CAR magazine Performance Car of Year
CAR magazine Performance Car of Year
Hey guys,
Sorry this is long, but it might be better than buying the real issue... Just got the December 2003 issue of the UK's CAR magazine (an awesome issue, btw). It's their Performance Car of the Year (PCOTY) issue -- the best driver's car (based on the combination of design, engineering, safety, value, driver appeal) released in the past 12 months. They point out the cars are not judged against each other, but against the above criteria ie "the car that best delivers on the promise made by its manufacturer...that's guaranteed to spark a warm glow of anticipation every time you reach for the keys, even...for the Sunday papers; the car that makes you want to take the long way home."
38 cars were assembled. Cars like the Lambo Gallardo weren't included b/c of their release date. Cars like the Suburu Sti, MB E55 AMG, Audi S4 Avant didn't even make the final cut of 11! Here are the final results:
11. Bentley Continental GT
10. Mini Cooper S Works
9. BMW M3 CSL
8. Mazda RX-8
7. VW Golf R32 (not bad!)
6. BMW Z4 3.0
5. Nissan 350Z
4. Porsche 911 GT3
3. Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
2. Mitsubishi Evo VIII FQ-300!!!!!!
1. Vauxhall VX220 Turbo
Some quotes about the Evo: "It's so brilliantly aggressive, so up for it that you simply ignore the nausea... That you can make several friends and their luggage sick at the same time makes it the car of the event for this particular journalist."
Re: the Sti: "But the Suburu slips on the banana skin that is the Evo VIII. Its dueling partner is the more complete package, easier to drive quicker, and it's smoother, and the Evo's steering is more direct and precise. The [Sti] isn't a bad car, it's just that the Evo is a better one."
My thoughts: the Vauxhall is a euro thing so who cares... We aren't driving the FQ-300 but we're pretty darn close to it so it's still flattering, no? Also a lot of us are laying down about as much wheel hp as the FQ-330! Bottom line: this is just a nice daily reminder that we've got something really special in our hands. Enjoy!
Sorry this is long, but it might be better than buying the real issue... Just got the December 2003 issue of the UK's CAR magazine (an awesome issue, btw). It's their Performance Car of the Year (PCOTY) issue -- the best driver's car (based on the combination of design, engineering, safety, value, driver appeal) released in the past 12 months. They point out the cars are not judged against each other, but against the above criteria ie "the car that best delivers on the promise made by its manufacturer...that's guaranteed to spark a warm glow of anticipation every time you reach for the keys, even...for the Sunday papers; the car that makes you want to take the long way home."
38 cars were assembled. Cars like the Lambo Gallardo weren't included b/c of their release date. Cars like the Suburu Sti, MB E55 AMG, Audi S4 Avant didn't even make the final cut of 11! Here are the final results:
11. Bentley Continental GT
10. Mini Cooper S Works
9. BMW M3 CSL
8. Mazda RX-8
7. VW Golf R32 (not bad!)
6. BMW Z4 3.0
5. Nissan 350Z
4. Porsche 911 GT3
3. Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
2. Mitsubishi Evo VIII FQ-300!!!!!!
1. Vauxhall VX220 Turbo
Some quotes about the Evo: "It's so brilliantly aggressive, so up for it that you simply ignore the nausea... That you can make several friends and their luggage sick at the same time makes it the car of the event for this particular journalist."
Re: the Sti: "But the Suburu slips on the banana skin that is the Evo VIII. Its dueling partner is the more complete package, easier to drive quicker, and it's smoother, and the Evo's steering is more direct and precise. The [Sti] isn't a bad car, it's just that the Evo is a better one."
My thoughts: the Vauxhall is a euro thing so who cares... We aren't driving the FQ-300 but we're pretty darn close to it so it's still flattering, no? Also a lot of us are laying down about as much wheel hp as the FQ-330! Bottom line: this is just a nice daily reminder that we've got something really special in our hands. Enjoy!
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
It cool that the EVO is number 2 and all, but lists like these are retarded. Here is my proof:
"the car that best delivers on the promise made by its manufacturer...that's guaranteed to spark a warm glow of anticipation every time you reach for the keys, even...for the Sunday papers; the car that makes you want to take the long way home."
