Bruce

The Honda Fit I can somewhat understand. Decent little hatch it is.

However, I would agree that the MX-5 making an appearance on the list is rubbish. Taken as a whole, the new Miata is no where as good as the original. If you want an exciting Japanese RWD sports convertible now-a-days, I haven't any doubts that the best choice is the Honda S2000.

HighestOfHigh

Outstanding!!! You took the words right out of my mouth!

Just_me

There is a reason why people are baised and its not becuase its a bad car.

Mr. M

The Honda Fit is one fine car. It's everything most people want from a car.

As for the MX-5, I wouldn't say it's one of the Ten Best Cars... But it does drive well.

Merc1

Article and pics have posted:













































2008 10Best Cars

A vintage year for sports sedans of all shapes and prices.

Every year the entire Car and Driver staff gathers at a rural site about 30 miles west of our home office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for a week of evaluating all the new cars and, hopefully, avoiding cops. We didn't do very well with the latter this year, receiving a record number of speeding tickets that, unfortunately, cannot be expensed.

We judge each car in three general areas, the first being how well the vehicle performs its intended functions. We expect sports cars to be fast and exhilarating, whereas we presume a family sedan will be frugal and practical. Second, we show a preference for the more engaging cars in each category, be it athletic driving manners, a seductive look, or a powerful engine sure to induce a grin every time we climb behind the wheel. Finally, we are suckers for a good deal, so an inexpensive car that’s fast, fun, and practical will certainly rise to the top of our list.

The invite list works as follows: Last year’s winners are automatically invited back, as well as other all-new or significantly upgraded machinery for 2008. Each car gets only one shot at making our 10Best list, but many stay on it for years. This year, all cars had to have a base price no higher than $72,000, which is 2.5 times the average new-vehicle transaction price as of August 2007. Eligible cars must be on sale no later than January 2008, and the manufacturer must, of course, deliver an example for our evaluations.

Read on to see the 10 we selected for 2008.

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Merc1

Being a German car fan site and all I'll post what they said about the German winners:

2008 BMW 3-series

Elevating the benchmark.

Last year this bread-and-butter family of Bimmers scored its 16th-straight 10Best trophy, a record unmatched in the history of this event. And en route to its 17th-straight appearance, the 3-series added a new model, BMW’s first-ever hardtop convertible, and took top honors in two comparison tests: “Winds of Change?” [April 2007] and “40-Somethings” [June 2007].

The formula for these cars seems disarmingly simple: Ample power from a pair of ultra-smooth straight-six engines, one of them force-fed to the tune of 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque; suspension tuning that confidently combines supple ride quality with autocross responses; classic coupe and sedan proportions that have evolved gracefully since the 325i made its first 10Best appearance in 1992; supportive seats that could serve a trans-Nebraska cruise on I-80 or a BMW-club track day.

Simple, right? But in 17 years, no other carmaker has quite managed to package these attributes as successfully as BMW, although many have tried. Which is precisely why the 3-series continues to be the perennial benchmark of the entry luxury-sports-coupe, -sedan, -convertible class.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine; rear- or 4-wheel-drive; 4- or 5-passenger; 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible, 4-door sedan, or 5-door wagon

BASE PRICE: $33,175–$49,875

ENGINES: DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter inline-6, 230 hp, 200 lb-ft; twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter inline-6, 300 hp, 300 lb-ft

TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 6-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 108.7 in
Length: 178.2–180.6 in
Width: 70.2–71.5 in
Height: 54.1–55.9 in
Curb weight: 3400–3800 lb

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city driving: 17–18 mpg


2008 Porsche Boxster and Cayman

Still expensive and still worth it.

This marks the 12th year the Boxster has been with us, but the model is such a natural Porsche that it feels as if it has been around since the days of the 356.

Although plenty powerful, with either 245 or 295 mid-mounted horsepower ready to thrust it forward when the driver flexes his right foot, the magic of the Boxster—and any Porsche—is in its balanced handling and sublime control responses. Turn the steering wheel to carve the Boxster into a corner, and it responds immediately and accurately while telegraphing the car’s behavior directly to your fingertips. Squeeze the brake pedal, and the Boxster scrubs speed in perfect proportion to your pressure on the pedal. When you shift gears, you can almost feel the teeth meshing in the transmission. Making a sensitive driver smile is what the Boxster is all about.

And while doing so, the Boxster (and its Cayman hardtop sibling) offers practicality that is rare in a pure sports car. Its cockpit is comfortable and roomy. Its top is power-operated and fast-acting. And it has twin trunks with more than enough space to accommodate a couple on vacation. That makes for a combination of pleasure and functionality that’s hard to resist.

VEHICLE TYPE: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door roadster or 3-door hatchback

BASE PRICE: $46,660–$59,960

ENGINES: DOHC 24-valve 2.7-liter flat-6, 245 hp, 201 lb-ft; DOHC 24-valve 3.4-liter flat-6, 295 hp, 251 lb-ft

TRANSMISSIONS: 5-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 5- or 6-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 95.1 in
Length: 171.6–172.1 in
Width: 70.9 in
Height: 50.9–51.4 in
Curb weight: 2900–3100 lb

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city driving: 18–22 mpg


2008 Volkswagen GTI

Grown-ups can have fun, too.

The GTI returned to the 10Best list last year after a 21-year absence. Perhaps this hiatus seems strange for the progenitor of a species we’ve loved since the 1983 original, but the evolution of the series tended toward bigger and softer, with a little more room and considerably less fun. The latest generation is a long way from the no-frills original, but VW has effectively addressed the fun-to-drive factor without diluting the sophistication, roominess, and high-quality feel that are characteristic of this family.

VW’s eager 2.0-liter turbocharged four—200 horsepower, 207 pound-feet of torque—provides brisk propulsion, and the optional paddle-shift twin-clutch DSG lends a racy feel. But the GTI’s most compelling dynamic element is a chassis that delivers the composed, precise responses that come from autobahn breeding. To quote from our May 2007 comparison test: “The GTI pours itself down the road, a fluid stream of disciplined control.”

Available in three- and five-door versions, the GTI has an attractive base price, although tempting options such as the DSG can quickly bloat the bottom line. But even at $30,000, the net is still a sophisticated German sports sedan at a bargain price.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 3- or 5-door hatchback

BASE PRICE: $23,370–$23,870

ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4
Power (SAE net): 200 bhp @ 5100 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 207 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm

TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed manual, 6-speed manual with automated shifting and clutch

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 101.5 in
Length: 165.8 in
Width: 69.3 in
Height: 58.4 in
Curb weight: 3200–3250 lb

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city driving: 21–22 mpg


- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER


M