Author Topic: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!  (Read 9480 times)

Offline Autos_Editor

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 3206
  • Carma: +50/-5
  • member
    • View Profile
CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« on: December 21, 2008, 05:52:38 pm »

2009 Nissan GT-R
Click Image to Enlarge

2008 had some very interesting cars, trucks and SUVs that cycle in and out of my driveway. I have gone through the list of day-by-day reviews from Nov 2007 to Nov 2008 and compiled my Top 10 vehicles from the past year (in no particular order).  More...

Offline Mitlov

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Oregon, Obamaland
  • Posts: 9151
  • Carma: +0/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • James May thinks I'm cool
    • View Profile
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2008, 06:36:56 pm »
I don't really get the Infiniti EX choice, and maybe the Versa (from what I've read, I'd much rather have a Fit), but otherwise, a solid list.
"Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies. Those whom nature hath so joined together, let no man put asunder. What unites us is far greater than what divides us." -- John F. Kennedy, addressing Canadian Parliament.

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Regina, Sask
  • Posts: 7336
  • Carma: +41/-40
  • Gender: Male
  • You call this an angry mob?
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2008, 06:54:21 pm »
I don't get the EX either. :shake:
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. –
Carl Sagan

Offline airbalancer

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Cobourg Ontario
  • Posts: 15975
  • Carma: +92/-89
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2000 BMW 323, 2010 Toyota Prius, 2011Chevy Silverado LTZ
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2008, 06:58:46 pm »
What no pick up ::) :rofl:
I can get EX but a Versa

Offline Honda Owner

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: Vancouver BC
  • Posts: 1250
  • Carma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2008, 08:12:01 pm »
The Audi R8 would certainly be on my list. The Versa is a nice car for the money in my opinion, too, a step larger than the Fit.

Offline Jaeger

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Oakville, Ontario
  • Posts: 4558
  • Carma: +51/-304
  • Gender: Male
  • member
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T, 2009 Honda Fit Sport
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2008, 08:29:55 pm »
I don't get the EX-35 at all.  As a vehicle, much less a top 10 selection.  The thiing makes no sense at all.  It has one of the most impossibly cramped back seats I have ever tried to shoehorn myself into.  If one wanted a "personal luxury coupe", um, wouldn't that be the G-37 Coupe.  Or is you needed more people space, wouldn't the G-37x sedan be a better bet in addition to providing better performance al around?  Nope, just don't get it at all.

The Versa I get - it's a pretty decent vehicle.  Unpretentious, affordable, efficient, spacious, practical, not suffering from any identity crisis.... etc.

Jaeger

Offline Mitlov

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Oregon, Obamaland
  • Posts: 9151
  • Carma: +0/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • James May thinks I'm cool
    • View Profile
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2008, 08:57:32 pm »
I don't get the EX-35 at all.  As a vehicle, much less a top 10 selection.  The thiing makes no sense at all.  It has one of the most impossibly cramped back seats I have ever tried to shoehorn myself into.  If one wanted a "personal luxury coupe", um, wouldn't that be the G-37 Coupe.  Or is you needed more people space, wouldn't the G-37x sedan be a better bet in addition to providing better performance al around?  Nope, just don't get it at all.

The Versa I get - it's a pretty decent vehicle.  Unpretentious, affordable, efficient, spacious, practical, not suffering from any identity crisis.... etc.

Jaeger

The Versa IS a good vehicle.  A smart, practical, inexpensive choice.  But nothing about it screams "top ten material" to me.  It's not groundbreaking.  It's not head-and-shoulders above its competition.

Offline EV Dan

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: Toronto
  • Posts: 2772
  • Carma: +5/-4
    • View Profile
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2008, 09:04:08 pm »
is there a poll for an 08 vehicle, reviewed or not?
You don\'t find Chuck Norris, he finds you.

Offline wing

  • Big Wig
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Location: Ottawa, On, Canada
  • Posts: 18105
  • Carma: +101/-61
  • Gender: Male
  • If you ain't first ... you're last!
    • View Profile
    • Drivesideways
  • Cars: 2001 Honda S2000; 2005 Nissan Titan
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2008, 09:20:03 pm »
you guys do know this is a too 10 of the day by day reviews only?

I didn't  review the cars you mentioned  ;,

Online The Mighty Duck

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Kingston, ON
  • Posts: 7195
  • Carma: +14/-8
  • Gender: Male
  • f*** that duck
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2009 Honda Fit
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2008, 10:40:06 pm »
I agree with most of your choices: some really neat cars there.  But the Versa?  I think you could have found something more interesting for that spot.  ;)  STI?  Speed3?  Civic Si sedan?