#8: Mazda RX8
Mazda lied about the HP rating, so how exactly did this car deliver on the promise made by its manufacturer?
"the car that best delivers on the promise made by its manufacturer...that's guaranteed to spark a warm glow of anticipation every time you reach for the keys, even...for the Sunday papers; the car that makes you want to take the long way home."
#8: Mazda RX8
Mazda lied about the HP rating, so how exactly did this car deliver on the promise made by its manufacturer?
Evolved Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 942
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
Originally posted by del105
It cool that the EVO is number 2 and all, but lists like these are retarded. Here is my proof:
"the car that best delivers on the promise made by its manufacturer...that's guaranteed to spark a warm glow of anticipation every time you reach for the keys, even...for the Sunday papers; the car that makes you want to take the long way home."
#8: Mazda RX8
Mazda lied about the HP rating, so how exactly did this car deliver on the promise made by its manufacturer?
It cool that the EVO is number 2 and all, but lists like these are retarded. Here is my proof:
"the car that best delivers on the promise made by its manufacturer...that's guaranteed to spark a warm glow of anticipation every time you reach for the keys, even...for the Sunday papers; the car that makes you want to take the long way home."
#8: Mazda RX8
Mazda lied about the HP rating, so how exactly did this car deliver on the promise made by its manufacturer?
) that has more functionality then the fd, and will probably end up being more reliable. (I still prefer the fd, but the RX8 is a big positive step above the complete lack of rotary powered cars/high performance car from Mazda)
Originally posted by del105
#8: Mazda RX8
Mazda lied about the HP rating, so how exactly did this car deliver on the promise made by its manufacturer?
#8: Mazda RX8
Mazda lied about the HP rating, so how exactly did this car deliver on the promise made by its manufacturer?
Evolved Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 942
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
The RX8 feels like a rwd ITR with a tauter chassis.... same point & shoot feel, same excellent shifting, same quick revving peaky HP. Yeah, the RX8 has sorta mushy handleing, and the visibility isn't great, but for $30k it is an excellent complement to the 350Z, WRX/STi, & Evo
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Originally posted by del105
It cool that the EVO is number 2 and all, but lists like these are retarded. Here is my proof:
"the car that best delivers on the promise made by its manufacturer...that's guaranteed to spark a warm glow of anticipation every time you reach for the keys, even...for the Sunday papers; the car that makes you want to take the long way home."
#8: Mazda RX8
Mazda lied about the HP rating, so how exactly did this car deliver on the promise made by its manufacturer?
It cool that the EVO is number 2 and all, but lists like these are retarded. Here is my proof:
"the car that best delivers on the promise made by its manufacturer...that's guaranteed to spark a warm glow of anticipation every time you reach for the keys, even...for the Sunday papers; the car that makes you want to take the long way home."
#8: Mazda RX8
Mazda lied about the HP rating, so how exactly did this car deliver on the promise made by its manufacturer?
Actually, the EURO/JAP spec RX-8 is putting out what Mazda originally claimed (As far as HP is concerned). Only the Stateside version was detuned due to emissions. The advertising/marketing folks at Mazda went to print using the EURO/JAP spec stats when they started advertising for the Stateside version (They screwed up. That's why they offered to buy back RX-8s from the first stateside customers that purchased the car). So, considering this mag is a UK mag, the RX-8 version they were driving was the "real deal."
Originally posted by del105
It cool that the EVO is number 2 and all, but lists like these are retarded. Here is my proof:
"the car that best delivers on the promise made by its manufacturer...that's guaranteed to spark a warm glow of anticipation every time you reach for the keys, even...for the Sunday papers; the car that makes you want to take the long way home."
#8: Mazda RX8
Mazda lied about the HP rating, so how exactly did this car deliver on the promise made by its manufacturer?
It cool that the EVO is number 2 and all, but lists like these are retarded. Here is my proof:
"the car that best delivers on the promise made by its manufacturer...that's guaranteed to spark a warm glow of anticipation every time you reach for the keys, even...for the Sunday papers; the car that makes you want to take the long way home."
#8: Mazda RX8
Mazda lied about the HP rating, so how exactly did this car deliver on the promise made by its manufacturer?
