Altima. That could have played a role.
The Dodge Charger. 'Nuff said. There were nominations for the Nissan Maxima, which caught me off-guard. It is surprising how quickly a car that hasn't been updated in quite some time can fall completely off the radar. The Holden Commodore was also nominated, which will get international exposure again when Chevrolet introduces the SS Sedan for 2014.
It was pretty much a dead-heat between the Nissan Juke and Mazda CX-5. Both are reasonably sized, small crossovers that are not only fun to look at, but also fun to drive. Someone was clever and mentioned the Skoda Yeti, which I completely support. I would have expected a better performance for the Ford Escape, but it just wasn't there.
Well, that one was one-sided. I'll get my coat...
It seems like BMW gets a lot of love pretty easily.
Rinse and repeat. I did forget the Jaguar XF. SHAME ON ME AND MY FAMILY.
The big Mercedes lead this out pretty easily. The Germans taking the top spots without much of a problem. Also forgot the Jaguar. SHAME.
The Mustang really wiped the floor clean here. Lower weight, lower price, high power from that 5.0L... Seems like a winning combo here.
Horsepower wins the day, although things evened out more evenly than I had originally expected.
The BMW wins, rinse and repeat. The single soul that voted for the Hyundai, you should receive a commendation! I did forget the Jaguar once again, for which I apologize. But hey, a couple of you mentioned the Audi RS6. As far as I can tell, it is no longer on sale.
This is the Internet, and there are GT-R fans here. Not much of a surprise. The SRT Viper had the early lead, which it had maintained through most of yesterday. I'm not sure where the tip toward the Nissan came from. I did forget the Lexus LF-A, which like the Nissan Maxima previously, I'm not that surprised about. When you create a product that doesn't move the chains, it is going to be forgotten.
The Mazda MX-5 really ran away here. Take that to heart, kids. Others included the Mercedes-Benz W123, various generations of the BMW 3-series (E30 and E36), the AW11 MR-2, and some guy thinking they're clever with the Pontiac Grand Am.
Last edited:
- 4,209
- Wasilla, AK
Should I be as surprised as I am that the Fiat 500 recieved votes? Or that the Nissan GT-R won the supercar category despite being, from what I've heard, somewhat boring to drive?
- 27,219
- United Kingdom
Interestingly, that wasn't me (I voted FR-S) but thumbs up to whoever did. Jag XJ Supersport aside, a Peugeot RCZ is the best car I've driven this year. Though it's not so much a sport coupe as a mini-GT.
Damn right you did. Shame on people choosing the tedious BMW instead...
You'll definitely remember next time, right?...
None of the results particularly surprise me though. Not even the Jetta/Golf one, though I'd perhaps have expected the Focus to rank a bit higher. Partly glad it didn't as the one I drove a few weeks back was utterly underwhelming. Suspect it's one of those cars that feels better to those used to nasty old US compacts than to Europeans.
- 6,584
- Kent, UK
- GTP_Jondot
- 5,249
- Gothenburg
- jaco_bin
I think that last bit is highly subjective to what one's definition of "fun to drive" is. Any why would you be surprised about the 500, from all I've heard is that it's a good car.
- 27,219
- United Kingdom
Yeah, nowt wrong with the 500. Good little car, if a bit out of sync with the sort of stuff that 'Mericuh likes. Even in the UK it's a bit like driving around in a stiletto so I can't expect many chaps own them over there.
I expect it got some votes from people who like the Abarth version, actually.
Funny story - I voted for it too...
I expect it got some votes from people who like the Abarth version, actually.
Hey, I don't recall you specifying a country
Funny story - I voted for it too...
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
The standard Focus is an acceptable car, one of the better ones in the segment today. Considering that it's put together in Detroit, it seems to be built quite well, and thus far, has proven to be fairly reliable by most accounts.
But, when you get into something like the Mazda 3, or a VW Golf, the drive is pretty underwhelming. I haven't been in the SE Sport or Titanium, but I did manage a standard SE version on a trip to Chicago. It was a perfectly acceptable car if you're looking to go A --> B. But the Powershift automatic sucked out all the fun, and gave me more grief driving around than it should.
The Focus is something I'd recommend to my Mom, but not to a friend.
- 4,209
- Wasilla, AK
I'm sure it's a good car. A car I'd never be caught driving, but a good car none the less.
Joey D
Premium
- 47,517
- Lakes of the North, MI
- GTP_Joey
- GTP Joey
The Titanium is more of a drivers Focus, especially with the handling package. I've never felt mine was underwhelming to drive and I've been a bit surprised with how good it is in the corners and freeway off ramps. It's not quite as good as the MINI, but it's lugging around quite a bit more weight so it's to be expected.
The SE is just a basic car with no frills on it, the Sport and Titanium get a sports suspension and the handling package adds a more tuned suspension with overpriced summer tires.
The transmissions on the early builds are having quite a few problems, but more recently built ones have all the kinks worked out and work well. After having mine reprogrammed with every update, it just keeps getting better. This last update I need to do should bring it to the current build specs. Ford knows they goofed with the transmission, I'm just glad they fixed it.