I could see the Versa winning the "best sub-compact" round (though I would go with a Fit), but there were a lot of excellent cars in the blogs this year, and the Versa seems a little out of place.  :)

Offline wing

  • Big Wig
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Location: Ottawa, On, Canada
  • Posts: 18105
  • Carma: +101/-61
  • Gender: Male
  • If you ain't first ... you're last!
    • View Profile
    • Drivesideways
  • Cars: 2001 Honda S2000; 2005 Nissan Titan
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2008, 10:48:16 pm »
Sure, but I couldn't pick all luxury/ sports cars I was trying to be fair to the cars under $50k ;)

Offline initial_D

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Deer Red Green Lodge, Ab
  • Posts: 12378
  • Carma: +14/-0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2008, 10:55:34 pm »
Sure, but I couldn't pick all luxury/ sports cars I was trying to be fair to the cars under $50k ;)

We don't agree with your choices, so you should let us pick the Top 10 for you.  :) You think this is a free country or something?

Offline Schmengie

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: The Oaken Noggin
  • Posts: 1770
  • Carma: +3/-1
    • View Profile
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2008, 11:35:38 pm »
 Some good choices but I don't think the Flex belongs on this list, mostly because there seems to be so few of them around. Since they were introduced, I've only seen one that didn't have advertising from the local Ford dealership plastered all over it.

 I was pleasantly surprised to see the Versa here and I guess there are any number of reasons for and against choosing it, but it really is a very good car for the money.  :)
' Saw an Alfalfa Romeeo go by - furrin sports car forty feet long, mebbe nine inches high.' - Charlie Farquharson

Offline Honda Owner

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: Vancouver BC
  • Posts: 1250
  • Carma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2008, 11:44:01 pm »
I very nearly bought a Versa. Then I took a Fit for a flog and fell in love with its puppy dog personality. The Versa has much more space inside and doesn't have the go-kart ride, big pluses for it. The Fit is tiresome in long highway drives. I expect the Versa with its six speed transmission is not.

Offline Brigitte

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Of What?
  • Posts: 8737
  • Carma: +55/-87
  • Gender: Female
  • Class Clown, Moderatrix and Resident Hag
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2009 Santa Fe GLS 3.3L V6
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #14 on: December 22, 2008, 09:40:23 am »
We don't agree with your choices, so you should let us pick the Top 10 for you.  :) You think this is a free country or something?

 :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2:

My thoughts exactly.  If he liked them, he liked them -- who cares?  I happen to enjoy the diversity of the list, and can only offer kudos to James for being so open-minded.  Just goes to show that there's something for everyone out there, and I certainly trust James' judgment more than anyone else's in the biz.  :thumbup:

Offline Juke1

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: Ottawa
  • Posts: 2226
  • Carma: +2/-27
  • Gender: Male
  • member
    • View Profile
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #15 on: December 22, 2008, 10:32:40 am »
The Versa is an excellent pick, a nice package that gives you a bit of everything.  The ride is is excellent and popular with the older crowd.  It has a spare tire which I hear some Fit do not, Honda cheaping out is a weird one especially when Hondas are not cheap to buy.
Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do. - Dale Carnegie

Diversity is not about how we differ.  Diversity is about embracing one another's uniqueness.  -Ola Joseph

Offline MKII

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: Tallinn Estonia
  • Posts: 2422
  • Carma: +16/-13
  • member
    • View Profile
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #16 on: December 22, 2008, 11:07:47 am »
Thanks for your weekly reviews Wing, it is refreshing to read non-biased, down to earth comments.

Offline Honda Owner

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Location: Vancouver BC
  • Posts: 1250
  • Carma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #17 on: December 22, 2008, 11:25:11 am »
Quote
It has a spare tire which I hear some Fit do not

Fits have a spare tire but it is a compact one.

Online The Mighty Duck

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Kingston, ON
  • Posts: 7195
  • Carma: +14/-8
  • Gender: Male
  • f*** that duck
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2009 Honda Fit
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #18 on: December 22, 2008, 11:35:31 am »
Only for the manual transmission models.  Autos have a can of sealant and a pump - the spare tire weighed too much and spoiled the Fit's fuel economy numbers.  :rofl:

Offline Mitlov

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Location: Oregon, Obamaland
  • Posts: 9151
  • Carma: +0/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • James May thinks I'm cool
    • View Profile
Re: CTC: Top Ten of 2008!
« Reply #19 on: December 22, 2008, 11:43:30 am »
Only for the manual transmission models.  Autos have a can of sealant and a pump - the spare tire weighed too much and spoiled the Fit's fuel economy numbers.  :rofl:

Oh dear god, that's one of the most ludicrous things I've heard recently.  If a spare tire ruins the fuel economy, imagine what a human being or two inside the vehicle would do!   :o ::)