I drove both a Golf and Mazda 3 around the time I got the Focus and, to me, they weren't as good. I would never recommend a modern VW to anyone since their electrical woes still plague their models. The Mazda 3 was decent, but it wasn't as good as the Focus in terms of drivablity and fun factor, and it is catastrophically ugly. I think the next car to really give the Focus the run for it's money is the Dodge Dart, which is really good.
- 3,475
- Vilnius
I was the one with Skoda Yeti. Love that car. 
...And I typed Volvo S80 in the full-size section - just thought up the first largest affordable car I would buy as I didn't knew much about the other options 
...And I typed Volvo S80 in the full-size section - just thought up the first largest affordable car I would buy as I didn't knew much about the other options
- 27,219
- United Kingdom
I don't blame you for going dual-clutch on the Focus actually, as the manual gearshift was one of my least favourite things about it.
There was little wrong with it per se, but I found there was so much dashboard that the lever was pushed further back than was ergonomically comfortable, and it was near-impossible to make a fast and smooth change without there being a jerk from the transmission (odd sensation - imagine how your gearchanges would be if the clutch biting point and throttle response changed all the time - you'd never change smoothly, and that was a bit what it was like).
Wasn't keen on the lack of steering or brake feel either, and was underwhelmed by the new 3-cyl 1.0 EcoBoost engine. Yeah, 124bhp is decent for a 1.0, yeah, it's quiet, yeah, it's smooth, but then so is every other engine these days so those are no longer USPs.
The 1.0 isn't even that economical in the real-world, which makes it one of those irritating cars that won't get anywhere near its posted figures unless you drive like you've got a kitten perched on a baby perched on a ming vase on the roof.
The whole car to me felt like something without any USPs. And I still find it ugly.
Sorry Joey
Possibly worse than all of the above is that in the UK, the Focus is one of the best-sellers, so you couldn't even climb into the car and think "well, at least I don't see many of them on the road".
In the Focus's defense, I couldn't think of many things I'd have instead in that class. Certainly not a bloody Vauxhall. Went for the Alfa Giulietta. In retrospect, I'd probably have gone for - in all seriousness - the new Beetle. More interesting than the Golf it's based on and when I drove the 1.2 TSI with DSG I was averaging easy high-40s mpg on the trip computer, without deliberately driving carefully.
- 6,584
- Kent, UK
- GTP_Jondot
Oh thank God for that, thought I might be alone there.
Irritatingly I only remembered that existed a little while after voting, too. Just that little bit more butch than a 500, and as yet unmolested by estate agents. Except as I understand it we're not allowed the 1.2TSI yet because there's a global shortage or something, which is upsetting.
- 8,450
- Rockay City
Now that I've seen the results, I notice there's actually a whole (sub-)class missing. The 'Sport Sub Compact' class. I don't think any of the cars in it are actually sold in the US (maybe the Abarth 500 Essesse and the VW Polo?) though.
- Abarth 500 Essesse
- Abarth Punto Essesse
- Alfa Romeo Mito S&S Quadrifoglio Verde
- Audi A1 Quattro
- Citroen DS3 Racing
- Opel/Vauxhall Corsa OPC/VXR Nürburgring Edition
- Renault Clio RS Cup
- Seat Ibiza SC Cupra
- Volkswagen Polo GTI
Fun little cars, I've actually driven quite a few of them already, very fun little pocket rockets (though I wasn't too impressed with the Ibiza/Polo twins).
- Abarth 500 Essesse
- Abarth Punto Essesse
- Alfa Romeo Mito S&S Quadrifoglio Verde
- Audi A1 Quattro
- Citroen DS3 Racing
- Opel/Vauxhall Corsa OPC/VXR Nürburgring Edition
- Renault Clio RS Cup
- Seat Ibiza SC Cupra
- Volkswagen Polo GTI
Fun little cars, I've actually driven quite a few of them already, very fun little pocket rockets (though I wasn't too impressed with the Ibiza/Polo twins).
- 27,219
- United Kingdom
Jondot
Really? That would surprise me, since it's only really Europe that gets the small engine. Not thinking of the 2.0 perhaps?
The 1.2 is a nice engine, and works well with the DSG. The twincharged 1.4 with the manual is less pleasant. But it's one of the more interesting cars in a desperately uninteresting class, so it gets a thumbs up from me.
- 6,584
- Kent, UK
- GTP_Jondot
I'm sure I read it somewhere, but since I can't actually find my source I'm beginning to think I might have made it up.
With that said, there's a distinct lack of it on VW UK's website, so perhaps it is the case. Or they haven't launched it yet. Probably the latter. Either way it's upsetting me.
- 8,450
- Rockay City
I know VW is having a quality issue in several European countries regarding the smaller TSI engines (distribution chains breaking among things), perhaps they're holding off until they fix the issues?
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
We don't have the Polo yet, Volkswagen keeps batting around the idea of selling it here based on the strong sales of the Fiat 500 and other micro cars that size.
Interestingly enough, our American version of the Fiat 500 Abarth has the running gear from the EsseEsse, although it goes without the more aggressive chassis tune.
